Successfully treated multiple brain abscess in a newborn: A case report

Multiple brain abscesses are exceedingly uncommon in newborns and represent a serious medical problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment is also controversial issue, and can require surgery, abscess aspiration, antibiotic therapy, and eradication of the primary source. We report a case of successfully treated multiple brain abscess in a newborn with combined therapy which consisted of abscess aspiration and prolonged antibiotics. Patient developed hydrocephalus as late complication which was also successfully treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Ensuring positive feedback: Factors that influence customer satisfaction in the contemporary hospitality industry

h i g h l i g h t s We examine the extent to which certain hotel features affect customer satisfaction in the European hospitality industry. Data were collected from one of the leading online hotel reservation service's systems. After controlling for the hotel classification, we identify eight additional factors that affect customer satisfaction. Our findings provide assistance to hotel managers in determining the optimal allocation of scarce financial resources. This study provides insight into the hotel characteristics that have a significant association with customer satisfaction. Data related to a sample of 6768 hotels located in 47 capital cities in Europe are analysed by using a linear mixed model technique. The results confirm the findings of previous studies, which state that hotel star rating is the single most important factor that influences customer experience. Furthermore, the presence of air-conditioning devices in rooms, a bar located within the hotel area, access to WiFi Internet free of charge, membership in a branded hotel chain and price have significant positive associations with customer satisfaction (ceteris paribus). Variables that appear to be adversely associated with customer satisfaction are distance from the city centre, size of the hotel, and general hotel price level in the city where the hotel is located. a r t i c l e i n f

Chemical composition and biological activity of the acetone extract of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. pollen

In this study, the chemical components, antimicrobial and genotoxic biological activities of the acetone extract of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. pollen were examined. Two lactones were identified: ambrosin and artesovin. The antimicrobial activity of the acetone extract of A. artemisiifolia L. pollen was examined on ten different bacterial species using the disc diffusion method and the microdilution method in Mueller-Hinton broth dilution. The minimal inhibitory concentration of the acetone extract of A. artemisiifolia pollen varied between 1.25−6.50 mg mL-1. The genotoxic effect of the acetone extract of A. artemisiifolia pollen on a eukaryotic model system Drosophila melanogaster was investigated using the SLRL test

Continuous optimization using elite genetic algorithms with adaptive mutations

The elite genetic algorithm with adaptive mutations is applied to two different continuous optimization problems: determination of model parameters of optical constants of aluminum and thin film optical filter design. The concept of adaptive mutations makes the employed algorithm a versatile tool for solving continuous optimization problems. The algorithm has been successful in solving both investigated problems. In determination of optical constants of aluminum, excellent agreement between calculated and experimental data is obtained. In application to thin film optical filter design, low-pass filters designed using this algorithm are clearly superior to filters designed using the traditional approach.2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Simulated Evolution and Learning (SEAL 98), Nov 24-27, 1998, Canberra, Australi

Continuous optimization using elite genetic algorithms with adaptive mutations

The elite genetic algorithm with adaptive mutations is applied to two different continuous optimization problems: determination of model parameters of optical constants of aluminum and thin film optical filter design. The concept of adaptive mutations makes the employed algorithm a versatile tool for solving continuous optimization problems. The algorithm has been successful in solving both investigated problems. In determination of optical constants of aluminum, excellent agreement between calculated and experimental data is obtained. In application to thin film optical filter design, low-pass filters designed using this algorithm are clearly superior to filters designed using the traditional approach.2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Simulated Evolution and Learning (SEAL 98), Nov 24-27, 1998, Canberra, Australi

Serum albumin binding analysis and toxicological screening of novel chroman-2,4-diones as oral anticoagulants

Two chroman-2,4-dione derivatives, namely 2a and 2f, were tested as in vivo anticoagulants by seven days of continuous per os application to adult male Wistar rats in a concentration of 20 mg/kg of body weight. Derivatives were selected from a group of six previously intraperitoneally applied compounds on the basis of presenting remarkable activity in a concentration of 2 mg/kg of body weight. The derivatives 2a and 2f are VKORC1 inhibitors, and comparison of the absorption spectra, association, and dissociation constants suggested that the compounds will be bound to serum albumin in the same manner as warfarin is, leading to transfer towards the molecular target VKORC1. After oral administration, the compounds proved to be anticoagulants comparable with warfarin, inasmuch as the measured prothrombin times for 2a and 2f were 56.63 and 60.08 s, respectively. The INR values of 2a and 2f ranged from 2.6 to 2.8, recommending them as useful therapeutics in the treatment of patients suffering from thromboembolic events and atrial fibrillation. The high percentage of binding and high binding affinity of 2a and 2f towards serum albumin reduced the risk of induced internal bleeding. Several kinds of toxicity studies were performed to investigate whether or not 2a and 2f can cause pathological changes in the liver, kidneys, and DNA. The catalytic activity of serum enzymes, concentration and catalytic activity of liver and kidney oxidative stress markers and enzymes, respectively, as well as the observed hepatic and renal morphological changes indicated that the compounds in relation to warfarin induced irrelevant hepatic toxicity, no increment of necrosis, and inconsiderable oxidative damage in the liver and kidneys. Estimation of DNA damage using the comet assay confirmed that 2a and 2f caused no clinically significant genotoxicity. The higher activity and lower toxicity of 2f recommended this compound as a better drug candidate than 2a. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia {[}III 43004, III 41010, OI 173020