Comparison of 2 proposed MLVA protocols for subtyping non-O157:H7 verotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Multiple locus variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) analysis (MLVA) has become a reliable tool, able to establish genetic relationships for epidemiological surveillance and molecular subtyping of pathogens such as verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC). This emerging pathogen whose primary reservoir is the cattle causes severe disease in humans, such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. With the aim of comparing a recently proposed MLVA assay with that used routinely in our laboratory, we analyzed a set of VTEC isolates (n = 72) obtained from meat using both assays. All samples could be typed by the new MLVA assay, and an increase in the number of distinct profiles (31–43) was observed. However, intraserotype resolution was not significantly enhanced; thus, the incorporation of more VNTR loci is still needed to achieve a greater discrimination among non-O157:H7 serotypes.     

Phthalimido-thiazole as privileged scaffold: activity against immature and adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni

Parasitology Research - Phthalimide, 1,3-thiazole, and thiazolidinone cores are considered privileged scaffolds and represent an attractive starting point to design new bioactive compounds for...     

Ethanol withdrawal increases blood pressure and vascular oxidative stress: a role for angiotensin type 1 receptors

We evaluated the possible mechanisms underlying the oxidative stress induced by ethanol withdrawal. With this purpose, we verified the role of AT₁ receptors in such response. Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol 3%–9% (vol./vol.) for 21 days. Ethanol withdrawal was induced by abrupt discontinuation of the treatment. Experiments were performed 48 hours after ethanol discontinuation. Increased plasma levels of angiotensin II were detected after ethanol withdrawal. Losartan (10 mg/kg; p.o. gavage), a selective AT₁ receptor antagonist, impeded the increase in blood pressure induced by ethanol withdrawal. Increased lipoperoxidation and superoxide anion (O₂^?) levels were detected in aortas after ethanol withdrawal, and losartan prevented these responses. Decreased hydrogen peroxide and nitrate/nitrite concentration were detected in aortas after ethanol withdrawal, and losartan prevented these effects. Nitrotyrosine immunostaining in the rat aorta was increased after ethanol withdrawal, and AT₁ blockade impeded this response. Increased expression of PKCδ and p47^phox was detected after ethanol withdrawal, and treatment with losartan prevented these responses. Our study provides novel evidence that ethanol withdrawal increases vascular oxidative stress and blood pressure through AT₁-dependent mechanisms. These findings highlight the importance of angiotensin II in ethanol withdrawal–induced increase in blood pressure and vascular oxidative damage.     

Influence of intra- and extrauterine factors on infant sleep in the first 6 months of life

ObjectiveInfant sleep problems can affect the child's health. Maternal characteristics have been associated with the quality of infant sleep, but few studies have investigated the impact of intrauterine conditions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between adverse intrauterine environments (maternal smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and intrauterine growth restriction) and extrauterine factors on infant sleep in the first 6 months of life.MethodsProspective cohort study, including singleton and at-term infants. Mothers were interviewed after delivery and at 30 days, 3 months, and 6 months of life. Socioeconomic, breastfeeding, and sleep data were self-reported by mothers using semi-structured interviews. Maternal stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and postpartum depression symptoms (Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale) were assessed.ResultsThere was no statistically significant association between intrauterine environments and the sleep of infants of the 359 mother–child dyads investigated. Total infant sleep time decreased from approximately 13–11 h from 30 days to 6 months of age (p < 0.001) and the longest period of uninterrupted sleep increased from approximately 4–6 h during the same period (p < 0.001). Breastfed infants slept longer in 24-h periods in the first month, but they woke up more often throughout the night when compared to infants receiving formula. Mothers with depressive symptoms reported increased sleep latency time.ConclusionsAdverse intrauterine environments did not significantly affect sleep measures in the first 6 months of life. Maternal characteristics and practices, however, were associated with infant sleep, suggesting that environmental factors significantly contribute to sleep quality early in life.     

Health Services Use and Costs in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Germany: Results from a Survey in ASD Outpatient Clinics

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with high services use, but European data on costs are scarce. Utilisation and annual costs of 385...     

How is the quality of the available evidence on molar-incisor hypomineralization treatment? An overview of systematic reviews

Clinical Oral Investigations - This overview analyzed the quality of the systematic reviews (SRs) available on treatments for molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Six electronic databases were...     

Acute effects of synthetic cannabinoids: Update 2015

Background: Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States and Europe. In recent years, a range of new substances with cannabis-like effects—known as synthetic cannabinoids (SCs)—have suddenly burst on the drug scene. However, there is limited information about the clinical hazards linked to the use of these emerging substances. This review summarizes the literature to date relating the health effects of SCs. Method: A systematic literature review of original case studies was performed using PubMed and Web of Science (January 1980–July 2015). Only articles in which a drug screening was reported were included in this review. Results: Forty-six articles meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this review, reporting data on 114 patients who went to hospital emergency departments after exposure to SCs. The majority of patients were adolescent or young adult males (14–25 years; 24.5 ± 10.1 years). The most common route of administration was smoking. The SCs most involved were John William Huffman (JWH) derivatives, followed by XRL-11, ADB-PINACA, AM-2201, MAM-2201, and 5F-PB-22. This analysis showed that the use of these substances may cause minor and moderate side effects similar to those of cannabis intoxication, including tachycardia, nausea, somnolence, hallucinations, paranoia, xerostomia, and injected conjunctivae among others. However, atypical cannabis intoxication effects and worse complications (such as renal injuries, aggressiveness, cerebral ischemia, myocardial infarction, etc.) were also observed, which led to a significant morbidity were also observed. Some SCs were highlighted as being involved in 24 cases of deaths. Conclusions: In this review, the nature and frequency of the signs and symptoms of SC poisoning were estimated in order to inform health professionals about the health risks of these new and emerging substances.     

Application of the buccal micronucleus cytome assay and analysis of PON1Gln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(−48T>G) polymorphisms in tobacco farmers

Tobacco is a major Brazilian cash crop. Tobacco farmers apply large amounts of pesticides to control insect growth. Workers come into contact with green tobacco leaves during the tobacco harvest and absorb nicotine through the skin. In the present study, micronucleus frequency, cell death, and the frequency of basal cells were measured in tobacco farmers using the buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCyt), in parallel with measurement of blood butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and nicotine levels. Polymorphisms in PONIGln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(?48T>G) were evaluated to verify the relationship between genetic susceptibility and the measured biomarkers. Peripheral blood and buccal cell samples were collected from 106 agricultural workers, at two different crop times (during pesticide application and leaf harvest), as well as 53 unexposed controls. BMCyt showed statistically significant increases in micronuclei, nuclear buds, and binucleated cells among exposed subjects in differentiated cells, and in micronuclei in basal cells. In addition, the exposed group showed higher values for condensed chromatin, karyorrhectic, pyknotic, and karyolitic cells, indicative of cell death, and an increase in the frequency of basal cells compared to the unexposed control group. A slight difference in mutagenicity using the BMCyt assay was found between the two different sampling times (pesticide application and leaf harvest), with higher micronucleus frequencies during pesticide application. Elevated cotinine levels were observed during the leaf harvest compared to the unexposed controls, while BChE level was similar among the farmers and controls. PONIGln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(?48T>G) polymorphisms were associated with DNA damage induced by pesticides and cell death. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.