Confocal Raman microscopy of protein adsorbed in chromatographic particles.

Confocal Raman microscopy is a nondestructive analytical technique that combines the chemical information from vibrational spectroscopy with the spatial resolution of confocal microscopy. It was applied, for the first time, to measure conformation and distribution of protein adsorbed in wetted chromatographic particles. Monoclonal antibody was loaded into the Fractogel EMD SO(3) (M) cation exchanger at 2 mS/cm or 10 mS/cm. Amide I and III frequencies in the Raman spectrum of the adsorbed protein suggest that there are no detectable changes of the original ß-sheet conformation in the chromatographic particles. Protein depth profile measurements indicate that, when the conductivity is increased from 2 mS/cm to 10 mS/cm, there is a change in mass transport mechanism for protein adsorption, from the shrinking-core model to the homogeneous-diffusion model. In this study, the use of confocal Raman microscopy to measure protein distribution in chromatographic particles fundamentally agrees with previous confocal laser scanning microscopic investigations, but confocal Raman spectroscopy enjoys additional advantages: use of unlabeled protein to eliminate fluorescent labeling, ability for characterization of protein secondary structure, and ability for spectral normalization to provide a nondestructive experimental approach to correct light attenuation effects caused by refractive index (RI) mismatching in semiopaque chromatographic particles.

Immunization with Staphylococcus aureus clumping factor B, a major determinant in nasal carriage, reduces nasal colonization in a murine model.

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a wide range of infections, including soft tissue infections and potentially fatal bacteremias. The primary niche for S. aureus in humans is the nares, and nasal carriage is a documented risk factor for staphylococcal infection. Previous studies with rodent models of nasal colonization have implicated capsule and teichoic acid as staphylococcal surface factors that promote colonization. In this study, a mouse model of nasal colonization was utilized to demonstrate that S. aureus mutants that lack clumping factor A, collagen binding protein, fibronectin binding proteins A and B, polysaccharide intercellular adhesin, or the accessory gene regulator colonized as well as wild-type strains colonized. In contrast, mutants deficient in sortase A or clumping factor B (ClfB) showed reduced nasal colonization. Mice immunized intranasally with killed S. aureus cells showed reduced nasal colonization compared with control animals. Likewise, mice that were immunized systemically or intranasally with a recombinant vaccine composed of domain A of ClfB exhibited lower levels of colonization than control animals exhibited. A ClfB monoclonal antibody (MAb) inhibited S. aureus binding to mouse cytokeratin 10. Passive immunization of mice with this MAb resulted in reduced nasal colonization compared with the colonization observed after immunization with an isotype-matched control antibody. The mouse immunization studies demonstrate that ClfB is an attractive component for inclusion in a vaccine to reduce S. aureus nasal colonization in humans, which in turn may diminish the risk of staphylococcal infection. As targets for vaccine development and antimicrobial intervention are assessed, rodent nasal colonization models may be invaluable.

Satisfacción de los usuarios de un servicio de urgencias: comparación de resultados / No disponible

Fundamentos: Después de la aplicación de medidas de calidad se comparó la calidad percibida por los usuarios del servicio de urgencias de nuestro hospital en el año 2000 con la percibida por los usuarios en el año 1998. A su vez se compararon los datos globales de los servicios de urgencias del grupo de hospitales del Institut Català de la Salut (ICS) con los de nuestro centro. Material y métodos: Se realizaron dos encuestas telefónicas centralizadas desde el ICS a los usuarios del servicio de urgencias, la primera en el año 1998 y la segunda en el año 2000. Sobre una muestra de 3.811 pacientes, a nuestro centro le correspondieron 218 en el año 1998 y 213 en el 2000. Las dimensiones valoradas fueron: accesibilidad, trato, información, confort, competencia profesional, confianza y satisfacción global. Resultados: Al comparar los resultados de nuestro centro del año 2000 con los del año 1998, se observó que en sólo 2 preguntas (información del tiempo de espera y confort del lugar de las exploraciones) se obtuvieron mejoras estadísticamente significativas, y en una pregunta se observó un empeoramiento. En relación con el global de hospitales del ICS, en 11 preguntas se obtuvieron mejores puntuaciones estadísticamente significativas, entre ellas la de satisfacción global, destacando como la mejor la dimensión trato. Conclusiones: En todos los aspectos relevantes se obtuvieron mejores resultados que en el global de los hospitales del ICS, pero con capacidad de mejora en aspectos informativos a los pacientes. A pesar de la introducción de aspectos de mejora de la calidad, los resultados obtenidos en la encuesta del año 2000 no muestran una mejora significativa en la mayoría de las dimensiones valoradas en relación con la encuesta del año 1998 (AU)

Background: Users’ perception of quality of the Emergency Room service in our hospital in 2000 was compared with that in 1998 after the application of quality measures. Global data on the Emergency Room services of the Catalan Health Institute [Institut Català de la Salut (ICS)] hospital division were compared with those from our center. Material and methods: Two telephone surveys, centralized by the ICS, of users of Emergency Room services were performed. The first survey was performed in 1998 and the second in 2000. Of a sample of 3811 patients, 218 patients received medical assistance in our center in 1998 and 213 in 2000. The dimensions evaluated were: accessibility, dealings with staff, verbal and written information, comfort, professional competence, confidence, and global satisfaction. Results: Comparison of the results of the 2000 survey with those for 1998 in our center revealed that statistically significant improvements were obtained in only two items (information on waiting times and comfort) and that in one item a lowering of standards was observed. The hospitals of the ICS obtained statistically significant improvements in scores of eleven questions, among them, global satisfaction. The item receiving the highest score was that concerning dealings with staff. Conclusions: In all salient aspects, the results obtained in our center were better than the global score for the ICS hospital division. The information given to patients could be improved. Despite quality improvement, the results obtained in the 2000 survey were not significantly better than those obtained in most of the dimensions evaluated in the 1998 survey (AU)