scholarly journals Cessation from Smoking Improves Innate Host Defense and Clearance of Experimentally Inoculated NasalStaphylococcus aureus

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Cole ◽  
Mary Schmidt-Owens ◽  
Ashley C. Beavis ◽  
Christine F. Chong ◽  
Patrick M. Tarwater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Nasal Carriage ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Serious Infections ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Enhanced Expression

ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusnasal carriage is transient in most humans and usually benign, but dissemination ofS. aureusto extranasal sites causes the majority of clinical infections, andS. aureusis a major cause of serious infections in the United States. A better understanding of innate nasal decolonization mechanisms is urgently needed, as are relevant models for studyingS. aureusclearance. Here, we screened a population of healthy smokers for nasalS. aureuscarriage and compared the participants' abilities to clear experimentally applied nasalS. aureusbefore and after completion of a smoking cessation program. We determined that cigarette smoking increases the mean nasalS. aureusload (2.6 × 104CFU/swab) compared to the load observed in healthy nonsmokers (1.7 × 103CFU/swab) and might increase the rate ofS. aureusnasal carriage in otherwise-healthy adults: 22 of 99 smokers carriedS. aureusat the screening visit, while only 4 of 30 nonsmokers screened positive during the same time period. Only 6 of 19 experimental inoculation studies in active smokers resulted inS. aureusclearance within the month of follow-up, while in the cessation group, 6 of 9 subjects cleared nasalS. aureusand carriage duration averaged 21 ± 4 days. Smoking cessation associated with enhanced expression ofS. aureus-associated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in nasal fluids. Participants who failed to clearS. aureusexhibited a higher nasalS. aureusload and elevated nasal interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) expression at the preexperiment study visits. We conclude that smokers exhibit higherS. aureusloads than nonsmokers and that innate immune pathways, including G-CSF expression and signaling through the IL-1 axis, are important mediators of nasalS. aureusclearance.

scholarly journals The Effect of Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm/532 nm Laser in the Treatment of Onychomycosis In Vivo

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kostas Kalokasidis ◽  
Meltem Onder ◽  
Myrto-Georgia Trakatelli ◽  
Bertrand Richert ◽  
Klaus Fritz
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Study ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Prospective Clinical Study ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Before And After ◽  
532 Nm

In this prospective clinical study, the Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm/532 nm laser (Light Age, Inc., Somerset, NJ, USA) was used on 131 onychomycosis subjects (94 females, 37 males; ages 18 to 68 years). Mycotic cultures were taken and fungus types were detected. The laser protocol included two sessions with a one-month interval. Treatment duration was approximately 15 minutes per session and patients were observed over a 3-month time period. Laser fluencies of 14 J/cm2were applied at 9 billionths of a second pulse duration and at 5 Hz frequency. Follow-up was performed at 3 months with mycological cultures. Before and after digital photographs were taken. Adverse effects were recorded and all participants completed “self-evaluation questionnaires” rating their level of satisfaction. All subjects were well satisfied with the treatments, there were no noticeable side effects, and no significant differences were found treating men versus women. At the 3-month follow-up 95.42% of the patients were laboratory mycologically cured of fungal infection. This clinical study demonstrates that fungal nail infections can be effectively and safely treated with Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm/532 nm laser. It can also be combined with systemic oral antifungals providing more limited treatment time.

scholarly journals Surveillance of Omadacycline Activity Tested against Clinical Isolates from the United States and Europe as Part of the 2016 SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Pfaller ◽  
Michael D. Huband ◽  
Dee Shortridge ◽  
Robert K. Flamm
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Moraxella Catarrhalis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Antimicrobial Surveillance ◽  
Serious Infections ◽  
Viridans Group Streptococci

ABSTRACTOmadacycline was tested against 21,000 bacterial isolates collected prospectively from medical centers in Europe and the United States during 2016. Omadacycline was active againstStaphylococcus aureus(MIC50/MIC90, 0.12/0.25 mg/liter), including methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA); streptococci (MIC50/MIC90, 0.06/0.12 mg/liter), includingStreptococcus pneumoniae, viridans group streptococci, and beta-hemolytic streptococci;Enterobacteriaceae, includingEscherichia coli(MIC50/MIC90, 0.5/2 mg/liter);Haemophilus influenzae(MIC50/MIC90, 1/1 mg/liter); andMoraxella catarrhalis(MIC50/MIC90, 0.25/0.25 mg/liter). Omadacycline merits further study in serious infections where resistant pathogens may be encountered.

scholarly journals High Staphylococcus aureus Colonization Prevalence among Patients with Skin and Soft Tissue Infections and Controls in an Urban Emergency Department

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 810-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Kumar ◽  
Michael Z. David ◽  
Susan Boyle-Vavra ◽  
Julia Sieth ◽  
Robert S. Daum
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
The United States ◽  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
Soft Tissue Infections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Commensal Species ◽  
High Prevalence

Staphylococcus aureusis a commensal species that can also be a formidable pathogen. In the United States, an epidemic of community-acquired methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) infections has been occurring for the last 15 years. In the context of a study in which we identified patients with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and randomized them to receive one of two antimicrobial treatment regimens, we assessedS. aureuscolonization in the nares, throat, and perianal skin on the day of enrollment and 40 days after therapy. We compared the prevalence of colonization between the SSTI patients and an uninfected control population. A total of 144 subjects and 130 controls, predominantly African American, participated in this study, and 116 returned for a 40-day follow-up visit. Of the SSTI patients, 76% were colonized withS. aureusat enrollment, as were 65% of the controls. Patients were more likely than the controls to be colonized with USA300 MRSA (62/144 [43.1%] versus 11/130 [8.5%], respectively;P< 0.001). The nares were not the most common site of colonization. The colonization prevalence diminished somewhat after antibiotic treatment but remained high. The isolates that colonized the controls were more likely than those in the patients to be methicillin-susceptibleS. aureus(MSSA) (74/84 [88.1%] versus 56/106 [52.8%], respectively;P< 0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence ofS. aureuscolonization among SSTI patients was high and often involved USA300 MRSA. The prevalence diminished somewhat with antimicrobial therapy but remained high at the 40-day follow-up visit. Control subjects were also colonized at a high prevalence but most often with a genetic background not associated with a clinical infection in this study.S. aureusis a commensal species and a pathogen. Plans for decolonization or eradication should take this distinction into account.

Efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty combined with radiotherapy in osteolytic metastatic spinal tumors

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jee-Soo Jang ◽  
Sang-Ho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Percutaneous Vertebroplasty ◽  
Invasive Procedure ◽  
Spinal Tumors ◽  
Percutaneous Injection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spinal Stabilization ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Vertebroplasty involves the percutaneous injection of polymethylmethacrylate into collapsed vertebral bodies due to hemangioma, osteoporosis, or malignant tumor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the merits and efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) combined with radiotherapy in treating patients with osteolytic metastatic spinal tumors (OMSTs). Methods. Twenty-eight patients with OMSTs underwent PVP for the treatment of 72 vertebrae after administration of a local anesthetic or induction of general anesthesia for pain relief and spinal stabilization. Radiotherapy for suppressing tumor or inducing pain relief was performed immediately after PVP in 22 patients. Pain levels were assessed before and after the procedure by using a visual analog scale (VAS), and follow-up assessment was conducted at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months. On postoperative Day 3, marked-to-complete VAS score—based pain relief was achieved in 13 patients (48%) and moderate relief was demonstrated in 11 (41%). The mean VAS pain score was reduced from 8.2 to 3, and major complications were absent in all cases. Follow-up plain radiography was performed to assess vertebral column stability. Neither additional vertebral collapse in the treated vertebrae nor neurological deterioration was observed. Conclusions. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure and, when combined with radiotherapy, seems to be effective in providing pain relief and stabilization in patients with OMSTs.

scholarly journals Analysis of Serial Isolates of mcr-1-Positive Escherichia coli Reveals a Highly Active ISApl1 Transposon

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Snesrud ◽  
Ana C. Ong ◽  
Brendan Corey ◽  
Yoon I. Kwak ◽  
Robert Clifford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT The emergence of a transferable colistin resistance gene (mcr-1) is of global concern. The insertion sequence ISApl1 is a key component in the mobilization of this gene, but its role remains poorly understood. Six Escherichia coli isolates were cultured from the same patient over the course of 1 month in Germany and the United States after a brief hospitalization in Bahrain for an unconnected illness. Four carried mcr-1 as determined by real-time PCR, but two were negative. Two additional mcr-1-negative E. coli isolates were collected during follow-up surveillance 9 months later. All isolates were analyzed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). WGS revealed that the six initial isolates were composed of two distinct strains: an initial ST-617 E. coli strain harboring mcr-1 and a second, unrelated, mcr-1-negative ST-32 E. coli strain that emerged 2 weeks after hospitalization. Follow-up swabs taken 9 months later were negative for the ST-617 strain, but the mcr-1-negative ST-32 strain was still present. mcr-1 was associated with a single copy of ISApl1, located on a 64.5-kb IncI2 plasmid that shared >95% homology with other mcr-1 IncI2 plasmids. ISApl1 copy numbers ranged from 2 for the first isolate to 6 for the final isolate, but ISApl1 movement was independent of mcr-1. Some movement was accompanied by gene disruption, including the loss of genes encoding proteins involved in stress responses, arginine catabolism, and l-arabinose utilization. These data represent the first comprehensive analysis of ISApl1 movement in serial clinical isolates and reveal that, under certain conditions, ISApl1 is a highly active IS element whose movement may be detrimental to the host cell.

An examination of the burdens faced by entrepreneurs at start-up and five years later

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason L. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Initial Time ◽  
Property Taxes ◽  
Innovative Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Oil Boom ◽  
Industry Type ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Business Size

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the burdens faced by small business entrepreneurs in North Dakota. Design/methodology/approach – Two surveys of entrepreneurs are reported on, assessing burdens at start-up and five years later. Burdens are compared within each time period, across time periods, and are linked to industry type and business size. The study also compares survivors and non-survivors, and considers whether survivorship is linked to initial burdens. Findings – Regulatory factors and taxes were not as burdensome in the initial time period, compared to workforce and financing factors. In the follow-up survey property taxes were the largest burden, particularly among larger businesses. Among survivors, availability of capital was more burdensome at start-up and permitting and licensing complexity at follow-up. Survivors had more employees and rated permit/license complexity as more of a burden compared to non-survivors. Cross-industry burden differences were noted. Finally, businesses with more labor availability struggles at start-up were less likely to survive, and labor market burdens increased for businesses closer to the oil boom area. Research limitations/implications – Limitations mainly relate to the sample businesses, which are all from a single state. This potential issue is elaborated on in the manuscript. Originality/value – The contribution of this research primarily relates to the innovative design of using pre/post surveys to directly assess the opinions of entrepreneurs, allowing the study of burdens across time, survivorship, and industry effects.

scholarly journals Implementation of a Pharmacist-Led Inpatient Tobacco Cessation Intervention in a Rehabilitation Hospital: A Before-and-After Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian W Li ◽  
James Lam ◽  
Pam Heise ◽  
Robert D Reid ◽  
Kerri A Mullen
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Hospital Stay ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Smoking History ◽  
Rehabilitation Hospital ◽  
Mise En Œuvre ◽  
Cessation Intervention ◽  
Before And After

<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p><strong>Background: </strong>Inpatient rehabilitation presents a unique opportunity for smoking interventions, given the typical lengths of stay, the relevance of smoking to the admission diagnosis of many patients, and the occurrence of nicotine withdrawal during the hospital stay.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the feasibility of implementing a pharmacist-led version of the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation (OMSC) program at a rehabilitation hospital, using the indicators of reach, effectiveness, adoption, and implementation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A before-and-after pilot study was conducted. Smoking cessation data were collected from 2 cohorts of eligible smokers identified during 4-month periods before (control) and after (intervention) implementation of the OMSC program. Control participants received usual care (i.e., no cessation intervention). Intervention participants received initial in-hospital smoking cessation support (counselling and nicotine replacement therapy), inpatient follow-up during the hospital stay, and 3 months of postdischarge follow-up calls, with all aspects led by hospital pharmacists.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among all patients admitted to participating inpatient rehabilitation units during the 2 study periods, smoking prevalence was 7.8% (127/1626). After exclusions, deaths, and withdrawals, 111 patients were retained for analysis: 55 in the control group and 56 in the intervention group. The overall mean age of participants was 64.9 (standard deviation [SD] 14.3) years, with a mean smoking history of 35.0 (SD 24.8) pack-years. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of baseline characteristics. Self-reported abstinence rates (determined 3 months after discharge) were higher after compared with before implementation of the OMSC program: for continuous abstinence, 16/56 (28.6%) versus 9/55 (16.4%), <strong>_</strong>2 = 4.462, <em>p </em>= 0.035; for 7-day point prevalence abstinence, 21/56 (37.5%) versus 10/55 (18.2%), <strong>_</strong>2 = 6.807, <em>p </em>= 0.009.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Implementation of the OMSC program at a large rehabilitation hospital was feasible and led to an increase in 3-month smoking abstinence. This study provides preliminary evidence to support inclusion of smoking interventions as part of inpatient rehabilitation care.</p><p><strong>RÉSUMÉ</strong></p><p><strong>Contexte : </strong>La réadaptation des patients hospitalisés représente une occasion unique de procéder à des interventions de désaccoutumance du tabac, notamment en raison de la durée habituelle des séjours, du rapport entre le tabagisme et le diagnostic posé à l’admission, et de la survenue du syndrome de sevrage de la nicotine durant le séjour.</p><p><strong>Objectif : </strong>Étudier la possibilité de mettre en oeuvre une version dirigée par des pharmaciens du programme Modèle d’Ottawa pour l’abandon du tabac (MOAT) dans un centre de réadaptation en employant les indicateurs pour la portée, l’efficacité, l’adoption et la mise en oeuvre.</p><p><strong>Méthodes : </strong>Une étude pilote avant-après a été menée. Des données sur la désaccoutumance ont été recueillies auprès de deux cohortes de fumeurs admissibles qui ont été repérés pendant des périodes de quatre mois avant (groupe témoin) et après (groupe expérimental) la mise en oeuvre du programme du MOAT. Les participants du groupe témoin ont reçu les soins habituels (c.-à-d. sans intervention de désaccoutumance). Les participants du groupe expérimental ont reçu un soutien initial à l’hôpital pour la désaccoutumance du tabac (des conseils et un traitement de remplacement de la nicotine), un suivi pendant le séjour à l’hôpital, et des appels de suivi pendant les trois mois suivant le congé, le tout sous la direction de pharmaciens d’hôpitaux.</p><p><strong>Résultats : </strong>Parmi l’ensemble des patients admis dans les unités de réadaptation participantes au cours des deux périodes de l’étude, la prévalence du tabagisme était de 7,8 % (127/1626). Mis à part les exclusions, les décès et les abandons, 111 patients ont été retenus pour l’analyse : 55 dans le groupe témoin et 56 dans le groupe expérimental. L’âge moyen des participants était de 64,9 (écart-type de 14,3) ans et leur antécédent de tabagisme moyen était de 35,0 (écart-type de 24,8) paquets-années. Aucune différence significative n’a été relevée entre les groupes en ce qui touche aux caractéristiques de base. Les taux d’abstinence autodéclarée (déterminée 3 mois après le congé) étaient plus élevés après la mise en oeuvre du programme du MOAT : pour une abstinence continue, 16/56 (28,6 %) contre 9/55 (16,4 %), <strong>_</strong>2 = 4,462, <em>p </em>= 0,035; pour une abstinence ponctuelle de sept jours consécutifs, 21/56 (37,5 %) contre 10/55 (18,2 %), <strong>_</strong>2 = 6,807, <em>p </em>= 0,009.</p><p><strong>Conclusions : </strong>La mise en oeuvre du programme du MOAT dans un important centre de réadaptation a été possible et a mené à une amélioration de l’abstinence du tabac à trois mois. Cette étude donne des résultats préliminaires en appui à l’inclusion d’interventions de désaccoutumance du tabac aux soins de réadaptation de patients hospitalisés.</p>

Disease Activity and Adverse Events in Patients with ANCA-Associated Vasculitides Undergoing Long-Term Dialysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1665-1675
Author(s):  
Maëlis Kauffmann ◽  
Mickaël Bobot ◽  
Thomas Robert ◽  
Stéphane Burtey ◽  
Grégoire Couvrat-Desvergnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Failure ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
National Health System ◽  
Dialysis Initiation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Kidney Impairment

Background and objectivesKidney impairment of ANCA-associated vasculitides can lead to kidney failure. Patients with kidney failure may suffer from vasculitis relapses but are also at high risk of infections and cardiovascular events, which questions the maintenance of immunosuppressive therapy.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsPatients with ANCA-associated vasculitides initiating long-term dialysis between 2008 and 2012 in France registered in the national Renal Epidemiology and Information Network registry and paired with the National Health System database were included. We analyzed the proportion of patients in remission off immunosuppression over time and overall and event-free survival on dialysis (considering transplantation as a competing risk). We compared the incidence of vasculitis relapses, serious infections, cardiovascular events, and cancers before and after dialysis initiation.ResultsIn total, 229 patients were included: 142 with granulomatous polyangiitis and 87 with microscopic polyangiitis. Mean follow-up after dialysis initiation was 4.6±2.7 years; 82 patients received a kidney transplant. The proportion of patients in remission off immunosuppression increased from 23% at dialysis initiation to 62% after 5 years. Overall survival rates on dialysis were 86%, 69%, and 62% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Main causes of death were infections (35%) and cardiovascular events (26%) but not vasculitis flares (6%). The incidence of vasculitis relapses decreased from 57 to seven episodes per 100 person-years before and after dialysis initiation (P=0.05). Overall, during follow-up, 45% of patients experienced a serious infection and 45% had a cardiovascular event, whereas 13% experienced a vasculitis relapse.ConclusionsThe proportion of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis in remission off immunosuppression increases with time spent on dialysis. In this cohort, patients were far less likely to relapse from their vasculitis than to display serious infectious or cardiovascular events.PodcastThis article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2021_11_08_CJN03190321.mp3

scholarly journals Preliminary experience with pancreatic sphincterotomy as treatment for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm-associated recurrent pancreatitis

2017 ◽  
Vol 05 (11) ◽  
pp. E1144-E1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Bernardoni ◽  
Stefano Crinò ◽  
Giorgia De Conti ◽  
Maria Conti Bellocchi ◽  
Nicolò De Pretis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Malignant Potential ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Recurrent Pancreatitis ◽  
Branch Duct ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Cystic Tumors ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Pancreatic Sphincterotomy

Abstract Background and study aims Pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are cystic tumors of the pancreas characterized by a malignant potential. IPMN have been associated with recurrent pancreatitis (RP). Obstruction of the main pancreatic duct by thick mucus has been postulated to be the cause of pancreatitis. In a few isolated reports, pancreatic sphincterotomy (PS) has been reported to reduce the frequency of pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of PS in patients with IPMN-associated RP. Patients and methods We retrospectively identified patients with RP and IPMN who underwent PS from June 2010 to December 2015. Patients were included in two different groups: (a) main duct/mixed type IPMN (MD-IPMN) and (b) branch duct IPMN (BD-IPMN) with or without worrisome features/high risk stigmata. Other causes of RP were excluded. The number of pancreatitis episodes occurring during a comparable time period before and after PS was evaluated. Results In total, 16 patients were analyzed (seven included in the MD-IPMN group and nine in the BD-IPMN group). The numbers of pancreatitis episodes occurring before and after PS were 3.5 ± 2.32 and 0.56 ± 1.03, respectively (P < 0.0001). Mean follow-up was 27.4 months (range 6 – 63 months). Complete, partial (reduction of pancreatitis episodes > 50 %), and no response were obtained in 11 (68.7 %), 3 (18.7 %), and 2 patients (12.5 %), respectively. One (6.25 %) case of mild post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis was observed. No cancer was detected in resected patients. None of the BD-IPMN group patients had or developed worrisome features/high risk stigmata during follow-up. Conclusions PS seems to be effective in reducing the number of episodes of IPMN-associated pancreatitis and should be considered as a treatment option in selected clinical settings. However, active surveillance should be continued considering the malignant potential of IPMN. Further prospective controlled studies are needed to confirm our results.

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