Antimicrobial Resistance Trends among Community-Acquired Respiratory Tract Pathogens in Greece, 2009–2012

The aim of the present study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance trends of respiratory tract pathogens isolated from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CARTIs) in Crete, Greece, over a 4-year period (2009–2012). A total of 588 community-acquired respiratory pathogens were isolated during the study period. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common organism responsible for 44.4% of CARTIs, followed by Haemophilus influenzae (44.2%) and Moraxella catarrhalis (11.4%). Among S. pneumoniae, the prevalence of isolates with intermediate- and high-level resistance to penicillin was 27.2% and 12.3%, respectively. Macrolide resistance slightly decreased from 29.4% over the period 2009-2010 to 28.8% over the period 2011-2012. Multiresistance was observed among 56 (54.4%) penicillin nonsusceptible isolates. A nonsignificant increase in resistance of H. influenzae isolates was noted for β-lactams, cotrimoxazole, and tetracycline. Among the 67 M. catarrhalis tested, 32 produced beta-lactamase and were resistant to ampicillin. Macrolide resistance decreased over the study period. All isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, and the fluoroquinolones. Although a decreasing trend in the prevalence of resistance of the three most common pathogens involved in CARTIs was noted, continuous surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility at the local and national level remains important, in order to guide appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy

GRAPHENE-REINFORCED POLYMERIC NANOCOMPOSITES IN COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES

Graphene is the newest member of the multidimensional graphite carbon family. Graphene is a two-dimensional atomic crystal formed by the arrangement of carbon atoms in the hexagonal network. It is the most rigid and thinnest material ever discovered and has a wide range of uses regarding its unique characteristics. It is expected that this material will create a revolution in the electronics industry. Graphene is a very powerful superconductor as the movability of charged particles is high on it, and additionally, because of the high surface energy and π electrons being free, graphene can be used in manufacturing many electronics devices. In this paper, the applications of graphene nanoparticles reinforced polymer nanocomposites in the computer and electronics industry are investigated. These nanoparticles have received much attention from researchers and craftsmen, because graphene has unique thermal, electrical and mechanical properties. Its use as a filler in very small quantities substantially enhances the properties of nanocomposites. There are various methods for producing graphene-reinforced polymer nanocomposites. These methods affect the amount of graphene dispersion within the polymer substrate and the final properties of the composite. The application and the properties of graphene-reinforced polymer nanocomposites are discussed along with examples of results published in the papers. To better understand such materials, the applications of these nanocomposites have been investigated in a variety of fields, including batteries, capacitors, sensors, solar cells, etc., and the barriers to the growth and development of these materials application as suggested by the researchers are discussed. As the use of these nanocomposites is developing and many researchers are interested in working on it, the need to study and deal with these substances is increasingly felt

The Development of Racial Understanding as Told by Black People in America : A Narrative Analysis Regarding Colorblindness, Blackness, and Identity

Thesis advisor: Sara MoormanThesis advisor: Eve SpanglerThis research project explores the narratives of how and when young Black people came to understand their race, as well as the implications of it. In order to expand upon the existing studies regarding racial realization and provide specific stories of such instances, qualitative interviews with nine Black people (ages 18-22) were conducted. The upbringings of these young Black people were analyzed in depth in order to provide insight to different types of racial socialization. It was found that both colorblind upbringings and non-colorblind upbringings that center individuals rather than systems of oppression are not helpful in the racial identity formation of young Black people. They both result in the perpetuation of the idea that racially marginalized people should modify their behavior. Additionally, this project exposes some of the reasons why racial realization is often a jarring experience for Black people in America, and in turn, expose some of the ways it can be less so.Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2021.Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Departmental Honors.Discipline: Sociology

Primary lymphocutaneous nocardiosis in an immunocompetent patient

BACKGROUND: Nocardia brasiliensis is a rare human pathogen usually associated with localized cutaneous infections. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of primary lymphocutaneous Nocardia brasiliensis infection developed after a bone fracture of the left hand of an otherwise healthy 32-year-old man. Treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole given for a total of three months combined with surgical debridement resulted in complete resolution of the infection. CONCLUSION: Nocardiosis should be part of the differential diagnosis in patients with sporotrichoid infection, particularly those with a history of outdoor injury. Culture of the affected tissue and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolate should be performed for diagnosis and treatment

Deterrence, settlement, and litigation under adversarial versus inquisitorial systems

In this paper, we compare deterrence, settlement, and litigation spending under adversarial and inquisitorial systems. We present a basic litigation model with three sequential stages—care, settlement, litigation—and we test the predictions on experimental data. In line with our theoretical expectations, we fnd that, compared with the adversarial system, the inquisitorial system is associated with lower litigation spending, lower rates of cases settled, and tends to strengthen deterrenc

Impact of prolonged treatment with high-dose ciprofloxacin on human gut flora: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Ciprofloxacin is a commonly marketed fluoroquinolone. It is not effective against obligate anaerobes, hence it is considered unlikely to have an impact on colonic microflora. We report the case of a patient who received prolonged treatment with high-dose ciprofloxacin for extensive pelvic osteomyelitis. We also report on the medication's effects on his bowel flora. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report discussing the effects of prolonged administration of a quinolone on microbial flora.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 62-year-old Caucasian man with diabetes presented with low back pain of four months' duration. A magnetic resonance imaging of his pelvis revealed sacroiliitis and extensive pelvic osteomyelitis. <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</it>, which is susceptible to ciprofloxacin, was noted as the offending pathogen. After seven weeks of intravenous treatment, he was prescribed with high-dose oral ciprofloxacin that he continued to take for the next 20 months. Quantitative stool cultures of our patient were obtained a month later as well as at the end of his treatment to record his corresponding sensitivities to the medication. The Gram-negative population of his bowel flora was restored fully upon the discontinuation of this medication. The Gram-negative population was shown to be fully sensitive to ciprofloxacin. His yeast levels were also found to be slightly increased, and no growth of resistant enterococci was noted.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings of this case report suggest that long term and high dose ciprofloxacin administration might be safe in preventing the risk of colonization with resistant Gram negative pathogens, overgrowth of anaerobes and the development of resistant enterococci.</p

Effects of Proportions of Dietary Macronutrients on Glucocorticoid Metabolism in Diet-Induced Obesity in Rats

Tissue glucocorticoid levels in the liver and adipose tissue are regulated by regeneration of inactive glucocorticoid by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) and inactivation by 5α- and 5β-reductases. A low carbohydrate diet increases hepatic 11β-HSD1 and reduces glucocorticoid metabolism during weight loss in obese humans. We hypothesized that similar variations in macronutrient proportions regulate glucocorticoid metabolism in obese rats. Male Lister Hooded rats were fed an obesity-inducing ad libitum ‘Western’ diet (37% fat, n = 36) for 22 weeks, then randomised to continue this diet (n = 12) or to switch to either a low carbohydrate (n = 12) or a moderate carbohydrate (n = 12) diet for the final 8 weeks. A parallel lean control group were fed an ad libitum control diet (10% fat, n = 12) throughout. The low and moderate carbohydrate diets decreased hepatic 11β-HSD1 mRNA compared with the Western diet (both 0.7±0.0 vs 0.9±0.1 AU; p<0.01), but did not alter 11β-HSD1 in adipose tissue. 5α-Reductase mRNA was increased on the low carbohydrate compared with the moderate carbohydrate diet. Compared with lean controls, the Western diet decreased 11β-HSD1 activity (1.6±0.1 vs 2.8±0.1 nmol/mcg protein/hr; p<0.001) and increased 5α-reductase and 5β-reductase mRNAs (1.9±0.3 vs 1.0±0.2 and 1.6±0.1 vs 1.0±0.1 AU respectively; p<0.01) in the liver, and reduced 11β-HSD1 mRNA and activity (both p<0.01) in adipose tissue. Although an obesity-inducing high fat diet in rats recapitulates the abnormal glucocorticoid metabolism associated with human obesity in liver (but not in adipose tissue), a low carbohydrate diet does not increase hepatic 11β-HSD1 in obese rats as occurs in humans

Diet quality, overweight and daily monetary allowance of Greek adolescents.

Objective: To investigate cross-correlates of pocket-money on diet quality and weight status of Greek adolescents. Methods: A total of 172 adolescents (55.2% boys), aged between 10 and 15 years old were recruited. Body weight and height were measured, body mass index (BMI) was computed. Weight status was assessed according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria and diet quality was evaluated via the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) - 2010. Results: Adolescents were allowed a mean allowance of €4.63 ± 3.66 daily. Among boys participants, BMI correlated with pocket money (r = 0.311, p ≤ 0.002) and normoweight boys received statistically less money than their overweight peers (p ≤ 0.019). In both sexes, normoweight was more prevalent in the lowest monetary quartiles. Pocket money was not associated with HEI. Among boys, moderate HEI was more prevalent in the third quartile of pocket money, significantly higher compared to all others (p ≤ 0.01 for all). For girls, the prevalence of moderate HEI declined by each ascending pocket money quartile (p ≤ 0.05 for all). Conclusion: In our sample, adolescents exhibited high rates of pooled overweight including obesity. The majority of the participants followed a diet of moderate quality. Pocket money was associated with BMI only among boys. As pocket money was not associated with diet quality, it is highly possible that adolescents might choose to spend their money on items other than foods. Our study shows that pocket money should be controlled during adolescence and teenagers should be educated on spending their money on healthier food choices

The effect of training about the new intraoperative care documentation forms on the operating room personnel’ function in the context of the documentation.

Introduction The perioperative documentation is essential for patient care, legal documentary and evidence of provided care and information production for research purposes. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of training about the intraoperative care documentation forms on the operating room personnel’ function in the context of the documentation. Methods A quasi-experimental study was carried out on 97 technologists and nurses in the operating rooms of two hospitals, Isfahan, in 2017. Personnel was selected through convenient, then divided into equal experimental and control groups. A 1.5 hour training session through lecture about standards of operating room documentation and how to complete the five intraoperative care documentation forms was formed. Training was continued by social media during two months. Five Documentation Forms were used for 2 months and the documentation score of the research samples was expressed as percentage. In the control group, no training was performed and the score was obtained using a self-report questionnaire. Results In this research, about the experimental group 90/8% were women. 89/2% were surgical technologists and the rest were nurses.In the experimental group, the mean total score of the intraoperative care documentation forms was 93.19±5.18 out of 100, but in the control group, the mean total score of documentation was 42.89±34.07 out of 100. The mean total score of the intraoperative care documentation forms in the experimental group was significantly higher than control group (P<0.001). Conclusions Training standards of operating room documentation and the use of appropriately-structured forms can increase the operating room personnel’ function in the context of the documentation. Keywords: Training , Documentation , Operating Room , Intraoperative car