Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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The prevalence of phage 80/81 Staphylococcus aureus strains, the pandemic strains that were dominant in the 1950s, had declined in the 1960s and 1970s. However, these strains have reemerged in some countries in recent years. This study investigated the antibacterial resistance, virulence, and the genetic backgrounds of CC30-MSSA isolates obtained from patients in three tertiary hospitals. ⋯ The current CC30-MSSA isolates share phenotypic and genotypic characteristics with the pandemic phage 80/81 isolates that were common in the 1950s and 1960s. Continued surveillance is recommended to keep abreast of the changing epidemiology of S. aureus causing healthcare and community-associated infections.
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While severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects lung tissue, it may cause direct or indirect damage to the cardiovascular system, and permanent damage may occur. Arterial stiffness is an early indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of our study was to establish the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the vascular system evaluated by transthoracic echocardiographic examination. ⋯ SARS-CoV-2 may cause reduced or impaired aortic elasticity parameters linked to impaired arterial wall function in COVID-19 survivors compared with controls.
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A multiplex gyrB PCR assay has been used to diagnose Acinetobacter baumannii. However, this assay has not been validated against the gold standard DNA-DNA hybridization assay, which is a laborious method. DNA-DNA hybridization assay is now replaced by whole genome sequence (WGS)-based methods. Two such methods are a k-mer-based search of sequence reads using the Kraken 2 program and average nucleotide identity (ANI). The objective was to validate the gyrB PCR assay with WGS-based methods. ⋯ The gyrB PCR assay is now validated for easy identification of A. baumannii in comparison with gold standard WGS-based assays.
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We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection and estimate viral shedding duration in respiratory specimens. ⋯ Predictors for prolonged RT-PCR positivity included increasing age, ARDS, and low white blood cell count. The findings of this study may aid in better understanding of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and molecular testing dynamics.
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Although acetaminophen is one of the most widely used over-the-counter drugs, the mechanisms by which this classical drug exerts analgesic, hepatotoxic, and nephrotoxic effects remain unclear. We hypothesized that acetaminophen might act on cellular membranes of nerves, liver, and kidneys. In order to verify this hypothesis, we studied the interactivity of acetaminophen with biomimetic lipid bilayer membranes by comparing with structurally related phenacetin. ⋯ In comparison with phenacetin, lipid composition-dependent membrane interactivity of acetaminophen could be related to nephrotoxicity but not to analgesic activity and hepatotoxicity.