Study of the relationships between articular moments, comfort and human posture on a chair.

Background: One of the aspects that influences the sitting comfort is the distribution of the pressure applied to the skin by the seat surface. In the scientific literature, many studies show experimental activities in order to evaluate the influence of pressure distribution at the seat-human interface on the comfort evaluation. The main limitation in seat design is based on the difficulties to predict the contact pressures distribution without prototypes because of the complex interaction among body muscles, wearing, human's anthropometric characteristics, shape and materials of the seat.

Spread of Carbapenem-Resistant in Hub and Spoke Connected Health-Care Networks: A Case Study from Italy.

The study describes the spread of carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) in a regional healthcare network in Italy. The project included several stages: (1) Establishment of a laboratory-based regional surveillance network, including all the acute care hospitals of the Marches Region ( = 20). (2) Adoption of a shared protocol for the surveillance of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs).

Detection of viable but non-culturable Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis by qPCR: a validation study.

Background: Routine culture-based diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients can be hampered by the phenotypic variability of the microorganism, including its transition to a Viable But Non-Culturable (VBNC) state. The aim of this study was to validate an ecfX-targeting qPCR protocol developed to detect all viable P. aeruginosa bacteria and to identify VBNC forms in CF sputum samples.

Candidemia in the elderly: What does it change?

Background: Candidemia is a life-threatening fungal infection and it can affect patients of all ages. Characterization of candidemia in the elderly is lacking.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of adults (≥ 18 years) with candidemia diagnosed in our center in 2010-2015.

Checking rounds for isolation precautions in the control of multidrug-resistant organisms: reduction achieved.

The objective of this investigation was to analyze the effectiveness of a quality improvement initiative in limiting the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in the hospital setting. During the period 2011-2013, a multimodal intervention was activated at a tertiary care center in Italy. The intervention included: laboratory-based surveillance, interdisciplinary training sessions, monitoring the adoption of isolation precautions and daily supervision provided by infection control nurses, and a monthly feedback.

Applicability of the EN ISO 11290-1 standard method for Listeria monocytogenes detection in presence of new Listeria species.

During the past six years, new species of the genus Listeria have been isolated from foods and other environmental niches worldwide. The Standard method EN ISO 11290-1 that is currently under revision will include in its scope all Listeria species in addition to L. monocytogenes.

Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae influences the outcome of early infections in liver transplant recipients.

Background: Infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among liver transplant (LT) recipients. The aim of our study was to define the factors associated with outcome of early bacterial and fungal infections in a cohort of patients who underwent LT at the University Hospital of Ancona over a nine year period.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent LT in our center were considered.

Factors related to outcome of bloodstream infections due to Candida parapsilosis complex.

Background: Although Candida albicans is the most common cause of fungal blood stream infections (BSIs), infections due to Candida species other than C. albicans are rising. Candida parapsilosis complex has emerged as an important fungal pathogen and became one of the main causes of fungemia in specific geographical areas.

Delay of antifungal therapy influences the outcome of invasive aspergillosis in experimental models of infection.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of delayed antifungal therapy on the outcome of invasive aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus in experimental models of infection.

Methods: A clinical isolate of A. fumigatus susceptible to amphotericin B (MIC 0.

Ongoing outbreak of invasive listeriosis due to serotype 1/2a Listeria monocytogenes, Ancona province, Italy, January 2015 to February 2016.

In the first seven weeks of 2016, five serotype 1/2a Listeria monocytogenes isolates were collected from patients with invasive listeriosis in Ancona province in Italy. These strains and six 1/2a isolates identified in 2015 in the same area were typed by ERIC-PCR and PFGE. A clonal relationship, documented between the two sets of isolates, suggested a listeriosis outbreak in Ancona that started most probably in 2015.

Synthesis, Photochemical, and Redox Properties of Gold(I) and Gold(III) Pincer Complexes Incorporating a 2,2':6',2"-Terpyridine Ligand Framework.

Reaction of [Au(C6F5)(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) with 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (terpy) leads to complex [Au(C6F5)(η(1)-terpy)] (1). The chemical oxidation of complex (1) with 2 equiv of [N(C6H4Br-4)3](PF6) or using electrosynthetic techniques affords the Au(III) complex [Au(C6F5)(η(3)-terpy)](PF6)2 (2). The X-ray diffraction study of complex 2 reveals that the terpyridine acts as tridentate chelate ligand, which leads to a slightly distorted square-planar geometry.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcome of candidemia in a tertiary referral center in Italy from 2010 to 2014.

Purpose: We evaluated the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcome of candidemia in a single institution from 2010 to 2014.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of all cases of candidemia was carried out at a University Hospital in Central Italy including five intensive care units (ICUs), 11 medical and 11 surgical wards. Data regarding demographic characteristics and clinical risk factors were collected from the patient's medical records.

Prevalence of type-specific HPV among female university students from northern Brazil.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with cervical cancer, the most frequent cancer in women from northern Brazil. Assessment of the short-term impact of HPV vaccination depends on the availability of data on the prevalence of type-specific HPV in young women in the pre-immunization period, although these data are currently unavailable for the study region. The aim of this study was to estimate the distribution of all mucosal HPV genotypes, including low- and high-risk HPV types, in unvaccinated college students from northern Brazil.

The effect of gold(I) coordination on the dual fluorescence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine.

The reactions of 4(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) with the gold(I) precursors [AuR(tht)] (R = C6F5, C6Cl2F3 or C6Cl5; tht = tetrahydrothiophene) lead to complexes [AuR(DMAP)] (R = C6F5 (1), C6Cl2F3 (2) or C6Cl5 (3)). X-ray diffraction studies of the complexes reveal the presence of discrete molecules in which aurophilic contacts are absent, with π-stacking (1) or hydrogen bond (2) interactions being responsible for the supramolecular arrangements found in the solid state. All complexes display fluorescence in solution in solvents of different polarities such as toluene, chloroform or acetonitrile.

Routine use of a protease zymogen-based colorimetric assay for the detection of Beta-glucan and its role in clinical practice.

The detection of Aspergillus antigen (galactomannan) is considered a reliable marker for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA), yet the sensibility and specificity of the assays commonly employed in routine are not optimal. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the detection of another panfungal antigen, the (1,3)-b-D-glucan could have an auxiliary role in the identification of patients with IA. The study was carried out on 63 sera belonging to patients who had been screened for galactomannan, according to the clinical suspect of IA.

1,4-Bis(2'-pyridylethynyl)benzene as a ligand in heteronuclear gold-thallium complexes. Influence of the ancillary ligands on their optical properties.

The reaction of 1,4-bis(2'-pyridylethynyl)benzene (L) with [{Au(C6X5)2}Tl]n affords new heterometallic Au(I)/Tl(I) complexes with different stoichiometries, structural arrangements and optical properties depending on the halogens present in the aryl group. The chlorinated derivative [{Au(C6Cl5)2}Tl(L)]n () displays polymeric chains built thanks to unsupported AuTl interactions and bridging bidentate ligands between adjacent chains, while in the fluorinated species [{Au(C6F5)2}2Tl2(L)2]n (), also containing N-donor bridging ligands and AuTl contacts, polymerization occurs via TlCaryl non-bonding interactions between neighbouring molecules. The optical properties of and have been studied experimentally and theoretically, concluding that the luminescence of in the solid state has its origin in the AuTl interactions, and that the TlCaryl interactions in favour a non-radiative deactivation pathway that avoids luminescence.

Influence of crown thioether ligands in the structures and of perhalophenyl groups in the optical properties of complexes with argentoaurophilic interactions.

Reaction of [{Au(C6X5)2}Ag]n (X = Cl, F) with the crown thioethers 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane ([9]aneS3), 1,4,8,11-tetrathiacyclotetradecane ([14]aneS4), or 1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22-octathiacyclotetracosane ([24]aneS8) affords a series of heteronuclear Au(I)/Ag(I) compounds of stoichiometry [{Au(C6X5)2}Ag(L)x] (L = [9]aneS3, x = 2 (1, 4); L = [14]aneS4, x = 1 (2, 5); L = [24]aneS8, x = 0.5 (3, 6)) formed via Ag-S bonds and Au···Ag contacts. X-ray diffraction studies of some of these complexes reveal different structural arrangements and nuclearity depending on the nature of the crown thioether ligand and on the presence or absence of aurophilic interactions.

Epidemiology and outcome of systemic infections due to saprochaete capitata: case report and review of the literature.

A case of systemic infection due to Saprochaete capitata in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia is described. A review of the literature was conducted to identify all reported cases of this infection described between 1977 and August 2013. One hundred and four cases (included the present one) were identified.

Candidemia in intensive care unit: a nationwide prospective observational survey (GISIA-3 study) and review of the European literature from 2000 through 2013.

Background: Candida bloodstream infections (BSI) represent an important problem in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The epidemiology of candidemia is changing with an increase in the proportion of Candida (C.) non-albicans.

The marine environment as a reservoir of enterococci carrying resistance and virulence genes strongly associated with clinical strains.

To gain insights into the relationships and the genetic exchange among environmental and clinical enterococci, 59 strains (29 from marine aquaculture sites and 30 from clinical settings) resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin and/or gentamicin were analysed for the antibiotic resistance tet(M), tet(L), tet(O), erm(A), erm(B), mef blaZ, aac(6')-Ie aph(2″)-Ia and virulence gelE, cylB, efaA and esp genes, and for the copper resistance gene tcrB. Antibiotic resistance and virulence genes were detected more frequently in clinical than in environmental enterococci; the opposite was true for copper resistance. Conjugation experiments demonstrated the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from marine to clinical enterococci in interspecific mating and the uncommon joint transfer of tet(L) and erm(B).