Search

Introduction: Anaerobes are an important cause of infections but are often neglected. These infections can range from simple abscesses to life-threatening infections. The isolation of anaerobes is crucial for administering appropriate antibiotic therapy. Aim: To investigate the profile of anaerobes in various clinical samples, including deep-seated skin and tissue infections, aspirated body fluids, and tissue biopsies. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 100 samples at the Department of Microbiology, ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, from November 2019 to March 2021. Aspirations from deep-seated abscesses, body fluids, intraoperative samples, and tissue biopsies meeting the criteria for anaerobic culture were included. Simultaneous processing for the detection of aerobes was also performed. Anoxomat III anaerobic culture system was used to create an anaerobic environment. Robertson Cooked Meat (RCM) broth was used, and subculture was conducted on 10% Blood Agar (BA). Presumptive identification was performed using gram stain, catalase test (15% hydrogen peroxide), metronidazole disc (5 µg), special potency disc (vancomycin 5 µg, kanamycin 1000 µg, colistin 10 µg), and aerotolerance test. The Vitek 2 compact ID system was used for the final identification of anaerobes. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, IBM manufacturer, Chicago, USA, ver 21.0, was utilised. Results: The isolation rate of anaerobes was 17 (17%), with Bacteroides fragilis being the predominant organism (6; 35.29%), followed by Actinomyces (2; 11.76%), Clostridium (2; 11.76%), Peptostreptococcus (2; 11.76%), and Prevotella species (2; 11.76%). Isolation was observed from diverse anatomic sites, with pus aspirates constituting the majority of the isolates (9; 52.94%), followed by brain abscesses (3; 17.65%), liver abscesses, peritoneal fluid (2; 11.76%), and tonsillar abscess (1; 5.89%). Five (29.41%) infections were polymicrobial, while 12 (70.59%) were monomicrobial in nature. Conclusion: Anaerobes are emerging as an important causative agents in a variety of diverse and heterogeneous pyogenic infections. This study demonstrates their isolation from various infection sites. Therefore, routine anaerobic cultures should be conducted alongside aerobic cultures, and the importance of anaerobes in clinical infections should not be underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The continuous availability of open micropores is crucial for a successful microneedle (MN) drug delivery strategy. However, micropore lifetime depends on intrinsic skin functional and anatomical characteristics, which vary significantly at different anatomical sites. Objective: This pilot study explored if differences exist in micropore closure timeframes at 3 anatomical sites – upper arm, volar forearm, and abdomen. Methods: Healthy subjects (n = 35) self-identifying as Asian (n = 9), Bi-/multiracial (n = 2), Black (n = 9), Latino (n = 6), and White (n = 9) completed the study. The upper arm, volar forearm, and abdomen were treated with MNs; skin impedance and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured at baseline and post-MN to confirm micropore formation. Impedance was measured for 3 days to evaluate micropore lifetime. Measurements of L*, which quantifies the skin lightness/darkness, were made using a tristimulus colorimeter. Micropore lifetime was determined by comparing baseline and post-MN impedance measurements, and micropore closure half-life was predicted using mathematical modeling. Results: Post-MN increase in TEWL and decrease in impedance were significant (p < 0.05), confirming successful micropore formation at all anatomical sites. When data were analyzed according to subject self-identified racial/ethnic groups, the mean micropore closure time at the abdomen (63.09 ± 13.13 h) was longer than the upper arm (60.34 ± 14.69 h) and volar forearm (58.29 ± 16.76 h). The predicted micropore closure half-life at anatomical sites was the abdomen (25.86 ± 14.96 h) ≈ upper arm (23.69 ± 13.67 h) > volar forearm (20.2 ± 11.99 h). Differences were not statistically significant between groups. Objective categorization by L* showed that the darker skin may be associated with longer micropore closure time at the abdomen site. Conclusions: Our results suggest that anatomical site of application may not be a source of significant variability in micropore closure time. These findings may help reduce the number of physiological parameters that need to be explicitly considered when developing drug products to support MN-assisted drug delivery strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Facial skin exhibits unique biophysical properties, which are influenced by anatomical regions and genders. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the regional and gender differences in facial skin biophysical parameters among Chinese population. Materials and Methods: The 12 skin biophysical parameters at four distinct facial skin sites (forehead, cheek, canthus and chin) were measured in a normal population (n = 212) with 42 males and 141 females aged 18‐29 years living in Beijing. These parameters consisted of skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, sebum content, erythema/melanin indices, L*a*b* color, skin gloss and elasticity, all quantifying with non‐invasive instruments. Results: The results demonstrated that the characteristics of the facial skin were significantly different between the regions and genders. The forehead had weaker skin barrier function but secreted the most sebum content, while the cheek was the driest and brightest region on the face. The canthus was the most hydrated area and the chin displayed higher sebum secretion, darker skin color and less elastic. The females showed more hydrated, less oil, lighter and more elastic facial skin compared with males. Conclusion: This study indicates that the young Chinese facial skin significantly varies with face anatomical regions and differs between genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) report patient age, gender, and anatomical information on a large number of pediatric oral biopsies in the United States; and (2) highlight differences in recent pediatric oral lesions compared to past pediatric studies and an adult population.Methods: A total of 4,554 pediatric biopsies received over the past 13 years (2001-2015) were surveyed. Patient's age, gender, anatomical site of biopsy, and diagnosis were described under 10 diagnostic categories: (1) malignant neoplasm; (2) benign neoplasm; (3) infectious; (4) reactive; (5) precancerous; (6) developmental; (7) healthy tissue; (8) immune dysfunction; (9) physical trauma; and (10) other.Results: A gradual increase in the number of biopsies with age was noted. The most common diagnosis observed was mucocele, consisting of 28 percent of all biopsies. Biopsies across pathological categories were most commonly obtained from the mandible.Conclusions: Biopsies received from a pediatric population are largely reactive in nature. Compared to an adult population, the pediatric population has a significantly lower rate of malignant and precancerous lesions but a higher rate of developmental diagnosis. A diverse array of pathoses was seen in the gingiva and mandible, whereas palatal mucosa and the floor of the mouth exhibited more variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of using IMF content/ MS at the last rib to predict the corresponding fat attribute of loin chops at the 2nd last to the 7th last thoracic ribs and the mean of IMF content/ MS of the whole loin joint was investigated. Linear and quadratic regression, cross-validation analysis and analysis of variance were employed for the study. For either IMF or MS, linear and quadratic regression models had similar performance. The best mean correlation coefficients of calibration ( R c) of 0.91 and cross-validation ( R v) of 0.88 were obtained for linear regression model of IMF content of the whole loin, while R c of 0.90 and R v of 0.88 were obtained for quadratic regression model of MS of the whole loin. The results indicated that IMF content and MS at the last rib had great potential for the prediction of IMF content and MS at the other ribs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: AG200-15 Agile Patch (AP) is a novel 7-day contraceptive patch providing ethinyl estradiol (EE) exposure comparable to low-dose combination oral contraceptives. This study determined whether application of the AP to three different anatomical sites (lower abdomen, buttock and upper torso) influences the pharmacokinetic profile of EE and levonorgestrel (LNG). Study Design: In this open-label, three-period, crossover study, 24 subjects were randomized to one of six treatment sequences; each included application of patch to abdomen, buttock and upper torso, with the AP worn on one site for 7 days. After a 7-day washout, a new patch was applied to the next anatomical site. Multiple blood samples were collected up to 240 h after patch application. Results: For plasma EE levels, median time to maximum drug concentration (Tmax, 24–48 h) and mean maximum concentration (Cmax, 47.9–61.5 pg/mL) were similar among application sites. Compared with lower abdomen, EE exposure was higher (16%–30%) at buttock and upper torso (15%–22%). For plasma LNG levels, median Tmax (72–120 h) and mean Cmax (1436–1589 pg/mL) were similar across application sites. Compared with lower abdomen, LNG exposure was higher at buttock (1%–7%) and upper torso (16%–17%). No serious adverse events (AEs) or AE-related discontinuations occurred. The most common treatment-emergent AEs were nausea, application site pruritus and headache, with frequencies comparable across anatomical sites. Conclusions: Absorption from the abdomen was slightly lower versus other sites; however, exposure to EE and LNG for all sites was therapeutically equivalent. The AP was well tolerated at all three anatomical sites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has spread across countries and healthcare settings, with different clones occupying different ecological niches. It is crucial to understand the comparative epidemiology of MRSA clones between healthcare settings and independent factors associated with colonization of specific clones. We conducted annual cross-sectional surveillance studies in a network comprising an acute-care hospital and six closely-affiliated intermediate- and long-term care facilities in Singapore between June and July, 2014–2016; 5394 patients contributed 16 045 nasal, axillary and groin samples for culture and MRSA isolates for whole-genome sequencing. Multivariable multilevel multinomial regression models were constructed to assess independent factors associated with MRSA colonization. MRSA clonal complex (CC) 22 was more prevalent in the acute-care hospital (n = 256/493; 51.9%) and intermediate-care facilities (n = 348/634; 54.9%) than in long-term care (n = 88/351; 25.1%) facilities, with clones other than CC22 and CC45 being more prevalent in long-term care facilities (n = 144/351; 41.0%) (p < 0.001). Groin colonization with CC45 was six times that of nasal colonization (aOR 6.21, 95%CI 4.26–9.01). Prior MRSA carriage was associated with increased odds of current MRSA colonization in all settings, with a stronger association with CC22 (aOR 6.45, 95%CI 3.85–10.87) than CC45 (aOR 4.15, 95%CI 2.26–7.58). Colonization by MRSA clones differed between anatomical sites and across healthcare settings. With CC22 having a predilection for the nares and CC45 the groin, MRSA screening should include both sites. Prior MRSA carriage is a risk factor for colonization with predominant MRSA clones in the acute-care hospital and intermediate- and long-term care facilities. Contact precautions for prior MRSA carriers on admission to any healthcare facility could prevent intra- and inter-institutional MRSA transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]