Far-from-equilibrium attractors with Full Relativistic Boltzmann approach in boost-invariant and non-boost-invariant systems

We study the universal behavior associated with a Relativistic Boltzmann Transport (RBT) approach with the full collision integral in 0+1D conformal systems. We show that all momentum moments of the distribution function exhibit universal behavior. Furthermore, the RBT approach allows to calculate the full distribution function, showing that an attractor behavior is present in both the longitudinal and transverse momentum dependence. We compare our results to the far-from-equilibrium attractors determined with other approaches, such as kinetic theory in Relaxation Time Approximation (RTA) and relativistic hydrodynamic theories, both in their viscous (DNMR) an anisotropic (aHydro) formulations, finding a very similar evolution, but an even faster thermalization in RBT for higher order moments. For the first time, we extended this analysis also to study the attractor behavior under a temperature-dependent viscosity $\eta/s(T)$, accounting also for the rapid increase toward the hadronic phase. We find that a partial breaking of the scaling behavior with respect to $\tau/\tau_{eq}$ emerges only at $T \approx T_c$ generating a transient deviation from attractors; interestingly this in realistic finite systems may occur around the freeze-out dynamics. Finally, we investigate for the first time results beyond the boost-invariant picture, finding that also in such a case the system evolves toward the universal attractor. In particular, we present the forward and pull-back attractors at different space-time rapidities including rapidity regions where initially the distribution function is even vanishing.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figure

Clinical and in vitro efficacy of colistin plus vancomycin and rifampin against colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii causing ventilator-associated pneumonia

We present the case of a patient with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by a pan-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii successfully treated with the combination colistin plus vancomycin plus rifampin, whose in vitro activity was investigated by checkerboard method and killing testing. Furthermore, the serum bactericidal activity (SBA) was assessed. Our case shows that an innovative regimen consisting of colistin plus antimicrobials active only against Gram-positive microorganisms might represent a valid therapeutic option for severe infections caused by colistin-resistant A. baumannii

Sonoelastography in the diagnosis of tendinopathies: An added value

BACKGROUND: sonoelastography helps in the detection of abnormalities not yet evident on B-mode exam. METHODS: in this observational study, we report a collection of cases of symptomatic patients without alterations at ultrasound imaging but with evidence of pathological findings at sonoelastography. Patients, with clinical history suggestive for tendinopathies or surgically treated, and negative at the ultrasound exam, were submitted to sonoelastography. Out of 846, 632 patients with positive ultrasound exam were excluded. Sonoelastography was therefore performed in the remaining 214. RESULTS: the examination was positive in 168 cases: 78 patients were affected with shoulder diseases, while elbow pathology was observed in 31 subjects; patellar, Achilles and plantar fascia disorders were reported in 19, 27, and 13 patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: sonoelastography can reveal tendon abnormalities of clinical relevance in a high percentage of cases, where the ultrasound exam was negative, making the method a complementary tool to ultrasound evaluation

In-vitro evaluation of different antimicrobial combinations with and without colistin against carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumannii

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-Ab) infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate the in-vitro activity of different antimicrobial combinations (with and without colistin, COL) against clinical isolates of CR-Ab collected from patients with CR-Ab infection, including unconventional combinations such as COL + VANcomycin (VAN) and COL + rifampin (RIF). CR-Ab strains were collected from hospitalized patients at Sapienza University of Rome. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined throughout MIC50/90s whereas the synergistic activity was evaluated by qualitative (i.e., checkerboard) and quantitative (i.e., killing studies) methods. All the strains were found oxacillinase (OXA) producers and tigecycline (TIG) sensitive whereas 2 strains were resistant to COL. Application of the checkerboard method indicated complete synergism in COL combinations at different extension: 21.4%, 57.1%, 42.8%, 35.7% for COL + meropenem (MEM), COL + RIF, COL + VAN and COL + TIG, respectively, with the non-conventional combinations COL + VAN and COL + RIF exhibiting the highest rate of synergism. Regarding COL-free combination, complete synergism was observed in 35.7% of the strains for MEM + TIG. Killing studies showed that the combinations COL + MEM, COL + TIG and MEM + TIG were bactericidal and synergistic against both colistin-sensitive and low colistin-resistant strains whereas only the combinations COL + VAN and COL + RIF showed an early and durable bactericidal activity against all the tested strains, with absence of growth at 24 h. This study demonstrated that COL-based combinations lead to a high level of synergic and bactericidal activity, especially COL + VAN and COL + RIF, even in the presence of high level of COL resistance

Chemical and antimicrobial analyses of Sideritis romana L. subsp. purpurea (Tal. ex Benth.) Heywood, an endemic of the Western Balkan

A comprehensive study on essential oil and different solvent extracts of Sideritis romana L. subsp. purpurea (Tal. ex Benth.) Heywood (Lamiaceae) from Montenegro is reported. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the essential oil revealed a total of 43 components with bicyclogermacrene (23.8%), germacrene D (8%), (E)-caryophyllene (7.9%) and spathulenol (5.5%) as the major ones. Sesquiterpenoid group was found to be the most dominant one (64.8%), with 19.9% of the oxygenated forms. In the crude methanol extract of the investigated plant, obtained by Sohhlet exraction, the total phenol content was 14.7 ± 0.4 mg of GA/g, the total flavonoids were 0.29 ± 0.03% expressed as hyperoside percentage, whereas the total tannins content was 0.22 ± 0.04% expressed as pyrogallol percentage. For the antimicrobial activity determination, the following microorganisms have been used: methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 29213)) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA (clinical strain)), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), carbapenem-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae (clinical strain), carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (clinical strain) and Candida albicans (ATCC 14053). The essential oil showed high potency against MSSA and MRSA, both at high (~5 × 10 5 CFU/mL) and low (~5 × 10 3 CFU/mL) inoculum. With respect to MSSA, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was 0.307 mg/mL, with bactericidal activity obtained at 0.615 mg/mL, while, in the case of MRSA, the MIC and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were 0.076 and 0.153 mg/mL, respectively. Regarding anti-Candida albicans activity, the MIC value was 2.46 mg/mL without reaching fungicidal activity. In addition to the observed essential oil efficacy, different solvent extracts were analyzed for their antimicrobial activity. Similarly to the essential oil, thehighest efficacy was observed against both MSSA and MRSA strains, at high and low inoculums, in the case of the 1,2-dichloroethane and methanol extracts. A potent fungicidal activity has been also found for the n-hexane and 1,2-dichloroethane extracts. It can be concluded that Sideritis romana L. subsp. purpurea (Tal. ex Benth.) Heywood provides a wide range of application in different fields such as phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology or pharmacognosy

High potency of melaleuca alternifolia essential oil against multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacteria and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

Purpose: Herein, an extended investigation of Tea tree oil (TTO) against a number of multi-drug resistant (MDR) microorganisms in liquid and vapor phases is reported. Methods: The activity of TTO was tested against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Escherichia coli, and clinical strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta lactamases producer carbapenem-sensitive Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-CS-Kp), carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CR-Kp), Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-Ab), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CR-Pa). Minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations (MIC/MBCs) and synergistic activity between TTO and different antimicrobials were determined. In the vapor assay (VP), TTO-impregnated discs were placed on the lid of a petri dish and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. Results: TTO showed a potent bactericidal activity against all the tested microorganisms. TTO in combination with each reference antimicrobial showed a high level of synergism at sub-inhibitory concentrations, particularly with oxacillin (OXA) against MRSA. The VP assay showed high activity of TTO against CR-Ab. Conclusion: Evaluation of in-vitro activity clearly indicated TTO as a potential effective antimicrobial treatment either alone or in association with known drugs against MDR. Therefore, TTO could represent the basis for a possible role in non-conventional regimens against S. aureus and Gram-negative MDR. TTO in VP might represent a promising option for local therapy of pneumonia caused by CR-Ab

Crystal structure of the stereoregular ethylene-alt-styrene copolymer synthesized with a zirconocene-based catalyst

A stereoregular alternating ethylene-styrene copolymer, also stretchable in fiber form, has been obtained with rac-isopropylidenebis( l-indenyl)zirconium dimethyldiamide activated by the methylalumoxane catalytic system. From X-ray diffraction fiber spectra, an isotactic structure has been assigned to this copolymer as well as the previously described stereoregular ethylene-styrene copolymers. The polymer has zigzag planar chain conformation with phenyl groups oriented perpendicularly to the chain axis. The crystallographic symmetry in B2/m. Lattice constants (monoclinic, unique axis c): a = 10.23, b = 15.53, c = 5.12 Angstrom; gamma = 98.6 degrees. The disagreement index for measured reflections is R-1 = 0.10

Fatal injection of ranitidine: a case report

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac(R)), a histamine-2-receptor antagonist, is a widely used medication with an excellent safety record. Anaphylactic reaction to ranitidine is an extremely rare event and a related death has never been described in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the clinical history, histological and toxicological data of a 51-year-old man with negative anamnesis for allergic events, who died suddenly after the intravenous administration of one phial of Zantac(R) 50 mg prescribed as a routine post-surgical prophylaxis for stress ulcer. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of anaphylactic reactions related to ranitidine is low, caution needs to be exercised on administration of this drug. In addition, further study is needed to define strategies for the prevention of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients