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Abstract Conjugated polymers are promising tools to differentiate various types of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs). However, their synthesis is challenging. Insufficient control over molecular weights, and unpredictive/unrepeatable batches hinder possible applications and scale-up. Furthermore, commercial homogeneous catalysts often require inert conditions and are almost impossible to recycle. To overcome these problems, we present a nanocatalyst consisting of magnetic nickel nanowires decorated with highly active palladium nanoparticles. A two-step wet chemical reduction protocol with the assistance of sonochemistry was employed to obtain a heterogeneous catalyst capable of conducting step-growth Suzuki polycondensation of a fluorene-based monomer. Additionally, we enhanced the performance of our catalytic system via controlled microwave irradiation, which significantly shortened the reaction time from 3 d to only 1 h. We studied the influence of the main process parameters on the yield and polymer chain length to gain insight into phenomena occurring in the presence of metallic species under microwave irradiation. Finally, the produced polymers were used to extract specific s-SWCNTs by conjugated polymer extraction to validate their utility.

Steroid resistance is a common condition occurring in children with nephrotic syndrome. Until now, over 50 genes involved in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) pathogenesis have been identified, among which the most prevalent are NPHS1, NPHS2, CD2AP, and PTPRO. The patterns of inheritance of SRNS are autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, or mitochondrial, and tissues of those patients show focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) signs in histopathological image analysis. We present a case of a 6-year-old girl who was admitted to the pediatric nephrology department due to nephrotic range proteinuria and edema of the lower leg. We started therapy with prednisone at a dose of 45 mg (60 mg/m 2 ), enalapril as a nephroprotection, and antihistamines as an additional treatment. During in-patient treatment, we detected increased blood pressure. Due to persistent proteinuria in spite of 6-week treatment with steroids at the maximal dose, we confirmed disease resistance to steroids. Additionally, FSGS signs were confirmed in kidney biopsy samples. After genetic screening for SRNS and detection of the rare gene mutation NUP93 we reduced prednisone but maintained nephroprotective treatment and administered cyclosporin A. The girl remains currently under the care of nephrologists with normal arterial blood pressure, trace proteinuria in follow-up examination, and normal kidney function. NUP93 mutation is extremely rare; therefore few cases have been described to date. The onset of the symptoms in all pediatric patients appeared before the age of 8 and they developed end stage kidney disease (ESKD). They might manifest symptoms from the other systems.

Every year, ulcerative dermal necrosis (UDN) affects salmonids that spend most of their lives in the sea during their migration to the rivers of northern Poland to spawn. The clinical form of the disease manifests itself in ulcerative skin lesions, which lead to significant weakening of the fish and, in most cases, result in their death. This study was carried out on samples taken from sea trout in the Słupia River in northern Poland. In order to identify the pathogen, experiments on the transmission of the disease were carried out, and additional histopathological, microbiological and electron microscopic examinations were performed. As a result of these studies, it was possible to experimentally transfer the disease from sick to healthy fish. The results indicate a complex etiology of the disease (lack of a clearly defined pathogen), in which the change in the environment from salty to freshwater triggers the related changes in skin physiology, which are the main causes of increased susceptibility to the development of the disease.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare condition characterized by the development of aseptic, non-healing skin ulcers. Any skin trauma, such as a surgical incision, can trigger an outbreak of lesions. Our case and literature review show that a physician should consider PG in every event of a non-healing, aseptic wound after surgery. The treatment of PG requires collaboration within a multidisciplinary team and immunosuppressive therapy is the first line of treatment, while surgical interventions should be avoided in the active stage of PG.

Introduction Allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a major treatment for many haematological malignancies. The procedure has a good success rate but high transplant-related toxicity (TRM). TRM is mostly related to graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and infectious complications. Alterations of the intestinal microbiota plays a major role in the development of allo-HSCT complications. The gut microbiota could be restored by faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). However, there are no published randomised studies assessing the efficacy of FMT for GvHD prophylaxis.Methods and analysis This prospective, open-label, multi-centre, parallel-group, randomised phase-II clinical trial has been designed to assess the effect of FMT on toxicity in patients treated with myeloablative allo-HSCT for haematological malignancy. Based on Fleming’s single-stage sample size estimation procedure, the design plans to include 60 male and female patients aged 18 or over per arm, to be randomly assigned to two groups, one with and one without (control group) FMT. The primary endpoint is GvHD-free relapse-free survival rate at 1 year after allo-HSCT. Secondary endpoints are outcome measures of the impact of FMT on allo-HSCT-related morbidity and mortality (overall survival and progression-free survival at 1 and 2 years, haematological parameters, infectious complications, tolerance and safety of FMT). The primary endpoint will be evaluated according to assumptions of the single-stage Fleming design, compared between groups by a log-rank test and further investigated in a multivariate marginal structural Cox model taking into account centre effect. The proportional-hazard hypothesis will be verified using Schoenfeld’s test and by plotting residuals.Ethics and dissemination The local institutional review board (CPP Sud-Est II, France) issued approval on 27 January 2021. The French national authorities issued approval on 15 April 2021. The outcome of the study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and at congresses.Trial registration number NCT04935684.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis is the most common systemic vasculitis in the pediatric population. We present the case of a patient with IgA vasculitis with nephritis who developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In the literature, there are a few cases of IgA nephropathy accompanied by reactivation of CMV or tuberculosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of IgA vasculitis complicated by both CMV reactivation and tuberculosis. It is important to detect infections in patients with IgA vasculitis because they can induce and exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. Effective antimicrobial treatment facilitates the management of proteinuria and slows down the decline of renal function. Immunosuppressive therapy is a risk factor for reactivation of latent infections and makes patients more susceptible to its generalized and complicated course. This can be prevented by actively screening for hidden sites of infection.

Abstract Background In recent years, we have seen the incorporation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) simulators into radiotherapy centres and the emergence of the new technology of MR linacs. However, the significant health care resources associated with this advanced technology impact immediate widespread use and availability. There are currently limited studies to demonstrate the clinical effectiveness and inform decision-making on the use of MRI in radiotherapy. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and map the existing evidence surrounding the clinical implementation of MRI-guided radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer. It also aims to identify challenges and knowledge gaps in the literature. Methods We will perform a comprehensive search in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from January 2010 onwards. Grey literature sources will include the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We will include systematic reviews, randomised and non-randomised controlled studies published in English. Literature should examine the use of magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiotherapy in adults with breast cancer, regardless of cancer stage or severity. Two reviewers will independently screen all titles, abstracts and full-text reports. Data will be extracted and summarised using qualitative (e.g. content and thematic analysis) methods and presented in tables. Discussion The results from this review will consolidate the evidence surrounding MRI-guided radiotherapy for breast cancer, contributing to the development and optimisation of patient selection, simulation, planning, treatment delivery, quality assurance and research, to help improve patient outcomes, cancer care and treatment for women with breast cancer. Systematic review registration The protocol is available on Open Science Framework at DOI https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8TEV6

Wstęp Samoocena jednostki jest czynnikiem mającym kluczowe znaczenie dla rozwoju psychospołecznego. Otyłość stanowi ważny problem dzisiejszej medycyny, jej coraz częstsze występowanie czyni z niej chorobę cywilizacyjną. Do oceny odżywienia stosowany jest wskaźnik masy ciała (BMI – Body Mass Index) – gdy jego wartość wynosi 30 i więcej mamy do czynienia z otyłością. Kluczowym elementem kontroli masy ciała, polepszającym stan zdrowia jest aktywność fizyczna. Jest ona jednym z najskuteczniejszych sposobów zapobiegania chorobom układu krążenia i psychicznego oraz poprawy sprawności fizycznej. Regularny wysiłek zmniejsza czynniki ryzyka wielu chorób, takich jak nadciśnienie tętnicze, cukrzyca i otyłość. Cel pracy Celem pracy była ocena samooceny masy ciała, stanu odżywienia jak również porównanie tych parametrów pomiędzy kobietami i mężczyznami w wieku rozrodczym. Materiały i metody W badaniu wzięło udział 406, jednak ostatecznie badanie oparto o dane pozyskane od 400 osób, w tym 194 kobiet i 206 mężczyzn. Uzyskane za pomocą kwestionariusza autorskiego dane poddano analizie statystycznej w programie Statistica. Wyniki i wnioski Większość respondentów zarówno wśród kobiet, jak i mężczyzn to mieszkańcy obszarów wiejskich poniżej 20 roku życia. Subiektywna ocena masy ciała wpływa na niektóre elementy stylu życia, przyczyniając się do nadwagi i otyłości, ale także anoreksji i innych zaburzeń powodujących zbyt niską wagę. Wprowadzenie skutecznych programów edukacyjnych promujących aktywne formy spędzania czasu wolnego i zdrowe nawyki żywieniowe może powstrzymać epidemie otyłości.

Wstęp Zaburzenia psychiczne stanowią częsty problem kobiet w okresie połogu. Baby blues jest bezpośrednim stanem alarmowym i zagrożeniem dla matki. Może rozwinąć się w rzeczywistą depresję czy psychozę poporodową. Za patogenezę tego zjawiska uznawane są zmiany hormonalne związane ze spadkiem poziomu estradiolu, progesteronu i prolaktyny po porodzie. Przygnębienie poporodowe jest zaburzeniem samoograniczającym się i przejściowym. Nie powinno być jednak lekceważone. Najważniejsze jest wczesne rozpoznanie objawów i interwencja. Cel pracy Celem pracy była ocena wiedzy studentów na temat zjawiska baby blues oraz wpływu czynników takich jak miejsce zamieszkania czy poziom wykształcenia na stan wiedzy. Materiał i metody Badaniem zostało objętych 318 studentów medycyny UJK. Dane zostały zebrane za pomocą kwestionariusza autorskiego. Komisja Bioetyczna zatwierdziła badanie. Analiza statystyczna przeprowadzona została za pomocą programu komputerowego Statistica 13. Wyniki i wnioski Największy odsetek respondentów mieści się w grupie wiekowej 20-30 lat. Najbardziej liczną grupę stanowią mieszkańcy miast. Średni poziom wiedzy respondentów na temat baby blues wynosi 75%. Najczęściej wskazywanym źródłem wiedzy są Internet oraz programy telewizyjne. Ważne jest uświadomienie pacjentom w jaki sposób dobierać rzetelne źródło informacji. Edukacja prozdrowotna ma kluczowe znaczenie dla przyszłych rodziców. Może przekładać się na zmniejszenie poziomu stresu związanego z nową sytuacją jaka jest posiadanie potomstwa.

BackgroundThe ratio of the second finger length to the fourth finger length (2D:4D ratio) is considered to be negatively correlated with prenatal androgen exposure (PAE) and positively correlated with prenatal estrogen. Coincidentally, various brain regions are sensitive to PAE, and their functions in adults may be influenced by the prenatal actions of sex hormones. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the relationship between PAE (indicated by the 2D:4D ratio) and various physiological (sex hormone levels and sleep-wake parameters), psychological (mental health), and sexual parameters in healthy young adults. MethodsThis study consists of two phases. In phase 1, we will conduct a survey-based study and anthropometric assessments (including 2D:4D ratio and BMI) in healthy young adults. Using validated questionnaires, we will collect self-reported data on sleep quality, sexual function, sleep chronotype, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. In phase 2, a subsample of phase 1 will undergo polysomnography and physiological and genetic assessments. Sleep architecture data will be obtained using portable polysomnography. The levels of testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, melatonin, and circadian regulatory proteins (circadian locomotor output cycles kaput [CLOCK], timeless [TIM], and period [PER]) and the expression levels of some miRNAs will be measured using blood samples. The rest and activity cycle will be monitored using actigraphy for a 7-day period. ResultsIn Poland, 720 participants were recruited for phase 1. Among these, 140 completed anthropometric measurements. In addition, 25 participants joined and completed phase 2 data collection. Recruitment from other sites will follow. ConclusionsFindings from our study may help to better understand the plausible role of PAE in sleep physiology, mental health, and sexual quality of life in young adults. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/29199

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is an important pathogen affecting cattle, causing various diseases including pneumonia which mainly occurring in calves. Control of M. bovis infections is difficult due to the lack of commercial vaccines in most parts of the world and increasing trends of antimicrobial resistance in field isolates of the pathogen; therefore, it seems reasonable to look for new solutions for the prevention of the infection. Pegbovigrastim is a pegylated form of naturally occurring circulating cytokine in cattle that affects bovine leukocytes and some cell functions. Most studies on pegbovigrastim have focused on reducing the occurrence of mastitis and other diseases occurring during the periparturient period in cows, while this study attempts to use pegbovigrastim in the prevention of respiratory diseases in calves, which are largely caused by M. bovis. Based on previous observations on the immunostimulatory properties of pegbovigrastim in cattle, for the first time, the effect of its injection on the number and phagocytic and oxidative burst activities of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in calves experimentally infected with M. bovis was investigated. Pegbovigrastim administration in the calves significantly stimulated an increase in peripheral blood granulocyte and monocyte counts and phagocytic activity of the cells, especially granulocytes, which was also generally expressed in the course of M. bovis infection. In response to pegbovigrastim administration, a general increase in the oxygen burst activity of the cells was observed. This effect was also shown despite ongoing infection with M. bovis which, taken together, may indicate a beneficial effect of pegbovigrastim injection on the immunity of the affected animals.

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) often occurs in an aquatic environment in co-infection with other viruses. In this study, we wanted to investigate the effect of this virus on the course of co-infection with other viruses in rainbow trout. For co-infection we used viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and salmonid alphavirus (SAV) field strains and infected rainbow trout divided into eight groups; I; IPNV, II; IHNV, III; VHSV, I; SAV, V; IPNV+IHNV, VI; IPNV+VHSV, VII; IPNV+SAV, and the control group. We assessed apoptosis in white blood cells and used a real time RT-PCR to analyze RNA obtained from the internal organs of the fish. During single infection and co-infection the level of expression of immune genes such as interferon and toll-like receptor 3 (TLR-3) was assessed. The highest mortality during the experiment was observed in group III infected by VHSV. The average percentage of apoptotic cells was higher in groups without co-infection, especially in groups II and III. Interferon expression was higher in singly infected groups, the highest being in the heart in group III, while expression of the TLR-3 gene was generally raised in all tested organs in all groups. We found that co-infection with IPNV had a positive impact on the course of infection with the viruses listed because it lowered mortality, reduced apoptosis in co-infected cells, and positively affected fish health.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of urinary collagen IV (Col IV) excretion for predicting the severity of autoimmune renal inflammation in children with HSN (Henoch-Schönlein nephritis). Material and methods: We studied 26 children, in whom HSN was diagnosed based on kidney biopsy. In all patients, urinalysis was performed and 24-hour urinary protein excretion was measured at the onset of the disease. All kidney biopsies were also scored using the Oxford classification: M – mesangial hypercellularity score (M0 absent, M1 present); E – presence of endocapillary proliferation (E0 absent, E1 present), S – segmental glomerulosclerosis/adhesion (S0 absent, S1 present), T – tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T0 ≤ 25%, T1 26-50%, T2 > 50%). The MEST score was calculated as the sum of M + E + S + T. Results: Urinary Col IV level was significantly higher in the study group than in control group. Urinary Col IV level was insignificantly higher in group A (nephrotic proteinuria) compared to the B (non-nephrotic proteinuria) and C (without proteinuria).We found no significant differences in the age at the disease onset, severity of proteinuria, and Col IV between groups 1 (S0, T0) and 2.(S1,T1/T2). The MEST score was significantly higher in group 2 than group 1. Conclusions: Urinary Col IV excretion in children with HSN may be related to the lesions severity by the Oxford classification but seems to be associated with the mean value (the MEST score). In younger children, a more aggressive disease course is observed, and thus earlier and more aggressive treatment should be considered in this group.

Introduction Burn care represents a healthcare and economic burden to patients internationally. Choice of the most clinically effective treatment strategies requires evidence which is best obtained through high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCT). The number of published RCTs of burn care is increasing. However, trial quality and reporting standards are unclear. This study will assess the risk of bias and adequacy of reporting in recent burn care RCTs using tools endorsed by the Cochrane Collaboration.Methods and analysis A systematic literature review will be undertaken, assessing parallel group RCTs evaluating therapeutic interventions for patients with cutaneous burns. Literature searches will use Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. Separate searches for each database will include medical subject heading and free text terms including ‘burn’, ‘scald’, ‘thermal injury’ and ‘RCT’. Two reviewers will independently assess each study for inclusion. Risk of bias (RoB) will be assessed with the revised tool (RoB 2) and reporting completeness with the CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 guidelines. We will report a narrative synthesis of all studies, including domain specific, and overall risk of bias for the primary outcome of each trial. Inter-rater agreement for RoB 2 will be reported using Fleiss’s Kappa. For adherence to the CONSORT guidelines, we will generate a completeness of reporting index for the five domains.Ethics and dissemination No ethics approval is required because published documents will be used. Findings of the study will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.PROSPERO registration number CRD42018111020.

Data other than that from clinical trials are important for healthcare decision making. However, unlike the vocal calls seen for more open access to trial data, there are limited efforts being made to ensure that agencies that collect real-world data (RWD) share this, despite its importance. There are many RWD sources across the world that could be readily exploited for research once shared. There are policy and privacy questions that need to be tackled, but opening up and sharing RWD offers remarkable potential for improvements in care for individuals and more effective use of limited healthcare resources. Open science should become the standard for RWD as well as clinical trials, especially those that have a high likelihood to influence practice.

Background Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) eye drops are a frequently used medication to treat Acanthamoeba keratitis. In the absence of marketed PHMB eye drops, pharmacy-compounding units are needed to prepare this much needed treatment, but the lack of validated PHMB stability data severely limits their conservation by imposing short expiration dates after preparation. In this study we aim to assess the physicochemical and microbiological stability of a 0.2 mg/mL PHMB eye drop formulation stored in two kinds of polyethylene bottles at two different temperatures. Methods A liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector stability-indicating method was validated to quantify PHMB, using a cyanopropyl bonded phase (Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-CN column 4.6 × 75 mm with particle size of 3.5 μm) and isocratic elution consisting of acetonitrile/deionized water (3/97 v/v) at a flow rate of 1.3 mL/min. PHMB eye drops stability was assessed for 90 days of storage at 5 and 25 °C in ethylene oxide sterilized low density polyethylene (EOS-LDPE) and gamma sterilized low density polyethylene (GS-LDPE) bottles. The following analyses were performed: visual inspection, PHMB quantification and breakdown products (BPs) screening, osmolality and pH measurements, and sterility assessment. PHMB quantification and BP screening was also performed on the drops emitted from the multidose eyedroppers to simulate in-use condition. Results The analytical method developed meets all the qualitative and quantitative criteria for validation with an acceptable accuracy and good linearity, and is stability indicating. During 90 days of storage, no significant decrease of PHMB concentration was found compared to initial concentration in all stored PHMB eye drops. However, BP were found at day 30 and at day 90 of monitoring in both kind of bottles, stored at 5 and 25 °C, respectively. Although no significant variation of osmolality was found and sterility was maintained during 90 days of monitoring, a significant decrease of pH in GS-LDPE PHMB eye drops was noticed reaching 4 and 4.6 at 25 °C and 5 °C respectively, compared to initial pH of 6.16. Discussion Although no significant decrease in PHMB concentration was found during 90 days of monitoring in all conditions, the appearance of BPs and their unknown toxicities let us believe that 0.2 mg/mL PHMB solution should be conserved for no longer than 60 days in EOS-LDPE bottles at 25 °C.

In order to understand the current state of data sharing in observational research studies, we reviewed data sharing statements of observational studies published in a general medical journal, the British Medical Journal. We found that the majority (63%) of observational studies published between 2015 and 2017 included a statement that implied that data used in the study could not be shared. If the findings of our exploratory study are confirmed, room for improvement in the sharing of real-world or observational research data exists.

Dextran is widely exploited in medical products and as a component of drug-delivering nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we tested whether dextran can serve as the main substrate of NPs and form a stable backbone. We tested dextrans with several molecular masses under several synthesis conditions to optimize NP stability. The analysis of the obtained nanoparticles showed that dextran NPs that were synthesized from 70 kDa dextran with a 5% degree of oxidation of the polysaccharide chain and 50% substitution with dodecylamine formed a NP backbone composed of modified dextran subunits, the mean diameter of which in an aqueous environment was around 100 nm. Dextran NPs could be stored in a dry state and reassembled in water. Moreover, we found that different chemical moieties (e.g., drugs such as doxorubicin) can be attached to the dextran NPs via a pH-dependent bond that allows release of the drug with lowering pH. We conclude that dextran NPs are a promising nano drug carrier.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common complex disorder, with new treatment options emerging each year. Social media is being increasingly used to investigate opinions about drugs, diseases and procedures. In this descriptive exploratory study, we sought to investigate opinions about currently available MS treatments. Methods: The Twitter resource Topsy was searched for tweets mentioning the following MS treatments: Aubagio, Avonex, Betaferon or Betaseron, Copaxone, Extavia, Gilenya, Lemtrada, Novantrone, Rebif, Tysabri and Tecfidera between 1 Jan 2006 to 31 Jul 2014. Tweets were normalised and sentiment analysis performed. Results: In total, there were 60037 unique tweets mentioning an MS treatment. About half of the tweets contained non-neutral sentiment. Mean sentiment scores were different for treatments ranging from -0.191to 0.282 when investigating all tweets. These differences in sentiment scores between treatments were statistically significant (P

Increased synthesis of Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) and HDL is believed to provide a new approach to treating atherosclerosis through the stimulation of reverse cholesterol transport. RVX-208 increases the production of ApoA-I in hepatocytes in vitro, and in vivo in monkeys and humans, which results in increased HDL-C, but the molecular target was not previously reported. Using binding assays and X-ray crystallography, we now show that RVX-208 selectively binds to bromodomains of the BET (Bromodomain and Extra Terminal) family, competing for a site bound by the endogenous ligand, acetylated lysine, and that this accounts for its pharmacological activity. siRNA experiments further suggest that induction of ApoA-I mRNA is mediated by BET family member BRD4. These data indicate that RVX-208 increases ApoA-I production through an epigenetic mechanism and suggests that BET inhibition may be a promising new approach to the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Neisseria meningitidis is a leading etiologic agent of severe invasive disease. The objective of the study was to characterise invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) epidemiology in Poland during the last decade, based on laboratory confirmed cases.The study encompassed all invasive meningococci collected between 2002 and 2011 in the National Reference Centre for Bacterial Meningitis. The isolates were re-identified and characterised by susceptibility testing, MLST analysis, porA and fetA sequencing. A PCR technique was used for meningococcal identification directly from clinical materials.In the period studied, 1936 cases of IMD were confirmed, including 75.6% identified by culture. Seven IMD outbreaks, affecting mostly adolescents, were reported; all were caused by serogroup C meningococci of ST-11. The highest incidence was observed among children under one year of age (15.71/100,000 in 2011). The general case fatality rate in the years 2010-2011 was 10.0%. Meningococci of serogroup B, C, Y and W-135 were responsible for 48.8%, 36.6%, 1.2% and 1.2% of cases, respectively. All isolates were susceptible to third generation cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and 84.2% were susceptible to penicillin. MLST analysis (2009-2011) revealed that among serogroup B isolates the most represented were clonal complexes (CC) ST-32CC, ST-18CC, ST-41/44CC, ST-213CC and ST-269CC, and among serogroup C: ST-103CC, ST-41/44CC and ST-11CC.The detection of IMD in Poland has changed over time, but observed increase in the incidence of the disease was mostly attributed to changes in the surveillance system including an expanded case definition and inclusion of data from non-culture diagnostics.

Clathrin interactor 1 [CLINT1] (also called enthoprotin/EpsinR) is an Epsin N-terminal homology (ENTH) domain-containing adaptor protein that functions in anterograde and retrograde clathrin-mediated trafficking between the trans-Golgi network and the endosome. Removal of both Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologs, Ent3p and Ent5p, result in yeast that are viable, but that display a cold-sensitive growth phenotype and mistrafficking of various vacuolar proteins. Similarly, either knock-down or overexpression of vertebrate CLINT1 in cell culture causes mistrafficking of proteins. Here, we have characterized Drosophila CLINT1, liquid-facets Related (lqfR). LqfR is ubiquitously expressed throughout development and is localized to the Golgi and endosome. Strong hypomorphic mutants generated by imprecise P-element excision exhibit extra macrochaetae, rough eyes and are female sterile. Although essentially no eggs are laid, the ovaries do contain late-stage egg chambers that exhibit abnormal morphology. Germline clones reveal that LqfR expression in the somatic follicle cells is sufficient to rescue the oogenesis defects. Clones of mutant lqfR follicle cells have a decreased cell size consistent with a downregulation of Akt1. We find that while total Akt1 levels are increased there is also a significant decrease in activated phosphorylated Akt1. Taken together, these results show that LqfR function is required to regulate follicle cell size and signaling during Drosophila oogenesis.