Biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii: associated features and clinical implications.

Biofilm formation in 92 unrelated strains of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated in a multicentre cohort study was investigated using a microtitre plate assay. Fifty-six (63%) isolates formed biofilm. These isolates were less frequently resistant to imipenem or ciprofloxacin than were non-biofilm-forming isolates (25% vs.

Comparative study of virulence traits of Escherichia coli clinical isolates causing early and late neonatal sepsis.

Neonatal meningitis and septicemia caused by Escherichia coli are still major health problems in industrialized countries. Forty-seven E. coli strains causing neonatal sepsis were analyzed.

[Clinical aspects and endoscopic management of gastrointestinal bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesion].

Objective: the aim of the study was to assess the incidence, clinical presentation, location, and response to endoscopic therapy of gastrointestinal bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesion.

Material And Method: ALL consecutive episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy's lesion seen between 2000 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. All main clinical and endoscopic data were collected: type and effectiveness of endoscopic therapy, rebleeding, complications, and mortality during hospitalization.

Molecular characterization of hepatitis A virus in children with fulminant hepatic failure in Argentina.

Background: Hepatitis A infection, a vaccine-preventable disease, is an important cause of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in children in Argentina. Universal vaccination in 1-year-old children was implemented in June 2005. The limited studies about the correlation between the characteristics of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) and FHF have been carried out in adults.

Detailed structure of integrons and transposons carried by large conjugative plasmids responsible for multidrug resistance in diverse genomic types of Salmonella enterica serovar Brandenburg.

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence, molecular basis and distribution among genomic types of antimicrobial drug resistance in Salmonella enterica (S.) serovar Brandenburg isolates recorded in the Principality of Asturias, Spain.

Methods: Thirty-seven S.

Pseudoachalasia of the cardia secondary to nongastrointestinal neoplasia.

A minor proportion of patients with achalasia eventually have a neoplasm and, as a consequence, pseudoachalasia is diagnosed. A neoplasm may either involve gastrointestinal junction or present a paraneoplastic effect. Over the global diagnoses of achalasia issued in 5 years of experience in our motility unit, we have found 13% (3/23 cases) of pseudoachalasia (2-4% in previous series, probably due to the fact that the population assisted was mainly composed of elderly patients).

Plantar keratoderma as a presenting sign of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

A 76-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of back pain and sudden onset of plantar keratoderma. Her serum carbohydrate antigen (CA 19.9) levels were elevated.

Molecular characterization of hepatitis A virus isolates from Argentina.

Hepatitis A, a vaccine preventable disease, is now of transitional or intermediate endemicity in Argentina, as the epidemiologic pattern of the disease has shifted with improvements in living conditions in some parts of the country. Increase in the susceptibility of older children and adults has led to increasing disease incidence. Molecular epidemiology has played an important role in the understanding of HAV infection by identifying modes of spreading and by permitting the monitoring of changes in circulating virus brought about by prevention programs.

[Percutaneous inferior vena cava filters: indications and results in 287 patients].

Background: Anticoagulation is the treatment of choice for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Occasionally this treatment is contraindicated or fails to prevent PE. In these patients, inferior vena caval (IVC) interruption is indicated and insertion of a filter is the most commonly performed procedure.

Molecular identification of new varieties of Nierembergia linariaefolia (Graham), a native Argentinean ornamental plant.

Six Nierembergia linariaefolia clones were selected for ornamental traits during a native germplasm development program. For fingerprinting diagnosis, 13 anchored inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers and 6 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer-enzyme combinations were used. Both markers revealed high levels of polymorphism, enabling genetic discrimination of the accessions analyzed by using 443 informative ISSRs and 541 AFLP markers.

Review on bacterial stress topics.

A complex network of regulatory systems ensures a coordinated and effective response to different types of stress that can act on a bacterium. Bacterial stress response generates changes that influence efflux system and virulence factor expression. Thus, partial or total loss of pathogenicity islands in uropathogenic Escherichia coli can be induced by SOS-dependent or SOS-independent pathways related to selection of quinolone-resistant mutants.

[Molecular characterization of hepatitis E virus in three acute liver failure cases in children in Argentina].

Strains of hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolated from Argentinian patients with sporadic hepatitis, as well as from swine from Argentina, belong to genotype 3. HEV genotype 3 variants have been described associated with acute liver failure (ALF) in adults from Japan and the United Kingdom. In Argentina, 30% of ALF in adults and children are of unknown aetiology.

Intra-abdominal pressure as a marker of severity in acute pancreatitis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is one of the main causes of intra-abdominal hypertension, which may lead to multiple physiologic alterations. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between acute pancreatitis and intra-abdominal hypertension, and to evaluate the utility of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) as a marker of severity in acute pancreatitis.

Methods: From July 2002 to July 2004, 45 patients admitted for acute pancreatitis were included in this prospective, observational study.

[Duration of viremia and fecal shedding of the virus in hepatitis A infected children].

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is endemic in Argentina. Molecular tools have allowed HAV RNA detection to be extent to sera and feces from patients with different clinical backgrounds. We compare the sensitivity of the RT-PCR protocol we follow using primers targeting different genomic regions and VP3 C terminal was the most sensitive.

Association between mannose-binding lectin deficiency and septic shock following acute pyelonephritis due to Escherichia coli.

Structural and promoter MBL2 gene polymorphisms responsible for low MBL levels are associated with increased risk of infection. The objective of this study was to assess the possible association between polymorphisms of the MBL2 gene and the incidence of septic shock and bacteremia in patients with acute pyelonephritis due to Escherichia coli. The study included 62 female patients with acute pyelonephritis due to E.

Biofilm formation in uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains: relationship with prostatitis, urovirulence factors and antimicrobial resistance.

Purpose: Escherichia coli strains are the most frequent cause of urinary tract infections. Biofilm formation allows the strains to persist a long time in the genitourinary tract and interfere with bacterial eradication. We determined the possible relationships between the different urinary tract infections, and in vitro biofilm formation, the presence of urovirulence factors and nalidixic acid resistance.

Cloning, expression, and characterisation of a Plasmodium vivax MSP7 family merozoite surface protein.

Plasmodium vivax remains the most widespread Plasmodium parasite species around the world, producing about 75 million malaria cases, mainly in South America and Asia. A vaccine against this disease is of urgent need, making the identification of new antigens involved in target cell invasion, and thus potential vaccine candidates, a priority. A protein belonging to the P.

Identification of the first strain of swine hepatitis E virus in South America and prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in swine in Argentina.

In Argentina, a country considered non-endemic for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection, serologic evidence of HEV infection has been observed in different human population groups. In other countries, a high degree of genetic relatedness has been observed between human and swine HEV genotype 3 sequences, suggesting zoonosis as one probable route of infection. This is the first identification of swine HEV in South America.

Implication of biofilm formation in the persistence of urinary tract infection caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli is the most frequent microorganism involved in urinary tract infection (UTI). Acute UTI caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) can lead to recurrent infection, which can be defined as either re-infection or relapse.

Impact of a massage therapy clinical trial on immune status in young Dominican children infected with HIV-1.

Purpose: The effectiveness of massage therapy on immune parameters was evaluated in young Dominican HIV+ children without current access to antiretroviral therapies.

Methods: Eligible children, who were followed at the Robert Reid Cabral Hospital (San Domingo, Dominican Republic), were randomized to receive either massage treatment or a control/friendly visit twice weekly for 12 weeks. Blood was drawn at baseline and following the 3-month intervention for determinations of CD4, CD8, and CD56 cell counts and percentage, along with activation markers (CD25 and CD69).

[Characteristics of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: results of the Chilean national registry of heart failure, ICARO].

Background: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (EF) is a condition of growing interest due to its high prevalence and difficult management.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical profile of patients hospitalized with HF and preserved EF in Chilean hospitals.

Material And Methods: Prospective registry of 15 centers.

Localized vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract.

Background And Objectives: Isolated vasculitis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a rare entity. Endoscopic biopsies have low sensitivity to diagnose intestinal vasculitis, even though the endoscopic findings may be suggestive of this condition. Our aims were to describe a case of biopsy-proven colonic leukocytoclastic vasculitis and review the literature.

Endoscopic treatment of acute colorectal obstruction with self-expandable metallic stents: experience in a community hospital.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and security of treatment with self-expandable metallic stents for acute colonic obstruction.

Methods: Retrospectively, we analyzed our experience in placing colonic stents in patients with acute colonic obstruction. Sixty-two patients with malignant colon obstruction were sent to our hospital endoscopic unit from February 1999 through September 2003.