Rapid Detection of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae

Enterobacterial strains producing clavulanic-acid-inhibited extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are increasingly reported worldwide. Conventional detection of ESBL production remains time-consuming (24 to 48 h). Therefore, the ESBL NDP (Nordmann/Dortet/Poirel) test was developed for a rapid identification of ESBLs in Enterobacteriaceae. This biochemical test was based on the in vitro detection of a cephalosporin (cefotaxime) hydrolysis that is inhibited by tazobactam addition. The ESBL activity was evidenced by a color change (red to yellow) of a pH indicator (red phenol) due to carboxyl-acid formation resulting from cefotaxime hydrolysis that was reversed by addition of tazobactam (positive test). The ESBL NDP test was applied to cultured strains (215 ESBL producers and 40 ESBL nonproducers). Its sensitivity and specificity were 92.6% and 100%, respectively. Its sensitivity (100%) was excellent for detection of CTX-M producers. A few ESBL producers (n = 16) that remained susceptible to cefotaxime were not detected. The test was also evaluated on spiked blood cultures and showed excellent sensitivity and specificity (100% for both). The test was rapid (less than 1 h) and cost-effective. It can be implemented in any health care facility and is well adapted for infection control purposes in particular.     

The Detection of Hidden Periodicities in EEG

A novel method for detecting the hidden periodicities in EEG is proposed. By using a width-varying window in the time domain, the structure function of EEG time series is defined. It is found that the minima of the structure function, within a finite window width, can be found regularly, which indicate that there are some certain periodicities associated with EEG time series. Based on the structure function, a further quadratic structure function of EEG time series is defined. By quadratic structure function, it can be seen that the periodicities of EEG become more obvious, moreover, the period of EEG can be determined accurately. These results will be meaningful for studying the neuron activity inside the human brain.     

Photoplethysmograph Signal Reconstruction Based on a Novel Hybrid Motion Artifact Detection–Reduction Approach. Part I: Motion and Noise Artifact Detection

Motion and noise artifacts (MNA) are a serious obstacle in utilizing photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals for real-time monitoring of vital signs. We present a MNA detection method which can provide a clean vs. corrupted decision on each successive PPG segment. For motion artifact detection, we compute four time-domain parameters: (1) standard deviation of peak-to-peak intervals (2) standard deviation of peak-to-peak amplitudes (3) standard deviation of systolic and diastolic interval ratios, and (4) mean standard deviation of pulse shape. We have adopted a support vector machine (SVM) which takes these parameters from clean and corrupted PPG signals and builds a decision boundary to classify them. We apply several distinct features of the PPG data to enhance classification performance. The algorithm we developed was verified on PPG data segments recorded by simulation, laboratory-controlled and walking/stair-climbing experiments, respectively, and we compared several well-established MNA detection methods to our proposed algorithm. All compared detection algorithms were evaluated in terms of motion artifact detection accuracy, heart rate (HR) error, and oxygen saturation (SpO₂) error. For laboratory controlled finger, forehead recorded PPG data and daily-activity movement data, our proposed algorithm gives 94.4, 93.4, and 93.7% accuracies, respectively. Significant reductions in HR and SpO₂ errors (2.3 bpm and 2.7%) were noted when the artifacts that were identified by SVM-MNA were removed from the original signal than without (17.3 bpm and 5.4%). The accuracy and error values of our proposed method were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than all other detection methods. Another advantage of our method is its ability to provide highly accurate onset and offset detection times of MNAs. This capability is important for an automated approach to signal reconstruction of only those data points that need to be reconstructed, which is the subject of the companion paper to this article. Finally, our MNA detection algorithm is real-time realizable as the computational speed on the 7-s PPG data segment was found to be only 7 ms with a Matlab code.     

Detection of an “epimastigote-like” intracellular stage ofTrypanosoma cruzi

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) DION 5.1b, derived from mice immunized withTrypanosoma dionisii, recognizes a 72/76-kD surface glycoprotein specific to the epimastigote stage ofT. dionisii andT. cruzi. None of the three other stages of theT. cruzi life cycle expresses any DION 5.1b-specific epitope. However, mAb DION 5.1b labels an intracellular form with epimastigote-like morphology that appears to be late and transient in the intracellular cycle. This result suggests that the morphological similarity between the observed epimastigote-like intracellular form in mammals and the epimastigote form in insects may extend to the antigenic pattern.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Detection of factor Ⅷ intron 1 inversion in severe haemophilia A

Objective Screening the intron 1 inversion of factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) in the population of severe haemophilia A(HA) in China and performing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. Methods Using LD-PCR to detect intron 22 inversions and multiple-PCR within two tubes to intron 1 inversions in sereve HA patients. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis were performed in affected families. Linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to verify these tests. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were seven diagnosed as intron 22 inversions and 7 were intron 1 inversions out of 247 severe HA patients. The prevalence of the intron 1 inversion in Chinese severe haemophilia A patients was 2. 8% (7/247). Six women from family A and 2 from family B were diagnosed as carriers. One fetus from family A was affected fetus. Conclusion Intron 1 inversion could be detected directly by multiple-PCR within two tubes. This method made the strategy more perfective in carrier and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A.     

Histochemical Detection of 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase in Neurons of Rat Brain

Here we present the results of histochemical detection of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in neurons of the neocortex, cerebellum, and brainstem. The positive reaction was observed in a low number of neocortical, midbrain, and pontine neurons. The maximum number of positive neurons was detected in the cerebellar cortex (Purkinje cells) and hippocampus.     

Detection of plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae

Background: Detecting plasmid-mediated AmpC (pAmpC) β-lactamase-producing organism is important for optimal infection control and providing accurate and effective treatment option for physicians. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pAmpC β-lactamase and compare the results of boronic acid (BA) disk test with other phenotypic tests detecting AmpC positive isolates. Materials and Methods: A total of 273 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae (n: 82) and Escherichia coli (n: 191) were analysed. The presence of pAmpC β-lactamase was determined by BA disk test, cefoxitin (FOX) screening test, modified three dimensional test (M3DT), and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was performed to evaluate the genetic similarities between isolates. To detect extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) in the presence of AmpC β-lactamase, ESBL confirmation test was carried out with and without BA solution. Results: Of the 273 strains tested, 127 strains were found FOX resistant, 114 were positive by M3DT, 108 were positive in BA disk test, and the multiplex PCR detected 24 pAmpC β-lactamase-positive isolate. The prevalence of AmpC-producing strains was 10.9% in E. coli and 3.6% in K. pneumoniae in the tested population by PCR. CIT and MOX group genes were predominant type in these strains. Conclusion: These results emphasize that clinical laboratories should consider testing the presence of pAmpC enzymes particularly in FOX-resistant isolates, and BA disk test will improve detection of this emerging resistance phenotype.     

Implementation of a Multi-sampling-frequency System for RR-interval Timing and Blood Pressure Detection

INTRODUCTION Researchers study on cardiac electrophysiology and haemodynamics for more effective methods of di-agnosis and treatment. During these studies, howto obtain information as much as possible, depends onnot only the progress of analysis methods, but also the improvement of signal acquisition and the condi-tions for further analysis. Without automatic data processing, the analysis of experimental data might bewith poor accuracy,time-consuming and even impossible in some new cardiov…     

Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases (ESBLs): Characterization,Epidemiology and Detection

β-lactamases of Enterobacteriaceae are the most important mechanism of resistance against β-lactam drugs. Two types of β-lactamases can confer resistance against 3rd generation cephalosporins. Chromosomally mediated β-lactamases are inducible and are not inhibited by clavulanic acid. Resistance due to these enzymes is non-transferable. The 2nd type of enzyme is plasmid-mediated β-lactamases, which are inhibited by clavulanic acid. These enzymes are more important clinically as these can be transferred between various species of Enterobacteria ceae. These enzymes are called extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae have been responsible for numerous outbreaks of infection throughout the world and pose challenging infection control issues. Antibacterial choice is often complicated by multi-resistance. ESBLs can confer resistance against all β-lactam drugs except carbapenems and cephamycins. Nursing home patients may be an important reservoir of ESBL-containing multiple antibiotic-resistant organisms. Use of broad-spectrum oral antibiotics and probably poor infection control practices may facilitate spread of this plasmid-mediated resistance. In addition to known populations at risk, ambulatory patients with chronic conditions represent another patient population that may harbor ESBL-producing organisms. Various methods can be used for detection of ESBLs in the laboratory. These tests include double disc diffusion test, Vitek ESBL test, E Tests, MIC Determination, genetic method, and isoelectric focusing (IEF).