Incidence, associated disease burden and healthcare utilization due to Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic joint infection in European hospitals: the COMBACTE-NET ARTHR-IS multi-centre study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence, associated disease burden and healthcare utilization due to Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic joint infections (SA-PJI) after primary hip and knee arthroplasty in European centres. METHODS: This study was conducted in patients who underwent primary hip and knee arthroplasty in 19 European hospitals between 2014 and 2016. The global incidence of PJI and SA-PJI was calculated. The associated disease burden was measured indirectly as infection-related mortality plus loss of function. For healthcare utilization, number and duration of hospitalizations, number and type of surgical procedures, duration of antibiotic treatments, and number of outpatient visits were collected. Subgroup and regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of SA-PJI on healthcare utilization, controlling for confounding variables. RESULTS: The incidence of PJI caused by any micro-organism was 1.41%, and 0.40% for SA-PJI. Among SA-PJI, 20.7% were due to MRSA with substantial regional differences, and were more frequent in partial hip arthroplasty (PHA). Related deaths and loss of function occurred in 7.0% and 10.2% of SA-PJI cases, respectively, and were higher in patients with PHA. Compared with patients without PJI, patients with SA-PJI had a mean of 1.4 more readmissions, 25.1 more days of hospitalization, underwent 1.8 more surgical procedures, and had 5.4 more outpatient visits, controlling for confounding variables. Healthcare utilization was higher in patients who failed surgical treatment of SA-PJI. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that the SA-PJI burden is high, especially in PHA, and provided a solid basis for planning interventions to prevent SA-PJI.

Effect of Camellia sinensis teas on left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance in dyslipidemic mice.

The control of dyslipidemia using plants is an important subject of studies since it has numerous benefits in cardiovascular protection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three Camellia sinensis L. teas (green, red, and white) on left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLr-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet. The LDLr-/- mice were divided into four experimental groups: Group C: standard feed; Group CT: standard feed and three teas, Group HL: high-fat feed; HLT Group: high-fat feed and three teas. The three types of tea (green, red, and white) originated from different processing of the Camellia sinensis L. plant, and were administered associated once a day at a dose of 25 mg/kg by gavage for 60 days. The teas partially prevented hyperlipidemia, the decrease of the serum levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), insulin resistance, and increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and completely prevented left ventricular hypertrophy in LDLr -/- mice of the HLT group. In conclusion, the three Camellia sinensis L. teas used to control genetic dyslipidemia associated with a high-fat diet can be used as an auxiliary treatment associated with the control of lipid intake, thus promoting cardiac protection against hyperlipidemia.

Effect of Camellia sinensis teas on left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance in dyslipidemic mice

The control of dyslipidemia using plants is an important subject of studies since it has numerous benefits in cardiovascular protection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three Camellia sinensis L. teas (green, red, and white) on left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLr-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet. The LDLr-/- mice were divided into four experimental groups: Group C: standard feed; Group CT: standard feed and three teas, Group HL: high-fat feed; HLT Group: high-fat feed and three teas. The three types of tea (green, red, and white) originated from different processing of the Camellia sinensis L. plant, and were administered associated once a day at a dose of 25 mg/kg by gavage for 60 days. The teas partially prevented hyperlipidemia, the decrease of the serum levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), insulin resistance, and increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and completely prevented left ventricular hypertrophy in LDLr -/- mice of the HLT group. In conclusion, the three Camellia sinensis L. teas used to control genetic dyslipidemia associated with a high-fat diet can be used as an auxiliary treatment associated with the control of lipid intake, thus promoting cardiac protection against hyperlipidemia.

Photo-assisted inactivation of Escherichia coli bacteria by silver functionalized titanate nanotubes, Ag/H2Ti2O5·H2O.

One-dimensional titanate nanotubes (H2Ti2O5·H2O) functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibited unique properties for the effective inactivation of the Gram-negative Escherichia coli within 45 minutes under irradiation using a 65 W halogen lamp. The pathway of the photo-assisted catalytic inactivation was examined by SEM and TEM using a reproducible biological protocol for sample preparations. The membrane integrity of the bacteria was damaged due to the oxidative stress caused by the reactive oxygen species, the bacteriostatic effect of the highly-dispersed-surface AgNPs (∼5 nm) and the sharp nanotube penetration that induced the cell death.

Antifungal Nanocomposites Inspired by Titanate Nanotubes for Complete Inactivation of Botrytis cinerea Isolated from Tomato Infection.

Antifungal silver nanocomposites inspired by titanate nanotubes (AgTNTs) were successfully evaluated for the effective inactivation of the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea within 20 min. One-dimensional H2Ti3O7 nanotubes functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit unique surface and antifungal properties for the photoinactivation of B. cinerea. Nanostructured titanates were synthesized by the eco-friendly, practical, microwave-induced, hydrothermal method followed by a highly monodispersive AgNP UV-photodeposition. Protonated nanotubes of ∼11 nm in diameter and four-layers displayed high surface areas, 300 m2/g, with a size functionalization of 5 nm for the AgNPs. UV-vis DRS and XPS allowed the characterization and/or quantification of surface reactive species and cytotoxic silver species such as Ag°, Ag+. The effective biocidal properties of the nanocomposites were confirmed by using the well-known Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, and then proceeding to the effective inactivation of the phytopathogenic fungus under visible light. The photoassisted inactivation mechanism was examined by HAADF-STEM, HRTEM, and FESEM electronic microscopies. A plasmalemma invagination due to oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen, silver cytotoxicity species, and AgTNT sharp morphology damage expands the conidia to induce the cell death. The impact of the eco-friendly inactivation is significant because of the ease with which it is carried out and the possibility of being performed in situ with plants like tomato and grapes, which are ranked among the most valuable agricultural products worldwide.

A model system for testing gene vectors using murine tumor cells on the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo

We developed a model system for testing gene vectors, based on the growth of murine tumors on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryonic chickens. The ability of selected murine cells to grow on the CAM was rated according to the following criteria: i) formation of tumor masses; ii) metastasis formation; iii) reproducibility; iv) yield, indicated as the number of embryos surviving to assessment time with visible tumors on the CAM; v) maintainability of the cell, both in the original host and the embryonic chick, or 'shuttle maintainability'; vi) detection by the naked eye, and vii) cost/benefit relation. The murine melanoma cell lineage, B16F10, which efficiently forms distinct, pigmented tumor masses and metastases on the CAM, performed better in this model than the murine B61 cell line. In vitro transduction of B16F10 cells with a recombinant adenovirus carrying a construct of the E. coli LacZ gene followed by inoculation onto the CAM resulted in beta-galactosidase expression in the tumor mass growing on the CAM. This model is potentially applicable to preclinical evaluation of gene vectors, especially for gene therapy of cancer

Enhanced thermal and magnetic actuations for broad-range tuning of fiber Bragg grating based reconfigurable add drop devices.

We demonstrate two new approaches to broad-range tuning of fiber Bragg grating devices: amplified thermal tuning and programmable magnetic tuning. The thermal-strain tuning approach employs a novel configuration to amplify thermally induced wavelength shifts by use of a negative thermal-expansion component. The magnetic-strain tuning approach allows programmable and latchable wavelength shifts through magnetic interactions that induce controlled strain on the fiber grating. The advantages and disadvantages of these two techniques are contrasted.

Novel pulse-delayed scheme for degenerate optical parametric amplification in chi((3)) waveguides.

We describe a novel pulse-delayed scheme to realize degenerate optical parametric amplification in chi((3)) planar waveguides. The scheme utilizes two identical birefringent plates placed before and after a chi((3)) planar waveguide to implement a single-arm, pulse-multiplexed nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Using this scheme, we demonstrate ultrafast degenerate optical parametric amplification in AlGaAs waveguides.