High urinary trace element concentrations: A possible indicator of urolithiasis in goats?

Background: Urolithiasis is a common urinary tract disorder among male goats. The role of trace elements in the crystallization of supersaturated urine has garnered considerable interest in other species, whereas their role in urolithogenesis has not been studied so far in goats. This study investigated the possible roles of urinary trace elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn) in the pathogenesis of urolithiasis in goats. Materials and methods: Eight male goats with obstructive urolithiasis were used in the study. A celiotomy with tube cystostomy was performed after the diagnosis. Urine samples collected intra-operatively were used for physico-chemical examination, microscopy, and trace element quantification by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Urinary sediments were also used for chemical functional group determination by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results: Multiple coffin-top-shaped urinary crystals were observed in all the goats. Mean urinary Mn, Fe, and Zn concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in urolithic goats than in healthy controls. The mean urinary Cu concentration was found to be non-significantly higher in urolithic goats than in healthy controls. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of PO43−, NH4+, and OH− chemical functional groups in the selected urinary sediments. Conclusions: The findings suggest that high urinary Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn concentrations in goats play a role in the urolithogenesis of phosphate stones

Randomized clinical trial of open versus laparoscopic left lateral hepatic sectionectomy within an enhanced recovery after surgery programme (ORANGE II study)

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy (LLLS) has been associated with shorter hospital stay and reduced overall morbidity compared with open left lateral sectionectomy (OLLS). Strong evidence has not, however, been provided.METHODS: In this multicentre double-blind RCT, patients (aged 18-80 years with a BMI of 18-35 kg/m(2) and ASA fitness grade of III or below) requiring left lateral sectionectomy (LLS) were assigned randomly to OLLS or LLLS within an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme. All randomized patients, ward physicians and nurses were blinded to the procedure undertaken. A parallel prospective registry (open non-randomized (ONR) versus laparoscopic non-randomized (LNR)) was used to monitor patients who were not enrolled for randomization because of doctor or patient preference. The primary endpoint was time to functional recovery. Secondary endpoints were length of hospital stay (LOS), readmission rate, overall morbidity, composite endpoint of liver surgery-specific morbidity, mortality, and reasons for delay in discharge after functional recovery.RESULTS: Between January 2010 and July 2014, patients were recruited at ten centres. Of these, 24 patients were randomized at eight centres, and 67 patients from eight centres were included in the prospective registry. Owing to slow accrual, the trial was stopped on the advice of an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board in the Netherlands. No significant difference in median (i.q.r.) time to functional recovery was observed between laparoscopic and open surgery in the randomized or non-randomized groups: 3 (3-5) days for OLLS versus 3 (3-3) days for LLLS; and 3 (3-3) days for ONR versus 3 (3-4) days for LNR. There were no significant differences with regard to LOS, morbidity, reoperation, readmission and mortality rates.CONCLUSION: This RCT comparing open and laparoscopic LLS in an ERAS setting was not able to reach a conclusion on time to functional recovery, because it was stopped prematurely owing to slow accrual. Registration number: NCT00874224 ( https://www.clinicaltrials.gov).</p

An Algal Nucleus-encoded Subunit of Mitochondrial ATP Synthase Rescues a Defect in the Analogous Human Mitochondrial-encoded Subunit

Unlike most organisms, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a green alga, does not encode subunit 6 of F(0)F(1)-ATP synthase. We hypothesized that C. reinhardtii ATPase 6 is nucleus encoded and identified cDNAs and a single-copy nuclear gene specifying this subunit (CrATP6, with eight exons, four of which encode a mitochondrial targeting signal). Although the algal and human ATP6 genes are in different subcellular compartments and the encoded polypeptides are highly diverged, their secondary structures are remarkably similar. When CrATP6 was expressed in human cells, a significant amount of the precursor polypeptide was targeted to mitochondria, the mitochondrial targeting signal was cleaved within the organelle, and the mature polypeptide was assembled into human ATP synthase. In spite of the evolutionary distance between algae and mammals, C. reinhardtii ATPase 6 functioned in human cells, because deficiencies in both cell viability and ATP synthesis in transmitochondrial cell lines harboring a pathogenic mutation in the human mtDNA-encoded ATP6 gene were overcome by expression of CrATP6. The ability to express a nucleus-encoded version of a mammalian mtDNA-encoded protein may provide a way to import other highly hydrophobic proteins into mitochondria and could serve as the basis for a gene therapy approach to treat human mitochondrial diseases