Urinary catheter-associated microbiota change in accordance with treatment and infection status

© 2017 Bossa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The use of long-term catheterisation to manage insensate bladders, often associated with spinal cord injury (SCI), increases the risk of microbial colonisation and infection of the urinary tract. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is typically diagnosed and treated based on the culturing of organisms from the urine, although this approach overlooks low titer, slow growing and non-traditional pathogens. Here, we present an investigation of the urinary tract microbiome in catheterised SCI individuals, using T-RFLP and metagenomic sequencing of the microbial community. We monitored three neurogenic patients over a period of 12 months, who were part of a larger study investigating the efficacy of probiotics in controlling UTIs, to determine how their urinary tract microbial community composition changed over time and in relation to probiotic treatment regimens. Bacterial biofilms adherent to urinary catheters were examined as a proxy for bladder microbes. The microbial community composition of the urinary tract differed significantly between individuals. Probiotic therapy resulted in a significant change in the microbial community associated with the catheters. The community also changed as a consequence of UTI and this shift in community composition preceded the clinical diagnosis of infection. Changes in the microbiota due to probiotic treatment or infection were transient, resolving to microbial communities similar to their pre-treatment communities, suggesting that the native community was highly resilient. Based on these results, we propose that monitoring a patient’s microbial community can be used to track the health of chronically catheterized patients and thus, can be used as part of a health-status monitoring program

High Temperature Stability of Onion-Like Carbon vs Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite

Abstract The thermodynamic stability of onion-like carbon (OLC) nanostructures with respect to highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was determined in the interval 765–1030 K by the electromotive force (emf) measurements of solid electrolyte galvanic cell: (Low) Pt|Cr3C2,CrF2,OLC|CaF2s.c.|Cr3C2,CrF2,HOPG|Pt (High). The free energy change of transformation HOPG = OLC was found positive below 920.6 K crossing the zero value at this temperature. Its trend with temperature was well described by a 3rd degree polynomial. The unexpected too high values of LDrHT LT P ~DcPðTÞ jointly to the HR-TEM, STEM and EELS evidences that showed OLC completely embedded in rigid cages made of a Cr3C2/CrF2 matrix, suggested that carbon in the electrodes experienced different internal pressures. This was confirmed by the evaluation under constant volume of dP dT by the a k ratio for OLC (0.5 MPa K21) and HOPG (8 Pa K21) where a and k are the isobaric thermal expansion and isothermal compressibility coefficients, respectively. The temperature dependency of the pressure was derived and utilized to calculate the enthalpy and entropy changes as function of temperature and pressure. The highest value of the internal pressure experienced by OLC was calculated to be about 7 GPa at the highest temperature. At 920.6 K, DrH and DrS values are 95.8 kJ mol21 and 104.1 JK21 mol21, respectively. The surface contributions to the energetic of the system were evaluated and they were found negligible compared with the bulk terms. As a consequence of the high internal pressure, the values of the enthalpy and entropy changes were mainly attributed to the formation of carbon defects in OLC considered as multishell fullerenes. The change of the carbon defect fraction is reported as a function of temperature

Nitrite reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Sequence of the gene and the protein

AbstractThe gene coding for nitrite reductase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been cloned and its sequence determined. The coding region is 1707 bp long and contains information for a polypeptide chain of 568 amino acids. The sequence of the mature protein has been confirmed independently by extensive amino acid sequencing. The amino-terminus of the mature protein is located at Lys-26; the preceding 25 residue long extension shows the features typical of signal peptides. Therefore the enzyme is probably secreted into the periplasmic space. The mature protein is made of 543 amino acid residues and has a molecular mass of 60204 Da. The c-heme-binding domain, which contains the only two Cys of the molecule, is located at the amino-terminal region. Analysis of the protein sequence in terms of hydrophobicity profile gives results consistent with the fact that the enzyme is fully water soluble and not membrane bound; the most hydrophilic region appears to correspond to the c-heme domain. Secondary structure predictions are in general agreement with previous analysis of circular dichroic data

Utilité de la biopsie testiculaire dans le bilan de l’infertilité des couples: Usefulness of testicular biopsy in the checkup of infertility couple

Context and objectives. Testicular biopsy is a relevant tool for the management of male’s infertility.However data in Subsaharan Africa are sparce in this field. Histological aspects aspects in case of azoospermia (AZOO) or oligoasthenoterato-spermia (OATS), were described, to sort out main causes of the disturbance. Methods. A retrospective analysis of of patients’ records has been undertaken, covering the period of 2010 to 2015 in 2 hopitals of Kinhasa. Studied parameters included clinical, biological, and morphological data. Histological features were then compared with the results of spermogramme, FSH, and testicular biometry. Results.Out of 60 files, only 47(68/%) met the inclusion criteria. A total of 47 patients was unled out of 60 records. Fibrosis was the main histological pattern observed (70%). Non obstructive AZOO (87%) was predominant compared to obstructive form (12, 7%). All normal or intermediate testicular histology was associated with a FSH level of ≤10.5 IU / mL and normal or hypotrophic testicular appearance on ultrasound. In contrast, testicular atrophy and FSH ≥14UI / mL were significantly associated with fibrosis. Surgical treatment was applied in 15% AZOO and obstructive OATS, 15% AZOO AMP and non-obstructive OATS and insemination with donor sperm or adoption (70%). Conclusion. The study shows histologycally a link between azoospermia and fibrosis as well as non-obstructive abnormalities.Azoospermia in this study is characterized histologically by fibrosis and non-obstructive abnormalities. Systematic testicular biopsy should be recommanded in patients with AZOO or OATS, when the level of FSH is ≥10.5 IU / mL, except in case of testicular atrophy. Contexte et objectifs: En dépit de l’importance de la biopsie testiculaire, très peu de centres d’Andrologie recours à ce moyen dans la prise charge de l’infertilité du couple en Afrique sub-saharienne. La présente étude avait pour objectifs de décrire les aspects histologiques testiculaires en cas d’azoospermie (AZOO) ou d’oligoasthénotératospermie (OATS), et de rechercher les associations éventuelles entre la FSH, la biométrie testiculaire et les aspects histologiques de la biopsie testiculaire (BT). Méthodes. Nous avons colligé tous les dossiers des patients présentant AZOO ou OATS, suivi dans deux hôpitaux de Kinshasa (Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa et Clinique Ngaliema), entre 2010 et 2015 pour infertilité. Les paramètres d’intérêt incluaient les données clinique (examen physique), biologique (spermogramme, spermocytogramme, FSH), et morphologiques (échographie et biopsie testiculaire). Les résultats histologiques ont été regroupés en 3 classes: normale, intermédiaire, fibrose. Les aspects histologiques ont été comparés au spermogramme, au taux de FSH, et à la biométrie testiculaire. Résultats. Durant la période de l’étude, 60 patients ont été suivis, mais 47 (AZOO, 68%) seulement ont satisfait aux critères de sélection. La biopsie testiculaire a révélé un aspect de fibrose (70%) et intermédiaire dans 17%. Comparées aux anomalies obstructives (12,7%), les non-obstructives étaient plus fréquentes (87%). Tous les aspects histologiques testiculaires normaux ou intermédiaires étaient associés à un taux de FSH de ≤10,5 UI/ml et un aspect testiculaire normal ou hypotrophique à l’échographie. En revanche, l’atrophie testiculaire et un taux de FSH ≥14 UI/ml semblaient être associés à la fibrose (p > 0,05). De ce qui précède, l’attitude thérapeutique plausible est la chirurgie pour 15% d’AZOO et d’OATS obstructives, AMP 15% d’AZOO et d’OATS non obstructives et l’insémination avec sperme de donneur ou à l’adoption (70%). Conclusion. L’azoospermie dans cette étude est caractérisée histologiquement par une fibrose et des anomalies non-obstructives. Exceptée en cas d’atrophie testiculaire, la biopsie testiculaire devra être systématique chez les patients avec AZOO ou OATS surtout si FSH ≥10,5UI/ml, en vue d’un choix thérapeutique judicieux

The Italian clinical experience with adalimumab in Crohn's disease: Eleven clinical cases

This supplement contains 11 clinical cases from 11 Italian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) specialists, giving an overview of clinical practice with regard to the use of adalimumab in the management of Crohn’s disease (CD)

Probiotics [LGG-BB12 or RC14-GR1] versus placebo as prophylaxis for urinary tract infection in persons with spinal cord injury [ProSCIUTTU]: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

© 2016 Lee et al. Background: Urinary tract infections [UTIs] are very common in people with Spinal Cord Injury [SCI]. UTIs are increasingly difficult and expensive to treat as the organisms that cause them become more antibiotic resistant. Among the SCI population, there is a high rate of multi-resistant organism [MRO] colonisation. Non-antibiotic prevention strategies are needed to prevent UTI without increasing resistance. Probiotics have been reported to be beneficial in preventing UTIs in post-menopausal women in several in vivo and in vitro studies. The main aim of this study is to determine whether probiotic therapy with combinations of Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 + Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 [RC14-GR1] and/or Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG + Bifidobacterium BB-12 [LGG-BB12] are effective in preventing UTI in people with SCI compared to placebo. Method: This is a multi-site randomised double-blind double-dummy placebo-controlled factorial design study conducted in New South Wales, Australia. All participants have a neurogenic bladder as a result of spinal injury. Recruitment started in April 2011. Participants are randomised to one of four arms, designed for factorial analysis of LGG-BB12 and/or RC14-GR1 v Placebo. This involves 24 weeks of daily oral treatment with RC14-GR1 + LGG-BB12, RC14-GR1 + placebo, LGG-BB12 + placebo or two placebo capsules. Randomisation is stratified by bladder management type and inpatient status. Participants are assessed at baseline, three months and six months for Short Form Health Survey [SF-36], microbiological swabs of rectum, nose and groin; urine culture and urinary catheters for subjects with indwelling catheters. A bowel questionnaire is administered at baseline and three months to assess effect of probiotics on bowel function. The primary outcome is time from randomisation to occurrence of symptomatic UTI. The secondary outcomes are change of MRO status and bowel function, quality of life and cost-effectiveness of probiotics in persons with SCI. The primary outcome will be analysed using survival analysis of factorial groups, with Cox regression modelling to test the effect of each treatment while allowing for the other, assuming no interaction effect. Hazard ratios and Kaplan-Meier survival curves will be used to summarise results. Discussion: If these probiotics are shown to be effective in preventing UTI and MRO colonisation, they would be a very attractive alternative for UTI prophylaxis and for combating the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance after SCI. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry [ ACTRN 12610000512022 ]. Date of registration: 21 June 2010

Spectrally-resolved UV photodesorption of CH4 in pure and layered ices

Context. Methane is among the main components of the ice mantles of insterstellar dust grains, where it is at the start of a rich solid-phase chemical network. Quantification of the photon-induced desorption yield of these frozen molecules and understanding of the underlying processes is necessary to accurately model the observations and the chemical evolution of various regions of the interstellar medium. Aims. This study aims at experimentally determining absolute photodesorption yields for the CH4 molecule as a function of photon energy. The influence of the ice composition is also investigated. By studying the methane desorption from layered CH4:CO ice, indirect desorption processes triggered by the excitation of the CO molecules is monitored and quantified. Methods. Tunable monochromatic VUV light from the DESIRS beamline of the SOLEIL synchrotron is used in the 7 - 13.6 eV (177 - 91 nm) range to irradiate pure CH4 or layers of CH4 deposited on top of CO ice samples. The release of species in the gas phase is monitored by quadrupole mass spectrometry and absolute photodesorption yields of intact CH4 are deduced. Results. CH4 photodesorbs for photon energies higher than ~9.1 eV (~136 nm). The photodesorption spectrum follows the absorption spectrum of CH4, which confirms a desorption mechanism mediated by electronic transitions in the ice. When it is deposited on top of CO, CH4 desorbs between 8 and 9 eV with a pattern characteristic of CO absorption, indicating desorption induced by energy transfer from CO molecules. Conclusions. The photodesorption of CH4 from the pure ice in various interstellar environments is around 2.0 x 10^-3 molecules per incident photon. Results on CO-induced indirect desorption of CH4 provide useful insights for the generalization of this process to other molecules co-existing with CO in ice mantles