Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungus that causes a wide range of symptoms. We report finding 17 cases of C. auris infection that were originally misclassified but correctly ...identified 27.5 days later on average. Patients with a delayed diagnosis of C. auris had a 30-day mortality rate of 35.2%.
The origins and developmental mechanisms of coronary arteries are incompletely understood. We show here by fate mapping, clonal analysis, and immunohistochemistry that endocardial cells generate the ...endothelium of coronary arteries. Dye tracking, live imaging, and tissue transplantation also revealed that ventricular endocardial cells are not terminally differentiated; instead, they are angiogenic and form coronary endothelial networks. Myocardial Vegf-a or endocardial Vegfr-2 deletion inhibited coronary angiogenesis and arterial formation by ventricular endocardial cells. In contrast, lineage and knockout studies showed that endocardial cells make a small contribution to the coronary veins, the formation of which is independent of myocardial-to-endocardial Vegf signaling. Thus, contrary to the current view of a common source for the coronary vessels, our findings indicate that the coronary arteries and veins have distinct origins and are formed by different mechanisms. This information may help develop better cell therapies for coronary artery disease.
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► Ventricular endocardial cells are a major origin of the coronary arteries ► Ventricular endocardial cells generate coronary arteries by angiogenesis ► Myocardial Vegf-a to endocardial Vegfr-2 signaling regulates coronary angiogenesis ► The coronary arteries and veins arise largely from different origins and mechanisms
Cells of the endocardium, the inner layer of the heart, give rise to coronary arteries in a process that involves Vegf signaling from the myocardium (heart muscle) to the endocardium. Surprisingly, Vegf signaling is not required for the formation of coronary veins, suggesting distinct origins for coronary arteries and veins.
The growing energy consumption in the residential sector represents about 30% of global demand. This calls for Demand Side Management solutions propelling change in behaviors of end consumers, with ...the aim to reduce overall consumption as well as shift it to periods in which demand is lower and where the cost of generating energy is lower. Demand Side Management solutions require detailed knowledge about the patterns of energy consumption. The profile of electricity demand in the residential sector is highly correlated with the time of active occupancy of the dwellings; therefore in this study the occupancy patterns in Spanish properties was determined using the 2009–2010 Time Use Survey (TUS), conducted by the National Statistical Institute of Spain. The survey identifies three peaks in active occupancy, which coincide with morning, noon and evening. This information has been used to input into a stochastic model which generates active occupancy profiles of dwellings, with the aim to simulate domestic electricity consumption. TUS data were also used to identify which appliance-related activities could be considered for Demand Side Management solutions during the three peaks of occupancy.
•Active occupancy profiles of Spanish dwellings has been obtained and modeled from Time Use Survey data.•Occupancy profiles resulting from the model can be used to model domestic energy consumption.•The presence of three peaks of active occupation was verified, which coincide with morning, noon and evening.•Manual and incentive-based DSM programmes are considered the most suitable for Spanish dwellings.•TV electricity consumption becomes important at aggregate level.
Case Series Study of Melioidosis, Colombia Rodríguez, José Y; Morales-López, Soraya E; Rodríguez, Gerson J ...
Emerging infectious diseases,
08/2019, Letnik:
25, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We report 7 cases of melioidosis in Colombia and comparision of 4 commercial systems for identifying Burkholderia pseudomallei. Phoenix systems were not a definitive method for identifying B. ...pseudomallei. For accurate identification, we recommend including this bacterium in the library databases of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry systems in Latin America.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste generates an environmental impact. To achieve the most suitable option for their degradation, it is necessary to implement chemical, physical and biological ...treatments, as well as combining procedures. Best treatment was prognosticated by Plackett-Burman Experimental Design (PB), evaluating five factors with two levels (0.25 mM or 1.0 gL-1 glucose, 1.0 or 2.0 mM CuSO4, 0.1 or 0.2 mM ABTS 2, 20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), pH 4.5 ± 0.2 or 7.0 ± 0.2 and 30 or 90 day incubation), which was reproduced for 150 days. Therefore, PB identified a sequential treatment (plasma followed by fungus) for partial LDPE biodeterioration. Sheets were pretreated with glow discharge plasma (O2, 3.0 x 10(-2) mbar, 600 V, 6 min.), followed by Pleurotus ostreatus biodeterioration. Fungus growth, colonization percentage, and pigment generation followed. Laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) activities were appraised. Additionally, contact angle (CA), functional group presence and changes and carbonyl and vinyl indices (Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy) were evaluated. LDPE surface changes were assessed by Young's modulus, yield strength, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Plasma discharge increased hydrophilicity, decreasing CA by 76.57% and increasing surface roughness by 99.81%. P. ostreatus colonization was 88.72% in 150 days in comparison with untreated LDPE (45.55%). After this treatment carbonyl groups (C = O), C = C insaturations, high hydrophilicity CA (16 ± 4) °, and low surface roughness (7 ± 2) nm were observed. However, the highest Lac and LiP activities were detected after 30 days (Lac: 2.817 U Lac g-1 and LiP: 70.755 U LiP g-1). In addition, highest MnP activity was observed at day 120 (1.097 U MnP g-1) only for P. ostreatus treated LDPE. Plasma favored P. ostreatus adsorption, adherence, growth and colonization (88.72%), as well as partial LDPE biodeterioration, supported by increased hydrophilicity and presence of specific functional chemical groups. The approximate 27% changes in LDPE physical properties support its biodeterioration.
The Canary Islands' indigenous people have been the subject of substantial archaeological, anthropological, linguistic and genetic research pointing to a most probable North African Berber source. ...However, neither agreement about the exact point of origin nor a model for the indigenous colonization of the islands has been established. To shed light on these questions, we analyzed 48 ancient mitogenomes from 25 archaeological sites from the seven main islands. Most lineages observed in the ancient samples have a Mediterranean distribution, and belong to lineages associated with the Neolithic expansion in the Near East and Europe (T2c, J2a, X3a…). This phylogeographic analysis of Canarian ancient mitogenomes, the first of its kind, shows that some lineages are restricted to Central North Africa (H1cf, J2a2d and T2c1d3), while others have a wider distribution, including both West and Central North Africa, and, in some cases, Europe and the Near East (U6a1a1, U6a7a1, U6b, X3a, U6c1). In addition, we identify four new Canarian-specific lineages (H1e1a9, H4a1e, J2a2d1a and L3b1a12) whose coalescence dates correlate with the estimated time for the colonization of the islands (1st millennia CE). Additionally, we observe an asymmetrical distribution of mtDNA haplogroups in the ancient population, with certain haplogroups appearing more frequently in the islands closer to the continent. This reinforces results based on modern mtDNA and Y-chromosome data, and archaeological evidence suggesting the existence of two distinct migrations. Comparisons between insular populations show that some populations had high genetic diversity, while others were probably affected by genetic drift and/or bottlenecks. In spite of observing interinsular differences in the survival of indigenous lineages, modern populations, with the sole exception of La Gomera, are homogenous across the islands, supporting the theory of extensive human mobility after the European conquest.
Many public health responses and modeled scenarios for COVID-19 outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV-2 assume that infection results in an immune response that protects individuals from future infections or ...illness for some amount of time. The presence or absence of protective immunity due to infection or vaccination (when available) will affect future transmission and illness severity. Here, we review the scientific literature on antibody immunity to coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 as well as the related SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs). We reviewed 2,452 abstracts and identified 491 manuscripts relevant to 5 areas of focus: 1) antibody kinetics, 2) correlates of protection, 3) immunopathogenesis, 4) antigenic diversity and cross-reactivity, and 5) population seroprevalence. While further studies of SARS-CoV-2 are necessary to determine immune responses, evidence from other coronaviruses can provide clues and guide future research.
We evaluated an essential oil (EO) of Tagetes lucida Cav. and the mixture of its main compounds against multi‐drug resistant bacteria. We found that EO and the partially reconstituted blend of its ...main components have antibacterial activity and inhibit antibiotic resistance (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, vancomycin and imipenem) in strains of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa HIM‐MR01. The T. lucida EO alone or added to the antibiotics showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The EO main bioactive compounds were methyl eugenol (relative abundance in EO: 46·15%), estragole (32·93%), linalool (2·48%) and geraniol (0·33%). The mixture (PREO) of those compounds at those proportions inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa in 45% at 683·62 µg ml−1 and that of S. aureus in 51·7% at 39·04 µg ml−1. The PREO had higher antibacterial and modulatory activities than the original EO. In conclusion, we overcame the unpredictability of EO activity (due to their natural variability) by determining which EO components inhibited bacteria and then producing a PREO to generate a reproducible mixture with predictable antibacterial and modulation of resistance activities. Thus, the PREO, and its components, show potential as alternatives to manage multidrug‐resistant pathogens.
Significance and Impact of the Study: To contribute to fighting antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics, we evaluated an essential oil (EO) of Tagetes lucida and the mixture of its main compounds (PREO) against multi‐drug resistant bacteria. The EO and the PREO have antibacterial activity and modulate antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Also, we overcame the natural unpredictability of the EOs activity by determining which EO components inhibited bacteria and then producing a consistent PREO with predictable antibacterial and modulatory antibiotic resistance activity. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this procedure has generated a reconstituted blend with predictable effects from EOs.
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