42,923 research outputs found
Evolution of the G+C content frontier in the rat cytomegalovirus genome
No full textWithin the 230138 bp of the rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV) genome, the G+C content changes abruptly at position 142644, constituting a G+C content frontier. To the left of this point, overall G+C content is 69.2%, and to the right it is only 47.6%. A region of extremely low G+C content (33.8%) is found in the 5 kb immediately to the right of the frontier, in which there are no predicted coding sequences. To the right of position 147501, the G+C content rises and predicted coding sequences reappear. However, these genes are much shorter (average 848bp, 50% G+C) than those in the left two-thirds of the genome (average 1462bp, 70% G+C). Whole genome alignment of several viruses indicates that the initial ultra-low G+C region appeared in the common ancestor of the genera Cytomegalovirus and Muromegalovirus, and that the lowering of G+C in the right third has been a subsequent process in the lineage leading to RCMV. The left two-thirds of RCMV has stop codon occurrences at 67.5% of their expected level, based on a modified Markov chain model of stop codon distribution, and the corresponding figure for the right third is 78%. Therefore, despite heavy mutation pressure, selective constraint has operated in the right third of the RCMV genome to maintain a degree of gene length unusual for such low G+C sequences
Myocardial revascularization with multiple arterial grafts: comparison between the radial artery and the right internal thoracic artery
No full textBackground. Bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting is significantly underused, whereas the radial artery is being used with increasing frequency. We have retrospectively analyzed perioperative and short-term outcomes of patients receiving a radial artery versus those receiving a right ITA as a second arterial graft.
Methods. Between February 1999 and May 2000, 250 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using the radial artery (156 patients) or the right ITA (94 patients) in combination with the left ITA and, when required, the saphenous vein.
Results. There was a higher prevalence of risk factors in the radial artery group. More coronary artery bypass graftings (p < 0.001) were performed with the radial artery. Operative mortality was not different (p = not significant). In the right ITA group there was more bleeding (p < 0.001) and a longer hospital stay (p < 0.001). Mean follow-up was 8.1 ± 3.9 months. The probability of survival was similar (p = not significant).
Conclusions. The radial artery can extend the benefits of multiple arterial grafting to those patients who are usually excluded from bilateral ITA harvesting because of multiple risk factors. Perioperative and short-term results are good
Granulicatella spp., a Causative Agent of Infective Endocarditis in Children
No full textGranulicatella spp. are non-motile, non-sporulating, facultatively anaerobic Gram-positive cocci. Throughout the literature, these organisms have been referred to by several names, such as “nutritionally deficient streptococci”, “vitamin-B dependent streptococci” and “pyridoxal-dependent streptococci”, because of their fastidious nutritional requirements, which can often make culture isolation challenging. Known to be a member of the normal microbiota of the human oral cavity and urogenital and intestinal tracts, similar to other streptococci, Granulicatella spp. can cause bacteremia, sepsis and infective endocarditis. Considering the difficulty in growing this organism on culture medium, the fact that it is now included among the bacteria known to be responsible for culture-negative infective endocarditis suggests that its pathogenic role could be highly underestimated. Moreover, being considered such a rare causative agent, it is not a target of standard antibiotic empiric treatment. We present a rare case of G. elegans endocarditis in a young child and review the medical literature on Granulicatella endocarditis in the pediatric population, with the aim of sharing knowledge about this microorganism, which can be challenging for a clinician who is not familiar with it
Metallo-β-lactamase producers in environmental microbiota: New molecular class B enzyme in Janthinobacterium lividum
No full textEleven environmental samples from different sources were screened for the presence of metallo-beta-lactamase-producing bacteria by using a selective enrichment medium containing a carbapenem antibiotic and subsequently testing each isolate for production of EDTA-inhibitable carbapenemase activity. A total of 15 metallo-beta-lactamase-producing isolates, including 10 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates, 3 Chryseobacterium spp., one Aeromonas hydrophila isolate, and one Janthinobacterium lividum isolate (a species in which production of metallo-beta-lactamase activity was not previously reported), were obtained from 8 samples. In the J. lividum isolate, named JAC1, production of metallo-beta-lactamase activity was elicited upon exposure to beta-lactams. Screening of a JAC1 genomic library for clones showing a reduced imipenem susceptibility led to the isolation of a metallo-beta-lactamase determinant encoding a new member (named THIN-B) of the highly divergent subclass B3 lineage of metallo-beta-lactamases. THIN-B is most closely related (35.6% identical residues) to the L1 enzyme of S. maltophilia and more distantly related to the FEZ-1 enzyme of Legionella gormanii (27.8% identity) and to the GOB-1 enzyme of Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (24.2% identity). Sequences related to bla(THIN-B), and inducible production of metallo-beta-lactamase activity, were also detected in the J. lividum type strain DSM1522. Expression of the bla(THIN-B) gene in Escherichia coli resulted in decreased susceptibility to several beta-lactams, including penicillins, cephalosporins (including cephamycins and oxyimino cephalosporins), and carbapenems, revealing a broad substrate specificity of the enzyme. The results of this study indicated that metallo-beta-lactamase-producing bacteria are widespread in the environment and identified a new molecular class B enzyme in the environmental species J. lividum
Fever with spontaneous gingival bleeding: A diagnostic challenge
No full textA previously healthy 4-year-old girl was admitted to our institution
with fever and painless spontaneous gingival bleeding, persisting over a
week, without evident lesions or trauma. She was born in Italy and had
always lived in Palermo. She had never travelled internationally. Lab oratory testing showed a negative swab test for Sars-CoV2 and a tri linear pancytopenia with neutropenia (0.6 × 103/mm3), lymphopenia
(1.17 × 103/mm3), thrombocytopenia (115 × 103/mm3) and anemia
(Hb 7.1 g/dL, RBC 3.48 × 103/mm3, Hct 21.2%, RDW-CV 23.4%, RDW SD 51,6 fL). Other laboratory findings showed hyponatremia (130
mmol/dL), hypocalcemia (8.7 mmol/dL), hypoalbuminemia (3.5 g/dL),
increase of LDH (267 IU/L), C-reactive protein (1.64 mg/dL) and alka line phosphatase levels (190 IU/L). On physical examination she
appeared in pain, pale, with hyperemic pharynx without plaque or pu rulent secretion and hypertrophic bleeding gingiva (see Fig. 1). There
was notable cervical lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly (1 cm below the
costal margin), and splenomegaly (3 cm below the costal margin). An
abdominal ultrasound showed an enlarged spleen (15.6 × 6.6 cm) and
ascites.
Additional history revealed the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis,
treated with six doses of Amphotericin B liposomal (administered for
first 5 days plus one dose on the 10th day) seven months earlier. A
subsequent leishmania polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay on blood
and gingival brush confirmed the diagnosis of a leishmaniasis relapse. A
comprehensive immunological evaluation including an HIV test
excluded any primary or acquired immunodeficiency disease. Treatment
with amphotericin B was administered over 10 days, leading to a full
recovery. Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum is
endemic in the Mediterranean region. Mucocutaneus lesions are
extremely rare with this species and usually affect immunosuppressed
patients. In children leishmaniasis relapse with atypical mucosal
involvement represent a rarity. Clinical follow up and periodic PCR tests
(performed at 3-6-9-12 months after treatment) should be considered for
early recognition of a relapse
Erratum to: Effect of moderate red wine intake on cardiac prognosis after recent acute myocardial infarction of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Diabetic Medicine, (2006), 23, 9, (974-981), 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2006.01886.x)
No full textIn an article by Marfella et al, the author name C. Saron is incorrect and should be listed as C. Sardu. Therefore the correct author list is: R. Marfella, F. Cacciapuoti, M. Siniscalchi, F. C. Sasso, F. Marchese, F. Cinone, E. Musacchio, M. A. Marfella, L. Ruggiero, G. Chiorazzo, D. Liberti, G. Chiorazzo, G. F. Nicoletti, C. Sardu, F. D'Andrea, C. Ammendola, M. Verza and L. Coppola.In an article by Marfella et al, the author name C. Saron is incorrect and should be listed as C. Sardu. Therefore the correct author list is: R. Marfella, F. Cacciapuoti, M. Siniscalchi, F. C. Sasso, F. Marchese, F. Cinone, E. Musacchio, M. A. Marfella, L. Ruggiero, G. Chiorazzo, D. Liberti, G. Chiorazzo, G. F. Nicoletti, C. Sardu, F. D'Andrea, C. Ammendola, M. Verza and L. Coppola
“OXXEL (oxaliplatin plus Xeloda) vs OXAFAFU (oxaliplatin plus folinic acid-modulated 5-fluorouracil i.v. bolus) every 2 weeks in metastatic colorectal carcinoma (MCC): preliminary safety and activity analysis of a Southern Italy Cooperative Oncology Group (SICOG) phase III trial”
No full textEfficacy and tolerability of biweekly bevacizumab, irinotecan, folinic acid and fluorouracil intravenous bolus (BIFF Regimen) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: the southern Italy cooperative oncology group experience
No full textMeasurement of the ratio of prompt χ c to J / ψ production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV
No full textThe prompt production of charmonium χ c and J / ψ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The χ c and J / ψ mesons are identified through their decays χ c → J / ψ γ and J / ψ → μ + μ - using 36 pb - 1 of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for χ c and J / ψ, σ (χ c → J / ψ γ) / σ (J / ψ), is determined as a function of the J / ψ transverse momentum in the range 2 < p T J / ψ < 15 GeV / c. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low p T J / ψ region
“Bevacizumab (Bev) with irinotecan (IRI), folinic acid (FA), and 5-fluorouracil (FU) i.v. every 2 weeks (BIFF regimen) as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) patients (pts): an observational study of the Southern Italy Cooperative Oncology Group (SICOG)”
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