Clostridium difficile infection in Polish pediatric outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease

The prevalence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still not sufficiently recognized. We assessed the prevalence of CDI and recurrences in outpatients with IBD. In addition, the influence of IBD therapy on CDI and antimicrobial susceptibility of the potentially causative C. difficile strains was assessed. This was a prospective, single-center, observational study. All specimens were obtained between January 2005 and January 2007 from the IBD outpatient service and screened for C. difficile and its toxins. C. difficile isolates were genotyped by PCR ribotyping. Diagnosis of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) was based on Porto criteria. Severity of disease was assessed using the Hyams scale (for Crohn’s disease) and the Truelove–Witts scale (for ulcerative colitis). One hundred and forty-three fecal samples from 58 pediatric IBD patients (21 with Crohn’s disease and 37 with ulcerative colitis) were screened. The risk of C. difficile infection was 60% and was independent of disease type (CD or UC) (χ2 = 2.5821, df = 3, p = 0.4606). About 17% of pediatric IBD patients experienced a recurrence of CDI. All C. difficile strains were susceptible to metronidazole, vancomycin and rifampin. A high prevalence of C. difficile infection and recurrences in pediatric outpatients with IBD was observed, independent of disease type. There was no significant correlation between C. difficile infection and IBD therapy. PCR ribotyping revealed C. difficile re-infection and relapses during episodes of IBD in pediatric outpatients

Europe-wide expansion and eradication of multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae lineages: a genomic surveillance study

Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance and the Euro-GASP study group: Sonja Pleininger, Alexander Indra, Irith De Baetselier, Wim Vanden Berghe, Blaženka Hunjak, Tatjana Nemeth Blažić, Panayiota Maikanti-Charalambous, Despo Pieridou, Hana Zákoucká, Helena Žemličková, Steen Hoffmann, Susan Cowan, Lasse Jessen Schwartz, Rita Peetso, Jevgenia Epstein, Jelena Viktorova, Ndeindo Ndeikoundam, Beatrice Bercot, Cécile Bébéar, Florence Lot, Susanne Buder, Klaus Jansen, Vivi Miriagou, Georgios Rigakos, Vasilios Raftopoulos, Eszter Balla, Mária Dudás, Lena Rós Ásmundsdóttir, Guðrún Sigmundsdóttir, Guðrún Svanborg Hauksdóttir, Thorolfur Gudnason, Aoife Colgan, Brendan Crowley, Sinéad Saab, Paola Stefanelli, Anna Carannante, Patrizia Parodi, Gatis Pakarna, Raina Nikiforova, Antra Bormane, Elina Dimina, Monique Perrin, Tamir Abdelrahman, Joël Mossong, Jean-Claude Schmit, Friedrich Mühlschlegel, Christopher Barbara, Francesca Mifsud, Alje Van Dam, Birgit Van Benthem, Maartje Visser, Ineke Linde, Hilde Kløvstad, Dominique Caugant, Beata Młynarczyk-Bonikowska, Jacinta Azevedo, Maria-José Borrego, Marina Lurdes Ramos Nascimento, Peter Pavlik, Irena Klavs, Andreja Murnik, Samo Jeverica, Tanja Kustec, Julio Vázquez Moreno, Asuncion Diaz, Raquel Abad, Inga Velicko, Magnus Unemo, Helen Fifer, Jill Shepherd, Lynsey PattersonBackground: Genomic surveillance using quality-assured whole-genome sequencing (WGS) together with epidemiological and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data is essential to characterise the circulating Neisseria gonorrhoeae lineages and their association to patient groups (defined by demographic and epidemiological factors). In 2013, the European gonococcal population was characterised genomically for the first time. We describe the European gonococcal population in 2018 and identify emerging or vanishing lineages associated with AMR and epidemiological characteristics of patients, to elucidate recent changes in AMR and gonorrhoea epidemiology in Europe. Methods: We did WGS on 2375 gonococcal isolates from 2018 (mainly Sept 1-Nov 30) in 26 EU and EEA countries. Molecular typing and AMR determinants were extracted from quality-checked genomic data. Association analyses identified links between genomic lineages, AMR, and epidemiological data. Findings: Azithromycin-resistant N gonorrhoeae (8·0% [191/2375] in 2018) is rising in Europe due to the introduction or emergence and subsequent expansion of a novel N gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) genogroup, G12302 (132 [5·6%] of 2375; N gonorrhoeae sequence typing for antimicrobial resistance [NG-STAR] clonal complex [CC]168/63), carrying a mosaic mtrR promoter and mtrD sequence and found in 24 countries in 2018. CC63 was associated with pharyngeal infections in men who have sex with men. Susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime is increasing, as the resistance-associated lineage, NG-MAST G1407 (51 [2·1%] of 2375), is progressively vanishing since 2009-10. Interpretation: Enhanced gonococcal AMR surveillance is imperative worldwide. WGS, linked to epidemiological and AMR data, is essential to elucidate the dynamics in gonorrhoea epidemiology and gonococcal populations as well as to predict AMR. When feasible, WGS should supplement the national and international AMR surveillance programmes to elucidate AMR changes over time. In the EU and EEA, increasing low-level azithromycin resistance could threaten the recommended ceftriaxone-azithromycin dual therapy, and an evidence-based clinical azithromycin resistance breakpoint is needed. Nevertheless, increasing ceftriaxone susceptibility, declining cefixime resistance, and absence of known resistance mutations for new treatments (zoliflodacin, gepotidacin) are promising.This study was supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, the Li Ka Shing Foundation (Big Data Institute, University of Oxford), the Wellcome Genome Campus, the Foundation for Medical Research at Örebro University Hospital, and grants from Wellcome (098051 and 099202). LSB was funded by Conselleria de Sanitat Universal i Salut Pública, Generalitat Valenciana (Plan GenT CDEI-06/20-B), Valencia, Spain, and Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PID2020–120113RA-I00), Spain, at the time of analysing and writing this manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Investigation of the influence of chemical interaction aftermarket additives on lubricating properties of Marinol RG 1240 engine oil

The paper presents the results of lubricating properties tests of Marinol RG 1240 motor oil used in trunk piston marine diesel engines and modified by chemical interaction aftermarket additives – Motor Life Professional and Mind. The test results were collected by means of a four-ball extreme pressure tester T-02 according to Polish Norm PN-76/C-04147. The following lubricating properties parameters were determined: weld load Pz, maximum nonseizure load Pn, seizure load Pt, load wear index Ih and load limit of wear Goz. Investigations showed that tested chemical interaction aftermarket additives improve load wear index Ih, and seizure load Pt (in case of Motor Life Professional), simultaneously impair maximum non-seizure load Pn. Weld load Pz remains on the same level. But the load limit of wear Goz which characterises the wear resistance in extremely hard working conditions increases considerably- 542% for tested oil with the addition of 5% by volume of Motor Life Professional and 520% with the addition of 5% by volume of Mind additive. These results indicates that tested aftermarket additives can form additional boundary layer (independent of lubricating oil boundary layer) which activates in extreme working conditions (very high temperatures and loads) of the sliding node elements. That layer could protect machines elements against seizure. In authors opinion, modifying of motor oils (provided with antiwear and antiseizure additives by the manufacturer) by chemical interaction aftermarket additives can increase durability and reliability of the machine elements especially in hard working condition for example frequent starts and load changes, overloads, operation in polluted atmosphere (transport, mining, building engineering etc.)

Evaluation of gene resources of Istebna spruce at in situ and ex situ conservation plots

On the basis of survival rate and breast height diameter divergence at age of 16, the adaptation of progeny of 45 Norway spruce stands of the Istebna race was evaluated in the Wisla (in situ) and Kórnik (ex situ) plots of the Carpathian Gene Bank. The determination concerned the significance of the effect of genetic (provenance) and environmental (block) factors as well as the effect of interaction of these factors on the divergence of the investigated adaptation traits. A selected Norway spruce population was characterized by the highest survival rate and breast height diameter in the habitat conditions of both conservation areas

Plasma Coatings on Aluminium-Silicon Alloy Surfaces

Plasma oxidation, similarly to anodic oxidation (anodizing), are classified as electrochemical surface treatment of metals such as Al, Mg, Ti and their alloys. This type of treatment is used to make surface of castings, plastically processed products, shaped with incremental methods to suitable for certain requirements. The most important role of the micro plasma coating is to protect the metal surface against corrosion. It is well known that coating of aluminium alloys containing silicon using anodic oxidation causes significant difficulties. They are linked to the eutectic nature of this alloy and result in a lack of coverage in silicon-related areas. The coating structure in these areas is discontinuous. In order to eliminate this phenomenon, it is required to apply oxidation coatings using the PEO (Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation) method. It allows a consistent, crystalline coating to be formed. This study presents the mechanical properties of the coatings applied to Al-Si alloy using the PEO method. As part of the testing, the coating thickness, microhardness and scratch resistance were determined. On the basis of the results obtained, it was concluded that the thickness of the coatings complies with the requirements of conventional anodizing. Additionally, microhardness values exceeded the results obtained with standard methods