ABSTRACT The aim of this systematic review was to determine the causal role of Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum in specific invasive infections in humans, and to assess the clinical outcome of antibiotic therapy used to treat them. Several electronic databases were systematically searched for clinical trials, observational studies or individual cases on patients of any age and gender with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) due to E. ramosum isolated from body fluids or tissues in which it is not normally present. Only reports identifying E. ramosum as the only microorganism isolated from a patient with SIRS were included. This systematic review included 15 studies reporting 19 individual cases in which E. ramosum caused invasive infections in various tissues, mainly in immunocompromised patients. E. ramosum was most often isolated by blood cultures and identified by specific biochemical tests. Severe infections caused by E. ramosum were in most cases effectively treated with antibiotics, except in two patients, one of whom died. More than one isolate of E. ramosum exhibited 100% susceptibility to metronidazole, amoxicillin/clavulanate and piperacillin/tazobactam. On the other hand, individual resistance of this bacterium to penicillin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, imipenem and ertapenem was reported. This systematic review confirmed the clinical relevance of E. ramosum as a cause of a number of severe infections mainly in immunocompromised inpatients. Metronidazole and meropenem appear to be the antibiotics of choice that should be used in combination or as monotherapy to treat E. ramosum infections, depending on the type and severity of the infection.

Abstract Objectives: the aims of the study were to provide gender- and age-specific physical fitness levels among Serbian schoolchildren and to identify prevalence of overweight and obesity. Methods: a sample of 6,188 boys and 6,023 girls aged nine to 14 years were assessed using the physical fitness battery established through the National Fitness Project of Serbia. Physical fitness levels were determined for body height, body weight and body mass index and for six physical fitness tests (sit and reach, 4 x 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, 30 sec sit-ups, bent arm hang, 20-m shuttle run). Centile smoothed curves for the 5rd, 25th, 50th, 75th and 95th percentiles were calculated using Cole's LMS method. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was identified applying cut-off points for children (International Obesity Task Force). Results: the results revealed that anthropometric measures were higher in boys than in girls. In addition, boys had better physical fitness levels for all tests except for the sit and reach test, where girls performed slightly better. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity amounts to 24.8% (19.8% overweight and 5% obese). With respect to gender, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in boys (27%) compared to girls (22.4%). Conclusion: the presented data are the most up-to-date gender- and age-specific physical fitness levels for Serbian schoolchildren aged 9-14 years. The findings regarding prevalence in overweight and obesity indicated an alarming trend when compared to similar data from other similar studies (in European countries).

Resumen Objetivos: los objetivos del estudio fueron evaluar los niveles de condición física diferenciados por sexo y edad de estudiantes de escuela primaria de Serbia e identificar la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad. Método: una muestra de 6.188 niños y 6.023 niñas de entre nueve y 14 años fueron evaluados mediante una batería de test físicos establecidos por el Proyecto Nacional de Condición Física de Serbia. Se evaluó la condición física mediante la altura,el peso, el índice de masa corporal y seis test físicos. Se calcularon curvas suavizadas para los percentiles 5, 25, 50, 75 y 95 usando el método de Cole. La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad fue identificada aplicando los puntos de corte para niños (International Obesity Task Force). Resultados: los resultados revelaron medidas antropométricas mayores en niños que en niñas. Además, los niños tuvieron mejores niveles de condición física en todos los test, con la única excepción del sit and reach, que las niñas realizaron ligeramente mejor. La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad fue del 24,8% (19,8% sobrepeso y 5% obesidad). Respecto al género, la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad fue superior en los niños (27%) en comparación con las niñas (22,4%). Conclusión: los datos presentados son los más actualizados respecto a los niveles de condición física específicos para el género y la edad de niños estudiantes de Serbia de entre nueve y 14 años. Los hallazgos respecto a la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad indican una tendencia alarmante frente a datos similares de otros estudios equivalentes (en países europeos).

Chronic stress is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. The sympathoneural system plays an important role in the regulation of cardiac function both in health and disease. In the present study, the changes in gene expression of the catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) and protein levels in the right and left heart auricles of naive control and long-term (12 weeks) socially isolated rats were investigated by Taqman RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The response of these animals to additional immobilization stress (2 h) was also examined. Long-term social isolation produced a decrease in TH mRNA level in left auricles (about 70%) compared to the corresponding control. Expression of the DBH gene was markedly decreased both in the right (about 62%) and left (about 81%) auricles compared to the corresponding control, group-maintained rats, whereas PNMT mRNA levels remained unchanged. Exposure of group-housed rats to acute immobilization for 2 h led to a significant increase of mRNA levels of TH (about 267%), DBH (about 37%) and PNMT (about 60%) only in the right auricles. Additional 2-h immobilization of individually housed rats did not affect gene expression of these enzymes in either the right or left auricle. Protein levels of TH, DBH and PNMT in left and right heart auricles were unchanged either in both individually housed and immobilized rats. The unchanged mRNA levels of the enzymes examined after short-term immobilization suggest that the catecholaminergic system of the heart auricles of animals previously exposed to chronic psychosocial stress was adapted to maintain appropriate cardiovascular homeostasis.