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A new ingredient from date palm coproducts (pits) was obtained and tested as a preservative in burgers. Different concentrations of date pit (0%, 1.5%, 3%, and 6%) were added to beef burgers, and its effect on the safety and quality was evaluated during 10 days of storage. The incorporation of date pit was able to improve the shelf life and the cooking properties of the burgers. The date pit stabilized the color, lipid oxidation, and microbial growth of the burgers during the storage time due to the antioxidant activity and the phytochemical content of the date pits. For the consumer panel, the color and the off-odors were improved, and the addition of 1.5% and 3% date pit in cooked burgers obtained similar scores. Based on the obtained results, the new ingredient from date pit may have potential preservative properties for enhancing stability during shelf life and could improve the composition of bioactive compounds (fiber and phenolic content) of beef burgers.

Background: Cryptococcosis is a generally systemic and potentially lethal fungal infection. Although HIV infection is a predisposing condition, especially if the CD 4+ lymphocyte count is less than 100cells/mm 3 , other forms of immunosuppression may be associated with this opportunistic fungal condition, such as prolonged steroid therapy or solid organ transplantation. Pulmonary presentation must be included in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia or pulmonary neoplasia in the immunosuppressed patient., Case Report: We report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in a non-diagnosed HIV patient. In a 44 year-old male suffering from dyspnea and chest pain the image of a pulmonary nodule was observed in a radiological finding. In the histopathological study, intracellular structures suggestive of fungal conidia, and morphologically compatible with Cryptococcus, were observed. HIV serology and cryptococcal antigen detection in serum were requested, given the possibility of cryptococcosis. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii was isolated from the culture of the pulmonary biopsy. The patient was finally diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis and HIV-1 infection. With a proper antifungal treatment the patient evolved satisfactorily., Conclusions: The best strategy to avoid opportunistic infections such as cryptococcosis in HIV-infected patients consists of an early diagnosis and a highly active antiretroviral treatment. In our case, the diagnosis of a pulmonary infection by C. neoformans var. grubii allowed a late diagnosis of HIV-1 infection., (Copyright © 2019 Asociación Española de Micología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Two novel ingredients were incorporated into spreadable liver pâtés to study their effect on physicochemical and sensory characteristics and their possible use in the meat industry. Fresh date ( Phoenix dactylifera , cv. Confitera) co-products, as a paste (0, 2.5 and 7.5%), and annatto ( Bixa orellana ) extract (0 and 128 mg/kg), as a colourant, and their combinations were incorporated into liver pâtés to study their effect on the final quality. The six formulations were analysed for chemical composition, physicochemical characteristics (pH, a w , colour, emulsion stability, and texture), and sensory properties. Pâtés tolerated suitable incorporation of date paste, providing emulsifying activity and being able to counteract to some extent the emulsion destabilisation caused by the annatto. All formulations showed an acceptable sensory quality, particularly pâtés with annatto and 7.5% date paste, which was softer, juicier, and presented redness values similar to the control as well as better emulsion stability. The combined use of these novel ingredients could be used as natural ingredients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of past infection due to Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia conorii in the Canary Islands (Spain)., Methods: A representative sample of the population of the seven islands, formed of 662 people aged between 5 and 75 years (368 females, 294 males), was analyzed. Epidemiological data were obtained by direct survey. The detection of serum IgG antibodies against both microorganisms was based on an indirect immunofluorescence test, considered positive if the titers were ≥ 1/80., Results: Of the analyzed population 3.9% had IgG antibodies against R. typhi and 4.4% against R. conorii. Out of these positive samples, only three were positive for both species. The seroprevalence was similar in both sexes. Positive results were found in all age groups, but a higher rate was noticed in those aged 46 years and older (p<0.05). R. typhi was found to be more prevalent in rural areas of all islands, as well as in farmers., Conclusions: Our results confirm the presence of antibodies against the causative agents of murine typhus and Mediterranean spotted fever in the Canary Islands. Indirect data suggest that the detection of antibodies to R. conorii might be due to a cross-reaction between these species., (Copyright © 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A 1-year retrospective multicentre study was performed to identify factors influencing hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality of patients (n = 3233) admitted to hospital because of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Pneumonia severity index (PSI) high-risk classes (IV and V), positive blood culture, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), multi-lobar involvement and alcohol consumption were associated independently with prolonged LOS. Tobacco smoking was associated with a reduced LOS. The LOS varied markedly among centres. Only PSI high-risk class, admission to ICU and multi-lobar involvement were associated with early, late and global mortality. Positive blood cultures, antimicrobial therapy according to treatment guidelines and the establishment of an aetiological diagnosis were linked to reduced late and global mortality. These data suggest that early mortality associated with CAP is highly dependent on the clinical status of the patient at presentation. Conversely, late mortality seems to be associated more closely with clinical management factors; hence, an aetiological diagnosis and compliance with appropriate therapeutic guidelines have a significant influence on outcome.

The Aims of Our Study Were: (i) to know the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in the Canary Islands, (ii) to evaluate its epidemiologic features and (iii) to compare the rates of seroprevalence using two different cut-offs (1:20 and 1:80) for the diagnosis of past infection., Methods: We analysed a representative sample of the canarian population. 662 sera were tested. For the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against C. burnetii phase II antigens an immuofluorescence assay was used. The serologic screening for IgG detection begun with a 1:20 dilution. A titer of IgG > or = 1:80 along with a negative IgM were used as criteria for previous infection., Results: At an IgG antibody titer against C. burnetii of 1:80 as diagnostic for past infection, the observed global seroprevalence was 21.5%. If the cut-off used was 1:20, the observed prevalence increased up to 35.8% (p = 0.001). Significantly different seroprevalence rates were obtained at these different cut-offs when results were analysed for groups of age and socioeconomic status, but not for either the island of origin or for farmers., Conclusion: Our results strongly suggest that Coxiella burnetii infection is endemic in all the Canary Islands. Although it is more frequent in males above 30 years old, it do affect people of all ages, and thus it should be borne in mind in the face of any acute febrile syndrome.

Six quinolones were tested on 817 consecutive pneumococcal isolates for which ciprofloxacin MICs were high (> or =2 microg/ml); the isolates had been collected during two recent Spanish surveillance studies. For strains for which the ciprofloxacin MIC was >or =4 microg/ml, the MICs at which 90% of the isolates tested against gemifloxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, sparfloxacin, levofloxacin, and ofloxacin were inhibited were 0.25, 1, 1, 1, 4 and 16 microg/ml, respectively, and the corresponding prevalences of resistance were 0, 1, 4.5, 9.5, 8.4 and 23%. The proportion of isolates for which the ciprofloxacin MIC is high has increased over time.

Injection drug use (IDU) is one of the most significant risk factors for viral hepatitis (B, D and C) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, there is little information about the risk of infection among non-injection drug users (non-IDUs). The present study was designed to perform several objectives: (a) to evaluate the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B, D, C virus and HIV in IDU and non-IDU patients; (b) to compare the prevalence of these markers between both groups; (c) to identify risk factors for HCV and HIV in this population; and (d) to correlate the presence of HCV and liver function. A total of 385 consecutive patients (122 IDUs and 263 non-IDUs), admitted to the Drug Dependency Treatment Unit at the Hospital Insular of Gran Canaria between 1993 to 1994, were included in the study. The serological markers of HBV, HDV, HCV and HIV were determined by ELISA and immunoblot methods. In all cases we also measured syphilis tests (RPR and FTAabs), serum aminotransferases and serum gammaglutamiltranspeptidase. Compared to the non-IDU, the IDU group presents a higher prevalence of antiHBc (55.0% vs. 20.7%, p < 0.0001), antiHCV (87.6% vs. 35.3%, p < 0.0001) and antiHIV (21.8% vs. 2.7%, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in RPR positivity (0.9% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.06). Delta infection was only detected in injection drug users, and the prevalence was low. Using logistic regression, the only risk factors associated with antiHCV positivity were injection drug addiction (OR: 9.2, 95% CI: 4.9-17.0) and antiHBc positivity (OR: 5.5, 95% CI: 3.0-9.9). Similarly, the associated risk factors for HIV were injection drug addiction (OR: 5.9, 95% CI: 2.3-15.0) and antiHBc positivity (OR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.5-9.2). However, no correlation was found between antiHCV positive and antiHIV or between these markers and RPR positivity. Patients positive for antiHCV showed significant elevations in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, when compared with patients negative for antiHCV: 65.0 vs. 39.2 U/l (p < 0.001) and 88.4 vs. 40.3 U/l (p < 0.001), respectively. We conclude that drug users have an elevated prevalence of HCV, HBV and HIV infection, even if drug use is only inhalated. On the other hand, the main risk factors associated with HCV and HIV are injection drug addiction and exposure to hepatitis B virus. Finally, in the study population, liver dysfunction is closely related to HCV infection.

Five studies were carried out in children younger than 4 years old attending regularly day care centres in order to determine the intestinal parasitization by Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The percent of children parasitized by Cryptosporidium was 10% (17 children out of 170 studied). Cryptosporidiosis was more frequent in winter than in other seasons (difference statistically significant). Giardia intestinalis, which was the most frequent parasite, was identified in 25.3% (43 children out of 170 studied). Giardiasis was more frequent in autumn and in the low SEL (difference statistically significant in both cases). The frequency of giardiasis increased from 8% in children studied during 1-2 seasons, to 34% in children studied for 3-5 seasons (difference statistically significant), whereas the frequency of cryptosporidiosis did not show variation with increased number of specimens studied per child. The 35% of children parasitized by Cryptosporidium sp. showed gastrointestinal symptoms but only 14% of children with Giardia intestinalis.

A study was carried out on the presence of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in water for human consumption in the Province of Salamanca, Spain, using four different staining techniques: Ziehl-Neelsen, auramine, indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies (Meridian, USA) and direct immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies (Pasteur, France). The presence of oocysts was detected in the water used for the washing of sand filters in the four water purifying plants and in the drinking water of two of the six geographical areas studied. The Ziehl-Neelsen and auramine staining techniques were found to have excellent diagnostic correlation. Immunofluorescence stainings with monoclonal antibodies proved to be less sensitive.

A prospective study was carried out to investigate the epidemiology and clinical significance of Blastocystis hominis in the following groups of the population of the city of Salamanca (Spain): in children attending 11 day care centres and 7 primary schools, two fecal samples were obtained from each child, and in 1231 patients attending the Clinical Hospital. A B. hominis incidence of 5.3-10.3% was found in the day care centres and an incidence rate of 13.4-19.4% was found in the primary schools. All the cases were observed in asymptomatic children. The incidence of B. hominis was greater in children older than 3 years in the day care centres and in the 10-14 year-old group in the primary schools. A heavier parasitization was observed in the boys than in the girls and in the students of schools in areas of low socio-economic level. B. hominis was identified in 40 patients attending the Clinical Hospital (3.25% of all those studied). The maximum peak of incidence was found in subjects with ages between 10 and 14 years. A follow up study was performed on 18 patients parasitized exclusively by B. hominis; 7 of these were considered to have acute gastroenteritis and one chronic gastroenteritis associated with the protozoan. No statistically significant association was observed between the number of B. hominis cells and the presence of diarrhoea. Our results show that despite the high number of asymptomatic carriers of B. hominis in the juvenile population, this protozoan may be, on other occasions, responsible for gastrointestinal symptoms.

Cryptosporidium species was found in 1.8% (2/113 children in the first sampling) and 1.9% (2/107 children in the second sampling) of the children studied in 11 day care centres. All cases were observed in children younger than 3 years of age, who were immunocompetent and asymptomatic. No cases of parasitization by Cryptosporidium species was detected in 67 children aged 5-14 years attending 7 primary schools.

The Salamanca Province of Spain is an endemic zone for Mediterranean spotted fever. In this area, only one case of Q fever has been reported and typhus group rickettsial diseases have never been diagnosed. To obtain a panoramic view of the presence of antibodies to the most ubiquitous rickettsial agents, 400 sera specimens from a statistically representative sample of the human population of Salamanca City and its surrounding province were subjected to indirect microimmunofluorescent test for antibodies against Rickettsia conorii, Coxiella burnetti, phase II, and Rickettsia typhi antigens. Titers greater than or equal to 1:40 to R. conorii were found in 73.5% of the sera. Positivity was more common in subjects who reported closer contact with the natural environment and/or with domestic animals. Seropositivity to C. burnetti, phase II, was detected in 50.2% of sera. These positive cases were related to rural environmental factors and to previous contact with animals. The frequency of antibodies increased with age showing a progressive exposure to the rickettsial antigen. The prevalence of antibodies to R. conorii and C. burnetii in the human population of Salamanca Province is higher than that reported from any other geographic zone. The study of antibodies to R. typhi showed that 12.5% of the sera had titers greater than or equal to 1:40. According to our results, seropositivity to this rickettsial antigen cannot be related to any particular group of population nor interpreted totally as cross reactivity with R. conorii. Our data show a wide distribution of R. conorii and C. burnetii antigens in Salamanca Province, and also indicate the presence of R. typhi antigens in this area.