Highlights • At least 193 commercial HPV tests and 127 variants of the original tests are available. • There was a 54% increase in the number of HPV tests in comparison with 2012. • All but two ...commercial HPV tests target alpha-HPV types only. • Only 35% of tests have performance evaluations published in peer-reviewed literature. • Manufacturers should invest greater effort into evaluating their products.
This study focuses on the feasibility of collaborative robot implementation in a medical microbiology laboratory by demonstrating fine tasks using kinesthetic teaching. Fine tasks require ...sub-millimetre positioning accuracy. Bacterial colony picking and identification was used as a case study. Colonies were picked from Petri dishes and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. We picked and identified 56 colonies (36 colonies of Gram-negative
and 20 colonies of Gram-positive
). The overall identification error rate was around 11%, although it was significantly lower for Gram-positive bacteria (5%) than Gram-negative bacteria (13.9%). Based on the identification scores, it was concluded that the system works similarly well as a manual operator. It was determined that tasks were successfully demonstrated using kinesthetic teaching and generalized using dynamic movement primitives (DMP). Further improvement of the identification error rate is possible by choosing a different deposited sample treatment method (e.g., semi-extraction, wet deposition).
The aim of this study was to compare the effect of subgingival ultrasonic scaling followed by repeated (three times) antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT), ultrasonic scaling alone (US), and ...scaling and root planing with hand instruments (SRP) for initial periodontal treatment. Twenty-seven non-smoking systemically healthy chronic periodontitis patients were included. Residual pockets ≥4 mm deep and bleeding on probing were debrided either with SRP, US alone, or US followed by a single episode of PDT during supportive periodontal treatment. Probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were monitored over 12 months. The presence of five periodontal pathogens in the pockets was determined by a commercially available micro-IDent test. Intergroup and intragroup statistical analysis was performed. All three treatments resulted in a significant clinical improvement. Additional application of PDT to US failed to result in further improvement in terms of PPD reduction and CAL gain. However, it resulted in a higher reduction of BOP at 3 and 12 months comparing to US alone or SRP (PDT from 25 to 13 and to 9 %, US from 23 to 16 and to 12 %, and SRP from 17 to 10 and to 9 %, respectively). PDT reduced the proportion of positive sites after 6 months for
Treponema denticola
(TD) significantly more effectively than US or SRP (
p
< 0.0001). Additionally, PDT resulted in a greater reduction of
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
(AA),
Tannerella forsythia
(TF), and TD in medium pockets (4–6 mm) (
p
< 0.02) and of TD in deep pockets (>6 mm) compared to mechanical debridement alone (
p
< 0.05).
Our study evaluates the performance of two rapid phenotypical tests to detect colistin resistance in
Enterobacterales
: Alifax rapid AST colistin test using the HB&L system and Rapid Polymyxin NP ...test prepared in-house. A collection of well-characterized 53 colistin-susceptible and 66 colistin-resistant
Enterobacterales
isolates was used. The results obtained using both rapid tests were compared to the reference broth microdilution. Overall categorical agreement was 81.5% for Alifax test and 98.3% for Rapid Polymyxin NP test. Based on our results, the Rapid Polymyxin NP test is superior to the Alifax test that performed inadequate for
Enterobacter
spp.
Objectives
To determine whether azithromycin (AZI) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP), when compared to placebo, decreases the number of sites demonstrating pocket depth (PD) ≥ 5 mm and ...bleeding on probing (BOP) 12 months post-treatment in stage III/IV periodontitis patients.
Materials and methods
In a double-blind randomized parallel-arm placebo-controlled trial, 40 stage III/IV periodontitis patients received steps 1 and 2 of periodontal treatment in two sessions within 7 days. Patients then received systemic antibiotic therapy (
n
= 20; AZI 500 mg/day, 3 days) or placebo (
n
= 20). Additional instrumentation of residual diseased sites (DS) — sites with PD ≥ 5 mm and BOP — was performed at the 3-, 6- and 9-month follow-ups. The primary outcome variable was the number of DS at the 12-month re-evaluation. Using a multivariate multilevel logistic regression model, the effects of gender, age, antibiotic therapy, presence of
Porphyromonas gingivalis
or
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
, smoking, tooth being a molar and interdental location were evaluated.
Results
The number of DS after 12 months was similar in the test (median (Me) = 4, interquartile range (IQR) = 0–6) and control (Me = 3, IQR = 1–6.5) groups. Both groups showed substantial but equivalent improvements in periodontal parameters, with no intergroup differences at initially shallow or deep sites. The logistic regression showed a lower odds ratio (OR) for the healing of DS on molars (OR = 0.29;
p
< 0.001) and in smokers (OR = 0.36;
p
= 0.048).
Conclusion
Stage III/IV periodontitis patients showed significant but comparable improvements in periodontal parameters and the number of residual DS at the 12-month revaluation regardless of treatment type. This may have been the result of the additional instrumentation received by patients at residual DS in both treatment groups.
Clinical relevance
Treatment with AZI + SRP provided no additional benefits after 12 months in terms of periodontal parameters or the number of persisting sites with PD ≥ 5 mm + BOP as compared to SRP plus placebo.
Trial registration
EUDRA-CT: 2015-004306-42;
https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2015-004306-42/SI
, registered 17. 12. 2015.
Human papillomavirus type 159 (HPV159) was identified in an anal swab sample and preliminarily genetically characterized by our group in 2012. Here we present a detailed molecular in silico analysis ...that showed that the HPV159 viral genome is 7443 bp in length and divided into five early and two late genes, with conserved functional domains and motifs, and a non-coding long control region (LCR) with significant regulatory sequences that allow the virus to complete its life cycle and infect novel host cells. HPV159, clustering into the cutaneotropic
(
-PV) genus, is phylogenetically most similar to HPV9, forming an individual phylogenetic group in the viral species
-2. After testing a large representative collection of clinical samples with HPV159 type-specific RT-PCR, in addition to the anal canal from which the first HPV159 isolate was obtained, HPV159 was further detected in other muco-cutaneous (4/181, 2.2%), mucosal (22/764, 2.9%), and cutaneous (14/554, 2.5%) clinical samples, suggesting its extensive tissue tropism. However, because very low HPV159 viral loads were estimated in the majority of positive samples, it seemed that HPV159 mainly caused clinically insignificant infections of the skin and mucosa. Using newly developed, highly sensitive HPV159-specific nested PCRs, two additional HPV159 LCR viral variants were identified. Nevertheless, all HPV159 mutations were demonstrated outside important functional domains of the LCR, suggesting that the HPV159 viral variants were most probably not pathogenically different. This complete molecular characterization of HPV159 enhances our knowledge of the genome characteristics, tissue tropism, and phylogenetic diversity of
-PVs that infect humans.
To determine the prevalence, viral load, tissue tropism, and genetic variability of novel human papillomavirus (HPV) type 179, which is etiologically associated with sporadic cases of common warts in ...immunocompromised patients, and phylogenetically related HPV types 135 and 146.
The representative collection of 850 HPV-associated clinical samples (oral/nasopharyngeal/anal, archival specimens of oral/oropharyngeal/conjunctival/cervical/skin cancer, benign lesions of the larynx/conjunctiva/skin, and eyebrows), obtained from immunocompetent individuals, was tested for the presence of HPV179, HPV135, and HPV146 using type-specific real-time PCRs. To assess the genetic diversity of the HPVs investigated in the non-coding long control region (LCR), several highly sensitive nested PCR protocols were developed for each HPV type. The genetic diversity of HPV179 was additionally determined in 12 HPV179 isolates from different anatomical sites of an only immunocompromised patient included in the study.
HPV179, HPV135, and HPV146 were detected in 1.4, 2.0, and 1.5% of the samples tested, respectively, with no preference for cutaneous or mucosal epithelial cells. One (with five single nucleotide polymorphisms; SNPs), four (with one to six SNPs), and four (with one to eight SNPs) genetic variants of HPV179, HPV135, and HPV146, respectively, were identified among eligible samples. HPV179 isolates from the immunocompromised patient exhibited the identical LCR nucleotide sequence, suggesting that HPV179 can cause generalized HPV infections.
HPV179, HPV135, and HPV146 have a mucocutaneous tissue tropism and are associated with sporadic infections in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Because the majority of mutations were found outside the major functional domains of the respective LCRs, we assume that HPV179, HPV135, and HPV146 genetic variants pathogenically do not differ from their prototypes. In addition, no association was found between specific HPV179, HPV135, and HPV146 genetic variants and anatomical sites of infection and/or specific neoplasms.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Knowing the normal cleanroom microbiota is the basis for ensuring microbiological quality; assess changes and the introduction of new sampling methods. During our study, we prepared a catalogue of ...cleanroom microorganisms located in four different cleanrooms in University Clinical Centre Ljubljana Pharmacy. Catalogue is prepared as a basis for assessing the suitability of the new rapid microbiological method and subsequent correlation of the results of both methods. The results of our study showed that 78% of isolated bacteria are Gram-positive. However, in more than 70% isolated bacteria were the part of the normal human microbiota, 10–15% of the microorganisms originated from the air, mainly spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus and fungi, and 5–10% of the Gram-negative microorganisms that originated from the water and represent the potential endotoxins (pyrogens).
Our aim was to determine if azithromycin therapy, as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP), decreases the number of pathobiontic subgingival plaque species and sites demonstrating pocket depth ...(PD) ≥ 5 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) 6 months post-treatment.
In a double-blind randomized parallel-arm placebo-controlled trial, 40 patients received nonsurgical periodontal treatment in two sessions within 7 days. Patients then received systemic antibiotic therapy (n = 20, azithromycin 500 mg/day for 3 days) or placebo (n = 20). Pooled microbiologic samples were taken before and 6 months after therapy and analysed by established culture methods. The primary outcome variable was the number of sites with PD ≥ 5 mm and BOP at the 6-month re-evaluation. Using multivariate multilevel logistic regression, the effects of gender, age, antibiotic therapy, presence of P. gingivalis or A. actinomycetemcomitans, smoking, tooth being a molar and interdental location were evaluated.
The number of sites with PD ≥ 5 mm and BOP after 6 months was similar in the test (Me = 4, IQR = 0-11) and control (Me = 5, IQR = 1-22) group. Adjunctive azithromycin treatment, compared to SRP alone, resulted in more frequent eradication of A. actinomycetemcomitans (p = 0.013) and C. rectus (p = 0.029), decreased proportion (p = 0.006) and total counts (p = 0.003) of P. gingivalis, and decreased proportion of C. rectus (p = 0.012). Both groups showed substantial but equivalent improvements in periodontal parameters, with no intergroups differences at initially shallow or deep sites. The logistic regression showed a lower odds ratio for healing of diseased sites on molars (OR = 0.51; p < 0,001).
Despite significant changes in numbers of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and C. rectus, patients with periodontitis do not benefit from adjunctive systemic azithromycin in terms of number of persisting sites with PD ≥ 5 mm and BOP.
EUDRA-CT: 2015-004306-42; https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2015-004306-42/SI , registered 17. 12. 2015.
The first hospital outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Slovenia occurred in 2014-2016. Whole genome sequencing was used to analyse the population of carbapenem-resistant ...Klebsiella pneumoniae collected in Slovenia in 2014-2017, including OXA-48 and/or NDM-1 producing strains from the outbreak.
A total of 32 K. pneumoniae isolates were analysed using short-read sequencing. Multi-locus sequence typing and core genome multi-locus sequence typing were used to infer genetic relatedness. Antimicrobial resistance markers, virulence factors, plasmid content and wzi types were determined. Long-read sequencing was used for six isolates for detailed analysis of plasmids and their possible transmission.
Overall, we detected 10 different sequence types (STs), the most common being ST437 (40.6%). Isolates from the initial outbreak belonged to ST437 (12/16) and ST147 (4/16). A second outbreak of four ST15 isolates was discovered. A new ST (ST3390) and two new wzi types (wzi-556, wzi-559) were identified. blaOXA-48 was found in 17 (53.1%) isolates, blaNDM-1 in five (15.6%), and a combination of blaOXA-48/NDM-1 in seven (21.9%) isolates. Identical plasmids carrying blaOXA-48 were found in outbreak isolates sequenced with long-read sequencing technology.
Whole genome sequencing of Slovenian carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates revealed multiple clusters of STs, two of which were involved in the first hospital outbreak of carbapenem producing K. pneumoniae in Slovenia. Transmission of the plasmid carrying blaOXA-48 between two STs was likely to have occurred. A previously unidentified second outbreak was also discovered, highlighting the importance of whole genome sequencing in detection and/or characterization of hospital outbreaks and surveillance of drug-resistant bacterial clones.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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