Parentally deprived juvenile Owl monkeys suffer from long‐term high infection rates but not from altered hair cortisol concentrations nor from stereotypic behaviours

Author(s):  
Mahdiyah Osman ◽  
Aylin Olkun ◽  
Angela M. Maldonado ◽  
Jordi Lopez‐Tremoleda ◽  
Nofre Sanchez‐Perea ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arunmozhiarasi Armugam ◽  
Siew Ping Teong ◽  
Diane S. W. Lim ◽  
Shook Pui Chan ◽  
Guangshun Yi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In addition to the widespread use of antibiotics in healthcare settings, the current COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Nosocomial infections among hospitalized patients is a leading site for such resistant microbial colonization due to prolonged use of invasive devices and antibiotics in therapies. Invasive medical devices, especially catheters, are prone to infections that could accelerate the development of resistant microbes. Often, catheters - particularly urinary catheters - are prone to high infection rates. Antibiotic-coated catheters can reduce infection rates and although commercially available, are limited in efficacy and choices. Methods Herein, a novel and facile method to fabricate PMDS-based biomaterial for the development of antimicrobial eluting catheters is presented. Silicone based organic polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used to prepare a biomaterial containing novel polymeric imidazolium antimicrobial compound. Results It was found that the PDMS-based biomaterials could eradicate microbial colonization even after 60 days in culture with continuous microbial challenge, be recycled over multiple uses, stored at room temperature for long-term usage and importantly is biocompatible. Conclusion The PDMS-based biomaterial displayed biocidal functionality on microbes of clinical origin, which form major threats in hospital acquired infections. Graphical Abstract



Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Marina E. O. Rangel ◽  
Luana P. R. Oliveira ◽  
Aline D. Cabral ◽  
Katharyna C. Gois ◽  
Marcos V. M. Lima ◽  
...  

In 2018–2019, we conducted mosquito collections in a municipal vehicle impound yard, which is 10 km from the Serra do Mar Environmental Protection Area in Santo André, SP, Brazil. Our aim is to study arboviruses in the impound yard, to understand the transmission of arboviruses in an urban environment in Brazil. We captured the mosquitoes using human-landing catches and processed them for arbovirus detection by conventional and quantitative RT-PCR assays. We captured two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti (73 total specimens; 18 females and 55 males) and Ae. albopictus (34 specimens; 27 females and 7 males). The minimum infection rate for DENV-2 was 11.5 per 1000 (CI95%: 1–33.9). The detection of DENV-2 RNA in an Ae. albopictus female suggests that this virus might occur in high infection rates in the sampled mosquito population and is endemic in the urban areas of Santo André. In addition, Guadeloupe mosquito virus RNA was detected in an Ae. aegypti female. To our knowledge, this was the first detection of the Guadeloupe mosquito virus in Brazil.



Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Nisrin El Mlili ◽  
Hanan Ahabrach ◽  
Omar Cauli

Cortisol is the end product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and its production is increased mainly in stressful situations or in chronic disorders accompanied by stress enhancement. Altered cortisol concentrations have been reported in a number of neuropsychiatric diseases and sleep disorders. Cortisol concentrations have been measured using several methods, and in several matrixes, such as blood, saliva, and urine. However, lately, hair cortisol, for several reasons, has emerged as a promising biomarker of long-term retrospective HPA activation. Several experimental approaches for cortisol measurement with the corresponding concentration reference ranges and a summary of findings from scientific literature on this field are presented. There is evidence of a close relationship between HPA functional alteration and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. Sleep disorders are the most common manifestation in several neuropsychiatric conditions, and have also been associated to cortisol alterations in both adults and children. Many studies indicate that hair cortisol constitutes a valuable tool for further contributing to existing data on salivary, plasma, or urinary cortisol concentrations in patients with sleep disorders.



2020 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Marie N Teisen ◽  
Stine Vuholm ◽  
Jesper M Rantanen ◽  
Jeppe H Christensen ◽  
Camilla T Damsgaard ◽  
...  

Abstract Long-chain n-3 PUFA (n-3 LCPUFA) have been shown to reduce blood pressure, heart rate and vagal tone, but potential stress-mitigating effects of n-3 LCPUFA are not well investigated. We aim to explore the effects of oily fish consumption on long-term stress and the stress response in schoolchildren. Healthy 8-9-year-old children were randomized to receive ~300 g/week of oily fish or poultry for 12 ± 2 weeks. At baseline and endpoint, we measured erythrocyte n-3 LCPUFA, hair cortisol and the response to a 1-min cold pressor test (CPT) on saliva cortisol, blood pressure, and continuous electrocardiogram recordings. Of the 199 randomized children, 197 completed the trial. Hair cortisol did not differ between the groups, but a sex-interaction was indicated (Psex*group = 0.074, difference between means -0.9 (95% CI: -2.9,1.0) ng/g and 0.7 (-0.2,1.6) ng/g in boys and girls, respectively). The children in the fish group tended to be less prone to terminate CPT prematurely (OR 0.20 [0.02,1.04]). The mean heart beat interval during CPT was 18.2 (0.3,36.6) ms longer and the high frequency power increased (159 (29,289) ms2) in the fish versus the poultry group. The cardiac autonomic response in the 10 min following CPT was characterized by a sympathetic peak followed by a parasympathetic peak, which was most pronounced in the fish group. This exploratory study does not support a strong effect of oily fish consumption on stress, but indicates that oily fish consumption may increase vagal cardiac tone during the physiological response to CPT. These results warrant further investigation.



2021 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2020-103724
Author(s):  
Yorck Olaf Schumacher ◽  
Montassar Tabben ◽  
Khalid Hassoun ◽  
Asmaa Al Marwani ◽  
Ibrahim Al Hussein ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe risk of viral transmission associated with contact sports such as football (soccer) during the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown. The aim of this study was to describe the infective and immune status of professional football players, team staff and league officials over a truncated football season resumed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in a country with high infection rates and to investigate the clinical symptoms related to COVID-19 infection in professional football players.MethodsProspective cohort study of 1337 football players, staff and officials during a truncated football season (9 weeks) with a tailored infection control programme based on preventive measures and regular SARS-CoV-2 PCR swab testing (every 3–5 days) combined with serology testing for immunity (every 4 weeks). Clinical symptoms in positive participants were recorded using a 26-item, Likert-Scale-based scoring system.ResultsDuring the study period, 85 subjects returned positive (cycle threshold (cT) ≤30) or reactive (30<cT<40) PCR tests, of which 36 were players. The infection rate was consistent with that of the general population during the same time period. More than half of infected subjects were asymptomatic, and the remaining had only mild symptoms with no one requiring hospitalisation. Symptom severity was associated with lower cT values. Social contacts and family were the most common sources of infection, and no infection could be traced to training or matches. Of the 36 infected players, 15 presented positive serology during the study period.ConclusionFootball played outdoors involving close contact between athletes represents a limited risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe illness when preventive measures are in place.



2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Regan J. Hayward ◽  
Michael S. Humphrys ◽  
Wilhelmina M. Huston ◽  
Garry S. A. Myers

AbstractDual RNA-seq experiments examining viral and bacterial pathogens are increasing, but vary considerably in their experimental designs, such as infection rates and RNA depletion methods. Here, we have applied dual RNA-seq to Chlamydia trachomatis infected epithelial cells to examine transcriptomic responses from both organisms. We compared two time points post infection (1 and 24 h), three multiplicity of infection (MOI) ratios (0.1, 1 and 10) and two RNA depletion methods (rRNA and polyA). Capture of bacterial-specific RNA were greatest when combining rRNA and polyA depletion, and when using a higher MOI. However, under these conditions, host RNA capture was negatively impacted. Although it is tempting to use high infection rates, the implications on host cell survival, the potential reduced length of infection cycles and real world applicability should be considered. This data highlights the delicate nature of balancing host–pathogen RNA capture and will assist future transcriptomic-based studies to achieve more specific and relevant infection-related biological insights.





2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. cou026-cou026 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cattet ◽  
B. J. Macbeth ◽  
D. M. Janz ◽  
A. Zedrosser ◽  
J. E. Swenson ◽  
...  


2001 ◽  
Vol 88 (7) ◽  
pp. 750-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theofanie Mela ◽  
Brian A McGovern ◽  
Hasan Garan ◽  
Gus J Vlahakes ◽  
David F Torchiana ◽  
...  


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