Robust and Facile Automated Radiosynthesis of [18F]FSPG on the GE FASTlab

Molecular Imaging and Biology - (S)-4-(3-18F-Fluoropropyl)-?-Glutamic Acid ([18F]FSPG) is a radiolabeled non-natural amino acid that is used for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of...     

Characterization of Pre-Antibiotic Era Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates with Respect to Antibiotic/Disinfectant Susceptibility and Virulence in Galleria mellonella

The EGD Murray collection consists of approximately 500 clinical bacterial isolates, mainly Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from around the world between 1917 and 1949. A number of these “Murray” isolates have subsequently been identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of these isolates showed that over 30% were resistant to penicillins due to the presence of diverse bla_SHV β-lactamase genes. Analysis of susceptibility to skin antiseptics and triclosan showed that while the Murray isolates displayed a range of MIC/minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values, the mean MIC value was lower than that for more modern K. pneumoniae isolates tested. All Murray isolates contained the cation efflux gene cepA, which is involved in disinfectant resistance, but those that were more susceptible to chlorhexidine were found to have a 9- or 18-bp insertion in this gene. Susceptibility to other disinfectants, e.g., H₂O₂, in the Murray isolates was comparable to that in modern K. pneumoniae isolates. The Murray isolates were also less virulent in Galleria and had a different complement of putative virulence factors than the modern isolates, with the exception of an isolate related to the modern lineage CC23. More of the modern isolates (41% compared to 8%) are classified as good/very good biofilm formers, but there was overlap in the two populations. This study demonstrated that a significant proportion of the Murray Klebsiella isolates were resistant to penicillins before their routine use. This collection of pre-antibiotic era isolates may provide significant insights into adaptation in K. pneumoniae in relation to biocide susceptibility.     

Improving awareness,accountability, and access through health coaching: Qualitative study of patients’ perspectives

Objective

To assess patients’ experiences with and perceptions of health coaching as part of their ongoing care.

Design

A qualitative research design using semistructured interviews that were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Setting

Ottawa, Ont.

Participants

Eleven patients (> 18 years of age) enrolled in a health coaching pilot program who were at risk of or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Patients’ perspectives were assessed with semistructured interviews. Interviews were conducted with 11 patients at the end of the pilot program, using a stratified sampling approach to ensure maximum variation.

Main findings

All patients found the overall experience with the health coaching program to be positive. Patients believed the health coaching program was effective in increasing awareness of how diabetes affected their bodies and health, in building accountability for their health-related actions, and in improving access to care and other health resources.

Conclusion

Patients perceive one-on-one health coaching as an acceptable intervention in their ongoing care. Patients enrolled in the health coaching pilot program believed that there was an improvement in access to care, health literacy, and accountability, all factors considered to be precursors to behavioural change.     

Howell‐Jolly bodies on peripheral smear leading to the diagnosis of congenital hyposplenism in a patient with septic shock

We present a case of isolated congenital hyposplenism that was discovered after the peripheral smear revealed Howell‐Jolly bodies. This case serves as the basis for a review of hyposplenism for the general practitioner.