A survey on workplace violence among pre-hospital care personnel in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: Data on violence experienced by pre-hospital care (PHC) staff in developing countries are lacking. This study investigates incidence, effect, coping reaction, and action taken towards violence received by PHC staff in Malaysia, a developing country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a multi-centred crosssectional survey. Questionnaire modified from the Joint Programme on Workplace Violence in the Healthcare Sector was applied. PHC staff include assistant medical officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), nurses, attendants, and ambulance drivers. This questionnaire involves workplace violence (WPV) experienced for 12 months since the beginning of this study among pre-hospital staff of three main hospitals in Klang Valley, Malaysia. RESULTS: Seventy-one PHC staff personnel responded to this questionnaire. Overall prevalence of at least one WPV incident over past 12 months was 56.3% (95% CI 44.8% to 65.8%). Fifty-three-point-five percent (95% CI 41.9% to 65.1%) experienced verbal abuse, 9.9% (95% CI 3% to 16.8%) experienced physical abuse, and 14.1% (95% CI 6.0% to 22.2%) experienced racial abuse. None of the participants experienced sexual abuse. Out of 38 staff that experienced verbal abuse, 16 (42%) took no action, 8 (21.1%) pretended it never happened, and only 5 (13.2%) filed an actual complaint. CONCLUSION: Verbal abuse was found to be the most common type of violence. Younger age group (<29 years) was more exposed to verbal (p = 0.014) and racial abuse (p = 0.007). Majority victims either responded by telling abusers to stop or taking no action at all.

Role of somatostatin receptor SSRT5-AS1 in predicting biomarkers of primary androgen deprivation therapy on prostate cancer in Indonesian population.

INTRODUCTION: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the pivotal strategy for treating advanced prostate cancers. Despite the high efficacy of ADT in prohibiting tumor growth, >50% cases of prostate cancer will develop into an aggressive variant known as castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). This study aimed to evaluate the potential role SSRT5-AS1 expression as a biomarker for response to ADT in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 36 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia were enrolled from 2015 and 2019. The expression of SSRT5-AS1 in primary tumors was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The mean age of patients enrolled in this study was 69.07 ± 8.7 years, and the mean of prostate-specific antigen in patients was 141.22 ±112.28 ng/ml. Compared with the median, a higher expression of SSTR5-AS1 had more significant prognostic value than the variable shorter time to CRPC (p= 0.043). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that high expression of SSRT5-AS1 is a promising biomarker to predict response to ADT in patients with prostate cancer.

3D Echocardiography Provides Highly Accurate 3D Printed Models in Congenital Heart Disease.

Cardiac 3D printing is mainly performed from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) 3D datasets, though anatomic detail of atrioventricular (AV) valves may be limited. 3D echo provides excellent visualization of AV valves. Thus, we tested the feasibility and accuracy of 3D printing from 3D echo in this pilot series of subjects with congenital heart disease (CHD), with a focus on valve anatomy. Five subjects with CHD were identified. 3D echo data were converted to 3D printable files and printed in collaboration with 3D Systems Healthcare (Golden, Colorado). A novel technique for valve modeling was utilized using commercially available software. Two readers (KM, SA) independently measured valve structures from 3D models and compared to source echo images. 3D printing was feasible for all cases. Table 1 shows measurements comparing 2D echo to 3D models. Bland Altman analysis showed close agreement and no significant bias between 2D and digital 3D models (mean difference 0.0, 95% CI 1.1 to - 1.1) or 2D vs printed 3D models, though with wider limits of agreement (mean difference - 0.3, 95% CI 1.9 to - 2.6). Accuracy of 3D models compared to 2D was within < 0.5 mm. This pilot study shows 3D echo datasets can be used to reliably print AV and semilunar valve structures in CHD. The 3D models are highly accurate compared to the source echo images. This is a novel and value-added technique that adds incremental information on cardiac anatomy over current methods.

Factors associated with the use of fashion braces of the Saudi Arabian Youth: application of the Health Belief Model.

BACKGROUND: In spite of the fact that fashion braces (FBs) have been in the spotlight in recent years among both orthodontists and the general public in several countries, there is still limited evidence regarding FBs. The aim was to identify health-related behaviors in using FBs by considering the Health Belief Model (HBM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a random sampling technique was conducted in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. The data was obtained from different middle and high schools students, and first-year students at Jazan University. The questionnaire collected data on demographic characteristics and 27 items to examine the constructs of the HBM. Chi Square test was carried out to establish the factors associated with using, the intention to use, and previous knowledge on the use of fashion braces. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to determine the factors associated with the use of fashion braces. RESULTS: 406 study participants completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 88.3%. Majority of respondents were males (52.2%) and > 19 years old (44.3%). Only 9.9% students had used the FBs. However, 25.7% of students had the intention to use them. The perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits and cues to action constructs scores were fair with the mean values of 15.38 (SD = 9.4), 28.17 (SD = 10.8) and 6.65 (SD = 2.50), respectively. However, the perceived barrier score was high with the mean values of 22.14 (SD = 7.50), and lower score of self-efficacy with mean of 8.73 (SD = 3.30). Gender, age, monthly income (family), and education level were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the use of fashion braces among the study's participants. Based on the results of logistic regression analysis family income, perceived susceptibility, and risk severity constructs predict the use of fashion braces in the study's sample. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that the family income, perceived susceptibility, and risk severity of students significantly influence the use of fashion braces. Hence, it is recommended that researchers should investigate effective educational strategies and programs for improving young people's knowledge about fashion braces and focus more on low family income students so that their using of fashion brace will be decreased.

Original and Modified Graeb Score Correlation With Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Clinical Outcome Prediction in Hyperacute Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Background and Purpose- The Graeb score is a visual rating scale of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) on noncontrast head CT. Little data exist in the hyperacute (<6 hour) period for reliability and predictive value of the modified Graeb Score (mGS) or the original Graeb Score (oGS) for clinical outcomes or their correlation with quantitative IVH volumes. Methods- A retrospective analysis of multicenter prospective intracranial hemorrhage study was performed. oGS and mGS inter-observer agreement and IVH volume correlation on the baseline noncontrast head CT were calculated by intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson coefficient respectively. Predictors of poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores ≥4) at 3 months were identified using a backward stepwise selection multivariable analysis. oGS and mGS performance for modified Rankin Scale scores ≥4 was determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results- One hundred forty-one patients (65±12 years) with median (interquartile range) time to CT of 82.5 (70.3-157.5) minutes were included. IVH was observed in 43 (30%) patients. Inter-observer agreement was excellent for both oGS (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.80-0.95]) and mGS (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.84-0.99]). mGS (R=0.79; P<0.01) correlated better than oGS (R=0.71; P<0.01) with IVH volumes (P=0.02). Models of thresholded oGS and mGS were not different from a model of planimetric baseline intracranial hemorrhage and IVH volume for poor outcome prediction. Area under the curves were 0.70, 0.73, and 0.72, respectively. Conclusions- Excellent correlation for oGS and mGS with IVH volume was seen. Thresholded oGS and mGS are reasonable surrogates for planimetric IVH volume for hyperacute intracranial hemorrhage studies.

Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2015-17 in Pakistan: data based on CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints.

OBJECTIVES: To determine antibiotic susceptibility of community-acquired respiratory tract infection (CA-RTI) isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae collected in 2015-17 from Pakistan. METHODS: MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints. RESULTS: A total of 94 S. pneumoniae and 122 H. influenzae isolates were collected. Susceptibility to penicillin was noted in 23.4% of the S. pneumoniae isolates by CLSI oral/EUCAST low-dose IV breakpoints, although by CLSI IV and EUCAST high-dose breakpoints all isolates were characterized as susceptible. Susceptibility to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (10.6%), macrolides (33%) and cefaclor (28.7%) was low but higher susceptibility was observed to ceftriaxone (100%), amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (98.9%), cefuroxime (oral, 97.9%), cefpodoxime (96.8%), fluoroquinolones (93.6%-96.8%) and cefdinir (76.6%) by CLSI breakpoints. However, using EUCAST breakpoints, susceptibility to cefpodoxime (70.2%) and cefuroxime (oral, 61.7%) was reduced. H. influenzae isolates were almost all ß-lactamase negative (96.7%). Using CLSI breakpoints, ≥93.4% of isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested except fluoroquinolones (75.4%-77.1%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (41%). The proportion of isolates susceptible using EUCAST breakpoints was similar or identical for penicillins, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and the cephalosporins that have EUCAST breakpoints; the proportion of isolates susceptible using EUCAST breakpoints was similar or identical to that using CSLI breakpoints except for cefuroxime (oral), where only 1.6% of isolates were considered susceptible. Susceptibility of H. influenzae to fluoroquinolones was also lower by EUCAST breakpoints (33.6%-34.4%). The application of different EUCAST breakpoints for low and higher doses for some of the antibiotics (amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) allowed, for the first time in a SOAR study, the effect of raising the dosage on susceptibility to be quantified. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic susceptibility in these important respiratory tract pathogens varied in Pakistan based on different breakpoints. These data are important for empirical therapy choices in the treatment of CA-RTIs.

Perceived barriers and attitudes toward arteriovenous fistula creation and use in hemodialysis patients in Palestine.

In the dialysis center in Ramallah, we investigated the attitudes and perceived barriers to having arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in 156 patients. The current method of HD access was AVF in 52% and central venous catheter in 47%. Perceived causes of no or delayed AVF were: patient's refusal of AVF in 54.5%, late referral to a surgical evaluation in 31.3% and too long to surgical appointments in 14.2%. Among those who refused AVF, reasons were: concern about the surgical procedure in 42.5%, poor understanding of disease/access in 23.3%, fear of needles in 15.1%, denial of disease or need for HD in 17.8%, and cosmetic reasons in 1.4%. Forty six percent of patients believed they received education about AVF prior to the creation of HD access, and 73.7% would recommend AVF as the method of access due to the lower risk of infection (96%), easier to care for (16%), easier showering (14%), and better-associated hygiene (3%). In conclusion, the majority would recommend an AVF as the mode of vascular access for HD. The most common barrier to having an AVF was patient's refusal to undergo AVF creation because of their concern about the surgical procedure. A systematic evaluation of the process that precedes the creation of AVF may allow for better utilization.

Predialysis nephrology care amongst Palestinian hemodialysis patients and its impact on initial vascular access type.

Referral time for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients to nephrologists and initial vascular access method are considered significant factors that impact health outcomes at the time of hemodialysis (HD) initiation. Native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is strongly recommended as initial access. However, little is known about the referral rate among ESRD receiving HD in Palestine and its correlation with AVF creation. In Ramallah Hemodialysis Center, we investigated the pre-dialysis nephrology care and AVF usage in 156 patients. Type of access at HD initiation was temporary central venous catheter (CVC) in 114 (73%), tunneled hemodialysis catheter (TDC) in 21 (13%) and AVF in 21 (13%). Out of all participants, 120 (77%) were seen by nephrologist prior to dialysis. Of the participants who initiated dialysis with a CVC, 36 (31%) had not received prior nephrology care. All participants who initiated dialysis with functional AVF had received prior nephrology care. Patients who were not seen by a nephrologist prior to HD initiation had no chance at starting HD with AVF, whereas 17% of those who had nephrology care >12 months started with AVF. In conclusion, a relatively large percentage of Palestinian HD patients who were maintained on HD did not have any predialysis nephrology care. In addition, patients who received predialysis nephrology care were significantly more likely to start their HD through AVF whereas all those without predialysis nephrology care started through CVC. More in-depth national studies focusing on improving nephrology referral in ESRD patients are needed to increase AVF utilization.

Soluble TNF-R1, VEGF and other cytokines as markers of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND: Current non-invasive methods of assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are of limited sensitivity and specificity. Testing includes acute phase markers, autoantibodies and complement levels. Although measurements of dsDNA antibodies and complement C3/C4 levels are routine, they remain of limited value. Improved blood and urine markers may help in early detection of flare, distinction between flare and chronic damage, and monitoring response to therapy. METHODS: A total of 87 patients with SLE were tested for the following cytokines in serum and urine: monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte inhibitory protein 1α (MIP-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Patients attending the Lupus Unit at St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK were divided into active lupus nephritis (LN), inactive LN and non-renal SLE groups based on their renal pathology and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Cytokine testing was performed using the FIDIS multiplex bead assay. RESULTS: The mean level of serum sTNF-R1 was higher in the active LN group compared with both inactive LN and non-renal SLE groups ( p < 0.001). For urine measurements there were significant differences between active LN and non-renal SLE for VEGF ( p = 0.016), after statistical correction for multiple testing. Both urinary and serum sTNF-R1 and IP-10 levels correlated with SLEDAI scores ( p < 0.001), while serum VEGF correlated weakly with SLEDAI ( p = 0.025). The optimum combination for differentiating active from inactive LN patients was serum VEGF, sTNF-R1, MCP-1 and glomerular filtration rate plus urinary sTNF-R1 and protein-creatinine ratio. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that for active LN, sTNF-R1 could be a useful serum cytokine marker, with potential for VEGF in the urine. This study has confirmed the ability of the multiplex bead technique to detect cytokines in a good analytical range, including very low and high levels, in both serum and urine. Combining serum and urine markers provided additional sensitivity in distinguishing active from inactive LN.

Single-phase CT angiography: collateral grade is independent of scan weighting.

PURPOSE: Collateral grading may vary on single-phase CTA (sCTA) depending on whether the CTA is arterial (A), arteriovenous (AV), or venous (V) weighted. We studied the impact of sCTA weighting on collateral grading using the Tan, MAAS, and Menon methods, and their ability to predict infarct and clinical outcome hypothesizing that AV-weighted sCTA should better predict these outcomes. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective analysis of 212 patients undergoing baseline CTP/sCTA. sCTA weighting was determined by comparing ICA to torcula AV ratios with those from concomitant CTP time-density curves at peak arterial or venous contrast attenuation. A generalized linear mixed model investigated the predictive value for infarct volume or 90-day mRS of the three collateral scores stratified by sCTA weighting and adjusting for age, sex, clot burden score (CBS), and NIHSS. Bayesian information criterion (BIC) differences were calculated between the null and fitted models. RESULTS: Mean age, baseline median NIHSS, ASPECTS, and onset to treatment time were 69.89 ± 14.45, 13 (6-18), 10 (8-10), and 128 (66-181) minutes. sCTA scans were AV-weighted in 137/212 (65%) and A-weighted in 73 (34%). No association was demonstrated between sCTA weighting, hospital site, and sCTA technique. All collateral scores were related to infarct volume irrespective of sCTA weighting, with greatest fit with the regional leptomeningeal score (BIC 18.29, p = 0.0001). No association was shown between sCTA weighting, collateral grade, and clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: sCTA weighting did not significantly impact collateral grade using three common collateral scores or their ability to predict final infarct.

Correction: Broadening the phenotypic spectrum of pathogenic LARP7 variants: two cases with intellectual disability, variable growth retardation and distinct facial features.

Correction to: Journal of Human Genetics (2016) 61, 229-33 https://doi.org/10.1038/jhg.2015.134 ; published online 26 November 2015.

Broadening the phenotypic spectrum of pathogenic LARP7 variants: two cases with intellectual disability, variable growth retardation and distinct facial features.

In 2012 Alazami et al. described a novel syndromic cause of primordial dwarfism with distinct facial features and severe intellectual disability. A homozygous frameshift mutation in LARP7, a chaperone of the noncoding RNA 7SK, was discovered in patients from a single consanguineous Saudi family. To date, only one additional patient has recently been described. To further delineate the phenotype associated with LARP7 mutations, we report two additional cases originating from the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. The patients presented with intellectual disability, distinct facial features and variable short stature. We describe their clinical features and compare them with the previously reported patients. Both cases were identified by diagnostic whole-exome sequencing, which detected two homozygous pathogenic LARP7 variants: c.1091_1094delCGGT in the Dutch case and c.1045_1051dupAAGGATA in the Saudi Arabian case. Both variants are leading to frameshifts with introduction of premature stop codons, suggesting that loss of function is likely the disease mechanism. This study is an independent confirmation of the syndrome due to LARP7 depletion. Our cases broaden the associated clinical features of the syndrome and contribute to the delineation of the phenotypic spectrum of LARP7 mutations.

Urban and rural comparison of vitamin D status in Pakistani pregnant women and neonates.

We undertook a cross-sectional study in rural Jehlum and urban Karachi to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Pakistani pregnant women and neonates and to assess any association of serum 25(OH) vitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration with vitamin D binding protein (Gc) genotypes. Altogether, 390 women and 266 neonates were recruited from urban and rural sites, respectively. Serum 25(OH)D was measured by an immunoassay, while Gc genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism or PCR-RFLP. One-way analysis of variance or ANOVA and linear regression were used for statistical analysis. In urban Karachi, 99.5% of women and 97.3% of neonates were vitamin D deficient (< 50 nmol/L), while 89% of women and 82% of neonates were deficient in rural Jehlum. Gc genotypes were not associated with serum 25(OH)D concentrations in both women and their neonates. We conclude that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Pakistani women and their neonates, and Gc genotypes are not associated with serum 25(OH)D concentrations.

Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections (CVC-BSI) in patients of clinically suspected septicemia.

Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections (CVC-BSI) are associated with morbidity and mortality especially in critically ill patients. This study was performed to find out the rate of CVC-BSI and CVC colonization, causative organism and their antibiogram in patients of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Department of Nephrology of tertiary care hospitals. A total of 100 patients from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) who had-CVC and clinically suspected of septicemia were included in the study. Paired CVC blood and peripheral venous blood (PVB) samples were collected from each patient and were cultured by automated blood culture method. CVC-BSI was diagnosed in 11% and CVC colonization in 43% patients by Differential time to positivity (DTP) method. Rate of CVC-BSI was 8/1000 CVC days and 11/1000 CVC days in BSMMU and DMCH respectively whereas CVC colonization rate was 32/1000 CVC days and 47.5/1000 CVC days in BSMMU and DMCH. The most common bacteria causing CVC-BSI was Klebsiella spp. (36.4%) followed by Acinetobacter spp. (27.3%), Pseudomonas spp. (18.2%) and E. coli (18.2%). Among bacteria isolated from CVC colonization majority were Pseudomonas spp. (30.23%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (30.23%) followed by Acinetobacter spp. (27.91%), Enterococcus spp. (6.98%). Most of the isolated bacteria causing CVC-BSI were resistant to commonly used antibiotics, but showed good sensitivity to imipenem and colistin. Information about CVC-BSI, -colonization and antibiogram of this study can help to guide the selection of suitable antibiotics for empirical therapy and to improve infection control measures of the hospital.

Immune responses to collagen-IV and fibronectin in renal transplant recipients with transplant glomerulopathy.

Antibodies (Abs) to donor HLA (donor-specific antibodies [DSA]) have been associated with transplant glomerulopathy (TG) following kidney transplantation (KTx). Immune responses to tissue-restricted self-antigens (self-Ags) have been proposed to play a role in chronic rejection. We determined whether KTx with TG have immune responses to self-Ags, Collagen-IV (Col-IV) and fibronectin (FN). DSA were determined by solid phase assay, Abs against Col-IV and FN by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and CD4+ T cells secreting interferon gamma (IFN-γ), IL-17 or IL-10 by ELISPOT. Development of Abs to self-Ags following KTx increased the risk for TG with an odds ratio of 22 (p-value = 0.001). Abs to self-Ags were IgG and IgM isotypes. Pretransplant Abs to self-Ags increased the risk of TG (22% vs. 10%, p < 0.05). Abs to self-Ags were identified frequently in KTx with DSA. TG patients demonstrated increased Col-IV and FN specific CD4+ T cells secreting IFN-γ and IL-17 with reduction in IL-10. We conclude that development of Abs to self-Ags is a risk factor and having both DSA and Abs to self-Ags increases the risk for TG. The increased frequency of self-Ag-specific IFN-γ and IL-17 cells with reduction in IL-10 demonstrate tolerance breakdown to self-Ags which we propose play a role in the pathogenesis of TG.

Susceptibility of BALB/c-nu/nu mice and BALB/c mice to equine herpesvirus 9 infection.

This study aimed to clarify the timing and infectivity of equine herpesvirus 9 (EHV-9) infection in BALB/c-nu/nu mice and their immunocompetent counterpart (BALB/c). Following intranasal inoculation with 10(5) PFU of EHV-9, specimens from 8 mice per group were collected at different times postinoculation (PI) and assessed using histopathology, immunohistochemistry for viral antigen, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for ORF30 gene expression. In BALB/c-nu/nu mice, EHV-9 antigen was abundant in olfactory epithelia of all inoculated animals, and in the olfactory bulb of 1 animal. In contrast, only 1 BALB/c mouse per time point had rhinitis, with mild to moderate immunopositivity starting from 12 to 48 h PI, followed by a gradual virus clearance at 72 h PI. Statistically, significant differences were noted in the immunohistochemistry reactions between the 2 mouse strains, indicating that BALB/c-nu/nu is more susceptible to infection. Relative expression levels of ORF30 gene in olfactory epithelia were significantly different between the 2 groups, with the exception of 12 h PI, when BALB/c-nu/nu animals showed dramatic increases in ORF30 gene expression level until 48 h PI, followed by a decline in expression level until the end of experiment. In contrast, the expression level in brains showed no differences between mouse strain except at 96 h PI. In both strains, the highest messenger RNA expression was detected at 48 h PI, followed by a decline in BALB/c mice, proving a rapid clearance of virus in BALB/c and a gradual slowing down of the increased expression levels in BALB/c-nu/nu.

Antimicrobial resistance and in vitro biofilm-forming ability of Enterococci spp. isolated from urinary tract infection in a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka.

The biofilm mode of life conveys a survival advantage to the microorganism associated with it. Biofilm on an indwelling urinary catheter consists of adherent microorganisms, their extra cellular products, and host components deposited on the catheter and thus biofilm on urinary catheters results in persistent infections that are resistant to antimicrobial therapy. This study was done during the period of January 2010 to December 2010. Fifty nine enterococci isolated from 1203 urine samples were speciated by conventional microbiological methods and examined for their ability to form biofilm by microtitre plate assay and antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disc diffusion method for 10 clinically relevant antibiotics respectively. Biofilm producing Enterococci were more frequently found in catheterized than in non catheterized patient (p < 0.004). Enterococcus faecium showed increased resistantance to multiple antibiotic than Enterococcus faecalis. Significant relationship was found between biofilm production with antibiotic resistance to amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, cefotaxime, and cefuroxime. This study demonstrated a high propensity among the isolates of Enterococci to form biofilm and a significant association of biofilms with multiple drug resistance.

Assessing the Dependence and Perceptions of the Harm and Addictiveness of Electronic Cigarettes among Saudi University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: The rising prevalence of e-cigarette use among university students necessitates a comprehensive understanding of dependence levels and associated factors. This study investigates e-cigarette dependence among Jazan University students in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: With the use of a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 1187 students through an online survey from January to April 2024. Dependence levels were assessed using the Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index (PS-ECDI), and the Arabic version of the questionnaire was validated through pilot testing. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with e-cigarette dependence. (3) Results: The results indicated that among current e-cigarette users, 37.4% had low dependence, 34.4% had medium dependence, and 13.8% had high dependence. A significant proportion of current and ever users regarded e-cigarettes to be less harmful (50.6% and 44.4%, respectively) and less addictive (37.9% and 32.3%, respectively) than cigarettes. Significant factors influencing dependence included gender, with males showing higher odds of medium (AOR = 12.8, 95% CI: 3.4-47.6) and low dependence (AOR = 9.7, 95% CI: 2.5-37.3) compared to females. Longer duration of e-cigarette use (>2 years) was strongly associated with high dependence (AOR = 50, 95% CI: 7.7-324). Daily use and multiple quit attempts were also significant predictors of higher dependence levels. (4) Conclusions: These findings highlight the substantial e-cigarette dependence among university students and underscore the need for targeted interventions to address this growing public health concern.

The Lucy Thermal Emission Spectrometer (L'TES) Instrument.

The Lucy Thermal Emission Spectrometer (L'TES) will provide remote measurements of the thermophysical properties of the Trojan asteroids studied by the Lucy mission. L'TES is build-to-print hardware copy of the OTES instrument flown on OSIRIS-REx. It is a Fourier Transform spectrometer covering the spectral range 5.71-100 µm (1750-100 cm-1) with spectral sampling intervals of 8.64, 17.3, and 34.6 cm-1 and a 7.3-mrad field of view. The L'TES telescope is a 15.2-cm diameter Cassegrain telescope that feeds a flat-plate Michelson moving mirror mounted on a linear voice-coil motor assembly to a single uncooled deuterated l-alanine doped triglycine sulfate (DLATGS) pyroelectric detector. A significant firmware change from OTES is the ability to acquire interferograms of different length and spectral resolution with acquisition times of 0.5, 1, and 2 seconds. A single ∼0.851 µm laser diode is used in a metrology interferometer to provide precise moving mirror control and IR sampling at 772 Hz. The beamsplitter is a 38-mm diameter, 1-mm thick chemical vapor deposited diamond with an antireflection microstructure to minimize surface reflection. An internal calibration cone blackbody target, together with observations of space, provides radiometric calibration. The radiometric precision in a single spectrum is ≤2.2 × 10-8 W cm-2 sr-1 /cm-1 between 300 and 1350 cm-1. The absolute temperature error is <2 K for scene temperatures >75 K. The overall L'TES envelope size is 37.6 × 29.0 × 30.4 cm, and the mass is 6.47 kg. The power consumption is 12.6 W average. L'TES was developed by Arizona State University with AZ Space Technologies developing the electronics. L'TES was integrated, tested, and radiometrically calibrated on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe, AZ. Initial data from space have verified the instrument's radiometric and spatial performance.