Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Childhood Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis in Western Greece

Acute bacterial conjunctivitis is a common, highly contagious infection in children and is usually treated empirically with broad spectrum topical antibiotics. In the current study we investigated bacteriology and antibiotic susceptibility patterns in childhood acute bacterial conjunctivitis in Western Greece. We conducted a retrospective analysis of presumed acute bacterial conjunctivitis cases in ''Karamandaneio'' Pediatric General Hospital of Patras, Western Greece, between February 1, 2013 and January 31, 2018. Specimens from the lower conjunctiva fornix were isolated from 191 cases and outcomes were analyzed to identify the pathogenic bacteria of acute bacterial conjunctivitis and their corresponding antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Patients were divided into 3 groups; Group A included neonates under 28 days of life, Group B children from 1 month to 2 years and Group C from 2 years to 14 years. Results revealed that Staphylococcus spp., Haemophilus spp. and Streptococcus spp. were the most prevalent pathogens. No significant differences in isolated pathogens were found between the age groups. Antibiotic resistance rates were higher against ampicillin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime and sulfamethoxazole. Resistance rates to Ciprofloxacin were low while none of the evaluated isolates were resistant to vancomycin. We concluded that predominant pathogens of childhood acute bacterial conjunctivitis in Western Greece were Staphylococcus spp., Haemophilus spp. and Streptococcus spp. Continuous surveillance, focused in distinct geographic areas, is encouraged to prepare more precise protocols of empirical treatment. Epub: October 1, 2019

Sciatica due to extrapelvic heterotopic ossification: A case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Sciatica is a common problem, usually caused by disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Low back pain is also present in most cases. When sciatica is the unique clinical finding, especially in young patients, extraspinal pathology should be investigated.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe a rare case of sciatica in a 32-year-old man, which was developed as a complication of post-traumatic pelvic heterotopic ossification. During the operation, the sciatic nerve was found to be bluish, distorted and compressed in an hourglass fashion around a heterotopic bone mass. The heterotopic bone tissue, 4 cm in diameter, was removed and the patient had fully recovered 3 months after the operation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In cases of sciatica without back pain, the possibility of direct pressure of the sciatic nerve from cysts, tumours or bone, as in the present case, should be considered.</p

Molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2: the dominant role of arginine in mutations and infectivity

Background, Aims, Methods, Results, Conclusions: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global challenge due to its ability to mutate into variants that spread more rapidly than the wild-type virus. The molecular biology of this virus has been extensively studied and computational methods applied are an example paradigm for novel antiviral drug therapies. The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population is driven, in part, by mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S-) protein, some of which enable tighter binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2). More stable RBD-ACE2 association is coupled with accelerated hydrolysis by proteases, such as furin, trypsin, and the Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2) that augment infection rates, while inhibition of the 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) can prevent the viral replication. Additionally, non-RBD and non-interfacial mutations may assist the S-protein in adopting thermodynamically favorable conformations for stronger binding. This study aimed to report variant distribution of SARS-CoV-2 across European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries and relate mutations with the driving forces that trigger infections. Variants’ distribution data for SARS-CoV-2 across EU/EEA countries were mined from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) based on the sequence or genotyping data that are deposited in the Global Science Initiative for providing genomic data (GISAID) and The European Surveillance System (TESSy) databases. Docking studies performed with AutoDock VINA revealed stabilizing interactions of putative antiviral drugs, e.g., selected anionic imidazole biphenyl tetrazoles, with the ACE2 receptor in the RBD-ACE2 complex. The driving forces of key mutations for Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Kappa, Lambda, and Omicron variants, which stabilize the RBD-ACE2 complex, were investigated by computational approaches. Arginine is the critical amino acid in the polybasic furin cleavage sites S1/S2 (681-PRRARS-686) S2′ (814-KRS-816). Critical mutations into arginine residues that were found in the delta variant (L452R, P681R) and may be responsible for the increased transmissibility and morbidity are also present in two widely spreading omicron variants, named BA.4.6 and BQ.1, where mutation R346T in the S-protein potentially contributes to neutralization escape. Arginine binders, such as Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs), could be a class of novel drugs for treating COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic: The Vaccine of a Society is its Education

After the outbreak of COVID-19, societies were called to face its spread with several measures. However, the health of every human being is a good that is necessary for the prosperity of a society. Public health is everyone's individual responsibility. Health education is the process that will lead to the proper and prepared behavior of societies in any virus outbreak, and this should be cultivated from a very young age starting from school.</jats:p

Late-Onset Bilateral Choroidal Metastases from Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Aim. To present a case of clear cell renal cell carcinoma with late-onset bilateral choroidal metastases. Case Report. A 57-year-old male patient in the Oncology Clinic complained of reduced vision in the right eye (OD) for 7 days. The patient, who was under immunotherapy with nivolumab, had been diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in the left kidney 15 years ago that recurred in the right kidney before 2 years. Metastases in the brain, lungs, and bones had also been diagnosed. On ophthalmological examination, the visual acuity was 20/50 OD and 20/20 in the left eye (OS). Dilated fundus examination in OD revealed a single raised oval-shaped yellowish choroidal nodule infratemporally with macular involvement. A similar lesion, sparing the macula, was observed in OS. Fundus autofluorescence revealed diffuse punctate hyperautofluorescence on the lesions. Serous macular detachment was also observed in OD. A standardized A-scan ultrasound demonstrated an irregular structure of the lesions with moderate to high internal reflectivity. Based on the history and clinical and echographic characteristics, the diagnosis of bilateral choroidal metastases from renal cell carcinoma was set. Conclusion. Choroidal metastases from the primary renal tumor are extremely rare. The time interval between primary malignancy and choroidal metastasis is reported to be 12-96 months. Bilateral choroidal metastases have been described in 9 cases. We describe a rare case where bilateral choroidal metastases were diagnosed 15 years after the initial diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Late-Onset Bilateral Choroidal Metastases from Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Aim. To present a case of clear cell renal cell carcinoma with late-onset bilateral choroidal metastases. Case Report. A 57-year-old male patient in the Oncology Clinic complained of reduced vision in the right eye (OD) for 7 days. The patient, who was under immunotherapy with nivolumab, had been diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in the left kidney 15 years ago that recurred in the right kidney before 2 years. Metastases in the brain, lungs, and bones had also been diagnosed. On ophthalmological examination, the visual acuity was 20/50 OD and 20/20 in the left eye (OS). Dilated fundus examination in OD revealed a single raised oval-shaped yellowish choroidal nodule infratemporally with macular involvement. A similar lesion, sparing the macula, was observed in OS. Fundus autofluorescence revealed diffuse punctate hyperautofluorescence on the lesions. Serous macular detachment was also observed in OD. A standardized A-scan ultrasound demonstrated an irregular structure of the lesions with moderate to high internal reflectivity. Based on the history and clinical and echographic characteristics, the diagnosis of bilateral choroidal metastases from renal cell carcinoma was set. Conclusion. Choroidal metastases from the primary renal tumor are extremely rare. The time interval between primary malignancy and choroidal metastasis is reported to be 12-96 months. Bilateral choroidal metastases have been described in 9 cases. We describe a rare case where bilateral choroidal metastases were diagnosed 15 years after the initial diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.</jats:p