Azithromycin resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella from food-producing animals and meat in Europe.

OBJECTIVES To characterize the genetic basis of azithromycin resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella collected within the EU harmonized antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance programme in 2014-18 and the Danish AMR surveillance programme in 2016-19. METHODS WGS data of 1007 E. coli [165 azithromycin resistant (MIC > 16 mg/L)] and 269 Salmonella [29 azithromycin resistant (MIC > 16 mg/L)] were screened for acquired macrolide resistance genes and mutations in rplDV, 23S rRNA and acrB genes using ResFinder v4.0, AMRFinder Plus and custom scripts. Genotype-phenotype concordance was determined for all isolates. Transferability of mef(C)-mph(G)-carrying plasmids was assessed by conjugation experiments. RESULTS mph(A), mph(B), mef(B), erm(B) and mef(C)-mph(G) were detected in E. coli and Salmonella, whereas erm(C), erm(42), ere(A) and mph(E)-msr(E) were detected in E. coli only. The presence of macrolide resistance genes, alone or in combination, was concordant with the azithromycin-resistant phenotype in 69% of isolates. Distinct mph(A) operon structures were observed in azithromycin-susceptible (n = 50) and -resistant (n = 136) isolates. mef(C)-mph(G) were detected in porcine and bovine E. coli and in porcine Salmonella enterica serovar Derby and Salmonella enterica 1,4, [5],12:i:-, flanked downstream by ISCR2 or TnAs1 and associated with IncIγ and IncFII plasmids. CONCLUSIONS Diverse azithromycin resistance genes were detected in E. coli and Salmonella from food-producing animals and meat in Europe. Azithromycin resistance genes mef(C)-mph(G) and erm(42) appear to be emerging primarily in porcine E. coli isolates. The identification of distinct mph(A) operon structures in susceptible and resistant isolates increases the predictive power of WGS-based methods for in silico detection of azithromycin resistance in Enterobacterales

Συγκριτική αξιολόγηση της διαγνωστικής ακρίβειας των τεχνικών προσέγγισης περιφερικών όζων. Η εμπειρία ενός βρογχοσκοπικού κέντρου.

Σκοπός: Η συμβατική βρογχοσκόπηση έχει χαμηλό διαγνωστικό εύρος για τις περιφερικες πνευμονικές βλάβες. Το Radial-EBUS, το ενδοβρογχικό δηλαδή σύστημα υπερήχων με ένα 20-MHz μηχανικό σφαιρικού τύπου ηχοβολέα περνάει μέσα από το κανάλι εργασίας του βρογχοσκοπίου, διευκολύνοντας τον εντοπισμό των περιφερικών πνευμονικών βλαβών και αυξάνοντας το διαγνωσικό εύρος της βρογχοσκόπησης. Ο σκοπός της μελέτης της μας είναι να παρουσιάσουμε την εμπειρία του Νοσοκομείου μας (251 ΓΝΑ) στη διάγνωση με τη χρήση ενδοβρογχικού υπερήχου (radial-EBUS), βρογχοσκοπικά μη ορατών βλαβών. Μέθοδος: Διενεργήσαμε μια αναδρομική μελέτη σε 40 αθενείς οι οποίοι υποβλήθηκαν σε βρογχοσκόπηση υπό την καθοδήγηση ενδοβρογχικού υπερήχου για τη διερεύνηση περιφερικών πνευμονικών βλαβών από τον Οκτώβριο του 2013 έως τον Ιούνιο του 2015. Ένας 20-MHz σφαιρικού τύπου ηχοβολέας χρησιμοποιήθηκε γα να εντοπιστεί η βλάβη. Δείγματα όπως brushing και διαβρογχικές βιοψίες συλλέγχθηκαν από δύο διαφορετικούς βρογχοσκόπους. Αν οι εξετάσεις ήταν μη διαγνωστικές, τότε οι ασθενείς υποβλήθηκαν σε χειρουργείο ή τεθησαν σε παρακολούθηση. Αποτελέσματα: Με το Radial-EBUS ανιχνεύθηκαν 16 όζοι (με μέση διάμετρο 2.0±0.7 cm) και 14 μάζες (με μέση διάμετρο 3.8± 0.9). Η ολική ευαισθησία ήταν 60% (73,3% ~ 8 ~ και 20% αντίστοιχα για τις ορατές και μη ορατές βλάβες με τη χρήση του ενδοβρογχικού υπερήχου). Μεταξύ των βλαβών που ήταν ορατές με τον ενδοβρογχικό υπέρηχο, η ευαισθησία ήταν 87,5% για τους όζους και 57,1 για τις μάζες. Επιπλοκές συνέβησαν μόνο σε 3 ασθενείς (7,5%), ένας εμφάνισε πνευμοθώρακα και οι άλλοι δύο ήπια αιμορραγία, η οποία ελέγχθηκε βργχοσκοπικά. Συμπεράσματα: Το Radial-EBUS αποτελεί ασφαλές μέσο, με χαμηλό ποσοστό επιπλοκών και υψηλή ευαισθησία για τη διάγνωση περιφερικών πνευμονικών βλαβών.Aim: A peripheral, pulmonary lesion is a diagnostic challenge, as conventional bronchoscopy has a low diagnostic yield. Radial-probe EBUS, an endoscopic ultrasound system with a 20 MHz mechanical radial-type probe was used in order to identifying the abnormal lesion and increasing the diagnostic yield. We present our results of Radial-EBUS in the diagnosis of bronchoscopically invisible lesions in our hospital (251 GNA). Methods: A retrospective, study of 40 patients who underwent radial-probe EBUSguided bronchoscopy for the investigation of pulmonary nodules or masses between Octomber of 2013 and June of 2013 was conducted. The probe was initially inserted into the instrument channel of the bronchoscope and manipulated up to the suspicious segment. Sampling techniques, like bronchial brushing and transbronchial biopsies, were conducted by two separate bronchoscopists. If diagnosis was not achieved successfully a surgical biopsy or observation followed. Results: Radial-probe EBUS identified 16 nodules (mean diameter, 2.0±0.7 cm) and 14 masses (mean diameter, 3.8± 0.9cm). The overall sensitivity of the method was 60% (73.3% and 20.0%, respectively, for lesions that were visible and not visible by radial- EBUS). Among the lesions that were visible by radial- EBUS, the sensitivity was 57.1% for masses and 87.3% for nodules. No major ~ 10 ~ complications happened, except for one pneumothorax and two patients with mild bleeding, which was controlled bronchoscopically Conclusions: Radial-EBUS constitute a safe procedure with a low complication rate, and high sensitivity for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions

Removal of antidepressants in aqueous solution using carbon materials as absorbents

Περίληψη: Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία είχε ως στόχο την διερεύνηση της προσροφητικής ικανότητας ανθρακούχων προσροφητικών υλικών για την απομάκρυνση οργανικών ρύπων από την υδατική φάση. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, μελετήθηκε η προσροφητική ικανότητα τριών διαφορετικών δειγμάτων αναγμένου οξειδίου του γραφενίου ως προς την απομάκρυνση τεσσάρων αντικαταθλιπτικών ουσιών. Οι αντικαταθλιπτικές ουσίες που μελετήθηκαν ήταν η φλουοξετίνη, η σερτραλίνη, η παροξετίνη και η σιταλοπράμη. Τέλος, πραγματοποιήθηκε η μοντελοποίηση των κινητικών πειραμάτων προσρόφησης χρησιμοποιώντας δύο κινητικά μοντέλα, το κινητικό μοντέλο της ψευδο-πρώτης και ψευδο-δεύτερης τάξης. Για την προσομοίωση των αποτελεσμάτων έγινε χρήση του excel για την γραμμική μορφή, ενώ χρήση των προγραμμάτων OriginPro8 και Sigmaplot 11 για την μη γραμμική των δύο κινητικών μοντέλων.Summarization: This work demonstrates the potential of carbon materials as adsorbents in removing organic compounds from aqueous phase. More specifically, this thesis presents the ability of three different samples of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to remove four antidepressentants compouds. The antidepressentants compouds used in this study were fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine and citalopram. The adsorption kinetics data were analysed by two empirical kinetic models, namely the pseudo-first order (PFO) and pseudo-second order (PSO) kinetic adsorption model. Exerimental data were simulated by using excel for the linear regression methods, while OriginPro8 and Sigmaplot 11 for the nonlinear regression methods

Adipocytes as immune cells: Differential expression of TWEAK, BAFF, and APRIL and their receptors (Fn14, BAFF-R, TACI, and BCMA) at different stages of normal and pathological adipose tissue development

Adipose tissue represents a rich source of multipotent stem cells. Mesenchymal cells, isolated from this source, can differentiate to other cell types in vitro and therefore can be used for a number of regenerative therapies. Our view of adipose tissue has recently changed, establishing adipocytes as new members of the immune system, as they produce a number of proinflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6 and TNFα and chemokines, in addition to adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin) and molecules associated with the innate immune system. In this paper, we report the differential expression of TNF-superfamily members B cell activating factor of the TNF Family (BAFF), a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL), and TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in immature-appearing and mature adipocytes and in benign and malignant adipose tissue-derived tumors. These ligands act through their cognitive receptors, BAFF receptor, transmembrane activator and calcium signal-modulating cyclophilic ligand (TACI), B cell maturation Ag (BCMA), and fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), which are also expressed in these cells. We further report the existence of functional BCMA, TACI, and Fn14 receptors and their ligands BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK on adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal cells, their interaction modifying the rate of adipogenesis. Our data integrate BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK and their receptors BCMA, TACI, and Fn14 as novel potential mediators of adipogenesis, in addition to their specific role in immunity, and define immature and mature adipocytes as source of immune mediators. Copyright © 2009 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Multinational outbreak of travel-related Salmonella Chester infections in Europe, summers 2014 and 2015

Between 2014 and 2015, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control was informed of an increase in numbers of Salmonella enterica serotype Chester cases with travel to Morocco occurring in six European countries. Epidemiological and microbiological investigations were conducted. In addition to gathering information on the characteristics of cases from the different countries in 2014, the epidemiological investigation comprised a matched case-case study involving French patients with salmonellosis who travelled to Morocco that year. A univariate conditional logistic regression was performed to quantify associations. The microbiological study included a whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of clinical and non-human isolates of S. Chester of varied place and year of isolation. A total of 162 cases, mostly from France, followed by Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark and Sweden were reported, including 86 (53%) women. The median age per country ranged from 3 to 38 years. Cases of S. Chester were more likely to have eaten in a restaurant and visited the coast of Morocco. The results of WGS showed five multilocus sequence types (ST), with 96 of 153 isolates analysed clustering into a tight group that corresponded to a novel ST, ST1954. Of these 96 isolates, 46 (48%) were derived from food or patients returning from Morocco and carried two types of plasmids containing either qnrS1 or qnrB19 genes. This European-wide outbreak associated with travel to Morocco was likely a multi-source outbreak with several food vehicles contaminated by multidrug-resistant S. Chester strains.S