“You Can’t Dispose of Mercedes Lightly”: Mercedes de Acosta, Queer Women, and Queer Female Desire in the Early Twentieth Century

This thesis is based off of the life of Mercedes de Acosta (1893-1968), an out lesbian who was very active in the literary, theatrical, and screenwriting spheres at different points in her life. While many could consider her a “failed” artist, given that none of her works were financial successes, she is notable in this time period for the noted quality of her work, her many interpersonal relationships (romantic or otherwise) with others in her trade, and her artistic exploits on both sides of the Atlantic. Being out was incredibly unusual for LGBT+ identified people in this time period, and the homophobia of the period paired with the lack of financial success of her works may have contributed to the fact that she died in poverty. This thesis looks at the life and the historiography of Mercedes de Acosta in an attempt to reconstruct what a lesbian identity meant in this period for women and how her lesbian identity affected both de Acosta\u27s life and her relationships, as well as how she was remembered afterward

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase types in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from blood cultures [Kan kültürlerinden izole edilen Klebsiella pneumoniae suşlar?nda genişlemiş spektrumlu beta-laktamaz varl?g?n?n araşt?r?lmas? ve tiplendirilmesi]

PubMed ID: 18444558The aim of this study was to investigate and type the extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from blood cultures. Following the detection of antibiotic susceptibilities in 32 K.pneumoniae isolates, ESBL were detected in 13 (41%) of them by using double disc synergy test. Minimum inhibition concentrations for ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and aztreonam of ESBL positive strains were determined by E-test. After the extraction of the enzymes, the types of ESBLs were investigated by isoelectric focusing method. It was seen that, of all ESBL positive strains, one strain had four bands, one had three bands, six strains had two bands, and each of the others had only one beta-lactamase band. The results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed blaSHV in ten samples, blarTEM in six samples, and blasSHV with blaTEM in four samples. Ten SHV enzymes were typed as ESBL by PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment lenght polymorphism) method. The results of isoelectric focusing, PCR and RFLP performed in these ESBL positive K.pneumoniae isolates showed that the ESBL types could be SHV-2, SHV-5 and SHV-12 in the tested strains. It should always be taken into consideration that K.pneumoniae isolates could produce ESBLs and antibiotic treatment protocols should be adjusted in accordance

Investigation of the bactericidal effects of vancomycin and quinupristin/dalfopristin on Staphylococcus aureus isolates

The present study aimed to determine the correlation between the bactericidal activity of vancomycin and quinupristin/dalfopristin (Q/D) on Staphylococcus aureus isolates and their minimal inhibition concentrations. The in-vitro susceptibilities of the 99 S. aureus isolates to vancomycin and Q/D were investigated by agar dilution. Thirty methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 30 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) vancomycin and Q/D susceptible isolates were involved in time-kill studies. While both MRSA and MSSA isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, 96% of both isolates were determined as susceptible to Q/D. In the time-kill test, after 6 h of incubation vancomycin exhibited a bactericidal activity of 90% on MRSA and 100% on MSSA isolates. On the other hand, in the same incubation period Q/D was 47% and 93% bactericidal for MRSA and MSSA isolates, respectively. After 24 h of incubation, while vancomycin was bactericidal for all MRSA and MSSA isolates, Q/D exhibited a bactericidal activity of 93% on MRSA isolates and 97% on MSSA isolates

Detection of the efflux pump-mediated quinolone resistance in ESBL positive Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates by Phe-Arg-Beta-naphthylamide [GSBL pozitif Escherichia coli ve Klebsiella pneumoniae İzolatlari{dotless}nda efluks pompasi{dotless} araci{dotless}li{dotless}gi{dotless} ile gelişen florokinolon direncinin fenil arginin beta naftilamit ile araşti{dotless}ri{dotless}lmasi{dotless}]

In Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, fluoroquinolone resistance is acquired mostly by target mutations in topoisomerase genes and increased expression of efflux pumps. ESBL positive 65 E. coli and 48 K. pneumoniae strains isolated in Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University were investigated in this study. 58 E. coli and 21 K. pneumoniae isolates displayed reduced susceptibility (intermediately-resistant or resistant) to ciprofloxacin or nalidixic acid by disc diffussion method. Ciprofloxacin, Phenyl-arginine-beta-naphthylamide (Phe-Arg-ß-naphthylamide-PßNA) and nalidixic acid MIC values of these isolates were determined. The changes in nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin MIC values in the presence of fixed concentration of PßNA (20 µg/mL) were investigated. Among 21 K.pneumoniae isolates, at least four fold reductions were observed in MIC values of ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and both for four, five and two isolates respectively. Among 58 E. coli isolates, at least four fold reductions were observed in MIC values of ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and both for eight, four and three isolates respectively. This result was evaluated to be indicative for presence of efflux pump mediated resistance in these isolates

Determination of extended spectrum beta-lactamase frequency of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from urinary tract infections and typing with isoelectric focusing method

Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) presence was investigated in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains which were the ethiological agents of urinary tract infections and typed with isoelectric focusing (IEF) method. The antibiotic sensitivities of 52 K. pneumoniae strains were determined by disc diffusion method and ESBL were found in 12 strains (23 %) by double disc synergy test. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of ESBL (+) K. pneumoniae strains for ceftazidime (CAZ) and cefotaxime (CTX) were investigated by E-test and isoelectric points of ESBL enzymes were determined by polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis. When the strains' sensitivity patterns were investigated for 3rd generation cephalosporins and aztreonam, 6 strains had ESBL premise sign with at least one antibiotic. Band pattern which focused around pl 7.6 was determined in 11 of 12 strains by IEF method. MIC values were found 16 µg/mL and over for CAZ and 12 µg/mL and over for CTX in 5 of these strains. When pI's and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were analysed, 5 of 12 isolates had a band and susceptibility patterns suggesting SHV-2

EVALUATION OF AST FAST ES/NF AGAR MEDIUM FOR RAPID DETECTION OF IMIPENEM RESISTANCE IN CLINICAL KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE AND ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII ISOLATES

Objective: Resistant gram-negative microorganisms, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, cause life-threatening infections. Hence, it is critical to determine the antibiotic susceptibility of clinical isolates rapidly and accurately. Nowadays, carbapenem resistance is determined by phenotypic/genotypic methods. For phenotypic methods (disk diffusion, microdilution), differences in specificity and sensitivity can often occur. Since molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction giving relatively more reliable results, are labor-intensive and costly, new fast, reliable and economical methods are needed. Material and Method: The performance of chromogenic AST Fast ES/NF agar for the EUCAST standard disk diffusion method was investigated. Four K. pneumoniae and five A. baumannii isolates, which were determined to be carbapenem resistant by molecular method and automated system results, were included in the study. Result and Discussion: The inhibition zone diameters were became measurable within 4-6 hours in AST Fast ES/NF and the susceptibility categories were interpreted according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The results of disk diffusion test performed with MHA, were largely consistent with the results obtained with the AST Fast ES/NF. Considering that the incubation period recommended by EUCAST in the standard disk diffusion test method is 16-20 hours and the sensitivity category is measured at the end of this period, it is thought that the chromogenic medium may provide a significant advantage. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved

An investigation of the antimicrobial impact of drug combinations against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains [Mycobacterium tuberculosis kökenleri üzerine ilaç kombinasyonlari{dotless}ni{dotless}n antimikrobiyal etkisinin araşti{dotless}ri{dotless}lmasi{dotless}]

Aim: To investigate the in vitro activity of linezolid and ofloxacin in combination with first-line antituberculosis agents (isoniazid and rifampicin) against M. tuberculosis strains. The use of combinations that include fluoroquinolones and oxazolidinone is now being considered for the treatment of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Materials and methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the test drugs were determined by the standard agar dilution method. The interaction of drug combinations was investigated by time-kill method. Results: A total of 9 M. tuberculosis strains were used in this study, 5 of which were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and 4 of which were not. The studied 2-agent drug combinations were indifferent in 4 MDR and 2 non-MDR M. tuberculosis strains, respectively. Additive interaction was observed between isoniazid and ofloxacin in one MDR M. tuberculosis strain on the eighth day and in one non-MDR strain on the third, fift h, and eighth days, respectively, while rifampicin and linezolid exhibited additive interaction in another non-MDR strain on the eighth day. Conclusion: Although many previous studies have found a synergistic activity with similar drug combinations, only additive interaction was observed in some of the M. tuberculosis strains involved in this study. © TÜBİTAK