Related factors to human toxocariasis in a rural community of Argentina

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between toxocariasis frequency and demographic, environmental, sanitary variables, eosinophylia, and other intestinal parasites in a rural population of Argentina. Serological examination of 100 individuals was carried out by using ELISA technique for the detection of anti-toxocara antibodies. Eosinophiles in peripheral blood, presence of intestinal parasites, and demographic, environmental, and socio-cultural data were evaluated. Eighty-one feces samples of dogs belonging to the studied people were analyzed to detect eggs of Toxocara canis. Thirty of them were from 30 dogs and 51 were pools from dog feces. Samples of dirt from around the homes (n: 47) and from public park (n: 4) were taken. To determine the associations, the c(2) and Fisher tests were used. The seroprevalence was 23%. Eosinophilia in peripheral blood was detected in 86.95% seropositive individuals and in 37.66% seronegative individuals (p < 0.001, OR = 11.03). Of the 23 people with positive serology, 69.56% had at least one intestinal parasite. All individuals with positive serology had dogs in their homes. Among the dog owners there was a significant association between the presence of anti-toxocara antibodies and home flooding. Eggs of T. canis were detected in the feces of 5/81 dogs and three of these dogs belonged to individuals with positive serology. Eggs of Toxocara spp. were found in 41.17% of the dirt samples, eight of which came from the area surrounding the homes of individuals with positive serology (p = 0.032; OR = 4.36). Taking into account all the variables influencing the frequency of toxocariasis in this population, the implementation of Public Health programs specifically focused on anti-parasitic treatment of dogs is recommended.     

The use of antibiotics for studies of morphogenesis and differentiation in microorganisms

Numerous antibodies with a known mechanism of action are utilized as possible means for studying morphogenesis and differentiation. Inhibitors of biosynthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, compounds intervening with the synthesis and/or function of cell walls and membranes or compounds influencing the energy metabolism are particularly useful. The use of antibiotics for studies of the life cycle of viruses, bacteria, fungi, myxomycetes, protozoa and algae is analyzed in the present communication. Certain aspects of morphogenesis and functions of mitochondria and plastids were clarified with the aid of antibiotics. Relationships between production of antibiotics and differentiation of their producers are discussed in the final part of the paper.     

Lidocaine-induced apoptosis of gingival fibroblasts: participation of cAMP and PKC activity

Local anaesthetics are drugs that prevent or relieve pain by interrupting nervous conduction and are the most commonly used drugs in dentistry. Their main targets of action are voltage-dependent Na+ channels. The Na+ channel is modulated by phosphorylation of two enzymes: PKA (protein kinase A) and PKC (protein kinase C). We studied the ability of lidocaine to modulate programmed cell death of human gingival fibroblasts and the mechanisms involved in this process. Lidocaine (10-5 to 10-7 M) stimulated apoptosis in primary cultures and the caspase-3 activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The stimulatory effect of lidocaine on apoptosis was attenuated in the presence of HA 1004 (PKA inhibitor) and stimulated by staurosporine and Go 6976 (PKC inhibitors). Lidocaine-induced apoptotic nuclei correlated positively with cAMP accumulation and negatively with PKC activity. These results show that lidocaine promotes apoptosis in human gingival fibroblasts at concentrations used for local anaesthesia. The mechanism involves PKA stimulation and PKC inhibition, which in turn stimulates caspase-3 and leads to programmed cell death.     

Stability and resilience of the intestinal microbiota in children in daycare – a 12 month cohort study

Background

We performed a 12-month cohort study of the stability and resilience of the intestinal microbiota of healthy children in daycare in Denmark in relation to diarrheal events and exposure to known risk factors for gastrointestinal health such as travelling and antibiotic use. In addition, we analyzed how gut microbiota recover from such exposures.

Results

We monitored 32 children in daycare aged 1–6?years. Fecal samples were submitted every second month during a one-year observational period. Information regarding exposures and diarrheal episodes was obtained through questionnaires. Bacterial communities were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The core microbiota (mean abundance >?95%) dominated the intestinal microbiota, and none of the tested exposures (diarrheal events, travel, antibiotic use) were associated with decreases in the relative abundance of the core microbiota. Samples exhibited lower intra-individual variation than inter-individual variation. Half of all the variation between samples was explained by which child a sample originated from. Age explained 7.6–9.6% of the variation, while traveling, diarrheal events, and antibiotic use explained minor parts of the beta diversity. We found an age-dependent increase of alpha diversity in children aged 1–3?years, and while diarrheal events caused a decrease in alpha diversity, a recovery time of 40–45?days was observed.Among children having had a diarrheal event, we observed a 10x higher relative abundance of Prevotella. After travelling, a higher abundance of two Bacteroides species and 40% less Lachnospiraceae were seen. Antibiotic use did not correlate with changes in the abundance of any bacteria.

Conclusion

We present data showing that Danish children in daycare have stable intestinal microbiota, resilient to the exposures investigated. An early age-dependent increase in the diversity was demonstrated. Diarrheal episodes decreased alpha diversity with an estimated recovery time of 40–45?days.

     

Effect of Pattern and Duration of Breastfeeding on the Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables among Preschool Children

Background

The duration and pattern of breastfeeding can influence the consumption of fruits and vegetables in later childhood.

Objective

To investigate the association between pattern and duration of breastfeeding and consumption of fruits and vegetables in children aged between 4 and 7 years.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis using data from a former randomized clinical trial with 323 adolescent mothers, their children, and maternal grandmothers, when they cohabited. Information on infant feeding was collected monthly during the first 6 months of life, every two months until the child was 1 year old over and when children were between 4 and 7 years old. The associations between duration of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding and consumption of fruits and vegetables were tested by a logistic regression model.

Results

Approximately 60% and 45% of children consumed fruits and vegetables, respectively, five or more times a week. Consumption of vegetables among 4-7-year-old children was higher in children who were breastfed for 12 months or longer (OR 2.7; 95%CI 1.49–4.93); however, exclusive breastfeeding duration did not have a significant association with consumption of vegetables (OR 1.5; 95%CI 0.70–3.04). There was no association between weekly consumption of fruits and duration of breastfeeding (OR 1.3; 95%CI 0.71–2.30) or exclusive breastfeeding (OR 0.7; 95%CI 0.34–1.44).

Conclusions

Longer duration of breastfeeding was positively associated with consumption of vegetables in children aged 4–7 years; however, there was no association with consumption of fruits. Exclusive breastfeeding duration did not have influence on consumption of fruits or vegetables.     

Lifestyle-Related Factors and Atopy in Seven Danish Population-Based Studies from Different Time Periods

Background

The prevalence of allergic respiratory disease tends to increase in populations that adopt the so-called Westernized lifestyle. We investigated the association between atopy and several possible lifestyle-related factors in seven Danish population-based studies.

Methods

A total of 20048 persons participated in the seven studies. We used logistic regression to analyse the associations between possible determinants and atopy defined as serum specific IgE or skin prick test positivity against inhalant allergens. Associations were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). In addition, individual participant data meta-analyses were performed.

Results

Atopy was significantly associated with younger age (OR per 1 year increase in age: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.97, 0.98); male sex (OR for males versus females: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.45), heavy drinking (OR for heavy drinkers versus light drinkers: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.27), never smoking (OR for current versus never smokers: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.80), and higher educational level (OR for educated versus uneducated: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.41). Atopy was not associated with blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, physical activity or body mass except in women only, where we found a positive association (OR for obese vs. normal weight: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.39) with p_trend = 0.032.

Conclusions

Of interest for preventive purposes, we found that atopy was associated with some of the reversible lifestyle-related factors that characterize a Westernized lifestyle.     

The zooplankton and other limnological features of a humic coastal lagoon (Lagoa Comprida,Macé, R.J.) in Brazil

Comprida lagoon is a shallow lagoon separated from the sea by a sand barrier. It has a brown-coloured freshwater with a high concentration of humic compounds. Its zooplankton community and limnological features were studied from March 1992 to December 1995. The lagoon was characterized by low transparency, acid water and relative constant physical–chemical features, except during sporadic marine entrances. The zooplankton, composed of holoplanktonic and meroplanktonic forms, consisted of 60 taxa. Eleven were permanent elements of the community: e.g. Bosminopsis deitersi, nauplii and copepodites of `Diaptomus' azureus. B. deitersi correlated positively with the lowest pH values and with the highest total dissolved nitrogen. Only four taxa correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration. Pigmentation in `D.' azureus is suggested to be as an energy reserve in a system where phytoplankton is probably light-limited.     

Regulation of differentiation of the dimorphic fungusPaecilomyces viridis by nitrogen sources,antibiotics and metabolic inhibitors

The effect of nitrogen and carbon sources, vitamins, antibiotics and metabolic inhibitors on growth and differentiation ofPaecilomyces viridis was investigated. Sodium nitrate,l-asparagine,l-proline and peptone were found to be suitable nitrogen sources for mycelial growth (M) in a synthetic medium with glucose.Paecilomyces viridis could also grow slowly in a synthetic medium containing benzylpenicillin or bacitracin as the only nitrogen sources and very slowly even in a medium with polymyxin as the nitrogen source. Ammonium salts, area,l-arginine,d, l-aspartic acid andl,-serine were found to support intensive sporulation. Partially yeast-like growth (Y) was facilitated by NaNO₂, (NH₄)₂SO₄, NH₄NO₃, urea,d, l-alanine,l-arginine,d, l-aspartic acid,l-cysteine,l-glutamic acid andl-serine. Partially yeastlike growth could be observed in a medium with peptone and at an initial pH of 2. The following compounds appear as suitable carbon sources for mycelial growth:d-glucose,d-galactose,d-mannose, maltose, sucrose, chitin andd-mannitol. No changes in morphology could be detected on any of the 25 used carbon sources in a synthetic medium with NaNO₃. Yeast-like growth was induced by the antibiotics azalomycin F, cyanein (brefeldin A), griseofulvin and monorden (radicicol). After removal of the antibiotics, mycelial growth was restored. Sporulation was stimulated by chloramphenicol, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, furancarboxylic acid and stipitatic acid. Deformation of phialides was observed after treatment with actinomycin D, amphotericin B, boromycin, citrinin, cycloheximide, cytochalasin D, fungicidin and scopathricin. Microcyclic conidiation or growth of phialides directly from conidia were induced by cycloheximide, desertomycin, ethidium bromide and 5-fluorouracil.     

Antibiotic activity of fungi isolated from soil samples from Indonesia

Two hundred and thirteen fungal cultures were recovered from 88 soil samples from different parts of Indonesia; 39.4% belonged to the genusPenicillium, 19.7% to the genusAspergillus, 9.9% to the genusFusarium and the rest to different systematic groups. One hundred and fifty two cultures were antibiotically active; 80% of these were antagonists ofBacillus subtilis, 55% ofEscherichia coli, 20% ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae and 37% ofCandida pseudotropicalis. In agreement with previous observations it was found that the activity spectrum of antagonists was related to the altitude above sea level at which they were found. As the altitude increased, the incidence of antagonists with both antibacterial and antifungal activity decreased, but the incidence of antagonists with only antibacterial or only antifungal activity increased. Fungi of the generaPenicillium andAspergillus were the most frequent antibiotic producers. The incidence of penicillin producers was much lower than in collections of fungi isolated in higher latitudes (China, Bulgaria, Slovakia).     

Antibiotic properties of soil fungi from bulgaria

Из 52 образцов почвы из различных областей Боларии мы изолировали 295 культур грибков. Мы определяли их антибиотическое действие на четырех представителей бактерий (Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea, Escherichia coli и Proteus vulgaris) и на 5 представителей грибков (Saccharoyces vini, Candida albicans, Candila pseudotropicalis, Aspergillus fumigatus и Alternaria tenuis). До 9% выделенных грибков оказались антибиотическими. 27% из них былоантибактериаль ных, 15% анти?унгальных 58% универсальных антагонистов. Мы исследовали зависимость спектра действия антагонистов от экологических условий. Мы установили, что с увеличением высоты над уровнем моря возрастало относительное количествое количество антагонистов с более узким спектром действя, а наоборот, уменьшался. Антагонистов, з??ективных по отношнию к грам-положительным бактериям, мы проверили с помощьы пенициллиназового теста с цельы отделения продуцентов пениа. Было усгновлено, что 4% из них продуцировали пенициллин, 23% -пенициллин одновремнно с другими антибиотики, отличавшиеся от ненициллина. Анти?унгальные и универсальные антагонисты были нами проверены в ориентировочном тировочном тесте на продукцию полиеноых атибиотиков.36% из них дали положительные результаты.