scholarly journals Isolation of Cryptococcus species from the external environments of hospital and academic areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (06) ◽  
pp. 545-553
Author(s):  
Murilo de Oliveira Brito ◽  
Meliza Arantes de Souza Bessa ◽  
Ralciane de Paula Menezes ◽  
Denise Von Dolinger de Brito Röder ◽  
Mário Paulo Amante Penatti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Epidemiology ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Cryptococcus Species ◽  
Classical Methodology ◽  
Opportunistic Mycoses ◽  
Bird Excreta ◽  
And Control

Introduction: Fungi of the genus Cryptococcus are cosmopolitan and may be agents of opportunistic mycoses in immunocompromised and sometimes immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcus species are frequently isolated from trees and bird excreta in the environment and infection occurs by inhalation of propagules dispersed in the air. The aim was to investigate Cryptococcus species in bird excreta and tree hollows located in a university hospital area and in an academic area of a university campus. Methodology: A total of 40 samples of bird excreta and 41 samples of tree hollows were collected. The identification of the isolates was done by classical methodology and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results: Twenty (62.5%) isolates of Cryptococcus were found in bird excreta and 12 (37.5%) in tree hollows. C. laurentii (currently Papiliotrema laurentii) was the most frequent species in both samples, being found in 5 samples of excreta and in 8 tree hollows. The diversity of species found in excreta (C. laurentii, C. albidus [currently Naganishia albida], C. liquefaciens [currently N. liquefaciens], C. friedmanii [currently N. friedmannii] and others) was higher than in tree hollows (C. laurentii, C. flavescens [currently Papiliotrema flavescens], and other yeasts). Conclusion: Many Cryptococcus species were isolated from excreta and tree hollows, and this fact is important for understanding the environmental epidemiology of those emerging pathogens for public health, as a way to implement surveillance actions and control of cryptococcosis.

scholarly journals Is suicidal ideation associated with allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis?

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martín Bedolla-Barajas ◽  
Norma Angélica Pulido-Guillén ◽  
Bolívar Vivar-Aburto ◽  
Jaime Morales-Romero ◽  
José Raúl Ortiz-Peregrina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Allergic Asthma ◽  
Allergic Diseases ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate whether there is an association between suicidal ideation (SI) and allergic diseases in adults. Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study involving individuals ranging from 20 to 50 years of age recruited from a university hospital in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico. We included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of allergic asthma, those with a confirmed diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, and healthy controls. All subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), which includes an item that evaluates the presence of suicidal thoughts or desires within the last two weeks, in order to identify SI. Results: The sample comprised 115 patients with allergic asthma, 111 patients with allergic rhinitis, and 96 healthy controls. The number of individuals identified with SI in the three groups were, respectively, 17 (14.8%), 13 (11.7%), and 8 (8.3%). Regarding the presence of SI, no statistically significant association was found in the allergic asthma group (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: 0.78-4.64; p = 0.154) or in the allergic rhinitis group (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 0.58-3.68; p = 0.424) when they were compared with the control group. However, the presence of depression was associated with SI in the three groups: allergic asthma (OR = 12.36; 95% CI: 2.67-57.15; p = 0.001); allergic rhinitis (OR = 6.20; 95% CI: 1.66-23.14; p = 0.006); and control (OR = 21.0; 95% CI: 3.75-117.36; p < 0,001). Conclusions: In comparison with the control group, no association was found between SI and the groups with allergic diseases. In contrast, there was association between SI and depression in the three groups.

Point prevalence of healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic use in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 175717742110358
Author(s):  
Sailesh Kumar Shrestha ◽  
Swarup Shrestha ◽  
Sisham Ingnam
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Point Prevalence ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infections ◽  
Prevalence Survey ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
And Control

Information on the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and patterns of antibiotic use are prerequisites for infection prevention and control (IPC) and antibiotics stewardship programmes. However, a few studies have been reported from resource-limited settings and many of them have not used standard definitions to diagnose HAI precluding benchmarking with regional or international data. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of HAIs and antibiotic use in our centre. We conducted a point prevalence survey in a 350-bed university hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal in April 2019. We reviewed all patients aged ⩾ 18 years admitted to the hospital for at least two calendar days and evaluated for the three common HAIs—pneumonia, urinary tract infection and surgical site infection. We used the clinical criteria by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control to diagnose the HAIs. We also collected information on the antibiotics used. Of 160 eligible patients, 18 (11.25%) had HAIs and 114 (87.5%) were on antibiotics, with more than half of them (61/114 patients, 53.5%) receiving two or more antibiotics. This highlights the need for effective implementation of IPC as well as antibiotics stewardship programmes in our centre.

Compression Therapy Using Surgical Gloves Does Not Prevent Paclitaxel-induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Results From a Double-blind Phase 2 Trial 

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruru Kotani ◽  
Mitsuo Terada ◽  
Makiko Mori ◽  
Nanae Horisawa ◽  
Kayoko Sugino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Compression Therapy ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Double Blind Study ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Prophylactic Measure ◽  
Weekly Chemotherapy ◽  
Surgical Gloves ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse effect of paclitaxel (PTX). There is no known prophylactic measure, although there are some reports of prevention with compression therapy using surgical gloves. On account of its predominantly subjective symptoms, it is difficult to exclude bias when assessing for CIPN. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of the same procedure for the prevention of paclitaxel-induced PN based on a double-blind study design.Methods: The patients with early and recurrent breast cancer (with no prior PTX exposure) initiating weekly chemotherapy with PTX 80 mg/m2 were enrolled. Each patient donned two gloves on each hand at every PTX infusion. Two one-size-smaller gloves were donned on one hand (study side) and two normal-size gloves were donned on the other hand (control side) during 90 minutes from 30 minutes before the infusion to 30 minutes after the end of the infusion. Study side are blind for both patients and assessing physicians according to determination of the study side by research nurses in the chemotherapy unit.The primary outcome was the difference in the frequency of CIPN (motor/sensory) determined by the physician using the common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE v4.0), with an evaluation at each cycle of PTX infusion. McNemar test was used to assess the primary outcome.Results: Between July 2017 and November 2018, 56 patients were enrolled and 49 patients were evaluated. Overall, Grade ≥ 2 PN (sensory) was observed in 30.6% and 36.7% in the study and control sides, respectively (McNemar p = 0.25). PN (motor) was observed in 4.1% and 6.1% in the study and control sides, respectively (McNemar p = 1.0). Conclusion: Surgical glove compression therapy showed no statistically significant effect on the incidence of PTX-induced PN.Trial registrations: This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Clinical Trials Registry managed by the National University Hospital Council of Japan (UMIN000027944).

scholarly journals Effect of Exercise Program on Fatigue and Depression among Geriatric Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Soad Hassan Abd Elhameed ◽  
Doaa El Sayed Fadila
Keyword(s):  
Geriatric Patients ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
And Control

Background: Fatigue is one of the foremost common complications faced the hemodialysis elderly patients. Fatigue not only impact the daily lives and activities of patients but it conjointly influences their quality of life, which can afterwards result in magnified depression, tiny social interactions and increase dependency on others.Aim: Determine the effect of exercise program on fatigue and depression among geriatric patients undergoing hemodialysis.Design: Randomized controlled trial (pretest post-test) design was used.Setting: The study was carried out in the dialysis units of Mansoura University Hospital and New Mansoura General Hospital.Subjects: A purposive sample of 62 geriatric patients undergoing hemodialysis was selected and randomly allocated into two equal groups, study group (n = 31) and control group (n =31).Tools: Three tools were used; Structured interview questionnaire sheet, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory Scale and Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form.Results: The mean age of the study and control groups was 63.45±4.49 and 64.7±5.25 respectively. A high statistically significant change in fatigue and depression score (pre and post 2 months) between the study and the control groups was observed (P=0.000). Moreover, a statistically significant relation was observed between fatigue and age of the hemodialysis geriatric patients after implementation of the exercise program (P= 0.002).Conclusion: Implementation of the exercise program proved to be effective in improving the level of fatigue and depression among geriatric patients undergoing hemodialysis in the study group.Recommendation: Encourage geriatric patients undergoing hemodialysis to perform regularly range of motion and relaxation exercises in order to alleviate fatigue and overcome depression.  

scholarly journals Simultaneous Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of the Coptidis Rhizoma and Euodiae Fructus Herbal Pair by Using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS and UHPLC-DAD

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (20) ◽  
pp. 4782
Author(s):  
Yan-Ying Li ◽  
Min-Qun Guo ◽  
Xue-Mei Li ◽  
Xiu-Wei Yang
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Chinese Medicines ◽  
Chemical Profiling ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Chinese Medicine Formula ◽  
Quantification Analysis ◽  
Coptidis Rhizoma ◽  
And Control

The herbal pair of Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) and Euodiae Fructus (EF) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula used for treating gastro-intestinal disorders. In this study, we established a systematic method for chemical profiling and quantification analysis of the major constituents in the CR-EF herbal pair. A method of ultra high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) for qualitative analysis was developed. Sixty-five compounds, including alkaloids, phenolics, and limonoids, were identified or tentatively assigned by comparison with reference standards or literature data. The UHPLC fingerprints of 19 batches of the CR-EF herbal pair samples were obtained and the reference fingerprint chromatograms were established. Furthermore, nine compounds among 24 common peaks of fingerprints were considered as marker components, which either had high contents or significant bioactivities, were applied to quality control of the CR-EF herbal pair by quantitative analysis. This UHPLC-DAD analysis method was validated by precision, linearity, repeatability, stability, recovery, and so on. The method was simple and sensitive, and thus reliable for quantitative and chemical fingerprint analysis for the quality evaluation and control of the CR-EF herbal pair and related traditional Chinese medicines.

scholarly journals EARLY PROBIOTICS IN PREVENTING VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA AFTER MULTIPLE TRAUMA

2020 ◽  
pp. 83-85
Author(s):  
TAMER HABIB ◽  
AMIRA B KASSEM ◽  
ISLAM AHMED
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Trauma ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia ◽  
Mechanically Ventilated ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Multiple Trauma Patients ◽  
And Control

Objective: Using probiotics in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remain controversial due to different intensive care unit (ICU) populations included in such studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of probiotics in prophylaxis of VAP after multiple trauma. Methods: Sixty-five adult multiple trauma patients on mechanical ventilator (expected ≥48 h) after admission to the Critical Care Medicine Department, Alexandria Main University Hospital from June to November 2018. Patients were randomly assigned using computer sheet into two groups; probiotics group (32 patients received one Lacteol Forte® sachet through orogastric/nasogastric tube 3 times daily during their ICU stay) and control group (33 patients received similar regimen of placebo sachets). All patients were followed up and subjected to all possible strategies of the diagnosis of microbiologically confirmed VAP. Results: Sixty-five patients were enrolled with a mean of age (39.48±7.692) years, 80% of them were male. Regarding the incidence of VAP, it was 18.46% of all patients without statistically significant difference between probiotics group (15.63%) and control group (21.21%) (p=0.751). Conclusion: Routine use of early probiotics in mechanically ventilated multiple trauma patients was not associated with lower incidence of VAP, duration of MV, or ICU mortality.

scholarly journals Metastatic Spreading of Community AcquiredStaphylococcus aureusBacteraemia

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Giovanna Fabio ◽  
Maria Carrabba ◽  
Luca Mellace ◽  
Cinzia Hu ◽  
Diego Spagnoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Epidural Abscess ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Serious Infection ◽  
History Of ◽  
Associated Risk Factors ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
And Control

A 29-year-old woman presented to the Fondazione IRCCS “Cà Granda” Ospedale Maggiore, a tertiary care university hospital in Milan (Italy), with skin lesions, fever, myalgia, joint pain and swelling, and a one-week history of low back pain. The diagnosis wasStaphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) bacteraemia spreading to skin, bones, and joints and a lumbosacral epidural abscess L5-S2. Neither initial focus nor predisposing conditions were apparent. The antibiotic therapy was prolonged for six-weeks with the resolution of fever, skin lesions, articular inflammation, and the epidural abscess. Community-acquiredS. aureusinfections can affect patients without traditional healthcare-associated risk factors, and community acquisition is a risk-factor for the development of complications. Raised awareness ofS. aureusbacteraemia, also in patients without healthcare-associated risk factors, is important in the diagnosis, management, and control of this infection, because failure to recognise patients with serious infection and lack of understanding of empirical antimicrobial selection are associated with a high mortality rate in otherwise healthy people.

scholarly journals Rapid Screening of 4000 Individuals for Germ-line Variations in the BRAF Gene

2006 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 1675-1678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R James ◽  
Troy Dumeni ◽  
Mitchell S Stark ◽  
David L Duffy ◽  
Grant W Montgomery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Melanoma Cell ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Braf Gene ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
Twin Families ◽  
And Control ◽  
Melanoma Cell Lines

Abstract Background: The BRAF gene is frequently somatically altered in malignant melanoma. A majority of variations are at the valine 600 residue leading to a V600E substitution that constitutively activates the kinase. We screened 4000 patient and control DNAs for germ-line variations at the valine 600 residue. Methods: We developed a novel assay by adapting single-base variation assays and software for MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight) mass spectrometry to screen for all 5 reported variants at codon 600 of the BRAF gene. We screened a case-control collection comprising samples from 1082 melanoma patients and 154 of their unaffected relatives from 1278 families and from 2744 individuals from 659 unselected twin families with no history of melanoma. A panel of 66 melanoma cell lines was used for variation-positive controls. Results: All melanoma cell lines that we had found previously to carry a codon 600 variation were verified in this study. Three of the 4 possible variants (V600E n = 47, V600K n = 2, V600R n = 1) were detected, but no case of V600D was available. No germ-line variants were found in the samples from the 3980 melanoma patients or from the control individuals. Conclusions: This new assay is a high-throughput, automated alternative to standard sequencing and can be used as a rapid initial screen for somatic variants associated with melanoma. Germ-line variants at valine 600 are unlikely to exist and do not contribute to the reported role of the BRAF gene in melanoma predisposition.

scholarly journals Organizational Performance Measurement: A Study in a Pubic University Hospital

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-129
Author(s):  
Joice Chiareto ◽  
Hamilton Luiz Corrêa ◽  
Júlio Araújo Carneiro da Cunha
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Performance Measurement System ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Organizational Goals ◽  
And Control

This study aim to evaluate the organizational prerformance measurement system from a university hospital daily routine. To achieve the objectives of this research, the methodology of single case study was used, and as data sources an interview with the manager responsible for performance evaluation and documentary research. The results demonstrated that the performance measurement system had a lot of characteristics foreseen by the academic literature, challenges still may arise. Although the existence of direct relationship between performance measurement results with the financial results along with the high of involvement of senior management and departments of the institution with the performance measurement activities, some challenges were identified. The main one is related to the misalignment between the selection and categorization of some indicators and the organizational goals. Such disalignment may be caused by the existence of punctual feedback instead of global ones, priority focus on control and not in establishing goals, and priority approach for the measurement system usage in legitimacy and control and not in the strategic decision making.

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