Inhibition of microbial production of the malodorous substance isovaleric acid by 4,4' dichloro 2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (DCPP).

Human body malodour is a complex phenomenon. Several types of sweat glands produce odorless secretions that are metabolized by a consortium of skin-resident microorganisms to a diverse set of malodorous substances. Isovaleric acid, a sweaty-smelling compound, is one major malodorous component produced by staphylococci with the skin-derived amino acid L-leucine as a substrate.

Consumer perceptions of egg-laying hen housing systems.

The egg industry has transitioned, or is in the process of transitioning, from conventional cages to alternative hen housing systems in response to legal changes in many states across the United States (US). However, consumers find it is increasingly difficult to understand the details behind those labels and specific attributes conveyed. There are multiple hen housing options with a wide range of costs and impacts on hens, workers, and the environment.

A prospective, non comparative, multicenter study to investigate the effect of cadexomer iodine on bioburden load and other wound characteristics in diabetic foot ulcers.

Few studies regarding wound treatment with topical antimicrobials evaluate change in the bacterial bioburden of the wound with treatment. This study sought out to determine the in vivo effect of cadexomer iodine antibacterial dressing on diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) that were infected or achieved a critical level of colonisation, looking specifically at wound progression in relation to bioburden. Fifteen patients corresponding to 16 total DFUs met criteria of displaying clinical signs of infection or critical colonisation and were suitable for a topical antibacterial dressing.

Influence of amantadine on CD81 expression on lymphocytes in chronic hepatitis C.

Introduction: Interferon alpha (IFN) down regulates CD81 expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Aim of our study was to investigate whether amantadine alters IFN associated down regulation of CD81 expression on PBMC in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic HCV infection received peginterferon alpha-2a/ribavirin (SOC) for 48 weeks.

Comparison of envelope 2 CD81 binding regions in PBMC-derived versus serum-derived hepatitis C virus isolates: higher conservation of CD81 region 2 in PBMC isolates.

Unlabelled: The aim of the present study was to investigate the variability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) CD81 binding regions (CD81-1/2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)-derived and serum-derived HCV-RNA samples. HCV-RNA was isolated from PBMC (10⁴ cells) and serum samples from 37 patients chronically infected with HCV genotype 1a/1b (n=21/16). The hypervariable regions 1/2 (amino acid 384-410, amino acid 474-482) and regions CD81-1/2 (amino acid 474-494, amino acid 522-551) were analysed.

A prospective, randomized clinical trial to assess the cost-effectiveness of a modern foam dressing versus a traditional saline gauze dressing in the treatment of stage II pressure ulcers.

Modern dressings such as hydrocolloids, gels, and foams are typically more expensive than traditional dressings such as gauze. However, if modern dressings require fewer changes, the overall cost of treatment may be lower despite the higher initial purchase price. If healing rates are comparable or better, modern dressings also may be cost-effective.

Triclosan-tolerant bacteria: changes in susceptibility to antibiotics.

There is no clear consensus regarding the effect of biocide tolerance on antibiotic susceptibility. In this work, triclosan-tolerant strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter johnsonii were compared with sensitive strains in order to ascertain their susceptibility to a range of antibiotics. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of triclosan were measured using broth- and agar-dilution techniques.

The importance of information localization in scene gist recognition.

People can recognize the meaning or gist of a scene from a single glance, and a few recent studies have begun to examine the sorts of information that contribute to scene gist recognition. The authors of the present study used visual masking coupled with image manipulations (randomizing phase while maintaining the Fourier amplitude spectrum; random image structure evolution [RISE]; J. Sadr & P.

Small-colony variants: a novel mechanism for triclosan resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: A little-understood mode of antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is the evolution of a sub-population of small-colony variants (SCVs). SCVs are a cause of persistent and recurring infections refractory to antimicrobial chemotherapy. Following the inadvertent isolation of suspected SCVs growing in the presence of triclosan we set out to evaluate the formation of these colonial mutants and assess their antimicrobial susceptibility.

Triclosan-bacteria interactions: single or multiple target sites?

Aims: To investigate the inhibitory and lethal effects of triclosan against several micro-organisms at different stages of their phase of population growth.

Methods And Results: Triclosan minimum inhibitory concentrations against several test organisms were determined in broth and agar using standard protocols. The bisphenol effect on bacterial population growth kinetics was studied using the Bioscreen C microbial growth analyser.

Triclosan inhibition of fatty acid synthesis and its effect on growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Objectives: To assess the effect of triclosan on fatty acid synthesis and to relate the inhibition of enoyl reductase to bacterial viability.

Methods: The effect of triclosan on fatty acid synthesis in a triclosan-resistant Escherichia coli and its sensitive counterpart and in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated by measuring acetate incorporation into total lipid followed by analysis of fatty acid methyl esters by gas chromatography. Concurrently, the bactericidal effect of triclosan against these bacterial strains was assessed.

Decreasing amputation rates in patients with diabetes mellitus. An outcome study.

The lower-extremity amputation rate in people with diabetes mellitus is high, and the wound failure rate at the time of amputation is as high as 28%. Even with successful healing of the primary amputation site, amputation of part of the contralateral limb occurs in 50% of patients within 2 to 5 years. The purpose of this study was to provide valid outcome data before (control period) and 18 months after (test period) implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach using verified methods to improve the institutional care of wounds.

Long-term outcome study of growth factor-treated pressure ulcers.

Background: Exogenous application of growth factors have been reported in an attempt to accelerate healing of chronic wounds. Most of the trials were of brief duration with short to no follow-up periods. Long-term outcome studies are sparse for pressure ulcer therapies with success rates around 30% for both operative and nonoperative treatments.

Sequential cytokine therapy for pressure ulcers: clinical and mechanistic response.

Objective: To compare the healing response of sequential topically applied cytokines to that of each cytokine alone and to a placebo in pressure ulcers, and to evaluate the molecular and cellular responses.

Summary Background Data: Because of a deficiency of cytokine growth factors in chronic wounds and the reversal of impaired healing in animal models, pressure ulcer trials have been performed with several exogenously applied growth factors. Because single-factor therapy has not been uniformly successful, combination or sequential cytokine therapy has been proposed.

Regulatory sequences and a novel gene in the msp (GP63) gene cluster of Leishmania chagasi.

The surface protease GP63 of Leishmania chagasi is encoded by a cluster of more than 18 tandem major surface protease (msp) genes belonging to three classes (mspL, mspS, mspC). mspL and mspS transcripts are differentially expressed during parasite growth. RNAs from mspS genes predominate during stationary phase, the time when parasite virulence and GP63 expression are maximal.

Total synthesis and biological activities of (+)- and (-)-boscialin and their 1'-epimers.

Natural (-)-boscialin [(-)-1] has recently been described as one of the constituents of various medicinal plants. To obtain more material for investigations of its biological activities, we carried out the synthesis of (-)-1 and its isomers. Starting from the chiral building block 2, the key steps of the synthesis involved a regioselective reduction and a nucleophilic addition.

Use of the polymerase chain reaction for detecting Trypanosoma cruzi in triatomine vectors.

Determination of the rate of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in its triatomine vectors is an element in control programmes directed at reducing transmission of the organism to humans. Traditionally, T. cruzi has been detected in these insects by microscopical examination of intestinal contents or excreta.

Comparison of PCR and microscopic methods for detecting Trypanosoma cruzi.

The diagnosis of acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas' disease, is generally made by detecting parasites by microscopic examination of fresh blood. Although highly specific, this approach often lacks sensitivity. Several years ago, PCR assays for the detection of T.

Postmortem diagnosis of autochthonous acute chagasic myocarditis by polymerase chain reaction amplification of a species-specific DNA sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi.

We report a fatal case of vector-transmitted acute Chagas' myocarditis in a seven-month-old child in south Texas. This diagnosis was not suspected during the three days of hospitalization that preceded the child's death, which was caused by heart failure. A diagnosis of acute myocarditis, probably of viral origin, was listed as the cause of death after cardiac tissue was examined microscopically at autopsy.