Foodborne Origin and Local and Global Spread of Staphylococcus saprophyticus Causing Human Urinary Tract Infections.

Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a primary cause of community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs) in young women. S. saprophyticus colonizes humans and animals but basic features of its molecular epidemiology are undetermined. We conducted a phylogenomic analysis of 321 S. saprophyticus isolates collected from human UTIs worldwide during 1997-2017 and 232 isolates from human UTIs and the pig-processing chain in a confined region during 2016-2017. We found epidemiologic and genomic evidence that the meat-production chain is a major source of S. saprophyticus causing human UTIs; human microbiota is another possible origin. Pathogenic S. saprophyticus belonged to 2 lineages with distinctive genetic features that are globally and locally disseminated. Pangenome-wide approaches identified a strong association between pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance, phages, platelet binding proteins, and an increased recombination rate. Our study provides insight into the origin, transmission, and population structure of pathogenic S. saprophyticus and identifies putative new virulence factors.

Prevention of risky sexual behavior in primary healthcare: a best practice implementation project.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Sexually transmitted infections are a public health problem affecting 45% of adolescents and young adults worldwide. The evidence suggests that primary care settings are uniquely positioned to provide an opportunity for these preventive interventions. The aim of this project is to improve nurses' interventions for preventing risky sexual behaviors in adolescents attending nursing consultations in a primary healthcare unit. METHODS: An audit and feedback were conducted by the JBI Model and Implementation Framework. Five audit criteria representing best practice recommendations for preventing risky sexual behaviors in adolescents were used. Barriers to compliance with the best practices were identified, and strategies were adopted to overcome them. A follow-up audit was conducted using the same approach as the baseline audit. RESULTS: Compliance rates improved in four criteria from baseline audit to follow-up audit. CONCLUSION: Through auditing and feedback, evidence-based interventions were implemented to prevent sexual risk behavior in adolescents in primary care settings. Further best practice implementation projects should be conducted to improve adolescent health outcomes.

Comparative study between probe focussed sonication and conventional stirring in the evaluation of cadmium and copper in plants.

Ultrasound (US)-assisted extraction has been widely used for metal ion extraction in plants due to its unique properties of decreased extraction time, minimal contamination, low reagent consumption and low cost. However, very few papers present a sound comparison between probe-focussed sonication and conventional stirring in the evaluation of metal ion extraction in plants. In this study, ultrasonic-assisted digestion has been evaluated and compared to magnetic stirring for total copper and cadmium determination by atomic absorption spectrometry in biological samples (plants, plankton and mussels). The same experimental conditions of sample amount and particle size, extractant solution and extraction time were applied for both ultrasound and magnetic stirring-assisted extraction methods in order to truly compare their effect on metal ion solubilisation. To gain further insight in this issue, dried and fresh plants were tested. The results obtained indicated that osmotic tension in cell walls, produced when dried and powdered samples were immersed in the extractant solution, had an important contribution to metal ion solubilisation, the enhancement due to US for the same purpose being negligible.

Determination of nickel, calcium and magnesium in xylem sap by flame atomic absorption spectrometry using a microsampling technique.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of xylem sap chemical composition is important to the understanding of translocation, detoxification and tolerance mechanisms. However, the small amount of sample available often hampers its characterisation. Hence, low volume consumption techniques are needed for xylem sap analysis. OBJECTIVE: To develop a microsampling technique for the determination of elements in xylem sap from different plants by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). METHODOLOGY: The microsampling device was optimised in terms of sample volume and integration time. The analytical characteristics of the microsampling technique (micro-FAAS) were established and compared with those of FAAS with traditional continuous nebulisation. The method was validated by means of an independent technique. RESULTS: Ca, Mg and Ni were determined in a 50 microL aliquot of xylem sap solution/element that was introduced directly into the flame via the microsampling accessory. Good precision was obtained with relative standard deviations of 1.1, 0.6 and 2.3% for Ca, Mg and Ni, respectively. Matrix effects resulting from the physical characteristics of the samples and possible chemical interferences caused by phosphate and/or sulphate were ruled out. CONCLUSION: A simple, rapid and reproducible microsampling technique coupled to FAAS was developed and successfully applied in the determination of Ca, Mg and Ni in xylem sap.

Gasoline from biomass through refinery-friendly carbohydrate-based bio-oil produced by ketalization.

The introduction of biomass-derived compounds as an alternative feed into the refinery structure that already exists can potentially converge energy uses with ecological sustainability. Herein, we present an approach to produce a bio-oil based on carbohydrate-derived isopropylidene ketals obtained by reaction with acetone under acidic conditions directly from second-generation biomass. The obtained bio-oil showed a greater chemical inertness and miscibility with gasoil than typical bio-oil from fast pyrolysis. Catalytic upgrading of the bio-oil over zeolites (USY and Beta) yielded gasoline with a high octane number. Moreover, the co-processing of gasoil and bio-oil improved the gasoline yield and quality compared to pure gasoil and also reduced the amount of oxygenated compounds and coke compared with pure bio-oil, which demonstrates a synergistic effect.

Disfonia Crônica na infância e Adolecência: Estudo Retrospectivo / Chronic Voice Disorders in Children and Teenagers: A retrospective Study

Disfonia é um distúrbio da comunicação humana, no qual a voz não consegue cumprir seu papel básico de transmissão da mensagem verbal e emocional do indivíduo. Não é um sintoma incomum em crianças, com a maior parte dos estudos epidemiológicos referindo uma prevalência entre 6 e 9% de disfonia e problemas articulatórios na população geral infantil. Objetivo: Este estudo tem por objetivo discutir as principais causas de disfonia entre crianças e adolescentes atendidos em um ambulatório especializado de hospital terciário. Material e método: Foram avaliados, de forma retrospectiva, 49 pacientes (32 meninos e 17 meninas) com queixa de alteração de voz, atendidos no ambulatório da Disciplina de Otorrinolaringologia Pediátrica da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/ EPM). Resultados: A idade variou de 3 a 16 anos, com um predomínio na faixa etária de 4 a 11 arcos. As lesões mais freqüentes foram os nódulos vocais (44,89%) e as alterações estruturais mínimas de laringe (36,73%). Alterações estruturais mínimas (AEM) estiveram relacionadas predominantemente a uma qualidade vocal do tipo áspero - soprosa; enquanto que nódulos vocais, a uma voz do tipo rouco - soprosa. Conclusões: Nódulos vocais são as lesões mais freqüentemente diagnosticadas entre crianças e adolescentes com queixa de disfonia, predominando em meninos menores de 12 anos de idade, e em meninas a partir dessa idade.

Dysphonia is a human communication disturb in which the voice fail in carry out its basic role of transmission of the verbal and emotional message of a person. It's not an uncommon symptom in children. The prevalence of dysphonia and articulatory problems in general population of children related in most of epidemic studies, ranges from 6 to 9%. Objective: The purpose of the present study is to discuss the main causes of dysphonia in children and teenagers seen in an outpatient department of a tertiary hospital. Material and method: Forty nine patients (32 boys and 17 girls) attended at division of pediatric otorhinolaryngology of Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/ EPM), with complaint of voice disorder, were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The age range from 3 to 16 years old, with predominance between 4 and 11 years old. The most frequent lesions were vocal nodules (44,89%) and minimal structural alterations (36,73%). Minimal structural alterations were related mainly to harsh breathy vocal quality while vocal nodules to hoarse breathy. Conclusions: Vocal nodules are the lesions more frequently diagnosed between children and teenagers with complain of dysphonia, prevailing in boys under 12 years old, and girls from this age.