Synbiotic supplementation promotes improvement of chronic diarrhea of unknown etiology in patient with chronic kidney disease and provides better outcomes in dialysis

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients often have gastrointestinal symptoms which may result in malnutrition and a negative impact on their quality of life. Modulation of the gut microbiota can be a strategy to promote host health and homeostasis. Case report: The authors present a case of chronic diarrhea in a hemodialysis (HD) patient with an unknown etiology. After about one year and several failed interventions, synbiotic therapy was performed. The diarrhea episodes ceased after three months of daily supplementation and both biochemical and nutritional parameters improved. Synbyotic therapy promoted clinical benefits in this patient. Discussion: Therefore, this simple therapy may be a promising alternative in CKD and it should be tested in larger studies.

Clinical outcomes of kidney transplants on patients with end-stage renal disease secondary to lupus nephritis, polycystic kidney disease and diabetic nephropathy

Background: Patients with lupus nephritis could progress to endstage renal disease (10-22%); hence, kidney transplants should be considered as the treatment of choice for these patients. Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes after kidney transplants in patients with chronic kidney diseases secondary to lupus nephritis, polycystic kidney disease and diabetes nephropathy at Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital. Methods: A descriptive and retrospective study performed at one kidney transplant center between 2005 and 2013. Results: A total of 136 patients, 27 with lupus nephritis (19.9%), 31 with polycystic kidney disease (22.8%) and 78 with diabetes nephropathy (57.4%), were included in the study. The graft survivals after one, three and five years were 96.3%, 82.5% and 82.5% for lupus nephritis; 90%, 86% and 76.5% for polycystic kidney disease and 91.7%, 80.3% and 67.9% for diabetes nephropathy, respectively, with no significant differences (p= 0.488); the rate of lupus nephritis recurrence was 0.94%/person-year. The etiology of lupus vs diabetes vs polycystic disease was not a risk factor for a decreased time of graft survival (Hazard ratio: 1.43; 95% CI: 0.52-3.93). Conclusion: Kidney transplant patients with end stage renal disease secondary to lupus nephritis has similar graft and patient survival success rates to patients with other kidney diseases. The complication rate and risk of recurrence for lupus nephritis are low. Kidney transplants should be considered as the treatment of choice for patients with end stage renal disease secondary to lupus nephritis.

Sorghum Yield and Zai Holes in Goundi, Burkina Faso

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in sorghum yield between the Mossi zai hole and the Gourounsi zai hole, specifically examining the effects of manure and soil water conservation. A study field was created with six different treatments: (1) control with traditional management (no zai holes), (2) traditional management with manure, (3) Mossi zai holes with no manure, (4) Mossi zai holes with manure, (5) Gourounsi zai holes with no manure, and (6) Gourounsi zai holes with manure. Soil moisture readings were taken after each rainstorm (about weekly), soil properties were analyzed before planting and after harvest and above ground biomass was weighed at harvest. Manure was the only variable that significantly increased crop yield. This is different from the original hypothesis; zai holes were thought to be the main driver of increased crop yield in Sahelian West Africa. Zai holes did not have a significant effect on soil moisture.

Quorum Sensing and Microbial Interactions in Coral Black Band Disease and Coral-Associated Bacteria

The black band disease (BBD) microbial consortium often causes mortality of reef-building corals. Microbial chemical interactions (i.e., quorum sensing (QS) and antimicrobial production) may be involved in the BBD disease process. Culture filtrates (CFs) from over 150 bacterial isolates from BBD and the surface mucopolysaccharide layer (SML) of healthy and diseased corals were screened for acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) and Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) QS signals using bacterial reporter strains. AHLs were detected in all BBD mat samples and nine CFs. More than half of the CFs (~55%) tested positive for AI-2. Approximately 27% of growth challenges conducted among 19 isolates showed significant growth inhibition. These findings demonstrate that QS is actively occurring within the BBD microbial mat and that culturable bacteria from BBD and the coral SML are able to produce QS signals and antimicrobial compounds. This is the first study to identify AHL production in association with active coral disease.

Assessment of virulence factors characteristic of human Escherichia coli pathotypes and antimicrobial resistance in O157:H7 and non-O157:H7 isolates from livestock in Spain

The distribution of virulence factors (VFs) typical of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles were assessed in 780 isolates from healthy pigs, broilers, and cattle from Spain. VF distribution was broader than expected, although at low prevalence for most genes, with AMR being linked mainly to host species.

Effect of cattle on Salmonella carriage, diversity and antimicrobial resistance in free-ranging wild boar (Sus scrofa) in northeastern Spain

Salmonella is distributed worldwide and is a pathogen of economic and public health importance. As a multi-host pathogen with a long environmental persistence, it is a suitable model for the study of wildlife-livestock interactions. In this work, we aim to explore the spill-over of Salmonella between free-ranging wild boar and livestock in a protected natural area in NE Spain and the presence of antimicrobial resistance. Salmonella prevalence, serotypes and diversity were compared between wild boars, sympatric cattle and wild boars from cattle-free areas. The effect of age, sex, cattle presence and cattle herd size on Salmonella probability of infection in wild boars was explored by means of Generalized Linear Models and a model selection based on the Akaike's Information Criterion. Prevalence was higher in wild boars co-habiting with cattle (35.67%, CI 95% 28.19-43.70) than in wild boar from cattle-free areas (17.54%, CI 95% 8.74-29.91). Probability of a wild boar being a Salmonella carrier increased with cattle herd size but decreased with the host age. Serotypes Meleagridis, Anatum and Othmarschen were isolated concurrently from cattle and sympatric wild boars. Apart from serotypes shared with cattle, wild boars appear to have their own serotypes, which are also found in wild boars from cattle-free areas (Enteritidis, Mikawasima, 4:b:- and 35:r:z35). Serotype richness (diversity) was higher in wild boars co-habiting with cattle, but evenness was not altered by the introduction of serotypes from cattle. The finding of a S. Mbandaka strain resistant to sulfamethoxazole, streptomycin and chloramphenicol and a S. Enteritidis strain resistant to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid in wild boars is cause for public health concern.

Molecular organization of small plasmids bearing blaTEM-1 and conferring resistance to β-lactams in Haemophilus influenzae

TEM-1 is the dominant β-lactamase of Haemophilus influenzae and can be located on small plasmids. Three distinct plasmids with sizes from 4,304 to 5,646 nucleotides (nt) were characterized: pA1606, pA1209, and pPN223. In addition to TEM-1 and a replication enzyme of the Rep 3 superfamily, pA1606 carries a Tn3 resolvase gene and pA1606 and pA1209 carry an open reading frame (ORF) similar to a plasmid recombination enzyme gene described in Gram-positive bacteria. The plasmids transformed strain Rd to the ampicillin-resistant phenotype.

Adolescent’s subjective perceptions of chronic disease and related psychosocial factors: Highlights from an outpatient context study

Background: Adolescents with chronic disease (CD) can be more vulnerable to adverse psychosocial outcomes. This study aims: 1) to identify differences in psychosocial variables (health-related quality of life, psychosomatic complaints, resilience, self-regulation and social support) among adolescents who feel that CD affects or does not affect school/peers connectedness (measured by self-reported participation in school and social activities); and 2) to assess the extent to which psychosocial variables are associated with connectedness in school and peer domains. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 135 adolescents with CD (51.9% boys), average age of 14 ± 1. 5 years old (SD = 1.5). Socio-demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables were assessed, using a self-reported questionnaire, which included the Chronic Conditions Short Questionnaire, KIDSCREEN-10 Index, Symptoms Check-List, Healthy Kids Resilience Assessment Module Scale, Adolescent Self-Regulatory Inventory, and Satisfaction with Social Support Scale. Descriptive statistics, GLM-Univariate ANCOVA and Logistic Regression were performed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Thirteen to eighteen percent of the adolescents felt that CD affected participation at school (PSCH) and participation in leisure time with friends (PLTF). These adolescents presented lower results for all psychosocial study variables, when compared with adolescents who did not feel affected in both areas of participation. From the studied psychosocial variables, the most important ones associated with PSCH (after controlling for age, gender, diagnosis, and education level of father/mother) were self-regulation and psychosomatic health. Concerning the PLTF, social support was the sole variable explaining such association. Conclusions: The present study pointed out the association between psychosocial variables; and living with a CD and school/peers connectedness. The need to focus on the assessment of the effects of a CD on adolescents’ lives and contexts is suggested, as well as on the identification of vulnerable adolescents. Such identification could help to facilitate the maximization of social participation of adolescents with CD, and to plan interventions centered on providing support and opportunities for a healthy youth development. For that purpose, a complex and multifactorial approach that includes clinicians, schools, family, and peers may be proposed.

Peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is becoming a growing global problem, and there is an urgent need to identify reliable blood biomarkers of the risk and progression of this condition. A potential candidate is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which modulates major trophic effects in the brain. However, findings are apparently inconsistent regarding peripheral blood BDNF levels in AD patients vs. healthy people. We thus performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the studies that have examined peripheral BDNF levels in patients with AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls. We searched articles through PubMed, EMBASE, and hand searching. Over a total pool of 2061 potential articles, 26 met all inclusion criteria (including a total of 1584 AD patients, 556 MCI patients, and 1294 controls). A meta-analysis of BDNF levels between early AD and controls showed statistically significantly higher levels (SMD [95 % CI]: 0.72 [0.31, 1.13]) with no heterogeneity. AD patients with a low (<20) mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score had lower peripheral BDNF levels compared with controls (SMD [95 % CI]: -0.33 [-0.60, -0.05]). However, we found no statistically significant difference in blood (serum/plasma) BDNF levels between all AD patients and controls (standard mean difference, SMD [95 % CI]: -0.16 [-0.4, 0.07]), and there was heterogeneity among studies (P < 0.0001, I 2 = 85.8 %). There were no differences in blood BDNF levels among AD or MCI patients vs. controls by subgroup analyses according to age, sex, and drug use. In conclusion, this meta-analysis shows that peripheral blood BDNF levels seem to be increased in early AD and decreased in AD patients with low MMSE scores respectively compared with their age- and sex-matched healthy referents. At present, however, this could not be concluded from individual studies.

Protect your body, your temple : Get the Facts about Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Trait

These bookmarks state: Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells and causes organ damage, anemia, and lifelong episodes of pain. The disease most commonly affects people of African, Asian, Mediterranean, Central and South American ancestry. About 70,000 Americans are currently diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. Newborn screening for sickle cell disease and trait is required in South Carolina and most other states. One in 10 African Americans has the sickle cell trait. Knowing if you have the trait is important! Also is a list of available resources with addresses and phone numbers.

Agronomic characteristics of sorghum genotypes and nutritional values of silage.

Objetivou-se avaliar as características agronômicas de genótipos de sorgo e o valor nutricional das silagens produzidas. Foram utilizados 15 genótipos de sorgo. O plantio foi realizado em blocos casualizados com três repetições por genótipo num total de 45 (quarenta e cinco) parcelas. Avaliaram-se as características agronômicas, nutricionais e qualidade da silagem. Houve diferença entre os genótipos para todas as características analisadas, com exceção dos teores de nitrogênio indisponível em detergente ácido (NIDA), proteína indisponível em detergente ácido (PIDA) e atividade de água (aw). Avaliando os parâmetros, com exceção dos genótipos 1016013, 1016025, 1016037, 1016039, Volumax, BRS 610, que apresentaram teor proteico abaixo de 7 %, os demais estão aptos a serem utilizados para a ensilagem, pois possuem um bom perfil de fermentação e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca; no entanto, o genótipo SF 15 é o mais favorável para a produção de silagem, devido à sua menor participação na fração de fibra em detergente neutro.

Caracterização da mutagênese por inserção do retrotransposon Tos17 em genótipos de arroz

O aumento do potencial produtivo da cultura de arroz via melhoramento genético está principalmente relacionado ao rendimento, a qualidade de grãos e a obtenção de plantas resistentes a doenças e pragas. Neste caso, deve ser explorada a variabilidade genética natural ou induzida através de agentes mutagênicos físicos, químicos ou biológicos. A vantagem do uso de mutagênicos biológicos, como os transposons e os retrotransposons, é que ao serem inseridos podem interrompem um gene causando uma mutação. Esta retrotransposição deixa uma marca que possibilita a identificação molecular do local de inserção. No presente trabalho, foi utilizada a estratégia de mutagênese insercional através de eventos de transposição do retrotransposon Tos17, induzido por cultura in vitro. A análise de diferentes genótipos de arroz é muito importante para avaliar se a transposição ocorre de forma similar em genótipos distintos. Foram avaliados calos embriogênicos de cultivares que têm um histórico de variabilidade genética em homozigose, linhagens obtidas através de cruzamentos com espécies silvestres e ecótipos de arroz vermelho, submetidos a 6 meses de cultura in vitro. O método escolhido para avaliar o número de cópias de Tos17 em calos embriogênicos foi a quantificação relativa por PCR em tempo real. A identificação dos genes mutados pela inserção do retrotransposon foi feita através do isolamento e amplificação das seqüências que flanqueiam os insertos de Tos17. O resultado deste experimento indica um aumento no número de cópias de Tos17 em 8 dos 21 genótipos avaliados. O seqüenciamento dos fragmentos de DNA que flanqueiam os insertos do retrotransposon Tos17, indicaram alta similaridade com seqüências genômicas não codificantes de arroz.

Suco de laranja reduz colesterol e insulina no sangue de indivíduos saudáveis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aplicação de Fungicida Na Cultura do Tomateiro Via Água de Irrigação em Cultivo Protegido

O presente trabalho objetivou estudar os efeitos de uma nova técnica de aplicação de fungicida, através da água de irrigação (gotejamento), na cultura do tomate híbrido “Débora Plus”, no controle da doença causada pelo fungo Septoria lycopersici Sepg. Além de estudar a comparação dos tipos de aplicação, foi estudado também 6 (seis) doses do fungicida benomyl na fungigação. As doses utilizadas foram: 75% (59,5 mg/vaso), 50% (119,0 mg/vaso), 25% a menos da dose recomendada (178,5 mg/vaso), 100% da dose recomendada (238,0 mg/vaso), 25% (297,5 mg/vaso) e 50% superior à dose recomendada (357,0 mg/vaso). As doses utilizadas nas aplicações via pulverização foram de 100% da dose recomendada pelo fabricante (238,0 mg/vaso). Para efeito de comparação entre os tratamentos avaliaram-se o número e pesos das matérias fresca e seca dos frutos colhidos e a altura das plantas. Na instalação do experimento adotou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados com oito tratamentos e cinco repetições. De acordo com os resultados obtidos verificou-se que a aplicação convencional do benomyl, para controle da septoriose do tomateiro, foi superior à fungigação. Não houve diferença significativa entre as diferentes dosagens do produto na fungigação, mas houve o controle da doença. O parâmetro altura das plantas foi semelhante para todos os tratamentos, evidenciando que tanto a fungigação como a pulverização convencional não interferiu no crescimento das mesmas. O cultivo das plantas em casa de vegetação, utilizando vasos, proporcionou excelente resultado no controle de pragas e doenças, pois os tomateiros não apresentaram pragas tampouco outras doenças, além da Septoria lycopersici, que foi inoculada. Mesmo nas plantas testemunhas não houve disseminação da septoriose e, a irrigação com garrafas individuais também indicou bons resultados, pois deste modo sabe-se a quantidade de exata de fertilizantes, defensivos e água aplicada na planta.

Plant genetic resources: What can they contribute toward increased crop productivity?

To feed a world population growing by up to 160 people per minute, with >90% of them in developing countries, will require an astonishing increase in food production. Forecasts call for wheat to become the most important cereal in the world, with maize close behind; together, these crops will account for ≈80% of developing countries’ cereal import requirements. Access to a range of genetic diversity is critical to the success of breeding programs. The global effort to assemble, document, and utilize these resources is enormous, and the genetic diversity in the collections is critical to the world’s fight against hunger. The introgression of genes that reduced plant height and increased disease and viral resistance in wheat provided the foundation for the “Green Revolution” and demonstrated the tremendous impact that genetic resources can have on production. Wheat hybrids and synthetics may provide the yield increases needed in the future. A wild relative of maize, Tripsacum, represents an untapped genetic resource for abiotic and biotic stress resistance and for apomixis, a trait that could provide developing world farmers access to hybrid technology. Ownership of genetic resources and genes must be resolved to ensure global access to these critical resources. The application of molecular and genetic engineering technologies enhances the use of genetic resources. The effective and complementary use of all of our technological tools and resources will be required for meeting the challenge posed by the world’s expanding demand for food.