Bacterial aggregation in sepsis

Previous studies have provided evidence that bacterial aggregation occurs in disease processes. In the present report, an assay system was used to demonstrate bacterial aggregation and coaggregation in vitro. The results showed that uropathogens aggregated in urine and saline and formed aggregates attached to uroepithelial cells. The presence of fimbriae and O, K, and H antigens on the cell surface did not appear to correlate with aggregation. Additional studies related to intraabdominal sepsis showed aggregation of aBacteroides fragilis strain and coaggregation betweenBacteroides fragilis andEscherichia coli, suggestive of in vivo interaction. Electron microscopy demonstrated the various aggregation reactions and was particularly effective in showing type 1 fimbriatedEscherichia coli coaggregating with theBacteroides fragilis. The ability of organisms to aggregate and coaggregate appears to have potential significance in health and disease.     

Regional Disparities in Mortality after Ischemic Heart Disease in a Brazilian State from 2006 to 2010

Background

High technology in the field of interventional cardiology applied in tertiary hospitals has brought enormous benefits in the treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, IHD mortality rates remain high. We analyzed the relationship between IHD mortality rate and the socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic conditions in 399 cities in Parana state, Brazil, from 2006 to 2010.

Methods and Results

Data were obtained from the Mortality Information System and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and evaluated through Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis. GeoDa™ was used to analyze 29.351 deaths across 399 cities. We found a positive spatial autocorrelation regarding IHD mortality (I = 0.5913, p = 0.001). There was a significant positive association between each of three socioeconomic and demographic indicators and IHD mortality rate: Population Elderly Index (I = 0.3436), Illiteracy Rate (I = 0.1873) and City Development Index (I = 0.0900). In addition, two indicators presented significant negative association with IHD mortality rate: Adjusted Population Size (I = −0.1216) and Gross Domestic Product (I = −0.0864). We also found a positive association between IHD mortality rates and the geographic distances between patients’ city of residence and their corresponding regional referral centers in interventional cardiology (I = 0.3368). Cities located within Regional Health Units with Reference Interventional Cardiology Center presented a significantly lower average specific mortality rate by IHD. The high mortality rate by IHD within the Regional Health Units was not restricted to socioeconomic and demographic variables, but dependent on the distance between each city and their reference interventional cardiology center.

Conclusions

We conclude that geographic factors play a significant role in IHD mortality within cities. These findings have important policy implications regarding the geographic distribution of cardiac health care networks in Latin America and in other emerging countries.     

Bacterial soil community in a Brazilian sugarcane field

The assessment of bacterial communities in soil gives insight into microbial behavior under prevailing environmental conditions. In this context, we assessed the composition of soil bacterial communities in a Brazilian sugarcane experimental field. The experimental design encompassed plots containing common sugarcane (variety SP80-1842) and its transgenic form (IMI-1 — imazapyr herbicide resistant). Plants were grown in such field plots in a completely randomized design with three treatments, which addressed the factors transgene and imazapyr herbicide application. Soil samples were taken at three developmental stages during plant growth and analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-based PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and clone libraries. PCR-DGGE fingerprints obtained for the total bacterial community and specific bacterial groups — Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria — revealed that the structure of these assemblages did not differ over time and among treatments. Nevertheless, slight differences among 16S rRNA gene clone libraries constructed from each treatment could be observed at particular cut-off levels. Altogether, the libraries encompassed a total of eleven bacterial phyla and the candidate divisions TM7 and OP10. Clone sequences affiliated with the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Acidobacteria were, in this order, most abundant. Accurate phylogenetic analyses were performed for the phyla Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia, revealing the structures of these groups, which are still poorly understood as to their importance for soil functioning and sustainability under agricultural practices.     

Onset of overweight in Nuuk, Greenland: a retrospective cohort study of children from 1973 to 1992

The purpose of the study was to examine the age at onset of overweight and obesity of 2-15-year-old children in Nuuk, Greenland, born between 1973 and 1992. The study was a retrospective cohort study. The data were retrieved from the children's individual health files containing information on height and weight, and the database contained a total of 12,002 measurements of BMI in 3,094 children (1,522 boys and 1,572 girls). The main outcome measure was age at onset of overweight-the age at which BMI was above an internationally recommended cutoff point for overweight. The study showed that an increasing proportion of children reached the overweight state and did so at an earlier age for later cohorts. This was seen for both boys and girls. Overweight was less prevalent among boys in all cohorts. For the 1973-1992 cohorts of children from Nuuk, Greenland, the age at onset of overweight was significantly decreased.     

Bacterial virulence plays a crucial role in MRSA sepsis

Bacterial sepsis is a major global cause of death. However, the pathophysiology of sepsis has remained poorly understood. In industrialized nations, Staphylococcus aureus represents the pathogen most commonly associated with mortality due to sepsis. Because of the alarming spread of antibiotic resistance, anti-virulence strategies are often proposed to treat staphylococcal sepsis. However, we do not yet completely understand if and how bacterial virulence contributes to sepsis, which is vital for a thorough assessment of such strategies. We here examined the role of virulence and quorum-sensing regulation in mouse and rabbit models of sepsis caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). We determined that leukopenia was a predictor of disease outcome during an early critical stage of sepsis. Furthermore, in device-associated infection as the most frequent type of staphylococcal blood infection, quorum-sensing deficiency resulted in significantly higher mortality. Our findings give important guidance regarding anti-virulence drug development strategies for the treatment of staphylococcal sepsis. Moreover, they considerably add to our understanding of how bacterial sepsis develops by revealing a critical early stage of infection during which the battle between bacteria and leukocytes determines sepsis outcome. While sepsis has traditionally been attributed mainly to host factors, our study highlights a key role of the invading pathogen and its virulence mechanisms.     

Learning lessons in sepsis from the children

Sepsis research has had relatively limited therapeutic success so far. In their recent study, Kobzik and colleagues (Joachim et al, 2018 ) identify novel drug‐sensitive pathways in sepsis, derived exclusively from patient data. Their strategy is based on the analysis of a naturally sepsis‐resistant population (pre‐puberty children) and on the implementation of a novel‐rich Pathway Drug Network, constructed from human gene expression data enriched in drug–pathway–gene clusters.     

Host-parasite kinship in a female-philopatric bird population: evidence from relatedness trend analysis

Conspecific brood parasitism (CBP), an alternative reproductive tactic where some females lay eggs in the nests of other females of the same species, occurs in many animals with egg care. It is particularly common in waterfowl, for reasons that are debated. Many waterfowl females nest near their birthplace, making it likely that some local females are relatives. We analyse brood parasitism in a Hudson Bay population of common eiders, testing predictions from two alternative hypotheses on the role of relatedness in CBP. Some models predict host-parasite relatedness, others predict that parasites avoid close relatives as hosts. To distinguish between the alternatives, we use a novel approach, where the relatedness of host-parasite pairs is tested against the spatial population trend in pairwise relatedness. We estimate parasitism, nest take-over and relatedness with protein fingerprinting and bandsharing analysis of egg albumen, nondestructively sampled from each new egg in the nest throughout the laying period. The results refute the hypothesis that parasites avoid laying eggs in the nests of related hosts, and corroborate the alternative of host-parasite relatedness. With an estimated r of 0.12-0.14, females laying eggs in the same nest are on average closer kin than nesting neighbour females. Absence of a population trend in female pairwise relatedness vs. distance implies that host-parasite relatedness is not only an effect of strong natal philopatry: some additional form of kin bias is also involved.     

Developmental outcomes in children exposed to Zika virus in utero from a Brazilian urban slum cohort study

BackgroundThe prevalence of developmental alterations associated with in-utero Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure in children is not well understood. Furthermore, estimation of the Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) of developmental alterations attributed to ZIKV has not been performed due to lack of population-based cohorts with data on symptomatic and asymptomatic ZIKV exposures and an appropriate control group. The aim of this study was to characterize neurodevelopmental outcomes of children at 11 to 32 months of age with intrauterine ZIKV exposure and estimate the PAF of alterations secondary to ZIKV exposure.Methodology/Principal findingsWe performed a cohort of biannual community-based prospective serosurveys in a slum community in Salvador, Brazil. We recruited women participating in our cohort, with a documented pregnancy from January 2015 to December 2016 and children born to those mothers. Children were classified as ZIKV exposed in utero (born from women with ZIKV seroconversion during pregnancy) or unexposed (born from women without ZIKV seroconversion or that seroconverted before/after pregnancy) by using an IgG monoclonal antibody blockade-of-binding (BoB). We interviewed mothers and performed anthropometric, audiometric, ophthalmological, neurologic, and neurodevelopmental evaluations of their children at 11 to 32 months of age. Among the 655 women participating in the cohort, 66 (10%) were pregnant during the study period. 46 (70%) of them completed follow-up, of whom ZIKV seroconversion occurred before, during, and after pregnancy in 25 (54%), 13 (28%), and 1 (2%), respectively. The rest of women, 7 (21.2%), did not present ZIKV seroconversion. At 11 to 32 months of life, the 13 ZIKV-exposed children had increased risk of mild cognitive delay (RR 5.1; 95%CI 1.1–24.4) compared with the 33 children unexposed, with a PAF of 53.5%. Exposed children also had increased risk of altered auditory behavior (RR 6.0; 95%CI 1.3–26.9), with a PAF of 59.5%.ConclusionsA significant proportion of children exposed in utero to ZIKV developed mild cognitive delay and auditory behavioral abnormalities even in the absence of gross birth defects such as microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental domains. Furthermore, our findings suggest that over half of these abnormalities could be attributed to intrauterine ZIKV exposure.     

Historical Analysis of the Brazilian Cervical Cancer Screening Program from 2006 to 2013: A Time for Reflection

Background

The Cervical Cancer Database of the Brazilian National Health Service (SISCOLO) contains information regarding all cervical cytological tests and, if properly explored, can be used as a tool for monitoring and managing the cervical cancer screening program. The aim of this study was to perform a historical analysis of the cervical cancer screening program in Brazil from 2006 to 2013.

Material and Methods

The data necessary to calculate quality indicators were obtained from the SISCOLO, a Brazilian health system tool. Joinpoint analysis was used to calculate the annual percentage change.

Results

We observed important trends showing decreased rates of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and an increased rate of rejected exams from 2009 to 2013. The index of positivity was maintained at levels below those indicated by international standards; very low frequencies of unsatisfactory cases were observed over the study period, which partially contradicts the low rate of positive cases. The number of positive cytological diagnoses was below that expected, considering that developed countries with low frequencies of cervical cancer detect more lesions annually.

Conclusions

The evolution of indicators from 2006 to 2013 suggests that actions must be taken to improve the effectiveness of cervical cancer control in Brazil.     

Plant proteome analysis: a 2006 update

This 2006 'Plant Proteomics Update' is a continuation of the two previously published in 'Proteomics' by 2004 (Canovas et al., Proteomics 2004, 4, 285-298) and 2006 (Rossignol et al., Proteomics 2006, 6, 5529-5548) and it aims to bring up-to-date the contribution of proteomics to plant biology on the basis of the original research papers published throughout 2006, with references to those appearing last year. According to the published papers and topics addressed, we can conclude that, as observed for the three previous years, there has been a quantitative, but not qualitative leap in plant proteomics. The full potential of proteomics is far from being exploited in plant biology research, especially if compared to other organisms, mainly yeast and humans, and a number of challenges, mainly technological, remain to be tackled. The original papers published last year numbered nearly 100 and deal with the proteome of at least 26 plant species, with a high percentage for Arabidopsis thaliana (28) and rice (11). Scientific objectives ranged from proteomic analysis of organs/tissues/cell suspensions (57) or subcellular fractions (29), to the study of plant development (12), the effect of hormones and signalling molecules (8) and response to symbionts (4) and stresses (27). A small number of contributions have covered PTMs (8) and protein interactions (4). 2-DE (specifically IEF-SDS-PAGE) coupled to MS still constitutes the almost unique platform utilized in plant proteome analysis. The application of gel-free protein separation methods and 'second generation' proteomic techniques such as multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT), and those for quantitative proteomics including DIGE, isotope-coded affinity tags (ICAT), iTRAQ and stable isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) still remains anecdotal. This review is divided into seven sections: Introduction, Methodology, Subcellular proteomes, Development, Responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, PTMs and Protein interactions. Section 8 summarizes the major pitfalls and challenges of plant proteomics.     

Changes in satellite‐derived vegetation growth trend in temperate and boreal Eurasia from 1982 to 2006

Monitoring changes in vegetation growth has been the subject of considerable research during the past several decades, because of the important role of vegetation in regulating the terrestrial carbon cycle and the climate system. In this study, we combined datasets of satellite‐derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and climatic factors to analyze spatio‐temporal patterns of changes in vegetation growth and their linkage with changes in temperature and precipitation in temperate and boreal regions of Eurasia (> 23.5°N) from 1982 to 2006. At the continental scale, although a statistically significant positive trend of average growing season NDVI is observed (0.5 × 10^?3 year^?1, P = 0.03) during the entire study period, there are two distinct periods with opposite trends in growing season NDVI. Growing season NDVI has first significantly increased from 1982 to 1997 (1.8 × 10^?3 year^?1, P < 0.001), and then decreased from 1997 to 2006 (?1.3 × 10^?3 year^?1, P = 0.055). This reversal in the growing season NDVI trends over Eurasia are largely contributed by spring and summer NDVI changes. Both spring and summer NDVI significantly increased from 1982 to 1997 (2.1 × 10^?3 year^?1, P = 0.01; 1.6 × 10^?3 year^?1P < 0.001, respectively), but then decreased from 1997 to 2006, particularly summer NDVI which may be related to the remarkable decrease in summer precipitation (?2.7 mm yr^?1, P = 0.009). Further spatial analyses supports the idea that the vegetation greening trend in spring and summer that occurred during the earlier study period 1982–1997 was either stalled or reversed during the following study period 1997–2006. But the turning point of vegetation NDVI is found to vary across different regions.     

Iodine prophylaxis in children population on the Wielkopolska Region area from year 1992 to 2005

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate of efficiency of iodine prophylaxis based on obligatory model of salt iodization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 1444 children from the rural and urban area, with the proportional sex and age (8-12 years) distribution--432 children in 1992 (before salt iodization), 558 children in 2000 and 454 children in 2005 (during salt iodization from 1996). RESULTS: The prevalence of goiter detected in children population in 1992 was 40% (recount by current criteria), in 2005 was reduced to 6% (p < 0.01). Parallel, median of urinary iodine concentration increased from 44 microg/l in 1992 to 107 microg/l (p < 0.01) in 2005. The increase of incidence of autoimmunological thyroid diseases is observed, especially chronic thyroiditis. CONCLUSIONS: The study proves high efficiency of iodine prophylaxis in Wielkopolska Region, but it is still the area with mild iodine deficiency.     

百色市2006-2013年风疹流行病学分析

目的探讨百色市2006—2013年风疹的流行特征,为制定预防控制策略提供科学依据。方法收集2006—2013年百色市风疹疫情报告资料,采用描述性统计方法进行分析。结果 2006—2013年百色市风疹报告病例数共1 127例,平均发病率为3.92/10万。各年份均有发病,以4—6月为发病高峰。病例分布在百色市各县区,45.08%病例为10~19岁人群,主要集中在学生、散居儿童、幼托儿童。结论百色市风疹发病高峰从儿童向青少年、成年人转移,应在保持适龄儿童风疹疫苗高水平接种率的基础上,适时开展对青年,特别是育龄期妇女推广使用风疹疫苗,从而提高对风疹病毒的免疫力,降低风疹和先天性风疹综合征(CRS)的发生。     

泰安市2006—2015年水痘流行病学分析

目的分析泰安市2006—2015年水痘流行病学特征,为制定水痘控制策略提供流行病学依据。方法采用描述性流行病学方法,对泰安市2006—2015年水痘报告病例进行分析。结果该市2006—2015年共报告水痘9549例,无死亡,年均发病率为17.07/10万;所辖6个县(市、区)均有水痘病例报告,其中泰山区、宁阳县、肥城市发病居多;全年12个月均有发病,时间分布呈典型的双峰双底发病特征,两次高峰分别在4—6月和11月至次年1月,两个低谷分别在2月和8月;水痘发病率男性高于女性,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);病例主要集中在14岁以下,占总病例数的76.32%;发病人群主要集中于在校学生、托幼机构和散居儿童,其中在校学生病例数最多,占63.92%;2006—2015年间共报告暴发疫情85起,暴发病例2 156例,占总病例的22.58%,暴发疫情全部发生在中、小学校和托幼机构。2011—2015年14岁以下水痘报告病例中,有免疫史者占12.18%,无免疫史或免疫史不详者占8 7.82%。结论水痘发病人群主要为14岁以下儿童,发病时间与学校、托幼机构的在校时间相吻合,应加强教育机构水痘疫情监测与应急处置、施行2剂次水痘疫苗接种策略等防控措施,以减少学生暴发疫情的发生。     

Bacterial alginates: from biosynthesis to applications

Alginate is a polysaccharide belonging to the family of linear (unbranched), non-repeating copolymers, consisting of variable amounts of β-d-mannuronic acid and its C5-epimer α- l-guluronic acid linked via β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. Like DNA, alginate is a negatively charged polymer, imparting material properties ranging from viscous solutions to gel-like structures in the presence of divalent cations. Bacterial alginates are synthesized by only two bacterial genera, Pseudomonas and Azotobacter, and have been extensively studied over the last 40 years. While primarily synthesized in form of polymannuronic acid, alginate undergoes chemical modifications comprising acetylation and epimerization, which occurs during periplasmic transfer and before final export through the outer membrane. Alginate with its unique material properties and characteristics has been increasingly considered as biomaterial for medical applications. The genetic modification of alginate producing microorganisms could enable biotechnological production of new alginates with unique, tailor-made properties, suitable for medical and industrial applications.     

Bacterial Community Diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Soils

The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial community diversity of the Brazilian Atlantic forest soil by means of both cultivation and 16S rRNA clone libraries. A collection of 86 representative isolates, obtained from six samples of Atlantic forest soils from the National Park of Serra dos Órgãos (PARNASO), belonged to the genera Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Burkholderia, Leifsonia, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Serratia, and Streptomyces according to the 16S rRNA sequences. Representative isolates from the different genera degraded cellulose and lignin. The culture-independent analysis based on 894 partial 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the most frequently retrieved groups belonged to the phyla Acidobacteria (29–54%), Proteobacteria (16–38%), and Verrucomicrobia (0.6–14%). The majority of the sequences (82.6%) were unidentified singletons and doubletons, indicating a high diversity of rare unique sequences. Chao1 estimator disclosed a high number of phyla (41–152) and species (263–446). This is the first survey on the Atlantic Forest soils using a combination of cultivation and culture-independent approaches. We conclude that the Brazilian Atlantic Forest soil represents a vast source of novel bacteria.     

Poverty,dirt, infections and non-atopic wheezing in children from a Brazilian urban center

Background

The causation of asthma is poorly understood. Risk factors for atopic and non-atopic asthma may be different. This study aimed to analyze the associations between markers of poverty, dirt and infections and wheezing in atopic and non-atopic children.

Methods

1445 children were recruited from a population-based cohort in Salvador, Brazil. Wheezing was assessed using the ISAAC questionnaire and atopy defined as allergen-specific IgE ≥0.70 kU/L. Relevant social factors, environmental exposures and serological markers for childhood infections were investigated as risk factors using multivariate multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Common risk factors for wheezing in atopic and non-atopic children, respectively, were parental asthma and respiratory infection in early childhood. No other factor was associated with wheezing in atopic children. Factors associated with wheezing in non-atopics were low maternal educational level (OR 1.49, 95% CI 0.98-2.38), low frequency of room cleaning (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.27-4.90), presence of rodents in the house (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.06-2.09), and day care attendance (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.01-2.29).

Conclusions

Non-atopic wheezing was associated with risk factors indicative of poverty, dirt and infections. Further research is required to more precisely define the mediating exposures and the mechanisms by which they may cause non-atopic wheeze.     

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders among children in a Brazilian orphanage

Background: The objective was to investigate the frequency of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and ophthalmologic anomalies in orphanage children in Brazil. Methods: A prospective study was performed on 94 children living in an orphanage in Brazil. The children were examined by a multidisciplinary team consisting of specialists in pediatrics, neurology, psychology, neuropsychiatry, and ophthalmology. Results: The main reasons for living in the orphanage, in 61% of the children, were negligence, child abuse, and abandonment. Of all the children studied, 50% had mothers with known alcohol abuse and 47% had one or more diagnoses of neurodevelopmental/behavioral and/or cognitive deficits. General developmental delay was found in 18%, intellectual disability in 3%, cognitive impairment in 27%, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder in 14%, and autism in 3%. Altogether 17% had FASD, comprising three children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), six with partial FAS, and seven with alcohol‐related neurodevelopmental disorder. 16% had ophthalmological findings such as poor vision, strabismus, and dysmorphology of the optic nerves. Twenty‐eight children (30%) were adopted from the orphanage; of these, six had FASD (two FAS, three partial FAS, one alcohol‐related neurodevelopmental disorder), five had attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and eight had developmental delay. Conclusion: Nearly half of the children living in the orphanage had neurodevelopmental disorders and a considerable number showed signs of damage from prenatal alcohol exposure. A broader look at the problem of FASD in Brazil and other South American countries is desirable to document the burden of disease and provide data for targeting prevention efforts. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 103:178–185, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.