<i>Acinetobacter</i> pneumonia: Is the outcome different from the pneumonias caused by other agents

<b>Background</b> : The principal aim of the present study was to determine whether <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> pneumonia differs from hospital-acquired pneumonias (HAPs) caused by other agents with respect to therapeutic success and survival rate. <b> METHODS</b> : This study includes 140 adult patients diagnosed with HAPs caused by identified etiologic agents between March 2005 and February 2006. These patients were divided into two groups according to the agent responsible for their infection (<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. [<i>n</i> = 63] or non-<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> [<i>n</i> = 77]). The groups were compared in terms of risk factors, therapeutic success and six-week survival rates. <b> Results</b> : Previous antibiotic use and the risk of aspiration were independent factors responsible for the development of <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> pneumonia. Hypoalbuminemia, steroid use and the use of a mechanical ventilator were determined to be mortality-associated independent risk factors for <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>. </i>pneumonia. The clinical success rate at the end of therapy was 41.6&#x0025; and, at the sixth week, the survival rate was 35&#x0025; among patients in whom <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp.<i> </i>was the causative agent. Conversely, in the control group, these values were 43 and 32&#x0025;, respectively (<i> P </i> &gt; 0.05). We found that the use of the appropriate antibiotics for the treatment of <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. pneumonia was an important factor in survival (<i> P </i> &lt; 0.001). <b>Conclusion</b> :<b> </b> The outcomes of<b> </b><i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. pneumonia do not differ from HAPs associated with non-<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. in terms of therapeutic success and survival rates

Cytotoxic, antimicrobial and nitric oxide inhibitory activities of supercritical carbon dioxide extracted Prunus persica leaves

Koyu, Halil/0000-0002-5491-9894; Kazan, Aslihan/0000-0002-8947-8494; Yesil-Celiktas, Ozlem/0000-0003-4509-2212WOS: 000493938000001PubMed: 31686285Different parts of Prunus persica as fruits, flowers, leaves and kernels have been consumed with dietary and therapeutic purposes traditionally. During fruit production, remarkable amount of leaves which can hold important bioactive groups as phenolics, have been left unutilized. the aim of this study was to investigate cytotoxic, antimicrobial and nitric oxide inhibitory activities of supercritical carbondioxide extracts of Prunus persica leaves. Among studied cell lines, supercritical carbon dioxide extract which was processed at 150 bar, 60 degrees C, and 6% co-solvent ethanol, exhibited remarkable cytotoxic activity against HeLa, MPanc-96 and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values of 12.22 mu g/ml, 28.17 mu g/ml and 35.51 mu g/ml respectively, whereas IC50 value of conventional solvent extract was above 50 mu g/ml. Minimum inhibitory concentration values determined for antibacterial and antifungal activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium and Candida albicans were found as 62.50 mu g/ml. Strong nitric oxide inhibition was achieved with IC50 of 9.30 mu g/ml. the promising results revealed that Prunus persica leaves may have remarkable potential as supplement both for drug and food industries. This study is the first report revealing cytotoxic, antimicrobial and nitric oxide inhibitory activity of supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Prunus persica leaves

Barnidipine ameliorates the vascular and renal injury in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.

The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of Barnidipine treatment on early stage hypertension by determining the function and morphology of the mesenteric and renal arteries as well as the kidney in N-omega-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Barnidipine (3 mg/kg/day p.o) was applied to rats after 2 weeks of L-NAME (GO mg/kg/day) administration, and continued for the next 3 weeks concomitantly with L-NAME. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of rats was determined to decrease significantly in Barnidipine treated hypertensive group when compared to that of rats received L-NAME alone. Myograph studies demonstrated that the contractile reactivity to noradrenaline were significantly reduced in both of the resistance arteries while endothelium dependent relaxations to acethylcholine were significantly diminished particularly in the mesenteric arteries of NAME induced hypertensive rats. The impaired contractile and endothelial responses were completely restored by concomitant treatment of Barnidipine with L-NAME. Histopathological examinations verified structural alterations in the arteries as well as the kidney. Moreover, a decrease in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was presented both in the arteries and kidney of hypertensive rats which were increased following Barnidipine treatment. Elevated plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were also reduced in Barnidipine treated hypertensive rats. In conclusion, besides to its efficacy in reducing the elevated SBP, amelioration of vascular function, modulation of arterial and renal eNOS expressions as well as reduction of the plasma levels of oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers are possible supportive mechanisms mediating the favorable implications of Barnidipine in L-NAME-induced hypertension model. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Clinical importance of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (PER-1-type)-producing Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains

Recently, an extended-spectrum beta -lactamase (PER-I) was found to be disseminated among Acinetobacter spp, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Turkey. A population-based cohort study was conducted to elucidate predictive mortality factors in patients with nosocomial infections caused by Acinetobacter spp. and P. aeruginosa, with particular reference to PER-1-type extended-spectrum beta -lactamase (ESBL) production. The study group comprised 16 and 21 non-survivors and 82 and 126 survivors in cohorts infected with Acinetobacter and E. aeruginosa, respectively. In the Acinetobacter-infected cohort, nosocomial pneumonia, hypotension and infection with a PER-positive isolate were independent predictors of mortality. In the P. aeruginosa-infected cohort, impaired consciousness, a PER-positive isolate, male sex and (with a negative relative risk) urinary tract infection were independent predictors of death. This study demonstrated the relationship of PER-1-type ESBL-producing Acinetobacter spp. and P. aeruginosa with poor clinical outcome

Prognostic evidence of LEF1 isoforms in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Introduction The lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1) is a DNA-binding transcription factor that functions in the Wnt signaling pathway. Increased LEF1 activity is associated with progression of several types of cancer including leukemia. Here, we investigated LEF1 isoform expression and genomic variations in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)