High performance of the automated ADVIA Centaur Systems SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay in nasopharyngeal samples with high viral load / Alto rendimiento del ensayo de antígeno ADVIA Centaur Systems SARS-CoV-2 automatizado en muestras nasofaríngeas con alta carga viral

ADVIA Centaur SARS-CoV-2 Antigen (COV2Ag) Assay (Siemens Healthineers) was evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 detection. A total of 141 nasopharyngeal samples were analyzed by this technique and results were compared with those obtained by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The overall sensitivity and specificity of the test were 68.70% and 70%, respectively. Regarding cycle threshold (Ct) values, the COV2Ag test showed a sensitivity of 93.75% and 100% for nasopharyngeal samples with Ct < 25 and < 20, respectively. ADVIA Centaur COV2Ag Assay is a useful, automated, and rapid technique for early SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and isolation of the infected individuals, avoiding its transmission.(AU)

High performance of the automated ADVIA Centaur Systems SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay in nasopharyngeal samples with high viral load.

ADVIA Centaur SARS-CoV-2 Antigen (COV2Ag) Assay (Siemens Healthineers) was evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 detection. A total of 141 nasopharyngeal samples were analyzed by this technique and results were compared with those obtained by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The overall sensitivity and specificity of the test were 68.70% and 70%, respectively. Regarding cycle threshold (Ct) values, the COV2Ag test showed a sensitivity of 93.75% and 100% for nasopharyngeal samples with Ct < 25 and < 20, respectively. ADVIA Centaur COV2Ag Assay is a useful, automated, and rapid technique for early SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and isolation of the infected individuals, avoiding its transmission.

¿Puede el estudio del gen ADRB3 ayudar a mejorar los programas de pérdida de peso en individuos obesos? / Can study of the ADRB3 gene help improve weight loss programs in obese individuals?

INTRODUCCIÓN: La obesidad es una enfermedad crónica de origen multifactorial, caracterizada por un exceso de peso y una acumulación excesiva de grasa, y cuya etiología incluye factores intrínsecos (genéticos, fisiológicos y metabólicos) y extrínsecos (sociales y culturales). El sobrepeso graso se produce por un desequilibrio prolongado en el balance energético, en el que influyen, entre otros, la termogénesis adaptativa, desencadenada por condiciones ambientales de frío, o una ingesta hipercalórica. La termogénesis está regulada por el sistema nervioso simpático y tiene lugar en el músculo y tejido adiposo pardo. En el tejido adiposo pardo se encuentran receptores adrenérgicos, siendo el receptor β-3 adrenérgico (ADRB3) el principal receptor en la regulación de la termogénesis. La presencia en heterocigosis de un polimorfismo tipo SNP en el gen ADRB3 (Trp64Arg; rs4994) estaría asociado a una menor actividad lipolítica, una predisposición a la obesidad y una resistencia a la pérdida de peso. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar mediante una revisión sistemática el tipo de programa más indicado para pérdida de peso para individuos portadores. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de los trabajos publicados sobre el polimorfismo rs4994 en las bases de datos SNP y PubMed. RESULTADOS: La mayor parte de los trabajos publicados indican la presencia de obesidad y resistencia a la pérdida de peso en individuos portadores, mostrando importantes mejoras en los parámetros antropométricos tras dietas hipocalóricas ricas en grasas. CONCLUSIONES: Teniendo en cuenta estas conclusiones, se proponen unas pautas nutricionales y de ejercicio físico específicas para individuos portadores del alelo Trp64Arg

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic disease of multifactorial origin characterized by excess weight and excess fat accumulation, and whose etiology includes intrinsic (genetic, physiological, and metabolic) and extrinsic (social and cultural) factors. Fat accumulation is caused by a prolonged imbalance in the energy balance influenced, among other factors, by adaptive thermogenesis, which is triggered by cold environmental conditions, or by hypercaloric intake. Thermogenesis is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system and occurs in the muscle and brown adipose tissue. There are adrenergic receptors in brown adipose tissue, including the beta-3 adrenergic receptor (ADRB3), the main receptor for the regulation of thermogenesis. The presence in heterozygosis of an SNP-type polymorphism in the ADRB3 gene (Trp64Arg; rs4994) is associated with a lower lipolytic activity, a predisposition to obesity, and resistance to weight loss. The objective of this study was to analyze through a systematic review the weight loss program most appropriate for carriers. METHODS: A retrospective study of published papers on rs4994 polymorphism in the SNP and PubMed databases was conducted. RESULTS: Most published studies suggest the presence of obesity and resistance to weight loss in carriers, and report significant improvements in anthropometric parameters when patients receive fat-rich hypocaloric diets. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these conclusions, specific nutritional and physical exercise guidelines are proposed for individuals carrying the Trp64Arg allele

Can study of the ADRB3 gene help improve weight loss programs in obese individuals? / ¿Puede el estudio del gen ADRB3 ayudar a mejorar los programas de pérdida de peso en individuos obesos?

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic disease of multifactorial origin characterized by excess weight and excess fat accumulation, and whose etiology includes intrinsic (genetic, physiological, and metabolic) and extrinsic (social and cultural) factors. Fat accumulation is caused by a prolonged imbalance in the energy balance influenced, among other factors, by adaptive thermogenesis, which is triggered by cold environmental conditions, or by hypercaloric intake. Thermogenesis is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system and occurs in the muscle and brown adipose tissue. There are adrenergic receptors in brown adipose tissue, including the beta-3 adrenergic receptor (ADRB3), the main receptor for the regulation of thermogenesis. The presence in heterozygosis of an SNP-type polymorphism in the ADRB3 gene (Trp64Arg; rs4994) is associated with a lower lipolytic activity, a predisposition to obesity, and resistance to weight loss. The objective of this study was to analyze through a systematic review the weight loss program most appropriate for carriers. METHODS: A retrospective study of published papers on rs4994 polymorphism in the SNP and PubMed databases was conducted. RESULTS: Most published studies suggest the presence of obesity and resistance to weight loss in carriers, and report significant improvements in anthropometric parameters when patients receive fat-rich hypocaloric diets. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these conclusions, specific nutritional and physical exercise guidelines are proposed for individuals carrying the Trp64Arg allele.

Synergy of Linezolid with Several Antimicrobial Agents against Linezolid-Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal Strains.

Linezolid is a synthetic oxazolydinone active against multi-resistant Gram-positive cocci that inhibits proteins synthesis by interacting with the 50S ribosomal subunit. Although linezolid-resistant strains are infrequent, several outbreaks have been recently described, associated with prolonged treatment with the antibiotic. As an alternative to monotherapy, the combination of different antibiotics is a commonly used option to prevent the selection of resistant strains. In this work, we evaluated combinations of linezolid with classic and new aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin and plazomicin), carbapenems (doripenem, imipenem and meropenem) and fosfomycin on several linezolid- and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, isolated in a hospital intensive care unit in Madrid, Spain. Using checkerboard and time-kill assays, interesting synergistic effects were encountered for the combination of linezolid with imipenem in all the staphylococcal strains, and for linezolid-doripenem in S.epidermidis isolates. The combination of plazomicin seemed to also have a good synergistic or partially synergistic activity against most of the isolates. None of the combinations assayed showed an antagonistic effect.

Educating in antimicrobial resistance awareness: adaptation of the Small World Initiative program to service-learning.

The Small World Initiative (SWI) and Tiny Earth are a consolidated and successful education programs rooted in the USA that tackle the antibiotic crisis by a crowdsourcing strategy. Based on active learning, it challenges young students to discover novel bioactive-producing microorganisms from environmental soil samples. Besides its pedagogical efficiency to impart microbiology content in academic curricula, SWI promotes vocations in research and development in Experimental Sciences and, at the same time, disseminates the antibiotic awareness guidelines of the World Health Organization. We have adapted the SWI program to the Spanish academic environment by a pioneering hierarchic strategy based on service-learning that involves two education levels (higher education and high school) with different degrees of responsibility. Throughout the academic year, 23 SWI teams, each consisting of 3-7 undergraduate students led by one faculty member, coordinated off-campus programs in 22 local high schools, involving 597 high school students as researchers. Post-survey-based evaluation of the program reveals a satisfactory achievement of goals: acquiring scientific abilities and general or personal competences by university students, as well as promoting academic decisions to inspire vocations for science- and technology-oriented degrees in younger students, and successfully communicating scientific culture in antimicrobial resistance to a young stratum of society.

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa: virtual diffusion of the disease as a lifestyle / Anorexia y bulimia nerviosas: difusión virtual de la enfermedad como estilo de vida.

Introduction: Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the onset of eating disorders (ED) such as anorexia and bulimia nervosas. Body dissatisfaction, a precipitating factor for ED, leads adolescents to seek information on the Internet about diets. In this context, pro-Ana (proanorexia) and pro-Mia (probulimia) are on-line pages that promulgate highly harmful contents for health related to weight loss and ED. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze quantity, quality and social diffusion strategies used by pro-Ana and pro-Mia webpages. Methods: A web search was done in the Google Chrome browser, using the keywords "anorexia", "bulimia", "eating disorders", "Ana and Mia", "pro-Ana and pro-Mia", "anorexic nation", "obesity", "healthy lifestyles" and "healthy nutrition". The top 20 results for each search were selected and analyzed according to positioning rates (PageRank, PR). The quality of these resources was analyzed by a previously published questionnaire. Finally, a study of the diffusion in social networks like Facebook and Twitter was performed for pro-Ana and pro-Mia pages using SharedCount. Results: Searches for pro-Ana and pro-Mia reported more than a million entries. The pages were poorly positioned. Blog contents were the most shared between all the analyzed pages. Conclusions: pro-Ana and pro-Mia are resources with a clear intention to establish a contact with people with an eating disorder or who are at risk for developing one, in order to strengthen the communication through the blogosphere.

Introducción: la adolescencia es un periodo vulnerable para padecer trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) como la anorexia y la bulimia nerviosas. La insatisfacción corporal, uno de los factores precipitantes de los TCA, conduce a las adolescentes a la búsqueda de información sobre dietas en internet. En este contexto, las páginas pro-Ana (proanorexia) y pro-Mía (probulimia) difunden contenidos altamente perjudiciales para la salud relacionados con la pérdida de peso y los TCA.Objetivos: en el presente trabajo se analizan la cantidad, el posicionamiento, la calidad y la difusión de las páginas pro-Ana y pro-Mía. Métodos: se realizó una búsqueda de páginas web en el navegador Google Chrome con las palabras clave "anorexia", "bulimia", "trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA)", "Ana y Mía", "pro-Ana y pro-Mía", "anorexic nation", "obesidad", "estilos de vida saludables" y "nutrición saludable". Se seleccionaron los 20 primeros resultados de cada búsqueda según los índices de posicionamiento de PageRank y se analizó la calidad de dichos recursos mediante un cuestionario. Para el estudio de la difusión de páginas pro-Ana y pro-Mía en redes sociales como Facebook y Twitter se utilizó el programa SharedCount. Resultados: pro-Ana y pro-Mía dieron más de un millón de entradas, siendo páginas mal posicionadas, de tipo blog en su mayoría, con mayor difusión en Facebook y Twitter comparadas con otras de mejor calidad. Conclusiones: pro-Ana y pro-Mía son recursos con una clara intencionalidad de contactar con personas que padecen un TCA o están en riesgo, con el fin de reforzar la comunicación entre ellas a través de la blogosfera.

[Impact of informal caregiving on caregivers' health and quality of life: analysis of gender inequalities]. / Impacto del cuidado informal en la salud y la calidad de vida de las personas cuidadoras: análisis de las desigualdades de género.

OBJECTIVES: To describe informal caregivers' characteristics, quantify the effect of caregiving activities on caregivers' health, and determine whether this effect differs by sex. METHODS: A descriptive study was carried out based on the Basque Health Survey 2002. Physical and mental health, use of health services, social health and health related quality of life (HRQL) indicators were compared in caregivers (n=836) and non-caregivers (n=5,706). Age-adjusted logistic regression models were calculated to assess the association between the caregiver and effects on health by sex, socioeconomic position and occupational status. RESULTS: Female caregivers showed worse results in 6 out of 10 indicators compared with non-caregiver women, whereas male caregivers showed worse results in only four indicators compared with non-caregiving men. The associations between caregiving (caregiving vs. non-caregiving) and health results were stronger in women than in men, except in social health. When caregiving burden intensity was considered, greatly burdened men showed a similar or higher risk of poor HRQL (physical in men: OR=3.0, CI95%: 1.4-6.3; women: OR=2.3, CI95%: 1.5-3.5; mental in men: OR=2.5, CI95%: 1.4-4.3; women: OR=2.5, CI95%: 1.7-3.7) and low social support (affective support in men: OR=2.6, CI95%: 1.5-4.6; women: OR=1.5, CI95%: 1.0-2.3). However, the risk of sedentariness, lack of sleep, greater use of health services and mental ill-health remained higher for women caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiving damages the health of informal caregivers but the risks for female caregivers are higher due to greater intensity of caregiver burden. As men's caregiving burden increases, gender inequalities decrease or invert.

Impacto del cuidado informal en la salud y la calidad de vida de las personas cuidadoras: análisis de las desigualdades de género / Impact of informal caregiving on caregivers' health and quality of life: analysis of gender inequalities

Objetivos: Caracterizar a los cuidadores y cuidadoras informales,cuantificar el efecto que la actividad de cuidar tienesobre su salud y determinar si éste es diferente según el sexo.Métodos: Estudio descriptivo basado en la Encuesta de Saluddel País Vasco 2002. Se compararon la salud física y mental,la utilización de servicios, la salud social y la calidad devida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en personas cuidadoras(n = 836) y no cuidadoras (n = 5.706). Se calcularon losmodelos de regresión logística para estimar la asociación entreel cuidado y los resultados en salud por sexos, ajustados poredad, nivel socioeconómico y situación laboral.Resultados: Las cuidadoras puntuaron peor que las no cuidadorasen 6 de los 10 indicadores, y los cuidadores en 4. Lasasociaciones entre el cuidado (cuidar frente a no cuidar) y losresultados en salud fueron más notorias en las mujeres, exceptoen la salud social. Al considerar la intensidad de la cargadel cuidado, los hombres cuidadores con carga elevada presentaronriesgos iguales o superiores de mala CVRS (físicahombres: odds ratio [OR] = 3,0, intervalo de confianza del 95%[IC95%]: 1,4-6,3; física mujeres: OR = 2,3, IC95%: 1,5-3,5; mentalhombres: OR = 2,5, IC95%: 1,4-4,3; mental mujeres: OR= 2,5, IC95%: 1,7-3,7) y poco apoyo social (apoyo afectivo hombres:OR = 2,6, IC95%: 1,5-4,6; apoyo afectivo mujeres: OR= 1,5, IC95%: 1,0-2,3). Sin embargo, las cuidadoras mostraronmayor riesgo de sedentarismo, falta de sueño, número deconsultas y peor salud mental.Conclusiones: Cuidar afecta negativamente a la salud de quienescuidan, pero entraña mayores riesgos para las mujeres porla mayor carga de trabajo que deben asumir. Cuando los hombresaumentan la carga de cuidados, las desigualdades de génerose reducen o invierten(AU)

Objectives: To describe informal caregivers’ characteristics,quantify the effect of caregiving activities on caregivers' health,and determine whether this effect differs by sex.Methods: A descriptive study was carried out based on theBasque Health Survey 2002. Physical and mental health, useof health services, social health and health related quality oflife (HRQL) indicators were compared in caregivers (n = 836)and non-caregivers (n = 5,706). Age-adjusted logistic regressionmodels were calculated to assess the association between thecaregiver and effects on health by sex, socioeconomic positionand occupational status.Results: Female caregivers showed worse results in 6 outof 10 indicators compared with non-caregiver women, whereasmale caregivers showed worse results in only four indicatorscompared with non-caregiving men. The associationsbetween caregiving (caregiving vs. non-caregiving) and healthresults were stronger in women than in men, except insocial health. When caregiving burden intensity was considered,greatly burdened men showed a similar or higher risk of poorHRQL (physical in men: OR = 3.0, CI95%: 1.4-6.3; women:OR = 2.3, CI95%: 1.5-3.5; mental in men: OR = 2.5, CI95%:1.4-4.3; women: OR = 2.5, CI95%: 1.7-3.7) and low social support(affective support in men: OR = 2.6, CI95%: 1.5-4.6;women: OR = 1.5, CI95%: 1.0-2.3). However, the risk of sedentariness,lack of sleep, greater use of health services andmental ill-health remained higher for women caregivers.Conclusions: Caregiving damages the health of informal caregiversbut the risks for female caregivers are higher due togreater intensity of caregiver burden. As men’s caregiving burdenincreases, gender inequalities decrease or invert(AU)

PCR-RFLP analysis of the IGS region of rDNA: a useful tool for the practical discrimination between species of the genus Debaryomyces.

The amplification by PCR of the intergenic spacer region (IGS) of rDNA followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was evaluated as a potential method for discriminating the 16 species belonging to the genus Debaryomyces. The digestion of this region with some or all the enzymes used in this study (HapII, HhaI and MboI) produced species-specific patterns that permitted differentiation of the species in the genus. With the exception of Debaryomyces vanrijiae, the technique was also efficient for distinguishing the varieties in the species Debaryomyces hansenii (var. hansenii, var. fabryi), Debaryomyces occidentalis (var. occidentalis, var. persoonii) and Debaryomyces polymorphus (var. africanus, var. polymorphus), respectively. PCR-RFLP analysis of the IGS region of rDNA is proposed as a clear and reproducible technique for the practical discrimination of species of the yeast genus Debaryomyces.

A beta-glucuronidase-based agar medium for the differential detection of the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii from foods.

A selective and differential solid medium, Debaryomyces differential medium (DDM), was used for the isolation of Debaryomyces hansenii. This medium is formulated to allow detection of the beta-glucuronidase enzyme using the chromogenic substrate magenta-glucuro.CHA (5Br-6Cl-3indolyl-beta-D-glucuronide, cyclohexylammonium salt). Of the more than 120 microorganisms tested, including yeasts, bacteria, and a filamentous fungus, only D. hansenii produced violet colonies, thus permitting its easy discrimination from other organisms. When quality assessment tests were performed, optimal productivity and selectivity were obtained for D. hansenii. The medium was also satisfactory when used to test naturally contaminated food products.

Differential detection of Debaryomyces hansenii isolated from intermediate-moisture foods by PCR-RFLP of the IGS region of rDNA.

The amplification by PCR of the Intergenic Spacer region (IGS) of rDNA followed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was evaluated as a potential method for the identification of Debaryomyces hansenii among other yeast species that frequently contaminate Intermediate-Moisture Foods (IMFs). For a first rapid differentiation at the species level, the determination of the IGS-PCR fragment size was found to be a useful approach. The digestion of this region with the enzymes HhaI, HapII and MboI resulted in specific patterns that permit the identification of D. hansenii among other yeast species. This method also permitted the discrimination between the D. hansenii varieties (var. hansenii and var. fabryi) as well as the differentiation of D. hansenii from other species of the genus, such as Debaryomyces pseudopolymorphus or Debaryomyces polymorphus var. polymorphus. The IGS-PCR RFLP method was assayed for the differential detection of D. hansenii in contaminated or spoiled IMF products and compared with traditional identification procedures, resulting in a 100% detection rate for D. hansenii.

Occurrence of yeasts in municipal wastes and their behaviour in presence of cadmium, copper and zinc.

Seven yeasts strains have been isolated from sewage sludge. Also six samples of compost with different sieving, composting times and origins, have been analysed. Apparently, composting processes negatively affect the viability of yeasts, as none could be isolated from the compost samples. The margins of tolerance of the yeasts to Cd, Cu and Zn have been determined. The physiological response to metals was similar in all the species studied, and in general, kinetic parameters (mu and lag) were affected. Metal uptake ability was also studied and inter- and intra-specific heterogeneity was detected, thus indicating that both the tolerance to metals and the capacity of the uptake were dependent on ionic metal and yeast species. The effect of the presence of multi-metal ions on the uptake capacity of each individual metal was assayed for two selected yeasts, Pichia guilliermondii and Torulaspora delbrueckii. The uptake of each individual metal varied with the combination assayed, and when both strains were compared different results were also found.

Feasibility of copper uptake by the yeast Pichia guilliermondii isolated from sewage sludge.

Copper is one of the most abundant toxic heavy metals in municipal wastewaters and, in consequence, in sewage sludge and compost. The ability of a strain of the yeast Pichia guilliermondii, which was isolated from sewage sludge, to eliminate copper has been evaluated, using both viable and nonviable biomass. It has been found that raising concentrations of copper affected both morphology and physiological parameters of the viable yeast, and it is thought that a process of bioaccumulation may be involved in its copper uptake. The growth rate of nonadapted cells decreased with increasing concentrations of copper, mainly due to a decrease in the biomass yield. The cells could be adapted by training with increasing copper concentrations up to 317.7 mg/l. This adaptation was an all-or-nothing process: once cells had adapted, the biomass yield, metabolic flux and consequent growth rate were constant and independent of the external copper concentration. Also, it was determined that up to 20 mg of copper per gram of viable adapted biomass could accumulate from the medium (i.e., double the amount when using nonadapted viable biomass). Finally, adsorption data on nonviable cells were found to be well modeled by the Langmuir isotherm (qmax = 9.09 mg/g of biomass).