Association of Genetic Polymorphisms with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the Processes of Apoptosis, Inflammation, and Cholesterol Metabolism.

Background and Objectives: This study aims to identify the minor allele of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) DAB2IP rs7025486, IL6R rs2228145, CDKN2BAS rs10757278, LPA rs3798220, LRP1 rs1466535, and SORT1 rs599839 in order to assess the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation and define the linkage among these SNPs. Materials and Methods: A case-control study with AAA patients (AAA group) and non-AAA controls (control group) was carried out in a study population. DNA was isolated from whole blood samples; the SNPs were amplified using PCR and sequenced. Results: In the AAA group of 148 patients, 87.2% of the patients were male, 64.2% had a history of smoking, and 18.2% had relatives with AAA. The mean ± SD of age, BMI, and aneurysmal diameter in the AAA group were 74.8 ± 8.3 years, 27.6 ± 4.6 kg/m2, and 56.2 ± 11.8 mm, respectively. In comparison with 50 non-AAA patients, there was a significantly elevated presence of the SNPs DAB2IP rs7025486[A], CDKN2BAS rs10757278[G], and SORT1 rs599839[G] in the AAA group (p-values 0.040, 0.024, 0.035, respectively), while LPA rs3798220[C] was significantly higher in the control group (p = 0.049). A haplotype investigation showed that the SNPs DAB2IP, CDKN2BAS, and IL6R rs2228145[C] were significantly elevated in the AAA group (p = 0.037, 0.037, and 0.046) with minor allele frequencies (MAF) of 25.5%, 10.6%, and 15.4%, respectively. Only DAB2IP and CDKN2BAS showed significantly higher occurrences of a mutation (p = 0.028 and 0.047). Except for LPA, all SNPs were associated with a large aortic diameter in AAA (p < 0.001). Linkage disequilibrium detection showed that LPA to DAB2IP, to IL6R, to CDKN2BAS, and to LRP1 rs1466535[T] had D' values of 70.9%, 80.4%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. IL6R to LRP1 and to SORT1 had values for the coefficient of determination (r2) of 3.9% and 2.2%, respectively. Conclusions: In the investigated study population, the SNPs CDKN2BAS rs10757278, LPA rs3798220, SORT1 rs599839, DAB2IP rs7025486, and IL6R rs2228145 were associated with the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Individuals with risk factors for atherosclerosis and/or a family history of AAA should be evaluated using genetic analysis.

Comparative in vitro activity of bacteriophage endolysin HY-133 against Staphylococcus aureus attached to vascular graft surface.

Novel strategies are needed for combating Staphylococcus aureus biofilm in vascular graft infections. We investigated the in vitro activity of bacteriophage endolysin HY-133, daptomycin and rifampin against S. aureus attached to vascular graft surface. Daptomycin showed rapid bactericidal effect on surface-associated S. aureus, while the activity of HY-133 on graft surface-adherent cells was moderate and rifampin did not achieve bactericidal effect. Even in the highest concentrations, all antimicrobials used failed in a complete eradication of the surface-adherent bacteria.

Evaluation of Central Venous Catheter for Dialysis Associated with Bloodstream Infections.

Objective: Hemodialysis (HD) catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are a major complication of long-/short-term catheter. Material and Methods: Patients with HD CRBSIs were identified, and their blood was taken and sent to clinical pathology for culture and sensitivity testing. The inclusion criteria were adults with end-stage renal disease who required urgent HD access in the presence of a central venous catheter (CVC) infection. Results: The most common isolates among the patients with CRBSIs were gram-positive microorganisms (57.5%) and gram-negative organisms (42.5%). Overall, in our entire study, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen isolated, accounting for 30%, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (12.5%), Klebsiella spp. and Acinetobacter (10%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (7.5%), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus hominis, and Enterococcus faecalis (2.5%). The commonest bacterial in femoral was S. aureus, and for subclavian was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All S. aureus were sensitive to aminoglycosides and quinolones. P. aeruginosa was sensitive to the third generation of cephalosporins, especially cefoperazone and carbapenem. Conclusion: Nontunneled CVCs used for more than 2 weeks could increase the risk of CRBSIs. Procalcitonin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate could predict the CRBSIs in this study. This study also revealed that the gram-positive bacteria were primadonna in dialysis of CRBSIs, and most of them were sensitive to aminoglycosides.