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Clostridioides difficile is an anaerobic, spore-forming pathogen that causes serious toxin-mediated enteric disease in humans. In addition to antimicrobial resistance, biofilm and spore formation play key roles in the persistence of C. difficile in the gut, as well as in the transmission and relapse of the disease. In this study, the antimicrobial potential of dill seed essential oil on the planktonic growth of C. difficile clinical strains (isolated from stool specimens of hospitalized patients with diarrhea and confirmed Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI)) was investigated, along with its effect on biofilm and spore formation. The results showed varying degrees of antimicrobial activity, ranging from strong to weak, depending on the strain, with concentrations ranging from 0.08 to 40 mg/ml. The essential oil (EO) at concentrations of 2xMIC and MIC significantly reduced biofilm production in 89% and 84% of the tested strains, respectively. Spore formation was also significantly reduced when treated with 0.5xMIC and MIC of EO. Considering the anticlostridial activity of the dill seed EO, along with its inhibition of biofilm production and sporulation, this natural product is an excellent candidate for supplementary treatment of CDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors try to classify and explain the legal basis of responsibility in the system balance for sustainable development and environmental protection. The method of analysis of theoretical positions and legal norms conclude that the conventional rules of liability for damage to the environment, in modern terms, they could not provide adequate protection. Identification of new and more efficient basis of liability, it appears necessary. In this sense, the principle of ' polluter pays' is a special form of strict liability, which, in essence, does not imply a causal relationship between the operator and damage. Despite the fact that this new form of accountability contains certain elements of the tax burden and economic measures, it appears that he has a logic ofits legal existence and economic feasibility.

Due to a confirmed antimicrobial activity of both natural and synthetic coumarin derivatives, the present study was envisaged to provide a further insight into the antimicrobial potential of coumarins through a screening of a designed library of nine 4-(alkylamino)-3-nitrocoumarins against a panel of 24 laboratory strains and resistant (isolates) bacterial and fungal pathogens. All compounds showed some degree of strain-selective activity, that was, in some cases, very pronounced, reaching the value of 0.04 nmol/ml (i.e. 12 ng/ml) for the minimal inhibitory concentration against Candida albicans. The observed activity was higher against Gram-negative strains, among which the most susceptible strain, among both ATCC strains and clinical isolates, was Salmonella enteritidis. These results point out to a high potential of these coumarins as antimicrobials for the treatment of gastrointestinal and other infections caused by highly resistant microbial strains. Finally, a multivariate statistical analysis of the herein obtained and previous results on the antimicrobial activity of related selected coumarins was performed to allow an easier structure-activity discussion. [Projekat Ministartsva nauke republike Srbije, br. 172061 i br. 45022]

Background. Toxigenic strains of Clostridium difficile in the majority of cases cause disease of the intestinal tract of hospitalized patients. For a long time, Clostridium difficile was considered to produce both types of toxins (A+/B+ strain), however, the investigations conducted in the last ten years point to the existence of clinically significant isolates which produce only toxin B, i.e. toxin A negative / toxin B positive (A-/B+ strain) Clostridium difficile. Case report. We presented the case of a patient admitted to the Surgery Clinic, Clinical Center Nis due to the presence of calculus in the ductus choledochus. Twenty-four hours after the surgical intervention for calculus removal, the first signs of the operative wound infection began to appear. In the course of infection treatment, different antibiotics were administered (cefuroxine, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, imipenem). After making etiological microbiological diagnosis and application of antibiotics according to antibiogram results, the signs of the operative wound infection began to withdraw, but the patient reported the abdominal pain and liquid stools with traces of blood (up to 17 stools per day). By microbiological examination, Clostridium difficile was cultivated and the presence of toxin B was detected in the stool samples. The patient was sent to the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, where the causal therapy of mitronidazol was administered. Liquid and electrolytes were made up by substitution therapy. After the eight-day-treatment, the patient felt much better, and diarrheas stopped on the 10th day of the therapy application. Conclusion. Our results have shown that toxingen strains Clostridium difficile are present in our country so this bacterium sort have to be considered in differential causal diagnosis of diarrhoea syndrom. Considering that it can cause difficult form of the disease, it is an obligation to establish the presence of some toxins of Clostridium difficile in stool samples of patients and/or production of some toxins in liquid culturate of isolates to provide data for the presence of strains which produce only toxin B.

Background/aim: Ureaplasma urealyticum, a common commensal of the female lower genital tract, has been observed as an important opportunistic pathogen during pregnancy. The aims of this study were to determine the degree of cervical colonization with U. urealyticum in pregnant women with risk pregnancy and in pregnant women with normal term delivery and to evaluate the correlation between high-density cervical U. urealyticum colonization and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) as well. Methods. This research was conducted on the samples comprising 130 hospitalized pregnant women with threatening preterm delivery and premature rupture of membranes. The control group consisted of 39 pregnant women with term delivery without PROM. In addition to standard bacteriological examination and performing direct immunofluorescence test to detect Chlamydia trachomatis, cervical swabs were also examined for the presence of U. urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis by commercially available Mycofast Evolution 2 test (International Microbio, France). Results. The number of findings with isolated high-density U. urealyticum in the target group was 69 (53.08%), while in the control group was 14 (35.90%). Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) occurred in 43 (33.08%) examinees: 29 were pPROM, and 14 were PROM. The finding of U.urealyticum ≥104 was determined in 25 (58.14%) pregnant women with rupture, 17 were pPROM, and 8 were PROM. There was statistically significant difference in the finding of high-density U. urealyticum between the pregnant women with PROM and the control group (χ² = 4.06, p < 0.05). U. urealyticum was predominant bacterial species found in 62.79% of isolates in the PROM cases, while in 32.56% it was isolated alone. Among the 49 pregnant women with preterm delivery, pPROM occurred in 29 (59.18%) examinees, and in 70.83% of pregnant women with findings of high-density U. urealyticum pPROM was observed. Conclusion. Cervical colonization with U. urealyticum ≥ 104 is more frequent in pregnant women with risk pregnancy than in pregnant women with normal term delivery. High-density cervical U. urealyticum colonization should be observed as a possible etiological factor for PROM.

Copyright of Acta Medica Medianae is the property of Acta Medica Medianae 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.)

Introduction: Candida spp. frequently cause hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (BSI) with a high mortality rate (up to 70%). We analyzed the frequency, infection characteristics, potential predisposing factors, susceptibility to antifungal drugs, biofilm production and other virulence characteristics of Candida spp. isolates obtained from a tertiary care hospital in Niš, Serbia, during a one year period. Methods: Medical histories, characteristics of isolated strains and drug susceptibility, as well as the effect on the function of isolated macrophages and other virulence features were evaluated. The obtained results were subjected to student's t-test and multivariate statistical analyzes. Results: Herein we report an annual incidence of 3.65 cases of C. albicans, C. lusitaniae and C. lipolytica infections per 105 population. Out of eight isolated strains, two (25%) were shown to be strong biofilm producers, one (12.5%) caused hemolysis on blood agar and in two (25%) cases macrophages were able to completely eliminate the yeast colonies. Chronic kidney disease, diabetes, malignant and other diseases were present in 37.5, 62.5, 50 and 75%, respectively, in the study group. All patients with Candida BSI received antifungal therapy (amphotericin B), however, hospital mortality was observed in 25% of patients. Conclusions: Evaluation of local Candida epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility and virulence factors, as well as personalized patient risk factors are important for the surveillance of Candida BSI, especially in intensive care unit patients and may contribute to the improved options and outcome for patients with Candida BSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium (C.) difficile is a typical representative of the genus Clostridium. After colonization of the intestinal tract, toxigenic C. difficile strains are capable to produce two exotoxins, enterotoxin (toxin A) and cytotoxin (toxin B), which cause diarrhea and colitis. Toxin A binds to specific carbohydrate receptors on the surface of intestinal cells and this is the beginning of damages in the intestinal tract which include destruction of the villi epithelium, limiting membrane, intercellular connections (zonula occludens) and surface of the mucosa. If only toxin B is injected into intestinal cells, it does not cause damage nor increased fluids secretion. Probably, the reason for this is the inability of the toxin to bind to the cell membrane receptor in the intestinal tract under normal physiological conditions. Toxigenic strains of C. difficile can be found in the intestines of healthy people, without any symptoms or clinical signs (asymptomatic colonization). However, in people with risk factors, they can cause diarrhea of varying severity and life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis. These diseases are known as C. difficile associated disease - CDAD. Acta [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research was to determine the intestinal carriers of C. difficile in different human population groups in Serbia. The research enrolled 877 persons with formed stools: (newborn children in maternity hospitals for up to two weeks old) (23), group A; children aged from two weeks to two years (121), group B; children aged two to 10 years (54), group C, healthy individuals aged 10 and over (516), group D; patients hospitalized for at least 48 hours (100), group E; staff of the Clinical Center in Nis, Serbia, (63), group F. The toxins A and B of C. difficile were detected by ELISA-ridascreen Clostridium difficile Toxin A/B (R - Biopharm AG, Darmstadt, Germany). The toxin A of C. difficile was detected using ColorPAC Toxin A test (BectonDickinson, New Jersey, USA). Out of the total number of persons (877), the carriers of certain types of toxin-producing strains of C. difficile were distributed as: 6.04% (A−/B−), 1.83% (A+/B+) and 0.11% (A−/B+). In most groups (5/6), the dominance of non-toxigenic (A−/B−) isolates was established, with the rate of carriers 1.75 - 30.43% depending on the group. Toxigenic isolates were prevalent only in the group F in relation to non - toxigenic (7.94% versus 4.76% of persons). In other groups, the carriers of toxigenic strains ranged from 0.00 - 17.45%. The presence of asymptomatic intestinal carriers of C. difficile in the human population, indicate the possible reservoirs and sources of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to investigate the most frequent cause of superficial mycoses in patients from the territory of city Niš Southeast Serbia in the period from 1998 to 2010. A total of 3223 samples from 2887 patients with suspected dermatomycoses were examined. Superficial mycoses were diagnosed using standard microbiology techniques (conventional microscopy and cultivation). Dermatophytes were determined on the basis of their macroscopic and microscopic morphological and morphometric characteristics. Morphometric characteristics were obtained by Laboratory Universal Computer Image Analysis system (Lucia M, 1996). Species of genus Candida were identified using the test of production of germ tube in sera, by growth on comertial chromatogen medium (Chromotogenic Candida, Liofichem/Bacteriology products, Italy) and by using Auxacolor TMBioRad, France. The results were elaborated with the statistical method of descriptive and quantitative analysis (SPSS 14.0 for Windows 2003). The prevalence of superficial mycoses was 25,1%. Dermatophytes were identified in 67.6% of all positive cultures. Microsporum canis was the most prevalent (50.3%) dermatophyte isolated, followed by Trichophyton metagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (35.4%). Yeast genus Candida has become a more frequent cause of superficial fungal infection since 2001. and C. albicans was the dominant yeast (61.1%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Medica Medianae is the property of Acta Medica Medianae 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.)

Copyright of Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis is the property of Nis University, Faculty of Medicine 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.)

Introduction Clostridium difficile infections predominatelly occur among hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of finding the isolate of Clostridium difficile cultured from the stool of hospitalized patients. Material and methods Material consisted of 100 patients with at least one liquid stool samples and control group with form stool. Every patient spent minimum 48h in hospital before the sampling. The material was immediately cultured on mediums for isolation of enteric pathogens. and on selective CCFA medium (Biomedics) for Clostridium difficile in anaerobic condition. Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile toxin in stool samples was achieved by ELlSllRIDASCREEN Clostridium difficile Toxin A/B test (P-Biopharm). Results One-hundred forty one stool samples of patients in Clinical Centre Nis were cultivated and examined for C. difficile. The bacteria was isolated in seven patients from the clinical group. In four (57.14%) patients, the presence of C difficile toxin in stool was established. The bacteria was diagnosed from the stool samples of five patients from the control group, but the toxin was not found in their stool samples. Discussion The results performed at the Institute/or Public Health Sis are in accordance with previously published results that all patients with positive findings of Clostridium difficile toxin in stool samples were on antibiotic treatment longer than 14 days. By analysing the patient's stay in hospital and duration of antibiotic treatment, we observed the statistically significant difference in findings between the patients with CDAD and the patients from the control group with positive bacteria. Conclusion The study confirms the importance of finding Clostridium difficile associated disease in four (4%) hospitalized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction According to the results of different investigations, the opinion that isolate of coagulase-negative staphylococci by bloodcultures represents the blood infection in 10-12%patient. The aim of the work was to determine the number of patients with blood infection-sepsa induced coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated by bloodcultures. Material and methods: The research was done at the Institute for Public Health in Nis. The basic group consisted of 56 pacients and coagulasenegative staphylococci were segregated form their bloodcullures. The growth of microorganisms was monitored by the computerized apparatus "Bactec 9120". Coagulase-negative staphylococci were identified by the standard microbiologic method and VitecAMS system. Results Eight patients (14.28%) were found to have minimum two signs ofblood infection. S. epidermis was isolated in four patients. S. saprophyticus was isolated in the patients on hemodialysis with implanted urinary catheter. S. capitis was isolated in the patients with infarctus miocardi. S. auricularis was isolated in child who was administered the immunosuppressive therapy before and during hospitalization due to an acute asthmatic attack. The isolate of S. simulans was cultivated from samples of the patients hospitalized due to thefebrile state. Discussion A correct interpretation of coagulase-negative staphylococci findings in bloodcultures is an overriding part ofmedical treatment. The best laboratory indicators of the presence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in blood would be to segregate those ofthe same kind from two samples at the same time but from different anatomic sites in the presence of clinical signs ofblood infection. Conclusion In the investigation conducted at the Public Health InstituteNis, we determined that bloodcultures isolated coagulasenegative staphylococci represent the blood infection on 14.28% patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original version of the article was published in Central European Journal of Medicine Volume 6, Number 5, 665-671, DOI: 10.2478/s11536-011-0052-y. Unfortunately, the original version of this article contains mistakes in the Authors names section. There should be: Suzana Otasevic, Natasa Miladinovic-Tasic, Jovana Đorđević, Gordana Ranđelović, Aleksandra Ignjatović, Predrag Stojanović, Dragan Zdravković, Roberta Marković [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Ureaplasma urealyticum, a common commensal of the female lower genital tract, has been observed as an important opportunistic pathogen during pregnancy. The aims of this study were to determine the degree of cervical colonization with U. urealyticum in pregnant women with risk pregnancy and in pregnant women with normal term delivery and to evaluate the correlation between high-density cervical U. urealyticum colonization and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) as well. Methods. This research was conducted on the samples comprizing 130 hospitalized pregnant women with threatening preterm delivery and premature rupture of membranes. The control group consisted of 39 pregnant women with term delivery without PROM. In addition to standard bacteriological examination and performing direct immunofluorescence test to detect Chlamydia trachomatis, cervical swabs were also examined for the presence of U. urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis by commercially available Mycofast Evolution 2 test (International Microbio, France). Results. The number of findings with isolated high-density U. urealyticum in the target group was 69 (53.08%), while in the control group was 14 (35.90%). Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) occurred in 43 (33.08%) examinees: 29 were pPROM, and 14 were PROM. The finding of U.urealyticum ≥ 4 was determined in 25 (58.14%) pregnant women with rupture, 17 were pPROM, and 8 were PROM. There was statistically significant difference in the finding of high-density U. urealyticum between the pregnant women with PROM and the control group (χ² = 4.06, p < 0.05). U. urealyticum was predominant bacterial species found in 62.79% of isolates in the PROM cases, while in 32.56% it was isolated alone. Among the 49 pregnant women with preterm delivery, pPROM occurred in 29 (59.18%) examinees, and in 70.83% of pregnant women with findings of high-density U. urealyticum pPROM was observed. Conclusion. Cervical colonization with U. urealyticum ≥ 4 is more frequent in pregnant women with risk pregnancy than in pregnant women with normal term delivery. High-density cervical U. urealyticum colonization should be observed as a possible etiological factor for PROM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Clostridium difficile infections predominatelly occur among hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of finding the isolate of Clostridium difficile cultured from the stool of hospitalized patients., Material and Methods: Material consisted of 100 patients with at least one liquid stool samples and control group with form stool. Every patient spent minimum 48h in hospital before the sampling. The material was immediately cultured on mediums for isolation of enteric pathogens, and on selective CCFA medium (Biomedics) for Clostridium difficile in anaerobic condition. Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile toxin in stool samples was achieved by ELISA-RIDASCREEN Clostridium difficile Toxin A/B test (R-Biopharm)., Results: One-hundred forty one stool samples of patients in Clinical Centre Nis were cultivated and examined for C. difficile. The bacteria was isolated in seven patients from the clinical group. In four (57.14%) patients, the presence of C difficile toxin in stool was established The bacteria was diagnosed from the stool samples of five patients from the control group, but the toxin was not found in their stool samples., Discussion: The results performed at the Institute for Public Health Nis are in accordance with previously published results that all patients with positive findings of Clostridium difficile toxin in stool samples were on antibiotic treatment longer than 14 days. By analysing the patient's stay in hospital and duration of antibiotic treatment, we observed the statistically significant difference in findings between the patients with CDAD and the patients from the control group with positive bacteria., Conclusion: The study confirms the importance of finding Clostridium difficile associated disease in four (4%) hospitalized patients.

Introduction: According to the results of different investigations, the opinion that isolate of coagulase-negative staphylococci by bloodcultures represents the blood infection in 10-12% patient. The aim of the work was to determine the number of patients with blood infection-sepsa induced coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated by bloodcultures., Material and Methods: The research was done at the Institute for Public Health in Nis. The basic group consisted of 56 patients and coagulase-negative staphylococci were segregated form their bloodcultures. The growth of microorganisms was monitored by the computerized apparatus "Bactec 9120". Coagulase-negative staphylococci were identified by the standard microbiologic method and Vitec AMS system., Results: Eight patients (14.28%) were found to have minimum two signs of blood infection. S. epidermis was isolated in four patients. S. saprophyticus was isolated in the patients on hemodialysis with implanted urinary catheter. S. capitis was isolated in the patients with infarctus miocardi. S. auricularis was isolated in child who was administered the immunosuppressive therapy before and during hospitalization due to an acute asthmatic attack. The isolate of S. simulans was cultivated from samples of the patients hospitalized due to the febrile state., Discussion: A correct interpretation of coagulase-negative staphylococci findings in bloodcultures is an overriding part of medical treatment. The best laboratory indicators of the presence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in blood would be to segregate those of the same kind from two samples at the same time but from different anatomic sites in the presence of clinical signs of blood infection., Conclusion: In the investigation conducted at the Public Health Institute-Nis, we determined that bloodcultures isolated coagulase-negative staphylococci represent the blood infection on 14.28% patient.

Background/aim: Ureaplasma urealyticum, a common commensal of the female lower genital tract, has been observed as an important opportunistic pathogen during pregnancy. The aims of this study were to determine the degree of cervical colonization with U. urealyticum in pregnant women with risk pregnancy and in pregnant women with normal term delivery and to evaluate the correlation between high-density cervical U. urealyticum colonization and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) as well., Methods: This research was conducted on the samples comprizing 130 hospitalized pregnant women with threatening preterm delivery and premature rupture of membranes. The control group consisted of 39 pregnant women with term delivery without PROM. In addition to standard bacteriological examination and performing direct immunofluorescence test to detect Chlamydia trachomalis, cervical swabs were also examined for the presence of U. urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis by commercially available Mycofast Evolution 2 test (International Microbio, France)., Results: The number of findings with isolated high-density U. urealyticum in the target group was 69 (53.08%), while in the control group was 14 (35.90%). Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) occurred in 43 (33.08%) examinees: 29 were pPROM, and 14 were PROM. The finding of U. urealyticum > or = 10(4) was determined in 25 (58.14%) pregnant women with rupture, 17 were pPROM, and 8 were PROM. There was statistically significant difference in the finding of high-density U. urealyticum between the pregnant women with PROM and the control group (chi2 = 4.06, p < 0.05). U. urealyticum was predominant bacterial species found in 62.79% of isolates in the PROM cases, while in 32.56% it was isolated alone. Among the 49 pregnant women with preterm delivery, pPROM occurred in 29 (59.18%) examinees, and in 70.83% of pregnant women with findings of high-density U. urealyticum pPROM was observed., Conclusion: Cervical colonization with U. urealyticum > or = 10(4) is more frequent in pregnant women with risk pregnancy than in pregnant women with normal term delivery. High-density cervical U. urealyticum colonization should be observed as a possible etiological factor for PROM.

Introduction: This paper deals with coincidental deaths of persons previously engaged in violent behaviour. In victimology, violent deaths rest on legal authorities and public prosecutor. In some cases the clearance of circumstances is "sui generis", as a consequence of "vis maior". However, in some cases, depending of circumstances, perpetrators are uncovered without further investigations., Case Report: This paper presents some of the most interesting cases from our Forensic practice: infanticides, "jealousy" killing, other murders. All crimes were recovered and sanctioned. History is full of cases like these described. Man is the only primate who kills and tortures other men. Nothing can fill the soul as hatred. Hatred is stronger than love. Love can easily lead to hate. Man is afraid of being killed, but often acts like a victim. The man proves himself worthy through his life, not death.