OBJECTIVES CTX-M extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are emerging worldwide. Fast and reliable detection techniques may become mandatory for implementing proper treatment and infection control measures. Here, a bla(CTX-M)-specific LightCycler real-time PCR (LC-PCR) assay based on hybridization probes was developed. METHODS Urine samples positive for Gram-negative bacilli as revealed by ...

The EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) assessed the risks to human health related to the consumption of ciguatoxin (CTX)-group toxins in fish. CTX-group toxins occur in fish as a result of biotransformation of precursor gambiertoxins produced by the benthic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus. CTX-group toxins cause ciguatera fish poisoning. They are mainly found in Pa...

Background and Objective: Burn wound infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting β-lactam antibiotic resistance are one of the greatest challenges of antimicrobial treatment. In this context, P. aeruginosa strains harboring resistance mechanisms, such as production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases have the highest clinical impact no the management of burn wound infections. The ai...

BACKGROUND Bone formation marker procollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP) and resorption marker C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) are useful biomarkers for differential diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of osteoporosis, but reference values are required. METHODS The multi-center, cross-sectional Chinese Bone Turnover Marker Study included 3800 healthy volunteers in 5 Chinese...

To examine to what extent fresh vegetables imported into Switzerland represent carriers of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, 169 samples of different types of fresh vegetables imported into Switzerland from the Dominican Republic, India, Thailand, and Vietnam were analyzed. Overall, 25.4% of the vegetable samples yielded one or more ESBL-producing Enterobacteria...

Antineoplastic drugs can be associated with several side effects, including cardiovascular toxicity (CTX). Biochemical studies have identified multiple mechanisms of CTX. Chemoterapeutic agents can alter redox homeostasis by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species RNS. Cellular sources of ROS/RNS are cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, stromal and...

Chorda tympani nerve transection (CTX) has been useful to study the relationship between nerve and taste buds in fungiform papillae. This work demonstrated that the morphological integrity of taste buds depends on their innervation. Considerable research focused on the effects of CTX on peripheral gustatory structures, but much less research has focused on the central effects. Here, we explored...

This study determined the phylogenetic groups and virulence factors of 37 Escherichia coli isolates producing types of CTX-M compared with those of 19 isolates producing different types of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in a well-defined North American population. Most CTX-M-14 producers (97%) were from phylogenic group D; 67% of the CTX-M-15 producers were from group B2. A single CT...

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), a rare familial lipid metabolic disease inherited via an autosomal recessive trait, is caused by mutations of the sterol 27-hydroxylase gene. Psychiatric disorders may occur in patients with CTX. In Taiwan, Chang et al presented patients with CTX. However, there has not been a case presented about CTX with psychiatric disorders in Taiwan. We present three s...

In Experiment 1, rats with chorda tympani nerve transection (CTX) acquired a LiCl-conditioned taste aversion to 0.1 M NaCl at the same rate as controls. After 3 conditioning trials, the aversion generalized to 0.03 and 0.3 M NaCl, but did not generalize to KCI (0.03, 0.1, and 0.3 M), in either the sham or CTX group. In Experiment 2, the sham group, but not the CTX group, formed an aversion to 0...