Search

Abstract Understanding the behaviour of active catalyst sites at the atomic level is crucial for optimizing catalytic performance. Here, the evolution of Pt and Cu dopants in Au25 clusters on CeO2 supports is investigated in the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction, using operando XAFS and DRIFTS. Different behaviour is observed for the Cu and Pt dopants during the pretreatment and reaction. The Cu migrates and builds clusters on the support, whereas the Pt creates single-atom active sites on the surface of the cluster, leading to better performance. Doping with both metals induces strong interactions and pretreatment and reaction conditions lead to the growth of the Au clusters, thereby affecting their catalytic behaviour. This highlights importance of understanding the behaviour of atoms at different stages of catalyst evolution. These insights into the atomic dynamics at the different stages are crucial for the precise optimisation of catalysts, which ultimately enables improved catalytic performance.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the world’s second most common bacterial infection, behind respiratory tract infections, affecting people of all ages worldwide. It is the most common bacterial infection among females. The present study aimed to determine the local bacterial species distribution of UTI isolates between males and females in the Peja region. Methods and Results: This cohort longitudinal, prospective-retrospective study was conducted in the microbiological laboratories of Peja region, Kosovo. The research includes all urine samples tested for gram-negative bacteria during three years, 2018-2020. The comparison of male and female samples in terms of the type of bacteria isolated showed that the urinary infection in female patients was caused by E. coli, significantly more often than in male patients (86.31% vs. 62.87%, P=0.0000), while in the samples from male patients, Klebsiella spp. (12.05% vs. 3.68%, P=0.0000), P. aeruginosa (7.49% vs. 1.59%, P=0.0000), and Acinetobacter spp. (7.82% vs. 1.59%, P=0.0000), were detected significantly more often than female isolates. The prevalence of Proteus spp. was similar in male and female isolates (6.19% vs. 5.03%, P=0.3926). The results of the statistical analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the resistance of E. coli to the analyzed antibiotics depending on the gender of the patients. E. coli showed significantly higher resistance in male patients than in female patients to 12 of the 13 antibiotics that were used: ampicillin, amikacin, gentamicin, cefalexin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ofloxacin, imipenem, piperacillin, nitrofurantoin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. In both genders, E. coli showed the lowest resistance to imipenem and the highest resistance to ampicillin. Conclusion: Not only does the prevalence of uropathogens gram-negative bacteria differ by gender (greater frequency among women) but their antibiotic resistance also differs by gender (higher resistance among male patients).

Background: Urinary tract infections are the most frequent bacterial infections, causing significant morbidity at a high cost of effectiveness. The main purpose of the research was to determine the prevalence and the resistance of gram-negative bacteria in urine samples in the Peja region. Methods and Results: This cohort longitudinal, prospective-retrospective study was conducted in the microbiological laboratories of the regional hospital in Peja and the Regional Centre of Public Health in Peja. The research includes all urine samples tested for gram-negative bacteria from 2018 to 2020. A total of 12,791 urine samples were analyzed in the study, of which 2316 (18.11%) were positive for the growth of gram-negative pathogenic strains, and 10,479 (81.89%) were negative. The most frequently isolated bacteria were E. coli (83.2%), followed by Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Acinetobacter spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.18%, 4.79%, 2.42% and 2.37% respectively). From the data of our research, we can conclude that E. coli, Proteus spp, and Klebsiella spp. were the three commonly isolated microorganisms in the Peja region. A trend of increased resistance of E. coli to ampicillin was registered from 37.41% in 2018 to 65.58% in 2020; to tobramycin - from 3.68% in 2018 to 5.97% in 2020; to cefalexin from 29.41% in 2018 to 31.09% in 2020; to cefuroxime from 23.7% in 2018 to 28.99% in 2020; to cefotaxime from 21.32% in 2018 to 27.94% in 2020; ceftazidime from 18.84% in 2018 to 27.54% in 2020; to piperacillin from 28.73% in 2018 to 34.97% in 2020; to nitrofurantoin from 5.98% in 2018 to 8.21% in 2020; and to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole from 35.56% in 2018 to 42.77% in 2020. In the analyzed period, a trend of the increased resistance of Proteus spp. to ampicillin was registered from 31.43% in 2018 to 81.25% in 2020 and to imipenem from 4.76% in 2018 to 12% in 2020. The resistance rates of Klebsiella spp. strains isolated in 2020 (100% to ampicillin, 5% to amikacin, 38.46% to ofloxacin, 8.7% to imipenem, 33.33% to nitrofurantoin) were higher than those reported in 2018 (87.5%, 2.94%, 34.62%, 6.25%, and 28.21%, respectively). Conclusion: Data from this study can be used to control antibiotic susceptibility trends, create local antibiotic policies, and help clinicians in the rational choice of antibiotic therapy, thereby preventing indiscriminate antibiotic use.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy between ozone gas and 1% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel in the incidence of dry socket after surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars. Material and Methods Overall, 30 patients of both genders were included in the study, with indication of surgical extraction of lower third molar, positioned similarly after being clinically and radiographically checked by X‐ray and orthopantomography. Each patient was subjected to both groups in separate sessions: treated with ozone gas and with CHX gel 1%. Data on pain intensity, number of taken analgesics‐painkillers, and dry socket were recorded for 48 h and at Day 7. Results Ozone gas and CHX gel effectively reduced pain intensity and prevented dry socket. The number of taken analgesics 48 h and 7 days after surgery showed no statistical significance. The same was observed for the distribution of pain. Only one patient reported the occurrence of dry socket 7 days after the surgical extraction. Conclusions Ozone gas and CHX 1% gel are both efficient in decreasing postoperative symptoms and incidence rates of dry socket, but in comparison to each other, the use of ozone gas is showing a bit better prevention capability.

Abstract Objectives The extraction of a tooth exacerbates the stress in diabetic patients leading to diabetic complications so the aim was to evaluate the changes in blood cortisol, glucose, and oxygen saturation in type 2 diabetic patients during tooth extraction to pay special attention during a routine surgical procedure. Materials and Methods The research included 40 patients with type 2 diabetes with indications of tooth extraction. They were divided into two subgroups by 20 participants and split according to local anesthesia (lidocaine with additional adrenaline or lidocaine only). Cortisol, blood sugar, blood pressure, arterial pulse, and blood oxygen saturation were measured. Patients were also evaluated for their sensitivity to pain through the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results Cortisol and glucose levels scientifically increased throughout the procedure. Meanwhile, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure and saturation showed no difference between the measurements during and after tooth extraction (p = .280; p = .090; p = .590, respectively). Most patients (60.0%) felt no pain during/after the procedure. None of the subjects was feeling more pain than 30 points by VAS. The comparison between groups receiving lidocaine showed no statistical differences when adding adrenaline to lidocaine. Evaluation of pain by VAS showed that more patients felt pain when they were receiving lidocaine without adrenaline. Conclusions Diabetic patients require a more cautious approach when undergoing teeth extractions despite it being a routine procedure.

Understanding the behaviour of active catalyst sites at the atomic level is crucial for optimizing catalytic performance. Here, the evolution of Pt and Cu dopants in Au25 clusters on CeO2 supports is investigated in the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction, using operando XAFS and DRIFTS. Different behaviour is observed for the Cu and Pt dopants during the pretreatment and reaction. The Cu migrates and builds clusters on the support, whereas the Pt creates single-atom active sites on the surface of the cluster, leading to better performance. Doping with both metals induces strong interactions and pretreatment and reaction conditions lead to the growth of the Au clusters, thereby affecting their catalytic behaviour. This highlights importance of understanding the behaviour of atoms at different stages of catalyst evolution. These insights into the atomic dynamics at the different stages are crucial for the precise optimisation of catalysts, which ultimately enables improved catalytic performance. Understanding the atomic dynamics of active catalyst sites is crucial for the precise optimization of catalyst performance. Here, the authors employ operando XAFS and DRIFTS to study the dynamics of the mobility of platinum and copper dopants in bimetallic and trimetallic gold nanoclusters supported on ceria, using the water-gas shift process as a model reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to detect lower lip squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) that had metastasized to the lymph nodes and to evaluate if neck dissection was necessary for patients with T1 or T2-stage lip cancer after a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The study was conducted as a prospective clinical study to detect occult neck metastases in patients with T1 or T2 stage SCC of the lower lip. Thirty-one patients were eligible and underwent echo-ultrasound, computer tomography, magnetic resonance and lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) as diagnostic procedures. LSG was performed on the same day as the surgical procedure, after intradermal injection of 37 Mbq Tc99m-Sn-colloid/mL at four peritumoral sites. In patients with positive LSG results, the sentinel lymph nodes were extracted surgically. The risk factors for cancer development were sun exposure and smoking. The highest accuracy for detecting lymph node enlargements was achieved with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; 80.7%). LSG showed excellent sensitivity (100%) and negative predictive value (NPV; 100%). Overall, occult metastases were diagnosed with an SLNB in eight (25.8%) patients. According to the results, with great caution, we suggest that an SLNB is reasonable to initiate only for patients with positive sentinel nodes by positive LSG, to be used as a lower morbidity approach for selected patients with T1 and T2 stage cancers.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy between ozone gas and 1% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel in the incidence of dry socket after surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars. Material and Methods: Overall, 30 patients of both genders were included in the study, with indication of surgical extraction of lower third molar, positioned similarly after being clinically and radiographically checked by X-ray and orthopantomography. Each patient was subjected to both groups in separate sessions: treated with ozone gas and with CHX gel 1%. Data on pain intensity, number of taken analgesicspainkillers, and dry socket were recorded for 48 h and at Day 7. Results: Ozone gas and CHX gel effectively reduced pain intensity and prevented dry socket. The number of taken analgesics 48 h and 7 days after surgery showed no statistical significance. The same was observed for the distribution of pain. Only one patient reported the occurrence of dry socket 7 days after the surgical extraction. Conclusions: Ozone gas and CHX 1% gel are both efficient in decreasing postoperative symptoms and incidence rates of dry socket, but in comparison to each other, the use of ozone gas is showing a bit better prevention capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer accounts for approximately 1% of total cancer cases in developed countries. The aim of this study has been to analyze the histopathological variants of thyroid tumours with regard to gender and age. Despite their relative rarity in our material, they exhibit a wide range of morphological patterns and biological behaviour During the period from 2001-2007, 138 biopsy cases of thyroid tumours, which were fixed in buffered neutral formalin and embedded in paraffin, have been reviewed. Tissue sections ^m thick) were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Follicular adenomas have been found in 39, 1% of cases, thyroid carcinomas in 60, 12%, whereas thyroid secondary carcinomas have been found in 0, 72% of cases. As far as histological variants of thyroid carcinomas are concerned, most frequently found were papillary carcinomas in 39,85% of cases; followed by follicular carcinomas in 9,42% of cases; follicular variants of papillary carcinomas in 5,79% of cases; medullary carcinomas in 3,62% of cases, while anaplastic and Hurthle cell carcinomas have been found in 0,72% of cases each. All histological variants of thyroid tumours occurred more frequently in women than in men. Papillary carcinoma has been found in 80% of female cases. Thyroid tumours in our material mainly occurred in the third, the fourth and the fifth decade of life. Our data indicate that apart from the fact that papillary carcinomas, well differentiated, and characterised by relatively good prognosis, were most frequent variants, certain morphological variants of it were associated with poor prognosis.

After lung cancer colorectal cancer (Cc) is ranked the second, as a cause of cancer-related death. The purpose of this study was to analyze the Cc cases in our material with respect to all prognostic values including histological type and grade, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, and tumor border features. There were investigated 149 cases of resection specimen with colorectal cancer, which were fixed in buffered neutral formalin and embedded in paraffin. Tissue sections (4(µm thick) were cut and stained with H&E. Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological type found in 85,90% of cases, in 60,94% of males and 39,06% of females; squamous cell carcinoma in 7,38%, in 63,63% of males and 36,36% of females; mucinous carcinoma in 4,68%, in 57,15% of males and 42,85% of females; while adenosquamous carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and carcinoma in situ in 0,71% of cases each. Dukes' classification was used in order to define the depth of invasion. Dukes B was found in 68,45% of cases, whereas in 31,54% of cases Dukes C was found. As far as histological grading is concerned, Cc was mostly with moderate differentiation (75,16%) with neither vascular nor perineural invasion. Resection margins were in all cases free of tumor. Our data indicate that the pathologic features of the resection specimen constitute the most powerful predictors of postoperative outcome in Cc. Dukes' stage and degree of differentiation provide independent prognostic information in Cc. However, differentiation should be assessed by the worst pattern.

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Introduction Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder is a rather uncommon disease. We report a case of a neuroendocrine tumor that was located in the wall of the gallbladder and that extended into the liver. Case presentation A 52-year-old Caucasian woman presented with right-sided abdominal pain, ascites and jaundice. An MRI scan revealed a tumor mass located in the gallbladder wall and involving the liver. A partial hepatectomy and cholecystectomy were performed. Histology revealed a neuroendocrine tumor, which showed scattered Grimelius positive cells and immuno-expressed epithelial and endocrine markers. Our patient is undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Conclusion Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors need a multidisciplinary approach, involving immunohistochemistry and molecular-genetic techniques.

Abstract Introduction Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a diffuse proliferation of large neoplastic B lymphoid cells with a nuclear size equal to or exceeding the normal macrophage nuclei. We report a case of a clear cell variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving a lymph node in the neck, which was clinically suspected of being metastatic carcinoma. Case presentation A 39-year-old Caucasian ethnic Albanian man from Kosovo presented with a rapidly enlarging lymph node in his neck, but he also disclosed B symptoms and fatigue. A cytological aspirate of the lymph node revealed pleomorphic features. Our patient underwent a cervical lymph node biopsy (large excision). The mass was homogeneously fish-flesh, pale white tissue replacing almost the whole structure of the lymph node. The lymph node biopsy showed a partial alveolar growth pattern, which raised clinical suspicion that it was an epithelial neoplasm. With regard to morphological and phenotypic features, we discovered large nodules in diffuse areas, comprising large cells with slightly irregular nuclei and clear cytoplasm admixed with a few mononuclear cells. In these areas, there was high mitotic activity, and in some areas there were macrophages with tangible bodies. Staining for cytokeratins was negative. These areas had the following phenotypes: cluster designation marker 20 (CD20) positive, B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2-positive, Bcl-6-, CD5-, CD3-, CD21+ (in alveolar patterns), prostate-specific antigen-negative, human melanoma black marker 45-negative, melanoma marker-negative, cytokeratin-7-negative and multiple myeloma marker 1-positive in about 30% of cells, and exhibited a high proliferation index marker (Ki-67, 80%). Conclusion According to the immunohistochemical findings, we concluded that this patient has a clear cell variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of activated cell type, post-germinal center cell origin. Our patient is undergoing R-CHOP chemotherapy treatment.