The first confirmed detection of Staphylococcus argenteus in the Czech Republic.

Staphylococcus argenteus (S. argenteus) is a novel species of coagulase-positive staphylococci described in 2015. This species is phenotypically highly similar and genetically closely related to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Until recently, differentiation was only possible by molecular genetic methods, multilocus sequence typing and whole-genome sequencing, which are not generally used in routine laboratories due to time-consumingness and expensiveness. A major improvement in the identification of S. argenteus is the application of MALDI-TOF MS, if the available updated mass spectrum reference database is used. In the short report, we would like to present the first confirmed S. argenteus strain isolated from a patient in the Czech Republic and probably the first published S. argenteus strain in Central and Eastern Europe.

In-vivo interspecies transmission of carbapenemase KPC in a long-term treated female patient.

The increasing incidence of multiresistant bacterial strains is currently a serious health concern. These pathogens are often the cause of nosocomial infections with limited treatment options and high fatality rates. A case report is presented of an uncommon detection of four different species (Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Morganella morganii) producing the same type of carbapenemase, KPC-2, in a female patient during her complicated long-term hospital stay. Resistance was probably spread to other species by horizontal transmission of plasmids carrying the blaKPC-2 genes. The implementation of strict anti-epidemic measures prevented further spread of these carbapenem-resistant bacteria.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in women undergoing an initial infertility evaluation.

AIMS: Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are potentially pathogenic bacterial species that are frequently isolated from the urogenital tract of women. These pathogens could be responsible for various genitourinary diseases and have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and female fertility problems. The aim of this study was to analyse the presence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in the cervical canal of uterus of women with and without fertility problems. METHODS: Endocervical swabs obtained from women with reproductive problems and fertile women were tested by both cultivation and polymerase chain reaction. The antimicrobial susceptibility to the azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline and erythromycine of the isolated strains of M. hominis and U. urealyticum was also tested by the microdilution broth method. RESULTS: A total of 111 women with fertile problems were examined. U. urealyticum was detected in samples from 44 (39.6%) women. M. hominis was detected in significantly fewer samples, i.e. only from 9 (8.1%) samples. From these, 6 (5.4%) women were positive for both microorganisms. The fertile group consisted from 23 women. The presence of U. urealyticum was detected in 8 (34.7%) of them. M. hominis was detected only in the mixture with U. urealyticum in 3 (13.0%) cases. The most effective antibiotic against both species in our study was doxycycline. CONCLUSION: The results show slightly higher incidence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in the genitourinary tract of women with fertility problems compare with control group. The potential negative effect of these species on the reproduction ability of women was not observed.

Standard data model representation for taxonomic information.

The names used by biologists to label the observations they make are imprecise. This is an issue as workers increasingly seek to exploit data gathered from multiple, unrelated sources on line. Even when the international codes of nomenclature are followed strictly the resulting names (Taxon Names) do not uniquely identify the taxa (Taxon Concepts) that have been described by taxonomists but merely groups of type specimens. A standard data model for exchange of taxonomic information is described. It addresses this issue by facilitating explicit communication of information about Taxon Concepts and their associated names. A representation of this model as a XML Schema is introduced and the implications of the use of Globally Unique Identifiers discussed.

Effect of sow parity on vaginal electrical impedance.

The influence of sow parity on the changes of vaginal impedance after weaning was examined. Sows were monitored twice a day for oestrus via exposure to a sexually mature boar. The criterion for confirmation of ovulation was an increase in plasma progesterone levels above 12.5 nmol l(-1) 8 and 12 days after oestrus onset. The impedance measurements were carried out by a four-terminal method. In sows of all parities, the vaginal impedance decreased gradually after weaning (P < 0.01) and increased during oestrus (P < 0.01). No significant impedance changes were observed thereafter. The vaginal impedance was higher in sows above 6 parities than in sows from parities 1 to 5 from the beginning of oestrus to 14 days after oestrus onset. The impedance was also higher in sows of parity 6 than in sows of parity 1 from the beginning of oestrus to 14 days after oestrus onset and in sows from parities 2 to 5 than in sows of parity 1 from 2 to 4 days after oestrus onset. The difference in average impedance values between sows above 6 parities and sows of parity 1 was two-fold in oestrus compared to the luteal phase. In all measured places of the vagina from the cervix to 6 cm from the cervix, a similar significant increase of impedance was observed during oestrus. The results indicate that the parity of sows affects the electrical impedance of vaginal mucosa measured by means of a four-terminal method.

The anaesthetist and the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a paradoxical disease state with in vitro prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time and a strong predilection for in vivo thrombosis. The syndrome can be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus or lupus-like diseases or may be primary, presenting with thrombotic phenomena in young patients with no risk factors for thrombosis. We present two cases seen in two different settings in the hospital.

Sensory latencies to the ring finger: normal values and relation to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Sensory innervation to the ring finger (digit IV) is generally shared by the digital branches of the median and ulnar nerves. In 74 hand studies on 37 normal adults, all had a recordable response in digit IV upon stimulation of the median and ulnar nerves antidromically 14cm proximally to the recording electrodes. Comparing the median sensory latency to digit IV with the ulnar sensory latency to the same digit, the difference was 0.3msec or less in 93% of the hands. In 18 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, the difference ranged from 1 to 2.1msec. This procedure may be of value as an easily performed and rapid technique to screen vulnerable nerve syndromes for possible entrapment and to provide baseline data for asymptomatic hands in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome.