ABSTRACT
The aim of this research is to determine the effect of the hybrid material based on polyvinyl alcohol and silver nanoparticles (PVA/AgNps) in the treatment of the otitis externa as an additional component in the commercial product "Betazon Trio". It was established that the experimental creamy formula with silver concentration 600 mg/L is suitable for recovery of the microbial homeostasis when it is administrated once daily in dose 1 ml over a period of 14 days.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to determine some features of cystic echinococcosis among children and adolescents, such as epidemiology, diagnosis, organ localization, treatment, and social and environmental factors favoring transmission of the disease. The 18-year study period (1996-2013) includes officially registered primary cases treated surgically, and/or with drug therapy, and/or with the puncture, aspiration, injection, reaspiration technique. Organ localization of the cysts and the most common diagnostic procedures were studied from the patients' medical records. Groups of diseased and healthy children were surveyed to outline some of the environmental and social factors influencing morbidity. From 1996 to 2013, the average annual incidence of cystic echinococcosis in the country was 6.7 per 100,000, but with significant variations in the incidence between different age groups. The hydatid cysts in children aged 0 to 9 years may most frequently be found in the lungs, in contrast to patients from other age groups. Almost 90% of the affected children had sustained contact with dogs. At present, among the countries of the European Union, Bulgaria holds the highest incidence and prevalence of cystic echinococcosis. Childhood echinococcosis remains a serious health problem for the country. Therefore, the study of cystic echinococcosis in children has important epidemiological significance concerning the intensity of transmission.
Subject(s)
Echinococcosis/epidemiology , Echinococcosis/parasitology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Animals , Bulgaria/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Echinococcosis/diagnosis , Echinococcosis/history , Echinococcosis/therapy , Echinococcosis/transmission , Echinococcus , Geography, Medical , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Mortality , Population Surveillance , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
During a recent large tularemia outbreak in Bulgaria we found several cases that were remote from the main focus. One case had an unusual mode of transmission. A hunter acquired tularemia through a nail scratch from a buzzard (Buteo buteo) and consequently developed a typical ulceroglandular form of the disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by serological methods and successful cultivation. Comparative strain typing was performed by high-resolution multi-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). The isolated strain was identical to one of the outbreak genotypes. We consider that this case represents a bird-to-human transmission of F. tularensis.
Subject(s)
Francisella tularensis/genetics , Raptors , Tularemia/transmission , Adult , Animals , Bulgaria/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Hoof and Claw , Humans , Male , Phylogeny , Tularemia/epidemiology , ZoonosesABSTRACT
Tetramethyldithiooxamide (TMDTOA) is a stable and effective inhibitor of metal corrosion. The antimicrobial effects of TMDTOA and its metal compounds were investigated with regard to their use as biocides for water treatment. Growth of a variety of strains of bacteria and yeasts was completely inhibited at 400 mumol l-1 TMDTOA or its metal complexes. At 100 mg l-1 there was a 99.99% reduction in the number of viable micro-organisms; this activity persisted for 1-3 months. TMDTOA can be produced cheaply at 98% purity by a novel method, representing an alternative cost-effective water treatment agent combining corrosion-inhibiting and biocide characteristics.