Combinatory Effect of Nitroxoline and Gentamicin in the Control of Uropathogenic Enterococci Infections.

, responsible for a majority of human and nosocomial enterococcal infections, is intrinsically resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as gentamicin, GEN), which must be used in a combined therapy to be effective. Nitroxoline (NTX) is an old antibiotic, underused for decades, but rediscovered now in an era of growing antibiotic resistance. In this in vitro study, the types of interactions between NTX and GEN on 29 strains were analyzed with an aim to find synergistic antimicrobial and antiadhesion combinations.

Real-life treatment persistence and treatment outcomes of Finnish patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment.

Purpose: To analyze treatment persistence and treatment outcomes of vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in a Finnish real-world setting.

Methods: Observational, retrospective, multi-center chart review study that included adult CD and UC patients initiating vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment between 2014 and 2020.

Results: The cohort consisted of 54 CD and 69 UC patients.

Reflex Responses in Muscles of the Lower Extremities Elicited by Transcutaneous Stimulation of Cauda Equina: Part 1. Methodology and Normative Data.

Introduction: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation is used to stimulate the dorsal roots of the cauda equina. Multiple elicited responses recorded in the lower extremity muscles are called posterior root muscle reflexes (PRMRs). Normal PRMR values in the muscles of healthy lower extremities have yet to be determined.

Expenditure and survival of adult patients with intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome: real-world evidence from Southern Finland.

Objectives: Comprehensive follow-up data from the largest hospital district in Finland was used to assess hospital-based healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and expenses, incidence and prevalence, survival, and effect of comorbidities/complications on survival of adult patients with intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF).

Methods: This study utilized electronic healthcare data covering all ≥18-year-old patients with SBS-IF at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa in Finland between 2010 and 2019. Patients were followed from SBS-IF onset until the end of 2020 or death and compared to birth year and sex-matched control patients without SBS-IF.

Ozone disinfection efficiency against airborne microorganisms in hospital environment: a case study.

Even though ozone has shown its potential for air disinfection in hospital environment, its more frequent use has earned attention only with the COVID-19 pandemic due to its proven antimicrobial effect and low cost of production. The aim of this study was to determine its antimicrobial efficiency against the most common bacterial species in a real-life setting, that is, in the air of one postoperative room of the General Hospital Dr Ivo Pedišić (Sisak, Croatia). Air was sampled for aiborne bacteria before and after treatment with the ozone concentration of 15.

Disinfecting Action of Gaseous Ozone on OXA-48-Producing Biofilm In Vitro.

is an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen that can contaminate hospital surfaces in the form of a biofilm which is hard to remove with standard disinfectants. Because of biofilm resistance to conservative disinfectants, the application of new disinfection technologies is becoming more frequent. Ozone gas has antimicrobial activity but there is lack of data on its action against biofilm.

FitEllipsoid: a fast supervised ellipsoid segmentation plugin.

Background: The segmentation of a 3D image is a task that can hardly be automatized in certain situations, notably when the contrast is low and/or the distance between elements is small. The existing supervised methods require a high amount of user input, e.g.

Increased α-actinin-1 destabilizes E-cadherin-based adhesions and associates with poor prognosis in basal-like breast cancer.

The controlled formation and stabilization of E-cadherin-based adhesions is vital for epithelial integrity. This requires co-operation between the E-cadherin-based adhesions and the associated actin cytoskeleton. In cancer, this co-operation often fails, predisposing cells to migration through molecular mechanisms that have only been partially characterized.

Patterns of Health Care Utilization for Noncommunicable Diseases in a Transitional European Country: Results From the National Health Survey.

This study aimed to assess possible differences in health services utilization among people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Republic of Srpska (RS), Bosnia and Herzegovina, with special reference to NCD multimorbidity. In addition, the relationship between self-perceived health and health care utilization was assessed. Data were retrieved from the 2010 National Health Survey.

Quality characteristics of wheat flour dough and bread containing grape pomace flour.

Wheat bread was enriched with 6%, 10% and 15% dried and milled grape pomace flour from two grape cultivars: 'Merlot' and 'Zelen'. Rheological, textural, sensory and antioxidant properties of the enriched dough and bread were evaluated, and compared to control samples. Grape cultivar had significant impact on the rheological characteristics of the dough, and on the sensory and antioxidant properties of the final bread.

The perception of low-salt bread among preschool children and the role of educational personnel in creating a positive attitude towards reformulated food.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to identify the possibility of unnoticed reduction in salt content of bread as a basic food in the diet of preschool children. The response of children to less salty bread and the role of teachers and teacher assistants in the introduction of novelties into children's nutrition ware studied.

Methods: Using hedonic sensory evaluation in the case of bread, the perception of salty taste and responses of preschool children to salt reduction were observed.

Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) in Serbian patients.

Purpose: To test the validity and reliability of the Serbian version of the interviewer-administered format of the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25).

Methods: The Serbian version of NEI VFQ-25 was translated in accordance with standard methods that have been adopted internationally. In order to assess the reliability and validity of the translated NEI VFQ-25, we used a sample of 105 patients with four different chronic ocular diseases.

The study of the electronic structure of some N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) by variable energy photoelectron spectroscopy.

The photoionization of three N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been studied in the valence and core regions using synchrotron radiation. We observed different variations in the relative band intensities with photon energy for the NHCs in the valence ionization region. This is due to the intra-ring interactions between the C=C bond, nitrogen and carbene lone pairs in the heterocyclic ring of NHCs.

Electronic structure of antibiotic erythromycin.

The electronic structure of erythromycin A (ERYMA) molecule has been studied by UV photoelectron spectroscopy and assigned (in the low ionization energy region only) by empirical arguments. The two orbitals with highest energy (lowest ionization energy) are localized on the nitrogen of the desosamine sugar functional group and on the ester group of macrolide (lactone) ring. We discuss how these orbital energies can help to rationalize the known mode of binding of ERYMA to their biological receptors.

The prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and possible systemic associations in patients scheduled for cataract surgery at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

Background/aim: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is an age-related systemic degenerative disorder characterized by the production and progressive accumulation of extracellular fibrillar eosinophilic material in the anterior segment of the eye. The aim of the study was to evaluate several clinical aspects of PEX, such as frequency of PEX and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), intraocular pressure (IOP), the type of lens opacity, and the possible relationship of PEX and systemic diseases.

Methods: All 674 cataract patients had a comprehensive eye examination, including slitlamp biomicroscopy before and after mydriasis, IOP measurement, and fundus examination.

Electronic structure of two precursors for nanofabrication: [(CH3)3CN]2W[N(CH3)2]2 and Ti(NMe2)2(NEt2)2.

The electronic structures of bis(tert-butylimino)bis(dimethylamino) tungsten and bis(N-ethylethanaminato)bis(N-methylmethanaminato) titanium heteroleptic complexes, which are precursors for atomic layer deposition of metallic nitride on surfaces, have been investigated by HeI and HeII UV photoelectron spectroscopy and DFT/OVGF calculations. We discuss the electronic structures of these two and other related d(0)-type complexes in relation to the mechanism of adsorption and decomposition of metal alkylamide precursors on surfaces.

Characterisation of the electronic structure of some stable nitroxyl radicals using variable energy photoelectron spectroscopy.

The photoionization of three stable nitroxyl radicals has been studied in the valence and core regions using synchrotron radiation. We observed different variations of the relative band intensities with the photon energy for two pyrrolidine nitroxyls (nitroxyl8 and nitroxyl9) in the valence ionization region. This is due to strong intramolecular interactions between the amide substituent and the ring π-orbital when present.

Intracranial arterial variations: a comprehensive evaluation using CT angiography.

Background Intracranial arterial variations are a frequent finding in the general population. Knowledge of these vascular variations has significant clinical impact because some of them predispose patients to development of an aneurysm or cerebrovascular ischemic disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of intracranial vascular variations and associated vascular lesions on computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations.

Computer-aided psychotherapy based on multimodal elicitation, estimation and regulation of emotion.

Contemporary psychiatry is looking at affective sciences to understand human behavior, cognition and the mind in health and disease. Since it has been recognized that emotions have a pivotal role for the human mind, an ever increasing number of laboratories and research centers are interested in affective sciences, affective neuroscience, affective psychology and affective psychopathology. Therefore, this paper presents multidisciplinary research results of Laboratory for Interactive Simulation System at Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb in the stress resilience.

MR imaging of primary sclerosing cholangitis: additional value of diffusion-weighted imaging and ADC measurement.

Background: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a cholestatic liver disease with chronic inflammation and progressive destruction of biliary tree. Magnetic resonance (MR) examination with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) allows analysis of morphological liver parenchymal changes and non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis. Moreover, MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), as a part of standard MR protocol, provides insight into bile duct irregularities.

Assembly of non-contractile dorsal stress fibers requires α-actinin-1 and Rac1 in migrating and spreading cells.

Cell migration and spreading is driven by actin polymerization and actin stress fibers. Actin stress fibers are considered to contain α-actinin crosslinkers and nonmuscle myosin II motors. Although several actin stress fiber subtypes have been identified in migrating and spreading cells, the degree of molecular diversity of their composition and the signaling pathways regulating fiber subtypes remain largely uncharacterized.

Electronic structures of methylated azaferrocenes and their borane adducts: photoelectron spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations.

The preparation and crystal structure of a new 2,5-dimethylazaferrocene (DMAF) adduct of borane (DMAF-BH(3)) are reported. The electronic structures of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylazaferrocene (PMAF), its borane adduct 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylazaferrocene-BH(3) (PMAF-BH(3)) and of DMAF-BH(3) have been studied by HeI-HeII UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and high-level DFT methods. UPS data reveal the influence of borane and methyl substitution on the electronic structures of azaferrocenes, which have been rationalized by inductive and hyperconjugative effects.

Clinical and electrophysiological signs of diabetic polyneuropathy -- effect of glycemia and duration of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic polyneuropathy occurs in around 50% of diabetic patients. Its pathophysiological mechanism is not completely clarified and major occurrences boil down to the change in neural phenotype and vasa nervorum. As glucose neurotoxicity has been suggested by plenty of evidence, the aim of the study was to assess the effect of glycemia on the severity of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Integrative role of MRI in the evaluation of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Objectives: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and to determine the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the assessment of liver fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: The following MRI findings were reviewed in 44 patients: periportal T2-weighted hyperintensity, periportal halo sign (T1- and T2-weighted periportal hypointensity), lymphadenopathy, signs of portal hypertension and morphological liver changes. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was calculated for six locations in the liver for b = 800 s/mm(2).

An association between NUAK2 and MRIP reveals a novel mechanism for regulation of actin stress fibers.

Actin stress fiber assembly and contractility in nonmuscle motile cells requires phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain (MLC). Dephosphorylation and disassembly are mediated by MLC phosphatase, which is targeted to actin fibers by the association of its regulatory subunit MYPT1 with myosin phosphatase Rho-interacting protein (MRIP). In the present study, we identify the kinase NUAK2 as a second protein targeted by MRIP to actin fibers.