American Society for Microbiology evidence-based laboratory medicine practice guidelines to reduce blood culture contamination rates: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

SUMMARYBlood cultures (BCs) are one of the critical tests used to detect bloodstream infections. BC results are not 100% specific. Interpretation of BC results is often complicated by detecting microbial contamination rather than true infection.

Deciphering the Role of Inorganic Nanoparticles' Surface Functionalization on Biohybrid Microbial Photoelectrodes.

Shedding light on the interaction between inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) and living microorganisms is at the basis of the development of biohybrid technologies with improved performance. Au NPs have been shown to be able to improve the extracellular electron transfer (EET) in intact bacterial cells interfaced with an electrode; however, detailed information on the role of NP-surface properties in their interaction with bacterial membranes is still lacking. Herein, we unveil how the surface functionalization of Au NPs influences their interaction with photosynthetic bacteria, focusing on cell morphology, growth kinetics, NPs localization, and electrocatalytic performance.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery Outcomes in Arteriovenous Malformations: A Pediatric-Adult Comparative Meta-Analysis.

Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an established treatment for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), but outcomes between pediatric and adult populations are not well compared. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing SRS outcomes for pediatric versus adult AVMs.

Methods: PubMed was searched for studies reporting SRS outcomes for pediatric or adult AVMs up to January 2024.

Retrospective comparison of false-positive result frequencies of 3 syphilis serology screening tests in pregnant and nonpregnant patients at an academic medical center in Appalachia.

Objective: This study retrospectively compared false-positive result frequencies of 3 syphilis serology screening tests and assessed whether false positivity was associated with pregnancy and age.

Methods: Results for 3 screening tests were retrieved from the laboratory database, including rapid plasma reagin (RPR) assay between October 2016 and September 2019, BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total immunoassay between May 2020 and January 2022, and Alinity i Syphilis TP assay between February 2022 and April 2023. The false-positive result frequencies were calculated based on testing algorithm criteria.

Prevalence of erythromycin-resistant emm92-type invasive group A streptococcal infections among injection drug users in West Virginia, United States, 2021-23.

Background: Increasing incidence of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) disease has been reported in Europe and the USA over the past several years. Coupled with this are observations of higher rates of resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin.

Objectives: To characterize iGAS and pharyngitis isolates from West Virginia (WV), a US state outside of the national Active Bacteria Core surveillance purview, where risk factors associated with iGAS infections are prevalent.

Emergence of Erythromycin-Resistant Invasive Group A Streptococcus, West Virginia, USA, 2020-2021.

Clindamycin and β-lactam antibiotics have been mainstays for treating invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection, yet such regimens might be limited for strains displaying MLS phenotypes. We investigated 76 iGAS isolates from 66 patients in West Virginia, USA, during 2020-2021. We performed emm typing using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and assessed resistance both genotypically and phenotypically.

High Surface Area Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Tunable Size in the Sub-Micrometer Regime: Insights on the Size and Porosity Control Mechanisms.

Mesoporous silica nanostructures (MSNs) attract high interest due to their unique and tunable physical chemical features, including high specific surface area and large pore volume, that hold a great potential in a variety of fields, i.e., adsorption, catalysis, and biomedicine.

The incidence of venous thromboembolism following surgical resection of intracranial and intraspinal meningioma. A systematic review and retrospective study.

Introduction: Historically, the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) was cited as a higher post-operative risk for patients harboring meningiomas. However, recent literature has suggested that there may be no elevated risk for VTE among these patients. The authors perform both a retrospective review of their own cases as well as a systematic review of the literature in order to determine the frequency of the VTE and rate of post-operative hemorrhage in this patient population.

Burkholderia collagen-like protein 8, Bucl8, is a unique outer membrane component of a putative tetrapartite efflux pump in Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei.

Bacterial efflux pumps are an important pathogenicity trait because they extrude a variety of xenobiotics. Our laboratory previously identified in silico Burkholderia collagen-like protein 8 (Bucl8) in the hazardous pathogens Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei. We hypothesize that Bucl8, which contains two predicted tandem outer membrane efflux pump domains, is a component of a putative efflux pump.

Evaluating the natural growth rate of metastatic cancer to the brain.

Background: Brain metastases are becoming increasingly more prevalent as cancer patients survive longer with both improved local and systemic therapy. Little is known, however, of the natural growth rates of brain metastases. This investigation aims to ascertain this growth rate of these lesions before the initiation of any CNS- directed therapy.

Laparoscope-Assisted Guidance to the Pineal Region.

Tumors arising in the pineal region present a number of challenges when planning for effective removal. This report describes the successful resection of a falcotentorial meningioma occurring in a 56-year-old female using a supracerebellar infratentorial approach. In order to excise the pineal region mass, a unique combination of instrumentation was used, including a microscope, endoscope, and abdominal laparoscope.

Prospective assessment of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile colonization and acquisition in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

Background: Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) possess numerous risk factors for Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) and experience a high rate of diarrhea. Colonization rates of Clostridium difficile vary greatly among subgroup analyses with recent studies demonstrating colonization rates in the blood and marrow transplant units up to nine times that of the general population.

Methods: The primary objectives of this study were to identify the rate of C difficile colonization and acquisition in HSCT patients admitted to the blood and marrow transplant unit.

Both 3,3',5-triiodothyronine and 3,5-diodo-L-thyronine Are Able to Repair Mitochondrial DNA Damage but by Different Mechanisms.

This study evaluated the effect of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) on rat liver mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) oxidative damage and repair and to investigate their ability to induce protective effects against oxidative stress. Control rats, rats receiving a daily injection of T2 (N+T2) for 1 week and rats receiving a daily injection of T3 (N+T3) for 1 week, were used throughout the study. In the liver, mtDNA oxidative damage [by measuring mtDNA lesion frequency and expression of DNA polymerase γ (POLG)], mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial biogenesis [by measuring amplification of mtDNA/nDNA and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)], and oxidative stress [by measuring serum levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)] were detected.

Rate of surface contamination in the operating suite during revision total joint arthroplasty.

Background: This study estimated operating room surface contamination rates during aseptic vs septic total joint arthroplasty and evaluated the similarity between clinically infecting organisms and those isolated from contaminated surfaces.

Methods: Patients undergoing total hip and knee revision arthroplasties were identified, and surface and tissue samples were collected. Cases were classified aseptic or septic based on Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria for prosthetic joint infection.

Vertebral osteomyelitis due to Candida species.

Objective: We have noted an increased number of cases of vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to Candida species over the past few years at our facility. Our aim was to identify and review these cases to elucidate risk factors, treatment regimens and outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review using our electronic medical record and microbiology laboratory database to identify cases of vertebral osteomyelitis due to Candida at a single teaching hospital from 2006-2018.

Topical adjuvants incompletely remove adherent Staphylococcus aureus from implant materials.

Adjuvant treatments including Betadine, Dakin's solution (sodium hypochlorite), or hydrogen peroxide (H O ) have been attempted to eradicate prosthetic joint infection caused by biofilm or intracellular bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro abilities of chemical adjuvants to decrease Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilm presence on orthopaedic implant grade materials, including titanium, stainless steel, and cobalt chrome.

Glioblastoma multiforme presenting with an open ring pattern of enhancement on MR imaging.

Background: Intracerebral ring enhancing lesions can be the presentation of a variety of pathologies, including neoplasia, inflammation, and autoimmune demyelination. Use of a precise diagnostic algorithm is imperative in correctly treating these lesions and minimizing potential adverse treatment effects.

Case Description: A 55-year-old patient presented to the hospital with complaints of a post-concussive syndrome and a non-focal neurologic exam.

Radiolucent Skull Clamps for Intra-Operative Imaging: A Technical Note.

Conventionally, surgery and procedural-based radiology are performed on different premises. With advances in imaging technology, the operating room is rapidly being transformed into an intraoperative imaging suite. Diagnostic imaging in conjunction with surgery has great utility and by all accounts has great future potential.

Fructose-Rich Diet Affects Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Repair in Rats.

Evidence indicates that many forms of fructose-induced metabolic disturbance are associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria are prominent targets of oxidative damage; however, it is not clear whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and/or its lack of repair are events involved in metabolic disease resulting from a fructose-rich diet. In the present study, we evaluated the degree of oxidative damage to liver mtDNA and its repair, in addition to the state of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in the liver of rats fed a high-fructose diet.

Fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy for brain metastases: a systematic review with tumour control probability modelling.

Objective: Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) is a relatively new option for the treatment of brain metastases. We performed a quantitative systematic review to determine if local control (LC) following is affected by FSRT dosing regimen.

Methods: We reviewed articles describing LC following FSRT for brain metastases.

Unique Footprint in the scl1.3 Locus Affects Adhesion and Biofilm Formation of the Invasive M3-Type Group A Streptococcus.

The streptococcal collagen-like proteins 1 and 2 (Scl1 and Scl2) are major surface adhesins that are ubiquitous among group A Streptococcus (GAS). Invasive M3-type strains, however, have evolved two unique conserved features in the scl1 locus: (i) an IS1548 element insertion in the scl1 promoter region and (ii) a nonsense mutation within the scl1 coding sequence. The scl1 transcript is drastically reduced in M3-type GAS, contrasting with a high transcription level of scl1 allele in invasive M1-type GAS.

Multidisciplinary performance improvement team for reducing health care-associated Clostridium difficile infection.

Clostridium difficile is the most frequent cause of health care-associated diarrhea and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. It is also associated with a considerable financial burden. A concerted multidisciplinary approach is required for prevention.

ILAE type 3 hippocampal sclerosis in patients with anti-GAD-related epilepsy.

Objective: To describe the neuropathologic findings and clinical course of 2 patients who underwent temporal lobectomy for medically refractive epilepsy and were later found to have high anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) concentrations.

Methods: Small case series.

Results: Neuropathologic examination of both patients revealed International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) type 3 hippocampal sclerosis.