The role of oxidative stress in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

We examined oxidative stress markers of 31 patients suffering from ALS, 24 patients suffering from PD and 30 healthy subjects were included. We determined the plasma levels of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA), of protein oxidative lesions (plasma glutathione, carbonyls and thiols) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes i.e.

Genetic and biochemical characterization of the first extended-spectrum CARB-type beta-lactamase, RTG-4, from Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii isolate KAR was uncommonly more resistant to cefepime and cefpirome than to ceftazidime and cefotaxime. Cloning and expression of the beta-lactamase gene content of this isolate into Escherichia coli TOP10 identified ss-lactamase RTG-4 (or CARB-10), which corresponds to the first reported extended-spectrum CARB-type enzyme. RTG-4 is a plasmid-encoded Ambler class A beta-lactamase whose sequence differs by 4 amino acid substitutions from the narrow-spectrum beta-lactamase RTG-3.

[Mycological examination of a non-uniseriate Fumigati section's Aspergillus].

Aspergillus species are filamentous fungi of Ascomycete class. They are opportunistic pathogens frequently responsible for many severe infections. Among these species Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important human pathogen because of his thermophilic feature.

[A severe form of Chryseobacterium indologenes pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient].

We report a case of severe pneumonia due to Chryseobacterium indologenes in an immunocompetent patient. Chryseobacterium indologenes (formerly Flavobacterium indologenes) are saprophytic Gram-negative rods widely distributed in damp environment. Many sites of infection were described in the literature.