Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Serbia, in the period 2008 to 2012

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been recognized as the leading cause of diarrhea worldwide. In the last five years, it has become the leading cause of diarrhea in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina (CCV) as well. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology and total cost of treatment for all patients with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea hospitalized at the Infectious Disease Clinic of the CCV; to analyze the costs of treatment with regard to therapeutic approach; to compare the costs of treatment in each year of the investigated period related to the number of patients, and to analyze the outcome of treatment. The study was retrospective, and the data were collected from the medical records of 472 patients with Clostridium difficile diarrhea treated from 2008 to 2012 and analyzed. Of the total 472 patients with CDAD, 54.23% were female and the average age was 65.84. A statistically significant majority of them had been previously treated in other hospitals and a minority in ambulatory settings (395 inpatients vs. 77 outpatients, p=0.000, p<0.05). Of the 395 previously hospitalized patients, most were from the Clinic of Urology of the CCV (58, 14.68%). When comparing therapeutic options, oral vancomycin was significantly more frequently used than other protocols. The average mortality rate during the study period was 6.51%. In this period, total hospital costs related to Clostridium difficile diarrhea in the Infectious Disease Clinic were $636,679.92. Implementation of infection-control measures and a restricted use of antibiotics would result in a great reduction in material costs

Effect of different amounts of organic selenium in the diet on broiler carcass parameters

This paper examined the effects of adding increased amounts of an organic selenium product to the diet on carcass quality parameters of broilers. The experiment was carried out on 275 individuals and lasted 42 days. It was divided into two phases. In the first phase (up to 21 days) chickens were divided into control group (K; without added Se), O-I group (0.300 mg Se/kg), O-II group (0.900 mg Se/kg). In the second phase of the experiment (from 21 to 42 days) the experiment comprised five treatment groups: K, O-II group (0.900 mg Se/kg); the O-I group was subdivided into O-Ia group (0.300 mg Se/kg), O-Ib group (0.600 mg Se/kg) and O-Ic group (0.900 mg Se/kg). Performance data were recorded. At the end of the experiment (42nd day) the broilers were transported to the slaughterhouse. After slaughtering, primary processing and cooling slaughter yield was determined and carcasses have been dissected into basic parts. Carcass weight and weights of carcass parts were higher in treatments where selenium has been added to diets. Breast meat yield was higher in treatments with supplements of Se, whereas, no differences have been observed for yields of thighs and drumsticks

Characterization of Neodymium Doped Calcium Tungstate Single Crystal by Raman, IR and Luminescence Spectroscopy

The aim of the current work was to assess obtain a single crystal of calcium tungstate doped with neodymium - (CaWO4:Nd3+), and after that, the crystal was characterized with various spectroscopic methods. The single crystal was grown from the melt using the Czochralski method in air. By optimizing growth conditions, lt 001 gt -oriented CaWO4:Nd3+ crystalc up to 10 mm in diameter were grown. Number of dislocations in obtained crystal was 10(2) per cm(2). Micro hardness was measured with the Vickers pyramid. Anisotropy in lt 001 gt direction was not observed. Selected CaWO4:Nd3+ single crystal was cut into several tiles with the diamond saw. The plates were polished with a diamond paste. The crystal structure is confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The obtained crystal was studied by Raman and infrared spectroscopy. Seven Raman and six IR optical active modes predicted by group theory are observed. FTIR confirmed the occurrence of all the functional groups and bonds in this material. From the FTIR spectrum, a strong peak of 862 cm(-1) has been obtained due to the stretching vibration of WO42- in scheelite structure, and a weak but sharp band at 433 cm(-1) has been noticed due to the metal-oxygen (Ca-O) band. Estimated luminescence lifetime of F-4(5/2) - the I-4(9/2) transition is about 120 mu s; estimated luminescence lifetime of F-4(3/2) - the I-4(9/2) transition is about 140 mu s. All performed investigations show that the obtained CaWO4:Nd3+ single crystal has good optical quality, which was the goal of this work

Polymer composite films and nanofibers doped with core-shell quantum dots

Processing and characterization of polymer nanocomposites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix with embedded core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots were investigated. Nanocomposites were obtained via solution casting and electrospinning. FESEM analysis revealed that the processing with electrospinning enables better dispersion of quantum dots. Time-resolved laser induced fluorescence measurements confirmed uniform size of QDs in fibers with the emission at only one wavelength. Oxidation effects in quantum dots were removed with the use of PMMA as a host, and the core remained active, which was confirmed with FTIR analysis and time-resolved laser induced fluorescence measurements

Optical properties CaWO4:Nd3+/PMMA composite layered structures

In this article, we report characterization of the layered composite fabricated from Nd3+ doped calcium twigstate single crystal (CaWO4 :Nd3+) and poly(methyl methacrylate) - PMMA with various organic-inorganic interfaces: CaWO4:Nd3+/MPTMS, CaWO4:Nd3+/PMMA and CaWO4:Nd3+/MPTMS/PMMA, a novel approach to optical composite materials. A trivalent neodymium-doped CaWO4 single crystal was grown by the Czochralski method. Poly(methyl methacrylate) - PMMA, was used as a protective polymer coating and (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxy silane (MPTMS), with aim to provide better adhesion between the crystal surface and the polymer in the composite. The optical properties of the crystal plates with various layers applied on surface were characterized using FTIR absorption, IR reflectivity, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Performed tests on the structural, optical and photo-luminescent properties of composites can facilitate the research of potential applications in micro- and optoelectronics. Hardness of CaWO4:Nd3+ before and after surface modification was determined by micro Vickers hardness test. The improved hardness of composite with the use of the MPTMS as an adhesion primer before PMMA was achieved. FTIR spectroscopy indicates the establishing of chemical bonding between single crystal layer, silane and polymer layer. Raman and PL spectroscopy confirm that optical properties of crystal with polymer layers were preserved

The Bridgman Method Growth and Spectroscopic Characterization of Calcium Fluoride Single Crystals

It must be noted that the main objective of this study was to obtain single crystals of calcium fluoride - CaF2, and after that the crystals were characterized with various spectroscopic methods. The crystals were grown using the Bridgman technique. By optimizing growth conditions, lt 111 gt oriented CaF2 crystals up to 20 mm in diameter were grown. Number of dislocations in CaF2 crystals was 5x10(4) - 2x10(5) per cm(2). Selected CaF2 single crystal is cut into several tiles with the diamond saw. The plates were polished, first with the silicon carbide, then the paraffin oil, and finally with a diamond paste. The obtained crystal w.s studied by Raman and infrared - IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). One Raman and two IR optical modes predicted by group theory are observed. A low photoluminescence testifies that the concentration of oxygen defects within the host CaF2 is small. All performed investigations show that the obtained CaF2 single crystal has good optical quality, which was the goal of this work

Fluorescence, thermal and mechanical properties of PMMA-CdSe QD film

In the present paper an effort has been made to investigate processing and characterization of composite poly (methyl methacrylate)-cadmium selenide (PMMA-CdSe). Thin films of pure PMMA and composites with 0.06 % wt. CdSe quantum dots nanoparticles were made using solution casting method. Characterization of starting components and composites was performed in order to obtain information of their morphology, structure, thermal stability, mechanical and optical properties. Nanoindentation revealed mechanical improvements with the addition of the crystal through reduced elastic modulus and hardness values. DSC analysis has shown an increase in T-g for composite with CdSe. Optical studies by time resolved laser induced fluorescence (TR-LIF) showed that the size-tunable optical properties can be achieved in the polymer films by addition of quantum dots