Activity of selected plant extracts against honey bee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae

International audienceAbstractThe present study focuses on the antibacterial activity of selected plant extracts against Paenibacillus larvae, the causal agent of American foulbrood disease of honey bees. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to analyze six diethyl ether extracts of two white birch species, black poplar and common aspen buds, as well as n-hexane, diethyl ether, and methanol extracts of young twigs from downy and silver birches. Among the identified extract constituents were flavonoids, phenylpropenoids, triterpenoids, and glucosides. In spite of significant differences in qualitative and quantitative composition, all tested in vitro extracts demonstrated high anti-P. larvae activity at minimal inhibitory concentration levels between < 1.0 and 125 μg/mL. To examine the cause of such disparity, the anti-P. larvae activity of some individual constituents naturally present in plant extract compounds was determined. A higher susceptibility of P. larvae (ERIC I) to relatively poorly polar triterpenoid levels compared to polar compounds, flavonoids, and glucosides was demonstrated

Wady zastawkowe serca i różne profile dobowe ciśnienia tętniczego

Introduction. Valvular heart diseases (VHD) increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the correlation between circadian blood pressure profile (CBPP) and VHD. The study aimed to clarify the association between CBPP and VHD prevalence. Material and methods. 103 consecutive patients (male: 50.5%), who underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) and Holter electrocardiography simultaneously were analysed. Patients were divided into 3 groups: dipping was defined as 10–20% (28.2%), non-dipping as &lt; 10% (50.5%) fall in nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and reverse-dipping as higher nocturnal than diurnal BP (21.4%). VHD was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography and described as mild, moderate or severe regurgitation or stenosis accordingly. Further, the severity of VHD, nocturnal fall pattern and ABPM features in all groups were compared. Results. The authors found no statistically significant association between severity of VHD and dipping status. The presented study showed some correlations between VHD severity and different ABPM parameters. Conclusions. Though severity of VHD did not influence dipping status obtained by ABPM, there were associations between VHD and ABPM outcomes. Further studies are needed.Wstęp. Wady zastawkowe serca (VHD) zwiększają ryzyko zachorowań i zgonów z przyczyn sercowo-naczyniowych. Niewiele wiadomo na temat zależności między profilem dobowym ciśnienia tętniczego (CBPP) a VHD. Celem tej pracy było wyjaśnienie związku między CBPP a VHD. Materiał i meody. Do badania włączono 103 kolejnych pacjentów (mężczyźni 50,5%), u których równocześnie wykonano całodobowy pomiar ciśnienia tętniczego (ABPM) i 24-godzinny zapis elektrokardiograficzny metodą Holtera. Podzielono ich na trzy grupy: dippers — zdefiniowanych jako osoby z ciśnieniem tętniczym (BP) w nocy o 10–20% niższym niż w ciągu dnia (28,2%), non-dippers — osoby ze spadkiem BP w nocy mniejszym niż 10% (50,5%), reverse-dippers — osoby z wyższymi wartościami BP w nocy niż w ciągu dnia (21,4%). Metodą echokardiografii przezklatkowej oceniano VHD jako małą, umiarkowaną lub ciężką. Następnie porównywano ciężkość VHD, CBPP i dane z ABPM we wszystkich grupach. Wyniki. Nie znaleziono istotnej statystycznie zależności między cięż kością VHD a CBPP. Zaobserwowano korelację między ciężkością VHD a niektórymi parametrami ocenianymi w trakcie ABPM. Wnioski. Choć ciężkość VHD nie wpływała na CBPP, to istnieją zależności między wynikami VHD i ABPM. Konieczne są dalsze badania

Determinants of the circadian blood pressure pattern in hospitalized hypertensive patients

Background. Non-dipping hypertension might be associated with increased cardiovascular risk and multiple diseases. The aim of our study was to assess if there are parameters identified in 24-hour ECG-Holter monitoring (ECG-Holter), transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), ECG parameters or laboratory data that allow prediction of circadian blood pressure profile (CBPP). Material and methods. One hundred and three consecutive patients (male: 50.5%), who underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP measurement and ECG-Holter simultaneously were analyzed. We divided patients into 3 groups: dipping was defined as 10–20% (28.2%), non-dipping as &lt; 10% (50.5%) fall in nocturnal BP and reverse-dipping as higher nocturnal than diurnal BP (21.4%). Additionally, we performed TTE and laboratory check-up in all patients. We built multivariable models for nocturnal fall in systolic BP (SBP) and CBPP. Results. Multivariable model based on clinical factors was: nocturnal fall in SBP (%) = [13.28 – 0.11 × age – 8.33 × (dilated cardiomyopathy) – 5.95 × PAD – 6.02 × a-adrenolytic]. Multivariable model based on laboratory, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters was: nocturnal fall in SBP (%) = [–27.28 + 1.47 × hemoglobin – 0.14 × CK-MB + 0.14 × maximal heart rate]. Multivariable model for CBPP based on clinical factors included use of beta- or alpha-adrenolytics or torasemide. Conclusions. We proved that nocturnal fall in SBP and CBPP could be predicted based on ECG-Holter parameters, laboratory data and TTE results, as well as based on detailed medical history. These findings may have implications on care of patients with hypertension

Comparison of dedicated BIOSS bifurcation stents with regular drug-eluting stents for coronary artery bifurcated lesions: Pooled analysis from two randomized studies

  Background: Coronary bifurcation treatment poses a therapeutic challenge. The aim of this study was to analyze pooled data of two randomized clinical trials, POLBOS I and POLBOS II, to compare 1-year follow-up results and identify possible prognostic factors. Methods: In POLBOS trials dedicated bifurcation BiOSS® stents were compared with regular drug eluting stents (rDES) in patients with stable coronary artery disease or non ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (POLBOS I: paclitaxel eluting BiOSS® Expert vs. rDES; POLBOS II: sirolimus eluting BiOSS® LIM vs. rDES). Provisional T-stenting was the default strategy. Angiographic control was performed at 12 months. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) rate defined as the rate of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) or target lesion revascularization (TLR). Results: 445 patients, with 222 patients in the BiOSS group and 223 patients in the rDES group, were analyzed. In 26.7% cases procedures were performed within distal left main, and true bifurca­tions which accounted for 81.6% of treated lesions. At 12 months the whole population exhibited no statistical differences in terms of MACE, TLR, MI or cardiac death between rDES and BiOSS groups. In multivariate analysis odds for MACE decreased with female sex (OR 0.433, 95% CI 0.178–0.942, p = 0.047) and with proximal optimization technique use (OR 0.208, 95% CI 0.097–0.419, p &lt; 0.001), whereas the odds for MACE increased with main vessel predilatation (OR 2.191, 95% CI 1.042–5.066, p = 0.049) and diabetes mellitus treated with insulin (OR 2.779, 95% CI 1.1–6.593, p = 0.024). Conclusions: Pooled data showed no significant difference between MACE and TLR rates for BiOSS® group vs. rDES group

Serum microRNA in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation.

MicroRNAs mediate posttranscriptional gene regulation. The aim of the study was to find a microRNA predictor of successful atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. A total of 109 patients undergoing first-time AF ablation were included. Nineteen patients were selected to undergo serum microRNA sequencing (study group). The sequencing data were used to select several microRNAs that correlated with 12-month recurrences after AF ablation. Those microRNAs were validated by digital droplet PCR in samples from remaining 90 patients. All patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation (RF ablation, contact force catheter, electroanatomical system). The endpoint of the study was the 12-month AF recurrence rate; the overall recurrence rate was 42.5%. In total, levels of 34 miRNAs were significantly different in sera from patients with AF recurrence compared to patients without AF recurrence. Six microRNAs (miR-183-5p, miR-182-5p, miR-32-5p, miR-107, miR-574-3p, and miR-144-3p) were validated in the whole group. Data from the validation group did not confirm the observations from the study group, as no significant differences were found between miRNAs serum levels in patients with and without recurrences 12 months after AF ablation

Telewizyta (e-wizyta) na czas kryzysu epidemicznego — rekomendacje w zakresie prowadzenia wizyt online w opiece psychiatrycznej

Telepsychiatry includes the medical services through modern digital media. On-line psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment is effective and safe as well as therapeutically equivalent compared to traditional off-line treatment. In times of epidemic crisis and restrictions on outpatient advice, telepsychiatry is an alternative and recommended method. The article presents recommendations on conducting online visits in psychiatric care prepared by the Scientific Section of Telepsychiatry of the Polish Psychiatric Association. The form and subject of conducting tele-visits were discussed, including reactive and somatic factors, and a psychiatric and somatic tele-visit scheme was also proposed.Telepsychiatria obejmuje świadczenie usług leczniczych poprzez nowoczesne media cyfrowe. Leczenie psychiatryczne i psychoterapeutyczne prowadzone online jest skuteczne i bezpieczne oraz ekwiwalentne terapeutycznie w porównaniu z tradycyjnym leczeniem offline. W okresie kryzysu epidemicznego i ograniczenia świadczenia porad ambulatoryjnych telepsychiatria jest metodą alternatywną i zalecaną. W artykule przedstawiono rekomendacje w zakresie prowadzenia wizyt online w opiece psychiatrycznej przygotowane przez Sekcję Naukową Telepsychiatrii Polskiego Towarzystwa Psychiatrycznego. Omówiono formę i tematykę prowadzenia telewizyt, z uwzględnieniem czynników reaktywnych i somatycznych, zaproponowano również schemat telewizyty psychiatrycznej i somatycznej

Circulating miR-30a-5p as a prognostic biomarker of left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction

Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with an increased risk of heart failure (HF) development. Diverse microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to appear in the bloodstream following various cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic miRNAs associated with LV dysfunction following AMI. Patients were divided into subgroups comprising patients who developed or not LV dysfunction within six months of the infarction. miRNA profiles were determined in plasma and serum samples of the patients on the first day of AMI. Levels of 14 plasma miRNAs and 16 serum miRNAs were significantly different in samples from AMI patients who later developed LV dysfunction compared to those who did not. Two miRNAs were up-regulated in both types of material. Validation in an independent group of patients, using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) confirmed that miR-30a-5p was significantly elevated on admission in those patients who developed LV dysfunction and HF symptoms six months after AMI. A bioinformatics analysis indicated that miR-30a-5p may regulate genes involved in cardiovascular pathogenesis. This study demonstrates, for the first time, a prognostic value of circulating miR-30a-5p and its association with LV dysfunction and symptoms of HF after AMI

Disposal of Waste from Tattoo and Beauty Parlors in Poland: A Survey-Based Analysis on Epidemiological Safety

Appropriate waste management is increasingly relevant due to environmental and infectious disease transmission concerns. An anonymous observational cross-sectional study was conducted from 2013&ndash;2017 of 262 tattooists and 824 beauticians throughout Poland. Knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and compliance with blood-borne infection controls and correct waste disposal were assessed. Tattooists correctly addressed hazardous waste significantly more often than did beauticians (83.3% vs. 44.8%). Medical waste was collected by a specialist company in 90.1% of tattoo parlors and 63.3%of beauty parlors. Tattooists correctly used and disposed of sharps more frequently than beauticians (93.1% vs. 68.9%); however, 46.4% of beauticians and 12.4% of tattooists discarded waste into municipal trash, including sharps (27.1% and 2.6%, respectively). Incorrect collection and labeling of biological waste present occupational risk to waste disposal personnel. Education and instructional controls could improve health safety in this industry. Biological waste management processes are restrictive for medical services and liberal for beauty services, an industry for which they should also be applied more comprehensively

Assessment of Epidemiological Safety in the Cosmetic Service Industry in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

The variety of current cosmetic procedures has increased the potential risks of adverse events and infections. In a nationwide cross-sectional study (2013–2015), we assessed the aspects of infection risk in cosmetic services. An anonymous voluntary questionnaire survey was conducted among 813 employees of cosmetic establishments in Poland. The establishments were selected from a register of service providers. The survey was conducted by employees of the State Sanitary Inspectorate during an audit, and the results showed that cosmetic providers were not fully prepared for risk assessment in terms of occupational exposure or infection transmission. The majority of the respondents (84%) reportedly washed the salon tools. Some establishments did not perform any decontamination (2%) or sterilization (~13%) procedures. Occupational punctures or lacerations occurred from needles, ampoules-syringes, or razors. Most respondents had attended professional training or studied medical textbooks. Approximately 1.7% of the respondents had not updated their knowledge, and 5% gained knowledge from unauthorized sources.The project’s results impacted a variety of innovations and improvements in the field of public health. The results were used to update the national education program (2012–2017); more attention has been directed toward effective education in infection prevention, general hygiene, and post-exposure procedures. Moreover, the study’s results were grounds for the introduction of legislative modifications in the field of epidemiological safety standards for cosmetic services in Poland

Assessing Infection Risks among Clients and Staff Who Use Tattooing Services in Poland: An Observational Study

Across cultures and generations, people have tattooed their bodies. Although blood-borne infections from tattooing have been reduced, certain service aspects remain improperly managed. We assessed the infection risks associated with tattooing by conducting a cross-sectional study (2013&ndash;2014) in Poland using an anonymous questionnaire survey. Scoring procedures for blood-borne infection risks for tattooists and their clients were used. Overall, 255 tattooists were interviewed. A quasi-random selection of tattoo parlors was based on a service register. Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding blood-borne infection risks were assessed using a questionnaire. Simultaneously, tattoo centers were audited. Tattooing had a higher infection risk for tattooists than for clients. Approximately 50% of respondents underwent training on postexposure procedures, which constituted almost one in five of the reported needlestick/cut injuries sustained while working. Furthermore, 25.8% had no knowledge regarding risk from reliable sources, and 2.1% had not broadened their knowledge. Tattooists and their clients are at a risk of infection, and knowledge concerning infection risks remains an underestimated preventative factor. Service quality surveillance and creation of a register for tattoo-related complications may help assess the scale of this public health issue. However, a lack of these records implies the challenges in developing effective organizational and legal protections