Characterization of Lactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C, a probiotic strain with a potent anti- Helicobacter pylori activity

Background: Helicobacter pylori is considered as the main risk factor in the development of gastric cancer. In the present study, we performed a detailed characterization of the probiotic properties and the anti-H. pylori activity of a previously isolated lactobacillus strain \u2014 Lactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C \u2014 obtained from human gut. Results: The strain tolerated pH 3.0; grew in the presence of 2% bile salts; produced lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide; aggregated in saline solution; showed high hydrophobicity; showed high adherence to glass; Caco-2 and gastric adenocarcinoma human cells (AGS) cells; showed an efficient colonization in Mongolian Gerbils; and potently inhibited the growth and urease activity of H. pylori strains. L. fermentum UCO-979C significantly inhibited H. pylori-induced IL-8 production in AGS cells and reduced the viability of H. pylori. With regard to innocuousness, the strain UCO-979C was susceptible to several antibiotics and did not produce histamine or beta-haemolysis in blood agar containing red blood cells from various origins. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that L. fermentum UCO-979C is a very good candidate as a probiotic for the protection of humans against H. pylori infections

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Feeding ecology of Ozotoceros bezoarticus: conservation implicationsin Uruguay

The pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus Linnaeus, 1758) was in the recent past one of the most characteristic species in the Uruguayan grasslands. However, today the species is very rare, with small relict populations inhabiting in few ranches. To improve our understanding of pampas deer habitat use in modified ecosystems and propose management guidelines we analyzed the pampas deer feeding ecology at Los Ajos ranch. We performed an annual vegetation survey with the purpose to identify the main components of pampas's deer diet and the spatial overlap with livestock. Vegetation offer was characterized by predominance of monocotyledon plants; in three of the four sample periods. The preference values for the crops were positive for ryegrass in winter (0.24) and spring (0.54), the moments of greatest productivity of this pasture; while the rice crops values were negative all year round. The spatial overlap indexes with sheep show a complete exclusion, whereas with cattle the indexes gave values of 0.95 in spring to 0.14 in summer. The niche amplitude was significantly correlated with the spatial overlap levels with cattle. Pampas deer foraging behaviour is opportunistic, typical of mixed feeders. Conservation efforts should focus on implementation of management guidelines of agriculture and cattle breeding activities

Preparation of ORMOSIL nanoparticles conjugated with vitamin D3 analogues and their biological evaluation

Dye-doped, 90 nm diameter, multifunctional organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles were prepared by condensation of vinyltriethoxysilane within surfactant-stabilized microemulsions and conjugated with several vitamin D3 derivatives. For this, vitamin D analogues possessing at least one hydroxyl group derivatized as vinylcarbonate have been synthesized. These analogues were conjugated to ORMOSIL nanoparticles through the carbonate function, forming carbamate derivatives of vitamin D nanoparticles. The interaction between these nanoparticles and human serum albumin, which is one of the serum transporters of the insoluble vitamin D3, was investigated by surface plasmon resonance. The results obtained revealed that this approach allows obtaining water-soluble vitamin D3 derivatives, which maintain their full protein binding ability

Representatividad geogr\ue1fica y ambiental del inventario de especies arbustivas en el \uc1rea de Protecci\uf3n de Recursos Naturales "Cuenca Alimentadora del Distrito Nacional de Riego 004 Don Mart\uedn", Coahuila, M\ue9xico

ResumenSe analizó la representatividad del inventario de plantas arbustivas de un área natural protegida de Coahuila, México, con los siguientes objetivos: describir los tipos de sesgos de muestreo; definir la heterogeneidad ambiental de la reserva captada en las recolectas botánicas, y determinar el nivel de resolución espacial que respalda la información recolectada. Los sesgos fueron significativos (por distancia a carreteras, χ2=199.01; p<0.01; por rango altitudinal, χ2=391.02; p<0.01, y por tipo de vegetación, χ2=518.13; p<0.01). La muestra del inventario exhibe diferencias significativas entre el grupo testigo y un diseño aleatorizado para 5 variables bioclimáticas (temperatura media anual [Bio1]: U=117,900; p<0.01; isotermalidad [Bio3]: U=189,650; p<0.01; precipitación del mes más húmedo [Bio13]: U=134,330; p<0.01; estacionalidad de la precipitación [Bio15]: U=175,720; p<0.01 y la precipitación del trimestre más frío [Bio19]: U=146,550; p<0.01). Respecto a las variables ambientales y distancias a carreteras, el cubrimiento de esta infraestructura dentro del área puede contribuir a una buena caracterización del área natural protegida. La información proveniente de las recolectas realizadas es adecuada para escalas pequeñas de análisis (1 y 0.5°).AbstractThe representativeness of the inventory of shrub species of a natural protected area in Coahuila, Mexico was analyzed, with the following objectives: to describe the types of sampling bias; to define the environmental heterogeneity of the botanical records; to determine the level of spatial resolution that supports the information collected. Biases were significant (χ2=distance road 199.01; p<0.01, by altitudinal range χ2=391.02; p<0.01 and vegetation χ2=518.13; p<0.01). The inventory sample exhibits significant differences between the control group and a randomized design for 5 bioclimatic variables (mean annual temperature (Bio1): U=117,900; p<0.01; isothermality (Bio3): U=189.650, p<0.01; precipitation wettest month (Bio13): U=134.330, p<0.01; seasonality of precipitation (Bio15): U=175.720, p<0.01 and precipitation of the coldest quarter (Bio19): U=146.550, p<0.01). Environmental variables and road distances, on the coverage of this infrastructure in the area, can contribute to a good characterization of the ANP. The information from collected records is adequate for small scales of analysis (1 and 0.5°)

La selva inundable de canacoite en Tabasco, M\ue9xico, una comunidad vegetal amenazada

Volume: 115Start Page: 75End Page: 10

Revisiting the species status of Pecari maximus van Roosmalen et al., 2007 (Mammalia) from the Brazilian Amazon

Volume: 60Start Page: 95End Page: 10