Companion animals-An overlooked and misdiagnosed reservoir of carbapenem resistance

Research Areas: Infectious Diseases ; Pharmacology & PharmacyABSTRACT - The dissemination of antimicrobial-resistance is a major global threat affecting both human and animal health. Carbapenems are human use β-lactams of last resort; thus. the dissemination of carbapenemase-producing (CP) bacteria creates severe limitations for the treatment of multidrugresistant bacteria in hospitalized patients. Even though carbapenems are not routinely used in veterinary medicine, reports of infection or colonization by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in companion animals are being reported. NDM-5 and OXA-48-like carbapenemases are among the most frequently reported in companion animals. Like in humans, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are the most represented CP Enterobacterales found in companion animals, alongside with Acinetobacter baumannii. Considering that the detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales presents several difficulties, misdiagnosis of CP bacteria in companion animals may lead to important animal and public-health consequences. It is of the upmost importance to ensure an adequate monitoring and detection of CP bacteria in veterinary microbiology in order to safeguard animal health and minimise its dissemination to humans and the environment. This review encompasses an overview of the carbapenemase detection methods currently available, aiming to guide veterinary microbiologists on the best practices to improve its detection for clinical or research purposes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sex Differences in Desiccation Tolerance Varies by Colony in the Mesic Liverwort \u3ci\u3ePlagiochila porelloides\u3c/i\u3e

Water scarcity, a common stress factor, negatively impacts plant performance. Strategies to cope with it, such as desiccation tolerance, are becoming increasingly important to investigate. However, phenomena, such as intraspecific variation in stress responses have not received much attention. Knowledge of this variability and the environmental drivers can be leveraged to further investigate the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance. Here we tested for variation in desiccation tolerance in Plagiochila porelloides among colonies and sexes within the same riparian zone. Field-collected dehardened plants were subjected to a desiccation event, under controlled conditions and then rehydrated. Plant water status, photosynthetic rates, net carbon gain, and efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) were assayed to evaluate tissue desiccation, basic metabolic processes and plant recovery. To establish a linkage between plant response and environmental factors, field light conditions were measured. We detected intraspecific variation, where a more exposed colony (high percentage of open sky, large temporal range of light quantity, and high red/far-red ratio) showed sex differences in desiccation tolerance and recovery. Overall, PSII recovery occurred by 72 h after rehydration, with a positive carbon gain occurring by day 30. This within species variation suggests plastic or genetic effects, and likely association with light conditions

GAMBARAN PERAN PENGAWAS MENELAN OBAT (PMO) PADA KELUARGA DENGAN TBC PARU DI WILAYAH KERJA PUSKESMAS KOTA ATAMBUA DAN PUSKESMAS HALIWEN

Pendahuluan: Tuberculosis disebabkan oleh kuman mycobakterium tuberculosis. Pengobatan TB paru memerlukan waktu yang cukup panjang yaitu selama 6 bulan, sehingga salah satu faktor yang dapat mempengaruhi keberhasilan pengobatan tuberculosis adalah peran pengawas menelan obat (PMO). Tujuan: penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran peran pengawas menelan obat (PMO) pada anggota keluarga dengan TBC paru di Wilayah kerja Puskesmas Kota Atambua dan Puskesma Haliwen. Metode penelitian: Penelitian ini adalah penelitian deskriptif yang dilakukan di Puskesmas Kota Atambua dan Puskesmas Haliwen pada tanggal 11 November – 25 November 2022. Sampel diambil menggunakan total sampling dengan total responden sebanyak 30 PMO yang tersebar di Wilayah kerja Puskesmas Kota Atambua dan Puskesmas Haliwen. Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa 83.3% PMO berhasil menjalankan peran sebagai PMO, 16% tidak berhasil menjalankan peran sebagai PMO. Kesimpulan: Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa sebagian besar subjek penelitian berhasil melakukan peran sebagai PMO

Nanostructured Polypyrrole Powder: A Structural and Morphological Characterization

Polypyrrole (PPY) powder was chemically synthesized using ferric chloride (FeCl3) and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Le Bail Method, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). XRD pattern showed a broad scattering of a semicrystalline structure composed of main broad peaks centered at 2θ = 11.4°, 22.1°, and 43.3°. Crystallinity percentage was estimated by the ratio between the sums of the peak areas to the area of amorphous broad halo due to the amorphous phase and showed that PPY has around 20 (1)%. FTIR analysis allowed assigning characteristic absorption bands in the structure of PPY. SEM showed micrometric particles of varying sizes with morphologies similar to cauliflower. Crystal data (monoclinic, space group P 21/c, a=7.1499 (2) Å, b=13.9470 (2) Å, c=17.3316 (2) Å, α=90 Å, β=61.5640 (2) Å and γ=90 Å) were obtained using the FullProf package program under the conditions of the method proposed by Le Bail. Molecular relaxation was performed using the density functional theory (DFT) and suggests that tetramer polymer chains are arranged along the “c” direction. Average crystallite size was found in the range of 20 (1) Å. A value of 9.33 × 10−9 S/cm was found for PPY conductivity

Productivity of three sugarcane cultivars under dry and drip irrigated management

O objetivo neste trabalho foi estudar o efeito da tecnologia de irrigação por gotejamento, em cultivares de cana-de-açúcar, em dois ciclos de produção (cana-planta e cana-soca). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, constituídos pela combinação de três cultivares de cana-de-açúcar: RB867515; RB855536 e SP80-3280, e dois manejos da cultura: sistema de irrigação por gotejamento subterrâneo e sistema de sequeiro, totalizando seis tratamentos. O primeiro ciclo teve duração de 336 dias, ocorrendo precipitação de 1.480 mm. O volume de água disponibilizado pelo sistema de irrigação por gotejamento foi de 400 mm, totalizando 1.880 mm. O segundo ciclo teve duração de 365 dias, cujo volume de água por meio de precipitação foi de 1.394 mm; somados aos 320 mm fornecidos pelo sistema de irrigação, totalizaram 1.714 mm. Ocorreu interação entre manejo e cultivar para as variáveis: produtividade de colmos (TCH) e produtividade de açúcar (TPH) em que a maior diferença foi observada para a cultivar SP80-3280. As cultivares apresentaram respostas diferenciadas na eficiência de utilização da água. No manejo irrigado por gotejamento houve elevação de 24% na produtividade de colmos e de 23% na produtividade de açúcar, em relação ao manejo de sequeiro.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of drip irrigation technology in different sugarcane varieties in two crop cycles (plant cane and ratoon). The experimental design was in completly randomized blocks, in split-plot with four replications, constituted by three sugarcane genotypes: RB867515; RB855536 and SP80-3280 and two crop management: drip irrigation system and rainfed system, totalizing six treatments. The first cycle lasted for 336 days, with rainfall of 1,480 mm. The volume of water provided by the system of drip irrigation was 400 mm, totaling 1,880 mm. The second cycle lasted for 365 days, the volume of water through rainfall was 1,394 mm, added to 320 mm provided by the system of irrigation, totaled 1,714 mm. Interaction between management and cultivars was found significant for the variables: productivity of stalks (TCH) and sugar yield (TPH), in which the largest difference was observed for cultivar SP80-3280. There was significant response to drip irrigation, on average the increase of production of stalks and sugar was 24 and 23%, respectively

Voltammetric determination of sibutramine in beverages and in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple and sensitive method has been proposed for the determination of sibutramine-HCl in energy drinks, green tea and pharmaceutical formulations using differential pulse voltammetry performed on a hanging mercury drop electrode. In the chosen experimental condition (Mcllvaine pH 4.0 buffer, 50 mV pulse amplitude and 40 mV s-1 scan velocity), sibutramine-HCl presented a reversible behavior and a peak maximum at -80 mV. Detection limit was 0.4 mg L-1 and the working linear range extended up to 33.3 mg L-1 (r = 0.99). Analysis of real and fortified samples enabled recoveries between 91 and 102%. The electroanalytical method was compared with a HPLC method which indicated it accuracy

Human and companion animal proteus mirabilis sharing

Research Areas: MicrobiologyProteus mirabilis is an important pathogen that is associated with urinary tract infections. This study aims to determine the colonization and sharing of P. mirabilis between healthy companion animals and humans that are living together and to evaluate the clonal relatedness of the fecal and clinical stains. Eighteen households (24 humans, 18 dogs, 8 cats) with at least one human–animal pair were studied. Fecal samples were plated onto MacConkey and Hektoen agar and P. mirabilis PFGE analysis (NotI; Dice/UPGMA; 1.5% tolerance) was conducted for the households with multiple positive participants. Antimicrobial-resistance was tested according to CLSI. The fecal P. mirabilis pulse-types were compared with uropathogenic clinical strains (n = 183). Forty-nine P. mirabilis were isolated from eight households. The percentage of colonization in the dogs (44.4%, n = 8/18) was significantly higher (p = 0.0329) than in the humans (12.5%, n = 3/24). Three households had multiple colonized participants. One human–dog pair shared related P. mirabilis strains, which clustered with a clinical strain of animal origin (82.5%). One fecal P. mirabilis strain, from a dog, clustered with two human community-acquired clinical strains (80.9%, 88.9%). To our knowledge, this is the first report of dogs and humans living in close contact and sharing related P. mirabilis strains. The high frequency of colonization in the dogs underlines their possible role as P. mirabilis reservoirs for humans and other dogs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Green speciation of iron using aqueous two-phase system

Fe(II) and Fe(III) have distinct chemical and biological functions. Consequently, it is more important to determine the fraction of both oxidation state that knowing the total iron concentration in a sample. However, green methods for iron speciation are still limited. This work uses aqueous two-phase system, a safe alternative to liquid–liquid extraction, to perform the chemical speciation of iron. This method is based on the reaction of Fe(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline extractant, forming a complex of Fe(II)-phenanthroline that concentrates in the top phase of the system. The Fe(III) specie concentrated in the bottom phase of the system. Iron speciation was affected by the electrolyte nature, macromolecule type, quantity of phenanthroline added, and pH. The system formed by PEO1500 + Na3 C6 H5 O7 + H2 O at pH 6.00, containing 5.00 mmol kg–1 of phenanthroline, was successfully used to separate the iron species before determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Under these optimal conditions, a separation factor of 233 was obtained between Fe(II) and Fe(III) with extraction percentages of (95.1 ± 1.0)% and (7.68 ± 0.50)%, respectively The proposed method was successfully applied for iron speciation in water samples, and provided recovery percentages ranging between 90 and 106%

Pregnancy after uterine arterial embolization

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pregnancy outcomes, complications and neonatal outcomes in women who had previously undergone uterine arterial embolization. METHODS: A retrospective study of 187 patients treated with uterine arterial embolization for symptomatic uterine fibroids between 2005-2008 was performed. Uterine arterial embolization was performed using polyvinyl alcohol particles (500-900 mm in diameter). Pregnancies were identified using screening questionnaires and the study database. RESULTS: There were 15 spontaneous pregnancies. Of these, 12.5% were miscarriages (n = 2), and 87.5% were successful live births (n = 14). The gestation time for the pregnancies with successful live births ranged from 36 to 39.2 weeks. The mean time between embolization and conception was 23.8 months (range, 5-54). One of the pregnancies resulted in twins. The newborn weights (n = 14) ranged from 2.260 to 3.605 kg (mean, 3.072 kg). One (7.1%) was considered to have a low birth weight (2.260 kg). There were two cases of placenta accreta (12.5%, treated with hysterectomy in one case [6.3%]), one case of premature rupture of the membranes (PRM) (6.3%), and one case of preeclampsia (6.3%). All of the patients were delivered via Cesarean section. CONCLUSION: In this study, there was an increased risk of Cesarean delivery. There were no other major obstetric risks, suggesting that pregnancy after uterine arterial embolization is possible without significant morbidity or mortality

Targeting the mitochondrial VDAC in hepatocellular carcinoma using a polyclonal antibody-conjugated to a nitrosyl ruthenium complex

The rational design of anti-cancer agents includes a new approach based on ruthenium complexes that can act as nitric oxide (NO) donor agents against specific cellular targets. One of the most studied classes of those compounds is based on bis(bipyridine) ruthenium fragment and its derivative species. In this work, we present the chemical and cytotoxicity properties against the liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 of cis-[RuII(NO+)Cl(dcbpy)2]2− conjugated to a polyclonal antibody IgG (anti-VDAC) recognizing a cell surface marker. UV–visible bands of the ruthenium complex were assigned with the aid of density functional theory, which also allowed estimation of the structures that explain the biological effects of the ruthenium complex–IgG conjugate. The interaction of cis-[RuII(NO+)Cl(dcbpy)2]3− with mitochondria was evaluated due to the potential of these organelles as anti-cancer targets, and considering they interact with the anti-VDAC antibody. The cytotoxicity of cis-[RuII(NO+)Cl(dcbpy)2]3−-anti-VDAC antibody was up to 80% greater in comparison to the free cis-[RuII(NO+)Cl(dcbpy)2]3− complex. We suggest that this effect is due to site-specific interaction of the complex followed by NO release.Fil: Ramos, Loyanne C. B.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Rodrigues, Fernando P.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Biazzotto, Juliana C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: de Paula Machado, Sergio. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Slep, Leonardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; ArgentinaFil: Hamblin, Michael R.. Harvard Medical School; Estados UnidosFil: da Silva, Roberto S.. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi