Abstract Introduction : After the implementation of mitigation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of respiratory viruses, including human coronaviruses (HCoV), experienced a significant decrease. The aim of this study is to characterize the epidemiology and clinical aspects of HCoV infections in ambulatory adults during COVID-19 pandemic times. Methods : descriptive, prospective, longitudinal study performed in a private hospital in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina between November 2020 and October 2022; 458 outpatient adults with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) were studied undergoing clinical and microbiological follow-up. Results : 44 (9.6%) subjects were positive by multiplex PCR for HCoV. 14 of them for 229E (31.8%), 13 for OC43 (29.5%), 11 for HKU-1 (25.1%) and 6 for NL63 (13.6%). A repeated PCR was positive for the same HCoV in 19 (57%) of 33 patients on day 3-5. No hospitalizations or deaths were reported. Discussion : Endemic HCoV caused a significant pro portion of URTI among outpatient adults during COVID- 19-related restrictions times. An alternating pattern of circulation between alfa-HCoV and beta-HCoV was observed.

Abstract Introduction : During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Ar gentina population suffered from significant changes in population mobility due to non-pharmaceutical interventions. The aim of this study was to describe the impact of the mobility restrictions to the rates of positivity and diversity among different respiratory viruses. Methods : Retrospective analytical study per formed at Instituto Médico Platense in La Plata that included 458 patients with nasopharyngeal swab to search for respiratory pathogens by multiplex PCR. Changes in mobility were studied using “Community Mobility Reports”, data set developed by Google and publicly available. Results : Community mobility had significant cor relation with the percentages of viral test positiv ity (p = < 0.01; R2=0.89) and viral diversity (p = 0.04; R2 = 0.78). Discussion : Non-pharmaceutical interventions estab lished to contain SARS-CoV-2 spread had a significant impact in the circulation patterns of other respiratory viruses.

Resumen Introducción : Durante la pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 en Argentina se implementaron intervenciones no farma cológicas que produjeron cambios en la movilidad de la población. El objetivo de este estudio fue relacionar los porcentajes de positividad y la diversidad viral con la movi lidad poblacional durante parte del período de restricciones. Métodos : Estudio retrospectivo analítico realizado en el Instituto Médico Platense durante los años 2020 a 2022 que incluyó 458 pacientes a los que se les tomó un hisopado nasofaríngeo para la búsqueda de patóge nos respiratorios por PCR multiplex. Se analizaron los cambios en la movilidad de la población utilizando los “Informes de Movilidad Local”, herramienta desarrollada por Google, cuyos datos son de público acceso. Resultados : La movilidad poblacional se correlacionó significativamente con el porcentaje de positividad de las muestras (p = <0.01; R2 = 0.89) y la diversidad viral (p = 0.04; R2 = 0.78). Discusión : Las intervenciones no farmacológicas destinadas a limitar la propagación del SARS-CoV-2 tuvieron efecto en la circulación de otros virus respi ratorios, hallándose mayor porcentaje de positividad y diversidad a medida que las mismas disminuyeron su grado de restricción.

Resumen Las infecciones causadas por Staphylococcus aureus sensible a la meticilina (SASM) todavía se asocian con una morbilidad y mortalidad significativas. Se han informado fallas en el tratamiento de cefazolina (CFZ) probablemente relacionadas con efecto inóculo. Nuevos tratamientos son necesarios para estas infecciones y ceftarolina fosamil (CPT) podría ser una opción. Nuestro objetivo fue describir las características clínicas de cinco pacientes con bacteriemia por SASM complicada con falla a CFZ y que fueron exitosamente tratados con CPT. Realizamos una revisión retrospectiva de historias clínicas en un hospital de Buenos Aires, Argentina; en un período de 12 meses, cinco pacientes (24%) de 21 con bacteriemia por SASM experimentaron falla a CFZ y fueron tratados con CPT. La mediana de tiempo de la terapia con CFZ fue de 10 días antes de cambiar a CPT; cuatro pacientes presentaban evidencia de diseminación metastásica y 2 tenían endocarditis. Todos los pacientes experimen taron curación microbiológica y clínica con CPT, que se utilizó como monoterapia en 4 y en combinación con daptomicina en otro. Un paciente interrumpió CPT debido a neutropenia el día 23 de tratamiento. En enfermos con infecciones graves por SASM que fallan en la terapia actual, CPT podría ser una buena opción terapéutica.

Abstract Infections caused by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) are still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment failures of cefazolin (CFZ) have been reported and probably related to the inoculum effect. New treatments for severe MSSA infections are needed and ceftaroline fosamil (CPT) could be an option. Our aim was to describe the clinical characteristics of five patients with com plicated MSSA bacteremia failing CFZ and successfully treated with CPT. We performed a retrospective chart review in a Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina; in a 12-month period, five patients (24%) of 21 with MSSA bacteremia experienced CFZ failure and were salvaged with CPT. The median time of CFZ therapy was 10 days before changing to CPT; four patients had evidence of metastatic spread and 2 had endocarditis. All patients experienced microbiological and clinical cure with CPT, which was used as monotherapy in 4 and in combination with daptomycin in another. One patient discontinued CPT due to neutropenia on day 23 of treatment. In patients with MSSA BSI failing current therapy, CPT could be a good therapeutic option.

Abstract Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections are caused mainly by Gram-positive bacteria which are often treated with intravenous vancomycin, daptomycin, or linezolid, with potential step down to oral linezolid for outpatients. Tedizolid phosphate 200 mg once daily treatment for six days demonstrated non-inferior efficacy, with a favourable safety profile, compared with linezolid 600 mg twice daily treatment for 10 days in the Phase 3 ESTABLISH-1 and -2 trials. The objective of the current post-hoc analysis of the integrated dataset of ESTABLISH-1 and -2 was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tedizolid (N = 182) vs linezolid (N = 171) in patients of Latino origin enrolled into these trials. The baseline demographic characteristics of Latino patients were similar between the two treatment groups. Tedizolid demonstrated comparable efficacy to linezolid at 48–72 h in the intent-to-treat population (tedizolid: 80.2% vs linezolid: 81.9%). Sustained clinical success rates were comparable between tedizolid- and linezolid-treated Latino patients at end-of-therapy (tedizolid: 86.8% vs linezolid: 88.9%). Tedizolid phosphate treatment was well tolerated by Latino patients in the safety population with lower abnormal platelet counts at end-of-therapy (tedizolid: 3.4% vs linezolid: 11.3%, p = 0.0120) and lower incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events (tedizolid: 16.5% vs linezolid: 23.5%). Population pharmacokinetic analysis suggested that estimated tedizolid exposure measures in Latino patients vs non-Latino patients were similar. These findings demonstrate that tedizolid phosphate 200 mg, once daily treatment for six days was efficacious and well tolerated by patients of Latino origin, without warranting dose adjustment.

ABSTRACTA nosocomial polyclonal outbreak associated to bacteremia caused by differentBurkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) species and clones is reported. Molecular characterization identified Burkholderia stabilis, Burkholderia contaminans, and Burkholderia ambifaria among BCC isolates obtained from patients in neonatal and adult intensive care units. BCC was also isolated from an intrinsically contaminated ultrasound gel, which constituted the presumptive BCC source. Prior BCC outbreak related to contaminated ultrasound gels have been described in the setting of transrectal prostate biopsy. Outbreak caused strains and/or clones of BCC have been reported, probably because BCC are commonly found in the natural environment; most BCC species are biofilm producers, and different species may contaminate an environmental source. The finding of multiple species or clones during the analysis of nosocomial BCC cases might not be enough to reject an outbreak from a common source.

We present here three expression plasmids for Trypanosoma cruzi adapted to the Gateway&#174; recombination cloning system. Two of these plasmids were designed to express trypanosomal proteins fused to a double tag for tandem affinity purification (TAPtag). The TAPtag and Gateway&#174; cassette were introduced into an episomal (pTEX) and an integrative (pTREX) plasmid. Both plasmids were assayed by introducing green fluorescent protein (GFP) by recombination and the integrity of the double-tagged protein was determined by western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. The third Gateway adapted vector assayed was the inducible pTcINDEX. When tested with GFP, pTcINDEX-GW showed a good response to tetracycline, being less leaky than its precursor (pTcINDEX).

The κ-carrageenan is an ionic polysaccharide extracted from marine red algae constituted by the copolymeric repetitive units of α-(1-3) D-galactose 4 - sulfate and β-(1-4) 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose. The knowledge of the molecular bases that determine the three-dimensional conformation of this polysaccharide is fundamental to understand the interactions leading to gel formation, as well as the regulation of its industrial properties. As with other biopolymers, even though its primary structure is well-known, the secondary structure is still a matter of debate. This work present and discuss the results of Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations of a decamer of the repeating disaccharide unit constituting the κ-carrageenan. The simulations were run using the GROMACS MD package, with the solute immersed in molecular solvent, either DMSO or water, and using Na+ atoms as counterions. The dynamics of the central glycosidic angles are presented, as well as the pattern of possible intramolecular and solvent mediated H-bonds and some characteristics interatomic distances. These results are in good agreement with the available experimental data, as well as those of previous molecular mechanics and dynamics.

El κ-carragenano es un polisacárido iónico extraído de algas marinas rojas constituido por unidades repetitivas copolimericas de α-(1-3) D-galactosa 4-sulfato y β-(1-4) 3,6-anhydro-D-galactosa. El conocimiento de las bases moleculares que determinan la conformación tridimensional de este polisacárido, es fundamental tanto para comprender las interacciones que llevan a la formación de geles como para regular sus propiedades industriales. Como sucede con tantos biopolímeros, si bien su estructura primaria es conocida, su estructura secundaria no está aún bien determinada, dependiendo la misma de las condiciones físico-químicas de la solución. En este trabajo proponemos estudiar el efecto de las moléculas de solvente sobre la conformación molecular. Para ello se ha realizado un estudio mediante dinámica molecular (MD) de un decámero de las unidades disacarídicas que forman el κ-carragenano, con el soluto sumergido en dos solventes moleculares explícitos de propiedades muy distintas: DMSO y agua. Las simulaciones fueron realizadas utilizando el paquete computacional GROMACS MD, utilizando en ambos cálculos átomos de Na+ como contraiones. Se han calculado las trayectorias de los ángulos diedros glicosídicos, los enlaces hidrógenos y las distancias interatómicas más relevantes a la conformación polimérica, mostrándose un buen acuerdo con los resultados experimentales disponibles, así como una coherencia global con cálculos previos de mecánica y dinámica molecular en agua o vacío.

Comparou-se a eficiência dos tratamentos tópico e sistêmico com oxitetraciclina em vacas com dermatite digital papilomatosa (DDP) e determinaram-se a presença de resíduos desse antimicrobiano no leite e sua concentração no líquido sinovial e no plasma. Utilizaram-se o tratamento tópico com oxitetraciclina em pó (grupo 1) e o sistêmico de longa ação (grupo 2) em 16 vacas holandesas em lactação, acometidas por DDP. Obtiveram-se amostras de plasma, líquido sinovial e leite nos momentos: M0, antes dos tratamentos; M1, seis horas após o tratamento e em intervalos de 12 horas até M23 (264 horas pós-tratamentos). Avaliaram-se o grau de claudicação, a extensão da lesão e a concentração da oxitetraciclina pela cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. Nas vacas do grupo 1, ocorreu redução das lesões e da claudicação, quando comparadas com as do grupo 2. Nenhuma das amostras de leite, de líquido sinovial e de plasma nos animais do grupo 1 foi positiva para oxitetraciclina. As amostras de leite dos animais do grupo 2, entre M1 e M23, apresentaram valores acima do limite máximo residual permitido para esse antimicrobiano. O tratamento tópico foi eficiente no tratamento de DDP, sem produzir resíduos no leite ou concentrações no plasma e no líquido sinovial. O tratamento sistêmico foi ineficiente para DDP, resultando em resíduos no leite, durante a avaliação.

The efficacy of topical versus systemic treatment with oxytetracycline for papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD) in dairy cows was compared. Antimicrobial residues in milk and their concentrations in synovial fluid and plasma were analysed. Sixteen lactating Holstein cows with PDD lesions were topically treated with oxytetracycline powder (group 1) or long-acting oxytetracycline (group 2). Plasma, synovial fluid, and milk samples were collected in the following moments: M0 (before treatments); at six hours after treatments (M1), and at 12-hour intervals until 264 hours after treatments (M23). Lameness score and lesion size were evaluated. Analysis of oxytetracycline concentration was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cows in group 1 showed reduced lesion size and lameness score when compared to cows in group 2. None of the plasma, synovial fluid, or milk samples collected from cows in group 1 were positive to oxytetracycline. However, violative antimicrobial residues were detected in milk samples collected from cows in group 2, from M1 until M23. Topical application of oxytetracycline powder was an efficient treatment for PDD with no risk of violative antimicrobial residues in milk or increases its concentration in plasma or synovial fluid. The systemic administration of oxytetracycline was inefficient to treat PDD and caused violative residues in milk.

We present new echelle spectrophotometry of the Galactic H II regions M8 and M17. The data have been taken with the VLT UVES echelle spectrograph in the 3100 to 10400 Å range. We have measured the intensities of 375 and 260 emission lines in M8 and M17 respectively, increasing significatively the number of emission lines measured in previous spectrophotometric studies of these nebulae. Most of the detected lines are permitted lines. Electron temperatures and densities have been determined using different diagnostics. We have derived He+, C++, O+ and O++ ionic abundances from pure recombination lines. We have also derived abundances from collisionally excited lines for a large number of ions of different elements. Highly consistent estimations of t² have been obtained by using different independent indicators; the values are moderate and very similar to those obtained in other Galactic HII regions. We report the detection of deuterium Balmer emission lines, up to D<img border=0 width=9 height=15 src="../../../../../img/revistas/rmaa/v43n1/a1s1.jpg">, in M8 and show that their intensities are consistent with continuum fluorescence as their main excitation mechanism.

Presentamos nuevos datos espectrofotométricos de las regiones HII Galácticas M8 y M17. Los datos se obtuvieron a través del espectrógrafo echelle UVES del VLT en el intervalo entre los 3100 y los 10400 Å. Medimos las intensidades de 375 y 260 líneas de emisión en M8 y M17, respectivamente, incrementando de forma significativa el número de líneas identificadas en estas nebulosas. La mayoría de las líneas detectadas son permitidas. Calculamos las temperaturas y densidades electrónicas usando diferentes diagnósticos, y determinamos las abundancias iónicas de He+, C++, O+ and O++ a partir de líneas debidas únicamente a recombinación, así como las abundancias de un gran número de iones de diferentes elementos usando líneas de excitación colisional. Obtuvimos estimaciones consistentes de t² usando diferentes indicadores independientes. Detectamos líneas de emisión de la serie de Balmer de deuterio en M8, hasta D<img border=0 width=9 height=15 src="../../../../../img/revistas/rmaa/v43n1/a1s1.jpg">; también mostramos que sus intensidades son consistentes con el hecho de que la fluorescencia del continuo es el principal mecanismo de excitación de estas líneas.