The complexities of aeronautical transfer of acutely unwell neurosurgical patients.

Objective: Neurosurgical care is difficult to access in many scenarios. Aeromedical evacuation of acutely unwell neurosurgical patients from remote, isolated or poorly equipped locations can be considered. This article aims to provide a framework of logistical factors which deserve special consideration in the preparation of these patients for transfer.

Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase- and Plasmidic AmpC-Producing among the Faecal Samples in the Bulgarian Community.

The aim of the present work was to genetically characterise cefotaxime-resistant enterobacteria isolated from community carriers in Bulgaria. In total, 717 faecal samples from children and adults in five medical centres in Sofia, Pleven and Burgas were examined. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by the disk diffusion method.

Caffeine, Alcohol, and Drug Use as Work Adjuncts Among Neurosurgeons. Prevalence, Contributing Factors, and Proposed Strategies.

Background: Neurosurgeons may resort to caffeine, alcohol, and various drugs to maintain peak performance as they grapple with work demands and escalated stress. The prevalence of this controversial strategy remains largely unexplored.

Methods: An anonymous survey of 23 questions formulated by our research group was distributed through personal contacts and neurosurgical societies.

Bioactive Phyto-Compounds with Antimicrobial Effects and AI: Results of a Desk Research Study.

Resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics represents a formidable global challenge, manifesting in intricate public health ramifications including escalated mortality rates and augmented healthcare costs. The current efforts to manage antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are limited mainly to the standard therapeutic approaches. The aim of this study is to present and analyze the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the search for new phyto-compounds and novel interactions with antimicrobial effects.

European Medical Students' Views on Neurosurgery, with Emphasis on South-East Europe (Albania, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey).

Background: Neurosurgery, an intricate and dynamic surgical specialty, faces challenges in attracting medical graduates. Despite its potential appeal, a decreasing trend in medical students opting for surgical specialties, including neurosurgery, is noted. This study aims to assess European medical students' perceptions of neurosurgery, focusing on South-East Europe, and address concerns about the declining interest in this field.

Gender differences in work-life balance of European neurosurgeons.

Introduction: Neurosurgery is one of the most demanding medical specialties. For neurosurgeons, balancing professional activity with personal life can be challenging.

Research Question: To evaluate gender differences in contribution of neurosurgeons in the household and child-rearing, as well as their impact on personal life and career.

Social and economic burden of breast cancer in the North East region of Bulgaria.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women and significantly worsens physical, mental and social functioning. The aim is to evaluate the social and economic burden of treatment strategies for breast cancer in the North East region of Bulgaria. A retrospective, observational, population-based study among patients with breast cancer was performed.

European women in neurosurgery: II - Historical characters and living legends.

A collaborative global working group of women neurosurgeons in multiple countries at different stages of their neurosurgical careers undertook the task of researching the history of European women in neurosurgery. While doing so, we happened upon many remarkable female neurosurgeons who overcame great adversity, made tremendous contributions to society and institutional neurosurgery, and displayed numerous talents beyond the operating room. In the first part of this paper, we recounted a chronology of female neurosurgeons in Europe, highlighting the most remarkable achievements of women in every decade, from the 1920's to 2020.

European women in neurosurgery: I - A chronology of trailblazers.

Neurosurgery as a distinct speciality has been around for 100 years. Some of the earliest women neurosurgeons were European, emerging from the 1920's onwards. Here we detail the rise of women in neurosurgery across Europe with a decade by decade account of big events and firsts across the continent.

Molecular and biochemical study of glutaric aciduria type 1 in 49 Russian families: nine novel mutations in the GCDH gene.

Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1, deficiency of glutaryl CoA dehydrogenase, glutaric acidemia type 1) (ICD-10 code: E72.3; MIM 231670) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme glutaryl CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH). Herein, we present the biochemical and molecular genetic characteristics of 51 patients diagnosed with GA1 from 49 unrelated families in Russia.

A rare case of Addison's disease, hepatitis, thyreoiditis, positive IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies and partial IgA deficiency.

Introduction: Selective IgA deficiency (IgAD) is the most prevalent type of primary immune deficiencies, but partial IgA deficiency is even more common. Addison's disease is a rare condition associated with primary adrenal insufficiency due to infection or autoimmune destruction of the adrenals. The association between IgA deficiency and Addison's disease is very rare.

Influence of Lactobacillus brevis 15 and Lactobacillus plantarum 13 on blood glucose and body weight in rats after high-fructose diet.

In recent years, many authors have investigated the possible antidiabetic effect of lactic acid bacteria. Lactobacillus species constitute a major part of the lactic acid bacteria group and have been found to exhibit beneficial effects on the development of diabetes and its complications. In the current study, we investigated the effects of newly characterised Bulgarian Lactobacillus strains, Lactobacillus brevis 15 and Lactobacillus plantarum 13, on blood glucose levels and body weight of rats fed a fructose-enriched diet.

Effects of anti-inflammatory vagus nerve stimulation in endotoxemic rats on blood and spleen lymphocyte subsets.

Background: Anti-inflammatory cytokine effects of vagus nerve stimulation in sepsis syndromes are well established. Effects on immune cells are less clear. Therefore, we studied changes in peripheral and spleen leukocyte subsets in an endotoxic rat sepsis model.

Mutant IDH1 inhibits PI3K/Akt signaling in human glioma.

Background: Recently, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) was identified as a major participant in glioma pathogenesis. At present, the enzymatic activity of the protein has been the main topic in investigating its physiological function, but its signaling pathway allocation was unsuccessful. Interestingly, proteins regulated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling, are among the top downregulated genes in gliomas associated with high percentage of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations.

Effects of anti-inflammatory vagus nerve stimulation on the cerebral microcirculation in endotoxinemic rats.

Background: In sepsis syndromes the severity of the inflammation triggers microvascular dysfunction and early organ failure. We studied the effects of anti-inflammatory vagus nerve stimulation on the cerebral microcirculatory integrity in an endotoxinemic rat model.

Methods: In both control and endotoxinemic (5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide i.

Stenotrophomonas interspecies differentiation and identification by gyrB sequence analysis.

Stenotrophomonas species are found commonly in environmental and clinical samples; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an important opportunistic pathogen of humans. Traditional phenotyping protocols, as well as genotyping by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, do not reliably distinguish the species of Stenotrophomonas. Sequence analyses of two targeted PCR-amplified regions of the gyrB gene, which encodes the β-subunit of DNA gyrase, enabled resolution and identification of these species.

Microbial systematics and taxonomy: relevance for a microbial commons.

The issues of microbial taxonomy and potential interactions with a microbial commons are discussed, with emphasis on three components: characterization; classification; and nomenclature. The current state of technology and the spectrum of methods that are used for phenotypic and genotypic characterization of prokaryotes, classification at different taxonomic levels and points of prokaryote nomenclature are reviewed. While all taxonomic ranks comprise a cohesive systematic framework for microorganisms, the prokaryotic genus and species provide the "working unit" of taxonomy.

Modification of the analgesic effect and the effect on body temperature of morphine and fentanyl, included in liposomal suspensions.

The analgesic and thermomodulating effect of the powerful narcotic analgesics morphine and phentanyl, included in liposomal suspensions, was tested in experiments on rats and rabbits. The aim of the experiments was to determine the changes taking place in these effects of the above analgesics, using as their carriers small neutral liposomes formed by phosphatidylcholine (egg lecithin) and cholesterol in molar ratio 7:2. The liposomes were obtained by applying the classical method of A.

On the antiarrhythmic activity of one N-substituted piperazine derivative of trans-2-amino-3-hydroxy-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroanaphthalene.

The antiarrhythmic activity of the compound N-(trans-3-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl)-N-(3-oxo-3-phenyl-2-methylpropyl)-piperazine hydrochloride, referred to as P11, is studied on anaesthesized cats and Wistar albino rats, as well as on non-anaesthesized rabbits. Four types of experimental arrhythmia are used--with BaCl2, with chloroform-adrenaline, with strophantine G and with aconitine. The compound P11 is introduced in doses of 0.