The correlation between biofilm formation capability and antibiotic resistance pattern in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are life-threatening, due to high intrinsic antimicrobial resistance of this microorganism. The integrons and biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa have a significant role in antibiotic resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate antibiotic resistance pattern in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates with biofilm formation ability. This cross-sectional study from January 2017 to December 2017 was conducted on 78 isolates (58 clinical and 20 environmental) of P. aeruginosa recovered from the 547 samples (439 of clinical and 108 of environmental samples). The isolates were identified by phenotypic and genotypic tests. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used for susceptibility testing. The prevalence of class 1, 2 and 3 Integrons, rhlA, and lasB genes were determined using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Biofilm formation was determined using the microtiter plate method. Data analyzed using Stata 14 software and Chi-Square test. The most prevalent resistance was observed against Ticarcillin/Clavulanic Acid (55). Generally, 56.4 of isolates were producers of strong biofilm in both environmental and clinical isolates. The prevalence of strong biofilm producers in clinical isolates was more than environmental. A significant correlation was observed between Int1, Int2, and rhlA genes with biofilm formation capability (P = 0.02). Regarding >50 of both environmental and clinical isolates were producers of strong biofilm and because the source of clinical isolates may be from the environment, the necessary hygiene measurements should be taken. No significant correlation was observed between lasB gene with biofilm formation capability. © 2019 Elsevier Inc

Field evaluation of phostoxin and zinc phosphide for the control of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in a hyperendemic area, central Iran

Background & objectives: ZCL is a growing threat in many rural areas of Iran which involves 17 out of 31 provinces. This study was conducted from April to November 2011 for evaluation of the efficacy of phostoxin and zinc phosphide against rodents. Methods: Rodent control operations were carried out using phostoxin and zinc phosphide. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the main vector density, an entomological survey was carried out. The effects of the operation on the disease incidence were also evaluated. Results: After intervention, the reduction rate of rodent burrows was 32.68% in the village treated with phostoxin and 58.14% in the village treated with zinc phosphide. The number of rodent holes in the control area showed 6.66-fold increase at the end of the study. The incidence of the disease decreased to 19.23 and 11.40 in areas treated with phostoxin and zinc phosphide, respectively. A total of 4243 adult sandflies were collected and identified. The most common and dominant species was Phlebotomus papatasi. In the village treated with phostoxin, the density of P. papatasi in outdoors was lower than indoors. Nevertheless, the density of P. papatasi in the village treated with zinc phosphide was higher in outdoors. Interpretation & conclusion: It is concluded that phostoxin is less effective and has low safety in comparison with zinc phosphide, so that this rodenticide can be used only in special situations such as lack or ineffective rodenticides and only in the colonies far from human and animal dwelling places in small scales

Minimization of sub-topical functions over a simplex

This article investigates a particular version of the cutting angle method for finding the global minimizer of sub-topical (increasing and plus sub-homogeneous) functions over a simplex. The algorithm is based on the abstract convexity of sub-topical functions. Furthermore, we discuss the proof of convergence of the algorithm and provide results from numericalexperiments

Lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and timed barium oesophagogram: two objective parameters in the non-invasive assessment of primary achalasia

Background:  The non-invasive assessment of primary achalasia is not precise. Aim:  To compare investigations before and 1 month after balloon dilation in achalasia. Methods:  Fifty-two patients with primary achalasia were enrolled. Subjective and objective variables of oesophageal functions were analysed before and 1 month after balloon dilation. Results:  The mean predilation symptom score, lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, height and volume of barium at 5 min were 7.7 ± 2.6, 62.0 ± 25.1 mmHg, 9.2 ± 6.1 cm and 53.2 ± 49.8 mL respectively; the mean postdilation values were 3.0 ± 3.0, 34.1 ± 12.5 mmHg, 7.9 ± 5.1 cm and 28.0 ± 30.1 mL respectively. The before dilation volume of barium at 5 min correlates significantly with lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (P < 0.01). The mean symptom scores, lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and volume of barium at 5 min dropped significantly after intervention (P < 0.01), but the reduction in barium height at 5 min was not significant. The percentage changes in volume at 5 min significantly predicted the percentage changes in lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (P < 0.01). Conclusions:  The volume of barium retention at 5 min can predict the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure before and after balloon dilation in primary achalasia. This could be used as a non-invasive objective tool for initial and post-dilation assessment

Myrtus communis essential oils: insecticidal, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities: a review

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a wild aromatic plant that laboratorial works have demonstrated the insecticidal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of myrtle essential oils (EOs). The chemical composition may change according to several factors; nevertheless, it was constant in practically all EOs the presence of 1,8-cineole and α-pinene, as main components (>5%). The biological activities, generally low or moderate depended on the organism (insecticidal) and microorganism and on the chemical composition. Generally, the contribution of the components on the biological activities was not determined; nevertheless, they were generally attributed to the presence of the main components (1,8-cineole, α-pinene, eugenol, methyleugenol, myrtenyl acetate, among other components depending on the property). The antioxidant activity of myrtle oil was predominantly determined in cell-free methods, though very few works also used cell model methods. In all cases, the activities were also low to moderate due to the absence of phenol compounds.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio