Detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci from faecal samples of Iberian wolf and Iberian lynx, including Enterococcus faecium strains of CC17 and the new singleton ST573.

The aim of this study was to perform the molecular characterization of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) within the faecal flora of Iberian wolf and Iberian lynx. The association with other resistance genes and the detection of virulence genes were also analysed. From 2008 to 2010, 365 faecal samples from Iberian wolf and Iberian lynx were collected and tested for VRE recovery.

Skin grafting followed by low-molecular-weight heparin long-term therapy in chronic venous leg ulcers.

Background: Venous leg ulcers are responsible for more than half of lower extremity ulcerations, with an overall prevalence ranging from 0.06 to 2% in the general population.

Methods: A total number of 120 patients with chronic venous leg ulcers (CEAP C6), secondary to primary chronic venous insufficiency, were recruited (81 F, 39 M, age range: 50-79, mean age: 64.

A stochastic model of autocatalytic reaction networks.

Autocatalytic cycles are rather widespread in nature and in several theoretical models of catalytic reaction networks their emergence is hypothesized to be inevitable when the network is or becomes sufficiently complex. Nevertheless, the emergence of autocatalytic cycles has been never observed in wet laboratory experiments. Here, we present a novel model of catalytic reaction networks with the explicit goal of filling the gap between theoretical predictions and experimental findings.

Free fetal DNA levels in patients at risk of preterm labour.

Objectives: Our main goals were to evaluate the capability of ffDNA to increase the accuracy in prediction of preterm labour by cervical length and to explore potential mechanisms of disease associated with this pathology.

Methods: Fifty-six women, with male fetus, with cervical length assessment at between 22 and 24 weeks were included in the study and divided in 1) Short cervix (<15 mm) delivered at term (T = 20); 2) Short cervix delivered before 37 weeks (PT = 14); and 3) Patients who delivered at term with normal cervical length (N = 22). Maternal plasma samples were collected between 22 and 24 weeks of gestational age.

Experimentally witnessing the quantumness of correlations.

The quantification of quantum correlations (other than entanglement) usually entails labored numerical optimization procedures also demanding quantum state tomographic methods. Thus it is interesting to have a laboratory friendly witness for the nature of correlations. In this Letter we report a direct experimental implementation of such a witness in a room temperature nuclear magnetic resonance system.

Trypanosoma cruzi invades host cells through the activation of endothelin and bradykinin receptors: a converging pathway leading to chagasic vasculopathy.

Background And Purpose: Independent studies in experimental models of Trypanosoma cruzi appointed different roles for endothelin-1 (ET-1) and bradykinin (BK) in the immunopathogenesis of Chagas disease. Here, we addressed the hypothesis that pathogenic outcome is influenced by functional interplay between endothelin receptors (ET(A)R and ET(B)R) and bradykinin B(2) receptors (B(2)R).

Experimental Approach: Intravital microscopy was used to determine whether ETR/B(2)R drives the accumulation of rhodamine-labelled leucocytes in the hamster cheek pouch (HCP).

Misexpression of wingless-related MMTV integration site 5A in mouse mammary gland inhibits the milk ejection response and regulates connexin43 phosphorylation.

Wingless-related MMTV integration site 5A (Wnt5a) is a noncanonical signaling WNT that is expressed in every stage of mouse mammary gland development except lactation. Using slow release pellets containing WNT5A as well as Wnt5a-null tissue, we previously showed that WNT5A acts to limit mammary development. Here, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress WNT5A in the mammary epithelium using the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter (M5a mice).

Protein S-100B as biochemical marker of brain ischemic damage after treatment of carotid stenosis.

Background: S-100 protein is a family of low molecular weight proteins found in vertebrates characterized by two calcium binding sites of the helix-loop-helix ("EF-hand type") conformation. There are at least 21 different types of S-100 proteins. The name is derived from the fact that the protein is 100% soluble in ammonium sulfate at neutral pH.

Blood stream infections after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a single-center experience with the use of levofloxacin prophylaxis.

Blood stream infections (BSIs) remain one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality for patients receiving an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In the present study, we evaluated the incidence and characteristics of BSI within 1 year after allogeneic HSCT in 269 consecutive adult patients who received antibacterial prophylaxis with levofloxacin. Cumulative incidence of BSI was 12% (95% confidence interval, 8-16%).

Chondrocyte-specific regulatory activity of Runx2 is essential for survival and skeletal development.

Coordinated activities of multiple mesenchymal cell types contribute to the development of the mammalian skeleton formed through endochondral ossification. Synthesis of a cartilage template by chondrocytes is an obligatory step for the generation of skeletal elements during endochondral ossification. Gene ablation studies have established that Runx2 is an essential transcription factor for bone formation and the differentiation of skeletal cells.

TMJ development and growth require primary cilia function.

Primary cilia regulate limb and axial skeletal formation and hedgehog signaling, but their roles in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) development are unknown. Thus, we created conditional mouse mutants deficient in ciliary transport protein Kif3a in cartilage. In post-natal wild-type mice, primary cilia were occasionally observed on the superior, inferior, or lateral side of condylar cells.

The prevention of adverse drug reactions in older subjects.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a public health problem in older subjects, being responsible for a significant morbidity, disability and mortality. Older subjects are more susceptible to develop ADRs mainly due to polypharmacy, multimorbidity and inappropriate prescribing. The prevention of these drug related negative events represents an important aim for physicians treating older patients.

A dynamical model of genetic networks for cell differentiation.

A mathematical model is proposed which is able to describe the most important features of cell differentiation, without requiring specific detailed assumptions concerning the interactions which drive the phenomenon. On the contrary, cell differentiation is described here as an emergent property of a generic model of the underlying gene regulatory network, and it can therefore be applied to a variety of different organisms. The model points to a peculiar role of cellular noise in differentiation and leads to non trivial predictions which could be subject to experimental testing.

[The role of the occupational physician in the assessment of accident risk].

The prevention of accidents at work in Italy is a target still to be reached for the safety of workers in workplaces, despite the innovative provisions introduced by the Legislative Decree 81/08 and the decrease of the number of total and fatal accidents occurred in the period 2001-2008, as reported in the statistics of the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL). The occupational physician performs a very important role in the accident risk assessment, based on his biomedical and ergonomic knowledge. His role is carried out during the phase of safety risk assessment, contributing to assess plants, machines, tools, personal protective equipments, to be used by the workers.

Robustness analysis of a Boolean model of gene regulatory network with memory.

The response to different kinds of perturbations of a discrete model of gene regulatory network, which is a generalization of the random Boolean network (RBN) model, is discussed. The model includes memory effects, and the analysis pays particular attention to the influence on the system stability of a parameter (i.e.

Wnt5a as an effector of TGFβ in mammary development and cancer.

Wnt5a is a member of the Wingless-related/MMTV-integration family of secreted growth factors, which are involved in a wide range of cellular processes. Wnt signaling can be broadly divided into two categories the canonical, ß-catenin-dependent pathway and the non-canonical ß-catenin-independent pathway. Wnt5a is a non-canonical signaling member of the Wnt family.

Cell-cell interaction and diversity of emergent behaviours.

Despite myriads of possible gene expression profiles, cells tend to be found in a confined number of expression patterns. The dynamics of Boolean models of gene regulatory networks has proven to be a likely candidate for the description of such self-organisation phenomena. Because cells do not live in isolation, but they constantly shape their functions to adapt to signals from other cells, this raises the question of whether the cooperation among cells entails an expansion or a reduction of their possible steady states.

The effect of commitment on relative left frontal cortical activity: tests of the action-based model of dissonance.

The action-based model of dissonance and recent advances in neuroscience suggest that commitment to action should cause greater relative left frontal cortical activity. Two experiments were conducted in which electroencephalographic activity was recorded following commitment to action, operationalized with a perceived choice manipulation. Perceived high as compared to low choice to engage in the action, regardless of whether it was counterattitudinal or proattitudinal, caused greater relative left frontal cortical activity.

Surgical debridement with VERSAJET: an analysis of bacteria load of the wound bed pre- and post-treatment and skin graft taken. A preliminary pilot study.

Surgical debridement, which is used for the removal of necrotic tissue from a wound, is becoming more and more important in the treatment of skin injuries. VERSAJET (VERSAJET™, Versajet Hydrosurgery System, Smith and Nephew, Hull, UK) is one of the techniques used for wound debridement. Medical literature does not present either analytical or comparative data correlating the bacterial load with the VERSAJET treatment.

Dynamical properties of a boolean model of gene regulatory network with memory.

Classical random Boolean networks (RBN) are not well suited to describe experimental data from time-course microarray, mainly because of the strict assumptions about the synchronicity of the regulatory mechanisms. In order to overcome this setback, a generalization of the RBN model is described and analyzed. Gene products (e.

Combined medical, surgical and endovascular treatment of a giant cell arteritis case manifesting as upper limbs acute ischemia.

We report a case of giant cell arteritis manifesting as upper limbs ischemia due to a complete occlusion of the left subclavian artery and a high grade stenosis of the right subclavian artery. We decided to use a combined medical, surgical and endovascular treatment followed by long term treatment with methotrexate. After 4years the patient had no signs or symptoms of relapse.

Disruption of PCP signaling causes limb morphogenesis and skeletal defects and may underlie Robinow syndrome and brachydactyly type B.

Brachydactyly type B (BDB1) and Robinow syndrome (RRS) are two skeletal disorders caused by mutations in ROR2, a co-receptor of Wnt5a. Wnt5a/Ror2 can activate multiple branches of non-canonical Wnt signaling, but it is unclear which branch(es) mediates Wnt5a/Ror2 function in limb skeletal development. Here, we provide evidence implicating the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway as the downstream component of Wnt5a in the limb.

TGF-β2 suppresses macrophage cytokine production and mucosal inflammatory responses in the developing intestine.

Background & Aims: Premature neonates are predisposed to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an idiopathic, inflammatory bowel necrosis. We investigated whether NEC occurs in the preterm intestine due to incomplete noninflammatory differentiation of intestinal macrophages, which increases the risk of a severe mucosal inflammatory response to bacterial products.

Methods: We compared inflammatory properties of human/murine fetal, neonatal, and adult intestinal macrophages.

Suppression of LPS-induced matrix-metalloproteinase responses in macrophages exposed to phenytoin and its metabolite, 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl-), 5-phenylhydantoin.

Background: Phenytoin (PHT) has been reported to induce gingival (gum) overgrowth (GO) in approximately 50% of patients taking this medication. While most studies have focused on the effects of PHT on the fibroblast in the pathophysiology underlying GO, few studies have investigated the potential regulatory role of macrophages in extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover and secretion of proinflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PHT and its metabolite, 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl-), 5-phenylhydantoin (HPPH) on LPS-elicited MMP, TIMP, TNF-α and IL-6 levels in macrophages.