Unlocking Potential: Low Bovine Serum Albumin Enhances the Chondrogenicity of Human Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells in Pellet Cultures.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) plays a crucial role in cell culture media, influencing cellular processes such as proliferation and differentiation. Although it is commonly included in chondrogenic differentiation media, its specific function remains unclear. This study explores the effect of different BSA concentrations on the chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (hASCs). hASC pellets from six donors were cultured under chondrogenic conditions with three BSA concentrations. Surprisingly, a lower BSA concentration led to enhanced chondrogenesis. The degree of this effect was donor-dependent, classifying them into two groups: (1) high responders, forming at least 35% larger, differentiated pellets with low BSA in comparison to high BSA; (2) low responders, which benefitted only slightly from low BSA doses with a decrease in pellet size and marginal differentiation, indicative of low intrinsic differentiation potential. In all cases, increased chondrogenesis was accompanied by hypertrophy under low BSA concentrations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing improved chondrogenicity and the tendency for hypertrophy with low BSA concentration compared to standard levels. Once the tendency for hypertrophy is understood, the determination of BSA concentration might be used to tune hASC chondrogenic or osteogenic differentiation.

[Antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli producers of community urinary tract infections in Galicia (Spain). Period: 2016-2017]. / Estudio de sensibilidad de Escherichia coli productores de infecciones del tracto urinario comunitarias en Galicia. Período: 2016-2017.

OBJECTIVE: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is responsible for the majority of community urinary tract infections. The objective of the study is to know the sensitivity spectrum of E. coli in urinary tract infections to be able to recommend the appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, multicentric, retrospective study. LOCATION: Galician 8 public hospitals, practically the entire population of Galicia (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: 43,137 outpatients with urinary tract infection due to E. coli isolated in urine in 2016/2017. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Analyzed variables: demographic, minimum inhibitory concentration and interpretation of sensitivity according to CLSI criteria and resistance mechanisms. The antibiotics studied were: ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, cefepime, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin, cotrimoxazole, imipenem and ertapenem. The identification and sensitivity were made mainly by automated methods. RESULTS: The percentages of non-sensitivity of E. coli isolates were: ampicillin 49.2%, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 17.8%, cefotaxime 6.7%, cefepime 5.7%, ertapenem 0.04%, imipenem 0.05%, gentamicin 9,1%, ciprofloxacin 26.2%, fosfomycin 3.3%, nitrofurantoin 2.4% and cotrimoxazole 23.9%. The non-sensitivities were higher in men and as age increases. Six percent of E. coli were producers of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. CONCLUSIONS: The empirical treatment in Galicia for uncomplicated cystitis produced by E. coli in women continues to be nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin. In men under 15 years of age, fosfomycin is indicated and in men older than 15 years, treatment in our environment should include culture and administer a 3rd generation oral cephalosporin empirically. Cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin are not recommended as empirical treatment because of their high resistance rates.

Design and fabrication of biocompatible wrinkled hydrogel films with selective antibiofouling properties.

In this article, we explored the selective antibiofouling capacity acquired by functional wrinkled hydrogel films via a fine tuning of their chemical structure through the gradual insertion of hydrophobic radical groups in their network. The hydrogel consists of three main components: hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA, amphiphilic monomer), trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFMA, hydrophobic monomer), and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, hydrophilic crosslinking agent). Interestingly, the manipulation of the chemical composition affects both, surface morphology and physicochemical characteristics of the patterns, inducing transitions between different surface microstructures, i.e. from wrinkles to creases, to folds, and to crumples. Contact angle measurements show that the insertion of TFMA produces a slight decrease in surface wettability, remaining however highly hydrophilic. By using confocal Raman spectroscopy, important information about wrinkle formation mechanism could be obtained. The procedure presented in this article involves two consecutive thermal and photopolymerization steps, generating a "pseudo" two-layer system, which contracts at different extents when is exposed to external stimuli, leading to the formation of wrinkled surfaces. Finally, bacterial and cellular adhesion/proliferation studies were carried out, evidencing that the amount of TFMA included clearly reduce the bacterial adhesion while mammalian cells are able to still proliferate.

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance: challenges and opportunities from 18 years' experience, Spain, 1998 to 2015.

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance is key for global polio eradication. It allows detecting poliovirus (PV) reintroductions from endemic countries. This study describes AFP surveillance in Spain from 1998 to 2015. During this time, 678 AFP cases were reported to the Spanish National Surveillance Network. The mean notification rate was 0.58 AFP cases/100,000 population under 15 years old (range: 0.45/100,000-0.78/100,000). Two periods (P) are described: P1 (1998-2006) with the AFP notification rate ranging from 0.66/100,000 to 0.78/100,000, peaking in 2001 (0.84/100,000); and P2 (2007-2015) when the AFP rate ranged from 0.43/100,000 to 0.57/100,000, with the lowest rate in 2009 (0.31/100,000). No poliomyelitis cases were caused by wild PV infections, although two Sabin-like PVs and one imported vaccine-derived PV-2 were detected. Overall, 23 (3.4%) cases met the hot case definition. Most cases were clinically diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (76.9%; 504/655). The adequate stool collection rate ranged from 33.3% (7/21) to 72.5% (29/40). The annual proportion of AFP cases with non-polio enterovirus findings varied widely across the study period. AFP surveillance with laboratory testing for non-polio enteroviruses must be maintained and enhanced both to monitor polio eradication and to establish sensitive surveillance for prompt detection of other enteroviruses causing serious symptoms.

Facile one-pot exfoliation and integration of 2D layered materials by dispersion in a photocurable polymer precursor.

Efficient exfoliation of graphene and related materials (GRM) and fast and inexpensive integration/assembly are crucial to fulfil their full potential. A high degree of exfoliation in organic media can be achieved with high boiling point liquids that usually leave residues after drying, which is a handicap for many applications. Here, the effective exfoliation and dispersion of GRM in a vinyl monomer, which is subsequently converted to a functional polymer by photopolymerization, is reported. Nanocomposite membranes and three-dimensional objects are produced by the photo-curing process and stereolithography 3D printing, respectively.

[Surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli producing urinary tract infections in Galicia (Spain)]. / Vigilancia de la sensibilidad a antimicrobianos de Escherichia coli productor de infecciones del tracto urinario comunitarias en Galicia.

OBJECTIVE: Escherichia coli is the microorganism responsible for most of the community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTI). Our purpose was to determine the susceptibility of E. coli associated with UTI in Galicia and consider the most appropriate antibiotics for empirical treatment. METHODS: Retrospective study during the period 2011- 2012 of the isolation of E. coli in urine samples from almost all the Galician population. Demographic variables, minimum inhibitory concentration, and reading data were collected: amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefotaxime, gentamicin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin. The identification and susceptibility studies were mainly conducted by automated systems. The interpretation of the results was performed according to CLSI criteria. RESULTS: During the study period 55,046 E. coli were isolated in UTI. The percentages of resistance were: cotrimoxazole, 30%; ciprofloxacin, 33%; amoxicillin-clavulanate, 23% and 10% for 3rd generation cephalosporins. Fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin showed the highest activity with more than 96% of susceptibility in our study. The linear trend of resistance regarding age was statistically significant (p <0.0001) as it was regarding males (p <0.00001) for all antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: In Galicia, the most active antibiotics against E. coli associated with UTI are fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin so they should be considered as empirical treatment of choice by the community-acquired UTI not complicated by E. coli.

[Surveillance of resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics in Galicia: 2007-2012]. / Vigilancia de la resistencia a los antibióticos en Staphylococcus aureus en Galicia: 2007-2012.

INTRODUCTION: Since 2007 the Galician Surveillance Program on Antimicrobial Resistance has been collected data of Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility patterns. The data from 2007 to 2012 have been analyzed and are reported. METHODS: A total of 4,577 different isolates of S. aureus from cerebrospinal fluid and blood cultures were included. The Institutions involved provided the information about the susceptibility patterns, the assay methods used and the interpretative guidelines followed, and demographic data of patients. RESULTS: The rate of methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA) was 22% in 2007-2010 and 26% in 2011-2012, although in some areas the percentage reached 57% (2007- 2010) or 66% (2011-2012). The higher rates of resistance were found in patients older than 75 years. Gentamycin resistance was less than 9% and for quinolones were about 25%. A strong association between methicillin and quinolone-resistance were observed (91%). The resistance against linezolid and glycopeptides were exceptional. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of MRSA has evolved slightly along the period of this study reaching no significant differences between Galicia and the global data in Spain in 2012. Nevertheless, there are significant differences among the geographic areas studied. Most MRSA isolates were recovered from hospitalized patients, but an increase in the number of MRSA among outpatients was observed, while old patients from nursing homes are included in the outpatient group, so the MRSA rate in this group could be overestimated.

Microbiology of bacteria causing recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) and AOM treatment failure in young children in Spain: shifting pathogens in the post-pneumococcal conjugate vaccination era.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively identify the bacterial aetiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of problematic (recurrent and treatment failure) acute otitis media in Spanish children several years after the introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. METHODS: Tympanocentesis or careful sampling of spontaneous otorrhoea was performed on children aged 3 to <36 months with recurrent acute otitis media, acute otitis media treatment failure or unresolved acute otitis media. RESULTS: 105 acute otitis media episodes (77 sampled by tympanocentesis, 28 otorrhoea samples) were evaluated: 46 recurrent, 35 treatment failures, 24 unresolved acute otitis media. 74 episodes (70.4%) had at least one bacterium identified on culture: Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 21 episodes, Haemophilus influenzae (all non-typeable) in 44, Streptococcus pyogenes in 2, Moraxella catarrhalis in 2. No statistically significant difference in bacterial aetiology by episode type was detected. Non-typeable H. influenzae was the most commonly isolated pathogen in all acute otitis media types and in all age sub-groups. Forty percent of S. pneumoniae isolates were multi-drug resistant. Pneumococcal serotype 19A was the most frequently identified serotype (7/21 episodes). Multi-drug resistance was found in 56% of 19A isolates. Of non-typeable H. influenzae isolates, 15% were ampicillin resistant and 13% were amoxicillin/clavulanate resistant. S. pneumoniae and non-typeable H. influenzae DNA were each detected in 57% of samples culture negative for these pathogens, including 12 co-infections. CONCLUSION: Combining culture and polymerase chain reaction results, H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae may be implicated in 70% and 43% of clinically problematic bacterial acute otitis media episodes, respectively. The impact of new vaccines to prevent both S. pneumoniae and non-typeable H. influenzae acute otitis media may be substantial in this population and is worth investigating.

[Early infection in liver transplant recipients: incidence, severity, risk factors and antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates]. / Infección precoz en el paciente con trasplante hepático: incidencia, gravedad, factores de riesgo y sensibilidad antibiótica de los aislados bacterianos.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a descriptive study with an analysis of risk factors for early infection in liver transplant patients, and to determine the resistance of the bacteria involved. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 149 liver transplant recipients. All cases of infection occurring 0-90 days after transplantation were considered early infection. Pre-, intra- and postoperative variables were analyzed, and isolated microorganisms were studied. Selective bowel decontamination with quinolones, and perioperative and antifungal prophylaxis were carried out in all patients. RESULTS: The incidence of infection was 73.1%: bacterial (49.7%), viral (35.5%), fungal (10.1%) and mixed (4.5%). In the first postoperative month the most frequent infections were bacterial and in the second and third months, viral (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis of risk factors identified the following: days of parenteral nutrition, duration of surgery > 5 hours, rejection and CMV seronegative status. Among 1278 cultures, the following microorganisms were isolated: 77.9% gram-positive cocci (GP) and 19% aerobic gram-negative bacilli (GNB). Sensitivity of Staphylococcus to vancomycin was 99.6-100% and to teicoplanin 97.9-100%. VAN resistance was observed in 1.2% of E. faecalis and 4.5% of E. faecium. Among S. aureus strains, 68.7% were MRSA. The resistance rate of GNB to quinolones was 38.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of infection was higher the first 30 days after transplantation, with bacterial infection predominating. Duration of surgery > 5 hours was the most important risk factor for acquiring bacterial infection. GP were the most frequently isolated bacteria. Empirical treatment of early bacterial infection should include vancomycin or teicoplanin. Selective bowel decontamination resulted in a low incidence of GNB infections, among which there was 38.8% resistance to quinolones.

[In vitro susceptibility study of herpes simplex virus to acyclovir and foscarnet. Are routine susceptibility studies necessary?]. / Estudio de sensibilidad in vitro del virus herpes simple a aciclovir y foscarnet. Son necesarios los estudios de sensibilidad de forma rutinaria?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of resistance of herpes simplex virus to acyclovir and foscarnet. PATIENTS AND METHOD: An in vitro susceptibility study of HSV strains isolated from HIV-infected and non-infected (control group) patients was conducted by means of qualitative screening. When the screening results were positive, the method for reducing cytopathic effect was utilized for calculating ID50. An ID50 < 1 microgram/ml indicated susceptibility to acyclovir, ID50 1-2 microgram/ml was intermediate susceptibility to acyclovir and a value of ID50 >/= 2 microgram/ml denoted resistance. Resistance to foscarnet was considered at ID50 >/= 100 microgram/ml. RESULTS: The study involved investigating 84 HSV strains, 49 HIV-infected patients, and 19 control patients. In the control group, no strains resistant to acyclovir were present and infection recurred in only one patient. In patients with HIV infection, one acyclovir resistant strain was detected and one moderately resistant to acyclovir, with good response to acyclovir treatment. In this group, 24.4% of patients presented recurrent infection. No resistance to foscarnet was detected. CONCLUSION: Percentage of HSV strains resistant to acyclovir is very low and resistance to foscarnet was not detected. These data suggest that routine in vitro susceptibility testing of antiviral drugs against HSV does not seem to be necessary.