The Complete Nucleotide Sequence of the Carbapenem Resistance-Conferring Conjugative Plasmid pLD209 from a Pseudomonas putida Clinical Strain Reveals a Chimeric Design Formed by Modules Derived from Both Environmental and Clinical Bacteria

The complete sequence of the carbapenem-resistance-conferring conjugative plasmid pLD209 from a Pseudomonas putida clinical strain is presented. pLD209 is formed by 3 well-defined regions: an adaptability module encompassing a Tn402-like class 1 integron of clinical origin containing bla_VIM-2 and aacA4 gene cassettes, partitioning and transfer modules, and a replication module derived from plasmids of environmental bacteria. pLD209 is thus a mosaic of modules originating in both the clinical and environmental (nonclinical) microbiota.     

Twins prematurity – the influence of prenatal surveillance

Objective: To evaluate the influence of the local prenatal surveillance of twin pregnancies in the obstetrical results.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of multiple pregnancies delivered over a period of 16 years in a tertiary centre was conducted. In this study 861 twin pregnancies were included. They were compared for obstetric complications, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery and birthweight, according to the place of the surveillance.

Results: Of the 861 cases examined, the following obstetric complications were significantly different: metrorrhagia (p?=?0.039), infections (p?p?=?0.007), PROMPT (p?p?=?0.024). The mode of delivery was similar but occurred mostly ≤32 weeks (p?p?Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the crucial importance of prenatal surveillance be carried in a differentiated referral centers with specific/strict protocols or the urgent implementation of same protocols in all other places of surveillance, since this straight surveillance greatly reduces the occurrence of prenatal complications, mainly PROMPT, PTD.     

Ethnicity and Self-Perceived Oral Health in Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

To estimate the association between self-perceived oral health indicators and ethnic origin in Colombia, a cross-sectional study (Information from the 2007 National Public Health Survey) was conducted. Variables: belonging to an ethnic group (Exposure); oral health indicators (Outcomes); sex, age, education and self-rated health (control). Analyses were carried out separately for men (M) and women (W). The association between the exposure variable and the outcomes was estimated by means of adjusted odds ratio (OR) with confidence intervals (95 % CI) using logistic regression. Men were more likely to report gum bleeding (aOR 1.78; 95 % CI 1.44–2.23) and dental caries (aOR 1.69; 95 % CI 1.42–2.02), while women were more likely to report unmet dental needs (aOR 1.43; 95 % CI 1.27–1.49) and dental caries (aOR 1.34; 95 % CI 1.22–1.47). Indigenous and Palenquero were more likely to report most of the indicators analyzed. Minority ethnic groups in Colombia were at risk to report oral health problems.     

Cytogenetic Effects Of Aqueous Extracts Of The Medicinal Plant Paico (Chenopodium Multifidum L.)

The cytogenetic effects of aqueous extracts of Chenopodium multifidum L. (Paico) were determined by addition of the extracts and fractions to human lymphocyte cultures. Toxicity was evaluated by analysis of chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), mitotic (MI) and replication (RI) indexes. The results showed an increase in CA frequency in cultures exposed to infusion decoction, no modification in the CPK values either in the decoction or in the infusion, and a decrease in the MI of lymphocyte cultures exposed to the decoction. These results suggested genotoxic effects of “Paico” aqueous extracts.     

Cardiac sarcoidosis: Recurrent disease in a heart transplant patient following pulmonary tuberculosis infection

Cardiac transplantation is indicated for patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy secondary to cardiac sarcoidosis. Although rare, recurrent disease has been reported in two cases. The current report presents a case of recurrent cardiac sarcoidosis in a patient 45 months postorthotopic heart transplantation and 40 months following reactivation of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The patient was the first to have recurrent disease following an infection that has been proposed to be involved in its pathogenesis. The patient’s interval between transplant and recurrence is the longest reported to date.