High prevalence of NDM metallo-β-lactamase among ESBL-producing Escherichia coli İsolates

Resistance to β-lactams in Enterobacteriaceae has been increasing worldwide. This study aimed to determine the frequency of β-lactamase genes and antibiotic resistance rates of 140 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolates obtained from urinary tract infection in Ordu Province, Turkey. Isolates were identified by classic methods and by automated system. ESBL production was confirmed by double disk synergy test and antimicrobial susceptibility was investigated by disk diffusion method. All isolates were screened for β-lactamase coding genes from three groups (A, B, and D) by polymerase chain reaction. The highest rate of susceptible isolates was observed for imipenem (IPM, 99.3%) and ertapenem (ETP, 97.9%), and the highest rate of resistant isolates was observed for cefuroxime (97.9%), ceftriaxone (97.2%), and cefazolin (90.7%). In our study, blaCTX-M1-like group was the most prevalent β-lactamase (n = 109), followed by blaTEM (n = 68), blaCTX-M2 (n = 22), and blaSHV (n = 2). By contrast to low resistance rate to IPM and ETP, we determined blaNDM in 31 isolates (22.1%). In co-prevalence of blaNDM-1 and ESBL-coding genes, a low carbapenem resistance was determined. We can confirm that blaCTX-M1-types are still the most frequent β-lactamase coding gene in Turkey. Our study showed the highest prevalence of blaNDM-1 metallo-β-lactamase coding gene in ESBL-producing E. coli

First Record of Humpback Dolphins in Mersin Bay, the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Two to four humpback dolphins were first time observed at two occasions on 3 February and 25 April 2016 on Turkish coastal waters of the Northeast Mediterranean. They were recorded by under-water cameras while feeding on fish escaping from experimental demersal trawl during two separate operations conducted on shallow waters. Although the quality of the footage was quite good, the individuals could only be identified at genus level. When the distribution ranges of the genus and recent enlargement of the Suez Channel are considered, the individuals are most likely of the strays of Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea)

By-catch and monetary loss of pufferfish in Turkey, the Eastern Mediterranean

Non-native pufferfish have been a part of the Mediterranean marine ecosystem since the 1930s. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the by-catch of these species. This study aimed to compare the by-catch of pufferfish species between different types of fishing gear and to determine the monetary losses due to pufferfish on the Aegean (west) and Mediterranean (south) coasts of Turkey. A total of 467 commercial and recreational fishers (n= 244 and n=223 respectively), based in the 7 coastal cities were interviewed in the period of June - December 2017. A semi-structured questionnaire provided detailed information on by-catch amount of pufferfish in fishing gears, and economic loss caused by pufferfish. The most commonly caught pufferfish species was Lagocephalus sceleratus. The by-catch amount of pufferfish is higher on the Mediterranean coast in comparison with the Aegean coast. The highest pufferfish by-catch was recorded in purse seines and trawls on the south coasts, but in set nets on the west coasts. When seasonal changes were considered, the highest by-catch was occurred in the summer months for both commercial and recreational fisheries. Regarding the damages caused by pufferfish species in the small-scale fisheries, 92% and 90% of fishers, who fished on the south coasts, claimed that pufferfish species damage their fishing gears and fish entangled to these fishing gears, respectively. In conclusion, pufferfish species (e.g. L. sceleratus) are part of the ecosystem with their unknown quantified impacts. In fact, such information is required for fisheries management to mitigate the impacts of these species. The present study contributes to filling the gaps in this area.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of new dental implant system: Results of a 3-year prospective study

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate implant survival, crestal bone level changes, and clinical parameters of IDcam dental implants over a mean follow-up period of 3 years. Materials and methods: Seventy-two patients, 32 females and 40 males, received 255 implants. Implant-supported metal-ceramic fixed restorations were inserted. Following completion of restorations, each patient was re-examined at 6-month intervals. Radiographic crestal bone level changes were calculated, as well as soft tissue parameters including pocket probing depth, bleeding on probing, plaque index, and gingival index. Examination results were recorded from 18 months to 42 months. Implant survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Associations between implant survival and recorded variables were estimated using Cox proportional regression analysis. Results: The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a cumulative survival rate of 97.6\%. Three implants in three patients failed to osseointegrate at stage 2 surgery, and three implants in three patients were lost after loading. The mean marginal bone losses were 0.35 +/- 0.14 mm, 0.47 +/- 0.15 mm, and 0.58 +/- 0.16 mm, as determined 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months after prosthetic loading, respectively. Cox proportional regression analysis revealed that the variables such as age, sex, type of the restoration, and implant region had no significant influence on implant failure (P > 0.05). Coefficients of correlation between implant survival and crestal bone loss, pocket probing depth, bleeding on probing, plaque index, and gingival index were found to be nonsignificant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Survival and radiographic and clinical assessments of implants after 2 years of function demonstrated promising results for an IDcam dental implant system. Copyright (C) 2015, Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC

Quality of patient-reported outcome reporting across cancer randomized controlled trials according to the CONSORT patient-reported outcome extension: A pooled analysis of 557 trials

The main objectives of this study were to identify the number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including a patient-reported outcome (PRO) endpoint across a wide range of cancer specialties and to evaluate the completeness of PRO reporting according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) PRO extension. RCTs with a PRO endpoint that had been performed across several cancer specialties and published between 2004 and 2013 were considered. Studies were evaluated on the basis of previously defined criteria, including the CONSORT PRO extension and the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias of RCTs. Analyses were also conducted by the type of PRO endpoint (primary vs secondary) and by the cancer disease site. A total of 56,696 potentially eligible records were scrutinized, and 557 RCTs with a PRO evaluation, enrolling 254,677 patients overall, were identified. PROs were most frequently used in RCTs of breast (n = 123), lung (n = 85), and colorectal cancer (n = 66). Overall, PROs were secondary endpoints in 421 RCTs (76%). Four of 6 evaluated CONSORT PRO items were documented in less than 50% of the RCTs. The level of reporting was higher in RCTs with a PRO as a primary endpoint. The presence of a supplementary report was the only statistically significant factor associated with greater completeness of reporting for both RCTs with PROs as primary endpoints (β = .19, P = .001) and RCTs with PROs as secondary endpoints (β = .30, P < .001). Implementation of the CONSORT PRO extension is equally important across all cancer specialties. Its use can also contribute to revealing the robust PRO design of some studies, which might be obscured by poor outcome reportin