bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular Epidemiology of Acquired-Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Bacteria in Poland
Authors: Fiett Janusz , Baraniak Anna , Mrówka Agnieszka , Fleischer Małgorzata , Drulis-Kawa Zuzanna , Naumiuk Łukasz , Samet Alfred , Hryniewicz Waleria , Gniadkowski Marek 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

We have analyzed 40 metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(
n
= 38),
Pseudomonas putida
(
n
= 1), and
Acinetobacter
genospecies 3 (
n
= 1) from 17 hospitals in 12 cities in Poland that were identified in 2000 to 2004. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis typing classified the
P. aeruginosa
isolates into eight types, with two types differentiated further into subtypes. Each of the types was specific either to a given center or to several hospitals of the same or neighboring geographic area. Almost all of the organisms produced β-lactamase VIM-2; the only exceptions were several
P. aeruginosa
isolates from two centers which expressed VIM-4. The
bla
VIM
genes resided exclusively within class 1 integrons, and these were located in either chromosomal or plasmid DNA. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism study of the variable regions of the integrons, followed by DNA sequencing, revealed the presence of eight different, mostly novel gene cassette arrays, six of which contained
bla
VIM-2
and two of which contained
bla
VIM-4
. The occurrence of the integron variants correlated well with the geographic distribution of the MBL-producing organisms, and this suggested that their emergence in particular parts of the country had been likely due to a number of independent events. The following regional dissemination of MBL producers could be attributed to various phenomena, including their clonal spread, horizontal transmission of resistance determinants, or both. All of the data collected in this study revealed that even at this early stage of detection, the epidemiological situation concerning MBL producers in Poland has already been complex and very dynamic.
Head-to-Head Comparison of the Activities of Currently Available Antifungal Agents against 3,378 Spanish Clinical Isolates of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi
Authors: Cuenca-Estrella Manuel , Gomez-Lopez Alicia , Mellado Emilia , Buitrago Maria J. , Monzon Araceli , Rodriguez-Tudela Juan Luis 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

We have compared the activities of posaconazole and other currently available antifungal agents against a collection of 3,378 clinical isolates of yeasts and filamentous fungi. A total of 1,997 clinical isolates of
Candida
spp., 359 of other yeast species, 697 strains of
Aspergillus
spp., and 325 nondermatophyte non-
Aspergillus
spp. were included. The average geometric means of the MICs of agents that were tested against
Candida
spp. were 0.23 μg/ml for amphotericin B, 0.29 μg/ml for flucytosine, 0.97 μg/ml for fluconazole, 0.07 μg/ml for itraconazole, 0.04 μg/ml for voriconazole, 0.15 μg/ml for caspofungin, and 0.03 μg/ml for posaconazole. Voriconazole and posaconazole were active in vitro against the majority of isolates, with resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole, and against
Cryptococcus neoformans
and other
Basidiomycota
yeasts. Posaconazole was the most active of antifungal agents tested against
Aspergillus
spp., with an average geometric mean of 0.10 μg/ml. It was active against
Paecilomyces
spp.,
Penicillium
spp.,
Scedosporium apiospermum
, and some black fungi, such as
Alternaria
spp. Multiresistant filamentous fungi, such as
Scedosporium prolificans
,
Scopulariopsis brevicaulis
, and
Fusarium solani
, were also resistant to voriconazole, caspofungin, and posaconazole. Amphotericin B and posaconazole were found to be active against most of the
Mucorales
strains tested. Posaconazole and currently available antifungal agents exhibit a potent activity in vitro against the majority of pathogenic fungal species.
Fluoroquinolone Resistance in InvasiveStreptococcus pyogenesIsolates Due to Spontaneous Mutation and Horizontal Gene Transfer
Authors: Pletz M. W. R. , McGee L. , Van Beneden C. A. , Petit S. , Bardsley M. , Barlow M. , Klugman K. P. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTFluoroquinolone resistance inStreptococcus pyogeneshas been described only anecdotally. In this study we describe two invasive ciprofloxacin-resistantS. pyogenesisolates (ciprofloxacin MICs, 8 mg/liter), one of which shows evidence of interspecies recombination. The quinolone resistance-determining regions ofgyrAandparCwere sequenced. In both isolates, there was no evidence for an efflux pump and no mutation ingyrA. Both isolates had an S79F mutation inparCthat is known to confer fluoroquinolone resistance. In addition, a D91N mutation inparC, which is not related to fluoroquinolone resistance but is a feature of theparCsequence ofStreptococcus dysgalactiae, was found in one isolate. TheparCnucleotide sequence of that isolate showed greater diversity than that ofS. pyogenes. A GenBank search and phylogenetic analysis suggest that this isolate acquired resistance by horizontal gene transfer fromS. dysgalactiae. Statistical testing for recombination confirmed interspecies recombination of a 90-bp sequence containing the S79F mutation fromS. dysgalactiae. For the other isolate, we could confirm that it acquired resistance by spontaneous mutation by identifying the susceptible ancestor in an outbreak setting.
Involvement of Reactive Oxygen Species in the Action of Ciprofloxacin againstEscherichia coli
Authors: Goswami M. , Mangoli S. H. , Jawali N. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTCiprofloxacin is an important and commonly used member of the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics. Ciprofloxacin inhibits DNA topoisomerase II and DNA topoisomerase IV activities, eventually leading to bacterial cell death. In addition, an increase of reactive oxygen species in the bacterial cells in response to ciprofloxacin has been shown. We investigated the role of reactive oxygen species in the antibacterial action of ciprofloxacin by studying the effects of different antioxidant compounds on ciprofloxacin susceptibility ofEscherichia coli. Among the antioxidants checked, glutathione and ascorbic acid provided substantial protection against ciprofloxacin. The involvement of superoxide anion (O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the antibacterial action of ciprofloxacin was analyzed using superoxide dismutase, catalase, and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase knockout strains ofE. coli. The effects of multicopysodgenes on ciprofloxacin susceptibility ofE. coliwere also analyzed. On the basis of our results, we conclude that O2−and H2O2may be involved in antibacterial action of ciprofloxacin. Our findings that glutathione gave protection against other fluoroquinolones and not against nonfluoroquinolone antibiotics imply that reactive oxygen species may have a similar role in the antibacterial action of all these fluoroquinolones and that glutathione-mediated protection is not a general phenomenon but specific to fluoroquinolones. These observations are of significance, as fluoroquinolones are important antibiotics with immense therapeutic value, and the effectiveness of treatment by these drugs may be affected by dietary intake and cellular levels of these antioxidants.
In Vitro Characterization of the Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Activity and Cross-Resistance Profile of 2′,3′-Dideoxy-3′-Fluoroguanosine
Authors: Jacquard A.-C. , Brunelle M.-N. , Pichoud C. , Durantel D. , Carrouée-Durantel S. , Trepo C. , Zoulim F. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT
The fluorinated guanosine analog 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-fluoroguanosine (FLG) was shown to inhibit wild-type (wt) hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in a human hepatoma cell line permanently expressing HBV. Experiments performed in the duck model of HBV infection also showed its in vivo antiviral activity. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of inhibition of FLG on HBV replication and its profile of antiviral activity against different HBV or duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) drug-resistant mutants. We found that FLG-triphosphate inhibits weakly the priming of the reverse transcription compared to adefovir-diphosphate in a cell-free system assay allowing the expression of an enzymatically active DHBV reverse transcriptase. It inhibits more potently wt DHBV minus-strand DNA synthesis compared to lamivudine-triphosphate and shows a similar activity compared to adefovir-diphosphate. FLG-triphosphate was most likely a competitive inhibitor of dGTP incorporation and a DNA chain terminator. In Huh7 cells transiently transfected with different HBV constructs, FLG inhibited similarly the replication of wt, lamivudine-resistant, adefovir-resistant, and lamivudine-plus-adefovir-resistant HBV mutants. These results were consistent with those obtained in the DHBV polymerase assay using the same drug-resistant polymerase mutants. In conclusion, our data provide new insights in the mechanism of action of FLG-triphosphate on HBV replication and demonstrate its inhibitory activity on drug-resistant mutant reverse transcriptases in vitro. Furthermore, our results provide the rationale for further clinical evaluation of FLG in the treatment of drug-resistant virus infection and in the setting of combination therapy to prevent or delay drug resistance.
Efficacy and Potential for Resistance Selection of Antipseudomonal Treatments in a Mouse Model of Lung Infection by HypermutablePseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Maciá M. D. , Borrell N. , Segura M. , Gómez C. , Pérez J. L. , Oliver A. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTHypermutablePseudomonas aeruginosastrains are found with high frequency in the lungs of patients with chronic infections and are associated with high antibiotic resistance rates. The in vivo consequences of hypermutation for treatment in a mouse model of lung infection using strain PAO1 and its hypermutable derivative PAOΔmutSare investigated. Groups of 30 mice were treated for 3 days with humanized regimens of ciprofloxacin (CIP), tobramycin (TOB), CIP plus TOB, or placebo, and mortality, total lung bacterial load, and 4×- and 16×-MIC mutants were recorded. The rates of mutation and the initial in vivo frequencies of mutants (at the onset of treatment) were also estimated and the in vitro- and in vivo-selected mutants characterized. Since both strains had identical MICs, the same pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters were obtained: area under the 24-h concentration-time curve (fAUC)/MIC = 385 for CIP and maximum concentration of drug in serum (fCmax)/MIC = 19 for TOB. Despite adequate PK/PD parameters, persistence of high bacterial numbers and amplification (50,000-fold) of resistant mutants (MexCD-OprJ hyperexpression) were documented with CIP treatment for PAOΔmutS, in contrast to complete resistance suppression for PAO1 (P< 0.01), showing that conventional PK/PD parameters may not be applicable to infections by hypermutable strains. On the other hand, the efficacy of TOB monotherapy in terms of mortality reduction and bacterial load was very low regardless of the strain but not due to resistance development, since mutants were not selected for PAO1 and were only modestly amplified for PAOΔmutS. Finally, the CIP-plus-TOB combination was synergistic, further reducing mortality and bacterial load and completely preventing resistance even for PAOΔmutS(P< 0.01 compared to monotherapy), showing that it is possible to suppress resistance selection in infections by hypermutableP. aeruginosausing appropriate combined regimens.
Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Relationships Describing the Efficacy of Oritavancin in Patients with
Staphylococcus aureus
Bacteremia
Authors: Bhavnani Sujata M. , Passarell Julie A. , Owen Joel S. , Loutit Jeffrey S. , Porter Steven B. , Ambrose Paul G. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Bloodstream infections due to antimicrobial-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
occur with increasing frequency and represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality. To date, the evaluation of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships for efficacy among patients with bacteremia has been limited. The objectives of these analyses were to evaluate relationships between microbiological and clinical responses for patients with
S. aureus
bacteremia and exposures for oritavancin, a novel bactericidal glycopeptide in development. Bayesian oritavancin exposure predictions, following treatment with 5, 6.5, 8, or 10 mg/kg of body weight/day, were derived using a validated population pharmacokinetic model for 55 patients with
S. aureus
bacteremia. Using classification and regression tree analysis, a breakpoint of the percentage of the dosing interval duration for which free-drug concentrations were above the MIC (free-drug % time > MIC) of 22% was identified for microbiological response; the probabilities of success greater than or equal to and less than this value were 93% and 76%, respectively. Using logistic regression, a relationship was found between microbiological response and free-drug % time > MIC (odds ratio = 4.42,
P
= 0.09, and odds ratio = 8.84,
P
= 0.05, when one patient, a medical outlier, was excluded). A similar relationship was found for clinical response. These results will be valuable in supporting dose selection of oritavancin for patients with
S. aureus
bacteremia.
Uptake of Cardiovascular Drugs Into the Human Heart
Authors: Grube Markus , Meyer zu Schwabedissen Henriette E.U. , Präger; Damaris , Haney Jeanette , Möritz Klaus-Uwe , Meissner Konrad , Rosskopf Dieter , Eckel Lothar , Böhm Michael , Jedlitschky Gabriele , Kroemer Heyo K. 
Published: February 2006

Background—To date, the uptake of drugs into the human heart by transport proteins is poorly understood. A candidate protein is the organic cation transporter novel type 2 (OCTN2) (SLC22A5), physiologically acting as a sodium-dependent transport protein for carnitine. We investigated expression and localization of OCTN2 in the human heart, uptake of drugs by OCTN2, and functional coupling of OCTN2 with the eliminating ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein).Methods and Results—Messenger RNA levels of OCTN2 and ABCB1 were analyzed in heart samples by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. OCTN2 was expressed in all auricular samples that showed a pronounced interindividual variability (35 to 1352 copies per 20 ng of RNA). Although a single-nucleotide polymorphism in OCTN2 (G/C at position −207 of the promoter) had no influence on expression, administration of β-blockers resulted in significantly increased expression. Localization of OCTN2 by in situ hybridization, laser microdissection, and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed expression of OCTN2 mainly in endothelial cells. For functional studies, OCTN2 was expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCKII) cells. Using this system, verapamil, spironolactone, and mildronate were characterized both as inhibitors (EC50=25, 26, and 21 μmol/L, respectively) and as substrates. Like OCTN2, ABCB1 was expressed preferentially in endothelial cells. A significant correlation of OCTN2 and ABCB1 expression in the human heart was observed, which suggests functional coupling. Therefore, the interaction of OCTN2 with ABCB1 was tested with double transfectants. This approach resulted in a significantly higher transcellular transport of verapamil, a substrate for both OCTN2 and ABCB1.Conclusions—OCTN2 is expressed in the human heart and can be modulated by drug administration. Moreover, OCTN2 can contribute to the cardiac uptake of cardiovascular drugs.
Foaming Polystyrene with a Mixture of CO2 and Ethanol
Authors: Gendron Richard , Champagne Michel F. , Delaviz Yadi , Polasky Mark E. 
Published: February 2006

Use of mixtures of blowing agents in thermoplastic foam extrusion has been an industrial practice for a long time. However, it has gained renewed interest in the past few years due to the introduction of difficult-to-process alternative gases, targeted as potential replacement for the banned ozone-depleting blowing agents. Reasons for blending physical foaming agents (PFA) are numerous. The incentives may be economical, environmental, or technical. With respect to that latter factor, blending suitable PFAs is often regarded as providing a better control of processing conditions. For example, a specific PFA could be selected for its inflation performance and blended with other co-blowing agents chosen for their stabilizing role. Although a considerable amount of work has been done in that area, very little information has been disclosed in open literature. Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been reported as an interesting candidate for low-density polystyrene (PS) foaming, although the required concentrations are associated with high processing pressures due to the low solubility of the gas. Thus, stable processing conditions are difficult to achieve. This work studies the effect of blending CO2 with ethanol (EtOH) as a co-blowing agent for PS foaming. Extrusion foaming performance of this mixture is discussed, with respect to its solubility (i.e., degassing conditions) and rheological behavior. The function of each blowing agent during the process is analyzed with respect to the plasticization, nucleation, expansion, and stabilization phases. Attention is also paid to the interaction involving the two PFA components.
Salvation Goods and Religious Markets: Integrating Rational Choice and Weberian Perspectives
Authors: Stolz Jörg 
Published: February 2006

English In spite of the tremendous success of the concept of “religious markets”, it has remained unclear just what “religious goods” are and if, and under what conditions, a “religious market” actually exists in a given society. The author integrates different concepts from rational choice theorists and Max Weber into a new typology of individual and social religious goods. The typology shows that markets are only one possibility among others of producing, exchanging and allocating religious goods. It also helps an understanding of the kind of conditions in which markets may or may not be important theoretical tools. French En dépit du succès fulgurant que connaît le concept de "marché religieux'', la signification de ce que l'on entend par "bien religieux'' n'en est pas clarifiée pour autant, de même que les conditions qui permettraient de parler de "marché religieux'' dans une société donnée. L'auteur revisite différents concepts des théoriciens du choix rationnel ainsi que de Max Weber et les intègre dans une nouvelle typologie des biens religieux individuels et sociaux. Celle-ci montre que les marchés n'offrent qu'une manière parmi d'autres de produire, d'échanger et de distribuer les biens religieux. Elle permet également de mieux comprendre à quelles conditions le marché peut être considéré comme un outil théorique pertinent.
Les limites du “marché religieux”
Authors: Bruce Steve 
Published: February 2006

English The author considers in some detail two particular facets of the rational choice approach to religion associated with Rodney Stark and his followers and then discusses the extent to which the general principles of economic rationality can be applied to religion. He argues that an interest in “religious markets” is largely pointless because the characteristics necessary for rational choice (in the economistic sense) are absent when the goods in question are religious. French L'auteur se propose d'analyser de façon assez détaillée deux facettes particuliè res de l'approche de la religion selon la théorie du choix rationnel telle qu'elle est traitée par Rodney Stark et ses émules, et de discuter ensuite dans quelle mesure les principes généraux de la rationalité économique peuvent s'appliquer à la religion. Il soutient qu'un intérêt pour les "marches de la religion'' est largement dépourvu de sens dans la mesure où les caractéristiques nécessaires à la rationalité des choix (au sens économiciste du terme) sont absentes lorsque les biens en question sont de l'ordre du religieux.
La nouvelle économie religieuse de l’Amérique latine
Authors: Bastian Jean-Pierre 
Published: February 2006

English Latin America is experiencing rapid religious change with growing confessional and religious diversity. Economic rationality can explain business-oriented religious strategies. They stimulate the elaboration, diffusion and consumption of new symbolic products in a context of general competition among religious actors. The result has been the decline in the Catholic monopoly and the change of religious practices and symbols. This leads us to question the religious pluralization through the new “religious market” theories. Do they offer an adequate model and what are their limits? This important question is quite absent in the sociological literature dealing with the theme of religious change in the region. It is argued that the current process of religious change can be explained by such theoretical approaches which nevertheless have to be completed by Bourdieu’s theory of social fields in order not to fall into an economic reductionism. French L'Amérique latine vit une rapide transformation religieuse caractérisée par la diversification des appartenances confessionnelles et une pluralisation croissante. La rationalité économique informe des stratégies religieuses entrepreneuriales qui stimulent l'élaboration, la diffusion et la consommation de nouveaux produits symboliques dans un régime de concurrence généralisée des agents et des instances religieuses. Il en résulte un déclin du monopole catholique et la transformation des pratiques et des croyances. Ceci amène à interroger la pluralisation religieuse en cours au regard des nouvelles théories du "marché religieux''. Jusqu'à quel point sont-elles porteuses d'un modèle pertinent et quelle est leur limite? Cette question importante est pour l'instant peu présente dans la littérature sociologique traitant du changement religieux dans la région. Les changements en cours peuvent s'expliquer par la théorie économique. Cette approche, nécessaire mais non suffisante, doit cependant s'articuler à la théorie bourdieusienne des champs afin de ne pas en rester à un réductionnisme économique.
Religious Bricolage in a Legal Perspective between Aporia and Inescapability
Authors: Christians Louis-Léon 
Published: February 2006

English The author attempts a short problematization of the perspectives offered by the concept of “bricolage” in the framework of religious research carried out in the juridical field. French L'auteur tente une brève problématisation des perspectives que laisse entrevoir le concept de bricolage dans le cadre de recherches sur le religieux dans le champ juridique.