Shelf-life of smoked eel fillets treated with chitosan or thyme oil

The present study examined the effect of natural antimicrobials: Chitosan, thyme oil and their combination, on the shelf- life of smoked eel fillets stored under vacuum packaging (VP) at 4°C. Based on sensory odor data smoked eel fillets had a shelf- life of 35 (control), 42 (thyme treated and >49 (thyme, chitosan-thyme treated) days. The thiobarbituric acid value (TBA) value of the control eel sample was significantly higher than the chitosan-thyme-treated eel samples. The use of chitosan singly, or in combination with thyme oil reduced lipid oxidation (TBA) of the smoked eel samples. A trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) value of 10 mg N/100 g, could be suggested as an indication of smoked eel spoilage initiation. Control and treated eel reached total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) values of 13.1-31.5 mg N/100 g below the maximum permissible level of TVB-N in fish and fishery products. Eel samples reached the value of 7.0 log cfu/g (Total Plate Count,TPC) on days 35 (smoked) and 42 (thyme treated), whereas both chitosan and chitosan-thyme treated eel samples never reached this limit value. Results of our study show thyme or chitosan (singly, or in combination) inhibit the growth of mesophilic bacteria and extend the shelf- life of smoked eel.Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud Universit

Onychomycosis in Northwestern Greece over a 7-Year Period

Onychomycosis is considered as one of the major public health problems with a global distribution associated with geographic, demographic and environmental factors, underlying comorbidities and immunodeficiency disorders. This study was conducted to investigate the etiological agents of onychomycosis, in Northwestern Greece during a 7-year period. The study population included 1095 outpatients with clinically suspected onychomycosis that presented to the University Hospital of Ioannina, NW Greece (2011–2017). Samples were examined for causative fungi, and mycological identification was established using standard mycological methods. Demographic data of each patient, comorbidities, localization of infection and history of previous fungal infection were collected. Onychomycosis was diagnosed in 317 of the 1095 suspected cases (28.9%) and the most frequently isolated pathogens were yeasts (50.8%) followed by dermatophytes (36.9%) and non-dermatophyte molds (NDMs) (12.3%). Dermatophytes were mostly involved in toenail onychomycosis (90.6%) and more commonly affected males than females (57.3% vs. 42.7%), while the predominantly isolated pathogen was Τrichophyton rubrum (74.4%) followed by Τrichophyton interdigitale (21.4%). Candida albicans was the most prevalent isolated yeast (82%), whereas among the cases with onychomycosis due to NDMs, Aspergillus spp. were isolated as the principal species (59%). Continuous monitoring should be performed in order to identify possible trends and shifts in species isolation rates and to evaluate the impact of onychomycosis among the general population and high-risk groups

Oropouche Fever: A Review

Oropouche fever is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), an arthropod transmitted Orthobunyavirus circulating in South and Central America. During the last 60 years, more than 30 epidemics and over half a million clinical cases attributed to OROV infection have been reported in Brazil, Peru, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago. OROV fever is considered the second most frequent arboviral febrile disease in Brazil after dengue fever. OROV is transmitted through both urban and sylvatic transmission cycles, with the primary vector in the urban cycle being the anthropophilic biting midge Culicoides paraensis. Currently, there is no evidence of direct human-to-human OROV transmission. OROV fever is usually either undiagnosed due to its mild, self-limited manifestations or misdiagnosed because its clinical characteristics are similar to dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever, including malaria as well. At present, there is no specific antiviral treatment, and in the absence of a vaccine for effective prophylaxis of human populations in endemic areas, the disease prevention relies solely on vector control strategies and personal protection measures. OROV fever is considered to have the potential to spread across the American continent and under favorable climatic conditions may expand its geographic distribution to other continents. In view of OROV’s emergence, increased interest for formerly neglected tropical diseases and within the One Health concept, the existing knowledge and gaps of knowledge on OROV fever are reviewed

Спадщина Святого Луки (Валентина Феліксовича Войно-Ясенецького) в медичній науці

Saint Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and Crimea (1877‒1961), was born Valentin Felixovich Voyno-Yasenetsky in Kerch, Crimea. He served as an outstanding physician and Academic Professor of Topographic Anatomy and Operative Surgery at Medical School of Tashkent University. He worked extensively on the fields of surgery, regional anesthesia, pyogenic infections, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology, gynecology, urology, and dentistry, often under difficult circumstances. He performed a wide variety of operations, from minor outpatient procedures to extremely complicated ones, followed by extensive inpatient management and treatment of ailing individuals. He published numerous research articles and books. His most acclaimed monograph entitled “Essays on the surgery of pyogenic infections” (“Sketches of purulent surgery”), focused on the broad field of surgery with special reference to the pyogenic infections and served as a reference tool and guide book for the next generations of physicians. The Stalin Prize was the highest professional honor awarded to Valentin Felixovich Voyno-Yasenetsky by the Soviet state in recognition of his contribution to science. Voyno-Yasenetsky was a blessed physician who had a major influence on both patients and colleagues, due to his fundamental ethical principles and values based on Christian beliefs. His life and scientific work have been an example of the practical unity of scientific truth and religious faith. He was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood, until he elevated to the ranks of Bishop and Archbishop. He was arrested and subsequently exiled for his religious beliefs and his glorification by the Orthodox Church as Saint Luke was held in Russia in 2000, as a recognition of God’s holiness manifesting in his life. Saint Luke received an honorable place in the history of Medicine and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The present study aims to highlight key elements of his life and his scientific contributions.Святой Лука, архиепископ Симферопольский и Крымский (1877-1961), родился Валентин Феликсович Войно-Ясенецкий в Керчи, Крым. Он был выдающимся врачом и работал академическим профессором топографической анатомии и оперативной хирургии в медицинской школе Ташкентского университета. Он много работал в области хирургии, регионарной анестезии, гнойных инфекций, офтальмологии, нейрохирургии, онкологии, ортопедии, оториноларингологии, гинекологии, урологии и стоматологии, часто в сложных обстоятельствах. Он делал самые разные операции, от незначительных амбулаторных процедур до чрезвычайно сложных, с последующим длительным стационарным лечением. Он опубликовал многочисленные научные статьи и книги. Его самая известная монография под названием “Очерки хирургии гнойных инфекций” (“Очерки гнойной хирургии”) сосредоточена на широком поле хирургии с особенностями хирургии гнойных инфекций и послужила справочным инструментом и путеводителем для последующих поколений врачей. Сталинская премия была самой высокой профессиональной наградой, которую Валентин Феликсович Войно-Ясенецкий получил от советского государства как признание его вклада в науку. Войно-Ясенецкий был талантливым врачом, который имел большое влияние как на пациентов, так и на коллег, благодаря своим фундаментальным этическим принципам и ценностям, основанным на христианских верованиях. Его жизнь и научная деятельность были примером практического единства научной истины и религиозной веры. Он был назначен дьяком и священником, а позже рукоположен к чинам епископа и архиепископа. Он был арестован и впоследствии сослан за свои религиозные верования и прославления православной церкви. В России в 2000 году произошло общецерковное прославление святого Луки, как признание святости Бога, что оказалась в его жизни. Святой Лука получил почетное место в истории медицины и Восточной Православной Церкви. Это исследование имеет целью осветить ключевые элементы его жизни и его научный вклад.Святий Лука, архієпископ Сімферопольський і Кримський (1877‒1961), Валентин Феліксович Войно-Ясенецький, народився у Керчі у Криму. Він був видатним лікарем, і працював академічним професором топографічної  анатомії та оперативної хірургії в медичній школі Ташкентського університету. Він багато працював у галузі хірургії, регіонарної анестезії, гнійних інфекцій, офтальмології, нейрохірургії, онкології, ортопедії, оториноларингології, гінекології, урології та стоматології, часто за складних обставин. Він робив найрізноманітніші операції, від незначних амбулаторних процедур до надзвичайно складних, з подальшим довготривалим стаціонарним лікуванням. Він опублікував численні наукові статті та книги. Його найвідоміша монографія під назвою “Нариси хірургії гнійних інфекцій” (“Нариси гнійної хірургії”) зосереджена на широкому полі хірургії з особливостями хірургії гнійних інфекцій та послужила довідковим інструментом та путівником для наступних поколінь лікарів. Сталінська премія була найвищою професійною відзнакою, яку Валентин Феліксович Войно-Ясенецький отримав від радянської держави як визнання його внеску в науку. Войно-Ясенецький був талановитим лікарем, який мав великий вплив як на пацієнтів, так і на колег, завдяки своїм фундаментальним етичним принципам та цінностям, заснованим на християнських віруваннях. Його життя та наукова діяльність були прикладом практичної єдності наукової істини та релігійної віри. Він був призначений дяком і священником, а пізніше висвячений до чинів єпископа та архієпископа. Він був заарештований і згодом засланий за свої релігійні вірування та прославлення православної церкви. В Росії в 2000 році відбулося загальноцерковне прославляння святого Луки, як визнання святості Бога, що виявилося в його житті. Святий Лука отримав почесне місце в історії медицини та Східної Православної Церкви. Це дослідження має на меті висвітлити ключові елементи його життя та його науковий внесок

In vitro investigation of the antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils

During the last decade the scientific community is trying to cope with the emergence of pathogens resistant to currently available antimicrobials. The impact of antibiotic resistant microorganisms on human health, society and economy is large. In addition, substances with antimicrobial effect are increasingly used as food preservatives thus reinforcing the emergence of resistant microorganisms, not to mention their direct impact on consumers’ health. As a result, during the recent years research in the field of new antimicrobials has been intensified. Luckily, Mother Nature has a plethora of natural substances and extracts with a huge structural and biological diversity, which have infinite potentials for the development of new antimicrobial drugs. The objective of the present doctoral thesis was the investigation of the antimicrobial effect of five different plant essential oils towards various ATCC and wild bacterial and fungal strains, both susceptible and resistant to currently used antimicrobials. More specifically, the antimicrobial activity of essential oils derived from basil, thyme, oregano, tea tree and chamomile, was studied towards the following bacterial and fungal strains: - 41 multi-resistant bacterial strains and 12 strains of Candida spp isolated from equal number of hospitalized patients (University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece) - 11 bacterial strains isolated from various food and water samples. - 9 ATCC strains. The automated VITEK II system (Bio-merieux, France), the agar disk-diffusion method (Bauer-Kirby) and the E-test were employed for the susceptibility testing. The essential oils used in this study were commercially available by Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH (Germany), while their main compounds were identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). The antimicrobial activity of the employed essential oils was tested using the broth serial dilution method for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the time-kill kinetics. Also the viable plate counts and the optical density method were used in addition to the broth serial dilution method. All experiments were performed in duplicate. The results demonstrated that with the exception of the chamomile oil, all the rest essential oils exhibited significant antimicrobial activity towards the tested microbial strains. The essential oils of oregano and thyme exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity towards Gram (+) bacterial strains with minimum MIC 0,063% v/v. The essential oils of tea-tree, oregano and thyme had the strongest antimicrobial activity towards Gram (-) bacterial strains with minimum MIC 0,125% v/v. Concerning the Candida spp strains all essential oils - except the chamomile oil, displayed similar antimicrobial activity, with minimum MIC 0,063% v/v. The overall range of MIC was from 0,063 v/v to >4% v/v. The determination of MIC using the viable plate count method produced more reliable results compared to the optical density method. According to the results of the present experimental study, the employed essential oils reveal significant antimicrobial activity in vitro towards both susceptible and multi- resistant microorganisms. Conclusively, the plant essential oils have a very good potential to be used as antimicrobials; however there is an urgent need for identification of the hidden compounds encompassing the true antimicrobial effect, which actually should be extracted or synthesized in pure form for future use in the Pharmaceutical and Food Industry.Η επιστημονική κοινότητα την τελευταία 10ετία έχει έρθει αντιμέτωπη με το οξύ πρόβλημα της αύξησης των ανθεκτικών μικροοργανισμών στα αντιβιοτικά, το οποίο έχει πάρει μεγάλες διαστάσεις με κοινωνικές και οικονομικές προεκτάσεις. Ταυτόχρονα η αυξανόμενη χρήση των συντηρητικών στα τρόφιμα προκαλεί επίσης ανησυχία, αφού και αυτά συμβάλλουν στην ενίσχυση της αντιβιοαντοχής των μικροοργανισμών, ενώ παράλληλα πολλά από αυτά θεωρούνται επιβλαβή για την υγεία. Ως εκ τούτου τα τελευταία χρόνια έχει εντατικοποιηθεί η έρευνα στον τομέα της αναζήτησης νέων αντιμικροβιακών ουσιών. Η φύση παρέχει πληθώρα συστατικών και εκχυλισμάτων με μεγάλη δομική και βιολογική πολυμορφία, που παρέχουν απεριόριστες δυνατότητες για την ανάπτυξη νέων αντιμικροβιακών ουσιών. Σκοπός της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής ήταν ο έλεγχος της αντιμικροβιακής δράσης πέντε αιθέριων ελαίων έναντι ευαίσθητων και πολυανθεκτικών κλινικών βακτηριακών στελεχών και μυκήτων, καθώς και πρότυπων στελεχών. Συγκεκριμένα μελετήθηκε η δράση των πρότυπων αιθέριων ελαίων του βασιλικού, του θυμαριού, της ρίγανης, του τεϊόδενδρου και του χαμομηλιού έναντι: - 41 πολυανθεκτικών κυρίως, βακτηριακών στελεχών και 12 κλινικών στελεχών του γένους Candida spp που απομονώθηκαν από ισάριθμους ασθενείς του Πανεπιστημιακού Νοσοκομείου Ιωαννίνων. - 11 στελεχών βακτηρίων που απομονώθηκαν από τρόφιμα και νερά. - 9 πρότυπων ATCC στελεχών. Για τον έλεγχο ευαισθησίας των στελεχών στα αντιβιοτικά χρησιμοποιήθηκαν το αυτοματοποιημένο σύστημα VITEK II (Bio merieux, France), η μέθοδος διάχυσης σε άγαρ Bauer-Kirby και το E-test. Τα πρότυπα αιθέρια έλαια που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν προήλθαν από την εταιρεία Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH (Germany) και για την ταυτοποίηση των κύριων δομικών τους συστατικών χρησιμοποιήθηκε η αέριος χρωματογραφία με φασματογράφο μάζας (GC-MS). Η αντιμικροβιακή δράση των ελαίων έναντι των μικροβιακών στελεχών που εξετάσθηκαν, μελετήθηκε με τη μέθοδο των αραιώσεων σε ζωμό, με την οποία προσδιορίσθηκε η ελάχιστη ανασταλτική πυκνότητα (MIC), η ελάχιστη βακτηριοκτόνος πυκνότητα (MBC) και η κινητική θανάτωσης των βακτηρίων (time-kill kinetic), με την καταμέτρηση των αποικιών σε άγαρ (viable counts) και τη μέθοδο της οπτικής πυκνότητας (optical density method). Όλοι οι πειραματισμοί έγιναν εις διπλούν. Από τα αποτελέσματα προέκυψε ότι τα αιθέρια έλαια που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν με εξαίρεση το έλαιο του χαμομηλιού, παρουσίασαν αξιοσημείωτη αντιμικροβιακή δράση έναντι των εξεταζόμενων στελεχών. Τα αιθέρια έλαια της ρίγανης και του θυμαριού εμφάνισαν την ισχυρότερη δράση έναντι των Gram (+) βακτηρίων με μικρότερη τιμή MIC 0,063% v/v. Τα αιθέρια έλαια του τεϊόδενδρου, της ρίγανης και του θυμαριού εμφάνισαν την ισχυρότερη δράση έναντι των Gram (-) βακτηρίων με μικρότερη τιμή MIC 0,125% v/v. Στους μύκητες η δράση των αιθέριων ελαίων ήταν ισοδύναμη με εξαίρεση την ανενεργή δράση του ελαίου του χαμομηλιού, ενώ η μικρότερη τιμή MIC ήταν 0,063% v/v. Συνολικά το εύρος των τιμών MIC κυμάνθηκε από 0,063 v/v έως >4% v/v. Ο προσδιορισμός των τιμών MIC με τη μέθοδο της καταμέτρησης των αποικιών σε άγαρ εμφάνισε περισσότερο αξιόπιστα αποτελέσματα σε σχέση με την αντίστοιχη μέθοδο της οπτικής πυκνότητας. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας μελέτης, τα αιθέρια έλαια παρουσιάζουν αξιοσημείωτη δράση in vitro έναντι ευαίσθητων και πολυανθεκτικών μικροοργανισμών. Μελλοντικά, αφού ταυτοποιηθούν πλήρως οι χημικές ενώσεις των αιθέριων ελαίων, που εμφανίζουν τη συγκεκριμένη αντιμικροβιακή δράση, θα μπορούσαν να χρησιμοποιηθούν στη Φαρμακοβιομηχανία και στη Βιομηχανία Τροφίμων για την παρασκευή νέων αντιμικροβιακών φαρμάκων και νέων πιο ασφαλών συντηρητικών

Oropouche Fever: A Review

Oropouche fever is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), an arthropod transmitted Orthobunyavirus circulating in South and Central America. During the last 60 years, more than 30 epidemics and over half a million clinical cases attributed to OROV infection have been reported in Brazil, Peru, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago. OROV fever is considered the second most frequent arboviral febrile disease in Brazil after dengue fever. OROV is transmitted through both urban and sylvatic transmission cycles, with the primary vector in the urban cycle being the anthropophilic biting midge Culicoides paraensis. Currently, there is no evidence of direct human-to-human OROV transmission. OROV fever is usually either undiagnosed due to its mild, self-limited manifestations or misdiagnosed because its clinical characteristics are similar to dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever, including malaria as well. At present, there is no specific antiviral treatment, and in the absence of a vaccine for effective prophylaxis of human populations in endemic areas, the disease prevention relies solely on vector control strategies and personal protection measures. OROV fever is considered to have the potential to spread across the American continent and under favorable climatic conditions may expand its geographic distribution to other continents. In view of OROV’s emergence, increased interest for formerly neglected tropical diseases and within the One Health concept, the existing knowledge and gaps of knowledge on OROV fever are reviewed

Rapid Detection of blaKPC-9 Allele from Clinical Isolates

The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) nosocomial outbreaks related to specific blaKPC gene variants dictates the need for applicable diagnostic methods for allele discrimination. We report here a simple method of blaKPC-9 allele recognition based on a combination of endonuclease digestion analysis and PCR amplification using unique primers. K. pneumoniae isolates carrying the blaKPC gene were tested. Digestion with RsaI restriction endonuclease was found to efficiently differentiate the blaKPC-2 from the blaKPC-9 variants into two distinct groups of digestion patterns named KPC-2-like and KPC-9-like, respectively. An additional procedure, the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) method, was applied to identify the variant within the same group. The principles of this procedure could be developed to identify several blaKPC gene variants, as well as monitoring the spread and evolution of specific KPC variants within local geographical regions

Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens and Detection of Carbapenemases in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Hospital Wastewater

During a six-month period (October 2017–March 2018), the prevalence and susceptibility of important pathogenic bacteria isolated from 12 hospital raw sewage samples in North Western Greece was investigated. The samples were analyzed for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli, carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CKP), and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the agar diffusion method according to the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The diversity of carbapenemases harboring K. pneumoniae was examined by two phenotyping screening methods (modified Hodge test and combined disk test), a new immunochromatographic rapid assay (RESIST-4 O.K.N.V.) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results demonstrated the prevalence of MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), VRE, and CKP in the examined hospital raw sewage samples. In addition, the aforementioned methods which are currently used in clinical laboratories for the rapid identification and detection of resistant bacteria and genes, performed sufficiently to provide reliable results in terms of accuracy and efficiency

An Update on Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the arthropod-borne flaviviruses (arboviruses) which are mainly transmitted by blood-sucking mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. ZIKV infection has been known to be rather asymptomatic or presented as febrile self-limited disease; however, during the last decade the manifestation of ZIKV infection has been associated with a variety of neuroimmunological disorders including Guillain–Barré syndrome, microcephaly and other central nervous system abnormalities. More recently, there is accumulating evidence about sexual transmission of ZIKV, a trait that has never been observed in any other mosquito-borne flavivirus before. This article reviews the latest information regarding the latter and emerging role of ZIKV, focusing on the consequences of ZIKV infection on the male reproductive system and the epidemiology of human-to-human sexual transmission