Associations between transient and chronic loneliness, and depression, in the understanding society study.

OBJECTIVES: Loneliness has a long-established link with depression; however, patterns of loneliness, specifically transient (short-term) and chronic loneliness (longer-term), have seldom been researched in terms of their associations with depression and psychiatric distress. We investigated whether chronic loneliness could predict higher levels of psychiatric distress and higher chance of depression diagnosis (via self-report) than transient and no loneliness. METHODS: We used data from 18,999 participants in Waves 9 and 10 of the Understanding Society survey: a nationally representative study of adults in the United Kingdom. The study used a between-subjects, cross-sectional, design, where participants' scores on loneliness measures across two time points were combined to form patterns of loneliness, and participants were compared on their levels of psychiatric distress and depression diagnoses across the three loneliness groups: chronic loneliness (lonely at both time points), transient loneliness (lonely at one time point) and no loneliness. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that patterns of loneliness predicted both the likelihood of participants reporting a history of depression diagnosis and participants' levels of psychiatric distress. The chronic loneliness group had the highest likelihood of self-reported depression diagnosis and had the highest levels of psychiatric distress, compared to both the transient and no loneliness groups. Transient loneliness, in turn, predicted higher likelihood of reporting a history of depression diagnosis and higher levels of psychiatric distress than the no loneliness group. CONCLUSIONS: The study replicates and extends prior findings, suggesting that prolonged loneliness even over the course of one year is a risk factor for poorer mental health.

The activity of propolis against pathogenic fungi isolated from human infections

Abstract Propolis is a resinous hive product collected by bees from the buds or other parts of plants. It is known for having various biological properties, including antifungal activity. Among the substances present in propolis, flavonoids and phenolic acids and their esters are responsible for its antifungal properties. This means that propolis is ideal for use as an antifungal agent in alternative medicine to treat a number of both topical and systemic infections caused by Candida species and other yeast-like fungi, dermatophyte and nondermatophyte moulds, without the serious side effects typical of synthetic treatment. It is also active against strains of fungi that are resistant to polyenes and azoles, the classes of drugs most commonly used to treat fungal infections. In this article, we review current knowledge about the activity of propolis from different parts of the world and its components in vitro and in vivo against pathogenic fungi isolated from human infections. The article also indicates the possible mechanism of antifungal activity of propolis and its components.

Virulence gene profiles in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from cows with subclinical mastitis in eastern Poland.

Staphylococcus aureus is arguably the most important pathogen involved in bovine mastitis. The aim of this study was to determine the virulence gene profiles of 124 Staph. aureus isolates from subclinical mastitis in cows in eastern Poland. The presence of 30 virulence genes encoding adhesins, proteases and superantigenic toxins was investigated by PCR. The 17 different combinations of adhesin genes were identified. Occurrence of eno (91·1%) and fib (82·3%) genes was found to be common. The frequency of other adhesion genes fnbA, fnbB, ebps were 14·5, 50, 25%, respectively, and for cna and bbp were 1·6%. The etA and etD genes, encoding exfoliative toxins, were present in genomes of 5·6 and 8·9% isolates, respectively. The splA and sspA, encoding serine protease, were detected in above 90% isolates. The most frequent enterotoxin genes were sei (21%), sem (19·4%), sen (19·4%), seg (18·5%) and seo (13·7%). The tst gene was harboured by 2·4% isolates. The 19 combinations of the superantigenic toxin genes were obtained and found in 35·5% of isolates. Three of them (seg, sei, sem, sen, seo; sec, seg, sei, sem, sen, seo and seg, sei, sem, sen) were the most frequent and found in 16·1% of the isolates. The most common virulotype, present in 17·7% of the isolates, was fib, eno, fnbB, splA, splE, sspA. The results indicate the variation in the presence of virulence genes in Staph. aureus isolates and considerable diversity of isolates that are able to cause mastitis in cows.

Virulence factors, biofilm-forming ability, and antimicrobial resistance of urinary Escherichia coli strains isolated from hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Escherichia coli is the most frequent cause of urinary tract infections. We investigated the possible associations between the origin of strains, antimicrobial resistance, the presence of urovirulence factors, and biofilm-forming ability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antibiotic susceptibility of E. coli strains was tested by disk diffusion method. Hemagglutination assays were performed for phenotypic characterization of the cell surface. Multiplex PCR was used for detection of virulence genes and for determination of phylogenetic relationships. RESULTS: The resistance to ampicillin (55.5%) and tetracycline (39.3%) was significantly more frequent than to other antimicrobial agents. The fim gene was present in 92.5% of strains. The sfa and pap genes were found in 53.8% and 38.7% of strains, respectively. The pap gene was significantly less frequently detected in strains from dialysis patients. The hly gene was present in 18.5% of strains. The aer gene was detected in 52.6% and cnf in 12.1%, while afa was detected in 4.6% of strains. Most strains belonged to the B2 and D phylogenetic groups. The aer gene was significantly associated with strains producing strong biofilms. CONCLUSION: The E. coli strains causing cystitis in hospitalized patients differed in terms of resistance to antibiotics, virulence genes, and potential for biofilm formation.

Antibiofilm activity of trans-cinnamaldehyde, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids on uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Biofilm on urinary catheters results in persistent infections that are resistant to antibiotics. In this study, phytochemicals were assessed as alternative antimicrobials in preventing and inactivating E. coli biofilm on urinary catheters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biofilm prevention was tested using catheter fragments inoculated with E. coli and treated with trans- cinnamaldehyde, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids (0%, 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%) for 0, 1, 3, and 5 days. Inactivation of E. coli biofilm with the same agents at concentrations of 0%, 1%, 1.25%, or 1.5% used for 0, 1, 3, or 5 days was also evaluated. RESULTS: All used concentrations of trans-cinnamaldehyde prevented and effectively inactivated E. coli biofilm formed on urinary catheter fragments. p-Coumaric (0.25% and 0.5%) and ferulic acids (0.5%) had preventive action on E. coli biofilm formation in urinary catheter fragments. The number of uropathogenic E. coli cells in biofilm formed in the lumen of a urinary catheter was significantly reduced in the presence of p-coumaric and ferulic acids, but complete inactivation of the biofilm formed was not observed, as opposed to the use of trans-cinnamaldehyde. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate that phytochemicals maybe an important source of antibiofilm agents that have preventive action on E. coli biofilm formation on urinary catheters.

Bullous pyoderma gangrenosum associated with pancytopenia of unknown origin.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic dermatosis of unknown origin. Clinically it starts with a pustule, nodule or bulla that rapidly progresses and turns into a painful ulcer with raised, undermined borders. The etiopathogenesis of PG remains unknown. However it is frequently associated with systemic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), haematological disorders or arthritis. The latest multicentric retrospective analysis published by Ghazal et al. shows that anaemia has been observed very often in German patients suffering from PG (in 45.6% of 259) so this disorder is supposed to be a possible cofactor in the pathogenesis of PG. According to its progressive course, patients require intensive diagnostic procedures and rapid initiation of the treatment. In this article, we report a case of bullous pyoderma gangrenosum in association with pancytopenia of unknown origin, according to its diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.

Twitching motility activity, biofilm formation, and genetic typing for clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by random amplified DNA PCR.

A total of 44 Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strains were studied by random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR. (RAPD)-PCR analysis determined the presence of 15 genotypes, with the most frequent genotype A detected in 27.3% of the strains. It was observed that clonally related strains were isolated from patients within the same ward and among different wards of two hospitals. The collection of P. aeruginosa was also screened in microtiter plates made of polystyrene to test for their ability to form a biofilm on an abiotic surface. Generally most of the strains (88.6%) showed a significant ability to form biofilm. We found a correlation between twitching motility activity and between biofilm production and source of isolation of strains. No correlation was observed between P. aeruginosa strain genotypes and biofilm formation, as well as source and place of isolation.

[Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to antibiotics]. / Opornosc Pseudomonas aeruginosa na antybiotyki.

The main problem in the treatment of nosocomial infections is the increasing drug resistance of microorganisms that cause them, limiting the number of effective antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacilli are the cause of many serious hospital-acquired infections occurring primarily in patients within high-risk groups. The most vulnerable are those with weakened immune systems, as well as those with extensive surgical wounds and burn wounds. Infections are usually of the nature of secondary infections, caused by multidrug strains. Due to the high antimicrobial activity, beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and quinolones are drugs commonly used in hospitals, both in prevention and treatment of infections with P. aeruginosa. However, their irrational use is associated with selection and spread of strains resistant to these antibiotics. Resistance of P. aeruginosa to antibiotics is the result of a number of independent co-occurring mechanisms. These are: reducing the membrane permeability, the efflux system, and production of enzymes inactivating and degrading antibiotics. The paper devotes special attention to the determination of resistance mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon.

Phenotypic and genotypic diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from hospitals in siedlce (Poland)

A total of 62 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from two hospitals in Siedlce (Poland) were studied by repetitive element based PCR (rep-PCR) using BOX primer. BOX-PCR results revealed the presence of 7 numerous genotypes and 31 unique patterns among isolates. Generally, the strains of P. aeruginosa were characterized by resistance to many antibiotics tested and by differences in serogroups and types of growth on cetrimide agar medium. However, the P. aeruginosa strains isolated from faeces showed much lower phenotypic and genotypic variations in comparison with strains obtained from other clinical specimens. It was observed that genetic techniques supported by phenotypic tests have enabled to conduct a detailed characterization of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from a particular environment at a particular time.

Phenotypic and genotypic diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from hospitals in siedlce (Poland).

A total of 62 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from two hospitals in Siedlce (Poland) were studied by repetitive element based PCR (rep-PCR) using BOX primer. BOX-PCR results revealed the presence of 7 numerous genotypes and 31 unique patterns among isolates. Generally, the strains of P. aeruginosa were characterized by resistance to many antibiotics tested and by differences in serogroups and types of growth on cetrimide agar medium. However, the P. aeruginosa strains isolated from faeces showed much lower phenotypic and genotypic variations in comparison with strains obtained from other clinical specimens. It was observed that genetic techniques supported by phenotypic tests have enabled to conduct a detailed characterization of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from a particular environment at a particular time.

BOX-PCR is an adequate tool for typing of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates.

In this study, the BOX-PCR fingerprinting technique was evaluated for the discrimination of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. All isolates were typeable and nearly half showed unique banding patterns. According to our results, BOX-PCR fingerprinting is applicable for typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates and can be considered a useful complementary tool for epidemiological studies of members of this genus.

Genetic features of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

The genetic features of each isolate were determined by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) primer sequences used in PCR and by searching for six virulence genes (alg D, las B, tox A, plc H, plc N, exo S). 49 (79%) of the isolates were distributed in three ERIC PCR subgroups and showed 62% of similarity. The remaining 13 strains generated unique patterns. The first subgroup was primarily composed of isolates from faeces, these strains indicated over 70% relationship with the next subgroup, and primarily contained strains isolated from wounds and bronchial washings and the last subgroup contained strains isolated from wounds and urine. The unique strains were isolated mainly from urine. Statistical analysis indicated that variations in distribution of virulence genes in P. aeruginosa isolates with respect to strain origin and genomic subgroups were not significant. In the group of 49 strains, 100% gave a positive reaction to alg D, las B and plc H genes, 91.8% to tox A and plc N genes and 83.7% to exo S gene. Among the strains that generated unique (ERIC-PCR) patterns, 69.2% gave a positive reaction to alg D gene, 84.6% to las B gene, 76.9% to tox A, plc N and plc H genes, and 46.15% to exo S gene.

[Antibiotic susceptibility and occurrence of ESBL, IBL and MBL in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains]. / Wrazliwosc na antybiotyki oraz wystepowanie beta-laktamaz typu IBL, ESBL i MBL u szczepów Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the drug susceptibility of P. aeruginosa strains and to detect strains producing inducible beta-lactamases (IBL), extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), and metallo-beta-lactamases (MBL). During 6 month (October 2005 - March 2006), 66 strains of P. aeruginosa strains were cultured from clinical specimens obtained from patients of two of hospitals in Siedlce and from patients of outpatient clinics. All the strains were identified in the automatic ATB (bio Mérieux). The susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics was tested by standard disc diffusion method. The majority of strains were susceptible to meropenem (89.4%), piperacillin combined with tazobactam (84.8%), ciprofloxacin (84.8%) and piperacillin (83.3%). Many of our strains were resistant to carbenicillin (69.7%), mezlocillin (45.5%), gentamicin (42.4%) and netylmicin (30.3%). 6 strains (9.1%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Inducible beta-lactamases were detected with the use double disc method according to Sanders and Sanders. ESBL-producing strains were detected with double disc test (DDST) according to Jarlier et al. These strains were identified as ESBL-positive on the basis of the DDST were also determined using a double disc (DD) test according to Appleton. Production of metallo-beta-lactamases (MBL) was examined with the use of Etest MBL (AB Biodisk, Sweden) and the double disc test according to Arakava et al. Sixty-five IBL-producing strains (98.5% of all strains) and three strains (4.5%) with MBL activity were detected. Strains producing extended beta-lactamases (ESBL) were not found.

A comparative evaluation of PCR ribotyping and ERIC PCR for determining the diversity of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates.

Two typing methods were evaluated, utilizing 62 clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to assess their usefulness as tools to study the bacterial diversity within this complex group. Genetic diversity was determined by PCR ribotyping and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR. By these methods, 9 and 36 genotypes were found, respectively. The result showed that ERIC PCR analysis is a more discriminatory method than PCR ribotyping analysis and traditional serotyping scheme. We suggest that maximum discrimination can be achievied by a combination of these methods.

Effect of neuraminidase on adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to human buccal epithelial cells. Inhibition of adhesion by monosaccharides.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the actiion of Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase on the adherence of 28 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which were isolated from humans, different animals and environment to human buccal epithelial cells (BECs). Two reference strainns--NCTC 6749 and ATCC 27853 were also examined. Incubation of cells with the enzyme significantly increased bacterial adherence (a mean number of bacteria adhering to cells amounted 19.62 +/- 9.20, for controls - 7.54 +/- 5.86). The reference strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the following adherence: NCTC 6749-43.04 (control 20.83) and ATCC 27853-22.21 (control 5.51). This study demonstrates that asialogangliosides function as receptors on buccal epithelial cells for P. aeruginosa strains. Monosaccharides inhibition studies showed an inhibition of adhesion of P. aeruginosa (two reference strains - NCTC 6749 and ATCC 27853, two hospital strains - 80/85 and 351) to normal BECs in the presence of N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-acetylgalactosamine. D-galactose is the best inhibitor of bacterial adhesion to neuraminized BECs. All monosaccharides used had a significant effect on P. aeruginosa adherence to trypsinized BECs. These data suggest a difference in the receptors on the three types of BECs.

Reduction in the adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to human buccal epithelial cells with neuraminidase inhibition.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reduction in the adherence of 33 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from humans and different animals to human buccal epithelial cells with neuraminidase inhibition. Buccal epithelial cells were incubated with strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence or absence of the neuraminidase inhibitors, 2,3-dehydro-2-deoxy-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (DANA) or N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NANA). Incubation of cells with bacteria in the presence of either DANA or NANA reduced bacterial adherence significantly by 35.24 +/- 23.90%, and 68.00 +/- 22.51 %, respectively. We suggest that the in vivo effects of such interventions should be explored as potential mechanisms reducing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the binding to buccal cells.

[Inhibition of adhesion to buccal epithelial cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by dextran]. / Hamujace dzialanie dekstranu na adhezje Pseudomonas aeruginosa do komórek nablonka policzka.

Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to buccal epithelial cells appears to be a necessary precondition for colonization and infection of respiratory tract. There are many strategies to prevent host organisms for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The purpose of these studies was to evaluate the potential for preventing adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to epithelial cells with dextran. Dextran (5,000 MW) inhibited adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to buccal cells, at 20 mM was most inhibitory. The inhibitory effect appeared to be nonspecific because other neutral polysaccharides (glycogen and mannan) were also inhibitory. Dextran is an inexpansive and nontoxic agent and may be useful to prevent colonization and infection of respiratory tract with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to human buccal epithelial cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence of 83 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from humans and different animals to trypsin-treated buccal cells. We have demonstrated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa attached to trypsin-treated buccal cells in far greater numbers than to cells from controls (normal buccal epithelial cells). The mean number of bacteria adhering to trypsin-treated cells amounted 107.05 +/- 102.16 and to normal cells - 6.97 +/- 3.53. We conclude that exposure of cells to proteolytic enzymes increases Pseudomonas aeruginosa binding to buccal cells.

[Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm on medical biomaterials]. / Wykrywanie biofilmu Pseudomonas aeruginosa na biomaterialach medycznych.

The adhesion and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains on the surface of catheters made of various polymers (PU, SL, PCW) were determined in vitro. It was used the method by Richards et al. with modification of Rózalska et al. (1998), in which soluble colourless TTC is reduced to insoluble red formazan. The results of this study indicate that 80.3% of this strains adhered and 94.6% formed biofilm on the Nelaton catheter, 86% strains adhered and 76.1% formed biofilm on the polyurethane catheter, and 73.2% strains adhered, and 78.9% formed biofilm on the Foley catheter.

[The effect of culture conditions on hydrophobic properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa]. / Wplyw warunków hodowli na hydrofobowe wlasciwosci paleczek Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) plays an important role in a adhesion of bacteria on solid surfaces. CSH of 62 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from humans and different animals was assessed using the ammonium sulfate salt aggregation test. Bacteria were grown for 24 h and 48 h at a room temperature (22 degrees C) and 37 degrees C on enrichment broth and agar (Biomed) and tryptic soy agar (Difco). The hydrophobic properties of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were depended on the temperature, time of the culture of bacteria and the kind of media. CSH properties were most frequently expressed when the analyzed strains were cultured in enrichment broth. In a such conditions Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were more hydrophobic when grown at 22 degrees C (94% after 24 h and 87% after 48%) than those at 37 degrees C (72% after 24 h and 71% after 48 h). Among strains cultured in tryptic soy agar at 37 degrees C, 48% after 24 h and 75% after 48 h were autoaggregating, representing very strong hydrophobic properties.