Prognostic Impact of Body Mass Index in Atrial Fibrillation.

: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the influence of obesity on the prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The present study aimed to explore the potential association of body mass index (BMI) with the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with AF. : In this retrospective, post hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF randomized trial, 1113 AF patients were included and stratified as the following: underweight (BMI < 18 kg/m), normal weight (BMI 18-24.

Geographic distribution of metabolic syndrome and its components in the general adult population: A meta-analysis of global data from 28 million individuals.

Aims: Better knowledge of the global metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence and its components is a prerequisite to curb the related burden.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, Africa Journal Online, Global Index Medicus up to May 23, 2021. Prevalence pooling was done with a random-effects meta-analysis.

Global, regional, and country estimates of metabolic syndrome burden in children and adolescents in 2020: a systematic review and modelling analysis.

Background: Halting the rise in cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents is crucial to curb the global burden of cardiovascular diseases. We aim to provide global, regional, and national estimates of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents to support the development of evidence-based prevention strategies.

Methods: In this systematic review with modelling analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, Africa Journal Online, and Global Index Medicus from database inception to Jan 30, 2021, with no restriction on language or geographical location.

Prevalence and determinants of masked hypertension among obese individuals at the Yaoundé Central Hospital: a cross-sectional study in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of masked hypertension in obese patients in Yaounde.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study from January to September 2017 at the National Obesity Center of the Yaounde Central Hospital. Masked hypertension was defined when the mean 24 h SBP was greater than or equal to 130 mmHg and/or the mean 24 h DBP was greater than or equal to 80 mmHg with normal office blood pressure (SBP/DBP) <140/90 mmHg.

Global burden of hypertension among people living with HIV in the era of increased life expectancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) increase the risk for hypertension in people living with HIV (PLHIV), the global and regional burden of hypertension in PLHIV is not well characterized.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched multiple databases for studies reporting on hypertension in PLHIV and conducted between 2007 and 2018. Meta-analysis through random-effect models served to obtain the pooled prevalence estimates.

Gender development and hepatitis B and C infections among pregnant women in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although Africa is a region of hyper endemicity to viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections, there is limited data on their related burden among pregnant women. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the magnitude of these infections among pregnant women living in Africa and investigate its association with gender-related human development indicators.

Main Text: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Africa Journal Online, and Global Index Medicus, with no language restriction, to identify observational studies on HBV and HCV infections in pregnant women residing in Africa published from January 1, 2000 until December 31, 2017.

Epidemiology of depressive disorders in people living with HIV in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis: Burden of depression in HIV in Africa.

Objective: The burden of HIV infection is higher in Africa where 70% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) resides. Since depression can negatively impact the course of HIV infection, it is therefore important to accurately estimate its burden among PLHIV in the continent.

Methods: We searched multiple databases to identify articles published between January 2000 and February 2018, reporting the prevalence of (major) depressive disorders in PLHIV residing in Africa.

Combination of commercially available molecular assays and culture based methods in diagnosis of tuberculosis and drug resistant tuberculosis.

Early diagnosis of tuberculosis is of major clinical importance. Among 4733 clinical specimens collected from 3363 patients and subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen microscopy, 4109 were inoculated onto Löwenstein-Jensen slants and 3139 in Bactec/9000MB. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed in 3139 specimens, whereas, a genotypic assay was directly applied in 93 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex PCR-positive for isoniazid and rifampicin resistance detection specimens (GenoType MTBDRplus).

Interspecies spread of Staphylococcus aureus clones among companion animals and human close contacts in a veterinary teaching hospital. A cross-sectional study in Greece.

Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) prevalence among companion animals and veterinary personnel (VP) was investigated. Strains' molecular characteristics were evaluated in order to assess S.

Human Staphylococcus aureus lineages among Zoological Park residents in Greece.

Staphylococcus aureus is a part of the microbiota flora in many animal species. The clonal spread of S. aureus among animals and personnel in a Zoological Park was investigated.

Inhibition of Bacterial Attachment on Surfaces by Immobilization of Tobramycin-Loaded Liposomes.

Stainless steel surfaces were processed by gold deposition in order to immobilize tobramycin-loaded liposomes which were functionalized on their surface with thiol-groups (through maleimide (MAL) derivatization with thiols). After optimizing the tobramycin loading in liposomes (LIPs), and the immobilization of THIOL-MAL-functionalized LIPs on gold-sputtered surfaces, the coated surfaces were challenged with two reference Staphylococcus epidermidis strains: ATCC 35984 (slime-positive) and ATCC 12228 (slime-negative), in order to measure the degree of surface protection from biofilm formation. Moreover, the effect of the reference and two well characterized clinical S.

Dissemination of Methicillin-Susceptible CC398 Staphylococcus aureus strains in a rural Greek area.

A large collection of Staphylococcus aureus including a. 745 clinically significant isolates that were consecutively recovered from human infections during 2012-2013, b. 19 methicillin-susceptible (MSSA), randomly selected between 2006-2011 from our Staphylococcal Collection, c.

Pulmonary infection by Rhodococcus equi presenting with positive Ziehl-Neelsen stain in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus: a case report.

Introduction: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus carry a significant risk of contracting opportunistic infections. The worldwide increased incidence of tuberculosis has instituted pulmonary tuberculosis as an important diagnostic consideration in patients with human immunodeficiency virus presenting with lower respiratory tract infection. A positive result on the readily-available Ziehl-Neelsen stain usually leads to the initiation of antituberculous treatment, since tuberculosis may exert a rapid and even fatal clinical progress in human immunodeficiency virus coinfection.

Relapsing peritonitis in a patient treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Introduction: Peritonitis is a severe complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) due to associated morbidity and mortality. Although is mostly considered as a contaminant, its role as a causative agent in a few cases of PD peritonitis has been documented. Peritonitis due to .

Coagulase-negative staphylococcal bloodstream and prosthetic-device-associated infections: the role of biofilm formation and distribution of adhesin and toxin genes.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), especially Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus, have emerged as opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised patients and those with indwelling medical devices. In this study, CNS recovered from patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) or prosthetic-device-associated infections (PDAIs) were compared in terms of biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, clonal distribution, and carriage of adhesin and toxin genes. A total of 226 CNS isolates (168 S.

Mycobacterium kansasii cutaneous infection in a patient with sarcoidosis treated with anti-TNF agents.

We describe a Mycobacterium kansasii cutaneous infection that was diagnosed in a 52-year-old female patient with sarcoidosis receiving anti-TNF agents. The diagnosis was based on the positive culture of the foot ulcerative tissue. The isolation and identification of bacterium was based on phenotypic and molecular methods.

A 12-year survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in Greece: ST80-IV epidemic?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cause of both healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections. Severe MRSA infections have been associated with the virulence factor Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). The aim of this study was to investigate susceptibility patterns, the presence of toxin genes, including that encoding PVL, and clonality among MRSA isolates collected from patients in Greece over a 12-year period.

Modified directly observed treatment for tuberculosis versus self-administered therapy: an observational study in rural Greece.

Introduction: Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) is the key element of DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course), part of the internationally recommended control strategy for tuberculosis (TB). The evaluation of DOT has not been widely evaluated in rural areas in developed settings. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate a modified DOT program (MDOT) by a general practitioner (GP) in a rural area of southwest Greece, where there is substantial underreporting of TB cases.

The combined effect of surface chemistry and flow conditions on Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion and ica operon expression.

The assessment of biomaterial susceptibility to infection relies mainly on the analysis of macroscopic bacterial responses to material interactions, usually under static conditions. However, new technologies permit a more profound understanding of the molecular basis of bacteria-biomaterial interactions. In this study, we combine both conventional phenotypic analysis - using confocal microscopy - and genotypic analysis - using the relative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) - to examine the interaction of bacteria with OH- and CH3-terminated glass surfaces, under dynamic flow conditions.

The first case of Staphylococcus aureus ST398 causing bacteremia in an immunocompromised patient in Greece.

We describe a case of catheter-related bloodstream infection, in a patient with colon cancer, caused by a methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus strain, nontypeable by pulsed field gel electrophoresis of SmaI macrorestriction fragment analysis, belonging to ST398. The patient recovered after daptomycin therapy. This is the first report that documents the emergence of ST398 in Greece.

Clinical and microbiological profile of persistent coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteraemia in neonates.

An atypical pattern of coagulase-negative staphylococcal (CoNS) sepsis, characterized by persistence despite aggressive antibiotic therapy, has been described in neonates cared for in neonatal intensive-care units. Our aim was to analyse the clinical, microbiological and molecular determinants of this persistent CoNS bacteraemia. Neonates with late-onset CoNS bacteraemia were studied for a 2-year period.

Biofilm development by clinical isolates of Staphylococcus spp. from retrieved orthopedic prostheses.

Background: Biofilms are considered the key factor in the development of implant-related infections. However, only a few reports have dealt with the ability of organisms isolated from such infections to develop biofilms in vitro.

Methods: We evaluated different phenotypic techniques (2 microtiter plate assays and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and genotypic techniques (detection of the ica operon) related to biofilm development by clinical isolates of Staphylococcus spp.

Emergence of a new clone carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type V among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Greece.

Clonal analysis and PCR screening for the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes was performed among 694 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cases collected during a 2-y period in Greece. The detection rate of PVL-positive MRSA is high, both in the community and in hospital. Clonal analysis revealed the predominance among the PVL-positive strains of the clonal complex CC80 (ST80-IV) and the emergence of ST377 clone carrying agr1 allele and SCCmec type V.