Differences in the composition of the bacterial element of the urinary tract microbiome in patients undergoing dialysis and patients after kidney transplantation

IntroductionThe development of molecular biology methods and their application in microbial research allowed the detection of many new pathogens that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs). Despite the advances of using new research techniques, the etiopathogenesis of UTIs, especially in patients undergoing dialysis and patients after kidney transplantation, is still not fully understood.MethodsThis study aimed to characterize and compare the composition of the bacterial element of the urinary tract microbiome between the groups of patients undergoing dialysis (n = 50) and patients after kidney transplantation (n = 50), with positive or negative urine culture, compared to healthy individuals (n = 50).ResultsAsymptomatic bacteriuria was observed in 30% of the urine cultures of patients undergoing dialysis and patients after kidney transplantation, with Escherichia coli as the most dominant microorganism (73%) detected with the use of classical microbiology techniques. However, differences in the bacterial composition of the urine samples between the evaluated patient groups were demonstrated using the amplicon sequencing. Finegoldia, Leptotrichia, and Corynebacterium were found to be discriminative bacteria genera in patients after dialysis and kidney transplantation compared to the control group. In addition, in all of urine samples, including those without bacteriuria in classical urine culture, many types of bacteria have been identified using 16S rRNA sequencing.DiscussionThe revealed microbial characteristics may form the basis in searching for new diagnostic markers in treatment of patients undergoing dialysis and patients after kidney transplantation

A prebiotic intervention study in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)

Different dietary approaches, such as gluten and casein free diets, or the use of probiotics and prebiotics have been suggested in autistic spectrum disorders in order to reduce gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances. GI symptoms are of particular interest in this population due to prevalence and correlation with the severity of behavioural traits. Nowadays, there is lack of strong evidence about the effect of dietary interventions on these problems, particularly prebiotics. Therefore, we assessed the impact of exclusion diets and a 6-week Bimuno® galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS®) prebiotic intervention in 30 autistic children. RESULTS: The results showed that children on exclusion diets reported significantly lower scores of abdominal pain and bowel movement, as well as lower abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Veillonellaceae family, but higher presence of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bacteroides spp. In addition, significant correlations were found between bacterial populations and faecal amino acids in this group, compared to children following an unrestricted diet. Following B-GOS® intervention, we observed improvements in anti-social behaviour, significant increase of Lachnospiraceae family, and significant changes in faecal and urine metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study where the effect of exclusion diets and prebiotics has been evaluated in autism, showing potential beneficial effects. A combined dietary approach resulted in significant changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolism suggesting that multiple interventions might be more relevant for the improvement of these aspects as well as psychological traits

Sex- and age-related differences in the management and outcomes of chronic heart failure: an analysis of patients from the ESC HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P\ua0 64 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P\ua0=\ua00.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P\ua075 years. Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF 6445%

Microbiota and neurologic diseases : potential effects of probiotics

Background: The microbiota colonizing the gastrointestinal tract have been associated with both gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal diseases. In recent years, considerable interest has been devoted to their role in the development of neurologic diseases, as many studies have described bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gut, the so-called "microbiota-gut-brain axis". Considering the ability of probiotics (i.e., live non-pathogenic microorganisms) to restore the normal microbial population and produce benefits for the host, their potential effects have been investigated in the context of neurologic diseases. The main aims of this review are to analyse the relationship between the gut microbiota and brain disorders and to evaluate the current evidence for the use of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of neurologic conditions. Discussion: Overall, trials involving animal models and adults have reported encouraging results, suggesting that the administration of probiotic strains may exert some prophylactic and therapeutic effects in a wide range of neurologic conditions. Studies involving children have mainly focused on autism spectrum disorder and have shown that probiotics seem to improve neuro behavioural symptoms. However, the available data are incomplete and far from conclusive. Conclusions: The potential usefulness of probiotics in preventing or treating neurologic diseases is becoming a topic of great interest. However, deeper studies are needed to understand which formulation, dosage and timing might represent the optimal regimen for each specific neurologic disease and what populations can benefit. Moreover, future trials should also consider the tolerability and safety of probiotics in patients with neurologic diseases

Determinants of enterpreneurship on the basis of the assessment of the internet web-pages as efficient organizational solutions in analysed public institutions

Przedstawiono wyniki oceny witryn internetowych różnych kategorii instytucji publicznych na podstawie badań z 2012 r. Jednym z zadań instytucji publicznych jest zapewnienie dostępu do informacji przydatnych z punktu widzenia praktyki gospodarczej. Do głównych ich zadań w tym zakresie można zaliczyć m.in. gromadzenie, udostępnianie oraz przetwarzanie informacji w celu zapewnienia podaży informacji o pożądanych parametrach. Szczególnie ważny jest łatwy i szybki dostęp do informacji, oszczędność czasu oraz przejrzystość w załatwianiu spraw. Uniwersalne oczekiwania w zakresie rozwiązań organizacjinych w sferze pozyskiwania informacji nie bez znaczenia są dla przedsiębiorców. Najbardziej usytematyzowaną, spójną, kompleksową ofertę informacyjną potrzebną dla przedsiębiorców oferowały urzędy centralne, a następnie instytucje rządowe.One of the tasks of public institutions is to provide useful informations to the point of view of economic practice. To their main duties in this area we can include accumulation, an share and process information in order to ensure a supply of onformation about the desired parameters. Universal expectations in terms of organizational solutions in the sphere of information retrieval, there is very important to the companies. Particulary, important is easy and fast access to information, saving time and transparency in dealing with cases. The article presents the results of the evaluation of websites of different categories of public institutions on the basis of the 2012. Tlte most systematic, coherent and comprehensive information neededfor entrepreneurs offered central offices and government agencies

Įvairių augalų-šeimininkų Pseudomonas syringae pvs. molekulinis apibūdinimas taikant pasikartojančių sekų ir jungtinę PGR

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Enantiodivergent, Biocatalytic Routes to Both Taxol Side Chain Antipodes

Two enantiocomplementary bakers\u27 yeast enzymes reduced an alpha-chloro-beta-keto ester to yield precursors for both enantiomers of the N-benzoyl phenylisoserine Taxol side chain. After base-mediated ring closure of the chlorohydrin enantiomers, the epoxides were converted directly to the oxazoline form of the target molecules using a Ritter reaction with benzonitrile. These were hydrolyzed to the ethyl ester form of the Taxol side chain enantiomers under acidic conditions. This brief and atom-efficient route to both target enantiomers demonstrates both the synthetic utility of individual yeast reductases and the power of genomic strategies in making these catalysts available

Regio and enantioselective reduction of t-butyl 6-chloro-3,5-dioxohexanoate with baker's yeast

Whole baker's yeast cells reduce t-butyl 6-chloro-3,5-dioxohexanoate regioselectively to the corresponding C5 hydroxy keto ester. While the (R)-alcohol was favored, the enantioselectivity was poor (41% ee). A variety of process conditions were evaluated in order to improve both the enantioselectivity and yield of this reduction. Including a nonpolar resin in the reaction mixture afforded the (R)-alcohol in 94% ee and 50% isolated yield. The enantio selectivity was further improved to >99% ee by substituting purified YGL157w in place of whole yeast cells. This reductase was identified by screening a collection of yeast enzymes uncovered by genome sequence analysis. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved