Airborne acquisition of Pneumocystis in bronchoscopy units: a hidden danger to healthcare workers.

The possible presence of Pneumocystis in a bronchoscopy unit of a tertiary-hospital was examined by detecting Pneumocystis-specific DNA by polymerase chain reaction in prospectively obtained samples of oropharyngeal wash from seven healthcare workers (HCWs) and air from three areas of the unit at different time points (baseline, days +15,+30,+60,+90 after initiation of the study). Positive samples were genotyped at two genetic loci: the mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA (mtLSUrRNA) fragment by direct sequencing and the gene for dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) by restriction fragment-length polymorphism. Pneumocystis DNA was identified in 13/24 samples from HCWs, in 4/14 air samples and also in two patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) and another with a Pneumocystis-associated disease subjected to bronchoscopy on days +15 and +60 after initiation of the study.

A six-month Serratia marcescens outbreak in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: To investigate a Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) outbreak in a Neonatal Unit in a tertiary university hospital.

Methods: Descriptive study of children admitted to the Unit with S.

A Prototypicality Validation of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) Model Spanish Version.

The Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is a newly developed, lexically based, conceptual model of psychopathy. The content validity of the Spanish language CAPP model was evaluated using prototypicality analysis. Prototypicality ratings were collected from 187 mental health experts and from samples of 143 health professionals and 282 community residents.

Birth Prevalence of Fatty Acid β-Oxidation Disorders in Iberia.

Mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation disorders (FAOD) are main targets for newborn screening (NBS) programs, which are excellent data sources for accurate estimations of disease birth prevalence. Epidemiological data is of key importance for the understanding of the natural history of the disorders as well as to define more effective public health strategies. In order to estimate FAOD birth prevalence in Iberia, the authors collected data from six NBS programs from Portugal and Spain, encompassing the screening of more than 1.

ATP antagonizes thrombin-induced signal transduction through 12(S)-HETE and cAMP.

In this study we have investigated the role of extracellular ATP on thrombin induced-platelet aggregation (TIPA) in washed human platelets. ATP inhibited TIPA in a dose-dependent manner and this inhibition was abolished by apyrase but not by adenosine deaminase (ADA) and it was reversed by extracellular magnesium. Antagonists of P2Y1 and P2Y12 receptors had no effect on this inhibition suggesting that a P2X receptor controlled ATP-mediated TIPA inhibition.

[Prudent use of antibiotics and suggestions for improvement from hospital-based medicine].

The largest consumption of antimicrobials is concentrated in hospitals and within them, the intensive care units. The quality of antimicrobial use is not optimal, with up to 50% of prescriptions being unnecessary or inappropriate. Inappropriate antibiotic use leads to severe consequences, such as increased patient mortality and morbidity and bacterial resistance.

Mediterranean-style diet effect on the structural properties of the erythrocyte cell membrane of hypertensive patients: the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea Study.

A currently ongoing randomized trial has revealed that the Mediterranean diet, rich in virgin olive oil or nuts, reduces systolic blood pressure in high-risk cardiovascular patients. Here, we present a structural substudy to assess the effect of a Mediterranean-style diet supplemented with nuts or virgin olive oil on erythrocyte membrane properties in 36 hypertensive participants after 1 year of intervention. Erythrocyte membrane lipid composition, structural properties of reconstituted erythrocyte membranes, and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers are reported.

Nosocomial outbreak of infection with pan-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a tertiary care university hospital.

Objective: To describe what is, to our knowledge, the first nosocomial outbreak of infection with pan-drug-resistant (including colistin-resistant) Acinetobacter baumannii, to determine the risk factors associated with these types of infections, and to determine their clinical impact.

Design: Nested case-control cohort study and a clinical-microbiological study.

Setting: A 1,521-bed tertiary care university hospital in Seville, Spain.

Relationship of alcoholic beverage consumption to food habits in a Mediterranean population.

Purpose: Wine consumption has been related to a reduced cardiovascular risk. This effect has been attributed partly to the healthier diet of wine drinkers. We compared food habits according to alcoholic beverage preference in a Mediterranean population.

Identification of a protective haplogenotype within CAPN10 gene influencing colorectal cancer susceptibility.

Background And Aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer affecting both men and women in developed countries. Clinical and molecular evidence suggests that there are multiple biochemical pathways involved in its susceptibility, pathogenesis and prognosis. Several studies have reported a significant association between the incidence of CRC and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Genetic analysis of caveolin-1 and eNOS genes in colorectal cancer.

Caveolae are involved in physical compartmentalization between different groups of signaling events. Its main component, CAV1, modulates different pathways in cellular physiology. The emerging evidence pointing to the role of CAV1 in cancer led us to study whether different alleles of this gene are associated with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular risk factors: a randomized trial.

Background: The Mediterranean diet has been shown to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: To compare the short-term effects of 2 Mediterranean diets versus those of a low-fat diet on intermediate markers of cardiovascular risk.

Design: Substudy of a multicenter, randomized, primary prevention trial of cardiovascular disease (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea [PREDIMED] Study).

Pneumocystis jirovecii in general population.

The possible presence of Pneumocystis among healthy adults was examined by detecting Pneumocystis jirovecii-specific DNA in prospectively obtained oropharyngeal wash samples from 50 persons without underlying lung disease or immunosuppression. Pneumocystis carriage, defined by detecting Pneumocystis DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction in 2 independent analyses plus successful mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA typing by direct sequencing, was found in 20% of cases. All carriers were asymptomatic, anti-HIV negative, and had normal total lymphocyte and CD4+ cell counts.

Human neutrophils synthesize IL-8 in an IgE-mediated activation.

It has been demonstrated that neutrophils are responsible for the release of large amounts of the inflammatory chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8), associated with inflammation. To further define the mechanisms implicated, we have analyzed the response of human neutrophils from allergic patients to specific antigens or challenge with anti-immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies. Neutrophils showed a dose- and time-dependent production of IL-8.