Mobility of the native Bacillus subtilis conjugative plasmid pLS20 is regulated by intercellular signaling.

Horizontal gene transfer mediated by plasmid conjugation plays a significant role in the evolution of bacterial species, as well as in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity determinants. Characterization of their regulation is important for gaining insights into these features. Relatively little is known about how conjugation of Gram-positive plasmids is regulated.

Pharmacokinetics of rifabutin during atazanavir/ritonavir co-administration in HIV-infected TB patients in India.

Setting: Rifabutin (RBT) is reported to be as effective as and to have less inducing effect on cytochrome P450 enzymes than rifampicin against tuberculosis (TB). The optimal dose of RBT during ritonavir (RTV) co-administration remains a matter of debate.

Objective: To study the pharmacokinetics of 150 mg RBT thrice weekly during concomitant atazanavir/RTV administration in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected TB patients.

Gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial toxins in sepsis: a brief review.

Bacterial sepsis is a major cause of fatality worldwide. Sepsis is a multi-step process that involves an uncontrolled inflammatory response by the host cells that may result in multi organ failure and death. Both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria play a major role in causing sepsis.

An in silico analysis of troponin I mutations in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy of Indian origin.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant disorder of the myocardium which is hypertrophied resulting in arrhythmias and heart failure leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Several sarcomeric proteins and modifier genes have been implicated in this disease. Troponin I, being a part of the Troponin complex (troponin I, troponin C, troponin T), is an important gene for sarcomeric function.

Estimation of content of anti-TB drugs supplied at centres of the Revised National TB Control Programme in Tamil Nadu, India.

Objective: To determine the content of certain antituberculosis (TB) drugs supplied at TB treatment centres of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods: Eight districts across the state were selected, and the following drugs were collected from five settings (District TB centre, TB unit, designated microscopy centres, DOT providers) in each district: rifampicin (150 and 450 mg), isoniazid (300 mg), pyrazinamide (500 and 750 mg), ethambutol (400 and 600 mg), ethionamide (250 mg), levofloxacin (500 mg) and cycloserine (250 mg). A maximum of 10 tablets/capsules were collected from each setting.

Comprehensive assessment of exposures to elongate mineral particles in the taconite mining industry.

Since the 1970s, concerns have been raised about elevated rates of mesothelioma in the vicinity of the taconite mines in the Mesabi Iron Range. However, insufficient quantitative exposure data have hampered investigations of the relationship between cumulative exposures to elongate mineral particles (EMP) in taconite dust and adverse health effects. Specifically, no research on exposure to taconite dust, which includes EMP, has been conducted since 1990.

Sustained protection in mice immunized with fractional doses of Salmonella Enteritidis core and O polysaccharide-flagellin glycoconjugates.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serovars S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium are a major cause of invasive bacterial disease (e.

Mechanistic studies unravel the complexity inherent in tau aggregation leading to Alzheimer's disease and the tauopathies.

The aggregation of the protein tau into amyloid fibrils is known to be involved in the causation of the neurodegenerative tauopathies and the progression of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. This review surveys the mechanism of tau aggregation with special emphasis on the information obtained from biochemical and biophysical studies. First, tau is described from a structure-function perspective.

The preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for early postoperative mechanical ventilation after scoliosis surgery: A retrospective study.

Background: Patients undergoing corrective surgery for scoliosis of spine are commonly ventilated in our institute after the operation. Postoperative mechanical ventilation (PMV) and subsequent prolongation of intensive care unit stay are associated with increase in medical expenditure and complications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia. Identification of factors which may contribute to PMV and their modification may help in allocation of resources effectively.

Brain cancer in workers employed at a specialty chemical research facility.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated unique exposures and their relationship to brain cancer mortality in employees of a specialty chemical research facility. Following an exposure assessment that concerned compounds distinct to this facility, the authors conducted a cohort mortality study of 5,284 workers to assess mortality in reference to the general population and a nested case-control study to evaluate brain cancer risk associated with specific jobs and unique chemical exposures. Four hundred eighty-six deaths, including 14 brain cancer deaths, were identified.

Age, nutritional status and INH acetylator status affect pharmacokinetics of anti-tuberculosis drugs in children.

Setting: The currently recommended dosages of rifampicin (RMP), isoniazid (INH), pyrazinamide (PZA) and ethambutol in children are extrapolated from adult pharmacokinetic studies, and have not been adequately evaluated in children.

Objective: To describe the pharmacokinetics of RMP, INH and PZA given thrice weekly in children with tuberculosis (TB), and to relate pharmacokinetics to treatment outcomes.

Methods: Eighty-four human immunodeficiency virus negative children with TB aged 1-12 years in Chennai and Madurai, India, were recruited.

A peptide antagonist of CD28 signaling attenuates toxic shock and necrotizing soft-tissue infection induced by Streptococcus pyogenes.

Staphylococcus aureus and group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) express superantigen (SAg) exotoxin proteins capable of inducing lethal shock. To induce toxicity, SAgs must bind not only to the major histocompatibility complex II molecule of antigen-presenting cells and the variable β chain of the T-cell receptor but also to the dimer interface of the T-cell costimulatory receptor CD28. Here, we show that the CD28-mimetic peptide AB103 (originally designated "p2TA") protects mice from lethal challenge with streptococcal exotoxin A, as well as from lethal GAS bacterial infection in a murine model of necrotizing soft-tissue infection.

Quantum mechanical study of the structure and spectroscopic (FT-IR, FT-Raman), first-order hyperpolarizability, NBO and HOMO-LUMO analysis of S-S-2 methylamino-1-phenyl propan-1-ol.

The experimental and theoretical vibrational spectra of S-S-2 methylamino-1-phenyl propan-1-ol (SSMPL). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and FT Raman spectra of SSMPL in the solid phase were recorded and analyzed. The molecular geometry, vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, Raman activities and atomic charges were calculated using density functional theory calculation (B3LYP) with standard 6-31G(d,p) and high level 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets.

Effect of rifampicin & isoniazid on the steady state pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin.

Background & Objectives: Moxifloxacin (MFX) is reported to have promising antimycobacterial activity, and has a potential to shorten tuberculosis (TB) treatment. We undertook this study to examine the influence of rifampicin (RMP) and isoniazid (INH) on the steady state pharmacokinetics of MFX individually in healthy individuals.

Methods: A baseline pharmacokinetic study of MFX (400 mg once daily) was conducted in 36 healthy adults and repeated after one week of daily MFX with either RMP (450/600 mg) (n = 18) or INH (300 mg) (n = 18).

Comparison of tracheal intubation using the Airtraq(®) and Mc Coy laryngoscope in the presence of rigid cervical collar simulating cervical immobilisation for traumatic cervical spine injury.

Background: It is difficult to visualise the larynx using conventional laryngoscopy in the presence of cervical spine immobilisation. Airtraq(®) provides for easy and successful intubation in the neutral neck position.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Airtraq in comparison with the Mc Coy laryngoscope, when performing tracheal intubation in patients with neck immobilisation using hard cervical collar and manual in-line axial cervical spine stabilisation.

Handling worker and third-party exposures to nanotherapeutics during clinical trials.

The article focuses on issues relating to occupational exposures of researchers and lab workers, and exposures of bystanders such as health care workers and family members during HSR using nanomaterials. Such third-party exposures give rise to unique challenges relating to oversight as well as exposures to worker groups not previously studied. Given the current state of knowledge regarding health risks from such exposures, a more precautionary approach to oversight seems advisable.

Recommendations for nanomedicine human subjects research oversight: an evolutionary approach for an emerging field.

The nanomedicine field is fast evolving toward complex, "active," and interactive formulations. Like many emerging technologies, nanomedicine raises questions of how human subjects research (HSR) should be conducted and the adequacy of current oversight, as well as how to integrate concerns over occupational, bystander, and environmental exposures. The history of oversight for HSR investigating emerging technologies is a patchwork quilt without systematic justification of when ordinary oversight for HSR is enough versus when added oversight is warranted.

Performance of dust allergen carpet samplers in controlled laboratory studies.

Allergens and other pollutants in house dust are collected using a variety of dust samplers that are assumed to operate similarly. This factorial design study compared sampler performance under controlled environmental conditions. House dust with known particle sizes (212-90, 90-45, and <45 μm) and allergen concentrations were sampled from new carpet squares with varying denier, pile height and pile densities.

Bayesian Modeling for Physical Processes in Industrial Hygiene Using Misaligned Workplace Data.

In industrial hygiene, a worker's exposure to chemical, physical, and biological agents is increasingly being modeled using deterministic physical models that study exposures near and farther away from a contaminant source. However, predicting exposure in the workplace is challenging and simply regressing on a physical model may prove ineffective due to biases and extraneous variability. A further complication is that data from the workplace are usually .

Role of pharmacogenomics in the treatment of tuberculosis: a review.

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the major public health problems worldwide. Modern antituberculous treatment can cure most patients; cure rates > 95% are achieved with standard short-course chemotherapy regimens containing isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol among patients with drug-susceptible strains of tuberculosis; however, a small proportion do not respond to treatment or develop serious adverse events. Pharmacogenomic studies of drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis could help us understand intersubject variations in treatment response.

Evidence for validity of five secondary data sources for enumerating retail food outlets in seven American Indian communities in North Carolina.

Background: Most studies on the local food environment have used secondary sources to describe the food environment, such as government food registries or commercial listings (e.g., Reference USA).

Quartz concentration trends in metal and nonmetal mining.

From 1974 through 2010, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) collected nearly 147,000 respirable dust samples with a mass of at least 0.1 mg and a minimum of 1% quartz. These samples represent about 50% of all respirable dust compliance samples collected by MSHA.

Tools for healthy tribes: improving access to healthy foods in Indian country.

There is growing recognition that policymakers can promote access to healthy, affordable foods within neighborhoods, schools, childcare centers, and workplaces. Despite the disproportionate risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes among American Indian children and adults, comparatively little attention has been focused on the opportunities tribal policymakers have to implement policies or resolutions to promote access to healthy, affordable foods. This paper presents an approach for integrating formative research into an action-oriented strategy of developing and disseminating tribally led environmental and policy strategies to promote access to and consumption of healthy, affordable foods.