Differential Bacteriophage Efficacy in Controlling Salmonella in Cattle Hide and Soil Models.

Asymptomatic Salmonella carriage in beef cattle is a food safety concern and the beef feedlot environment and cattle hides are reservoirs of this pathogen. Bacteriophages present an attractive non-antibiotic strategy for control of Salmonella in beef. In this study, four diverse and genetically unrelated Salmonella phages, Sergei, Season12, Sw2, and Munch, were characterized and tested alone and in combination for their ability to control Salmonella in cattle hide and soil systems, which are relevant models for Salmonella control in beef production. Phage Sergei is a member of the genus Sashavirus, phage Season12 was identified as a member of the Chivirus genus, Sw2 was identified as a member of the T5-like Epseptimavirus genus, and Munch was found to be a novel "jumbo" myovirus. Observed pathogen reductions in the model systems ranged from 0.50 to 1.75 log10 CFU/cm2 in hides and from 0.53 to 1.38 log10 CFU/g in soil, with phages Sergei and Sw2 producing greater reductions (∼1 log10 CFU/cm2 or CFU/g) than Season12 and Munch. These findings are in accordance with previous observations of phage virulence, suggesting the simple ability of a phage to form plaques on a bacterial strain is not a strong indicator of antimicrobial activity, but performance in liquid culture assays provides a better predictor. The antimicrobial efficacies of phage treatments were found to be phage-specific across model systems, implying that a phage capable of achieving bacterial reduction in one model is more likely to perform well in another. Phage combinations did not produce significantly greater efficacy than single phages even after 24 h in the soil model, and phage-insensitive colonies were not isolated from treated samples, suggesting that the emergence of phage resistance was not a major factor limiting efficacy in this system.

Acute bipolar I affective episode presentation across life span.

OBJECTIVES: There is a paucity of evidence on bipolar I acute symptoms' presentation in the elderly individuals compared to younger patients. The current literature provides little, and at times conflicting, information on age-related bipolar disorder (BD) symptom presentation. This article aims to compare symptom profile by age group among patients with bipolar I in an acute affective episode as evaluated in outpatient settings. METHODS: The current analyses include all Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) participants with a lifetime diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. We compared the presence and severity of acute mood elevation (mania and hypomania) and acute depression symptoms between younger (20-59 years old) and older individuals (older than or equal to 60 years). RESULTS: With the exception of distractibility, all acute depression symptoms presented with comparable frequency and severity between younger and older individuals. No statistical significance was found regarding the presence of psychotic symptoms between the 2 groups, with symptoms reported by 11.2% of younger versus 9.4% older individuals, χ(2) (1, N = 1541) = 0.03, P = .74. No significant effects were found for mood elevation severity between the 2 age groups. Psychotic symptoms were reported in 12.7% versus 15.2%, χ(2) (1, N = 658) = 0.07, P = .65, and irritability in 97.7% versus 97.8%, χ(2) (1, N = 651) = 0.00, P = 1.00, in the younger and older group, respectively. CONCLUSION: We found no statistically significant association between age and symptoms presentation of acute depression and mood elevation among patients with BD I. Acute BD I affective states present with similar profile and severity in old and young patients.

Olanzapine in cocaine dependence: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Preclinical and uncontrolled human studies have suggested the possible efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics, particularly olanzapine, in treating cocaine dependence. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 48 cocaine-dependent subjects received olanzapine or identical-appearing placebo for 16 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of cocaine-negative weekly urine screens during treatment. Secondary measures included scores on a Craving Questionnaire, Addiction Severity Index subscales, and extrapyramidal symptom scales. Olanzapine and placebo did not differ on any outcome measure. Both olanzapine and placebo subjects frequently reported side effects, but no unexpected ones. We conclude that olanzapine appears ineffective for cocaine dependence.