Factors Influencing Biofilm Formation by <i>Salmonella enterica</i> sv. Typhimurium, <i>E. cloacae, E. hormaechei</i>, <i>Pantoea</i> spp., and <i>Bacillus</i> spp. Isolated from Human Milk Determined by PCA Analysis

Bacteria enter milk during poor hygiene practices and can form a biofilm on surfaces that come into contact with human milk. The presence of a biofilm increases the risk of infections among newborns as bacteria protected by biofilm are resistant to washing and disinfection processes. The formation of the biofilm depends on the microbial species, environmental conditions, and the specific materials colonized. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of factors such as temperature, incubation time, and initial cell concentration on biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria isolated from human milk on model hydrophobic polystyrene surfaces. Model studies confirm that pathogenic bacteria appearing in human milk as a result of cross-contamination tend to form a biofilm. The majority of isolates formed biofilm at both 25 and 37 °C after 12 h at 1 × 103 CFU/mL inoculum count. Multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) showed that at lower temperatures, biofilm formation by bacterial isolates was the main determinant of biofilm formation, other factors were less important; however, at 37 °C, time was a factor in biofilm formation. The model research performed underlines the importance of maintaining the proper hygiene of rooms, surfaces, and devices for expressing, storing, and preparing mothers’ milk and powdered infant formula (PIF) in facilities responsible for feeding newborns and premature babies

Tooth loss in the population of south-eastern Poland

Objectives. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between selected socio-demographic factors and tooth loss in patients using removable dentures. Materials and method. The study comprised 321 individuals, all of whom were residents of the Lublin province in southeastern Poland. The study investigated the influence of socio-demographic factors, such as gender, age and education on the severity of tooth loss. To analyze the structure of tooth loss, the classifications by Galasińska-Lansberger and by Eichner were used. The results were analyzed statistically. Results. Edentulous gaps and lateral edentulism in the maxilla were significantly more frequent in women, while mixed tooth loss was more frequent in men, while the percentages of men and women with maxillary edentulism were similar. There were no statistically significant gender-specific differences concerning mandibular edentulism. The number of individuals who reported total tooth loss in both the maxilla and the mandible increased with age, the differences being statistically significant. Individuals with primary education only were significantly more likely to report maxillary edentulism, while a high percentage of those with secondary or higher education reported edentulous gaps in the maxilla. There was no statistically significant relationship between education and the type of tooth loss in the mandible. Conclusions. There is a strong relationship between age and education level on the one hand, and the severity of tooth loss on the other. However, gender exerts no significant influence on tooth loss, which was confirmed using 2 classifications of edentulism

Tooth loss in the population of south-eastern Poland

Objectives. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between selected socio-demographic factors and tooth loss in patients using removable dentures. Materials and method. The study comprised 321 individuals, all of whom were residents of the Lublin province in southeastern Poland. The study investigated the influence of socio-demographic factors, such as gender, age and education on the severity of tooth loss. To analyze the structure of tooth loss, the classifications by Galasińska-Lansberger and by Eichner were used. The results were analyzed statistically. Results. Edentulous gaps and lateral edentulism in the maxilla were significantly more frequent in women, while mixed tooth loss was more frequent in men, while the percentages of men and women with maxillary edentulism were similar. There were no statistically significant gender-specific differences concerning mandibular edentulism. The number of individuals who reported total tooth loss in both the maxilla and the mandible increased with age, the differences being statistically significant. Individuals with primary education only were significantly more likely to report maxillary edentulism, while a high percentage of those with secondary or higher education reported edentulous gaps in the maxilla. There was no statistically significant relationship between education and the type of tooth loss in the mandible. Conclusions. There is a strong relationship between age and education level on the one hand, and the severity of tooth loss on the other. However, gender exerts no significant influence on tooth loss, which was confirmed using 2 classifications of edentulism

The prevalence of superior vena cava anomalies as detected in cardiac implantable electronic device recipients at a tertiary cardiology centre over a 12-year period.

Introduction: The vast majority of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) recipients require transvenous lead insertion, which may be hindered by the presence of venous anomalies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and variations of persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) and to conduct subsequent outpatient follow-up in terms of device function and the clinical condition of the recipients using data from CIED placement procedures conducted over a 12-year period. Methods: The study population included patients undergoing first-time transvenous implantation of cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). The presence of PLSVC was determined based on intra-procedure venography. Outpatient follow-up involved assessments of patient condition, radiological imaging, and CIED function. Results: Of a total of 4708 CIED recipients, PLSVC was detected in eight patients (mean age 65.5±13.9); five of them had double superior vena cava (DSVC), including three cases in which the vessels were bridged with a brachiocephalic vein (BCV). Three patients presented PLSVC associated with the absence of the right superior vena cava (RSVC), a very rare anomaly. Seven patients remain under observation, for a total of 78.4±48.4 months of follow-up. Conclusions: The rate of venous anomalies in the form of PLSVC detected in the evaluated population was 0.17%. These PLSVC cases were asymptomatic, which hindered their earlier detection. The presence of these anomalies made the procedures more challenging for the operator and increased the perioperative complication rates; however, neither patient condition nor CIED function was affected based on the long-term outpatient follow-up

Radiographic implications of procedures involving cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) – Selected aspects

Background: Some cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation procedures require the use of X-rays, which is reflected by such parameters as total fluoroscopy time (TFT) and dose-area product (DAP – defined as the absorbed dose multiplied by the area irradiated). Material and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 522 CIED implantation (424 de novo and 98 device upgrade and new lead placement) procedures in 176 women and 346 men (mean age 75±11 years) over the period 2012–2015. The recorded procedure-related parameters TFT and DAP were evaluated in the subgroups specified below. The group of 424 de novo procedures included 203 pacemaker (PM) and 171 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation procedures, separately stratified by single-chamber and dual-chamber systems. Another subgroup of de novo procedures involved 50 cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. The evaluated parameters in the group of 98 upgrade procedures were compared between 2 subgroups: CRT only and combined PM and ICD implantation procedures. Results: We observed differences in TFT and DAP values between procedure types, with PM-related procedures showing the lowest, ICD – intermediate (with values for single-chamber considerably lower than those for dual-chamber systems) and CRT implantation procedures – highest X-ray exposure. Upgrades to CRT were associated with 4 times higher TFT and DAP values in comparison to those during other upgrade procedures. Cardiac resynchronization therapy de novo implantation procedures and upgrades to CRT showed similar mean values of these evaluated parameters. Conclusions: Total fluoroscopy time and DAP values correlated progressively with CIED implantation procedure complexity, with CRT-related procedures showing the highest values of both parameters. Med Pr 2017;68(3):363–37

Is Caperatic Acid the Only Compound Responsible for Activity of Lichen <i>Platismatia glauca</i> within the Nervous System?

Lichens are a source of various biologically active compounds. However, the knowledge about them is still scarce, and their use in medicine is limited. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of the lichen Platismatia glauca and its major metabolite caperatic acid in regard to their potential application in the treatment of central nervous system diseases, especially neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumours, such as glioblastoma. First, we performed the phytochemical analysis of the tested P. glauca extracts based on FT-IR derivative spectroscopic and gas chromatographic results. Next the antioxidant properties were determined, and moderate anti-radical activity, strong chelating properties of Cu2+ and Fe2+ ions, and a mild effect on the antioxidant enzymes of the tested extracts and caperatic acid were proved. Subsequently, the influence of the tested extracts and caperatic acid on cholinergic transmission was determined by in vitro and in silico studies confirming that inhibitory effect on butyrylcholinesterase is stronger than against acetylcholinesterase. We also confirmed the anti-inflammatory properties of P. glauca extracts and caperatic acid using a COX-2 and hyaluronidase inhibition models. Moreover, our studies show the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activity of the P. glauca extracts against T98G and U-138 MG glioblastoma multiforme cell lines. In conclusion, it is possible to assume that P. glauca extracts and especially caperatic acid can be regarded as the source of the valuable substances to finding new therapies of central nervous system diseases