Global Network Analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Identifies Coordination between Pathways, Processes, and Regulators Expressed during Human Infection.

is a Gram-negative diplococcus that is responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea, a high-morbidity disease in the United States and worldwide. Over the past several years, strains resistant to antibiotics used to treat this infection have begun to emerge across the globe. Thus, new treatment strategies are needed to combat this organism.

Deletion of the Major Facilitator Superfamily Transporter Alters Host Cell Interactions and Attenuates Virulence of Type A Francisella tularensis.

is a Gram-negative, facultative, intracellular coccobacillus that can infect a wide variety of hosts. In humans, causes the zoonosis tularemia following insect bites, ingestion, inhalation, and the handling of infected animals. The fact that a very small inoculum delivered by the aerosol route can cause severe disease, coupled with the possibility of its use as an aerosolized bioweapon, has led to the classification of as a category A select agent and has renewed interest in the formulation of a vaccine.

Engaging Ly-6A/Sca-1 triggers lipid raft-dependent and -independent responses in CD4 T-cell lines.

Introduction: The lymphocyte antigen 6 (Ly-6) supergene family encodes proteins of 12-14 kda in molecular mass that are either secreted or anchored to the plasma membrane through a glycosyl-phosphatidylinisotol (GPI) lipid anchor at the carboxy-terminus. The lipidated GPI-anchor allows localization of Ly-6 proteins to the 10-100 nm cholesterol-rich nano-domains on the membrane, also known as lipid rafts. Ly-6A/Sca-1, a member of Ly-6 gene family is known to transduce signals despite the absence of transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains.

Comparison of Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Readmission Scores: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Early discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) may constitute a strategy of resource consumption optimization; however, unplanned readmission of hospitalized patients to an ICU is associated with a worse outcome. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of the Stability and Workload Index for Transfer score (SWIFT), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA) and simplified Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS-28) in predicting unplanned ICU readmission or unexpected death in the first 48 hours after discharge from the ICU.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study in a single tertiary hospital in southern Brazil.

The reality of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation: a multicenter study.

Objective: The number of patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation increased during the last decade, which generated a large population of chronically ill patients. This study established the incidence of prolonged mechanical ventilation in four intensive care units and reported different characteristics, hospital outcomes, and the impact of costs and services of prolonged mechanical ventilation patients (mechanical ventilation dependency ≥ 21 days) compared with non-prolonged mechanical ventilation patients (mechanical ventilation dependency < 21 days).

Methods: This study was a multicenter cohort study of all patients who were admitted to four intensive care units.

Factors influencing physical functional status in intensive care unit survivors two years after discharge.

Background: Studies suggest that in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU), physical functional status (PFS) improves over time, but does not return to the same level as before ICU admission. The goal of this study was to assess physical functional status two years after discharge from an ICU and to determine factors influencing physical status in this population.

Methods: The study reviewed all patients admitted to two non-trauma ICUs during a one-year period and included patients with age ≥ 18 yrs, ICU stay ≥ 24 h, and who were alive 24 months after ICU discharge.

Microbiologic and pharmacologic properties of a new ampicillin derivative: Ampicillin-guaiacolsulfonate.

Ampicillin-guaiacolsulfonate, a new derivative of ampicillin, preserves the antibacterial properties of ampicillin, is suitable for infection owing to its good water solubility and it has far higher stability in dry state than has sodium ampicillin. Ampicillin-guaiacolsulfonate is better orally absorbed in rabbit than is ampicillin. In vitro experiments carried out with the model system by Rosano and Schulman, and measurements of the intestinal absorption in the everted sac jejunal preparation, carried out with 14C-labelled compounds, demonstrate that the new ampicillin derivative is better absorbed by the intestine because of an increase in the intestinal permeability of the molecule itself.