The authors investigated trends in the Croatian primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (pPCI) Network results among three consecutive time intervals (2005-2007, first phase; 2008-2009, second ...phase; and 2010-2011, third phase). Data on 5650 patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST-elevation (STEMI) transferred or directly admitted and treated with pPCI in 11 Croatian PCI centers during the study period were collected and analyzed. The number of patients with acute STEMI treated with pPCI per year rose continuously during the study period (581 vs. 1272 vs. 1949 patients/year). The patient risk profile worsened during the study period: age (60 vs. 61 vs. 63 years; p<0.01), anterior myocardial wall involvement (43% vs. 44% vs. 51%; p<0.01), shock rate (7% vs. 9% vs. 11%; p<0.05), and percentage of transferred patients (42% vs. 36% vs. 46%; p<0.01). While the door-to-balloon time shortened (108 vs. 98 vs. 75 min; p<0.01), the symptom onset-to-door time increased (130 vs. 175 vs. 195 min; p<0.01), but without statistically significant influence on the total ischemic time. Multivariate log-linear analysis eliminated influence of a higher risk profile on the results of treatment and yielded no statistically significant changes in final TIMI 3 flow (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 3), in-hospital mortality, and six-month mortality rate, but revealed a significant increase in the rate of angina pectoris (12 vs. 22 vs. 36%; p<0.01) and other major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; 6 vs. 23 vs. 14%; p<0.01) during follow up. In conclusion, the Croatian pPCI Network continuously ensures very good results of STEMI treatment in this economically less developed European country despite worsening of the risk profile in treated patients and opening of new, less experienced PCI centers. The higher percentage of MACE over time could be explained by changes in the pPCI strategy introduced over time (the culprit lesion only) and higher availability of PCI centers for additional PCI after acute STEMI. However, there is room for improvement, especially in reducing prehospital delay.
Reliable high-throughput microbial pathogen identification in human urine samples is crucial for patients with cystitis symptoms. Currently employed methods are time-consuming and could lead to ...unnecessary or inadequate antibiotic treatment. Purpose of this study was to assess the potential of mass spectrometry for uropathogen identification from a native urine sample.
In total, 16 urine samples having more than 10
CFU/mL were collected from clinical outpatients. These samples were analysed using standard urine culture methods, followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing serving as control and here described culture-independent MALDI-TOF/TOF MS method being tested.
Here we present advantages and disadvantages of bottom-up proteomics, using MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry, for culture-independent identification of uropathogens (e.g. directly from urine samples). The direct approach provided reliable identification of bacteria at the genus level in monobacterial samples. Taxonomic identifications obtained by proteomics were compared both to standard urine culture test used in clinics and genomic test based on 16S rRNA sequencing.
Our findings indicate that mass spectrometry has great potential as a reliable high-throughput tool for microbial pathogen identification in human urine samples. In this case, the MALDI-TOF/TOF, was used as an analytical tool for the determination of bacteria in urine samples, and the results obtained emphasize high importance of storage conditions and sample preparation method impacting reliability of MS2 data analysis. The proposed method is simple enough to be utilized in existing clinical settings and is highly suitable for suspected single organism infectious etiologies. Further research is required in order to identify pathogens in polymicrobial urine samples.
Although anatomical properties and vessel variations of the celiac trunk are well explored in the literature, there is not so much information on the arterial diameters, and this data is important ...for surgical procedures and angiographic examinations. The aim of this study was to investigate properties of the celiac trunk in humans by using anatomical dissection. Ninety cadavers were dissected for the celiac trunk identification and arterial diameter measurements. The results of anatomical examination showed that in 72% of all cases the celiac trunk divides into the splenic artery and the common hepatic artery, while the left gastric artery arises as a first branch and had origin between aorta, all over the celiac trunk up to a bifurcation. From the 90 cadavers, 4 presented anatomical variations. Where normal anatomy was present, the mean length of the celiac trunk was 1.9 +/- 0.08 cm and its mean arterial diameter was 0.78 +/- 0.08 cm. The splenic artery had the largest diameter (0.61 +/- 0.05 cm) and the left gastric artery had the smallest diameter (0.38 +/- 0.03 cm). Our data represent original results about anatomical variations and arterial diameter of the celiac trunk and its main branches provided by anatomical dissection.
The aim of this study was to compare for the first time IL-6 (Interleukin 6), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E) levels, their ratio (E/T), micronucleus (MN), and nuclear bridge (NB) frequency ...between newborns with regard to their mother's residency and diet. Our results should enable an assessment of the possible environmental endocrine effects and interaction between biomarkers, pointing to possible associated health risks.
Fifty full-term newborns of both sexes, whose mothers were healthy and not occupationally exposed to any known carcinogen, were analyzed. All of the mothers filled in a detailed questionnaire.
The results showed significantly higher levels of E in newborns of mothers with agricultural residency than those born by mothers with urban residency. Significantly, lower levels of E were measured in newborns of mothers who drank milk and carbonated beverages more frequently. Testosterone was significantly higher in boys of mothers with agricultural residency than from mothers with urban residency. Residence and other parameters had no impact on the difference in MN frequency. IL-6 levels were higher in newborns of mothers with agricultural residency. NB levels were significantly associated with E. A significant association between E levels and IL-6 was found.
Our results were the first to show a significant impact of the mother's agricultural residency and diet on their newborns' sex hormone and IL-6 levels and their association.
Samples were collected from sea sediments at seven sites in the northern Adriatic Sea that included six sites next to industrial complexes and one from a tourist site (recreational beach). The ...samples were assayed for alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The composition of the hydrocarbon samples suggested that industrial pollution was present in most cases. A sample from one site was also grown aerobically under crude oil enrichment in order to evaluate the response of indigenous bacterial populations to crude oil exposure. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed varying microbial biodiversity depending on the level of pollution – ranging from low (200 detected genera) to high (1000+ genera) biodiversity, with lowest biodiversity observed in polluted samples. This indicated that there was considerable biodiversity in all sediment samples but it was severely restricted after exposure to crude oil selection pressure. Phylogenetic analysis of putative alkB genes showed high evolutionary diversity of the enzymes in the samples and suggested great potential for bioremediation and bioprospecting. The first systematic analysis of bacterial communities from sediments of the northern Adriatic Sea is presented, and it will provide a baseline assessment that may serve as a reference point for ecosystem changes and hydrocarbon degrading potential – a potential that could soon gain importance due to plans for oil exploitation in the area.
The clear cell variant urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder is very rare and unusual neoplasm defined histologically by clear cell pattern and glycogen-rich cytoplasm. Our case of clear cell ...carcinoma was diagnosed with immunohistochemistry stain. A 72-year-old man, presented with painless macroscopic hematuria in November 2007. Evaluation revealed papillary tumor in urinary bladder. A transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TUR-Bt) was performed. Histopatologic evaluation showed superficial transitional cell carcinoma and carcinoma in situ. On three month follow-up, a solitary pedunculated tumor was detected again in the left wall of the urinary bladder. A repeated transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (reTUR-Bt) was performed in February 2008. The pathological diagnosis was difficult due to diffuse clear cell appearance. Immunohistochemistry stain showed urothelial carcinoma and finally it was diagnosed as clear cell variant. Urothelial carcinoma has many variants that show a variety of appearances and characteristics. These should be well known for evaluation and optimal treatment.
Actinomycetes are a very important source of natural products for the pharmaceutical industry and other applications. Most of the strains belong to Streptomyces or related genera, partly because they ...are particularly amenable to growth in the laboratory and industrial fermenters. It is unlikely that chemical synthesis can fulfil the needs of the pharmaceutical industry for novel compounds so there is a continuing need to find novel natural products. An evolutionary perspective can help this process in several ways. Genome mining attempts to identify secondary metabolite biosynthetic clusters in DNA sequences, which are likely to produce interesting chemical entities. There are often technical problems in assembling the DNA sequences of large modular clusters in genome and metagenome projects, which can be overcome partially using information about the evolution of the domain sequences. Understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of modular clusters should allow simulation of evolutionary pathways in the laboratory to generate novel compounds.
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