Epidural Catheter Bacterial Colonization and Infection in a Secondary Portuguese Hospital Setting.

Background and study goal Epidural analgesia is effective for postoperative pain control but carries risks of infection, including bacterial colonization. This study aimed to determine the incidence of epidural catheter colonization and infection in a Portuguese hospital, identify common microorganisms and antibiotic resistance profiles, and assess potential risk factors. Materials and methods We conducted a prospective observational study from November 2022 to March 2023 in a Portuguese secondary care center.

Influence of Dead Cells Killed by Industrial Biocides (BAC and DBNPA) on Biofilm Formation.

Industrial biocides aim to keep water systems microbiologically controlled and to minimize biofouling. However, the resulting dead cells are usually not removed from the water streams and can influence the growth of the remaining live cells in planktonic and sessile states. This study aims to understand the effect of dead cells killed by industrial biocides-benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA)-on biofilm formation.

Ambiguous Genitalia: An Unexpected Diagnosis in a Newborn.

Alterations in gonad formation or function can lead to congenital conditions in which chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical. These conditions are referred to as disorders of sex development (DSD) and have a heterogeneous etiology. The assessment of these children by a multidisciplinary team is crucial for an accurate diagnosis and should be initiated promptly due to the potentially life-threatening nature of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a common cause of DSD.

Cells' Recovery after Exposure to BAC and DBNPA Biocides.

A proper assessment of the effects of biocides on bacterial cells is key to the prevention of antimicrobial resistance and the implementation of suitable biocidal programmes. It is particularly relevant regarding the ability of dead-labelled cells to recover their functional processes once the biocide is removed. In the present work, we studied how cells previously exposed to different concentrations of BAC (benzalkonium chloride) and DBNPA (2,2-Dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide) behave upon the restoration of optimum growth conditions.

A Multi-Purpose Approach to the Mechanisms of Action of Two Biocides (Benzalkonium Chloride and Dibromonitrilopropionamide): Discussion of ' Viability and Death.

Biocides are widely used in water treatment for microbiological control. The rise of antimicrobial resistance and the need to assure properly managed water systems require a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of biocides and of their impact on cell's viability as a function of dosage concentrations. The present work addresses these two aspects regarding the biocides benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and dibromonitrilopropionamide (DBNPA)-two biocides commonly found in the water treatment industry.

New Functionalized Macroparticles for Environmentally Sustainable Biofilm Control in Water Systems.

Reverse osmosis (RO) depends on biocidal agents to control the operating costs associated to biofouling, although this implies the discharge of undesired chemicals into the aquatic environment. Therefore, a system providing pre-treated water free of biocides arises as an interesting solution to minimize the discharge of chemicals while enhancing RO filtration performance by inactivating bacteria that could form biofilms on the membrane system. This work proposes a pretreatment approach based on the immobilization of an industrially used antimicrobial agent (benzalkonium chloride-BAC) into millimetric aluminum oxide particles with prior surface activation with DA-dopamine.

Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Diet and Physical Activity Behaviour Change in Type 2 Diabetes Using a Design Probe Methodology.

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) typically involves pharmacological methods and adjunct behavioural modifications, focused on changing diet and physical activity (PA) behaviours. Changing diet and physical activity behaviours is complex and any behavioural intervention in T2D, to be successful, must use an appropriate suite of behaviour change techniques (BCTs). In this study, we sought to understand the perceived barriers and facilitators to diet and PA behaviour change in persons with T2D, with a view to creating artefacts to facilitate the required behaviour changes.

ATM orchestrates the DNA-damage response to counter toxic non-homologous end-joining at broken replication forks.

Mutations in the ATM tumor suppressor gene confer hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents. To explore genetic resistance mechanisms, we performed genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens in cells treated with the DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan. Thus, we here establish that inactivating terminal components of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) machinery or of the BRCA1-A complex specifically confer topotecan resistance to ATM-deficient cells.

Targeting of NAT10 enhances healthspan in a mouse model of human accelerated aging syndrome.

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is a rare, but devastating genetic disease characterized by segmental premature aging, with cardiovascular disease being the main cause of death. Cells from HGPS patients accumulate progerin, a permanently farnesylated, toxic form of Lamin A, disrupting the nuclear shape and chromatin organization, leading to DNA-damage accumulation and senescence. Therapeutic approaches targeting farnesylation or aiming to reduce progerin levels have provided only partial health improvements.

A "HOLTER" for Parkinson's disease: Validation of the ability to detect on-off states using the REMPARK system.

Unlabelled: The treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) with levodopa is very effective. However, over time, motor complications (MCs) appear, restricting the patient from leading a normal life. One of the most disabling MCs is ON-OFF fluctuations.

Synthetic lethality between PAXX and XLF in mammalian development.

PAXX was identified recently as a novel nonhomologous end-joining DNA repair factor in human cells. To characterize its physiological roles, we generated Paxx-deficient mice. Like Xlf mice, Paxx mice are viable, grow normally, and are fertile but show mild radiosensitivity.

[Family violence in a sample of children and adolescents with disabilities].

This study aimed to identify and analyze the prevalence of physical and psychological family violence in a sample of children and adolescents with different categories of disabilities in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional observational study based on application of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale in a sample of 270 parents or guardians. Prevalence was 83.

Genetically Determined MBL Deficiency Is Associated with Protection against Chronic Cardiomyopathy in Chagas Disease.

Chagas disease (CD) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, whose sugar moieties are recognized by mannan binding lectin (MBL), a soluble pattern-recognition molecule that activates the lectin pathway of complement. MBL levels and protein activity are affected by polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene. We sequenced the MBL2 promoter and exon 1 in 196 chronic CD patients and 202 controls.

Policy development for environmental licensing and biodiversity offsets in Latin America.

Attempts to meet biodiversity goals through application of the mitigation hierarchy have gained wide traction globally with increased development of public policy, lending standards, and corporate practices. With interest in biodiversity offsets increasing in Latin America, we seek to strengthen the basis for policy development through a review of major environmental licensing policy frameworks in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. Here we focused our review on an examination of national level policies to evaluate to which degree current provisions promote positive environmental outcomes.

[Domestic violence and the adolescent that was infected with HIV through vertical transmission: analysis of protection and vulnerability factors].

The scope of this study was to analyze protection and vulnerability factors in physical and psychological domestic violence among adolescents infected with HIV/AIDS through vertical transmission. This group is especially susceptible as they have vulnerability factors such as chronic disease, orphanhood with consequent change of caregivers and impaired body image. The research was conducted in a public hospital.

Resolving the chemical heterogeneity of natural organic matter: new insights from comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography.

For the purpose of resolving the chemical heterogeneity of natural organic matter (NOM), comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC×LC) was employed for the first time to map the hydrophobicity versus molecular weight (MW) distribution of two well-known complex organic mixtures: Suwannee River Fulvic Acids (SR-FA) and Pony Lake Fulvic Acids (PL-FA). Two methods have been developed using either a conventional reversed-phase (RP) silica column or a mixed-mode hydrophilic interaction column operating under aqueous RP mode in the first dimension, and a size-exclusion column in the second dimension. The LC×LC fractions were screened on-line by UV at 254 nm, molecular fluorescence at excitation/emission wavelengths (λ(Exc)/λ(Em)) of 240/450 nm, and by evaporative light scattering.

Bovine trypanosomiasis an emerging disease in Maranhão State-Brazil.

In South American countries, bovine trypanosomiasis is caused mainly by Trypanosoma vivax. Among the infected animals, bovines are considered more susceptible, and this susceptibility varies among breeds. To determine the occurrence of T.

Cryptococcus gattii molecular type VGII as agent of meningitis in a healthy child in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: report of an autochthonous case.

Cryptococcus gattii causes meningoencephalitis in immunocompetent hosts, occurring endemically in some tropical and subtropical regions. Recently, this fungus was involved in an outbreak in Vancouver Island and British Columbia (Canada). In this temperate region, the VGII type is predominant.

Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis: experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis associated with systemic amyloidosis in mice.

We infected Swiss and C57BL/6 female mice in the left hind footpad with 10(4)Leishmania (L.) amazonensis promastigotes in stationary phase. The macroscopic examination showed a nodular non-ulcerated lesion at the site of inoculation and hepatic and spleenic enlargement.

[Minimum anesthetic volumes for extraconal retrobulbar block: comparison between 0.5% racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine and enantiomeric mixture S75/R25 bupivacaine].

Background And Objectives: Minimum anesthetic volume (MAV) of local anesthetics corresponds to the effective volume for regional anesthesia in 50% of patients. In this study, MAV of 0.5% racemic bupivacaine, 0.

Positive reaction for cysticercosis and multicentric anaplastic oligoastrocytoma.

Introduction: An unusual case of positive immunological testing for cysticercosis in the cystic fluid obtained from an anaplastic oligoastrocytoma is presented.

Case Report: A 15-year-old boy was admitted with multiple brain lesions. The biggest was a cyst with a mural node and neurocysticercosis was suspected.

[Anesthesia in patient with Xeroderma Pigmentosum: case report.].

Background And Objectives: Xeroderma Pigmentosum is a rare, autosomal recessive disease characterized by the premature development of neoplasias due to an exacerbated hypersensitivity to UV radiation. These manifestations are due to DNA excision and repair mechanism damage. As compared to normal individuals, these patients have a 1000-fold increased risk for developing neoplasias on sun-exposed areas.