An integrative omics perspective for the analysis of chemical signals in ecological interactions.

All living organisms emit, detect, and respond to chemical stimuli, thus creating an almost limitless number of interactions by means of chemical signals. Technological and intellectual advances in the last two decades have enabled chemical signals analyses at several molecular levels, including gene expression, molecular diversity, and receptor affinity. These advances have also deepened our understanding of nature to encompass interactions at multiple organism levels across different taxa. This tutorial review describes the most recent analytical developments in 'omics' technologies (i.e., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) and provide recent examples of its application in studies of chemical signals. We highlight how studies have integrated an enormous amount of information generated from different omics disciplines into one publicly available platform. In addition, we stress the importance of considering different signal modalities and an evolutionary perspective to establish a comprehensive understanding of chemical communication.

Analysis of clinical diagnosis for all patients receiving antenatal betamethasone in a community hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Identify which obstetrical diagnoses are associated with suboptimal antenatal betamethasone administration. METHODS: We present a retrospective, cohort study of patients who received betamethasone due to a risk for preterm delivery, between 7/2013 and 9/2016 at our institution. Details of betamethasone administration were recorded including the diagnosis leading to betamethasone. Optimal administration was defined as two doses of betamethasone given 24 hours apart, with delivery occurring at greater than 24 hours but less than seven days after completion of the second dose of betamethasone. Suboptimal administration included any betamethasone dosing that did not meet the optimal criteria. RESULTS: 428 patients were identified for the study with 20.1% of patients receiving optimal betamethasone. Patients presenting with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (36.1%) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) (22.1%) were more likely to receive optimal betamethasone, while patients presenting with preterm labor (PTL) (41.8%) and placental abruption (24.6%) were more likely to receive suboptimal betamethasone (p-value < 0.0001). Among PTL patients, those presenting with contractions and cervical dilation/short cervix (19.15%) were more likely to receive optimal betamethasone (p-value 0.0349). Optimal betamethasone decreased the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) among 32.1 to 34 week neonates. CONCLUSION: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and PPROM are associated with optimal betamethasone, whereas PTL and placental abruption are associated with suboptimal betamethasone.

Antibiotic cycling to decrease bacterial antibiotic resistance: a 5-year experience on a bone marrow transplant unit.

Multidrug-resistant pathogens have important effects on clinical outcomes. Antibiotic cycling is one approach to control anti-microbial resistance, but few studies have examined cycling in hematology-oncology units. Antibiotic cycling was implemented in January 1999 at our hematology-oncology unit, alternating piperacillin-tazobactam (pip-tazo) and cefepime in 3 months periods, until June 2004. Clinical isolates were compared in post- and pre-intervention periods and with the susceptibility among the solid organ transplant intensive care unit (TICU) isolates. The rate of Gram-negative isolates remained stable. Among Gram-negatives, susceptibility to cefepime and pip-tazo remained stable. There was an increase in Enterococcus spp. (P=0.007), and susceptibility to ampicillin and vancomycin decreased (odds ratio (OR): 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.17-0.89 and OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.09-0.58). Compared with the TICU, there was increased susceptibility to pip-tazo and cefepime among enterics (OR: 7.32, 95% CI: 4.44-12.07 and OR: 8.82, 95% CI: 2.1-37.13) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.47-12.4 and OR: 4.61, 95% CI: 1.75-12.1) and decreased susceptibility to ampicillin and vancomycin among enterococci (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.30-0.63 and OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.26-0.56). Cycling was associated with preserved antibiotic susceptibility among Gram-negatives, but with an increase in Enterococcus spp. and vancomycin and ampicillin resistance among enterococci.

[Post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, do we use our resources appropriately?] / Profilaxis post-exposición frente VIH, ¿utilizamos adecuadamente nuestros recursos?

OBJECTIVE: Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against human immunodeficiency virus can be occupational, non-occupational or vertical transmission. The aim of our study was to analyse the indication and treatment carried out in a hospital. METHODS: Retrospective observational study that included all patients who received PEP between 2006 and 2014. The project was approved by the Committee for Ethics in Clinical Research. RESULTS: We evaluated 54 PEP, which were started at 11.8 hours' average. The antiretroviral drugs were adequately chosen, but the duration pattern did not adjusted to the recommendations published at that time. Tolerance was good, being gastrointestinal symptoms the most frequent adverse effects; only once was necessary to replace the pattern. There were usual losses during follow up, reaching in some subgroups 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Indication and choice of drugs were adequate in the three kinds of contact risks, but monitoring should improve.

Colon-specific delivery of budesonide from microencapsulated cellulosic cores: evaluation of the efficacy against colonic inflammation in rats.

Budesonide (BDS) is a potent corticosteroid that has important implications in the pharmacotherapy of inflammatory bowel disease, especially in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. BDS is available on the market in the form of enteric-coated preparations. However these products, similar to other available site-specific dosage forms, are not sufficiently selective to treat colonic inflammatory bowel disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new microparticulate system containing BDS, to treat experimentally induced colitis in rats. This microparticulate system consisted of BDS-containing hydrophobic cores, microencapsulated within an enteric polymer, which solubilizes at above pH 7, thus combining pH-sensitive and controlled-release properties. Colonic injury and inflammation were assessed by measuring colon/bodyweight ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and by scoring macroscopic and histological damage in colitic rats. Rats were treated orally with BDS, included in the developed system, once a day for 4 days after the induction of inflammation. A BDS suspension and BDS-containing enteric microparticles were included as control formulations in the experimental design. The administration of the new BDS delivery system significantly reduced the colon/bodyweight ratio compared with the administration of control formulations. Similarly, MPO activity and macroscopic and histological damage of the inflamed colonic segments decreased significantly when the BDS formulation was administered, compared with the results obtained after oral administration of the drug suspension. There were no significant differences, however, when the new treatment was compared with the control formulation consisting of simple enteric microparticles.

Metabolic effects in rats of verapamil alone and in combination with captopril.

The metabolic effects of verapamil alone and in combination with captopril were investigated in rats. Animals received the maximum recommended doses for humans (per kg body weight per day) over a 2-week period. Verapamil had no significant effects on serum biochemistry, but caused a significant increase in serum potassium level and significant reductions in the rates of intestinal absorption of glucose and calcium. Verapamil/captopril had a number of significant effects on serum lipid profile (increased total cholesterol, increased HDL-cholesterol, and reduced LDL-cholesterol), and also provoked an increase in serum alanine amino-transferase activity and in serum glucose levels. The combination treatment caused a significant increase in serum chloride levels, but had no effect on intestinal absorption.

Effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation on serum lipids and intestinal enzyme activities in diabetic rats.

We investigated whether dietary supplementation with L-arginine, the endogenous precursor of nitric oxide, might affect serum lipid levels and activities of intestinal mucosa enzymes in animals, in which diabetes was induced by administration of streptozotocin. Control and diabetic rats were fed diets with or without 2% L-arginine supplementation for 4 weeks. Diabetic rats had significantly higher concentrations of serum triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol than control rats. These alterations were partially reduced by L-arginine supplementation. Experimental diabetes did not influence the lactase and leucine aminopeptidase activity in the intestine, but the activity of alkaline phosphatase was increased. Furthermore, activities of maltase and sucrase in the intestinal mucosa were elevated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and were restored to control levels after dietary L-arginine supplementation. On the basis of the present experimental evidence, dietary L-arginine supplementation appears to affect the metabolism of lipoproteins and might alleviate some gastrointestinal dysfunctions, commonly seen in diabetes mellitus.

Dietary effects of marine food intake on intestinal and hepatic enzyme activities in rats.

Dietary effects of two diets high in protein from two marine species (Haliotis tuberculata and Anemonia viridis) as compared to a high-quality patron protein such as casein (or casein supplemented with olive oil) on intestinal and hepatic enzymes were studied. After 23 days, the two marine species as diet compared to casein increased the disaccharidase and alkaline phosphatase activities. Feeding Haliotis tuberculata meal produced a decrease on intestinal leucine aminopeptidase activity. The hepatic gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity decreased slightly in animals fed Haliotis tuberculata meal. Supplementation of casein with olive oil tended to decrease the intestinal and hepatic enzyme activity.

Nifedipine/atenolol interactions in gastrointestinal absorption and biotransformation.

The combination of nifedipine and atenolol is widely used for the treatment of hypertension. In the present study, experiments performed in rats indicated that neither drug affects the gastric or intestinal absorption of the other. In assays of the biotransformation of nifedipine in liver homogenates, breakdown was much more rapid in homogenates from male rats than from female rats. In the presence of atenolol, the breakdown rate was significantly increased in homogenates from male rats, and significantly reduced in homogenates from female rats.

[Assessment of nutritional status of patients candidates for lung resection by 2 methods]. / Valoración del estado nutricional de pacientes candidatos a resección pulmonar por 2 métodos.

INTRODUCTION: It is important to determine the nutritional status of an individual that may be submitted to a surgical intervention since it has been shown a relationship between nutritional status impairments and the incidence of complications. We present the data from a study comparing two nutritional assessment methods. OBJECTIVE: To study the rate of hyponutrition in patients candidates to lung resection in southern Galicia, and to determine if there were significant differences in the use of 2 different nutritional assessment methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 200 patients participated in this study: 144 males (aged 29-83 years) and 56 females (aged 20-80 years). All of them were assessed for their nutritional status according to Chang's method and we also performed a patient-generated global subjective assessment (PG-GSA) according to the SENBA working group protocol. RESULTS: There is agreement between the 2 methods in assessing 122 patients as having "good nutritional status". There are two cases with agreement between both methods in the diagnosis of "moderate hyponutrition or risk for hyponutrition". No case of "severe hyponutrition" is diagnosed by the Chang's method. CONCLUSIONS: We found statistically significant differences between the observations obtained with the two methods. The Chang's method performed more accurately than the PG-GSA, so that we believe it should be the first choice method for the preoperative nutritional assessment of patients candidate to a lung resection.

Effect of mytilotoxin-contaminated mussels on small intestine disaccharidase activities in rat.

An extract of mussels contaminated with Gonyaulax monilata was administered intragastrically to rats (1.5 or 2.0 ml extract/150 g body wt) 3 or 7 h before experiments. Intestinal disaccharidases were determined. Sucrase activity was changed in both mucosa and brush border after treatment. Maltase and lactase activities were affected only by the higher dosage.

Somatostatin and 3-oxy-methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG) uptake in isolated chicken intestinal epithelial cells.

The direct effect of somatostatin on the absorption of 3-oxymethylglucose in epithelial cells isolated from the small intestine of chicken was studied. The presence of somatostatin in the incubation medium at concentrations of 3.5 X 10(-8) M and 7 X 10(-8) M produced significant dose-dependent increases in the accumulation of sugar in the enterocytes. This effect might be due to an increase in the cell membrane permeability caused by hormone action.

Effects of mytilotoxin-contaminated mussels on leucinaminopeptidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities in rat small intestine, kidney and liver.

An extract of mussels contaminated with Dinophysis was administered to rats 4 or 14 h before experimentation. The leucinaminopeptidase (LAP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) activities were determined in samples of small intestine, kidney and liver. LAP activity decreased in the intestine 4 h after administration but returned to normal 14 h post-administration, and GGTP was unaffected. In the kidney brush border, 14 h after treatment, the levels of LAP in male samples and GGTP in both sexes, were increased. No alterations in hepatic enzymatic activity were detected.

Metabolic effects of the combination of furosemide and captopril in rat.

Diuretics typically provoke increased serum lipid levels and may provoke increased serum uric acid levels and/or glucose intolerance. Furosemide is widely used as an antihypertensive, but in patients for whom furosemide treatment alone proves insufficient to reduce hypertension, a common procedure is to co-administer the angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril. The metabolic effects in rats of joint administration of furosemide (15 mg/kg/day) and captopril (2 mg/kg/day) are evaluated over a two-week period. At the end of this period, the serum levels of lipids, uric acid, bilirubin, proteins and various enzymes were determined as well as the effect of the treatment on intestinal absorption of glucose and calcium. Furosemide/captopril led to an increase in serum albumin and alkaline phosphatase levels, and a decrease in triglyceride levels. The results of this work support the view that this drug combination is suitable for hypertension treatment.

Nutritive value of protein from sea urchin, and its effects on intestinal leucine aminopeptidase and intestinal and hepatic gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase.

Seafoods are a rich source of easily digestible protein that also provides polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals for human nutrition. The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritive value of diets high in protein from two species of sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus and Echinus esculentus) as compared to a high-quality reference protein such as casein, as well as the effects of these diets on leucine aminopeptidase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, intestinal and hepatic enzymes. The test was carried out on three groups of male rats fed these diets for 23 days. The result of the nutritive parameters indicated that sea urchin, Echinus esculentus, were significantly lower than the casein protein except for food intake, and the nutritive parameters of sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, were similar to the values obtained for casein protein except for digestibility and net protein utilization. Intestinal leucine aminopeptidase activity was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the group fed Paracentrotus lividus as compared to the group fed casein. Intestinal gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase showed a significantly higher activity in the group fed E. esculentus than in the two other groups and the hepatic gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity in the groups fed the two species of sea urchin were lower. Nutritive values suggested that these marine species are a good protein source and similar to casein. The activity of the enzymes under study must have been affected by the amino acid composition of the protein.