Transcarotid vascular access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation: is choosing the left side always right?

Background: The transcarotid (TC) vascular access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as the first-choice alternative to the transfemoral access, in patients unsuitable for the latter. The use of both the left and right common carotid arteries (CCAs) for TC-TAVI has been described, but the optimal side is subject to debate. We conducted this pilot study to compare the level of vessel tortuosity and plaque burden from either the left CCA to the aortic annulus, or the right CCA to the aortic annulus, considering them as surrogates for technical and procedural complexity.

Cross-reaction of naturally-produced β-lactamases from Citrobacter farmeri and Citrobacter amalonaticus with immunological detection of CTX-M enzymes.

The NG-Test CTX-M MULTI immunochromatographic assay has been developed to identify CTX-M-type β-lactamases in Enterobacterales, being the most widespread extended-spectrum β-lactamases. We showed here that the chromosomally-encoded ß-lactamases from Citrobacter farmeri and Citrobacter amalonaticus generated false-positive NG-Test CTX-M MULTI results, compromising the specificity of the test.

as Possible Source of the Integron- and Plasmid-Mediated Fosfomycin Resistance Gene .

analysis and cloning experiments identified a like fosfomycin resistance gene in the chromosome of Aliidiomarina shirensis, with our data suggesting that this bacterium might be added to the list of species identified as reservoirs of -like genes that were subsequently acquired by other Gram-negative species. Indeed, the gene was identified as acquired in Providencia huaxinensis and Aeromonas hydrophila isolates, with this gene being located in class 1 integron structures in the latter cases. Biochemical characterization and site-directed mutagenesis showed a higher catalytic efficiency for the intrinsic FosC2 (from ) than for the acquired FosC2 (from ) enzyme due to a single substitution in the amino acid sequence (Gly43Glu).