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BACKGROUND: Short-term peripheral venous catheters-related bloodstream infections (PVCR-BSIs) rates have not been systematically studied in developing countries, and data on their incidence by number of device-days are not available.

METHODS: Prospective, surveillance study on PVCR-BSI conducted from September 1, 2013 to May 31, 2019 in 204 intensive care units (ICUs), members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 57 hospitals in 19 cities of India. We applied US INICC definition criteria and reported methods using the INICC Surveillance Online System.

RESULTS: We followed 7,513 ICU patients for 296,893 bed-days and 295,795 short term peripheral venous catheter (PVC)-days. We identified 863 PVCR-BSIs, amounting to a rate of 2.91/1,000 PVC-days. Mortality in patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 4.14%, and 11.59% in patients with PVCR-BSI. The length of stay in patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 4.13 days, and 5.9 days in patients with PVCR-BSI. The micro-organism profile showed 68% of gram negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (23%), Klebsiella spp (15%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5%), and others. The predominant gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (10%).

CONCLUSIONS: PVCR-BSI rates found in our ICUs were much higher than rates published from industrialized countries. Infection prevention programs must be implemented to reduce the incidence of PVCR-BSIs.

BACKGROUND: Fetuin A is a protein expressed in the liver and it is an important inhibitor of ectopic calcification. High levels of fetuin A correlate with insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and regional adiposity in the general population. The association between hepatic steatosis and fetuin A level in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) remains unclear.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between fetuin A, hepatic steatosis, and regional adiposity in RTRs.

METHODS: Data from 44 patients with normal renal functions were included, all subjected to history taking for clinical data, assessment of central obesity and regional adiposity, assessment of hepatic steatosis using abdominal ultrasound (US), and measurements of serum fetuin A concentration using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.

RESULTS: Our study included 20 females (45.4%) and 24 males (54.6%) with mean age of 41.26 ± 11.2 years. Twenty-four subjects had hepatic steatosis. Fetuin A level in RTRs with hepatic steatosis with a mean of 1642.92 ± 358.91 is significantly higher (P < .001) than those without hepatic steatosis with a mean of 711.74 ± 57.85. Serum fetuin A level was positively correlated with regional adiposity (P = .021) and hepatic steatosis grade (P = .017). Fetuin A level increased with increased duration after renal transplantation (P < .001). The best cutoff value for detecting entrance into phase 3 or 4 steatosis is fetuin of 1862 with sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 87.7%.

CONCLUSIONS: Fetuin A is positively correlated with hepatic steatosis and regional adiposity in RTRs. Fetuin increases with increased duration after renal transplantation. Accordingly it may be used as a marker for hepatic steatosis and regional adiposity in these patients.

The purpose of this is to evaluate the marginal accuracy of press on veneer fabricated at
different axial lengths to zirconia core.
Materials and method: A stainless steel die resembling a prepared mandibular premolar was
machined to allow standardization of the prepared crowns. total number of forty ceramic crowns
were fabricated using this die. The samples were then divided into four groups according to the
axial distances from the core to the finish line that was completed with the veneering material.
Group 1: zirconium oxide core fabricated till the finish line, Group 2: zirconium core 0.5 mm short
of the finish line, Group 3: zirconium oxide core 1mm short of the finish line, Group 4: zirconium
oxide core 1.5mm short of the finish line. The core was veneered and the short core margins were
completed using Zipress veneering material. Then each group was thermocycled 1500 cycles
between 5-55ºC. The marginal accuracy was assessed using travelling microscope.
Results: Both group 1and 2 showed the statistically significantly highest mean gap distance
values compared to other two group. There was no statistically significant difference between 1
mm and 1.5 mm groups while both showed the statistically significantly lowest mean gap distance
values.
Conclusion: Despite the advances in CAD/CAM technique, pressable ceramic using lost wax
technique presented better marginal adaptation than machined zirconia core which might be related
to software limitation in designing restorations.