A Search for Photons with Energies Above 2X10(17) eV Using Hybrid Data from the Low-Energy Extensions of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Ultra-high-energy photons with energies exceeding 10(17) eV offer a wealth of connections to different aspects of cosmic-ray astrophysics as well as to gamma-ray and neutrino astronomy. The recent observations of photons with energies in the 10(15) eV range further motivate searches for even higher-energy photons. In this paper, we present a search for photons with energies exceeding 2 x 10(17) eV using about 5.5 yr of hybrid data from the low-energy extensions of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The upper limits on the integral photon flux derived here are the most stringent ones to date in the energy region between 10(17) and 10(18) eV

Indications of suppression of excited Υ states in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76TeV

This is the pre-print version of the Published Article which can be accessed from the link below.A comparison of the relative yields of Υ resonances in the μ+μ- decay channel in Pb-Pb and pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 2.76 TeV is performed with data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Using muons of transverse momentum above 4  GeV/c and pseudorapidity below 2.4, the double ratio of the Υ(2S) and Υ(3S) excited states to the Υ(1S) ground state in Pb-Pb and pp collisions, [Υ(2S+3S)/Υ(1S)]Pb-Pb/[Υ(2S+3S)/Υ(1S)]pp, is found to be 0.31-0.15+0.19(stat)±0.03(syst). The probability to obtain the measured value, or lower, if the true double ratio is unity, is calculated to be less than 1%

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

AVALIAÇÃO DA ATIVIDADE ANTIBIOFILME DE SOBRENADANTES DE CULTURA DE LIMOSILACTOBACILLUS FERMENTUM TCUESC01 E LACTIPLANTIBACILLUS PLANTARUM TCUESC02 FRENTE A ACINETOBACTER BAUMANII NCTC 13304

Introdução/Objetivo: Nos últimos anos, a Acinectobacter baumannii foi considerada uma das espécies bacterianas mais preocupantes em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) por apresentarem a capacidade de formar fortes biofilmes impedindo o contato dos antibióticos com as bactérias, minimizando a sua eficácia, resultando na longa permanência hospitalar, no aumento significativo da mortalidade e custos para as instituições de saúde. Desta forma, torna-se importante a busca por novas substâncias que possam atuar diretamente sobre a Acinectobacter baumannii e/ou atuar desorganizando seu biofilme. Nesse contexto, os sobrenadantes de lactobacilos com atividades probióticas já descritas em outros estudos do nosso grupo, foram testados com essa finalidade. Assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi analisar in vitro se o isolado de A. baumannii é capaz de formar biofilme e posteriormente avaliar a capacidade dos sobrenadantes de lactobacilos probióticos estudados pelo grupo de pesquisa interferir nesta formação. Métodos: Para isso, foi utilizada uma cepa de Acinectobacter baumannii NCTC 13304 - cedido gentilmente pela Profa. Luciana D. Carvalho - e sobrenadantes de cultura livre de células das cepas de Limosilactobacillus fermentum TCUESC01 e Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TCUESC02 oriundas da fermentação do cacau fino do sul da Bahia. A interação entre o biofilme de A. baumannii e o sobrenadante dos lactobacilos na concentração de 40 mg/mL ocorreu em placas de 96 poços por 24 e 48h, seguida de fixação em metanol, secagem e tratamento com cristal violeta 0,1% e solubilização com álcool absoluto em triplicata. As microplacas foram analisadas através de leitor de ELISA no comprimento de onda de 595 nanômetros. Resultados: A cepa de A. baumannii foi forte formadora de biofilme e o tratamento com os sobrenadantes de ambos os lactobacilos tanto em 24 como 48h de tratamento apresentaram atividade inibitória sobre essa formação. O sobrenadante da cepa de L. plantarum TCUESC02 apresentou melhores resultados de inibição com valores de 48% em 24h e de 57% em 48h de incubação. Já o sobrenadante da cepa de L. fermentum TCUESC01 apresentou inibição de 20% em 24h e de 27% em 48h de incubação. Conclusão: Esse trabalho demonstrou atividade promissora antibiofilme dos sobrenadante das culturas dos lactobacilos, principalmente TCUESC02, frente a Acinectobacter baumanii – NCTC 1330. Mais estudos são necessários para elucidar melhor o mecanismo de inibição demonstrado no trabalho