Weissella confusa infection in primate (Cercopithecus mona)

We describe systemic infection by Weissella confusa in a mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona) on the basis of microbiologic, molecular genetic, and histologic data. The same strain of W. confusa, as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, was isolated in pure culture from the primate’s brain, liver, spleen, and intestine. Histologic lesions showed inflammatory infiltrates mainly composed of neutrophils, indicating an acute septicemic process.Weissella microorganisms are gram-positive, catalase-negative coccobacilli, which have been isolated from a wide variety of habitats such as soil, fresh vegetables, fermented foods, or meat and meat products (1,2). The genus Weissella is peculiar since it currently includes 11 validated species, but only Weissella confusa (basonym Lactobacillus confusus) and W.eissella cibaria have been isolated from human or animal clinical sources. W. cibaria has been isolated from human bile and feces, the liver of a canary, and ear samples from a dog (1). W. confusa has been isolated from feces of children with bacteremic infections (3) and liver transplants (4), and from the peritoneal fluids and abdominal walls of two patients (5). In animals, W. confusa has been isolated from necropsy specimens from a dog and from the ear of a dog with otitis (1). However, with the exception of a thumb abscess caused by W. confusa in a healthy 49-year-old man (6), the clinical significance of all other clinical isolates was not clearly established. This article describes the first well-documented systemic infection caused by W. confusa in a primate.     

Gestational exposure to cocaine alters cocaine reward

Exposure of the developing foetus to drugs of abuse during pregnancy may lead to persistent abnormalities of brain systems involved in drug addiction. Mice prenatally exposed to cocaine (25 mg/kg), physiological saline or non-treated during the last 7 days of pregnancy were evaluated in adulthood for the rewarding properties of cocaine (3, 25 and 50 mg/kg), using the conditioned place preference procedure. Dams treated with physiological saline gained significantly less weight over the course of gestation than controls; no other differences were observed in the maternal and offspring data. All the animals developed preference to 3 and 25 mg/kg of cocaine, but those treated prenatally with cocaine did not develop preference after receiving the highest cocaine dose. In these mice, the motor activity in response to 50 mg/kg showed a small decrease. Although a reduced response to the highest cocaine dose can be argued, we suggest that the lack of preference obtained is more likely attributable to an increased sensitivity to the environmental cues associated during training to an aversive effect of this cocaine dose. The aversive properties of cocaine seem to be more apparent and to prevail over the rewarding action of the highest dose in exposed animals. These findings indicate that recurrent gestational cocaine exposure results in permanent (mal)adaptations of the structure and function of brain reward systems.     

Dependence and necessities of non-covered services for the elderly in a health sector of Zaragoza

BACKGROUND: Dependency to carry out the activities of daily living (ADL) and home care needs of older adults depend upon factors which are not well understood. Caregiving is mainly provided by the family. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of ADL dependence and associated factors among older adults and to identify associated factors with unmet home care needs in people over age 75 in Zaragoza (Spain). METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of the community dwelling population over age, 75 in one Health Care District in Saragossa in 1998 (n = 351). Data were collected during a personal interview. ADL dependency was assessed by the Katz index. Home care needs were assessed using prevalent norms for desired frequency of care. Sources of informal care, socio-demographic characteristics, self-rated health and depression (Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale) were considered independent variables. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with both ADL dependency and unmet home care needs. RESULTS: Prevalence of ADL dependence is 37.3%. The variables predicting ADL dependence are the perception of poor health, depression, being a female and being over 85 years of age. The prevalence of unmet care needs among ADL dependent individuals is 22.1%. Sources of help are limited to the families. Being a woman and living alone are the stronger risk factors for unmet needs. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of older adults are dependent. Informal support is insufficient and confined to the family. The social and health care system in Spain should provide to the family, emotional, financial and social support and special care for disabled people living alone and with limited material resources.     

Study of the immune response engendered by differents combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines in an area of Andalusia (Spain)

The objective of the study is to evaluate and compare the degree of serological protection conferred by the three components of two MMR vaccines: "Vac triple MSD" (Aventis Pasteur MSD) and "Triviraten" (Berna), and to study the effects of a second dose of "Priorix" (Glaxo SmithKline), in an unprotected population. In March 2001, this study was conducted in a sample of 86 children aged 3 and 4 years, in two Basic Health Zones of Cádiz (Spain). Mumps, measles and rubella antibody titers were evaluated by IgG enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the children showing lack of response were revaccinated with the vaccine "Priorix" of GSK; in 12 of these children (all vaccinated previously with "Triviraten"), studies confirmed the existence of seroconversion utilizing the same methodology. The most outstanding finding has been the low percentage of children vaccinated with "Triviraten" possessing protective titers (>1:500) against mumps (14.3%) compared with those vaccinated with "Vac triple MSD" (81.1%, P<0.000001); geometric mean values (GMT) of 164 and 1631, respectively, were obtained. Significant differences, and in the same direction, were also found in respect of measles (83.7 and 100%, and GMT of 889 and 5076), although not so striking. However, all the children studied did have protective titres (>16UI/ml) of antibodies against rubella. Of the 12 children studied who had not responded with protective titers of anti-mumps antibodies, eight children (66.7%) showed seroconversion with "Priorix", and only one child (25%) presented seroconversion in the response to measles. We have thus proved that the "Rubini" strain provides insufficient protection against mumps in our child population. We have also found that the "Edmonston-Zagreb" strain confers less protection against measles than the "Enders" strain, although the "Schwarz" strain, after revaccination of the children who had failed with the "Edmonston-Zagreb" strain, did not achieve a satisfactory seroconversion, either.     

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid affects the acquisition and reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference in mice

Cocaine addicts very often use different combinations of cocaine and other drugs of abuse such as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the impact of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid administration on the rewarding actions of cocaine, using the conditioned place preference procedure. Cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (50 mg/kg) was studied after pairing this drug with different gamma-hydroxybutyric acid doses (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) during either the acquisition or the expression phase of the procedure. After conditioned place preference had been established, and the preference was extinguished, a reinstatement was induced by a dose of cocaine half of that used to produce conditioning, or by gamma-hydroxybutyric acid alone or by both drugs together. The doses of 12.5 and 100 mg/kg of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid blocked the acquisition of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference, and no dose affected the expression of this conditioning. Reinstatement was abolished only with the dose of 25 mg/kg gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, which did not reinstate the preference by itself. This is the first study evaluating the effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid on the rewarding properties of cocaine using the conditioned place preference procedure. The principal conclusion of the study is that gamma-hydroxybutyric acid does not enhance the rewarding effect of cocaine, and within a narrow margin of effective doses, blocks the acquisition and reinstatement of cocaine-induced preference.     

Are Plasma Citrulline and Glutamine Biomarkers of Intestinal Absorptive Function in Patients With Short Bowel Syndrome?

Sensitive biomarkers for intestinal absorptive function would be clinically useful in short bowel syndrome (SBS). Citrulline (Cit) is a product of the metabolism of glutamine (Gln) and derived amino acids by enterocytes. Cit is produced almost exclusively by the gut, which is also a major site of Gln metabolism. The goals of this study were to examine whether plasma Cit and Gln concentrations are biomarkers of residual small intestinal length and nutrient absorptive functions in adult SBS patients followed prospectively. We studied 24 stable adults with severe SBS receiving chronic parenteral nutrition (PN) in a double-blind, randomized trial of individualized dietary modification +/- recombinant human growth hormone (GH). During a baseline week, intestinal absorption studies (% absorption of fluid, kcal, nitrogen, fat, carbohydrate, sodium, phosphorus, and magnesium) were performed and concomitant plasma Cit and Gln concentrations determined. Individualized dietary modification and treatment with subcutaneous injection of placebo (n = 9) or GH (0.1 mg/kg daily x 21 days, then 3 times/week; n = 15) were then begun. PN weaning was initiated after week 4 and continued as tolerated for 24 weeks. Repeat plasma amino acid determination and nutrient absorption studies were performed at weeks 4 and 12. Residual small bowel length at baseline was positively correlated with baseline plasma Cit (r = 0.467; p = .028). However, no significant correlations between absolute Cit or Gln concentrations and the percent absorption of nutrient substrates at any time point were observed. Similarly, no correlation between the change in Cit or GLN concentration and the change in % nutrient absorption was observed (baseline vs weeks 4 and 12, respectively). By weeks 12 and 24, 7 and 13 subjects were weaned completely from PN, respectively. However, baseline plasma Cit or Gln did not predict PN weaning at these time points. We concluded that plasma Cit (but not Gln) concentrations appeared to be an indicator of small intestinal length in adult SBS. However, neither plasma Cit nor Gln was a biomarker for intestinal absorptive function in this cohort of patients with SBS.     

Food safety evaluation of broccoli and radish sprouts.

Three cultivars of broccoli seeds (Brassica oleracea var. italica), cv. Tiburon, cv. Belstar and cv. Lucky, and two cultivars of radish seeds (Raphanus sativus), cv. Rebel and cv. Bolide, were germinated for three and five days and safety aspects such as microbiological counts and biogenic amines were investigated. Cytotoxicity evaluation was also carried out. Broccoli and radish sprouts contained numbers of mesophilic, psychrotrophic, total and faecal coliform bacteria which are the usual counts for minimally processed germinated seeds. Putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, spermidine and spermine increased during sprout production although these levels were below those permitted by legislation (5 mg/100 g of edible food). Broccoli and radish sprouts demonstrated no toxic effects on proliferation and viability of HL-60 cells and should be included in our diets as healthy and safe fresh foods.     

Antidepressant drugs and memory: insights from animal studies.

This is a selective review of the literature concerning the effects of antidepressant drugs on animal memory, which was performed with the aid of the PubMed database. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors tend to either have no effect on memory or result in its improvement. Studies with cyclic antidepressants have reported no effect or, more often, memory impairments. Pre-training administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been shown to have either no effect on memory or undermine it (with some isolated exceptions, in which improvements have been recorded), while post-training administration of SSRIs has been demonstrated to improve memory or have no effect. A small group formed by the remaining antidepressants has been shown to improve memory, with the exception of trazodone, which impairs memory. These findings are discussed in the light of knowledge regarding the actions of antidepressants on several neurotransmission systems. The possibility that the effects of antidepressants on memory are the core of the therapeutic effects of these drugs is also considered.