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It is necessary to know the resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus to better control diabetic foot ulcer infections, to establish rational antibiotic therapy, and to avoid the development of resistant strains. This cross-sectional study evaluated the clinical parameters, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of S aureus in patients with diabetic foot disease admitted to a public hospital. S aureus strains were identified in patients with diabetes with amputation indication. Infected tissue samples were collected, microbes were isolated and identified. The microbial resistance profile was determined. Samples were also analyzed for biofilm formation and other virulence markers. The 34 individuals examined were mostly men, black, aged 60 years on average, and generally had a low income and education level. Most individuals had type 2 diabetes, and the mean time since diagnosis was 13.9 years. On an SF-36 (the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey) quality-of-life questionnaire, 75% of individuals obtained a score equal to 0 for physical impairment. S aureus specimens from 17 patients were isolated, corresponding to 50% of samples. Five isolates were classified as methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). Molecular typing revealed that 20% of MRSA strains were SCC mec type V and 80% were type I. All isolates were sensitive to doxycycline; 61.5% were resistant to erythromycin, 38.5% to cefoxitin, 30.7% to clindamycin and ciprofloxacin, 23% to meropenem, 15.3% to gentamicin, 38.5% to oxacillin, and 7.7% (one strain) to vancomycin. Regarding biofilm production, 53% of samples were able to produce biofilms, and 84.6% had icaA and/or icaD genes. Additionally, the following enterotoxin genes were identified in the isolates: seb, sec, seg, and sei (5.9%, 5.9%, 11.8%, and 23.9%, respectively) and agr types 1 (5.9%) and 2 (11.8%). Genotypic evaluation made it possible to understand the pathogenicity of S aureus strains isolated from the diabetic foot; laboratory tests can assist in the monitoring of patients with systemic involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to synthesize the alloy Co62Nb32B6 through a wet-route mechanical alloying using a planetary ball mill. A disc rotation per minute and a ball/powder weight ratio of 350 rpm and 20:1 were used, with a grinding time of 15 h, respectively. The characterization of the Co62Nb32B6 alloy was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), examined by scanning electron microscope-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), thermoanalytical techniques (TGA/DTA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and confirmed by the BET method type IV isotherms with a hysteresis loop for mesoporous materials. The results indicated the evolution of the amorphous phase in the Co62Nb32B6 composition through the mechanical alloying process and exhibited good soft magnetic properties with the addition of the B metalloid element and their excellent unique ferromagnetic properties. Through thermoanalytical analysis (TGA/DTA), it was shown that at higher temperatures, oxidation with a significant increase in mass gain of 19.69% at 865 °C, probably due to the contribution of B in the evolution stability thermal and magnetic in the amorphous phase, respectively. This suggests that the newly developed high-performance amorphous alloy Co62Nb32B6 has great application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]