The Conserved nhaAR Operon Is Drastically Divergent between B2 and Non-B2 Escherichia coli and Is Involved in Extra-Intestinal Virulence

The Escherichia coli species is divided in phylogenetic groups that differ in their virulence and commensal distribution. Strains belonging to the B2 group are involved in extra-intestinal pathologies but also appear to be more prevalent as commensals among human occidental populations. To investigate the genetic specificities of B2 sub-group, we used 128 sequenced genomes and identified genes of the core genome that showed marked difference between B2 and non-B2 genomes. We focused on the gene and its surrounding region with the strongest divergence between B2 and non-B2, the antiporter gene nhaA. This gene is part of the nhaAR operon, which is in the core genome but flanked by mobile regions, and is involved in growth at high pH and high sodium concentrations. Consistently, we found that a panel of non-B2 strains grew faster than B2 at high pH and high sodium concentrations. However, we could not identify differences in expression of the nhaAR operon using fluorescence reporter plasmids. Furthermore, the operon deletion had no differential impact between B2 and non-B2 strains, and did not result in a fitness modification in a murine model of gut colonization. Nevertheless, sequence analysis and experiments in a murine model of septicemia revealed that recombination in nhaA among B2 strains was observed in strains with low virulence. Finally, nhaA and nhaAR operon deletions drastically decreased virulence in one B2 strain. This effect of nhaAR deletion appeared to be stronger than deletion of all pathogenicity islands. Thus, a population genetic approach allowed us to identify an operon in the core genome without strong effect in commensalism but with an important role in extra-intestinal virulence, a landmark of the B2 strains

Gait variability at fast-pace walking speed: A biomarker of mild cognitive impairment?

The interpretation of the increase in stride-to-stride variability of stride time (STV) regarding the evolution of cognitive deficits across the dementia spectrum is matter of debate.The aim of this study was to compare STV at usual and fast-pace walking speeds of MCI patients with that of cognitively healthy individuals (CHI) and Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) patients with mild dementia, while considering the effects of potential confounders. STV while walking at usual and fast-pace walking speeds was recorded with the GAITRiteA (R) system from 116 older adults (mean age 75.6 +/- 6.5 years; 55.2% female) divided into 3 groups according to their cognitive status (44 CHI, 39 MCI patients and 33 AD patients with mild dementia). The full adjusted multiple linear regression models showed that high STV was associated with slow gait speed at usual-pace walking speed (P=0.002) and with the MCI status at fast-pace walking speed (P=0.015). High STV at fast-pace walking speed was a specific gait disturbance of MCI patients in the sample of studied participants, and thus could be used in the future as a specific biomarker of MCI patients

Surgical management of multilevel lumbar spondylolysis: A case report and review of the literature

AbstractMultilevel lumbar spondylolysis accounts for less than 6% of the cases of lumbar spondylolysis and its treatment, as reported in the literature, has not been consistent. Fewer than ten cases presenting triple lumbar spondylosis have been published. We describe the case of a 33-year-old male presenting bilateral L3, L4, and L5 isthmic lysis with no spondylolisthesis or disc degeneration. The MRI and CT of the lumbar spine were decisive elements in the therapeutic choice and the surgical treatment performed was bilateral L3 and L4 isthmic repair via a combined anterior and posterior L5S1 approach. The clinical and radiological results were good at the last follow-up visit

Early Hospital Discharge of Older Adults Admitted to the Emergency Department: Effect of Different Types of Recommendations Made by a Mobile Geriatric Team

International audienc

Отражение национальных обычаев и традиций в творчестве Гусейна Джавида (на основе трагедии «Мать»)

В произведениях художественной литературы обычаи и традиции также находят свое отражение. Мы обратились к пьесе Гусейна Джавида «Мать». Перечислим встречающиеся в данной пьесе обычаи: святость гостя, сообщение доброй вести (мюжде), противостояние кровной мести, верность данному слову и т.д. В статье проводится сравнительный анализ обычаев и традиций, чтобы установить, основываются ли они на национально-генетических или религиозных корнях. Отметим, что при определении национального или религиозного происхождения, давности этих обычаев и традиций мы будем обращались к эпосу «Китаби Деде Коркут» и священной книге «Корану». «Под национальными традициями мы имеем ввиду характерные для того или иного народа и не связанные с религией, уходящие корнями вглубь веков и связанные с последующим национально-общественным развитием традиции». Здесь приводится определение национальной традиции, однако отмечается, что она по происхождению не связана с религией. Если какая-либо традиция приведена в соответствие с исламом или же религия внесла какой-либо обычай или традицию в жизнеустройство какого-то народа, и эта традиция живет веками, ее также можно причислить к национальным традициям. Джавид в своих произведениях на высоком уровне отразил обычаи и традиции нашего народа. Это является лишним показателем, характеризующим моральный облик и мировоззрение драматурга.У художній літературі опис традицій ми зустрічаємо в творах наших поетів та письменників. Безпосередньо у творчості драматурга Джавіда ми звернулися до драми «Мати». Перерахуємо звичаї яки зустрічаються у п'єсі: святість гостей, принести добру звістку, виступати проти кровної помсти, дати слово і пр. В даному творі ми провели порівняльний аналіз на підставі зразків для того, щоб традиції є національно-генетичними або релігійними. Відзначимо, що аналізуючи старовину цих традицій, національність або ж релігійність ми звернулися до епосу «Кітаби-деде- Горгуд» та священної книзі «Коран». «Коли говоримо національна традиція маємо на увазі традиції тієї чи іншої нації, що не мають ніякого відношення за походженням до релігії, пов'язані з ісламськими обрядами з шахськими древніми періодами і наступним національно-суспільним розвитком. Якщо яка- небудь наша традиція утворилася з ісламом або дала нації релігію, звичай і традицію та ця традиція підтримувалася нацією століттями, то її ми можемо охарактеризувати як національну традицію.We meet the description of the traditions in the fiction tradition in the works of the poets and writers. In particular, we used “Mother”tragedy of playwright Javid. Let’s enumerating customs which we meet in the plays: guest’s holiness, giving glad tidings, being opposite to the blood cause, promising and so on. We comporatively analysis based on the samples for knowing that the traditions which used in here either nationalgenetic or religious. It should be noted that, while we analyzing these traditions antiquity, whether national or religious, we used “Dede Korkut” and the holy book “Quran”. when we say national traditions we mean the traditions which belong to this or any other nation, origin that don’t related with religion. Here given the definition of the national tradition, but added that, origin has nothing to do with religion. If some of our customs combined with the Islam, or religion brought custom to the nation, and this custom used for many centuries by this nation, it can be considered as national traditions. Using of the customs and traditions of our people in a high level in his works by Javid is the main feature which characterized writer’s spiritual face and psychology

Regulation of carbon metabolism by environmental conditions: a perspective from diatoms and other chromalveolates

Diatoms belong to a major, diverse and species-rich eukaryotic clade, the Heterokonta, within the polyphyletic chromalveolates. They evolved as a result of secondary endosymbiosis with one or more Plantae ancestors, but their precise evolutionary history is enigmatic. Nevertheless, this has conferred them with unique structural and biochemical properties that have allowed them to flourish in a wide range of different environments and cope with highly variable conditions. We review the effect of pH, light and dark, and CO2 concentration on the regulation of carbon uptake and assimilation. We discuss the regulation of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, glycolysis, lipid synthesis, and carbohydrate synthesis at the level of gene transcripts (transcriptomics), proteins (proteomics) and enzyme activity. In contrast to Viridiplantae where redox regulation of metabolic enzymes is important, it appears to be less common in diatoms, based on the current evidence, but regulation at the transcriptional level seems to be widespread. The role of post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, glutathionylation, etc., and of protein-protein interactions, has been overlooked and should be investigated further. Diatoms and other chromalveolates are understudied compared to the Viridiplantae, especially given their ecological importance, but we believe that the ever-growing number of sequenced genomes combined with proteomics, metabolomics, enzyme measurements, and the application of novel techniques will provide a better understanding of how this important group of algae maintain their productivity under changing conditions

Physical Conditions in Orion's Veil

Orion's veil consists of several layers of largely neutral gas lying between us and the main ionizing stars of the Orion nebula. It is visible in 21cm H I absorption and in optical and UV absorption lines of H I and other species. Toward the Trapezium, the veil has two remarkable properties, high magnetic field (~100 microGauss) and a surprising lack of molecular hydrogen given its total hydrogen column density. Here we compute photoionization models of the veil to establish its gas density and its distance from the Trapezium. We use a greatly improved model of the hydrogen molecule that determines level populations in ~1e5 rotational/vibrational levels and provides improved estimates of molecular hydrogen destruction via the Lyman-Werner bands. Our best fit photoionization models place the veil 1-3 pc in front of the star at a density of 1e3-1e4 cubic centimeters. Magnetic energy dominates the energy of non-thermal motions in at least one of the 21cm H I velocity components. Therefore, the veil is the first interstellar environment where magnetic dominance appears to exist. We find that the low ratio of molecular to atomic hydrogen (< 1e-4) is a consequence of high UV flux incident upon the veil due to its proximity to the Trapezium stars and the absence of small grains in the region.Comment: 45 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Mobile Geriatric Team and Length of Hospital Stay Among Older Inpatients: A Case-Control Pilot Study

International audienc

Screening for elderly patients admitted to the emergency department requiring specialized geriatric care

BACKGROUND: There is a need for a brief geriatric assessment (BGA) tool to screen elderly patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) for their risk of a long hospital stay. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a BGA administered to elderly patients admitted to the ED may predict the risk of a long hospital stay in the geriatric acute care unit. METHODS: This study had a prospective cohort study design, enrolling 424 elderly patients (mean age 84.0 +/- 6.5 years, 31.6% male) who were evaluated in the ED using a BGA composed of the following items: age, gender, number of medications taken daily, history of falls during the past 6 months, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, and non-use of home-help services (i.e., living alone without using any formal or informal home services or social help). The length of stay (LOS) was calculated in days. Patients were separated into three groups based on LOS: low (&lt;8 days), intermediate (8-13 days), and high (&gt;13 days). RESULTS: The prevalence of male gender was higher among patients with the longest LOS compared to those with intermediate LOS (p = 0.002). There were more patients with a history of falls in the high LOS group compared to the intermediate LOS group (p = 0.001) and the low LOS group (p &lt; 0.001). The classification tree showed that male patients with an MMSE score &lt;20 who fell with age under 85 years formed the end node with the greatest relative risk (RR) of a long hospital stay (RR = 14.3 with p &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of a history of falls, male gender, cognitive impairment, and age under 85 years identified elderly ED patients at high risk of a long hospital stay

Who is at risk of long hospital stay among patients admitted to geriatric acute care unit? Results from a prospective cohort study

1) To confirm that vitamin D deficiency, defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration &lt; 25nmol/L, was associated with long length-of-stay (LOS) among older inpatients admitted to geriatric acute care unit; and 2) to examine which combination of risk factors of longer LOS including vitamin D deficiency best predicted longer LOS.Based on a prospective cohort study with a 25-day follow-up on average, 531 consecutive older inpatients (mean age 85.0 +/- 7.2 years, 59.1% women) admitted to the geriatric acute care unit of Angers University Hospital, France, were included. Linear regression models showed that male gender (P &lt; 0.025), delirium (P &lt; 0.015) and vitamin D deficiency (P &lt; 0.001) were independently associated with a longer LOS. The highest risk of a longer LOS was shown while combining vitamin D deficiency with male gender (Odds ratio (OR)=3.70 with P &lt; 0.001). The risk increased significantly while delirium was associated with these two baseline characteristics (OR=4.76 with P=0.001). Kaplan-Meier distributions of discharge differed significantly between participants who had or not the combination of the 3 criteria (P &lt; 0.007). Vitamin D deficiency, delirium and male gender were significant risk factors for a longer LOS in the studied sample of older inpatients