ABSTRACT
We conducted a thirty-four-month retrospective study in the Burns Center from June 2015 to 30 April 2018. A total of 1585 burn wound swabs were taken from 258 admitted patients, of both sex and average age from 2 to 84 years old. Out of the 1585 burn wound swabs, 79.12% were positive for bacterial growth. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common bacteria isolated from burn wound swabs (68.95%), followed by cocci gram positive (28.62%), which were represented mainly by Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. species, and then other species such as candida spp. (2.41%). Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most common isolate (of the 70 Staphylococcus aureus, 52 were methicillino-resistant MRSA) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=58; 25.71%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=43; 20.15%), Acinetobacter baumannii (n=18; 18.70%), Proteus spp. (n=17; 7.91%), Escherichia coli (n=14; 5,75%), Enterobacter spp. (n=8; 3.22%), Candida spp. (n=6, 2.41%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n=2; 1.73%), and lastly Enterococcus spp. and Citrobacter freundii (n=1; 1.73%). P. aeruginosa was the most frequent Gram-negative bacteria isolated (33.91%). Most of the species isolated were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Knowledge of the bacteria responsible for infectious complications and their antibiotic susceptibilities is a prerequisite for treating burn patients.
Nous avons revu rétrospectivement les 1 585 prélèvements cutanés réalisés sur les 258 patients (des 2 sexes, âgés de 2 à 84 ans) hospitalisés dans notre CTB entre juin 2015 et avril 2018 inclus, dont 79,12% étaient positifs. Les bactéries à Gram négatif prédominaient (68,95%), les Gram positif représentaient 28,62% et Candida 2,41%. Staphylococcus aureus était la bactérie la plus fréquente (70 pousses dont 52 SARM), suivie de Pseudomonas æruginosa (58 soit 25,71%), Klebsiella pneumoniæ (n=43; 20,15%), Acinetobacter baumannii (n=18; 18,70%), Proteus spp. (n=17; 7,91%), Escherichia coli (n=14; 5,75%), Enterobacter spp. (n=8; 3,22%), Candida spp. (n=6, 2,41%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n=2; 1,73%), enfin Enterococcus spp et Citrobacter freundii (n=1; 1,73%). P. æruginosa était la bactérie à Gram négatif la plus fréquemment retrouvée (33,91%). La plupart des germes étaient des BMR. La connaissance des bactéries responsables d'infections et de leurs antibiogrammes est nécessaire au traitement des brûlés.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents have an important role to differentiate healthy and diseased tissues. Access and design new contrast agents for the optimal use of MRI are necessary. This study aims to evaluate iron oxide-4A nanocomposite ability to act as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Iron oxide-4A nanocomposite (F4A) was synthesized. MTT assay was used to consider the nanocomposite safety for cell culture. The T1 and T2 relaxation times were measured using a 1.5 Tesla clinical MRI scanner. Then the corresponding relaxivities were determined. RESULTS: The average particle diameter of the nanocomposite was 50 to 100 nm based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) image. A linear relationship between relaxation rates and the Fe concentration of the nanocomposite was obtained. The T1 and T2 relaxivities of the nanocomposite were calculated 5.413 and 1092.1 mM-1.s-1, respectively which led to the T2/T1 relaxivity ratio of 201.75. CONCLUSION: The high T2/T1 relaxivity ratio of the iron oxide-4A nanocomposite confirms it's potential to act as a T2 contrast agent.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: While the benefits of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) are well known in maxillofacial imaging, the use of this modality is not risk-free. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure doses received by patients during maxillofacial imaging with CBCT. METHODS: Entrance surface dose (ESD) was measured by using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) attached to the eyes lids, parotid glands and thyroid of 64 patients in two imaging centers (A and B). Phantom dosimetry was performed by a cylindrical poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) head-size phantom and an ionization chamber for different exposure parameters. NewTom VGi and Planmeca Promax 3D CBCT scanners were used at centers A and B, respectively. RESULTS: The mean ESD of the eyes, parotid glands and thyroid were 2.57, 2.33 and 0.28 mGy in center A, 0.35, 2.11 and 0.37 mGy in center B, respectively. ESD of the eyes revealed a significant difference in two centers; in center B, it was 86.4% lower than center A. In the phantom dosimetry, the measured doses of NewTom VGi were 2.63 and 2.08 mGy, respectively by changing field of view (FOV) size from 8×8 cm2 (height × diameter) to 6×6 cm2. For Planmeca Promax 3D, it ranged from 0.98 to 3.24 mGy depending on exposure parameters. CONCLUSION: There is a wide range of radiation doses dependent on the units, patients and selected scan parameters. Inappropriate selection of exposure settings, especially FOV size, can seriously increase patient dose.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the adsorption of uranium (VI) ions on the polypyrrole adsorbent. Polypyrrole was synthesized by a chemical method using polyethylene glycol, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as the surfactant and iron (III) chloride as an oxidant in the aqueous solution. The effect of various surfactants on the synthesized polymers and their performance as the uranium adsorbent were investigated. Adsorbent properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The effect of different parameters such as pH, contact time, initial metal ion concentrations, adsorbent dose, and the temperature was investigated in the batch system for uranium adsorption process. It has been illustrated that the adsorption equilibrium time is 7min. The results showed that the Freundlich model had the best agreement and the maximum adsorption capacity of polypyrrole for uranium (VI) was determined 87.72mg/g from Langmuir isotherm. In addition, the mentioned adsorption process was fast and the kinetic data were fitted to the Pseudo first and second order models. The adsorption kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters ΔG0, ΔH0 and ΔS0 showed that the uranium adsorption process by polypyrrole was endothermic and spontaneous.
