Inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores with the use of microwave and steam sterilizers and microwave oven

Introduction. Equipment for sterilization used in medical laboratories must be absolutely effective in eliminating microorganisms and their spores. It often directly influences human health, even life. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of sterilization using the steam sterilizer ASV E, microwave sterilizer EnbioJet ML1, microwave sterilizer for baby bottles and breast pumps AVENT and microwave oven. Materials and methods. Evaluation of the effectiveness of sterilization with the use of selected devices based on pressure-thermal and microwave-thermal methods was conducted, on the basis of elimination of G. stearothermophilus PCM 2104 and C. sporogenes IW 1306 spores. Results. After using the steam sterilizer, 100% inactivation of spores of both species was noted. In the case of EnbioJet ML1 sterilizer, in the test containing 106 CFU × cm–3 G. stearothermophilus spores, 1.63 × 101 CFU × cm–3 survived. The baby bottles sterilizer proved less effective. While the microwave, in the case of tests with the highest spore content, provided their inactivation only at the level of more than 70.0%. The steam sterilizer and EnbioJet ML1 sterilizer were the most effective, whereas the latter ensured a very short time of high temperature effect, which has a favorable impact on the properties of sterilized products, for example compounds decomposing in high temperature. Conclusion. Results of own, as well as other authors’ studies allow to confirm the large potential in the scope of using microwave radiation for the sterilization and disinfection of materials of various sensitivity to temperature.

Discriminant models aplication in the evaluation of going concern

Analiza oceny zdolności jednostki do kontynuowania działalności jest istotną sprawą dla zarządzających przedsiębiorstwem. Problem właściwej oceny zdolności przedsiębiorstwa do kontynuowania działalności dotyczy również biegłych rewidentów, którzy w opinii i raporcie z badania sprawozdania finansowego powinni przedstawić sytuację jednostki ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zjawisk, które zagrażają kontynuowaniu działalności przez jednostkę. Dlatego też istotne jest właściwe i wczesne rozpoznanie przyczyn i symptomów zagrożenia kontynuacji działania. W tym celu zarządzający jednostkami powinni wykorzystać wachlarz znanych metod wnioskowania statystycznego, które pozwoliłyby na ocenę zdolności jednostki do kontynuacji działalności. Celem opracowania jest przedstawienie rozwiązań legislacyjnych dotyczących jednej z fundamentalnych zasad rachunkowości − zasady kontynuacji działania oraz przedstawienie narzędzia pomocnego przy ocenie zasadności jej przyjęcia, jakim jest analiza dyskryminacyjna. W artykule wykorzystano analizę literatury przedmiotu oraz obowiązujących regulacji prawnych.The capability assessment analysis of going concern is fundamental for firms management. The problem of this analysis also concerns senior auditors who should take into consideration the firm's situation in the report about financial statement research. The particular attention should be paid to the phenomenon which threaten the going concern. That is why proper and early causes and symptoms identification of going concern threats is very important. For that purpose management should use a range of known methods of statistical conclusion which could give an opportunity for going concern. The aim of the writing is presentation of legislative solutions concerning one of the fundamental accounting principal - the principal of going concern and presentation of helpful tool to validity of its adoption - discriminant analysis

Одобрение консолидационных процессов в секторе высшего образования в свете исследований

Celem artykułu badawczego jest identyfikacja i prezentacja opinii pracowników naukowo-dydaktycznych polskich uczelni na temat konsolidacji w sektorze szkolnictwa wyższego, z uwzględnieniem implikacji praktycznych oraz społecznych omawianego procesu. W opracowaniu przedstawiono wyniki badań ankietowych przeprowadzonych w roku 2016 na 682 respondentach przy wykorzystaniu elektronicznego kwestionariusza ankietowego. Pozyskane informacje wskazują na fakt, iż opór środowiska akademickiego nie stanowi istotnej bariery realizacji procesów konsolidacji szkół wyższych.The purpose of the research article is to identify and present the opinion of Polish research and teaching staff on consolidation in the higher education sector also taking into consideration practical and social implications. There is shown in the text a report of a survey conducted in 2016 among 682 respondents by means of an online survey questionnaire. The information obtained shows that the resistance of the academic environment is not the main barrier to the higher education consolidation process. The respondents showed many advantages of consolidation. Therefore, higher education institution unions may be established in the sector to use its potential more effectively.Цель исследовательской статьи – выявить и представить мнения научно-дидактических работников польских вузов с учетом практических и социальных импликаций обсуждаемого процесса. В разработке представлены результаты опросов, проведенных в 2016 г. с 682 респондентами с использова- нием электронного вопросника. Полученная информация указывает факт, что сопротивление академической среды не представляет собой существенного барьера для осуществления процессов консолидации вузов

Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains-Distribution of the Essential Enzymatic Virulence Factors Genes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most commonly isolated bacteria from clinical specimens, with increasing isolation frequency in nosocomial infections. Herein, we investigated whether antimicrobial-resistant P. aeruginosa strains, e.g., metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing isolates, may possess a reduced number of virulence genes, resulting from appropriate genome management to adapt to a changing hospital environment. Hospital conditions, such as selective pressure, may lead to the replacement of virulence genes by antimicrobial resistance genes that are crucial to survive under current conditions. The study aimed to compare, using PCR, the frequency of the chosen enzymatic virulence factor genes (alkaline protease-aprA, elastase B-lasB, neuraminidases-nan1 and nan2, and both variants of phospholipase C-plcH and plcN) to MBL distribution among 107 non-duplicated carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. The gene encoding alkaline protease was noted with the highest frequency (100%), while the neuraminidase-1 gene was observed in 37.4% of the examined strains. The difference in lasB and nan1 prevalence amongst the MBL-positive and MBL-negative strains, was statistically significant. Although P. aeruginosa virulence is generally more likely determined by the complex regulation of the virulence gene expression, herein, we found differences in the prevalence of various virulence genes in MBL-producers

The Prevalence of Exoenzyme S Gene in Multidrug-Sensitive and Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Strains

Pseudomonas aeruginosa rods are one of the most commonly isolated microorganisms from clinical specimens, usually responsible for nosocomial infections. Antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa strains may present reduced expression of virulence factors. This fact may be caused by appropriate genome management to adapt to changing conditions of the hospital environment. Virulence factors genes maybe replaced by those crucial to survive, like antimicrobial resistance genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using PCR, the occurrence of exoenzyme S-coding gene (exoS) in two distinct groups of P. aeruginosa strains: 83 multidrug-sensitive (MDS) and 65 multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates. ExoS gene was noted in 72 (48.7%) of the examined strains: 44 (53.0%) MDS and 28 (43.1%) MDR. The observed differ­ences were not statistically significant (p = 0.1505). P. aeruginosa strains virulence is rather determined by the expression regulation of the possessed genes than the difference in genes frequency amongst strains with different antimicrobial susceptibility patterns

The Variable Nature of Vitamin C—Does It Help When Dealing with Coronavirus?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still spreading worldwide. For this reason, new treatment methods are constantly being researched. Consequently, new and already-known preparations are being investigated to potentially reduce the severe course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infection induces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute serum biomarkers in the host organism. In addition to antiviral drugs, there are other substances being used in the treatment of COVID-19, e.g., those with antioxidant properties, such as vitamin C (VC). Exciting aspects of the use of VC in antiviral therapy are its antioxidant and pro-oxidative abilities. In this review, we summarized both the positive effects of using VC in treating infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the light of the available research. We have tried to answer the question as to whether the use of high doses of VC brings the expected benefits in the treatment of COVID-19 and whether such treatment is the correct therapeutic choice. Each case requires individual assessment to determine whether the positives outweigh the negatives, especially in the light of populational studies concerning the genetic differentiation of genes encoding the solute carriers responsible forVC adsorption. Few data are available on the influence of VC on the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Deducing from already-published data, high-dose intravenous vitamin C (HDIVC) does not significantly lower the mortality or length of hospitalization. However, some data prove, among other things, its impact on the serum levels of inflammatory markers. Finally, the non-positive effect of VC administration is mainly neutral, but the negative effect is that it can result in urinary stones or nephropathies