Higher Prevalence of Multi-Drug Resistant Gonococcal Infections Among Patients with Prior Gonococcal and Chlamydia Infections

Introduction/Objective Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) is the 2nd most common cause of sexually transmitted infection worldwide. WHO data from 2009-14 showed widespread resistance to ciprofloxacin (97%), azithromycin (81%), and oral cefixime and injectable ceftriaxone (66%). We have investigated local epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in PCR-confirmed NG by chromosomal multi-locus sequence typing and analysis. Methods/Case Report Clinical specimens of 85 patients who tested positive for NG using automated PCR (COBAS 4800; Roche Diagnostics) were used in this study. The samples were amplified by PCR using 10 primers (Integrated DNA Technologies, USA) targeting seven antibiotic resistance-associated loci in the bacterial chromosome (penA, mtrR, ponA, porB, gyr, parC and 23s rRNA) and sequenced on a 48-channel ABI 3730 Sanger sequencer (Thermo Fisher). The resulting sequences were analyzed using the NG Sequence Typing for Antibiotic Resistance (NG-STAR) database for matching alleles, correlating to clinical resistance. Results were analyzed by Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Most patients positive for NG were non-Hispanic Black males (60%), with mean age of 25 years (range: 14-53 years). 23.5% had Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) co-infection, and 29.4% had other sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, HIV and HPV. 15.0% had previous NG infection, and 12% had previous CT infection. Sixty-five samples (76.5%) yielded at least one gene locus with a DNA sequence with >95% similarity in the NG-STAR database. About half (50.6%) of these sample had confirmed resistance mutations, 5 of which indicated resistance to multiple antibiotics. All specimens with porB and gyr mutations were resistant to penicillins, ceftriaxone, cefixime, erythromycin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. Most of those with mtrR mutations were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Most of those with mutations (with or without resistance) had previous NG infection. Significant correlation was observed between those with at least 1 mutated gene locus and CT co-infection (p=0.0001). Conclusion A significant proportion of our patients tested positive for resistance mutations, a majority of whom had previous NG infection. There was significant correlation between the presence of mutations and CT co-infection. These findings warrant utilization of culture and sensitivity testing in patients with previous NG and CT co-infection.

A comparison of match outcomes between traditional medical degree and dual-degree applicants

Background Dual degrees combining and MD with another professional degree (MPH, MBA, or PhD) are becoming more common in an attempt to increase an applicant’s competitivity for a residency. Objective This study was designed to assess differences in MD-only and dual degree MD applicants with respect to applicant characteristics and match outcomes. Methods Utilizing the voluntarily-reported publicly available 2017–2019 Texas STAR database, we assessed applicants from 115 medical schools. Texas STAR indicates that over this time period, there were 18,224 responses for a response rate of 43.8%. Comparisons were made between groups using student’s t-test and chi-squared analysis. Results Compared to MD only students, MD/MPH applicants had a higher propensity towards primary care specialties. MD/PhD applicants did not differ versus MD only applicants in their selection of primary care specialties, or of competitive specialties. MD/MBA applicants chose more competitive specialties and less primary care specialties. Despite all these differences, match rates were not different comparing MD only and dual-degree students. Conclusions Despite the growing popularity of combined MD programs, such programs do not appear to increase applicant match competitivity.

NG-STAR genotypes are associated with MDR in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates collected in 2017 in Shanghai

Objectives To determine the association of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance and genotypes using N. gonorrhoeae sequence typing for antimicrobial resistance (NG-STAR). Methods We characterized 124 N. gonorrhoeae isolates for their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and NG-STAR ST characteristics using the guidelines of CLSI and EUCAST. The NG-STAR STs of seven loci were analysed. N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) and MLST analysis was conducted in isolates with specific NG-STAR STs. Results NG-STAR differentiated 124 N. gonorrhoeae isolates into 84 STs, of which 66 STs were novel to the NG-STAR database. NG-STAR ST-199, ST-348, ST-428, ST-497 and ST-1138 were the predominant STs. Three N. gonorrhoeae isolates with ceftriaxone and cefixime MICs ≥1.0 mg/L were grouped as NG-STAR ST-233. NG-STAR ST-202 isolates (n=4) were associated with high azithromycin MICs and had an identical NG-MAST ST. The NG-STAR ST-348 group (n=5) comprised more isolates with reduced susceptibility to cefixime (n=4) than cefixime-susceptible isolates (n=1). Conclusions NG-STAR analysis differentiated N. gonorrhoeae isolates in settings with a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. Specific NG-STAR STs are associated with reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone or cefixime and resistance to azithromycin in N. gonorrhoeae.

Binary Star Database (BDB): New Developments and Applications

Binary star DataBase (BDB) is the database of binary/multiple systems of various observational types. BDB contains data on physical and positional parameters of 260,000 components of 120,000 stellar systems of multiplicity 2 to more than 20, taken from a large variety of published catalogues and databases. We describe the new features in organization of the database, integration of new catalogues and implementation of new possibilities available to users. The development of the BDB index-catalogue, Identification List of Binaries (ILB), is discussed. This star catalogue provides cross-referencing between most popular catalogues of binary stars.

Binary Star Database BDB: New Developments and Applications

Binary star DataBase (BDB) is the database of binary/multiple systems of various observational types. BDB contains data on physical and positional parameters of 260,000 components of 120,000 stellar systems of multiplicity 2 to more than 20, taken from a large variety of published catalogues and databases. We describe the new features in organization of the database, integration of new catalogues and implementation of new possibilities available to users. The development of the BDB index-catalogue, Identification List of Binaries, is discussed. This star catalogue provides cross-referencing between most popular catalogues of binary stars. We describe ideas and methods for reliable cross-identification of different entities (systems, pairs, components) in binary and multiple stellar systems.

Russian Virtual Observatory: Data Sources

The purpose of this review is to analyze main directions of creation and functioning of major data sources developed by Russian astronomers or with their participation and to compare them with the worldwide trends in these fields. We discuss astronomical space missions of the past, present, and future (Astron, INTEGRAL, WSO-UV, Spectrum Roentgen Gamma, Lyra-B), high-quality photometric atlases and catalogues, and spectroscopic data sources, primarily VALD and the global VAMDC framework for the maintenance and distribution of atomic and molecular data. We describe collection, analysis, and dissemination of astronomical data on minor bodies of the Solar System and on variable stars. Also described is the project joining data for all observational types of binary and multiple stars, Binary star DataBase (BDB).

Astronomical Data Resources for Binary and Multiple Stars

Binary stars form a significant part of stellar population. They are registered and observed by a number of methods. This is the reason for variety of present-day resources of astronomical data dealing with binaries and multiples. The review of observational types of binary stars and of basic data resources for them is presented. The properties of stars within these types and possible relationships between them are discussed. The Binary star DataBase, BDB (http://bdb.inasan.ru), is presented as the resource joining data for all observational types of binaries. The problem of correct cross-identification of objects within binary and multiple stars is being solved in the frame of the Identification List of Binaries (ILB).