Piercedelgado6368

Results The global prevalence of pathogenic intestinal parasites was 31.6%. G. duodenalis (23.9%) was by far the most prevalent parasite followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (4.1%) and Cryptosporidium sp. (3.4%). Intestinal parasites were more frequent in older children (p = 0.005; aOR = 1.025). Conclusions This work is one of the few published studies reporting intestinal parasites infection in hospitalized children. The percentage of children affected with G. duodenalis is higher than found in other studies in the African region. This highlights the need of particular attention being given to this intestinal protozoan and its resistance to water treatment, as well as to environmental health and personal hygiene.Introduction This study aims at defining through a retrospective evaluation, the clinical parameters affecting the clinical course and consequently the management of patients presenting with cervicofacial abscesses. Methodology A total of 394 patients diagnosed with abscess at the University of Sassari Otorhinolaryngology Division between 2009 and 2017 were included; among these, eleven patients were diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. Personal and clinical parameters including the LRINEC score and the medical and/or surgical treatment used were analyzed for each patient. The most frequently affected site was the peritonsillar space (76.9%), followed by the parapharyngeal space. Results Mean age was 41(±17) years, the male population was slightly overrepresented (68%). An average of 6 (±7) days of hospitalization duration was recorded. The mortality rate was confirmed to be relatively low (1/349 patients) and was reported only in one patient diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis (1/11). Conclusion Diagnosis, correct clinical definition and early medical-surgical treatment of neck abscesses were crucial to reduce complications; LRNEC score, C-reactive protein, glycemia and creatininemia proved to be reliable prognostic indicators of difficult patient management and risk of complications.Introduction Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and is a serious global health problem. Hepatitis C infection is highly prevalent in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), due to frequent exposure to blood and blood products, nosocomial transmission of HCV, and prolong hemodialysis duration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway on severity of the liver disease in ESRD HCV+ patients. Methodology Blood samples from patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and hepatitis C infection (HCV), 20 patients with HCV infection, 20 patients with ESRD and 20 healthy control donor patients were taken for the examination of biochemical parameters, for the determination of the serum cytokine concentration, and for the molecular diagnostics of HCV. Results Systemic sST2 positively correlated with serum level of urea and creatinine, respectively. Serum sST2 was significantly increased in ESRD HCV+ patients in comparison to HCV+ group. sST2/IL-1, sST2/IL-4 and sST2/IL-23 ratios were significantly increased in serum of ESRD HCV+ patients in comparison to HCV+ patients. Significantly higher systemic level of sST2 and sST2/IL-1 and sST2/IL-4 ratios were measured in ESRD patients compared to non-ESRD patients. Conclusion These results suggested that elevated level sST2, as the consequence of renal failure, causes less destruction of liver in HCV infection.Introduction Bloodstream Infections (BSIs) are a main cause of life-threatening complications among patients with cancer. N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine chemical Methodology This study aimed to identify microbial pathogens causing BSI in febrile neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancy and compare the results of conventional blood culture with a nested multiplex real time PCR assay done directly on whole blood samples. The nested multiplex PCR was based on 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA sequence-specific primers; hence, it allowed the identification of most species of bacteria and fungi. Results Forty adult patients with febrile neutropenia, admitted at Hematology ward of Ain Shams University Hospitals, were included in this study. Each patient was subjected to conventional blood culture and nested multiplex PCR. Blood culture was positive in 19 patients (47.5%). About 68.4% of the positive cultures were monomicrobial, while 31.6% were polymicrobial. A total number of 26 isolates were grown from positive cultures; Staphylococcus aureus was the most common (30.8%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.2%). Regarding nested PCR, positive results were detected in 37/40 patients (92.5%) which was statistically significantly higher than that of blood culture. Eighteen samples that tested negative by culture were positive using the molecular approach. The agreement between the two approaches was 55%. Conclusion nested multiplex real time PCR can be a promising tool in order to achieve rapid diagnosis in cancer patients clinically suspected of BSIs. Its utilization could affect the choice of antimicrobial treatment whether bacterial or fungal and, therefore avoid unnecessary use of antimicrobials.Introduction Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes meningitis in China. This study's aim was comparative analysis of serum proteomics from meningitis and non-meningitis piglets. Methodology SS2 meningitis and non-meningitis piglet models were established. The serum samples were collected and analyzed by label-free LC-MS/MS proteomics technology. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) from serum were screened out by comparing the meningitis group and non-meningitis group to the healthy group (M/C; N/C), respectively. And then, globally and comparative analysis of DEPs in "M/C" and "N/C" in serum were performed using bioinformatics method. Finally, we comparatively analyzed the serum and cerebrospinal fluid proteomics in piglets that lived with meningitis. Results We obtained 316 and 191 DEPs from "M/C" and "N/C" which classification visualizations were established. 157 DEPs were common in both groups and 159 DEPs were unique to the "M/C". These DEPs and the signaling pathways which they participated in were visualized. Moreover, some DEPs which participated in multiple pathways were discovered and the interaction between 159 DEPs was also mapped. 39 common DEPs were also screened out in serum and cerebrospinal fluid during meningitis, and signaling pathways associated with these DEPs were further visualized. Conclusions DEPs in "M/C" and "N/C" were comparatively analyzed and the similarities and differences of these DEPS which were involved in signal pathways were summarized. Moreover, several important molecules were screened out.Introduction Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) represents a public health threat increasing worldwide. We assess the suitability of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for on-site screening of CRAB in a hospital facility. Methodology A set of six primers were designed for recognizing eight distinct sequences on six targets blaOXA-23-like, blaOXA-24-like, blaOXA-51-like, blaOXA-58-like, blaIMP, and blaVIM. A LAMP method was developed, optimized and evaluated for the identification of CRAB in thirty-three environmental samples from an outbreak in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facility. Results The sensitivity of the LAMP assay for the detection of A. baumannii was ten-fold higher than the PCR assay (1.0 ng.µL-1). The LAMP assays showed a higher detection rate for CRAB samples and robust diagnosis performance in comparison to a conventional PCR, with clinical sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% for blaOXA-23-like, blaOXA-51-like and blaVIM. Conclusions The developed LAMP assays are powerful tools that can be useful in on-site screening of CRAB causing local outbreaks in clinics and hospitals facilities where costs and equipment restraints are imperative.Introduction Food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria is one of the most harmful things that can even threaten human life. Over time, these pathogenic bacteria are increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Continuous use of synthetic preservatives will also have an adverse effect. This study was conducted to evaluate the synergy of bacteriophage and antibiotics in increasing antibiotics inhibition to the bacteria that cause foodborne disease. Methodology The test was performed by plaque assay and paper disc diffusion on NA medium in the same petri dish. The combination was incubated for 24 hours at 37ºC. An antibiotic inhibition on a non-bacteriophage test showed cefadroxil could only inhibit P21B bacteria. Results Cefadroxil inhibition in the PAS test showed that these antibiotics could inhibit some other foodborne disease bacteria (Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli). The inhibitory observed from the clear zone located around the disc paper. Conclusion These results provide useful information to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance in humans and foods.Introduction Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most dangerous form of tuberculosis with high mortality and disability rates. However, the delayed diagnostic process is often due to the absence of the gold standard tests leading to a lack of information about the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of TBM and determine the performance of four diagnostic procedures the mycobacteria growth culture test, Gene Xpert assay, and analysis of protein levels and leukocyte count taken from cerebrospinal fluid. Methodology We used a Bayesian latent class analysis to estimate the prevalence of TBM with 95% credible interval (CI), and the specificity and sensitivity of the four diagnostic procedures. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the cerebrospinal protein levels and leukocyte count were also compared and estimated using different thresholds. Results A total of 1,213 patients suspected of having TBM were included. The estimated TBM prevalence was 34.8 % (95% CI 28.8 - 41.3). The sensitivity of culture test and Gene Xpert assay was 62.7% (95% CI 52.5 - 74.0), and 57.5% (95% CI 51.0 - 64.0), and the specificity of Gene-Xpert was 95. 9% (95% CI 92.0 - 99.8). The AUC for leukocyte count was 76.0%, and for protein level was 73.4%. Conclusions This study provided better information about the performance of four routine diagnostic tests and the prevalence of TBM which can enhance disease control and improve treatment outcomes.Introduction Plasmid-mediated resistance to β-lactam and fluoroquinolone antibiotics was investigated in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from retailed frozen chickens from Brazil, South Africa and Mozambique. Methodology Carcass swabs and the liquid thaw of 33 chickens from each of the three countries constituted the total sample size of 198. Isolates were identified by biochemical tests, antibiotic susceptibility was ascertained by the disc diffusion assay and β-lactamases were detected using the double-disk synergy test. PCR was used to detect the presence of blaCTX-M, blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCMY, blaMOX, blaFOX, blaDHA, qnrB, qnrD, qnrS and qepA genes. A random selection of CTX-M genes was sequenced. Results The 198 samples yielded 27 (13.6%) putative extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-positive isolates, 15 from carcass swabs and 12 from the liquid thaw from 22 chickens with 19, 5 and 3 isolates from South African, Mozambican and Brazilian chicken, respectively. Isolates exhibited the following resistance ampicillin 100%, ceftriaxone 89%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 78%, cefotaxime 74%, ciprofloxacin 70%, ceftazidime 67%, cefoxitin 22% and gentamicin 8%.