Fluorescence characterization of clinically-important bacteria

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAI/HAI) represent a substantial threat to patient health during hospitalization and incur billions of dollars additional cost for subsequent treatment. One promising method for the detection of bacterial contamination in a clinical setting before an HAI outbreak occurs is to exploit native fluorescence of cellular molecules for a hand-held, rapid-sweep surveillance instrument. Previous studies have shown fluorescence-based detection to be sensitive and effective for food-borne and environmental microorganisms, and even to be able to distinguish between cell types, but this powerful technique has not yet been deployed on the macroscale for the primary surveillance of contamination in healthcare facilities to prevent HAI. Here we report experimental data for the specification and design of such a fluorescence-based detection instrument. We have characterized the complete fluorescence response of eleven clinically-relevant bacteria by generating excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) over broad wavelength ranges. Furthermore, a number of surfaces and items of equipment commonly present on a ward, and potentially responsible for pathogen transfer, have been analyzed for potential issues of background fluorescence masking the signal from contaminant bacteria. These include bedside handrails, nurse call button, blood pressure cuff and ward computer keyboard, as well as disinfectant cleaning products and microfiber cloth. All examined bacterial strains exhibited a distinctive double-peak fluorescence feature associated with tryptophan with no other cellular fluorophore detected. Thus, this fluorescence survey found that an emission peak of 340nm, from an excitation source at 280nm, was the cellular fluorescence signal to target for detection of bacterial contamination. The majority of materials analysed offer a spectral window through which bacterial contamination could indeed be detected. A few instances were found of potential problems of background fluorescence masking that of bacteria, but in the case of the microfiber cleaning cloth, imaging techniques could morphologically distinguish between stray strands and bacterial contamination

High risk behavior for HIV transmission among former injecting drug users: a survey from Indonesia

Contains fulltext : 88347.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Injecting drug use is an increasingly important cause of HIV transmission in most countries worldwide, especially in eastern Europe, South America, and east and southeast Asia. Among people actively injecting drugs, provision of clean needles and opioid substitution reduce HIV-transmission. However, former injecting drug users (fIDUs) are often overlooked as a high risk group for HIV transmission. We compared HIV risk behavior among current and former injecting drug users (IDUs) in Indonesia, which has a rapidly growing HIV-epidemic largely driven by injecting drug use. METHODS: Current and former IDUs were recruited by respondent driven sampling in an urban setting in Java, and interviewed regarding drug use and HIV risk behavior using the European Addiction Severity Index and the Blood Borne Virus Transmission Questionnaire. Drug use and HIV transmission risk behavior were compared between current IDUs and former IDUs, using the Mann-Whitney and Pearson Chi-square test. RESULTS: Ninety-two out of 210 participants (44%) were self reported former IDUs. Risk behavior related to sex, tattooing or piercing was common among current as well as former IDUs, 13% of former IDUs were still exposed to contaminated injecting equipment. HIV-infection was high among former (66%) and current (60%) IDUs. CONCLUSION: Former IDUs may contribute significantly to the HIV-epidemic in Indonesia, and HIV-prevention should therefore also target this group, addressing sexual and other risk behavior

"The End of Immortality!" Eternal Life and the Makropulos Debate

Responding to a well-known essay by Bernard Williams, philosophers (and a few theologians) have engaged in what I call “the Makropulos debate,” a debate over whether immortality—“living forever”—would be desirable for beings like us. Lacking a firm conceptual grounding in the religious contexts from which terms such as “immortality” and “eternal life” gain much of their sense, the debate has consisted chiefly in a battle of speculative fantasies. Having presented my four main reasons for this assessment, I examine an alternative and neglected conception, the idea of eternal life as a present possession, derived in large part from Johannine Christianity. Without claiming to argue for the truth of this conception, I present its investigation as exemplifying a conceptually fruitful direction of inquiry into immortality or eternal life, one which takes seriously the religious and ethical surroundings of these concepts

Sleep quality of women with gynecological and breast cancer Calidad del sueño en mujeres con cáncer ginecólogo e mamario Qualidade do sono de mulheres portadoras de câncer ginecológico e mamário

Subjective sleep quality has been recognized as a valuable indicator of health and quality of life. This exploratory and descriptive study aimed at describing habitual sleep quality of women suffering from gynecological and breast cancer and comparing habitual versus sleep quality during hospitalization. Twenty-five women admitted in hospital for clinical treatment of cancer completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) within 72 hours after admission and again just before discharge. Fifty-two percent of subjects reported habitual bad sleep quality, and this proportion increased to 80% of subjects during hospital stay. Subjects indicated the following most frequent causes of night sleep disturbance: need to go to the toilet, waking up early and receiving nursing care during the night. Results point to the importance of including careful assessment of sleep quality and environment in nursing care planning for oncology patients, mainly during hospitalization.<br>Actualmente, la calidad de sueño referida por el propio individuo es reconocida como un indicador de salud y calidad de vida. Esto estudio exploratorio y descriptivo describe la calidad habitual del sueño de mujeres con cáncer ginecológico y mamario y la confronta con la hospitalización. Se desarrolló con 25 mujeres hospitalizadas para tratamiento clínico del cáncer ginecológico. Se colectaron informaciones mediante el Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) y se verifico que el 52% de los sujetos poseía mala calidad del sueño habitualmente, mientras el 80% hubiera mala calidad en la hospitalización. Las orígenes de las perturbaciones del sueño nocturno apuntadas más frecuentemente fueron: usar el baño, despertarse temprano y ser cuidado por las enfermeras durante la noche. Los resultados muestran la necesidad de que el planeamiento de cuidados de enfermería para mujeres con cáncer ginecólogo incluya la evaluación de la calidad del sueño de las pacientes, inclusive en la hospitalización.<br>A qualidade de sono referida pelo próprio indivíduo é reconhecida atualmente como um indicador de saúde e de qualidade de vida. Este estudo exploratório e descritivo teve por objetivo descrever a qualidade habitual do sono de mulheres com câncer ginecológico e mamário e compará-la à qualidade do sono das mesmas na hospitalização. Participaram 25 mulheres hospitalizadas para tratamento clínico do câncer que responderam ao Índice de Qualidade de Sono de Pittsburgh (PSQI) até 72 horas após a admissão e quando prevista a alta hospitalar. Verificou-se que 52% das mulheres apresentavam má qualidade de sono habitual e que, na hospitalização, esse percentual elevou-se para 80%. Como causas mais freqüentes de perturbação do sono na hospitalização destacaram-se: necessidade de usar o banheiro; despertar precoce; cuidados prestados pela equipe de enfermagem. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de cuidados oncológicos que englobem a qualidade de sono destes pacientes, sobretudo na hospitalização

Awareness of Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms Among Hispanic Male Adults Living in the United States

Abstract available at publisher's web site

Plant odors as fruit fly attractants

Plant odors consist of a mixture of volatile compounds that are conveyed by diffusion through air and may disperse over a long distance. They play a major role in mediating insect-plant relationships, particularly food location and selection of suitable sites for mating or oviposition. This chapter presents state-of-the-art research on the response of fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) to plant odors and their potential for the development of trapping systems. Main research results from Tephritids of economic importance (i.e., Rhagoletis, Ceratitis, Bactrocera/Dacus, and Anastrepha) show evidence of response to (i) general plant volatiles from host or non-host plants, the so-called 'green leaf volatiles', (ii) essential oils from host or non-host plants, and (iii) fruit odors (whole fruit, wounded or crushed fruit, extracts, etc.). Synergies between plant odors and food odors or sex pheromones are also addressed. Factors including insect physiology (age, mating status, egg load, etc.), experience (learning), and genetic background can substantially modify the response pattern to plant odors. One of the main challenges of using plant odors as fruit fly attractant is to improve the technology for identification (analysis), synthesis and emission (dispensers) of key compounds that may compete with natural volatile blends in the field. Further research should include the role of microorganisms in host location and recognition by fruit flies. Synthetic plant odors could be used either as kairomones for trapping systems, as allomones to push flies away from the crop or to disrupt host location, or as synomones to attract natural enemies to the crop. (Résumé d'auteur