Prevalence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in children with diarrhea in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

We report the frequency of the different diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) categories isolated from children with acute endemic diarrhea in Salvador, Bahia. The E. coli isolates were investigated by colony blot hybridization with the following genes probes: eae, EAF, bfpA, Stx1, Stx2, ST-Ih, ST-Ip, LT-I, LT-II, INV, and EAEC, as virulence markers to distinguish typical and atypical EPEC, EHEC/STEC, ETEC, EIEC, and EAEC. Seven of the eight categories of DEC were detected. The most frequently isolated was atypical EPEC (10.1%) followed by ETEC (7.5%), and EAEC (4.2%). EHEC, STEC, EIEC, and typical EPEC were each detected once. The strains of ETEC, EAEC, and atypical EPEC belonged to a wide variety of serotypes. The serotypes of the others categories were O26:H11 (EHEC), O21:H21 (STEC), O142:H34 (typical EPEC), and O:H55 (EIEC). We also present the clinical manifestations and other pathogenic species observed in children with DEC. This is the first report of EHEC and STEC in Salvador, and one of the first in Brazil.     

B7RP-1 is not required for the generation of Th2 responses in a model of allergic airway inflammation but is essential for the induction of inhalation tolerance

The recently described ICOS-B7RP-1 costimulatory pathway has been implicated in the generation of effector Th2 responses and, hence, has become an attractive therapeutic target for allergic diseases. In the present study, we used B7RP-1-deficient mice to investigate the role of B7RP-1 in the generation and maintenance of Th2 responses in a model of mucosal allergic airway inflammation. We found that exposure of B7RP-1 knockout mice to aerosolized OVA in the context of GM-CSF leads to airway eosinophilic inflammation. This response was long lasting because rechallenge of mice with the same Ag recapitulated airway eosinophilia. Moreover, significant expression of T1/ST2 on T cells and production of Th2-affiliated cytokines (IL-5, IL-4, and IL-13) and Igs (IgE and IgG1) conclusively demonstrate the generation of a Th2 response in the absence of B7RP-1. In addition, expression of two major Th2-associated costimulatory molecules-CD28 and ICOS-indicates T cell activation in the absence of B7RP-1 signaling. Finally, B7RP-1 knockout mice are resistant to the induction of inhalation tolerance as indicated by the sustained eosinophilia in the lung and IL-5 production. In summary, our results demonstrate that in a model of mucosal allergic sensitization, the ICOS-B7RP-1 pathway is redundant for the generation of Th2 responses but essential for the induction of inhalation tolerance.     

Catheter-related thrombosis in hematologic patients

For many years central venous catheters (CVC) have been utilized to monitor hemodynamics and to deliver parenteral nutrition, blood products, pharmacological therapies or infusion fluids. Recently, CVC use has greatly increased with significant impact on the administration of chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation and other treatments to cancer patients. However, CVC use may be accompanied by a variety of side-effects, which increase with the duration of implantation. The most common catheter-related complications are thrombotic events and blood-stream infections. The true incidence of these complications is still uncertain and has changed over time due to CVC device improvement. More data are available in solid tumor than in oncohematologic patients. Recently, much attention has been paid to the issues of prevention and treatment of these complications. Some strategies have been proposed: fixed dose warfarin or low molecular weight heparins have been evaluated in some clinical trials of thromboprophylaxis in this condition. However, more studies are still needed to address this issue. This review will focus on CVC use and complications in oncohematologic patients.     

A new caffeic acid minimal synthetic medium for the rapid identification of Cryptococcus neoformans isolates

Melanin production is one of the most important criteria for rapid identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. Most of the media described in the literature for identifying C. neoformans are very complex; they contain many organic or inorganic compounds and are difficult to prepare and store. The new minimal synthetic caffeic acid medium described in this paper is simpler to prepare, convenient and constitutes an interesting new medium for the rapid identification of C. neoformans isolates.     

New splicing-site mutations in the SURF1 gene in Leigh syndrome patients

The gene SURF1 encodes a factor involved in the biogenesis of cytochrome c oxidase, the last complex in the respiratory chain. Mutations of the SURF1 gene result in Leigh syndrome and severe cytochrome c oxidase deficiency. Analysis of seven unrelated patients with cytochrome c oxidase deficiency and typical Leigh syndrome revealed different SURF1 mutations in four of them. Only these four cases had associated demyelinating neuropathy. Three mutations were novel splicing-site mutations that lead to the excision of exon 6. Two different novel heterozygous mutations were found at the same guanine residue at the donor splice site of intron 6; one was a deletion, whereas the other was a transition [588+1G>A]. The third novel splicing-site mutation was a homozygous [516-2_516-1delAG] in intron 5. One patient only had a homozygous polymorphism in the middle of the intron 8 [835+25C>T]. Western blot analysis showed that Surf1 protein was absent in all four patients harboring mutations. Our studies confirm that the SURF1 gene is an important nuclear gene involved in the cytochrome c oxidase deficiency. We also show that Surf1 protein is not implicated in the assembly of other respiratory chain complexes or the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.     

Levels of the bcl-2 protein, fibronectin and α5β1 fibronectin receptor in HIV-1-infected patients with Kaposi’s sarcoma

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative disease characterized by proliferation of neoplastic cells (spindle cells) mixed with endothelial and inflammatory cells. In this study we evaluated the role of the adhesive glycoprotein, fibronectin (FN) and its receptor α₅β₁ (FNR), and the proto-oncogene bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein. Significantly decreased serum levels of FN were noted in HIV-1-infected patients with KS, whereas serum levels of FNR were significantly increased in the same patients. Furthermore, increased FNR expression was observed on CD4 cells from KS patients. Serum levels of bcl-2 protein were significantly decreased in asymptomatic seropositive patients, whereas HIV-1-infected patients with KS showed increased serum levels of bcl-2. These results provide further information about interaction between integrins and the extracellular matrix and bcl-2 protein that can support cell survival either of neoplastic cells or endothelial and inflammatory cells.     

Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes produce low molecular mass molecules with autocrine growth factor and competence factor activity

A human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive lymphoblastoid B cell line, named BA-D10-4, produces a factor of a molecular mass less than 10 kDa that promotes cell proliferation of both BA-D10-4 cells and other human T or B lymphoid cell lines, either EBV-positive or -negative. The factor synergizes with higher molecular mass autocrine growth factors and makes both BA-D10-4 cells and B cell lines from Burkitt's lymphoma, but not cells from T cell leukemia, more responsive to interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. Therefore, this low molecular mass factor seems to be an autocrine growth factor per se and to have the characteristics of a competence factor.     

Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus through Telemedicine

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus T2DM has a huge and growing burden on public health, whereas new care models are not implemented into clinical practice; in fact the purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a program of integrated care for T2DM, compared with ordinary diligence.Methods"Progetto Diabete Calabria" is a new organizational model for the management of patients with diabetes mellitus, based on General Practitioners (GPs) empowerment and the use of a web-based electronic health record, shared in remote consultations among GPs and Hospital Consultants. One-year change in glucose and main cardiovascular risk factors control in 104 patients (Cases) following this integrated care program has been evaluated and compared with that of 208 control patients (Controls) matched for age, gender, and cardiometabolic profile, and followed in an ordinary outpatient medical management by the Consultants only. Both patient groups had Day Hospitals before and after the study period.ResultsThe mean number of accesses to the Consultants during the study was 0.6±0.9 for Cases, and 1.3±1.5 for Controls (p<0.0001). At follow-up, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) significantly decreased from 58±6 to 54±8 mmol/mol in Cases only (p=0.01); LDL cholesterol decreased in both groups; body mass index decreased in Cases only, from 31.0±4.8 to 30.5±4.6 kg/m² (p=0.03).ConclusionsThe present study demonstrates that a health care program based on GPs empowerment and taking care plus remote consultation with Consultants is at least as effective as standard outpatient management, in order to improve the control of T2DM.     

Genome mining for natural product biosynthetic gene clusters in the Subsection V cyanobacteria

Background

Cyanobacteria are well known for the production of a range of secondary metabolites. Whilst recent genome sequencing projects has led to an increase in the number of publically available cyanobacterial genomes, the secondary metabolite potential of many of these organisms remains elusive. Our study focused on the 11 publically available Subsection V cyanobacterial genomes, together with the draft genomes of Westiella intricata UH strain HT-29-1 and Hapalosiphon welwitschii UH strain IC-52-3, for their genetic potential to produce secondary metabolites. The Subsection V cyanobacterial genomes analysed in this study are reported to produce a diverse range of natural products, including the hapalindole-family of compounds, microcystin, hapalosin, mycosporine-like amino acids and hydrocarbons.

Results

A putative gene cluster for the cyclic depsipeptide hapalosin, known to reverse P-glycoprotein multiple drug resistance, was identified within three Subsection V cyanobacterial genomes, including the producing cyanobacterium H. welwitschii UH strain IC-52-3. A number of orphan NRPS/PKS gene clusters and ribosomally-synthesised and post translationally-modified peptide gene clusters (including cyanobactin, microviridin and bacteriocin gene clusters) were identified. Furthermore, gene clusters encoding the biosynthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids, scytonemin, hydrocarbons and terpenes were also identified and compared.

Conclusions

Genome mining has revealed the diversity, abundance and complex nature of the secondary metabolite potential of the Subsection V cyanobacteria. This bioinformatic study has identified novel biosynthetic enzymes which have not been associated with gene clusters of known classes of natural products, suggesting that these cyanobacteria potentially produce structurally novel secondary metabolites.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1855-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.