Inflammasome genes polymorphisms may influence the development of hepatitis C in the Amazonas, Brazil.

Hepatitis C is considered a major public health problem caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Viral infections are known to induce production of IL1ß through the signaling pathway of inflammasomes. Emerging evidences suggest that Inflammasome genes may influence the immune response against HCV as the host genetic background may contribute to the balance between acute and chronic inflammation. We investigated in 151 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 206 healthy blood donors' individuals (HD). Polymorphisms in the IL1B and IL18 genes were genotyped by PCR-RFLP, while NLRP3, CARD8, CTSB and AIM2 by RT- PCR. Serum assay of IL-1ß cytokine was performed by ELISA. 84 patients presented mild fibrosis (

[Ethical quality of nursing care in Lebanon]. / Qualité éthique de l'exercice de la profession d'infirmier au Liban.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to reflect on the nurse's role and on the determinants of a responsible choice. In order to do it, we tried to answer the following questions: (1) Are the role and the mission of the nursing body well acquired in Lebanon? (2) Are there international and national norms which govern the accomplishment of this mission? (3) At what point does the mission accomplished by the nursing body procure the patient's safety? (4) What are the factors that modify the performance of the nursing body in Lebanon? And, (5) What are the challenges of a good-quality nursing performance? METHODS: We conducted a double arm survey. The first one is made on 160 nurses working in 19 hospitals that succeeded to establish until July 2008 (end of study) at least an ethical committee for medical care. The second one was conducted on the heads of the nursing departments in 49 private institutes, 34 public institutes and 16 universities. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The investigated nurses don't know very well the medical and nursing ethics' principles that are very well highlighted in the Husted decisional model and expressed by justice, autonomy, confidentiality, beneficience, veracity and fidelity. This result underlines a fact that affects the nurse's mission and so on the patients' safety. Ninety-four per cent of the nurses think that the education and the communication with the patient is not a priority during their daily work, which hinders the three essential times (analysis, communication and assessment) required to elaborate a freely informed decision. Ethics don't have a solid basis in education. CONCLUSION: We must be concerned by this diagnostic, but it leads to the hope of being able to find together, through a common reflection, the essential characteristics to assume our responsibilities whether in the medical or nursing domain.

Influence of papain in biofilm formed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolates

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus (MRSHa) are important coagulase-negative staphylococci. They are often isolated from bacteremia in humans mainly due to their ability to form biofilm on the surfaces of medical devices. Papain is a complex mixture of proteolytic enzymes and peroxidases extracted from the latex of Carica papaya and it is recognized by accelerating the healing process of wounds. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the MRSE and MRSHa isolates to produce biofilms. Besides this, the ability of papain to inhibit the formation of biofilms or to disrupt the ones already formed by those bacteria was analyzed. Thirty MRSHa and 30 MRSE were isolated from bacteremia and used in this study. It was observed that papain has ability to reduce biofilms formed by MRSE (p < 0.06) and by MRSHa (p = 0.0005). In addition, papain was able to disrupt mature biofilms made by MRSE (p = 0.014). No antibacterial activity of papain was observed for any isolates of MRSE and MRSHa tested. Papain has been demonstrated as a potential product for reducing biofilm.

Staphylococcus epidermidis resistente à meticilina (MRSE) e Staphylococcus haemolyticus resistente à meticilina (MRSHa) são importantes estafilococos coagulase negativa. São frequentemente isolados em bacteremia humana, principalmente devido à capacidade de formar biofilmes nas superfícies de dispositivos médicos introduzidos no organismo. A papaína é mistura complexa de enzimas proteolíticas e peroxidases extraídas do látex de Carica papaya, reconhecida por acelerar os processos de cura de feridas. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a capacidade dos MRSE e MRSHa em produzir biofilmes e analisar a capacidade da papaína em inibir a formação de biofilme ou desintegrar biofilmes já formados por essas bactérias. Observou-se que a papaína tem capacidade de reduzir a formação de biofilme por MRSE (p < 0,06) e MRSHa (p = 0,0005). Além disso, a papaína foi capaz de desintegrar biofilme maduro formado por MRSE (p = 0,014). Nenhuma atividade antibacteriana da papaína foi observada para qualquer das duas espécies de bactérias testadas. A papaína mostrou-se produto potencial para reduzir biofilme.