Impacts of small-scale chicken farming activity on antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli carriage in backyard chickens and children in rural Ecuador.

The emergence, spread, and persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a pressing global concern. Increased promotion of commercial small-scale agriculture within low-resource settings has facilitated an increased use in antimicrobials as growth promoters globally, creating antimicrobial-resistant animal reservoirs. We conducted a longitudinal field study in rural Ecuador to monitor the AMR of Escherichia coli populations from backyard chickens and children at three sample periods with approximately 2-month intervals (February, April, and June 2017). We assessed AMR to 12 antibiotics using generalized linear mixed effects models (GLMM). We also sampled and assessed AMR to the same 12 antibiotics in one-day-old broiler chickens purchased from local venders. One-day-old broiler chickens showed lower AMR at sample period 1 compared to sample period 2 (for 9 of the 12 antibiotics tested); increases in AMR between sample periods 2 and 3 were minimal. Two months prior to the first sample period (December 2016) there was no broiler farming activity due to a regional collapse followed by a peak in annual farming in February 2017. Between sample periods 1 and 2, we observed significant increases in AMR to 6 of the 12 antibiotics in children and to 4 of the 12 antibiotics in backyard chickens. These findings suggest that the recent increase in farming, and the observed increase of AMR in the one-day old broilers, may have caused the increase in AMR in backyard chickens and children. Small-scale farming dynamics could play an important role in the spread of AMR in low- and middle-income countries.

Clinical glycopeptide-resistant enterococci isolated from patients after solid organ transplantation.

The aim of this study was to confirm the identification and resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin of nosocomial enterococcal strains using molecular biology methods. Glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) strains were isolated from clinical specimens of hospitalized patients. Bacterial identification was performed in an automatic ATB Expression system (bioMérieux SA). Susceptibility to glycopeptides was determined by the disc diffusion method and Etest (AB BIODISK, Sweden). We performed polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis identification and van genes detection. Fifteen GRE strains were cultured over 2 years (2003-2004). Fourteen isolates were highly resistant to vancomycin (MIC range, 128->256 mg/L) and teicoplanin (MIC range, 32->256 mg/L). Twelve strains harbored van A gene (Van A phenotype). Seven isolates were identified as E. faecium and seven as E. faecalis by the multiplex-PCR method. One strain-E. casseliflavus-showed low resistance to vancomycin (MIC 8 mg/L) with retained susceptibility to teicoplanin (MIC 4 mg/L). It harbored the van C2/C3 gene and was identified as the Van C2/C3 phenotype. GRE strains were more often isolated from hospitalized patients in Poland. Constant monitoring by reliable microbiological methods has become necessary to prevent the spread of these strains in the hospital environment.

Organization of the cord blood bank in Warsaw, Poland: current status and future prospects.

The preliminary results of the currently established cord blood bank in Warsaw, Poland have been reported. 163 cord blood samples (mean volume 102 ml) were collected during/or after delivery of the placenta. Average cell numbers per sample were as follows: WBC 13.4 x 10(8); BFU-E 5.7 x 10(4); GM-CFC 4.1 x 10(5); CD34+ 4.5 x 10(6). The quantities and quality of collected cells are suitable for their use for clinical transplantation.

Epidemiology of clinical isolates of Candida albicans and their susceptibility to triazoles.

The study comprised strains of Candida albicans isolated from patients hospitalised in a tertiary care hospital during a 2-year period. In total 851 strains were cultured, including 379 (44.5%) strains from internal medicine patients, 243 (28.6%) from surgical patients and 229 (26.9%) from patients in the surgical intensive care unit. The strains were tested for susceptibility to the triazoles: fluconazole and itraconazole. There were 523 (61.5%) strains susceptible, 11 strains (1.3%) showed intermediate susceptibility and 317 (37.2%) were resistant to fluconazole, while 403 (47.3%) strains were susceptible, 43 (5.1%) intermediately susceptible and 405 (47.6%) resistant to itraconazole. Regular surveillance of fungal resistance patterns should be carried out and there should be prudent use of hospital triazole usage.

Intermediates in the reassociation of reduced haptoglobin.

Oxidative reassociation of alpha and beta subunits of human and equine haptoglobins as well as of two 2 alpha . 2 beta tetrameric hybrids made of subunits of each haptoglobin was studied following reduction of interchain disulphide bridges and also with isolated, PHMB-protected subunits in homologous and heterologous systems. Molecular mass and subunit composition of the intermediates appearing in the process of successive oxidation of -SH groups were determined by SDS-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The yield of subunit reassociation into homologous and heterologous tetramers 2 alpha . 2 beta was very high (75-80%) and the reassociated haptoglobins exhibited properties of native proteins in binding reactions with haemoglobin and with specific antibodies.

Properties of the interspecies hybrids between haptoglobin alpha and beta subunits.

1. Subunits alpha isolated from human haptoglobin were recombined with beta subunits of equine haptoglobin, and vice versa. Both hybrid proteins were separated on electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel into four bands with mobilities corresponding to tetramers 2alpha.2beta, trimers 2alpha.beta, and dimers alpha.beta, in addition to free subunits beta. 2. The binding ability of haemoglobin and the antigenic specificity of tetramers depended on the origin of beta subunit. 3. Reduction of native and hybrid proteins with 2-mercaptoethanol led to gradual formation of alpha.beta, alpha, and beta; the components 2alpha.beta and 2alpha appeared in trace amounts.

Behavior of haptoglobin in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in chickens.

Concentration of haptoglobin (Hpc) in serum of chickens with inflammation and allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was determined. Chickens with aseptic inflammatory state revealed 2.5 times higher concentration of Hpc while in the course of EAE only small increase was observed. Administration of immunomodulator--isoprinosine, resulted in elevation of Hpc level as compared to nontreated chickens.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the chicken. Class-specific antibody to myelin basic protein, the ability of T cells to cause GvH reaction, brain and spleen histology, and nonspecific biochemical indicators of inflammation.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in chickens by injecting human myelin basic protein (MBP) in Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA). Antibodies of IgM, IgA and IgG class to MBP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ability of the blood from the experimental chickens to induce graft-versus-host (GvH) reaction was tested in chick embryos. Serum concentrations of sialic acid and antitrypsin were monitored. Substantial inflammatory infiltrations were found in various parts of the central nervous system of the animals injected with MBP, but not in the controls receiving plain CFA. Enlargement of the white pulp and plasmocytosis were found in the spleens of the EAE animals. In the course of the disease, anti-MBP IgM and IgA antibody levels strongly increased, while IgG antibodies remained unchanged. The GvH caused by the blood from EAE animals did not differ from that of control birds. The EAE group showed significantly higher antitrypsin concentration than the controls. The increase in sialic acid concentration was of equal magnitude in the EAE animals and in the CFA controls.

Morphological and biochemical studies on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in inbred lines of chickens.

An attempt to establish the relation between morphological and biochemical indices determining the inflammatory state in brain after induction of allergic encephalomyelitis in chickens was taken up. Symptoms of encephalomyelitis were accompanied by the changes within T and B lymphocyte population and by distinct increase of activity of trypsin inhibitor and content of sialic acid in blood serum.

Modulation of immunological reactivity in the course of allergic encephalomyelitis by isoprinosine.

It was observed that in the course of allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in chickens. Isoprinosine reduced the production of the specific IgA and IgM antibodies against encephalic antigen. Its influence on IgG production was slight. It was also found that isoprinosine reduced the antitrypsine activity in EAE. Its effect upon the level of antibodies and biochemical indices of inflammation was particularly pronounced on days 28-35 after immunization, i.e. at the time of the most intensive microscopic inflammatory changes in the brain. Histological analysis revealed an inhibition of plasmatic cells reproduction in the spleens of chickens receiving isoprinosine. No effect of the drug on the GvH reaction in chickens was found.

Changes in the phagocytic cells in children treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in endstage renal failure are highly exposed to peritonitis. Peritoneal macrophages (PM) and blood neutrophils (PMNC) are the first line of defense against invading microbes. This study was undertaken for assessing surface receptors expression on PM and PMNC and to check their ability to phagocytosis and killing of bacteria. We have found that in spite of the decreased number of PM in dialysate fluid their viability and activity significantly increased during CAPD. Moreover, higher number of PM expressed CD16 and CD35 antigens (FcRIII and C3bR, respectively) in comparison with the results observed at CAPD onset. The number of PMNC expressed of these two antigens in uremic children blood were significantly lower in comparison with healthy control. The number of CD16 positive cells increased under influence of CAPD only temporarily. CAPD caused improvement of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of bacteria by PM but not by PMNC. There is discussed here influence of uremia and CAPD on surface antigens, function of phagocytes as well as renewal of PM during CAPD.

Expression of CD20 on acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in children.

CD20 determinant expressed on B precursors is associated with regulation of proliferation, apoptosis and maturation of these cells. The acute lymphoblastic leukemia "common" type (cALL) based on expression of CD20 is subdivided in type I and II. However, the clinical significance of CD20 expression on cALL and significance of cALL type I and II discernment are not fully elucidated. The association of CD20 expression with the expression of multidrug resistance molecule (MDR), CD34, atypical immunophenotypes of leukemia cells and response to induction therapy were determined in the group of 147 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) B progenitor type (ALL-proB -14 patients) and common type (cALL-133 patients). The expression of CD20 on leukemia cells was studied routinely at diagnosis before the therapy. This expression was noted on leukemia cells of 6 ALL-proB patients (42.8%) and 66 cALL patients (49.6%). The expression of CD20 showed no association with the expression of CD34, CD22 and MDR. The reverse association was observed between CD20 expression and the presence of co-expression of myeloid (CD13, CD33, CD65, CD15) and T lymphoid determinants (CD2, CD5, CD7) on leukemia cells. The effect of induction therapy analyzed as time of blast cells cytoreduction in peripheral blood and time of reaching the complete remission showed the slower clearance of peripheral blood from blast cells associated with expression of CD20. There was no association of CD20 expression with the time of reaching the hematological remission. The above results suggested a "protective" role of CD20 against co-expression of other determinants (myeloid and lymphoid) and no association with the results of induction therapy.

[Influence of newly synthesized sesquiterpenes--analogs of taxol on multiplication of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1MC) and retrovirus (Mo-MSV)]. / Wplyw nowo zsyntetyzowanych seskwiterpenowych analogów taksolu na namnazanie wirusa opryszczki (HSV-1 MC) oraz retrowirusa (Mo-MSV).

The study comprised newly synthesized sesquiterpenoid analogs of taxol. The synthesis of the compounds was performed at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences. Cytotoxicity of the compound was assessed using formazan method. In in vitro studies the cell cultures were infected with HSV-1MC. The tested compounds were added in different concentrations to the cell culture after viral infection. Titer of the virus was expressed in TCID50/ml at particular stages of the experiments. In in vivo experiments NMRI mice were infected intramuscularly with a Moloney murine sarcoma virus (Mo-MSV). Tested compounds were administered to the mice intravenously on the day of virus inoculation. In Mo-MSV-infected mice dynamics of tumor progression and regression was assessed, as well as a mean time interval of tumor disappearance. Among the compounds tested: isovellerol-13-N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserinate, 5-deoxy-lactarolid B 8-[N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserinate] and isolactarorufin 8-epi-[N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserinate] showed significant antiviral activity in in vitro experiments. In in vivo experiments only lactarorufin A 8-[N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserinate] significantly inhibited the development of tumors and shortened the time of their total regression in the course of Mo-MSV infection.

[Etiologic agents of fungemia in hospitalized patients]. / Etiologiczne czynniki fungemii u hospitalizowanych pacjentów.

The aim of performed examinations was the analysis of fungi as etiological agents of blood infections in patients hospitalized in surgical wards, internal medicine wards and intensive care units of the Medical Academy Central Clinical Hospital in Warsaw. Blood samples from patients hospitalized in 1997 were examined. Peripheral blood samples were incubated in BacT/Alert system (Organon Teknika, USA). Positive blood samples were inoculated on Sabouraud medium with chloramphenicol (bioMerieux, France or Oxoid, England). The time of cultivation was from 48 hours to 7 days at 30 degrees C. Fungal strains were identified by standard mycological procedures with the use of chromogenic medium BBL CHROMagar Candida (Becton Dickinson, USA) and biochemical test ID 32 C (bioMerieux, France). Susceptibility of strains to antifungal agents was determined by ATB FUNGUS method (bioMerieux, France). The total number of positive blood cultures in 1997 was 1380. Forty-two fungal strains were isolated from blood samples (3%). Strains belonged to the following species: C. albicans (17 isolates), C. parapsilosis (15), C. glabrata (3), melibiosica (2), C. pelliculosa (2), C. guilliermondii (1), C. tropicalis (1) and T. beigelii (1). Among fungi cultured from patients hospitalized in operative wards dominated C. parapsilosis (11) and C. albicans (10) strains, whereas from patients hospitalized in conservative wards most often C. albicans (6) strains were isolated. Candida strains were mostly susceptible to antifungal agents tested. It was interesting to culture Trichosporon beigelii (T. cutaneum) strain as an etiological agent of fungemia. This strain was multidrug-resistant.

[Contribution of fungi to chronic dermatitis and lymphangitis in patients with filariasis]. / Udzial grzybów w przewleklym zapaleniu skóry i naczyn limfatycznych u pacjentów z filarioza.

Adenolymphangitis is a common occurrence in filarial lymphedema. Damage to the lymphatics by F. bancrofti is followed by obliteration of lymph vessel and lymph stasis. Obstruction of lymphatics prevents the microbs skin penetration. Presented studies were performed to evaluate the role of fungi colonization of the skin among patients with filarial lymphedema. The fungal colonization of skin in patients with filarial lymphedema may be an important reason for chronic inflammatory disorders.

[Sudden death--aspects of epidemiology and prophylaxis]. / Nagly zgon--aspekty epidemiologii i profilaktyki.

The survey of literature is presented from the last over ten years, pertinent to the ever present problem--sudden death. The paper presents mainly the problems of epidemiology, and the possibilities and methods of preventing sudden death, as well as the organizational activities increasing the chances of resuscitation of patients with sudden cardiac arrest.

Discharges of nuclear medicine radioisotopes in Spanish hospitals.

Given the increasing use of radiopharmaceuticals in medicine, the aim of this paper is to determine radioactivity levels in the effluents of hospitals with Nuclear Medicine Departments. The radiological study of hospital discharges was carried out by gamma spectrometry, and liquid scintillation spectrometry to determine (14)C and (3)H contents. On March 9th and April 19th, 2010, daily radioactivity levels were monitored from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Each sample was collected at a specific control point of two major public hospitals in Granada (Spain). The analytical results show the presence of radionuclides such as (99m)Tc, (131)I, (67)Ga, and (111)In.They are frequently used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. This study shows the differences between direct and after-storage discharges and also justifies the need of storage tanks in hospitals with nuclear medicine departments. Moreover, monitoring of (99m)Tc released at hospital control points can be a useful tool for optimizing the safety conditions of storage tanks and discharge of radionuclides.