EUCAST rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (RAST) in blood cultures: Validation in 55 european laboratories

Objectives: When bloodstream infections are caused by resistant bacteria, rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (RAST) is important for adjustment of therapy. The EUCAST RAST method, directly from positive blood cultures, was validated in a multi-laboratory study in Europe.Methods: RAST was performed in 40 laboratories in northern Europe (NE) and 15 in southern Europe (SE) from clinical blood cultures positive for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae. Categorical results at 4, 6 and 8 h of incubation were compared with results for EUCAST standard 16-20 h disc diffusion. The method, preliminary breakpoints and the performance of the laboratories were evaluated.Results: The total number of isolates was 833/318 in NE/SE. The number of zone diameters that could be read (88%, 96% and 99%) and interpreted (70%, 81% and 85%) increased with incubation time (4, 6 and 8 h). The categorical agreement was acceptable, with total error rates in NE/SE of 2.4%/4.9% at 4 h, 1.1%/3.5% at 6 h and 1.1%/3.3% at 8 h. False susceptibility at 4, 6 and 8 h of incubation was below 0.3% and 1.1% in NE and SE, respectively, and the corresponding percentages for false resistance were below 1.9% and 2.8%. After fine-tuning breakpoints, more zones could be interpreted (73%, 89% and 93%), with only marginally affected error rates.Conclusions: The EUCAST RAST method can be implemented in routine laboratories without major investments. It provides reliable antimicrobial susceptibility testing results for relevant bloodstream infection pathogens after 4-6 h of incubation.</p

Supramolecular Peptide Nanofibrils with Optimized Sequences and Molecular Structures for Efficient Retroviral Transduction

Funder: German Research Foundation; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Abstract: Amyloid‐like peptide nanofibrils (PNFs) are abundant in nature providing rich bioactivities and playing both functional and pathological roles. The structural features responsible for their unique bioactivities are, however, still elusive. Supramolecular nanostructures are notoriously challenging to optimize, as sequence changes affect self‐assembly, fibril morphologies, and biorecognition. Herein, the first sequence optimization of PNFs, derived from the peptide enhancing factor‐C (EF‐C, QCKIKQIINMWQ), for enhanced retroviral gene transduction via a multiparameter and a multiscale approach is reported. Retroviral gene transfer is the method of choice for the stable delivery of genetic information into cells offering great perspectives for the treatment of genetic disorders. Single fibril imaging, zeta potential, vibrational spectroscopy, and quantitative retroviral transduction assays provide the structure parameters responsible for PNF assembly, fibrils morphology, secondary and quaternary structure, and PNF‐virus‐cell interactions. Optimized peptide sequences such as the 7‐mer, CKFKFQF, have been obtained quantitatively forming supramolecular nanofibrils with high intermolecular β‐sheet content that efficiently bind virions and attach to cellular membranes revealing efficient retroviral gene transfer

Effects of facemask therapy on the mandibular retromolar space: a follow-up study

To evaluate the mandibular retromolar space after facemask therapy and a follow-up period.  Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between May and September in 2014. The sample consisted of pre-treatment (T1), post-treatment (T2), and follow-up(T3) panoramic radiographs of 19 skeletal and dental Class III patients (7 female, 12 male; mean age: 10.5 years) treated with facemask and a removable intraoral upper appliance in the Faculty of Dentistry Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. Each patient's lower arches were evaluated as right and left segments. As third molars were congenitally absent in 3 segments, a total of 35 segments were evaluated. The average treatment time was one year. The average follow-up period was 2.4 years. The positions, angulations, dental maturations of lower third molars, and mandibular retromolar spaces (DJ) were assessed. Friedman's 2-way Analysis of Variance, multiple-comparison, Pearson's correlation, and Chi-square tests were used for statistical evaluation. A p less than 0.05 was considered as significant

Genetic Diversity of some Daffodil (Narcissus L. spp.) Genotypes from Turkey by Using SRAP Markers

WOS: 000508003800035Daffodil (Narcissus L. spp.) is one of the oldest ornamental flowers that have been cultivated from ancient times to nowadays. the species Narcissus tazetta L. and N. serotinus L. have spread out in different regions of Turkey and some other species have been naturalized. the purpose of this study was to characterize some daffodil populations that were collected from different regions of Turkey by using SRAP markers. Twenty-two daffodil populations of different species such as N. tazetta, N. serotinus, N. pseudonarcissus L., N. poeticus L. and N. jonquilla L. were used. Thirty-seven of 48 SRAP primer combinations showed scorable and polymorphic bands between samples. the similarity coefficients were used to construct a dendrogram by Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) using NTSYS-PC. Cophenetic correlation between ultrametric similarities of tree and similarity matrix were high (r = 0.97). the genotypes of Narcissus species were divided into 2 main groups. Although there was less genetic variation among N. tazetta species, even collected from different regions of Turkey, N. poeticus, N. pseudonarsis, N. jonquilla and N. serotinus had more genetic divergence among them. It can be concluded that genetic variation of Narcissus species can be used for daffodil breeding programs

Experimental determination of solid-solid and solid-liquid interfacial energies of solid epsilon (CuZn5) in the Zn-Cu alloy

WOS: 000272521900027The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes of solid epsilon; (CuZn5) in equilibrium with Zn-1.75 at.% Cu peritectic liquid and solid epsilon (CuZn5) in equilibrium with solid Zn solution (Zn-2.83 at.% Cu) were observed from a quenched sample. The Gibbs-Thomson coefficient, solid-liquid interfacial energy and grain boundary energy of solid epsilon (CuZn5) in equilibrium with Zn-1.75 at.% Cu peritectic liquid have been determined to be (4.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-8) K m, (76.0 +/- 9.1) x 10(-3) J m(-2) and (150.3 +/- 19.5) x 10(-3) J m(-2), respectively. For the first time, the equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes of solid epsilon (CuZn5) in equilibrium with solid Zn solution have been observed. The Gibbs-Thomson coefficient, solid-solid interfacial energy and grain boundary energy of solid epsilon (CuZn5) in equilibrium with solid Zn have also been determined to be (4.7 +/- 0.3) x 10(-8) K m, (72.9 +/- 8.7) x 10(-3) J m(-2) and (144.1 +/- 18.7) x 10(-3) J m(-2), respectively from the observed grain boundary groove shapes. The thermal conductivities of solid Zn solution and solid epsilon; (CuZn5) phase (Zn-12 at.% Cu) have been measured with radial heat flow apparatus. The thermal conductivity ratios of the equilibrated liquid phase to solid phase for Zn-1.75 at.% Cu and Zn-12 at.% Cu alloys have also been measured with Bridgman type growth apparatus. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey [107T095]; Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)This research was financially supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK under Contract No: 107T095). Authors are grateful to the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for their financial supports

Thermal conductivity and interfacial energies of solid Sn in the Sn-Cu alloy

WOS: 000273051800027The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes of solid Sn in equilibrium with the Sn-Cu eutectic liquid were observed from a quenched sample. The Gibbs-Thomson coefficient, solid-liquid interfacial energy and grain boundary energy of solid Sn have been determined to be (8.7 +/- 0.6) x 10(-8) Km, (113.1 +/- 13.6) x 10(-3) J m(-2) and (222.4 +/- 28.9) x 10(-3) J m(-2), respectively. The thermal conductivity of solid phase and the thermal conductivity ratio of liquid phase to solid phase for Sn-1.3 at.%Cu alloy have also been measured with radial heat flow apparatus and Bridgman type growth apparatus, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [107T095]This research was financially supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK under Contract No: 107T095). Authors are grateful to the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for their financial supports