1,721,131 research outputs found
Effect of different fatty acids on Neisseria gonorrhoeae viability
No full text: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) is the agent of one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide. The possible development of 'untreatable' infections points out the need for antibiotic-sparing methods to reduce the number of gonococcal infections. In this context, fatty acids are interesting candidates as next-generation antibacterial agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the bactericidal effects of selected fatty acids on GC viability, as well as to observe their biological effects by means of transmission electron microscopy. The cytotoxicity of these compounds on human cervical cells (HeLa), chosen as a model of genital mucosa, was assessed as well. Lauric, myristic, and palmitic acid displayed high killing activity against GC in concentrations ranging between 100 μM and 25 μM, whereas the antimicrobial effect of oleic and butyric acids was present in concentrations between 1 mM and 0.25 mM. Modifications induced by fatty acids on the GC cell included the disorganization of the cytoplasmic structure, the distortion of pili/fimbriae, and the separation of the inner and outer membrane layers. For concentrations active against GC, fatty acids were not toxic for cervical cells. Our data can help in promoting innovative antibiotic-free compounds for the treatment of GC infections
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
CANDIDIASIS, CHLAMYDIA INFECTION, BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS: A BIOINFORMATICS APPROACH FOR PATHOLOGICAL VAGINAL MICROBIOME CHARACTERIZATION
No full textSexually transmitted rectal infections in a cohort of 'men having sex with men'
No full textPURPOSE:
We assessed the prevalence and predictors of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseriagonorrhoeae and Mycoplasmagenitalium rectal infections in a population of 'men having sex with men' (MSM).
METHODOLOGY:
From January to November 2017, 165 MSM attending a STI outpatients clinic in Bologna (Italy) and reporting unsafe anal intercourses were enrolled. An ano-rectal swab was collected from each patient: chlamydial and gonococcal infections were diagnosed by a commercial NAAT, whereas an in-house quantitative PCR was used for M. genitalium detection. In addition, 131 urine samples and 84 pharyngeal swabs underwent testing for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae. A molecular C. trachomatis typing, a serological screening for anti-Chlamydia IgG and IgA, as well as the assessment of HIV, HCV and syphilis infections, were performed. RESULTS/KEY FINDINGS. The prevalence of C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae and M. genitalium rectal infections was 27.2, 25.4 and 4.8 %, respectively. Globally, 63.1 % of cases were asymptomatic and up to 80 % of chlamydial and gonococcal infections would have been missed if the rectal site had not been tested. All the patients with rectal M. genitalium carriage were asymptomatic and characterized by low bacterial loads (30, HIV-positivity and elevated levels of anti-Chlamydia antibodies were the most significant predictors of LGV.
CONCLUSIONS:
Sexually transmitted rectal infections are frequent and often asymptomatic among MSM. LGV prevalence is high in our country and there is increasing evidence of symptomless cases
Infezioni genitali in una popolazione selezionata di donne in età fertile
No full textINTRODUZIONE. Le infezioni del tratto genitale femminile rappresentano una condizione frequente con un importante impatto economico e sociale. Per alcune di queste, come la vaginosi batterica (BV), specifiche alterazioni nella composizione del microbiota vaginale sono alla base dell’eziopatogenesi. Per altre, invece, come la candidosi e le infezioni da Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) e Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), il ruolo che il microbiota svolge nella protezione e nell’evoluzione di tali patologie è ancora da chiarire. Scopo preliminare del presente lavoro è stato quello di valutare la prevalenza delle più significative infezioni genitali in una popolazione selezionata di donne con l’obiettivo finale di studiare la composizione del microbiota vaginale associata ai vari quadri patologici.
MATERIALI E METODI. Da dicembre 2015 a luglio 2016, sono state arruolate nello studio donne in età fertile afferenti all’ambulatorio per le malattie a trasmissione sessuale del Policlinico Sant’Orsola di Bologna. Lo studio ha ricevuto approvazione da parte del Comitato Etico. Criteri di esclusione comprendevano l’etnia non caucasica, un BMI>30, la recente assunzione di antibiotici o l’impiego di ovuli vaginali, la gravidanza, l’uso di farmaci anti-concezionali e la presenza di patologie croniche. Per ogni paziente sono stati raccolti i dati riguardanti l’anamnesi e la presenza di sintomi a livello genitale. Sono stati raccolti inoltre un campione di urina e un tampone vaginale per la diagnosi molecolare di infezioni da CT e GC (Versant CT/GC DNA 1.0; Siemens). Infine, ogni paziente ha eseguito una visita e la raccolta di secrezioni vaginali mediante tampone per la diagnosi di vaginosi batterica (criteri di Amsel), candidosi (positività alla microscopia e/o alla coltura) e vaginite aerobia (aumento della flora batterica aerobia di origine intestinale).
RISULTATI. Un totale di 202 donne, con una età media di 28 anni (range 18-47), sono state arruolate durante il periodo in esame. Di queste 56 (27,7%) hanno ricevuto una diagnosi di candidosi, 30 (14,8%) di infezione da clamidia, 22 (10,9%) di vaginosi batterica, 9 (4,5%) di vaginite aerobia e 3 (1,6%) di gonorrea. Le restanti pazienti presentavano quadri di infezioni miste (6,4%) o sono risultate negative a tutte le indagini (34,1%). Da segnalare che il 50% delle pazienti con infezione da CT era completamente asintomatica. I casi di candidosi erano sostenuti prevalentemente da C. albicans e i sintomi più spesso riportati erano prurito e perdite vaginali. Le pazienti con diagnosi di BV lamentavano più spesso secrezioni con cattivo odore.
CONCLUSIONI.Dal presente studio emerge come candidosi e clamidia rappresentino le infezioni genitale femminili più frequenti in età fertile. La natura asintomatica delle infezioni da CT suggerisce l’implementazione di programmi di screening nel nostro Paese. Lo studio del microbiota vaginale di queste pazienti permetterà di comprendere quali alterazioni possono favorire queste infezioni o esserne la conseguenza
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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