Comparison of clinical outcomes of influenza A and B at the 2017-2018 influenza season: a cohort study.

Influenza has significant morbidity and mortality. Some experts consider infection with influenza B as milder than that with influenza A. The objective of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza A or B in 2017-2018 influenza season. All hospitalized patients between October 2017 and April 2018 with laboratory-confirmed influenza A and B were included. The primary composite outcomes were pneumonia/myocarditis/encephalitis, mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were 30-/90-day mortality, length of hospital stay, and readmission rates. The study included 201 influenza A and 325 influenza B. For the primary composite outcome, no significant difference was demonstrated between influenza A and B. Rates of mortality were similar at 30 and 90 days. Influenza A had higher pneumonia rates and mechanical ventilation. On multivariate analysis, higher Charlson's score, hypoalbuminemia, and vasopressor use were associated with 30-day mortality, while infection with either influenza A or B was not. Influenza A was associated with higher pneumonia and mechanical ventilation rates. However, influenza B resulted with similar 30-day mortality rate as influenza A.

A decision support model to predict the presence of an acute infiltrate on chest radiograph.

A chest infiltrate is needed to make a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia, but chest X-rays might be time consuming, entail radiation exposure, and demand resources that are not always available. We sought to derive a model to predict whether a patient will have an infiltrate on chest X-ray (CXR). This prospective observational study included patients visiting the Emergency Department of Beilinson Hospital in the years 2003-2004 (derivation cohort) and 2010-2011 (validation cohort), who had undergone a CXR, and were suspected of having a respiratory infection. We excluded all patients with possible healthcare associated infections. A logistic regression model was derived and applied to the validation cohort. A total of 1,555 patients met inclusion criteria: 993 in the derivation cohort and 562 in the validation cohort with 287 (29%) and 226 (40%) having an infiltrate, respectively. The derivation model area-under-the curve (AUC) was 0.79 (95% CI 0.76-0.82). We categorized the patients into three groups-presence or absence of infiltrate, or undetermined. In the validation cohort, 70 (12%) patients were classified as 'no infiltrate'; 3 (4%) of them had an infiltrate, 367 (65%) were classified as 'infiltrate'; 190 (52%) of them had an infiltrate on CXR, and 125 (46%) were classified as 'undetermined'; 33 (26%) of them with an infiltrate on CXR. Using this prediction model for the evaluation of patients with suspected respiratory infection in an ED setting may help avoid over 10% of CXRs.

Risk factors associated with death or neurological deterioration among patients with Gram-negative postneurosurgical meningitis.

In a retrospective cohort of 115 patients with Gram-negative postneurosurgical meningitis, factors associated with 30-day mortality or neurological deterioration on multivariate analysis included days from admission to meningitis (OR 1.05 per day, 95% CI 1.02-1.09), decreased level of consciousness (OR 2.69, 95% CI 0.99-7.31), blood glucose level >180 mg/dL (OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.27-10.77), higher creatinine level (OR 4.07 per 1 mg/dL, 95% CI 1.50-11.08), and cerebrospinal fluid glucose <50 mg/dL (OR 5.02, 95% CI 1.71-14.77) at diagnosis. A predictive score triaged patients into three groups with low (4/44, 9.1%), intermediate (16/38, 42.1%) and high (22/33, 66.7%) unfavourable outcome rates. Validation on a different group of 36 patients with Gram-negative postneurosurgical meningitis was acceptable.

[Identification of Hydrocarbon-Oxidizing Dietzia Bacteria from Petroleum Reservoirs Based on Phenotypic Properties and Analysis of the 16S rRNA and gyrB Genes].

The taxonomic position of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacterial strains 263 and 32d isolated from formation water of the Daqing petroleum reservoir (PRC) was determined by polyphasic taxonomy techniques, including analysis of the 16S rRNA and the gyrB genes. The major chemotaxonomic characteristics of both strains, including the IV type cell wall, composition of cell wall fatty acids, mycolic acids, and menaquinones, agreed with those typical of Dietzia strains. The DNA G+C content of strains 263 and 32d were 67.8 and 67.6 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of strain 32d revealed 99.7% similarity to the gene of D. maris, making it possible to identify strain 32d as belonging to this species. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain 263 exhibited 99.7 and 99.9% similarity to those of D. natronolimnaea and D. cercidiphylli YIM65002(T), respectively. Analysis of the gyrB genes of the subterranean isolates and of a number of Dietzia type strains confirmed classiffication of strain 32d as a D. maris strain and of strain 263, as a D. natronolimnaea strain. A conclusion was made concerning higher resolving power of phylogenetic analysis of the gyrB gene compared to the 16S rRNA gene analysis in the case of determination of the species position of Dietzia isolates.

[Characteristic of the yeast isolated from patients with leukaemia].

It has been shown that biotopes of upper respiratory system and intestine were contaminated with yeast in 44.6% of patients with leukaemia (of 112 examined ones). Their quantity exceeds the boundary value for practically healthy people and is > or = 10(2) KOE/ml in the nasal activity and fauces and < or = 10(4) KOE/g in the intestine. It was established that in patients with leucemia the mycotic complications are mainly caused by anamorphous yeast of ascomycetic affinity. Candida albicans, as well as C. glabrata, C. rugosa and Candida sp. play the leading role. The Candida genus species are mainly sensitive to amphotericine B, clotrisamol and nistatin.

[Characteristics of three species of genus Debaryomyces Lodder & Kreger-van Rij].

A taxonomic state of the collection strains of three marketable species of genus Debaryomyses has been specified. Sources of their isolation have been analyzed and a list of econiches where the yeast occur has been supplemented. The properties have been found which are recommended to be used as additional for differentiation of D. hansenii, D. polymorphus, D. pseudopolymorphus species (that was the ability to assimilate nitrites, growth in the medium with 24 % of NaCl, synthesis of riboflavin, availability of jelatinase activity).

[Microbiological and production characteristics of the high-temperature Kongdian bed revealed during field trial of biotechnology for the enhancement of oil recovery].

Microbiological technology for the enhancement of oil recovery based on the activation of the stratal microflora was tested in the high-temperature horizons of the Kongdian bed (60 degrees C) of the Dagang oil field (China). This biotechnology consists in the pumping of a water-air mixture and nitrogen and phosphorus mineral salts into the oil stratum through injection wells in order to stimulate the activity of the stratal microflora which produce oil-releasing metabolites. Monitoring of the physicochemical, microbiological, and production characteristics of the test site has revealed large changes in the ecosystem as a result of the application of biotechnology. The cell numbers of thermophilic hydrocarbon-oxidizing, fermentative, sulfate-reducing, and methanogenic microorganisms increased 10-10 000-fold. The rates of methanogenesis and sulfate reduction increased in the near-bottom zone of the injection wells and of some production wells. The microbial oil transformation was accompanied by the accumulation of bicarbonate ions, volatile fatty acids, and biosurfactants in the formation waters, as well as of CH4 and CO2 both in the gas phase and in the oil. Microbial metabolites promoted the additional recovery of oil. As a result of the application of biotechnology, the water content in the production liquid from the test site decreased, and the oil content increased. This allowed the recovery of more than 14000 tons of additional oil over 3.5 years.

[Microbiological investigations of high-temperature horizons of the Kongdian petroleum reservoir in connection with field trial of a biotechnology for enhancement of oil recovery].

The physicochemical conditions and microbiological characteristics of the formation waters of the Kongdian bed of the Dagang oil field (China) were studied. It was demonstrated that this bed is a high-temperature ecosystem with formation waters characterized by low mineralization. The concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, as well as of electron acceptors, are low. Oil and oil gas are the main organic matter sources. The bed is exploited with water-flooding. The oil stratum was inhabited mostly by anaerobic thermophilic microorganisms, including fermentative (10(2)-10(5) cells/ml), sulfate-reducing (0-10(2) cells/ml), and methanogenic (0-10(3) cells/ml) microorganisms. Aerobic bacteria were detected mainly in the near-bottom zone of injection wells. The rate of sulfate reduction varied from 0.002 to 18.940 microg S(2-) l(-1) day(-1) and the rate of methanogenesis from 0.012 to 16.235 microg CH4 l(-1) day(-1). Microorganisms with great biotechnological potential inhabited the bed. Aerobic thermophilic bacteria were capable of oxidizing oil with the formation of biomass, the products of partial oxidation of oil (volatile acids), and surfactants. During growth on the culture liquid of oiloxidizing bacteria, methanogenic communities produced methane and carbon dioxide, which also had oil-releasing capabilities. Using various labeled tracers, the primary filtration flows of injected solutions at the testing site were studied. Our comprehensive investigations allowed us to conclude that the tested method for microbial enhancement of oil recovery based on the activation of the stratal microflora can be applied in the Kongdian bed horizons.

[Elaboration of systematic position and some physiological characteristics of collection strains of Debaryomyces hansenii (Zopf) Looder et Kreger-Van Rij].

Morphological and physiological properties of 52 strains of yeast Debaryomyces hansenii from the Ukrainian collection of microorganisms has been investigated. The belonging of 40 strains to the given species is confirmed. According to new classification 35 of them are referred to D. hansenii var. hansenii, five strains--to D.hansenii var. fabryi. It is shown, that assimilation of hydrocarbons and antagonistic properties are inherent in a small amount of strains. One half of the investigated debaryomycetes are riboflavin producers. The osmo- and galofility is inherent in all the investigated strains. These characteristics are proposed to be applied as additional ones in identification of these yeast.

[The phylogenetic diversity of aerobic organotrophic bacteria from the Dagan high-temperature oil field].

The distribution and species diversity of aerobic organotrophic bacteria in the Dagan high-temperature oil field (China), which is exploited via flooding, have been studied. Twenty-two strains of the most characteristic thermophilic and mesophilic aerobic organotrophic bacteria have been isolated from the oil stratum. It has been found that, in a laboratory, the mesophilic and thermophilic isolates grow in the temperature, pH, and salinity ranges characteristic of the injection well near-bottom zones or of the oil stratum, respectively, and assimilate a wide range of hydrocarbons, fatty acids, lower alcohols, and crude oil, thus exhibiting adaptation to the environment. Using comparative phylogenetic 16S rRNA analysis, the taxonomic affiliation of the isolates has been established. The aerobic microbial community includes gram-positive bacteria with a high and low G+C content of DNA, and gamma and beta subclasses of Proteobacteria. The thermophilic bacteria belong to the genera Geobacillus and Thermoactinomyces, and the mesophilic strains belong to the genera Bacillus, Micrococcus, Cellulomonas, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. The microbial community of the oil stratum is dominated by known species of the genus Geobacillus (G. subterraneus, G. stearothermophilus, and G. thermoglucosidasius) and a novel species "Geobacillus jurassicus." A number of novel thermophilic oil-oxidizing bacilli have been isolated.

[Search for lectin producers among the yeast of Pichia Hansen emend. Kurtzman genus]. / Poisk produtsentov lektinov sredi drozhzhei roda Pichia Hansen emend. Kurtzman.

Strains (103) of yeast from Pichia genus: P. anomala, P. guilliermondii and P. membranaefaciens species have been investigated. The researchers have found 87 strains (84.5%) capable to form extracellular and surface lectins with activity to 512 hemagglutinating units. The overwhelming number of strains (75.7-92.6%) synthesized lectins of the both forms. Considerably less quantity of lectin producers of some form--extracellular or surface ones--have been found. Availability of producers of extracellular lectins was characteristic to greater extent of the yeast of P. anomala and P. guilliermondii, and producers of surface lectins--mainly of P. guilliermondii. The most active producers of lectins have been isolated from human and animal organisms, soils and wine.

[Search for lectin-producers among representatives of some yeast genera]. / Poshuk produtsentiv lektyniv sered predstavnykiv deiakykh rodiv drizhdzhiv.

Hemagglutinating properties of the culture liquid and cells of 451 strains, 24 species, 7 genera of the museum and fresh yeast cultures have been investigated. The researchers have distinguished 333 strains (74%) capable for production of extracellular lectins and those bound to the cell surface with activity about 512-1024 hemagglutinating units. The extracellular lectins were found in 41% of lectin-synthesizing strains; the highest amount of their producers were found among representatives of genera Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Cryptococcus. Strains of Debaryomyces genus mainly synthesized lectins of the bound form, and the yeast of Pichia genus--lectins of the both types. Affinity of the extracellular lectin Saccharomyces cerevisiae UCM Y-530 for D-gluconic acid has been established.

[Search for lectin producers among some yeast species]. / Poisk produtsentov lektinov sredi nekotorykh vidov drozhzhei.

Hemagglutinating properties of culture liquid and cells of 142 yeast strains of species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces marxianus, K. dobzhanskii, K. lactis var. lactis and K. lactis var. drosophilarum, isolated from various sources have been studied. A capacity of yeast (44% of the studied strains) to synthesize both lectins bound to a cell and extracellular lectins has been established; the latter have been found in yeast for the first time.