An outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections outbreak is described, as well as the epidemiological study that linked the outbreak to the use of 2% aqueous chlorhexidine antiseptic.
In late November ...2014 an increasing incidence of S. marcescens isolates was detected in patients treated in the emergency department. It was considered a possible outbreak, and an epidemiological investigation was started.
S. marcescens was isolated in 23 samples from 16 patients and in all new bottles of two lots of 2% aqueous chlorhexidine. The contaminated disinfectant was withdrawn, and the Spanish Drugs Agency was alerted (COS 2/2014). The epidemiological study showed that strains isolated from clinical samples and from chlorhexidine belonged to the same clone. No further isolates were obtained once the disinfectant was withdrawn.
The suspicion of an outbreak and the epidemiological study were essential to control the incidence.
We analyzed the preference of three psychological intervention formats-individual, group, and online-in a sample of 267 patients with a primary diagnosis of emotional disorder in Spanish public ...mental health settings.
We studied patients' preferences considering sociodemographic characteristics, diagnoses, history of psychological treatments, number of sessions, and satisfaction with past interventions.
Most participants (85.4%) preferred psychological treatment in an individual format, 14.2% in group, and 0.4% online. When comparing the people who chose individual and group treatment, no demographic or clinical differences were found. The arguments against group format were the lack of privacy and expression difficulties. Regarding online format, these included being considered impersonal and ineffective.
The rejection of group and online psychotherapy formats allows us to define the actions we should carry out in public mental health settings to improve the acceptance of more cost-effective therapy formats.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) exerts vasorelaxant, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In obesity, its activation counterbalances the adverse cardiovascular effects of ...angiotensin II mediated by the AT1R. Preliminary results indicate that it also promotes brown adipocyte differentiation in vitro. Our hypothesis is that AT2R activation could increase BAT mass and activity in obesity. Five‐week‐old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a standard or a high‐fat (HF) diet for 6 weeks. Half of the animals were treated with compound 21 (C21), a selective AT2R agonist, (1 mg/kg/day) in the drinking water. Electron transport chain (ETC), oxidative phosphorylation, and UCP1 proteins were measured in the interscapular BAT (iBAT) and thoracic perivascular adipose tissue (tPVAT) as well as inflammatory and oxidative parameters. Differentiation and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in the presence of C21 was tested in brown preadipocytes. In vitro, C21‐differentiated brown adipocytes showed an AT2R‐dependent increase of differentiation markers (Ucp1, Cidea, Pparg) and increased basal and H+ leak‐linked OCR. In vivo, HF‐C21 mice showed increased iBAT mass compared to HF animals. Both their iBAT and tPVAT showed higher protein levels of the ETC protein complexes and UCP1, together with a reduction of inflammatory and oxidative markers. The activation of the AT2R increases BAT mass, mitochondrial activity, and reduces markers of tissue inflammation and oxidative stress in obesity. Therefore, insulin reduction and better vascular responses are achieved. Thus, the activation of the protective arm of the renin–angiotensin system arises as a promising tool in the treatment of obesity.
Angiotensin II type 2 receptor as a noval activator of brown adipose tissue in obesity.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Aims
Root functions are multiple and essential for the growth and survival of terrestrial plants. The aim of this work was to analyse the main trends in the variation of root traits, their ...coordination with leaf traits and their relationships with soil conditions.
Methods
We measured the variation of 27 fine root traits (five morphological, 20 chemical and two isotopic signatures) in trees of seven species of a mixed plantation in a metal-contaminated and remediated site of Southern Spain.
Results
We found evidences supporting the existence of a root economics spectrum (RES). However, other dimensions were identified as being independent of the main RES: mainly the variation in the carbon concentration, the accumulation of trace elements associated with tolerance of metal-rich soils, and the fractionation of δ
15
N as a time-integrated trait of mycorrhizal-mediated nutrition. In general, roots and leaves were functionally coordinated, although most of the trace elements showed strong root-leaf discordance. The soil conditions interacted with the fine root traits in feedback processes. The ability of tree roots to accumulate trace elements and to reduce their translocation to leaves is a desirable trait for the phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soils.
Conclusions
Roots are multifunctional. Understanding the variations in the root traits of trees will help us to predict both the responses of forests to global changes, including soil contamination, and the provision of soil-based ecosystem services.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Fungi play a key role in the functioning of soil in terrestrial ecosystems, and in particular in the remediation of degraded soils. The contribution of fungi to carbon and nutrient cycles, along with ...their capability to mobilise soil trace elements, is well-known. However, the importance of life history strategy for these functions has not yet been thoroughly studied. This study explored the soil-fungi relationship of two wild edible fungi, the ectomycorrhizal Laccaria laccata and the saprotroph Volvopluteus gloiocephalus. Fruiting bodies and surrounding soils in a mine-spill contaminated area were analysed. Isotope analyses revealed Laccaria laccata fruiting bodies were
N-enriched when compared to Volvopluteus gloiocephalus, likely due to the transfer of
N-depleted compounds to their host plant. Moreover, Laccaria laccata fruiting bodies δ
C values were closer to host plant values than surrounding soil, while Volvopluteus gloiocephalus matched the δ
C composition to that of the soil. Fungal species presented high bioaccumulation and concentrations of Cd and Cu in their fruiting bodies. Human consumption of these fruiting bodies may represent a toxicological risk due to their elevated Cd concentrations.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Trait-based approaches are useful tools to explain ecological assembly rules and ecosystem functioning. However, their use for soil microbiota has not been explored in depth yet. We explored ...trait-based functional changes of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities associated with holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) in a trace element contaminated area.
We found a variation in ECM fungal species composition determined by soil C, Ca and trace elements; however, taxonomic diversity was not dependant on contamination level. Mean trait values of ECM fungal communities showed less rhizomorph and emanating hyphae production when increasing contamination, and the community converged towards species developing rhizomorphs less frequently. We suggest that trace elements in soils acted as the main environmental filter of trait diversity of ECM fungal communities. The effect of soil nutrients, i.e. soil C, affected the community mean trait values of emanating hyphae but did not cause a convergence in its distribution.
In summary, we found a reduction in the functional diversity of ECM fungal communities due to trace element contamination with potential to affect ecosystem functioning. This finding supports the potential of trait-based approaches to assess changes in the functional diversity of soil microbial communities.
•Metallic trace elements did not have a negative impact on ectomycorrhizal fungal taxonomic diversity.•Trace elements filtered traits in ectomycorrhizal communities.•Soil contamination was more important than soil nutrients for ectomycorrhizal community assembly.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Las coinfecciones por gripe y otros virus respiratorios (OVR) durante las epidemias gripales son frecuentes. El objetivo de este estudio es examinar las variables demográficas y virológicas ...relacionadas con las coinfecciones entre la gripe y OVR.
En este estudio se analizaron muestras respiratorias de 8 epidemias gripales consecutivas (desde la temporada 2011-2012 hasta la temporada 2018-2019), en las que se había detectado un resultado positivo de gripe mediante test en laboratorio. Analizamos los datos objetivándolos frente a diferentes variables: edad, sexo, tipo de paciente (hospitalizado/centinela) y tipo/subtipo de gripe detectada.
Las coinfecciones entre gripe y OVR se detectaron en el 17,8% de los casos positivos de gripe. En los niños de entre 0-4 años (OR: 2,7; IC 95%: 2,2-3,4), los niños de entre 5-14 años (OR: 1,6; IC 95%: 1,2-2,1) y los pacientes infectados por el subtipo A(H3N2) (OR: 1,4; IC 95%: 1,14-1,79), se detectó una probabilidad significativamente mayor de detectar estas coinfecciones. Además, observamos que las coinfecciones entre gripe y 2 o más OVR fueron llamativamente más frecuentes en niños de 0-4 años (OR: 0,5; IC 95%: 0,32-0,8), en adultos de entre 40-64 años (OR: 0,5; IC 95%: 0,3-0,9) y en mujeres (OR: 0,7; IC 95%: 0,5-0,9).
Estos resultados muestran que las coinfecciones entre gripe y OVR son más frecuentes en niños de 0-4 años y de 5-14 años, y en los casos en los que el subtipo A(H3N2) está implicado. Estos datos pueden ser útiles para enfocar el diagnóstico mediante métodos multiplex en aquellos laboratorios que posean pocos recursos económicos y humanos.
Coinfections of influenza and other respiratory viruses (ORVs) are frequent in the epidemic season. The aim of this study was to examine the demographic and virological variables associated with coinfections by influenza and ORVs.
We analysed respiratory samples of patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza using molecular diagnostic methods obtained in 8 consecutive influenza seasons (2011-2012 to 2018-2019). We analysed data focusing on different variables: age, sex, type of patient (hospitalized/sentinel) and detected type/subtype of influenza.
Coinfections of influenza and ORVs were detected in 17.8% of influenza-positive samples. The probability of detecting coinfection was significantly higher in young children (0-4 years; OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 2.2-3.4), children (5-14 years; OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2-2.1) and patients infected with the A(H3N2) subtype (OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.14-1.79). Also, we found a significantly higher frequency of coinfections involving influenza and 2 or more other respiratory viruses in young children (0-4 years; OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.32-0.8), adults (40-64 years; OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3-0.9) and women (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.9).
These results show that coinfections of influenza and ORVs are more frequent in young children and children, and in cases involving the A(H3N2) influenza subtype. Our findings can be useful to guide the use of multiplex diagnostic methods in laboratories with limited resources.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
PDF
