HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING OF THE SHALLOW CONTINENTAL SHELF WEST OF THE KAVALA BAY, NORTH AEGEAN

Σημαντικές γεωμορφολογικές δομές του ρηχού τμήματος της υφαλοκρηπίδας δυτικά του Κόλπου της Καβάλας χαρτογραφήθηκαν χρησιμοποιώντας τα δεδομένα από μια υδρογραφική αποτύπωση (τον Ιούνιο 2014) 320 ναυτικών μιλίων, η οποία περιελάμβανε υψηλής διακριτικότητας πολυδεσμική βαθυμετρική καταγραφή και διασκόπηση πυθμένα με σεισμική ανάκλαση. Αναγνωρίστηκε ένα σύστημα ρηγμάτων αποτελούμενο από ένα σετ δυο κυρίων κανονικών ρηγμάτων (καταγεγραμμένο μήκος και μετρημένο κατακόρυφο άλμα αυτών: 12 χλμ, 5 χλμ και > 40 μ, 25 μ, αντίστοιχα,) με έντονη επιφανειακή εκδήλωση στο θαλάσσιο πυθμένα, καθώς και τρία δευτερεύοντα ρήγματα νότια των κύριων ρηγμάτων, τα οποία φανερώνουν συνιζηματογενή τεκτονισμό. Η εντυπωσιακή διαφορά στις υφές των ιζημάτων που καλύπτουν αφενός το υποκείμενο ρηξιτέμαχος του βορειότερου κυρίου ρήγματος και αφετέρου την οροφή του νοτιότερου κυρίου ρήγματος δείχνει τη σημαντική επίδραση του τεκτονισμού στις ιζηματολογκές διεργασίες της περιοχής μελέτης. Όσον αφορά τις υπάρχουσες γεωμορφές, οι περισσότερο ενδιαφέρουσες είναι εκείνες των αμμωδών θινών στο βορειοανατολικό τμήμα της περιοχής μελέτης, ευρισκόμενες σε βάθη από 25 μ μέχρι τουλάχιστον 65 μ. Οι μεγάλες διαστάσεις τους καθώς και ο προσανατολισμός τους ως προς την ακτογραμμή υποδηλώνουν ως μηχανισμό σχηματισμού τους την δράση ισχυρών πυθμιαίων ρευμάτωνProminent geomorphological features of the shallow continental shelf west of the Kavala Bay (Loutra Eleftheron-Nea Peramos) were mapped using the data from a hydrographic survey (June 2014) of 320 nautical miles during which high resolution multibeam bathymetry and seismic-reflection subbottom profiling were carried out simultaneously. A fault zone comprised by a set of two primary sigmoidal gravity faults (recorded lengths and measured offsets: 12 km, 5 km and > 40 m, 25 m, respectively), with distinct expression on the seabed, and three other secondary gravity faults situated southern of the major faults, revealing synsedimentary tectonics, was identified. The striking difference between the texture of the footwall block sediments of the northern major fault and the texture of the sediments occupying the deep hanging wall block of the southern major fault emphasizes the impact of local tectonics on the sedimentary evolution of the study area. Concerning the observed bedforms, the most interesting were the sand dunes occurring at depths from 25 m to 65 m at least and occupying the northeast part of the study area. Their large dimensions and orientation in relation to the coastline position imply as a mechanism for their formation intense bottom-current activity

GEOMORPHOLOGY, SEDIMENTOLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY IN THE MARINE AREA BETWEEN SIFNOS AND KIMOLOS ISLANDS, GREECE

Στην ελάχιστα μελετημένη θαλάσσια περιοχή μεταξύ των νησιών Σίφνου και Κιμώλου πραγματοποιήθηκε μια εκτεταμένη ωκεανογραφική μελέτη, με σκοπό την καταγραφή της υποθαλάσσιας μορφολογίας και των χαρακτηριστικών των επιφανειακών ιζημάτων, καθώς και της πηγής προέλευσης αυτών. Έγιναν καταγραφές με πολυδεσμικό βυθόμετρο και δειγματοληψίες επιφανειακών ιζημάτων με box corer με το Ω/Κ Αιγαίο και ακολούθησαν αναλύσεις μεγέθους κόκκων, ορυκτολογίας και γεωχημείας. Ένα μεγάλο βαθυμετρικό βύθισμα εντοπίστηκε βόρεια της Κιμώλου, με μέγιστο βάθος 743 μ., που συγκεντρώνει λεπτόκοκκα ιζήματα. Η κατανομή των ιζημάτων ως προς το μέγεθος κόκκων χαρακτηρίζεται από σταδιακή μείωση του μεγέθους από νότο προς βορρά. Η ορυκτολογική σύσταση περιλαμβάνει ασβεστίτη, Mg-ασβεστίτη, αραγωνίτη, δολομίτη, χαλαζία, Κ-άστριους, πλαγιόκλαστα, αμφίβολους και αργιλικά ορυκτά. Οι κύριες ιζηματολογικές επαρχίες που αναγνωρίστηκαν είναι 1) η ρηχή περιοχή πλησίον της Κιμώλου, με υψηλό περιεχόμενο σε Si, Al, K, Rb και Ba, 2) η βαθιά περιοχή δυτικά της Σίφνου, όπου εμφανίζεται και το μεγάλο βύθισμα, που χαρακτηρίζεται από υψηλό περιεχόμενο σε Fe, Ti, Na, Mg, S, Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Zn και 3) το στενό μεταξύ Σίφνου και Κιμώλου, με υψηλότερο περιεχόμενο σε Ca, S και Sr. Στο βύθισμα αυτό, παρατηρήθηκε σημαντικός εμπλουτισμός των ιζημάτων σε μαγγάνιο, ενώ τα οξείδια του Mn φαίνεται να προσροφούν διάφορα μέταλλα.An extensive oceanographic survey was conducted in the marine area between Kimolos and Sifnos Islands, a rather poorly-studied sector of the Aegean Sea, in order to gain better understanding of submarine geomorphological features and associated sediment provenance. Multi-beam bathymetry and surface sediment sampling with a box corer were carried out on board R/V Aegaeo, followed by grain-size analysis, XRD and XRF measurements. A large circular depression was identified north of Kimolos reaching a water depth of 743 m, filled with fine grained sediments. Surface sediment distribution is characterized by gradual decrease in grain-size from silty sand to silt in a S-N direction. The mineralogical composition comprises calcite, Mgcalcite, aragonite, dolomite, quartz, K feldspars, plagioclase, amphiboles and clay minerals. Major sediment provinces identified were: (i) the shallow sector proximal to Kimolos, characterized by higher contents in Si, Al, K, Rb and Ba; (ii) the deep area west of Sifnos, including the large depression, characterized by higher contents in Fe, Ti, Na, Mg, S, Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Zn; and (iii) the south passage between Kimolos and Sifnos, which exhibits higher Ca, S, and Sr contents. Manganese enrichment was observed in and around the bathymetric depression, where Mn oxides act efficiently as scavengers of a suite of metals

Risk factors for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales: an international matched case-control-control study (EURECA)

Cases were patients with complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI), complicated intraabdominal (cIAI), pneumonia or bacteraemia from other sources (BSI-OS) due to CRE; control groups were patients with infection caused by carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacterales (CSE), and by non-infected patients, respectively. Matching criteria included type of infection for CSE group, ward and duration of hospital admission. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify risk factors. Findings Overall, 235 CRE case patients, 235 CSE controls and 705 non-infected controls were included. The CRE infections were cUTI (133, 56.7%), pneumonia (44, 18.7%), cIAI and BSI-OS (29, 12.3% each). Carbapenemase genes were found in 228 isolates: OXA-48/like, 112 (47.6%), KPC, 84 (35.7%), and metallo-beta-lactamases, 44 (18.7%); 13 produced two. The risk factors for CRE infection in both type of controls were (adjusted OR for CSE controls; 95% CI; p value) previous colonisation/infection by CRE (6.94; 2.74-15.53; <0.001), urinary catheter (1.78; 1.03-3.07; 0.038) and exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics, as categorical (2.20; 1.25-3.88; 0.006) and time-dependent (1.04 per day; 1.00-1.07; 0.014); chronic renal failure (2.81; 1.40-5.64; 0.004) and admission from home (0.44; 0.23-0.85; 0.014) were significant only for CSE controls. Subgroup analyses provided similar results. Interpretation The main risk factors for CRE infections in hospitals with high incidence included previous coloni-zation, urinary catheter and exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics

Safety and Efficacy of the NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 Vaccine at Completion of the Placebo-Controlled Phase of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The recombinant protein-based vaccine, NVX-CoV2373, demonstrated 89.7% efficacy against COVID-19 in a phase 3, randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in the United Kingdom. The protocol was amended to include a blinded crossover; data to the end of the placebo-controlled phase are reported. METHODS: Adults aged 18-84 years received two doses of NVX-CoV2373 or placebo (1:1) and were monitored for virologically confirmed mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19 (onset from 7 days after second vaccination). Participants who seroconverted to immunoglobulin G (IgG) against the nucleocapsid protein and did not meet criteria for symptomatic COVID-19 were classified as having asymptomatic disease. Secondary outcomes included anti-spike (S) IgG responses, wild-type virus neutralization, and T-cell responses. RESULTS: Of 15185 participants, 13989 remained in the per-protocol efficacy population (6989 NVX-CoV2373, 7000 placebo). At a maximum of 7.5 months (median, 4.5 months) postvaccination, there were 24 cases of COVID-19 among NVX-CoV2373 recipients and 134 cases among placebo recipients, a vaccine efficacy of 82.7% (95% CI: 73.3-88.8). Vaccine efficacy was 100% (17.9-100.0) against severe disease and 76.3% (57.4-86.8) against asymptomatic disease. High anti-S and neutralization responses to vaccination were evident, together with S-protein-specific induction of interferon-γ secretion in peripheral blood T cells. Incidence of serious adverse events and adverse events of special interest were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: A two-dose regimen of NVX-CoV2373 conferred a high level of ongoing protection against asymptomatic, symptomatic, and severe COVID-19 through >6 months postvaccination. A gradual decrease of protection suggests that a booster dose may be indicated

The effect of intradermal administration of corynebacterium parvum on the immune response to hepatitis Bs antigen

The immunopotentiating effect of the intradermal administration of a course of four doses (0.25 ml) of a standard suspension of killed C. parvum (2 mg/ml) was studied in a group of 10 asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, as well as in 11 persons with antibodies to HBsAg (anti‐HBs) and six without HBsAg or anti‐HBs. HBsAg, anti‐HBs, and leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) studies were performed in pre‐ and post‐inoculation blood samples. C. parvum produced a substantial increase of anti‐HBs titre in persons with preexisting anti‐HBs. However, anti‐HBs responses were not induced in carriers. HBsAg was not eliminated and its titre remained practically unchanged in carriers. These results support the hypothesis that in carriers the specific defect in the immune response to HBsAg possibly exists at the B cell level. Copyright © 1977 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Compan

Antibiotics and cure rates in childhood febrile urinary tract infections in clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common bacterial infections among children. Objective: To systematically review the antimicrobials used for febrile urinary tract infections in pediatric clinical trials and meta-analyze the observed cure rates and reasons for treatment failure. Materials and Methods: We searched Medline, Embase and Cochrane central databases between January 1, 1990, and November 24, 2016, combining MeSH and free-text terms for: “urinary tract infections”, AND “therapeutics”, AND “clinical trials” in children (age range 0–18 years). Two independent reviewers assessed study quality and performed data extraction. The major outcome measures were clinical and microbiological cure rates according to different antibiotics. Results: We identified 2,762 published studies and included 30 clinical trials investigating 3913 cases of pediatric febrile urinary tract infections. Children with no underlying condition were the main population included in the trials (n=2,602; 66.5%). Cephalosporins were the most frequent antibiotics studied in trials (22/30, 73.3%). Only a few antibiotics active against resistant urinary tract infections have been tested in randomised clinical trials, mainly aminoglycosides. The average point cure rate of all investigational drugs was estimated to 95.3% [95% CI 93.5-96.9%]. Among 3,002 patients for whom cure and failure rates were reported, only 3.9% (3.9%; 118/3,002) were considered clinically to have treatment failure, while 135 (4.5%; 135/3,002) had microbiological failure. Conclusions: We observed high treatment cure rates, regardless of the investigational drug chosen, the route of administration, duration and dosing. This suggests that future research should prioritise observational studies and clinical trials on children with multi-drug resistant infections

Safety and efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 Covid-19 vaccine

BACKGROUND Early clinical data from studies of the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine (Novavax), a recombinant nanoparticle vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that contains the full-length spike glycoprotein of the prototype strain plus Matrix-M adjuvant, showed that the vaccine was safe and associated with a robust immune response in healthy adult participants. Additional data were needed regarding the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of this vaccine in a larger population. METHODS In this phase 3, randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 33 sites in the United Kingdom, we assigned adults between the ages of 18 and 84 years in a 1:1 ratio to receive two intramuscular 5-μg doses of NVX-CoV2373 or placebo administered 21 days apart. The primary efficacy end point was virologically confirmed mild, moderate, or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection with an onset at least 7 days after the second injection in participants who were serologically negative at baseline. RESULTS A total of 15,187 participants underwent randomization, and 14,039 were included in the per-protocol efficacy population. Of the participants, 27.9% were 65 years of age or older, and 44.6% had coexisting illnesses. Infections were reported in 10 participants in the vaccine group and in 96 in the placebo group, with a symptom onset of at least 7 days after the second injection, for a vaccine efficacy of 89.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.2 to 94.6). No hospitalizations or deaths were reported among the 10 cases in the vaccine group. Five cases of severe infection were reported, all of which were in the placebo group. A post hoc analysis showed an efficacy of 86.3% (95% CI, 71.3 to 93.5) against the B.1.1.7 (or alpha) variant and 96.4% (95% CI, 73.8 to 99.5) against non-B.1.1.7 variants. Reactogenicity was generally mild and transient. The incidence of serious adverse events was low and similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS A two-dose regimen of the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine administered to adult participants conferred 89.7% protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and showed high efficacy against the B.1.1.7 variant

Safety and efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 Covid-19 vaccine

BACKGROUND Early clinical data from studies of the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine (Novavax), a recombinant nanoparticle vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that contains the full-length spike glycoprotein of the prototype strain plus Matrix-M adjuvant, showed that the vaccine was safe and associated with a robust immune response in healthy adult participants. Additional data were needed regarding the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of this vaccine in a larger population. METHODS In this phase 3, randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 33 sites in the United Kingdom, we assigned adults between the ages of 18 and 84 years in a 1:1 ratio to receive two intramuscular 5-μg doses of NVX-CoV2373 or placebo administered 21 days apart. The primary efficacy end point was virologically confirmed mild, moderate, or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection with an onset at least 7 days after the second injection in participants who were serologically negative at baseline. RESULTS A total of 15,187 participants underwent randomization, and 14,039 were included in the per-protocol efficacy population. Of the participants, 27.9% were 65 years of age or older, and 44.6% had coexisting illnesses. Infections were reported in 10 participants in the vaccine group and in 96 in the placebo group, with a symptom onset of at least 7 days after the second injection, for a vaccine efficacy of 89.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.2 to 94.6). No hospitalizations or deaths were reported among the 10 cases in the vaccine group. Five cases of severe infection were reported, all of which were in the placebo group. A post hoc analysis showed an efficacy of 86.3% (95% CI, 71.3 to 93.5) against the B.1.1.7 (or alpha) variant and 96.4% (95% CI, 73.8 to 99.5) against non-B.1.1.7 variants. Reactogenicity was generally mild and transient. The incidence of serious adverse events was low and similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS A two-dose regimen of the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine administered to adult participants conferred 89.7% protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and showed high efficacy against the B.1.1.7 variant