Application of extreme environmental conditions to resuscitation of viable but non culturable E. coli DH5α

The resuscitation of Viable But Non-Culturable (VBNC) state in Escherichia coli DH5α as one of the most usable expression host was investigated. The VBNC state in bacteria is defined as while the cells are alive but unable to grow visibly on nonselective growth medium. After collecting several samples, Non-culturable E. coli DH5α (that has undertaken on various recombinant manipulations) were divided into different groups in order to carry-out different experiments. They were treated to heat shock at 42ºC in different periods of time, different concentration of Bile-salts and NaCl and combinational of these methods. The results showed that the almost of resuscitation treatment had positive effect on reactivation of VBNC E. coli DH5α. The combination of these parameters (various NaCl and bile salts concentration and heat shock method at 42 °C in different time) in a binary manner, also inferred to suitable results. Furthermore, by applying the three stresses simultaneously we achieved optical density up to 0.58 and 9×108 CFU/ml which had presented the best results. The results show that by applying some alterations in the condition of such recombinant E. coli DH5α, the growth path of these bacteria which remain to a VBNC phase can be changed to the normal status

Diagnostic examination of the child with urolithiasis or nephrocalcinosis

Urolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis are more frequent in children then currently anticipated, but still remain under- or misdiagnosed in a significant proportion of patients, since symptoms and signs may be subtle or misleading. All children with colicky abdominal pain or macroscopic hematuria should be examined thoroughly for urolithiasis. Also, other, more general, abdominal manifestations can be the first symptoms of renal stones. The patients and their family histories, as well as physical examination, are important initial steps for diagnostic evaluation. Thereafter, diagnostic imaging should be aimed at the location of calculi but also at identification of urinary tract anomalies or acute obstruction due to stone disease. This can often be accomplished by ultrasound examination alone, but sometimes radiological methods such as plain abdominal films or more sensitive non-enhanced computed tomography are necessary. Since metabolic causes are frequent in children, diagnostic evaluation should be meticulous so that metabolic disorders that cause recurrent urolithiasis or even renal failure, such as the primary hyperoxalurias and others, can be ruled out. The stone is not the disease itself; it is only one serious sign! Therefore, thorough and early diagnostic examination is mandatory for every infant and child with the first stone event, or with nephrocalcinosis

Fungal peritonitis in Iranian children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a national experience.

INTRODUCTION. Fungal peritonitis (FP), causing catheter obstruction, dialysis failure, and peritoneal dysfunction, is a rare but serious complication of peritoneal dialysis. In this study, the frequency and risk factors of FP are evaluated in children who underwent peritoneal dialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective multicenter study was performed at the 5 pediatric peritoneal dialysis centers in Iran from 1971 to 2006, and FP episodes among 93 children were reviewed. Risk ratios were calculated for the clinical and demographic variables to determine the risk factors of FP. RESULTS. Ninety-three children aged 39 months on average were included in study. Sixteen out of 155 episodes of peritonitis were fungi infections, all by Candida albicans. The risk of FP was higher in those with relapsing bacterial peritonitis (P = .009). Also, all of the patients had received antibiotics within the 1 month prior to the development of FP. Catheters were removed in all patients after 1 to 7 days of developing FP. Six out of 12 patients had catheter obstruction and peritoneal loss after the treatment and 5 died due to infection. CONCLUSIONS. Fungal peritonitis, accompanied by high morbidity and mortality in children should be reduced by prevention of bacterial peritonitis. Early removal of catheter after recognition of FP should be considered

Fungal peritonitis in Iranian children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a national experience.

INTRODUCTION. Fungal peritonitis (FP), causing catheter obstruction, dialysis failure, and peritoneal dysfunction, is a rare but serious complication of peritoneal dialysis. In this study, the frequency and risk factors of FP are evaluated in children who underwent peritoneal dialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective multicenter study was performed at the 5 pediatric peritoneal dialysis centers in Iran from 1971 to 2006, and FP episodes among 93 children were reviewed. Risk ratios were calculated for the clinical and demographic variables to determine the risk factors of FP. RESULTS. Ninety-three children aged 39 months on average were included in study. Sixteen out of 155 episodes of peritonitis were fungi infections, all by Candida albicans. The risk of FP was higher in those with relapsing bacterial peritonitis (P = .009). Also, all of the patients had received antibiotics within the 1 month prior to the development of FP. Catheters were removed in all patients after 1 to 7 days of developing FP. Six out of 12 patients had catheter obstruction and peritoneal loss after the treatment and 5 died due to infection. CONCLUSIONS. Fungal peritonitis, accompanied by high morbidity and mortality in children should be reduced by prevention of bacterial peritonitis. Early removal of catheter after recognition of FP should be considered

Le soutènement liquide

Les auteurs présentent les études menées dans les laboratoires de l'E.N.T.P.E. sur le soutènement liquide apporté par une boue fluide. Ils présentent les matériels qu'ils ont conçus pour l’étude de la formation du cake dans les terrains sablo-graveleux de forte perméabilité. Leur analyse scientifique débouche sur l'interprétation des gradients de pression dans l'épaisseur du cake et leurs résultats sont d’ordre pratique.La discussion qui a suivi la conférence apporte de nombreuses précisions sur le tunnelier mis en œuvre à Lyon

URETERO PELVIC JUNCTION OBSTRUCTION IN THE NEWBORN

Uretero pelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction is a common cause of hydronephrosis in infants. The frequent use of fetal ultrasound is allowing early (prenatal) diagnosis of numerous uropathies previously delayed until the child either became symptomatic or had a palpable mass. Newborn with severe obstruction often has marked improvement following correction, therefore, early diagnosis and operation are important. From 1993 to 2002, 21 patients were operated on for severe UPJ obstruction who were diagnosed before 6 weeks of age. Only 10 patients (63%) had antenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis, the remaining were diagnosed by postnatal ultrasound and IVP or radionuclide scan for palpable renal enlargement or for associated anomalies. Eighteen of them had unilateral and three had bilateral obstruction. Twenty-four pyeloplasties were done; all pyeloplasties were dismembered with tailoring of the dilatated renal pelvis. Postoperative renal function was followed with laboratory blood test, urine test or radionuclide scan or IVP. Postoperative complications included urinary tract infection in three patients and postoperative stenosis in one patient were seen. No mortality occurred on infants in unilateral but one occurred in bilateral obstruction. Also, there was one unrelated late death. We report documented functional improvement with minimal complications in unilateral or bilateral pyeloplasty in newborns with UPJ obstruction. We recommend that if the initial scan shows substantially reduced function in the obstructed kidney, a pyeloplasty (rather than nephrectomy) generally should be performed, because the newborn kidney has tremendous capacity for improvement in renal function following decompression

Exacerbation of Congenital Hydronephrosis as the First Presentation of COVID-19 Infection in Children

Background. Congenital hydronephrosis is one of the most common abnormalities of the upper urinary tract, which can be exacerbated by a variety of intrinsic or extrinsic triggers. The urinary tract system is one of the major organs complicated by COVID-19 infection. Case Presentations. Here, we report five patients with an established diagnosis of congenital hydronephrosis, who presented with acute abdominal pain and fever and an abrupt increase in the anteroposterior pelvic diameter (APD). Patients had a previous stable course and were under regular follow-up with serial ultrasonographic studies. They underwent surgery or supportive treatment due to the later exacerbation of hydronephrosis. Based on the clinical and imaging findings, no plausible etiologies for these exacerbation episodes, including infection, nephrolithiasis, or abdominal masses, could be postulated. The common aspect in all these patients was the evidence of a COVID-19 infection. Conclusions. Infection with COVID-19 in children with antenatal hydronephrosis may exacerbate the degree of hydronephrosis and renal APD in ultrasonography, which itself may be mediated by the increase in inflammatory mediators. © 2022 Masoumeh Mohkam et al

A sustainable energy distribution configuration for microgrids integrated to the national grid using back-to-back converters in a renewable power system

A desire to produce power in microgrids has grown as the demand for electricity has expanded and the cost of installing modern transmission lines over long distances has become infeasible. As such, microgrids pose DC/AC harmonic distortion losses to the voltage supply that eventually fluctuate the output voltage. The key takeaways that this study presents are: (a) a configuration for microgrids integrated to the national grid using back-to-back converters in a renewable power system is achieved; (b) different scenarios of various schemes of sustainability of the power management in microgrids are analyzed; and (c) the reliable and stable network output power distribution is achieved. In this, the proposed control configuration provides space for construction and stability of the power system with sustainability of the power management. The results show that this current configuration works and stabilizes the network in the shortest time possible, and that the DC connection voltage is regulated and maintains reliable network output despite declining slope controllers, DC power and voltage, and power electronic back-to-back converters. Overall, the simulation results show that the proposed system shows acceptable performance under different scenarios. The accuracy of the results is validated with mathematical formulation simulation using MATLAB software. This system can be utilized in distant regions where there is no power grid or in areas where, despite having a power infrastructure, renewable energies are used to supply the output load for the majority of the day and night