Identification of Enteric Viruses in Oral Swabs from Children with Acute Gastroenteritis.

Stool is the diagnostic specimen of choice to identify enteropathogens in pediatric gastroenteritis. However, stool collection is challenging and its diagnostic characteristics in patients with isolated vomiting are unknown. Therefore, we evaluated if oral swabs are a suitable alternative specimen to stools.

Surveillance and molecular characterization of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a hospital water distribution system over a three-year period.

A three-year surveillance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in a hospital water distribution system was conducted at a facility located in southern Alberta. NTM was not present in any intake water samples, but was found in 106/183 (58%) of endpoint samples across 15 sites over the study period. Two different species of NTM were identified, Mycobacterium gordonae (88/183) and Mycobacterium avium (34/183); with only one strain of each M.

Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in public beach waters in Quebec.

Introduction: Human exposure to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria may result in the transfer of resistance to commensal or pathogenic microbes present in the gastrointestinal tract, which may lead to severe health consequences and difficulties in treatment of future bacterial infections. It was hypothesized that the recreational waters from beaches represent a source of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli for people engaging in water activities.

Objective: To describe the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant E coli in the recreational waters of beaches in southern Quebec.

Contamination of Canadian private drinking water sources with antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli.

Background: Surface and ground water across the world, including North America, is contaminated with bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The consumption of water contaminated with antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) has been associated with the carriage of resistant E.

Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in food samples associated with foodborne illness in Alberta, Canada from 2007 to 2010.

Consumption of foods containing Staphylococcus aureus can cause severe gastro-intestinal illness. Given the fact that over the past decade, Canada has seen increasing rates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carriage and infection, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of methicillin-susceptible S.

Agroenvironmental determinants associated with the presence of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in beach waters in Quebec, Canada.

Exposure to microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials may constitute a health risk to human populations. It is believed that one route of exposure occurs when people engage in recreational activities in water contaminated with these microorganisms. The main objective of this study was to explore population-level and environmental determinants specifically associated with the presence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) generic Escherichia coli isolated from recreational waters sampled from beaches located in southern Quebec, Canada.

Characterization of cefoxitin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from recreational beaches and private drinking water in Canada between 2004 and 2006.

A total of 142 cefoxitin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from water sources were collected across Canada. Multidrug resistance was observed in 65/142 (45.8%) isolates.

Psychological, neuropsychological, and electrocortical effects of mixed mold exposure.

The authors assessed the psychological, neuropsychological, and electrocortical effects of human exposure to mixed colonies of toxigenic molds. Patients (N = 182) with confirmed mold-exposure history completed clinical interviews, a symptom checklist (SCL-90-R), limited neuropsychological testing, quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) with neurometric analysis, and measures of mold exposure. Patients reported high levels of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms.

Doxepin's effects on chronic pain and depression: a controlled study.

Sixty patients with chronic pain of the low back or cervical spine concomitant with clinical depression were studied in a 6-week, randomized, double-blind comparison of doxepin and placebo. Significant improvements in the doxepin-treated group compared to placebo or to baseline values were seen on Hamilton depression scores, Global Assessment Scale scores, pain severity, percent of time pain felt, and effect of pain on activity, sleep, and muscle tension. Some improvements were observed after 1 week of treatment; the most improvement occurred at 6 weeks, when the mean doxepin dosage was approximately 200 mg/day and plasma doxepin and nordoxepin averaged 80 ng/ml.

Doxepin effects on chronic pain, depression and plasma opioids.

Thirty patients with chronic low back or cervical pain combined with clinical depression were studied in a six-week, randomized, double-blind comparison of doxepin and placebo. Dependent variables included Hamilton Depression Scores, the Clinical Global Assessment Scale, and Profile of Mood States (POMS), and subjective ratings (visual analogue scales) of pain severity, percent of time pain felt, and effect of pain on activity, muscle tension, sleep, mood, and analgesic drug consumption. Plasma levels of doxepin, desmethyldoxepin, beta-endorphin, and enkephalin-like activity were also measured.

Comparison of bupivacaine, etidocaine, and saline for trigger-point therapy.

Injections of local anesthetics, saline, "dry needling," or other stimuli at specific, tender loci (trigger or acupuncture points) are reportedly efficacious in treatment of chronic pain syndromes. In a randomized, double-blind crossover study, subjective responses of 15 patients with myofascial syndrome to trigger-point injections of either bupivacaine 0.5%, etidocaine 1%, or physiologic saline without preservative were compared.