Species diversity in Gymnogeophagus (Teleostei: Cichlidae) and comparative biogeography of cichlids in the Middle Paraná basin,an emerging hotspot of fish endemism

Hydrobiologia - We address the diversity of two species groups of the cichlid genus Gymnogeophagus in the Middle Paraná basin using molecular phylogeography and traditional morphological...     

Variations in carotenoid content and acyl chain composition in exponential,stationary and biofilm states of Staphylococcus aureus,and their influence on membrane biophysical properties

Bacteria are often found in close association with surfaces, resulting in the formation of biofilms. In Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), biofilms are implicated in the resilience of chronic infections, presenting a serious clinical problem world-wide. Here, S. aureus biofilms are grown under flow within clinical catheters at 37 °C. The lipid composition and biophysical properties of lipid extracts from these biofilms are compared with those from exponential growth and stationary phase cells. Biofilms show a reduction in iso and anteiso branching compensated by an increase in saturated fatty acids compared to stationary phase. A drastic reduction in carotenoid levels is also observed during biofilm formation. Thermotropic measurements of Laurdan GP and DPH polarization, show a reduction of lipid packing at 37 °C for biofilms compared to stationary phase. We studied the effects of carotenoid content on DMPG and DPPG model membranes showing trends in thermotropic behavior consistent with those observed in bacterial isolates, indicating that carotenoids participate in modulating lipid packing. Additionally, bending elastic constant (k_c) measurements using vesicle fluctuation analysis (VFA) show that the presence of carotenoids can increase membrane bending rigidity. The antimicrobial peptide Magainin H2 was less activity on liposomes composed of stationary phase compared to biofilms or exponential growth isolates. This study contributes to an understanding of how Staphylococcus aureus modulates the composition of its membrane lipids, and how those changes affect the biophysical properties of membranes, which in turn may play a role in its virulence and its resistance to different membrane-active antimicrobial agents.     

Mycosis Due to Tropicoporus tropicalis (= Inonotus tropicalis) in a Domestic Dog

Mycopathologia - Mycelial basidiomycetes rarely produce mycoses in animals including humans. We report a case of a 9-year-old female mongrel dog with lesions in the prescapular lymph nodes. The...     

GABAA Modulation of S100B Secretion in Acute Hippocampal Slices and Astrocyte Cultures

Astrocytes are the major glial cells in brain tissue and are involved, among many functions, ionic and metabolic homeostasis maintenance of synapses. These cells express receptors and transporters for neurotransmitters, including GABA. GABA signaling is reportedly able to affect astroglial response to injury, as evaluated by specific astrocyte markers such as glial fibrillary acid protein and the calcium-binding protein, S100B. Herein, we investigated the modulatory effects of the GABA_A receptor on astrocyte S100B secretion in acute hippocampal slices and astrocyte cultures, using the agonist, muscimol, and the antagonists pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and bicuculline. These effects were analyzed in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), fluorocitrate (FLC), cobalt and barium. PTZ positively modify S100B secretion in hippocampal slices and astrocyte cultures; in contrast, bicuculline inhibited S100B secretion only in hippocampal slices. Muscimol, per se, did not change S100B secretion, but prevented the effects of PTZ and bicuculline. Moreover, PTZ-induced S100B secretion was prevented by TTX, FLC, cobalt and barium indicating a complex GABA_A communication between astrocytes and neurons. The effects of two putative agonists of GABA_A, β-hydroxybutyrate and methylglyoxal, on S100B secretion were also evaluated. In view of the neurotrophic role of extracellular S100B under conditions of injury, our data reinforce the idea that GABA_A receptors act directly on astrocytes, and indirectly on neurons, to modulate astroglial response.

     

Laboratory Test Surveillance following Acute Kidney Injury

Background

Patients with hospitalized acute kidney injury (AKI) are at increased risk for accelerated loss of kidney function, morbidity, and mortality. We sought to inform efforts at improving post-AKI outcomes by describing the receipt of renal-specific laboratory test surveillance among a large high-risk cohort.

Methods

We acquired clinical data from the Electronic health record (EHR) of 5 Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals to identify patients hospitalized with AKI from January 1^st, 2002 to December 31^st, 2009, and followed these patients for 1 year or until death, enrollment in palliative care, or improvement in renal function to estimated GFR (eGFR) ≥60 L/min/1.73 m². Using demographic data, administrative codes, and laboratory test data, we evaluated the receipt and timing of outpatient testing for serum concentrations of creatinine and any as well as quantitative proteinuria recommended for CKD risk stratification. Additionally, we reported the rate of phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (PTH) monitoring recommended for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Results

A total of 10,955 patients admitted with AKI were discharged with an eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m². During outpatient follow-up at 90 and 365 days, respectively, creatinine was measured on 69% and 85% of patients, quantitative proteinuria was measured on 6% and 12% of patients, PTH or phosphorus was measured on 10% and 15% of patients.

Conclusions

Measurement of creatinine was common among all patients following AKI. However, patients with AKI were infrequently monitored with assessments of quantitative proteinuria or mineral metabolism disorder, even for patients with baseline kidney disease.     

Análisis del impacto presupuestal en Colombia de la prueba de HPV con genotipificación comparada con la citología

Introduction:

The detection of the human papillomavirus (HPV) through the combination of the HPV test and other techniques such as cytology has impacted the detection and timely treatment of lesions associated with cervical cancer.

Objective:

To estimate the budgetary impact of the strategy of early detection of HPV with DNA test genotyping with reflex cytology versus conventional cytology in women aged 30 to 65 years attending the cervical cancer screening program at a health benefit managing entity in Colombia.

Materials and methods:

Using a decision tree and a Markov model, the clinical implications and direct costs of screening, diagnosis, and treatment were estimated in a cohort of women. The analysis considered two screening cycles and their annual costs. The data on the prevalence of clinical results and the costs were taken from the health managing entity. The information on the progression, persistence, and regression of the health states were taken from the ATHENA study.

Results:

The screening scheme with the HPV test, genotyping, and reflex cytology compared to conventional cytology was cost-saving. The average cost per screening cycle with the HPV test was estimated at COP $ 129,201,363 and with cytology at COP $ 186,309,952, i.e., a saving of COP $ 57,108,589 (30.7%).

Conclusion:

The implementation of the screening strategy under evaluation suggests prospective savings derived from the early detection of health states associated with the development of cervical cancer.     

Orbivirus infections in collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) in southeastern Brazil

We surveyed 49 free-living collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) in Brazil for antibodies against bluetongue virus (BTV) and porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2). Antibodies against BTV were detected in 19/49 (39%) samples. All samples were negative for PCV2. The importance of antibodies to BTV in collared peccaries remains to be determined.     

Cellular characterisation of Candida tropicalis presenting fluconazole-related trailing growth

We assessed fluconazole susceptibility in 52 Candida tropicalis clinical strains using seven antifungal susceptibility methods, including broth microdilution (BMD) [standard M27 A3 (with neutral and acid pH), ATB Fungus 3, Vitek 2 system and flow cytometric analysis] and agar-based methods (disk diffusion and E-test). Trailing growth, detection of cell-associated secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) and morphological and ultrastructural traits of these clinical strains were also examined. The ranges of fluconazole 24 h-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were similar among all methods. The essential agreement among the methods used for MIC determinations was excellent and all methods categorised all strains as susceptible, except for one strain that showed a minor error. The presence of the trailing effect was assessed by six methods. Trailing positivity was observed for 86.5-100% of the strains. The exception was the BMD-Ac method where trailing growth was not observed. Morphological and ultrastructural alterations were detected in C. tropicalis trailing cells, including mitochondrial swelling and cell walls with irregular shapes. We tested the production of Saps in 13 C. tropicalis strains expressing trailing growth through flow cytometry. Our results showed that all of the C. tropicalis strains up-regulated surface Sap expression after 24 h or 48 h of exposure to fluconazole, which was not observed in untreated yeast strains. We concluded that C. tropicalis strains expressing trailing growth presented some particular features on both biological and ultrastructural levels.