Meconium microbiome and its relation to neonatal growth and head circumference catch-up in preterm infants

The purpose was identify an association between meconium microbiome, extra-uterine growth restriction, and head circumference catch-up. Materials and methods: Prospective study with preterm infants born <33 weeks gestational age (GA), admitted at Neonatal Unit and attending the Follow-Up Preterm Program of a tertiary hospital. Excluded out born infants; presence of congenital malformations or genetic syndromes; congenital infections; HIV-positive mothers; and newborns whose parents or legal guardians did not authorize participation. Approved by the institution’s ethics committee. Conducted 16S rRNA sequencing using PGM Ion Torrent meconium samples for microbiota analysis. Results: Included 63 newborns, GA 30±2.3 weeks, mean weight 1375.80±462.6 grams, 68.3% adequate weight for GA at birth. Polynucleobacter (p = 0.0163), Gp1 (p = 0.018), and Prevotella (p = 0.038) appeared in greater abundance in meconium of preterm infants with adequate birth weight for GA. Thirty (47.6%) children reached head circumference catch-up before 6 months CA and 33 (52.4%) after 6 months CA. Salmonella (p<0.001), Flavobacterium (p = 0.026), and Burkholderia (p = 0.026) were found to be more abundant in meconium in the group of newborns who achieved catch-up prior to 6th month CA. Conclusion: Meconium microbiome abundance was related to adequacy of weight for GA. Meconium microbiome differs between children who achieve head circumference catch-up by the 6th month of corrected age or after this period

Meconium microbiome and its relation to neonatal growth and head circumference catch-up in preterm infants.

The purpose was identify an association between meconium microbiome, extra-uterine growth restriction, and head circumference catch-up.Materials and methodsProspective study with preterm infants born ResultsIncluded 63 newborns, GA 30±2.3 weeks, mean weight 1375.80±462.6 grams, 68.3% adequate weight for GA at birth. Polynucleobacter (p = 0.0163), Gp1 (p = 0.018), and Prevotella (p = 0.038) appeared in greater abundance in meconium of preterm infants with adequate birth weight for GA. Thirty (47.6%) children reached head circumference catch-up before 6 months CA and 33 (52.4%) after 6 months CA. Salmonella (pConclusionMeconium microbiome abundance was related to adequacy of weight for GA. Meconium microbiome differs between children who achieve head circumference catch-up by the 6th month of corrected age or after this period

Diversity and composition of vaginal microbiota of pregnant women at risk for transmitting Group B Streptococcus treated with intrapartum penicillin

<div><p>Background</p><p>Administering intravenous antibiotics during labor to women at risk for transmitting Group B Streptococcus (GBS) can prevent infections in newborns. However, the impact of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis on mothers’ microbial community composition is largely unknown. We compared vaginal microbial composition in pregnant women experiencing preterm birth at ≤ 32 weeks gestation that received intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis with that in controls.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Microbiota in vaginal swabs collected shortly before delivery from GBS positive women that received penicillin intravenously during labor or after premature rupture of membranes was compared to controls. Microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing using the PGM Ion Torrent to determine the effects of penicillin use during hospitalization and GBS status on its composition.</p><p>Results</p><p>Penicillin administration was associated with an altered vaginal microbial community composition characterized by increased microbial diversity. <i>Lactobacillus</i> sp. contributed only 13.1% of the total community in the women that received penicillin compared to 88.1% in the controls. <i>Streptococcus</i> sp. were present in higher abundance in GBS positive woman compared to controls, with 60% of the total vaginal microbiota in severe cases identified as <i>Streptococcus sp</i>.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Vaginal communities of healthy pregnant women were dominated by <i>Lactobacillu</i>s sp. and contained low diversity, while Group B <i>Streptococcus</i> positive women receiving intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis had a modified vaginal microbiota composition with low abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i> but higher microbial diversity.</p></div

Differentially abundant taxa found in vaginal samples of pregnant women whose abundance differed statistically between treatments.

<p>Comparisons were performed using ANOVA for multiple comparisons followed by the Tukey-Kramer <i>post hoc</i> test.</p

Relative abundance of <i>Streptococcus</i> within each patient.

<p>Horizontal lines represent the average proportion of sequences per treatment.</p

Alpha diversity measurements of vaginal microbial communities from pregnant women under different treatments.

<p>The boxes spans the first quartile to the third quartile, the horizontal line inside the boxes represents the median. Lines extending vertically from the boxes indicate variability outside the upper and lower quartiles and the single black circles indicate outliers. After detecting overall differences in beta and alpha diversity among samples, an analysis of the specific taxonomic composition of mothers’ vagina was performed in order to identify the microbes responsible for differences among treatments. Significant differences (<i>p</i>< 0.05) were observed in the abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i> (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0169916#pone.0169916.g003" target="_blank">Fig 3</a>). <i>Lactobacillus</i> spp. was the most abundant genus found in the swab samples from the group of pregnant women without use of penicillin contributing 88.1% and 68.5% with positive and negative <i>Streptococcus</i> screening, respectively. In contrast, <i>Lactobacillus</i> contributed only 13.1% and 6.0% of the total vaginal microbial community found in the cases with use of penicillin with positive and negative screening for GBS, respectively. <i>Pseudomonas</i> was the second most abundant genus among samples contributing up to 6.0% of the total community in those women without use of penicillin. On the other hand, <i>Pseudomonas</i> contributed up to 17.5% of the total community in the cases with use of penicillin. Although the average abundance of <i>Pseudomonas</i> suggested differences between treatments, such difference was not significant (<i>p</i> = 0.134).</p

Structural Evaluation and Performance of Portland Cement Concretes After Exposure to High Temperatures

We evaluated the "residual" thermal conductivity of Portland cement concretes (with characteristic compressive strength at 28 days, f ck, of 20 MPa and 50 MPa) at room temperature after heat-treating at 180 °C, 300 °C and 600 °C. The description of the geometry of the structure was carried out using mercury intrusion porosimetry and nitrogen sorption. The results showed a decreasing tendency of residual thermal conductivity, which we attributed to heat-induced concrete degradation. Furthermore, the results from mercury intrusion porosimetry and nitrogen sorption tests showed that a coarser pore structure is produced with the raise of heat-treatment temperatures

Histoplasmose pulmonar aguda no Rio Grande do Sul Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

INTRODUÇÃO: A histoplasmose pulmonar aguda depende da inalação de uma grande quantidade de propágulos fúngicos por um paciente hígido. O tempo de exposição determina a gravidade da doença. Uma epidemia é influenciada por fatores que afetam o crescimento e a transmissão do Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum na natureza. OBJETIVO: Identificar os aspectos epidemiológicos e clínico-laboratoriais dos pacientes com histoplasmose pulmonar aguda no Rio Grande do Sul e compará-los com as microepidemias relatadas no Brasil. MÉTODO: Foram revisados 212 prontuários clínicos de pacientes com histoplasmose dos arquivos do Laboratório de Micologia do Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre (RS) num período de 25 anos (1977-2002). Foram identificados e incluídos no estudo os casos de histoplasmose pulmonar aguda com cultivo positivo e/ou achado histopatológico compatível. As microepidemias foram diagnosticadas com a comprovação de um caso ou evidência soromicológica com história clínica compatível. Foram revisadas as microepidemias publicadas no Brasil. RESULTADOS: Dezoito de um total de 212 pacientes (8,5%) foram incluídos no trabalho. A idade variou de 8 a 63 anos (média de 35,4; mediana de 34,5), e 67% eram do sexo masculino. A história epidemiológica foi sugestiva em 11 pacientes (61%). O tipo primário de histoplasmose pulmonar aguda foi o mais freqüente (17; 95%). Houve predomínio de casos isolados. CONCLUSÃO: O reconhecimento de casos isolados e a presença de microepidemias demonstram a abundância do H. capsulatum no solo, e juntamente com a ocorrência de todas as formas da doença, confirmam o Rio Grande do Sul como hiperendêmico para histoplasmose.<br>BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis is a respiratory infection occurring when an otherwise healthy individual inhales a large quantity of fungal propagules. Length of exposure determines disease severity. An epidemic is influenced by factors affecting the growth and transmission of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum in nature. OBJECTIVE: To identify epidemiological and clinical aspects of patients with acute pulmonary histoplasmosis in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and compare these aspects with those of other cluster outbreaks reported in Brazil. METHOD: The charts of 212 patients diagnosed with histoplasmosis over a 25-year period (1977-2002) were obtained from the archives of the Laboratório de Micologia from Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa (Santa Casa Hospital Mycology Laboratory), in the city of Porto Alegre (RS). In reviewing these patient charts, we identified and included in the study cases of acute pulmonary histoplasmosis in which there was a positive culture and/or histopathological findings consistent with the diagnosis. Outbreaks were defined as one confirmed case or positive immunodifusion Histoplasma capsulatum with compatible clinical history. All reported Brazilian outbreaks were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 212 patient charts reviewed, 18 (8.5%) were selected for inclusion in the study. Among those 18 patients, ages ranged from 8 to 63 years (median, 35.4), and 67% were male. Epidemiological histories were suggestive of the disease in 11 patients (61%). The most common disease type, seen in 17 patients (95%), was primary acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, and there was a predominance of isolated cases. CONCLUSION: The identification of isolated cases and the presence of cluster outbreaks demonstrate the abundance of H. capsulatum in the soil and, together with the occurrence of all forms of the disease, confirms the assumption that Rio Grande do Sul is a hyperendemic region for histoplasmosis