Interactions between Kluyveromyces marxianus from cheese origin and the intestinal symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron: Impressive antioxidative effects

The effects of yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus S-2-05, of cheese origin, were assessed on the intestine anaerobe symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ATCC 29741 to unveil any changes in its antioxidant properties. To this end, these microorganisms were grown and incubated either separately, or co-incubated, under anaerobic atmosphere. Afterwards, the microbial cells were recovered and washed, and extracts were prepared using a sterile detergent solution to mimic the intestine detergent content. The extracts prepared from K. marxianus S-2-05 and reference strain K. marxianus MUCL 29917, grown under different conditions, were assessed for their antioxidant properties against superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. Extracts from both yeasts showed antioxidative effects, which were particularly important for K. marxianus S-02-5 after anaerobic incubation. Moreover, K. marxianus S-02-5 displayed a high level of activity against the aforementioned reactive oxygen species, enhancing that of B. thetaiotaomicron ATCC 29741, after the co-incubation process. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to separate the proteins extracted. Superoxide dismutase, thiol peroxidase, rubrerythrin -intensively produced by B. thetaiotaomicron induced by the yeast-were identified by mass spectrometry. The antioxidative potential evidenced for K. marxianus S-02-5 is another advantage which could justify the utilization of this strain as a probiotic for countering intestinal inflammatory processes. © 2017 Elsevier Lt

Gadolinium and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: time to tighten practice

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a relatively new entity, first described in 1997. Few cases have been reported, but the disease has high morbidity and mortality. To date it has been seen exclusively in patients with renal dysfunction. There is an emerging link with intravenous injection of gadolinium contrast agents, which has been suggested as a main triggering factor, with a lag time of days to weeks. Risk factors include the severity of renal impairment, major surgery, vascular events and other proinflammatory conditions. There is no reason to believe that children have an altered risk compared to the adult population. It is important that the paediatric radiologist acknowledges emerging information on NSF but at the same time considers the risk:benefit ratio prior to embarking on alternative investigations, as children with chronic kidney disease require high-quality diagnostic imaging

In Vitro Activities of a New Des-Fluoro(6) Quinolone, Garenoxacin, against Clinical Anaerobic Bacteria

The antimicrobial activities of garenoxacin and eight other antibiotics against 641 anaerobic isolates were evaluated with the NCCLS agar dilution method. Overall, the MICs of garenoxacin for 50 and 90% of the strains tested (in micrograms per milliliter) were as follows: Bacteroides fragilis group, 0.5 and 2; Prevotella spp., 0.25 and 2; Fusobacterium spp., 0.25 and 0.5; Porphyromonas spp., 0.125 and 0.25; Bilophila wadsworthia, 0.5 and 1; Veillonella spp., 0.25 and 0.5; Clostridium spp., 0.25 and 1; Clostridium difficile, 2 and >64; Bifidobacterium spp., 1 and 2; Eggerthella lenta, 0.25 and 1; Propionibacterium spp., 0.5 and 0.5; gram-positive cocci, 0.125 and 0.25