Study of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Shigella spp. in India.

Antimicrobial agents are essential in reducing illness and mortality brought on by infectious diseases in both humans and animals. However, the therapeutic effect of antibiotics has diminished due to an increase in antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR). This article provides a retrospective analysis of AMR in Shigella infections in India, showing a rise in resistance that has contributed to a global burden. Shigella spp. are widespread and the second-leading cause of diarrheal death in people of all ages. The frequency and mortality rates of Shigella infections are decreased by antibiotic treatment. However, the growth of broad-spectrum antibiotic resistance is making it more difficult to treat many illnesses. Reduced cell permeability, efflux pumps, and the presence of enzymes that break down antibiotics are the causes of resistance. AMR is a multifaceted and cross-sectoral problem that affects humans, animals, food, and the environment. As a result, there is a growing need for new therapeutic approaches, and ongoing surveillance of Shigella spp. infections which should definitely be improved for disease prevention and management. This review emphasizes on the epidemiological data of India, and antimicrobial resistance in Shigella spp.

Guided Imagery: Reducing Anxiety, Depression, and Selected Side Effects Associated With Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Cancer treatment can be a great source of anxiety and depression for patients. Patients who experience anxiety and depression may be treated with a variety of nonpharmacologic treatments, such as guided imagery. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to determine the effect of guided imagery on patients' anxiety, depression, and other selected side effects prompted by chemotherapy. METHODS: This pre- and postintervention assessment randomly selected patients with various types of cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy to listen to a guided imagery audio file for 20 minutes per day for one week. Data collection included a demographic questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Symptom Distress Scale. FINDINGS: A significant decrease in anxiety and depression was noted in the intervention group compared to the control group. No reduction in the mean score for anxiety and depression was observed postintervention for the control group. In addition, patients in the intervention group showed improvement in all side effect categories. Patients in the intervention group reported the greatest rate of improvement in the items of pain, insomnia, appetite, and nausea.

Absence of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Restores Mitotic Fidelity upon Loss of Sister Chromatid Cohesion.

The fidelity of mitosis depends on cohesive forces that keep sister chromatids together. This is mediated by cohesin that embraces sister chromatid fibers from the time of their replication until the subsequent mitosis [1-3]. Cleavage of cohesin marks anaphase onset, where single chromatids are dragged to the poles by the mitotic spindle [4-6]. Cohesin cleavage should only occur when all chromosomes are properly bio-oriented to ensure equal genome distribution and prevent random chromosome segregation. Unscheduled loss of sister chromatid cohesion is prevented by a safeguard mechanism known as the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) [7, 8]. To identify specific conditions capable of restoring defects associated with cohesion loss, we screened for genes whose depletion modulates Drosophila wing development when sister chromatid cohesion is impaired. Cohesion deficiency was induced by knockdown of the acetyltransferase separation anxiety (San)/Naa50, a cohesin complex stabilizer [9-12]. Several genes whose function impacts wing development upon cohesion loss were identified. Surprisingly, knockdown of key SAC proteins, Mad2 and Mps1, suppressed developmental defects associated with San depletion. SAC impairment upon cohesin removal, triggered by San depletion or artificial removal of the cohesin complex, prevented extensive genome shuffling, reduced segregation defects, and restored cell survival. This counterintuitive phenotypic suppression was caused by an intrinsic bias for efficient chromosome biorientation at mitotic entry, coupled with slow engagement of error-correction reactions. Thus, in contrast to SAC's role as a safeguard mechanism for mitotic fidelity, removal of this checkpoint alleviates mitotic errors when sister chromatid cohesion is compromised.

[MICROALB study: screening for microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients by general practitioners in France]. / Enquête MICROALB: dépistage de la microalbuminurie chez l'hypertendu diabétique de type 2 par le médecin généraliste en France métropolitaine.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria (MAU) detected by a specific urinary strip in type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients in metropolitan France. METHOD: Screening for MAU with a semi-quantitative strip measuring the albumin/creatinine ratio was performed by general practitioners (GPs) in 6 type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients. This screening method was considered reliable if a preliminary search for proteinuria was performed with a usual strip and the quality of the MAU reading was good. RESULTS: 3347 GPs screened 19,714 patients (60% M, average age 64 +/- 10 years): 43.3% had MAU. MAU screening was considered reliable for 6679 patients (61.8% M, average age 65 +/- 10 years): 48.5% had MAU (alb/creat ratio between 30 and 300 mg/g), and 10.7% had manifest MAU (alb/creat ratio >300 mg/g). In all cases, the prevalence of MAU increased with the severity of hypertension. In the population with a reliable MAU screen, the analysis of risk factors according to the level of MAU yielded the following results: [table: see text]. In the MAU+ group, the need for multiple antidiabetic (including insulin) and antihypertensive drugs was more frequent. In contrast to current guidelines, only a minority of patients received an antiplatelet agent (approximately 33%). CONCLUSION: Despite recommendations, screening for proteinuria in type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients is seldom performed. However, the prevalence of MAU was high in this patient population. The prevalence of comorbidities and risk factors was significantly higher in the MAU+ group, with less frequent BP control despite a more aggressive antihypertensive treatment.

Mediation of the cardiovascular response to spinal gamma-aminobutyric acid(B) receptor stimulation by adenosine A(1) receptors in anesthetized rats.

Cardiovascular inhibitory effects induced by intrathecal (i.t.) administration of adenosine A(1) receptor agonist and its modulation by gamma-aminobutyric acid(B) (GABA(B)) receptor was suggested by our previous report. In this experiment, we examined the mediation of cardiovascular effects of GABA(B) receptor stimulation by adenosine A(1) and A(2) in the spinal cord. I.t. administration of GABA(B) receptor agonist, baclofen (30, 60 and 100 nmol) produced a dose dependent decrease of blood pressure and heart rate. Pretreatment with adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine (50 nmol), attenuated the depressor and bradycardiac effects of baclofen (100 nmol), but not with adenosine A(2) receptor antagonist, 3, 7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (25 nmol). These results suggest that GABA(B) receptors in the spinal cord play an inhibitory role in the central cardiovascular regulation and that the depressor and bradycardiac actions are mediated by adenosine A(1) receptors.

[The possibilities of shortening the treatment periods in patients with tuberculosis of the peripheral lymph nodes]. / Vozmozhnosti sokrashcheniia srokov lecheniia bol'nykh tuberkulezom perifericheskikh limfaticheskikh uzlov.

Outcomes of shorter periods of treatment of patients with tuberculosis of the peripheral lymph nodes are presented. It is possible to reduce the period of treatment provided early surgical intervention is performed to remove the affected nodes. One recurring case detected after the long-term therapy. The counterindications for reduction of treatment periods of the above disease are generalization of the process and Mycobacterium resistance to tuberculostatic drugs.