Overdiagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infection in the Molecular Test Era.

Importance: Clostridium difficile is a major cause of health care-associated infection, but disagreement between diagnostic tests is an ongoing barrier to clinical decision making and public health reporting. Molecular tests are increasingly used to diagnose C difficile infection (CDI), but many molecular test-positive patients lack toxins that historically defined disease, making it unclear if they need treatment.

Objective: To determine the natural history and need for treatment of patients who are toxin immunoassay negative and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive (Tox-/PCR+) for CDI.

The mechanism of action of the antidiuretic peptide Tenmo ADFa in Malpighian tubules of Aedes aegypti.

The mechanism of action of Tenebrio molitor antidiuretic factor 'a' (Tenmo ADFa) was explored in isolated Malpighian tubules of Aedes aegypti. In the Ramsay assay of fluid secretion, Tenmo ADFa (10(-9) mol l(-1)) significantly inhibited the rate of fluid secretion from 0.94 nl min(-1) to 0.

Mechanisms of K+ transport across basolateral membranes of principal cells in Malpighian tubules of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti.

The mechanisms of K(+) entry from the hemolymph into principal cells of Malpighian tubules were investigated in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. The K(+) channel blocker Ba(2+) (5 mmol l(-1)) significantly decreased transepithelial (TEP) fluid secretion (V(s)) from 0.84 nl min(-1) to 0.