Multiple co-infections of rodents with hantaviruses, Leptospira, and Babesia in Croatia

Hantaviruses, Leptospira spp., and Babesia spp. are rodent-borne pathogens present worldwide. We studied multiple co-infections of small rodents in Croatia with all three pathogens. Twenty-eight Apodemus flavicollis and 16 Myodes glareolus were tested for the presence of hantavirus RNA by real-time RT-PCR, Leptospira strains by renoculture method and Babesia DNA by PCR. Anti-hantavirus antibodies and anti-Leptospira antibodies were detected by serological methods. Very high infection rates with each pathogen were found in A. flavicollis: 20 of 28 rodents (71%) were infected with Dobrava virus, 13 rodents (46%) were infected with Leptospira, and 5 rodents (18%) were infected with Babesia. Multiple co-infections with all three pathogens were found in 3 of 28 (11%) A. flavicollis animals, suggesting that the same rodent host can be infected with several pathogens at the same time. Dual infections with both hantaviruses and Leptospira were found in 7 of 44 rodents (16%), with hantaviruses and Babesia in 2 rodents (5%), and double infection with both Leptospira and Babesia were found in 1 rodent (2%). Since hantaviruses, Leptospira, and Babesia have similar geographical distributions, it is to be expected that in other parts of the world multiple co-infections, representing a serious threat to public health, can be found.     

Epizootiological survey of small mammals as Leptospira spp. reservoirs in Eastern Croatia

In this survey we investigated a population of small mammals in Eastern Croatia in order to determine Leptospira carriage rates and identify circulating serovars. Out of 67 trapped animals, 20 (29.9%) isolates were obtained. Identification of isolates using microscopic agglutination test, pulsed field gel electrophoresis and multi locus sequence typing revealed that 10 (50.0%) isolates belong to serogroup Pomona, serovar Mozdok, 6 (30.0%) isolates to serogroup Australis, serovar Jalna, 2 (10.0%) isolates to serogroup Sejroe, serovar Saxkoebing, and 1 (5.0%) isolate to serogroup Grippotyphosa, serovar Grippotyphosa. One isolate from serogroup Bataviae was unable to be identified to the serovar level. Amplification of a 331-bp region of the locus LA0322 using real-time polymerase chain reaction determined that 12 (60.0%) isolates belong to L. kirschneri, 6 (30.0%) isolates to L. interrogans, and 2 (10.0%) isolates to L. borgpetersenii. Leptospira carriage rate was high (29.9%), which corresponds to a high incidence of human and domestic animal leptospirosis in Eastern Croatia. Furthermore, 90.0% of the isolates belong to serogroups Pomona, Australis and Sejroe which are also the most prevalent serogroups in humans in this area. These findings suggest that small mammals might be an important source of Leptospira spp. infection in Eastern Croatia.     

Early and late effects of X-irradiation on submandibular gland: a morphological study in mice

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy for head and neck cancers causes permanent salivary gland dysfunction and xerostomia. The aim of this study was to determine changes in mice submandibular glands after X-irradiation. METHODS: The submandibular glands of male C57BL/6 mice were locally X-irradiated in the head and neck region with a single dose of 7.5 or 15 Gy and analyzed morphologically and morphometrically at 1, 3, 6, 10, 40, and 90 days after irradiation. RESULTS: Two phases of gland reaction to irradiation have been noted. The first, early phase is observed up to 10 days after irradiation. The second, late phase was observed 90 days after irradiation. Also, a dose-related effect was noticed. The most prominent morphological changes were pyknotic nuclei, vacuolization of acinar cells and lysis of acini and granular convoluted tubules. Changes were detected at 3 and 6 days after irradiation followed by tissue regeneration. Ninety days after irradiation, prominent pathological changes (vacuolization and pyknotic nuclei of acinar cells, lysis of acini and granular convoluted tubules and edema) were detected, but the most remarkable change was disseminated mononuclear infiltration. Also, a statistically significant reduction in number of acinar cells was detected in both irradiated glands. CONCLUSIONS: Occurrence of disseminated mononuclear infiltration in gland during late post-irradiation phase makes the mouse model potentially better than the rat model for investigation of irradiation-induced salivary gland damage.     

Risk factors for recurrence of pressure ulcers after defect reconstruction

Patients suffering from pressure ulcers remain to be a challenging task for nursing staff and doctors in the daily clinical management, putting—notably in the case of recurrences—additional strain on the constantly reduced resources in public healthcare. We aimed to assess the risk factors for the recurrence of pressure ulcers at our institution, a tertiary referral center. In this retrospective analysis of patients admitted to our division we identified risk factors for pressure ulcer recurrence. The hospital patient database search included all patients with a diagnosis of pressure ulcers of the torso and lower extremity. One hundred sixty‐three patients were diagnosed with pressure ulcers and 55 patients with 63 pressure ulcers met our inclusion criteria. The 17 recurrences (27%) had an average follow‐up of 728 days. Most presented with lesions of the ischial tuberosity (n=24). Recurrence was statistically associated with defect size (p = 0.013, Cox regression analysis), and serum albumin levels (p = 0.045, Spearman correlation), but no association was found for body mass index, bacterial profile, comorbidities, localization, previous surgery, or time‐to‐admission for reconstruction (all p > 0.05). Supported by the recent literature we identified factors like defect size to be associated with pressure ulcer recurrence, but not with time‐to admission for reconstruction or number of previous debridements. Whether laboratory values like serum albumin levels were the cause, the result or associated with pressure ulcer recurrence warrants further investigation.     

Vibrations produced during erbium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser irradiation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate vibrations induced by an erbium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Er:YAG) laser in the non-contact mode and compare the vibrations with different pulse durations and energy parameters. The experiment was conducted on an extracted tooth built up in silicone impression material. The vibrations were measured by piezoelectric accelerometer for a super-short pulse (SSP), a very short pulse (VSP), and a short pulse (SP) at a frequency of 5 Hz for 1 s. For VSP and SP, the energy parameters tested were 200 mJ, 300 mJ, and 400 mJ. Measurements were performed 15 times for each individual irradiation energy level. The highest values of vibrations were measured for SP (0.160 ± 0.04 m/s²), and the lowest were measured for VSP mode at the energy parameter 200 mJ (0.05 ± 0.02 m/s²). There was a statistically significant (P < 0.01) difference between the various laser pulse modes (SSP, VSP, SP) at different energy parameters. At energy levels of 300 mJ and 400 mJ, the least amount of vibration during cavity preparations with the non-contact Er:YAG laser was produced by SSP mode.     

Influence of haemodialysis on early markers of atherosclerosis

Introduction: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated by haemodialysis (HD) have impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and increased intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery The aim of the study was to analyse the relationships between parameters of chronic HD treatment and non-invasive assessments of preclinical atherosclerosis (endothelial dysfunction and carotid IMT) in ESRD patients on HD. Methods: Fifty-two (19 females, 33 males) adult patients on chronic maintenance (4.65 ± 3.29 years) HD aged 59.88 ± 15.49 years were investigated. Ultrasonographic studies were performed with a 7.5 MHz high-resolution probe. The common carotid artery IMT was measured. Brachial artery diameter was analysed to the rest. In order to assess flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), hyperaemia was induced by a pneumatic cuff, and an analysis of the diameter was performed 1, 2, 3 and 4 min after cuff deflation. Results: Significant differences were found in the average carotid IMT value between subjects with delivered dialysis dose (Kt/V) ≥1.2 and <1.2 (0.89 ± 0.21 vs 1.04 ± 0.11, P = 0.0045). A correlation between Kt/V and IMT (r = 0.366, P = 0.004) was demonstrated. FMD values of the brachial artery did not correlate with Kt/V. A correlation between low molecular weight heparin per kg of body mass and maximal percent of FMD was demonstrated (r = −0.242, P = 0.049). The maximal percent of brachial FMD was correlated with absolute difference between pre- and postdialysis pulse pressure values (r = −0.265, P = 0.033). In a partial correlation with haemoglobin as control, a variable significant correlation between total erythropoietin dose and maximal carotid IMT (r = −0.262, P = 0.036) was found. In a multiple linear regression model, Kt/V was independently correlated with carotid IMT values (β = −0.227, P = 0.0335). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the association between HD procedure and early atherosclerosis markers. HD treatment has to be considered as potential modifying factor in atherosclerosis development.     

Sedative and anticonvulsant effects of zolpidem in adult and aged mice

To evaluate the possible age-related differences in the behavioral effects of zolpidem, a widely used hypnotic, we compared the effects of zolpidem on the locomotor activity and on the seizure threshold for pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and picrotoxin (given by i.v. infusion) between adult (3 months) and aged (13 months) mice. Zolpidem (10 mg/kg) produced similar enhancements of the seizure threshold in adult and aged mice. The drug was more potent against PTZ- than against picrotoxin-induced seizures. Diazepam (1 mg/kg), which was taken for comparison, had a weaker effect on picrotoxin-induced tonic seizures in aged than in adult mice. Sedative effect of zolpidem (10 mg/kg), as assessed by its effect on the locomotor activity, was very strong in both groups of mice. The results suggest that sedative and antiseizure effects of zolpidem are not changed in aged mice.