Isolation and characterization of an atypical Mycoplasma gallisepticum strain showing a new mgc2 variant.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is an important pathogen of the poultry industry able to cause chronic respiratory disease in chickens and infectious sinusitis in turkeys. Despite the application of biosecurity measures and the availability of vaccines for chickens, monitoring systems routinely applied for MG detection are still essential for infection control. Pathogen isolation is time-consuming and not suitable for rapid detection, albeit it is a compulsory step for genetic typing and antimicrobial susceptibility evaluation of single strains. The mgc2 gene is a species-specific molecular target adopted by most of the PCR protocols available for MG diagnosis, which are also included in the WOAH Terrestrial Manual. We describe the case of an atypical MG strain, isolated in 2019 from Italian turkeys, characterized by an mgc2 sequence not detectable by common endpoint PCR primers. Considering the potential risk of false negative results during diagnostic screenings with the endpoint protocol, the authors propose an alternative mgc2 PCR endpoint protocol, named MG600, which should be considered as a further diagnostic tool.

[Screening and evaluation questionnaires for psychoactive substance use]. / Questionnaires de dépistage et d'évaluation des consommations de substances psychoactives.

There is ample evidence for the interest of screening for psycho-active substance use in primary care, coupled with a brief intervention. The screening can be done during the medical consultation (focusing on frequency and quantity of substance use, loss of control and medical and psychosocial consequences) or with standardised screening instruments. The use of a questionnaire can be helpful for the physician. This article describes some validated questionnaires that allow a rapid and non-stigmatising screening for use of one or several substances. The ASSIST questionnaire, developed by WHO, accessible online, can be particularly useful; it allows the screening, evaluation and orientation for substance use and related problems in primary and general medical care settings.

[Depressive and anxiety symptoms in a community sample of young adults and correlation with help-seeking behavior]. / Distribuzione della sintomatologia depressiva e ansiosa e correlazione con le condotte di Help-Seeking in un campione comunitario di giovani adulti.

AIMS: To evaluate: (i) self-perceived stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms in a community sample of young adults; (ii) which elements have most impact on the development of mental disease; (iii) if high levels of mental disease are related to help-seeking behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on a sample of 1660 university students. The evaluation of the perceived stress was conducted using the Stress-Related Vulnerability Scale (SVS), the evaluation of depressive and anxiety symptoms with Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). A descriptive analysis of all the data collected was carried out and the principal links between variables and level of mental disease were detected. Finally the reasons for the failure to seek help were investigated. RESULTS: Mean scores of BDI-II and BAI were respectively 10.9 (sigma = 8.3) and 11.4 (sigma = 9.4) and about 4% of the sample showed a pathological level of stress with the SVS. Female sex, non resident status and conflictual family climate were found to be more related with more severe anxious and depressive symptoms. Moreover, the latter ones were found to be strongly related with help-seeking behavior. CONCLUSION: In this sample mental disease associated with distress show a significant percentage. Higher level of anxiety and depressive symptoms are more related to perceived need for help and help-seeking behavior. Nevertheless the level of unexpressed help-seeking turn out to be high for multiple reason.

Práticas de utilização e perfil de contaminação microbiológica de jalecos em escola médica / Use practices and profile of microbiological contaminationof lab coats in medical school

Os jalecos são um veículo potencial de transmissão microbiológica e seu uso inadequado traz riscos à saúde de profissionais e da população. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de conhecer as práticas de utilização e o perfil de contaminação dos jalecos brancos usados como uniforme por docentes e discentes do Centro Universitário Serra dos Orgãos (UNIFESO). Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, transversal e exploratório. Respeitados os princípios éticos, aplicou-se questionário sobre o modo de uso e se realizou a análise microbiológica. Os dados foram analisados de forma manual, expressos em percentuais e demonstrados por meio de tabelas. Como resultado, 73 (setenta e três) jalecos estudados apresentaram variada flora, com predomínio de cocos Gram positivos. A região do punho, a mais contaminada, apresentou em média 23 UFC por campo. Quanto ao perfil de uso, a maioria, 42, (57%) tem idade entre 18 e 25 anos, 46 (63%) são do sexo feminino, 27 (37%) são acadêmicos de medicina do 3o período e apenas 13 (18%) são docentes. Sobre a frequência de troca do jaleco, 35 (48%) trocam uma vez por semana, entretanto com inadequado manuseio. Após uso, 36 (49%) não lavam o jaleco separadamente, 43 (58%) não usam produto desinfetante e 54 (73%) utilizam a passagem a ferro como medida complementar de contenção microbiológica. Conclui-se que há imperiosa necessidade de conscientização dos acadêmicos e docentes sobre adequados uso e manuseio do jaleco e importância da vestimenta na epidemiologia das infecções intra e extra-ambientes da saúde...

The coats are a potential microbiological transmission means and its misuse brings risks to health professionals and population. The goal of this study was to know the usage practices and the profile of contamination of the smock worn by professors and students of the University Center Serra dos Órgãos (UNIFESO). It is a quantitative study, cross-sectional and exploratory. Respecting ethical principles, a questionnaire on the use of the white coat was applied and the microbiological analysis was held. The data were analyzed manually, expressed in percentages and demonstrated through tables. As a result, 73 (seventy-three) coats studied showed varied flora and predominance of Gram-positive cocci. The region of the wrist, the most contaminated, presented a UFC 23 average per field. As for the usage profile, the majority, 42,(57%) are between the ages of 18 and 25 years, 46 (63%) are female, 32 (44%) are medical students in the 3rd term and only 13 (18%) are professors. On the frequency of changing of lab coat, 35 (48%) change it once a week, however with inappropriate handling. After use, 36 (49%) do not wash the coat separately,43 (58%) do not use disinfectant products, 54 (73%) use ironing as an additional measure against microbiological contamination. It is concluded that there is imperious need for awareness of scholars and professors of appropriate use/handling of the lab coat and the importance of clothing in the epidemiologyof infections intra/extra health care environment...