Thraustochytrids are unicellular heterotrophic marine protists that have been described as producing a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Among them, arachidonic acid (ARA) stands out as a precursor of several mediators of pivotal importance for the immune system. However, the biotechnological potential of thraustochytrids for ARA production has not been developed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChagas disease is mainly transmitted by vertical transmission (VT) in nonendemic areas and in endemic areas where vector control programs have been successful. For the present study, we isolated natural Trypanosoma cruzi strains vertically transmitted through three generations and proceeded to study their molecular mechanism of VT using mice. No parasitemia was detected in immunocompetent mice, but the parasites were able to induce an immune response and colonize different organs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The extent of diastolic dysfunction is of clinical importance in the risk stratification and management of patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). Standard echocardiographic indices of diastolic dysfunction have robust predictive ability in assorted disease states, but have not been validated in TC. The aim of this study was to compare Doppler metrics of diastolic function against catheterization-measured filling pressures in TC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe pulmonary embolism response team (PERT) is an institutionally based multidisciplinary team that is able to rapidly assess and provide treatment for patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Intrinsic to the team's structure is a formal mechanism to execute a full range of medical, endovascular, and surgical therapies. In addition, the PERT provides appropriate multidisciplinary follow-up of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF• Mitral annular disjunction is an underrecognized finding on echocardiography. • Mitral valve prolapse is strongly associated with mitral annular disjunction. • Patients with Marfan syndrome are potentially high risk for mitral annular disjunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKraft pulp cellulose was hydrolyzed using sulfuric acid, under different thermophysical conditions of temperature, time, pulp concentration, and sonication time. The experimental design revealed the effect of these conditions and their interaction on the hydrolysis yield obtained. In addition, the top five cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) yields from this experiment design were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAzithromycin in combination with ceftriaxone is recommended as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea in many countries. Therefore, monitoring of azithromycin susceptibility of isolates is essential. In 2019, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) listed the MIC breakpoint for a susceptible-only category to azithromycin, but breakpoints for disk diffusion are not yet available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHydrogels of TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose were stabilized for dry-jet wet spinning using a shell of cellulose dissolved in 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-enium propionate ([DBNH][COEt]), a protic ionic liquid (PIL).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Takotsubo Syndrome (TS) patients are at high risk of developing atrial fibrillation. We sought to investigate the outcomes and economic impact of atrial fibrillation on TS patients utilizing the National Inpatient Sample.
Methods: Patients with TS were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 2010 and 2014 using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), and subsequently were divided into two groups, those with and without atrial fibrillation.
Background: Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with reduced susceptibility or resistance to the recommended first-line antimicrobial therapy have been described in several countries. The purpose of this study was to use genome analyses to compare the molecular characteristics of N. gonorrhoeae isolates with decreased susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporin from Ontario, Canada, and Argentina.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the final process of the bleached kraft pulp there are some cellulose fibers that are separated from the main fibers stream; these fibers are rejected and considered as a low quality fibers, these fibers are known as rejected fiber (RF). In the present work the potential use of these fibers for Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) synthesis was studied. The physical and chemical properties of synthesized CNCs were characterized through different techniques such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Our aim was to describe the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance determinants of isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with decreased susceptibility and resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) in Argentina in 2011-16.
Methods: Gonococcal isolates (n=158) with decreased susceptibility and resistance to ESCs collected in 2011-16 across Argentina were subjected to WGS and antimicrobial susceptibility testing for six antimicrobials.
Results: In total, 50% of the isolates were resistant to cefixime, 1.
Introduction And Objective: Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease described in case series and publications worldwide. Over the past twenty years, the authors of different studies have attempted to evaluate its incidence and prevalence. The objetive of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in a group of children seen at 36 pediatric gastroenterology centers in ten Latin American countries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGentamicin is a promising antibiotic for the treatment of multidrug-resistant gonorrhea. The aim of this study was to analyze the suitability and reliably of disk diffusion to monitor the susceptibility to gentamicin. We studied 237 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates obtained in 2013 and 2015.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A variety of local and systemic processes caused exogenous and endogenous pigmentation of the oral mucosa. Solitary melanotic pigmentation is rare, hence the scarce number of studies in children and adolescents.
Methods: Clinical and histopathologic features of 10 Latin American children with solitary pigmented lesions of the oral mucosa were reviewed.
Background: The emergence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains with decreased susceptibility to cephalosporins represents a major concern globally. The aim of this study was to examine the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of N. gonorrhoeae isolates with decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime in Argentina.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction And Objectives: Vestibular schwannoma is the most frequent cerebellopontine angle tumor. The aim of our study is to reflect our experience in the surgical treatment of this tumor
Material And Methods: Retrospective study of 420 vestibular schwannomas operated in our hospital between 1994-2014. We include tumor size, preoperative hearing, surgical approaches, definitive facial and hearing functional results, and complications due to surgery.
Background: Penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorroheae (PPNG) was first isolated in 1976. PPNG strains carrying bla TEM-1 and bla TEM-135 gene have been described in different countries. Recently, a novel bla TEM-220 allele was detected in PPNG isolates carrying Toronto/Rio plasmid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrob Agents Chemother
January 2015
One hundred forty-three penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) isolates obtained in Argentina from 2008 and 2012 were examined to detect blaTEM-135 genes and to investigate plasmid profiles and multiantigen sequence types. Forty-two PPNG isolates were found to carry TEM-135, and two contained a new TEM derivative characterized as TEM-220. The blaTEM-135 allele was carried by the Toronto/Rio and African plasmids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQuorum sensing (QS) activity in Ophiostoma fungi has not been described. We have examined the growth conditions on the control of dimorphism in Ophiostoma floccosum, an attractive biocontrol agent against blue-stain fungi, and its relationship with QS activity. In a defined culture medium with L-proline as the N source, a high inoculum size (10(7) c.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntonie Van Leeuwenhoek
December 2013
Wood decomposition is an important component in forest ecosystems but information about the diversity of fungi causing decay is lacking. This is especially true for the temperate rain forests in Chile. These investigations show results of a biodiversity study of white-rot fungi in wood obtained from Chiloé National Park in Los Lagos region, Chile.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA total of 115 unique clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and 54 strains of other genera and species included in the database of the NH card were tested by the Vitek 2C System (bioMèrieux, Marcy L'Etoile, Francia). The gonoccocal isolates had been previously identified by conventional biochemical tests and by the latex agglutination test with monoclonal antibodies using the Phadebact Monoclonal GC Test (Bactus AB, Sweden). The NH card correctly identified 111 (96.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: We report the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis of plaque distribution in left anterior descending (LAD) artery/first diagonal (D1) and distal left main coronary artery (LMCA) bifurcation lesion location.
Methods And Results: We reviewed 58 angiograms of LAD/D1 bifurcation lesions with pre-intervention IVUS of both the LAD and D1 and compared these data to a corresponding cohort (n=81) of LMCA bifurcations, dividing each bifurcation into three segments: MV (main vessel), MB (main branch distal to the carina), and SB (side branch). In the LAD/D1 cohort, D1 (SB) had less calcium and a smaller plaque burden compared to the other two segments.
Backgrounds: Vessel expansion and axial plaque redistribution or distal plaque embolization contribute to the increase in lumen dimensions after stent implantation.
Methods And Results: Preintervention and postintervention grayscale volumetric intravascular ultrasound was used to study 43 de novo native coronary lesions treated with TAXUS or Express bare metal stents in the HORIZONS-AMI Trial. There was a decrease in lesion segment plaque + media (P + M) volume (-19.