Genome-wide analysis of DNA uptake across the outer membrane of naturally competent .

The genomes of naturally competent Pasteurellaceae and Neisseriaceae have many short uptake sequences (USS), which allow them to distinguish self-DNA from foreign DNA. To fully characterize this preference we developed genome-wide maps of DNA uptake using both a sequence-based computational model and genomic DNA that had been sequenced after uptake by and recovery from competent cells. When DNA fragments were shorter than the average USS spacing of ∼1,000 bp, sharp peaks of uptake were centered at USS and separated by valleys with 1000-fold lower uptake.

[Mixed Munchausen Syndrome with organic comorbidity].

We present a detailed case report that shows a woman patient who has Factitious Disorder manifested by the coexistence both of: A) typical/direct Munchausen and B) Munchausen by proxy or indirect: being the frst one (A) about the own person and the second one (B) about other people (most cases about their own young children). Furthermore, in the reported case we observed that the patient shown the particularity of having positive biological markers for Myasthenia Gravis (serology markers), and having inconsistent clinical manifestations that are typically observed in the exacerbation phase when she still continued in remission phase. In our own bibliographic research we couldn`t fnd anything about this case of "Mixed Munchausen Syndrome with organic comorbidity".

Local circulating clones of Staphylococcus aureus in Ecuador.

The spread of pandemic Staphylococcus aureus clones, mainly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), must be kept under surveillance to assemble an accurate, local epidemiological analysis. In Ecuador, the prevalence of the USA300 Latin American variant clone (USA300-LV) is well known; however, there is little information about other circulating clones.

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among health care workers of intensive care units in Ecuador.

Introduction: Colonization of health care workers with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been an important route of dispersion and infection of MRSA and has been implicated in epidemic outbreaks. The objective of the present study was to assess prevalence of MRSA colonization in the anterior nares of health care personnel at the intensive care unit (ICUs) of three hospital facilities in Quito, Ecuador.

Methodology: The prevalence of MRSA in specimens from all ICU health care workers of three hospitals was measured by using a real-time PCR assay and CHROMagar MRSA.

Prevalence of common hemoglobin variants in an afro-descendent Ecuadorian population.

Background: Hemoglobinopathies are among the most studied and frequent pathologies. These genetic disorders are considered a very important health care threat in many tropical countries. Ecuador is a tropical Latin-American country with an important presence of afro-descendants (7.