High prevalence of NDM metallo-β-lactamase among ESBL-producing Escherichia coli İsolates

Resistance to β-lactams in Enterobacteriaceae has been increasing worldwide. This study aimed to determine the frequency of β-lactamase genes and antibiotic resistance rates of 140 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolates obtained from urinary tract infection in Ordu Province, Turkey. Isolates were identified by classic methods and by automated system. ESBL production was confirmed by double disk synergy test and antimicrobial susceptibility was investigated by disk diffusion method. All isolates were screened for β-lactamase coding genes from three groups (A, B, and D) by polymerase chain reaction. The highest rate of susceptible isolates was observed for imipenem (IPM, 99.3%) and ertapenem (ETP, 97.9%), and the highest rate of resistant isolates was observed for cefuroxime (97.9%), ceftriaxone (97.2%), and cefazolin (90.7%). In our study, blaCTX-M1-like group was the most prevalent β-lactamase (n = 109), followed by blaTEM (n = 68), blaCTX-M2 (n = 22), and blaSHV (n = 2). By contrast to low resistance rate to IPM and ETP, we determined blaNDM in 31 isolates (22.1%). In co-prevalence of blaNDM-1 and ESBL-coding genes, a low carbapenem resistance was determined. We can confirm that blaCTX-M1-types are still the most frequent β-lactamase coding gene in Turkey. Our study showed the highest prevalence of blaNDM-1 metallo-β-lactamase coding gene in ESBL-producing E. coli

Environmental Impact Assessment of Mining Activities in the Vicinity of Madenkoy (Nigde) Using Biogeochemical Modeling

WOS: 000330234000115Detection, distribution and assessment of environmental impacts of covered mine ores uses biogeochemical methods in addition to geochemical methods. This study analyzed environmental effects of mineralization and mining activities on plants, using biogeochemical methods. The study also determined spatial distribution of biogeochemical parameters by modeling through geochemical and geostatistical methods. The study used Astragalus sp., Berberis vulgaris, Colutea cilicia, Juniperus oxycedrus, Paliurus spina-christi, Pinus nigra, Rosa canina plant species, which are abundant and widely distributed in the region. It was found that among plant species, branch of Juniperus oxycedrus were found to be indicators for Pb (r = 0.7541; p = < 0.01; n = 15) and branch of Pinus nigra were found to be indicators for Zn (r = 0.79; p = < 0.01; n = 13). Analyses showed that metal accumulation varied in each plant. It was observed that biologic absorption coefficients corresponded to strong absorption (BAC = 1-10) values in Zn and Pb elements.Cukurova University Scientific Research Projects UnitCukurova University [MMF2003 YL.25]This paper is a part of the M.Sc. study of Tulin Gedik. This study was supported by Cukurova University Scientific Research Projects Unit, with a project number (MMF2003 YL.25)

Terahertz Channel Modeling of Underground Sensor Networks in Oil Reservoirs

IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM) -- DEC 03-07, 2012 -- Anaheim, CAWOS: 000322375100088Future enhanced oil recovery technology requires wireless sensor networks to effectively operate in underground oil reservoirs. In this case, the millimeter scale sensor nodes with the antennas at the same scale have to be deployed in the confined underground oil reservoir fractures. This necessitates the sensor nodes to be operating in the THz frequency range. In this paper, the propagation based on electromagnetic (EM) waves in the Terahertz band (0.1-120.0 THz) through a crude oil/water mixture and soil medium is analyzed in order to explore its applicability in underground oil reservoir assessments. The developed model evaluates the total path loss and the absorption loss that an EM wave experiences when propagating through the crude oil/water mixture and soil medium. Our results show that sensors can communicate successfully for distances up to 1 centimeter and we have determined the existence of two transmission bands, in which the path loss is below 100 dB. Among those, the frequency window, which provides best performance, determined as 70 to 85 THz. Different path and absorption loss schemes considered, which suggests that the 70 to 85 THz band is suitable for sensor communications in a medium of crude oil/water mixture and soil.IEEE, IEEE Commun So

The Presence of Hemorrhagic Shock on Admission Is the Strongest Predictor of Mortality in Trauma Patients Who Require Packing

The aim of this study was to evaluate patients who had to be applied with packing because of abdominal trauma and to identify the factors affecting mortality from the findings on admission and the laboratory values that can be immediately examined. A retrospective analysis of 42 patients accepted to our level one trauma center between January 1998 and December 2017 was carried out. The patients were evaluated in respect of demographic characteristics, vital parameters, trauma type, injury severity score (ISS), the presence of additional injuries, transfusion amount, the need for intensive care, mortality rates, complications, the number and types of operations performed, the number of packings, the need for re-laparotomy, imaging methods, and radiological interventions. Of these parameters, the effects on mortality of findings on admission and the laboratory values that could be immediately tested were examined in particular. Packing was applied to 27 patients due to blunt trauma and to 15 patients due to penetrating trauma. Thirty-one patients had hypotension, and 24 of them had hemorrhagic shock status upon admission. Average ISS value was 34.5 +/- 9.9 (16-59). Twenty of the 42 patients died (47.6%). ISS level, hypotension, and hemorrhagic shock on admission were found to be significant risk factors of death in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis however, only the presence of hemorrhagic shock was a statistically significant factor related to mortality. The presence of hemorrhagic shock on admission is a strong predictor of mortality in patients undergoing damage control surgery

Growth Hormone, Insulin Like Growth Factor-1, and Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-3 Levels in the Neonatal Period: A Preliminary Study

Background: Growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) are used in the neonatal period for evaluation of diseases such as GH deficiency, intrauterine growth restriction, and hypoglycemia. However, GH level has been reported as a single value during the neonatal period. In this study, we attempted to determine the changes of GH, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 in the neonatal period for each week