The Effect of Biologic Agents on Steatotic Liver Disease in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective, Open-Label Comparative Trial.

Background: Biologic agents used in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) may influence the pathophysiology of coexistent metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study primarily aimed to evaluate the six-month effect of infliximab or vedolizumab vs. no biologics on presumed hepatic steatosis in patients with IBD.

Heterozygous Defects and Their Impact on Clinical Manifestations of Patients with Predominantly Antibody Deficiencies.

Patients with predominantly antibody deficiencies (PADs) display hypogammaglobulinemia with a high prevalence of infections, along with autoimmune manifestations, benign and malignant lymphoproliferation and granulomatous disease. It is noteworthy that PAD patients, even those with defects in the same causative genes, display a variable clinical phenotype, suggesting that additional genetic polymorphisms, located in either immune-related or non-immune-related genes, may affect their clinical and laboratory phenotype. In this context, we analyzed 80 PAD patients, including 70 with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) for defects, in order to investigate the possible contribution to PAD clinical phenotype.

Dynamics of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG Responses and Their Protective Effect against Fatal Disease after Booster COVID-19 Vaccination.

During the post-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) era, a primary question is whether booster vaccination is effective against severe COVID-19 and should be recommended, particularly to individuals at high risk for severe disease (i.e., the elderly or those with additional severe comorbidities).

Molecular Analysis of Hot-Spot Regions of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in SARS-CoV-2 "Invulnerable" Individuals.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a wide clinical variability, ranging from acute illness that may require hospitalization and intensive care unit management to mild and even asymptomatic disease. A more exciting phenomenon is the presence of individuals who came into close contact with COVID-19 patients without prophylaxis but were never infected by SARS-CoV-2, even as an asymptomatic disease. Aims We describe four such "invulnerable" individuals and explore if they carry genetic defects in hot-spot regions of and genes, which are responsible for virus entry into the host cells.

The rs1883832 Polymorphism (CD40-1C>T) Affects the Intensity of IgA Responses after BNT162b2 Vaccination.

The effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination strategies is affected by several factors, including the genetic background of the host. In our study, we evaluated the contribution of the functional polymorphism rs1883832 affecting the Kozak sequence of the TNFSF5 gene (c.-1C>T), encoding CD40, to humoral immune responses after vaccination with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Intensity of Humoral Immune Responses, Adverse Reactions, and Post-Vaccination Morbidity after Adenovirus Vector-Based and mRNA Anti-COVID-19 Vaccines.

The aim of the study was to compare mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 with adenovirus vector- based vaccines in terms of presence of adverse reactions, immunogenicity, and protection against COVID-19. A total of 270 individuals were enrolled, of which 135 were vaccinated with adenovirus vector-based vaccines and compared with 135 age- and sex-matched participants who received the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Serum sampling was performed on all participants on days 21, 42, 90, and 180 following the first dose, to evaluate anti-spike IgG and IgA responses.

Intensity and Dynamics of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immune Responses after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination: Implications for Public Health Vaccination Strategies.

The aim of our study was to investigate the immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 vaccination according to the age and medical status of vaccinated individuals. A total of 511 individuals were enrolled (median age: 54.0 years, range: 19-105); 509 of these individuals (99.

MLST-Based Analysis and Antimicrobial Resistance of from Cases of Sheep Mastitis in Greece.

is an important causal agent of ovine mastitis. A literature search indicated a lack of systematic studies of causal agents of the infection by using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The objectives were to analyse MLST-based data and evaluate the antimicrobial resistance of isolates from ovine mastitis in Greece.

Do trabecular metal and cancellous titanium implants reduce the risk of late haematogenous infection? An experimental study in rabbits.

Aim: This study evaluated the late resistance to haematogenous contamination by microbial pathogens of implants and bone-implant interface and the development of late clinical infection when cementless components with different surface or structural properties are implanted.

Material And Methods: 50 adult male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 5 groups of 10 animals each. In Group A smooth titanium, in Group B grit blasted titanium, in Group C HA-coated titanium, in Group D trabecular metal and in group E cancellous titanium rods were implanted in the right proximal tibia.

Role of staphylococci in mastitis in sheep.

Staphylococci have been isolated from various sites of the body of healthy sheep, as well as from many infections of those animals, the main one being mastitis. The objective of this review is to appraise the importance and significance of staphylococci in causing mastitis in ewes. The review includes a brief classification and taxonomy of staphylococci and describes the procedures for their isolation and identification, as well as their virulence determinants and the mechanisms of resistance to antibacterial agents.

Antimicrobial Agent Susceptibility and Typing of Staphylococcal Isolates from Subclinical Mastitis in Ewes.

Objective was to study susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of 142 staphylococcal isolates from subclinical mastitis in ewes. In total, 41.5% of these were resistant and 5.

MLS-Resistant in Central Greece: Rate of Resistance and Molecular Characterization.

The aim of the present study was to determine the rate and mechanisms of resistance to macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramin B (MLS) antibiotics of collected in Central Greece. Of the 2,893 collected during 2012-2017, 1,161 isolates (40.2%) exhibited resistance to at least one of the MLS agents.

Slime-producing staphylococci as causal agents of subclinical mastitis in sheep.

Hitherto, research work in slime production from staphylococcal strains of mastitis origin has focused in laboratory properties of these organisms. Objective of present work was to study subclinical mastitis in sheep, caused specifically by slime-producing staphylococci: to investigate its frequency and to identify potential factors playing a role therein. Slime production was evaluated in 708 staphylococcal isolates recovered from cases of subclinical mastitis in a field study in 2198 ewes performed in an extensive countrywide field investigation across Greece.

Extensive countrywide field investigation of subclinical mastitis in sheep in Greece.

The objectives of this work were (1) to investigate prevalence of subclinical mastitis, (2) to identify etiological agents involved, and (3) to study factors potentially predisposing ewes to subclinical mastitis. Milk samples were collected from 2,198 ewes in 111 farms with a total population of 35,925 ewes, in all 13 administrative regions of Greece, for bacteriological and cytological examination. Prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 0.

First Description in Greece of mphC-Positive Staphylococci Causing Subclinical Mastitis in Ewes.

The aim of the present study was to describe the first mphC-positive staphylococci, including two Staphylococcus lentus (Sle-087lar and Sle-091lar) and one Staphylococcus xylosus (Sxy-228lar), isolated from samples of animal origin, in Greece. Isolates Sle-087lar and Sxy-228lar were resistant to erythromycin, whereas Sle-091lar was resistant to erythromycin and lincomycin. All three isolates were susceptible to the remaining antibiotics.

First description in Europe of the emergence of Enterococcus faecium ST117 carrying both vanA and vanB genes, isolated in Greece.

Objectives: An Enterococcus faecium isolate (Efa-125) carrying both the vanA and vanB genes was recovered from a patient with bacteraemia treated in a Greek hospital. Since this is the first description in Europe of E. faecium carrying both vanA and vanB genes, the isolate was further studied.

Brucella Melitensis As Causative Agent for Neck Abscess in an Endemic Area.

Background: Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease, is very common in the Mediterranean basin and a major concern in livestock areas. We present a rare case of a -caused abscess in the neck of a stock-breeder in an endemic Greek area.

Case Report: A 39-year-old male, living in the rural area of Thessaly, presented with a mass in the left area of his neck.

Emergence of sequence type 11 Klebsiella pneumoniae coproducing NDM-1 and VIM-1 metallo-β-lactamases in a Greek hospital.

Sequence type 11 Klebsiella pneumoniae, coproducing NDM-1 and VIM-1 metallo-β-lactamases, were isolated in a Greek hospital. bla was part of a Tn125 derivative, located on an ~90-kb plasmid similar to the NDM-1-encoding plasmid pB-3002cz. bla was located in an In-e541-like integron, carried on a multireplicon (IncA/C and IncR) plasmid of ~180kb.

Dissemination of intestinal pathogens between lambs and puppies in sheep farms.

Objectives of the present work were (i) to confirm pathogens implicated in cases of diarrhoea in newborn and young lambs in sheep farms in Greece and (ii) to investigate a possible relation in dissemination of pathogens between lambs and dogs present in the farm. Work was carried out in 22 sheep farms, with (i) flock size over 150 animals, (ii) presence of clinical signs of diarrhoea in lambs in the flock and (iii) close and continuous contact and movement of shepherd dogs within the animal shed of each farm. Faecal sample collection from lambs was performed within 48 h of onset of clinical signs and prior to administration of any antimicrobial or antiparasitic medication to lambs.

Pitfalls in the identification of Enterococcus species and the detection of vanA and vanB genes.

Unlabelled: The aims were to assess the performance of Vitek 2 in identifying enterococcal species and the implementation of GeneXpert(®) vanA/vanB PCR for the detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Gram-positive cocci from clinical and environmental specimens (n = 431) suspicious of being enterococci by conventional methods were evaluated by Vitek 2. This system identified 296 Enterococcus faecium, 87 Enterococcus faecalis, 10 Enterococcus villorum, 9 Enterococcus gallinarum, 9 Enterococcus durans, 5 Enterococcus casseliflavus, 1 Enterococcus spp.

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.

Rapid dissemination of colistin and carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Central Greece: mechanisms of resistance, molecular identification and epidemiological data.

Background: Colistin-resistant/carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant challenge for antibiotic treatment and infection control policies. Since 2012, in Central Greece an increase of colistin/pan- resistant A. baumannii has occurred, indicating the need for further analysis.