Incidence of Salmonella serovars isolated from commercial animal feed mills in the United States and serovar identification using CRISPR analysis.

AIMS: In this study, we sought to determine the incidence and diversity of Salmonella in a broad collection of commercial animal feeds collected from animal feed mills across the United States over an 11-month period and utilize CRISPR analysis to identify individual serovars. METHODS AND RESULTS: Over two independent trials, 387 feed samples from 135 different animal feed mills in the United States were screened for Salmonella. A total of 6·2% (24/387) of samples were contaminated with Salmonella, which is concordant with similar studies. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-typing was used to serotype Salmonella isolates, and serovars Infantis and Tennessee were the most common. CONCLUSIONS: Serogroups O:4 and O:7 were enriched in the feed samples, suggesting that these serogroups are better adapted to surviving in low moisture animal feeds. The study supports the utility of CRISPR to determine serovar type since most of the serovars identified in this study have been also isolated and identified in earlier studies using more classical serotyping methods. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work contributes to a growing body of literature concerning the Salmonella prevalence in animal feeds and highlights the need to effectively mitigate pathogens in livestock and poultry feed.

The impact of vitamin D levels on glycemic control and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Whether glycemic control contributes to a decreased number of fractures or favorably impacts bone density in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)has not been well established. Vitamin D (25 (OH) D3) deficiency appears to be related to glycemic control in patients with T2DM. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between 25 (OH) D3 levels, glycemic control, bone mineral density (BMD), and the development of osteoporotic fractures (OPF) in postmenopausal women with T2DM. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 110 postmenopausal women diagnosed with T2DM. Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values over the previous 5 years were recorded and an average was obtained. Based on these values,the patients were divided into three groups: optimal,suboptimal, and poor control. Bone mineral density and 25(OH) D3 levels were also recorded. RESULTS: In the group of patients with poorly controlled T2DM, 25 (OH) D3 levels were not significantly lower in comparison with the optimal control group 19.29 ± 7.70 vs 17.26 ± 6.93 (p = 0.53). No statistically significant linear relationship between HbA1c and 25 (OH) D3 levels( r(s) = −0.17, p = 0.06) was established. The frequency of osteoporosis and osteopenia was not significantly different between groups. The group with optimal glycemic control had an increased number of OPF events (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: We do not appreciate a significant relationship between 25 (OH) D3 levels and glucose control or OPF. Therefore, more studies are needed to identify the specific effect of 25 (OH) D3 in T2DM physiopathology.

Revisión a 5 años de técnicas quirúrgicas y características de los implantes en 2876 mamoplastias de aumento consecutivas / A 5-year review of surgical techniques and implant characteristics in 2876 consecutive augmentation mammaplasties

El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar las técnicas quirúrgicas en mamoplastia de aumento y los tipos de prótesis (material, superficie, volumen) empleadas en los últimos años por nuestro grupo de Cirugía Plástica Ambulatoria del Centro Médico Platinum en Caracas, Venezuela, revisando para ello retrospectivamente2876 mamoplastias de aumento y aumentopexias consecutivas, realizadas en los últimos 5 años. La edad promedio de las pacientes del grupo de estudio fue30,8 años (71% menores de 35 años). En todas empleamos prótesis rellenas de gel de silicona, redondas, 86% de superficie lisa y 77% de perfil alto. El 97% se colocaron en el plano retropectoral. El volumen promedio fue de 386 cc para la mama derecha y de 387 cc para la mama izquierda (mínimo de 200 cc y máximo de600cc). Hubo una relación inversa entre edad y volumen(p = 0,001). En cuanto al volumen utilizado, el comportamiento fue homogéneo entre los 27 cirujanos plásticos del centro. Perthese® y La Femme®, fueron las marcas más empleadas. El uso de perfiles extra-altos aumentó en los últimos años (p = 0,002).En poco más de la mitad (51%) de las pacientes, se combinó el aumento mamario con una pexia. En el 13% la cirugía mamaria se combinó con otro procedimiento quirúrgico. Las mamoplastias de aumento predominaron en menores de 35 años, y las aumentopexias en las pacientes de mayor edad. En conclusión, comprobamos que en nuestro medio se utilizan mayoritariamente prótesis rellenas de gel de silicona, redondas, lisas, de perfil alto, colocadas en un plano retropectoral. En pacientes de mayor edad se combinó el aumento mamario con lapexia y se utilizaron tamaños de prótesis más pequeñas. En los últimos años ha aumentado el uso de prótesis de perfil extra-alto (AU)

We conducted a study to evaluate the breast augmentation techniques and type of implants (material, surface, volume) in the last years in our group of Day Unit Plastic Surgery at Centro Médico Platinum in Caracas, Venezuela. We retrospectively review2876 consecutive augmentation mammoplasties and augmentation-mastopexies, performed in the last 5 years. The average age of the patients was 30,8 years (71% under 35years). All the implants were silicone gel filled prosthesis, round,86% smooth surface and 77% high profile; 97% were placed in the subpectoral plane. The average volume was 386 cc for the right breast, and 387 cc for the left breast (minimum 200 cc and maximum.600 cc). There was an inverse relationship between age and volume (p = 0.001). As for the volume used, the behavior was homogeneous among the 27 plastic surgeons of the group. Perthese® and La Femme® were the most used brands. The use of extra-high profiles increased in recent years (p = 0,002).In just over half (51%) patients, mammary augmentation was combined with a mastopexy. In 13% breast surgery was combined with another surgical procedure. The augmentation mammoplasty predominated in patients under 35 years, and augmentation mastopexies in the older ones. In conclusion, we comprobed that in our area, silicone gel-filled, smooth surface, high profile mammary implants are mostly used, placed on a retropectoral plane. In older patients, breast augmentation is combined with mastopexies and smaller sizes are used. In recent years use of extra-high profile implants is increasing (AU)

[Staphylococcus aureus: new and old antimicrobial agents]. / Staphylococcus aureus: nuevos y antiguos antimicrobianos.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the susceptibility to old and new antimicrobial agents against hospital-acquired oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-ORSA), community-acquired oxacillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-ORSA), and oxacillin-susceptible S. aureus(OSSA). The minimum inhibitory concentration of different antimicrobial agents against 118 S. aureus consecutive and prospective isolates was studied by the CLSI agar dilution method. In ORSA isolates without accompanying resistance, the mecA gene, the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene (PVL), and the gamma-hemolysin gene were determined by PCR, and the SCC cassette mec gene by multiplex PCR. Out of the 118 isolates, 44 were HA-ORSA, 16 were CA-ORSA, and 58 corresponded to OSSA. The HA-ORSA isolates presented simultaneous resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin whereas all of them were susceptible to tigecycline (TIG), vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid (LZD). The CA-ORSA isolates were only resistant to OXA and presented susceptibility to all the antimicrobial agents assayed. In all of them, the mec-A gene, the PVL gene, the gamma-hemolysin gene and the SCC cassette mec type IV gene were detected. With the OSSA and CA-ORSA isolates, all the non-beta-lactam antimicrobial agents assayed exhibited excellent in vitro activity. However, in the HA-ORSA isolates, only the old antimicrobial agents such as glycopeptides, doxyciclin, rifampin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and the new antimicrobial agents LZD and TIG, presented good in vitro activity. The ORSA phenotype without accompanying resistance was highly predictive of CA-ORSA as confirmed by a positive SCC cassette mec type IV.

Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. dried calyx ethanol extract on fat absorption-excretion, and body weight implication in rats.

The effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Hs) calyx extract on fat absorption-excretion and body weight in rats, was investigated. Rats were fed with either a basal diet (SDC = Control diet) or the same diet supplemented with Hs extracts at 5%, 10% and 15% (SD(5), SD(10) and SD(15)). Only SD(5) did not show significant increases in weight, food consumption and efficiency compared to SD(C). The opposite occurred in SD(15) group which showed a significant decrease for these three parameters. The SD(10) responses were similar to SD(15), with the exception of food consumption. In both SD(C) and SD(5) groups, no body weight loss was observed; however, only in the latter group was there a significantly greater amount of fatty acids found in feces. A collateral effect emerging from the study is that components of Hs extract at the intermediate and greater concentrations used in this experiment could be considered possible antiobesity agents.

Hipocinetismo: un problema de salud entre jóvenes ucevistas? / Hypokinetism: a problem of health among young ucevistas?

Se explora la evaluación del hipocinetismo como factor de riesgo para la salud. A tal fin fueron analizados los hábitos de actividad física y el nivel de riesgo cardiovascular, en 314 estudiantes no atletas de la Universidad Central de Venezuela con edades entre 17 y 29 a¤os, mediante la aplicación del Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física-IPAQ (2004) y un cuestionario de Hoeger y Hoeger (2002) para la estimación del riesgo cardiovascular. Los resultados indicaron que globalmente 31,53 por ciento de los sujetos tenían un nivel de actividad física que se relaciona con hipocinetismo. Se evidenció que las jóvenes estudiadas mostraron mayores niveles de riesgo cardiovascular. Se identificaron asociaciones entre las variables género y la categoría de riesgo cardiovascular, asícomo entre esta última y los niveles de actividad física, apuntando a que el hipocinetismo representa un factor de riesgo adicional en el desarrollo de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en los ucevistas evaluados.

Rotavirus criptosporidium sp y enteroparasitos en enfermedad diarreica aguda en menores de 5 años / Rotavirus, cryptosporidium and enteroparasites in acute diarreic diseases in 0 to 5 years old children

El presente trabajo ha sido realizado en muestras de niños comprendidos entre 0 y 5 años de edad, que presentaban cuadros sintomaticos de enfermedad diarreica aguda (EDA), con el objeto de conocer la incidencia de Rotavirus, cryptosporidium sp y enteroparasitos en nuestro medio. Se tomaron 90 muestras del Servicio de Pediatria de COMBASE, habiendose encontrado 74% de posibilidad combinada. Los porcentajes segun agente etiologico son 49% de enteroparasitos, 20% de rotavirus y 5% de cryptosporidium sp, presentando el rotavirus, una mayor incidencia en niños comprendidos entre 1 y 2 años; el 72% de todos los casos del mencionado virus

Títulos elevados de toxoplasmosis vs lesión ocular: fondo de ojo / Elevated titles of toxoplasmosis vs ocular injuries: fundus oculis

De los 15 casos estudiados al azar, de ambos sexos, predominó el sexo femenino, en edades comprendidas entre 1 y 10 años, de los cuales 11 casos presentaron aumento de la densidad vítrea y 4 casos presentaron lesiones de coriorretinitis activa, mejorando con tratamiento médico. Los títulos de Toxoplasmosis oscilaron entre 10.000 y 262.000 diluciones, encontrándose mayor porcentaje entre 16.000 y 40.000 diluciones

Esclerosis tuberosa: síndrome de Bourneville / Tuberous sclerosis: bourneville disease

El caso estudiado, es una esclerosis tuberosa o enfermedad de Bourneville, con lesión única en el organismo, a nivel de pupila de ojo derecho, que corresponde a una hamartoma tipo 2. Sintomatológicamente está dentro de las formas frustres, asintomática e incluida genéticamente en una herencia autosómica dominante con mutación reciente y padres fenotípicamente normales (85%). En general el pronóstico es bueno, porque la lesión ocular no progresa, no causa secundariamente inflamación intraocular, ninguna repercusión funcional, ya que no está situada a nivel del haz papilomacular o mácula; por lo tanto ningún tipo de tratamiento y la conducta a seguir es expectante