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Cureus Sep 2023A lung abscess is characterized as a clinical ailment arising from the localized suppurative necrosis of lung parenchyma. This condition primarily results from the...
A lung abscess is characterized as a clinical ailment arising from the localized suppurative necrosis of lung parenchyma. This condition primarily results from the complications of aspiration pneumonia due to anaerobic microorganisms originating from the oral cavity. Clinically, patients typically manifest symptoms such as fever, malaise, and a productive cough persisting over several weeks. The majority of lung abscess cases acquired within the community stem from anaerobic bacterial infections, often exhibiting a polymicrobial nature. We present a 51-year-old female with intrapulmonary abscess and empyema, with isolation of species. She has a 25-pack-year smoking history. Two weeks prior to arrival at our facility, she experienced intermittent shortness of breath, fever, and subjective fever. Her primary care physician ordered an outpatient computed tomography (CT) which showed evidence of a large right-sided fluid collection. Initial chest X-ray at our facility revealed extensive opacification of the middle and right lower hemithorax, believed to be a large-sized pleural effusion with adjacent pneumonia or atelectasis. She was given a working diagnosis of right-sided empyema. Cardiothoracic surgery was consulted and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed. A very large collection of grossly purulent material was evacuated and revealed a large intrapulmonary abscess. Over 400 cc of frank pus was collected and sent for microbiological analysis. Anaerobic culture demonstrated 3+ species and 3+ species. The genus consists of a small, strictly anaerobic, gram-negative cocci that lacks flagella, spores, and capsules. This genus obtains energy from the utilization of short-chain organic acids that are present in the oral cavity and intestinal tract. Oral is strongly associated with biofilms, causing human oral infectious diseases such as periodontitis and dental caries. Literature states that this organism has been isolated in a limited number of chronic pneumonitis cases. To date, the most common organism isolated from lung abscesses is in adult patients and in pediatric patients. We strive to elucidate the distinctive clinical presentation evident in this case, alongside a comprehensive understanding of the unusual pathogens identified in the disease's pathogenesis.
PubMed: 37842426
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45210 -
Journal of Oral Microbiology 2023Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common abdomen clinical emergency. Most APs have mild clinical symptoms and a good prognosis. However, about 20% of patients develop severe...
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common abdomen clinical emergency. Most APs have mild clinical symptoms and a good prognosis. However, about 20% of patients develop severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), increasing morbidity and mortality. The microbiome's impact on AP pathophysiology has received increasing attention. Hence, to explore changes in oral microbial composition in acute pancreatitis, we collected clinical information and oral saliva samples from 136 adult participants: 47 healthy controls, 43 acute mild AP (MAP), 29 moderate AP (MSAP), and 17 severe AP (SAP). Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, 663,175 high-quality sequences were identified. The relative abundance and diversity of oral microorganisms in AP patients increased, with decreased beneficial bacteria such as , , and , and increased , and in the AP group. Further changes in microbial composition occurred with increasing disease severity, including a decreased abundance of beneficial bacteria such as , and in MSAP and SAP compared to MAP. Moreover, the Lefse analysis showed that , and were better microbial markers for AP. Therefore, oral microbiome changes could distinguish AP from healthy individuals and serve as an early novel predictor of disease severity in AP patients.
PubMed: 37808891
DOI: 10.1080/20002297.2023.2264619 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023(, ) in intestinal flora of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are associated with poor prognosis. Studies have shown that could promote colorectal carcinogenesis...
(, ) in intestinal flora of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are associated with poor prognosis. Studies have shown that could promote colorectal carcinogenesis and progression, but whether could induce chemoresistance of colorectal cancer has not been clarified. Here, both and experiments showed that specifically colonized the CRC lesion and enhanced chemoresistance of colorectal cancer to oxaliplatin by recruiting myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) into the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, this study revealed that it was the increased secretion of IL-23 by MDSCs that subsequently facilitated the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells to induce chemoresistance of CRC by activating the Stat3-EMT pathway. Our results highlight that targeting might be a novel therapeutic strategy to overcome chemoresistance in the treatment of CRC.
Topics: Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37781363
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1230681 -
Biomedicines Aug 2023The oral microbiome can be influenced by many factors and its dysbiosis can have negative effects on oral and general health. The purpose of this study was to analyze...
The oral microbiome can be influenced by many factors and its dysbiosis can have negative effects on oral and general health. The purpose of this study was to analyze the intensity of 11 periodontal pathogenic microorganisms identified in the oral cavity of a sample of children and adolescents from Oradea, Romania and to investigate the association of some variables (age, gender, body mass index, diet, and salivary pH) with the identified microorganisms. The cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of clinically healthy patients under the age of 18 years from Oradea, Romania. For the analysis of the periodontal pathogens, the micro-IDent kit was used, which determines 11 bacterial markers for periodontitis and peri-implantitis. The kit is based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Bacterial sampling was carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions. A total of 60 children (23 male, 37 female) were included in this study, and were divided into three different age categories. No statistically significant results were identified for gender. However statistically significant results were obtained for other variables. Positive results for and were associated with ages between 13 and 18 years, while positive results for spp. were associated with ages between 2 and 5 years. Positive results for , , , and were associated with an overweight BMI. Negative results for and were associated with a natural diet in the first 6 months of life. Positive results for and were associated with an acidic salivary pH. In this study, the identified periodontal pathogens were associated with age, body mass index, diet in the first 6 months of life, and salivary pH.
PubMed: 37760818
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092374 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023The importance of gut-liver axis in the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is being investigated more closely in recent...
Metagenomic signatures reveal the key role of phloretin in amelioration of gut dysbiosis attributed to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease by time-dependent modulation of gut microbiome.
The importance of gut-liver axis in the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is being investigated more closely in recent times. However, the inevitable changes in gut microbiota during progression of the disease merits closer look. The present work intends to assess the time-dependent gut dysbiosis in MAFLD, its implications in disease progression and role of plant-derived prebiotics in its attenuation. Male C57BL/6J mice were given western diet (WD) for up to 16 weeks and phloretin was administered orally. The fecal samples of mice were collected every fourth week for 16 weeks. The animals were sacrificed at the end of the study and biochemical and histological analyses were performed. Further, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis was performed to investigate longitudinal modification of gut microbiome at different time points. Findings of our study corroborate that phloretin alleviated the metabolic changes and mitigated circulating inflammatory cytokines levels. Phloretin treatment resists WD induced changes in microbial diversity of mice and decreased endotoxin content. Prolonged exposure of WD changed dynamics of gut microbiota abundance and distribution. Increased abundance of pathogenic taxa like , and was noted. Phloretin treatment not only reversed this dysbiosis but also modulated taxonomic signatures of beneficial microbes like , , and . Therefore, the potential of phloretin to restore gut eubiosis could be utilized as an intervention strategy for the prevention of MAFLD and related metabolic disorders.
PubMed: 37744933
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1210517 -
Journal of Periodontology Apr 2024The aim of this study was to investigate an in vitro dynamic bioreactor model by evaluating the antimicrobial effect of clinically relevant amoxicillin doses on...
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate an in vitro dynamic bioreactor model by evaluating the antimicrobial effect of clinically relevant amoxicillin doses on polymicrobial microcosm biofilms derived from subgingival plaque.
METHODS
Biofilms from pooled subgingival plaque were grown for 108 hours in control and experimental dynamic biofilm reactors. Amoxicillin was subsequently infused into the experimental reactor to simulate the pharmacokinetic profile of a standard 500 mg thrice-daily dosing regimen over 5 days and biofilms were assessed by live/dead staining, scanning electron microscopy, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
Following establishment of the oral microcosm biofilms, confocal imaging analysis showed a significant increase in dead bacteria at 8 hours (p = 0.0095), 48 hours (p = 0.0070), 96 hours (p = 0.0140), and 120 hours (p < 0.0001) in the amoxicillin-treated biofilms compared to the control biofilms. Nevertheless, viable bacteria remained in the center of the biofilm at all timepoints. Significant reductions/elimination in Campylobacter rectus, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was observed among the amoxicillin-treated biofilms at the 96 and 120 hour timepoints.
CONCLUSION
A novel in vitro dynamic model of oral microcosm biofilms was effective in modeling the antimicrobial effect of a pharmacokinetically simulated clinically relevant dose of amoxicillin.
Topics: Biofilms; Amoxicillin; Bioreactors; Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Dental Plaque; Proof of Concept Study; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Campylobacter rectus; In Vitro Techniques; Microscopy, Confocal; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
PubMed: 37724702
DOI: 10.1002/JPER.23-0086 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Aug 2023The vaginal microbiome (VMB) has been classified into several discrete community state types, some of which have been associated with adverse human health conditions....
BACKGROUND
The vaginal microbiome (VMB) has been classified into several discrete community state types, some of which have been associated with adverse human health conditions. However, the roles of the many vaginal bacteria in modulating the VMB and health remain unclear.
METHODS
The associations among the vaginal taxa and other vaginal taxa, the vaginal pH, and the host gene expression responses were determined by calculating the correlation among the relative abundance of the vaginal taxa, the association between the vaginal pH and the predominant taxon in the VMB, and the correlation between the relative abundance of the vaginal taxa and human gene expression at the transcriptional level, respectively. Using these associations, an alternative more informative method, the biological vagitype (BVT), is proposed to classify community state types of the VMB.
FINDINGS
Most spp., with the exception of , show significant correlations with host gene expression profiles and negative associations with dysbiosis-associated vaginal taxa. Many non- spp. exhibit varied correlations with spp., the vaginal pH, and host gene expression. Compared to other dysbiotic taxa, including Lachnocurva vaginae, has a stronger positive correlation with vaginal pH and a stronger negative correlation with spp. Most dysbiosis-associated taxa are associated with stress responses of the host at the transcriptional level, but the genus has a uniquely strong positive correlation with host immune responses. The association between BVTs of the VMBs and host characteristics, e.g., race/ethnicity, microbial infection, smoking, antibiotics, high blood pressure, economic state, diet, and others, was examined. The BVT classification method improved overall performance in associating specific vaginal microbial populations with host characteristics and phenotypes.
INTERPRETATION
This study sheds light on the biological characteristics of the vaginal microbiota, including some less abundant or still unculturable taxa. Since the BVT method was established based on these biological characteristics, the classification outcome of the VMB may have more clinical relevance. Because the BVT method performs better in associating specific vaginal community types with diseases, e.g., bacterial vaginosis and gonorrhea, it could be beneficial for the predictive modeling of adverse health.
FUNDING
This work was supported by grants [UH3AI083263, U54HD080784, and R01HD092415] from the National Institutes of Health; and support from the [GAPPS BMGF PPB] grant from the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth. We would also like to thank the Office of Research on Women's Health at NIH for their generous support.
RESEARCH IN CONTEXT
The vaginal microbiome (VMB) refers to the community of microorganisms in the female lower reproductive tract. The VMB is often a simple ecosystem dominated by a single species. The most predominant bacteria in the VMB include several species and two non- species, i.e., Lachnocurva vaginae and species produce lactic acid to lower the vaginal pH and inhibit the growth of disease-associated bacteria. Thus, the predominance of protective Lactobacilli, i.e., , and , in the VMB is associated with overall vaginal health. However, the role of in promoting a healthy vaginal ecosystem is less clear. Actually, the biological and health relevance of many bacteria in the female lower reproductive tract is largely unknown. Some bacteria have low relative abundances, e.g., and spp.; and others are not yet culturable, e.g., Lachnocurva vaginae and BVAB TM7. When abundance of a taxon is low, its association with a host characteristic is a challenge. Previous methods to classify the VMB were based simply on their microbial compositions, and the biological characteristics of the vaginal bacteria were largely ignored. Thus, classification of these VMBs into biologically relevant community types, as described herein, should be helpful in determining their relevance to women's reproductive health. This study examines three biological characteristics of bacteria in the VMB, i.e., the associations among different bacterial taxa, the vaginal pH, and the host response. Based on these three characteristics, the influence of these bacteria, particularly low abundant and unculturable bacteria, on vaginal health is evaluated. seems to be neutral in maintaining overall vaginal health. is apparently more easily inhibited by spp. than Lachnocurva vaginae because of its stronger positive correlation with vaginal pH and negative correlation with . The genus of has a unique positive correlation with local immune responses, implying a role for in promoting inflammation. Compared with previous methods to classify the VMB, a new method, considering the above three biological characteristics of bacteria in the VMB, has been established. The new method performs better in associating specific vaginal communities with host characteristics and phenotypes; e.g., bacterial vaginosis and gonorrhea. Accurate biological classification of the VMB is fundamental for assessing its impact on women's health. Our classification scheme represents a step further toward that correct classification, eventually leading to new strategies for clinical assessment of the potential use of the VMB to diagnose or predict women's reproductive health.
PubMed: 37645743
DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.16.553525 -
Microorganisms Aug 2023Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of mortality worldwide. Considerable evidence indicates that dysbiosis of the gut microbial community... (Review)
Review
Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of mortality worldwide. Considerable evidence indicates that dysbiosis of the gut microbial community and its metabolite secretions play a fundamental role in advanced adenoma (ADA) and CRC development and progression. This study is a systematic review that aims to assess the clinical association between gut microbial markers and/or gut and circulating metabolites with ADA and CRC. Five electronic databases were searched by four independent reviewers. Only controlled trials that compared ADA and/or CRC with healthy control (HC) using either untargeted (16s rRNA gene or whole genome sequencing) or targeted (gene-based real-time PCR) identification methods for gut microbiome profile, or untargeted or targeted metabolite profiling approaches from the gut or serum/plasma, were eligible. Three independent reviewers evaluated the quality of the studies using the . Twenty-four studies were eligible. We identified strong evidence of two microbial markers and for ADA vs. CRC, and nine microbial markers -Lachnoclostridium, -Ruminococcus, spp., , Enterobacteriaceae, spp., Bacteroides, -, spp.-, , and for CRC vs. HC. The remaining metabolite marker evidence between the various groups, including ADA vs. HC, ADA vs. HC, and CRC vs. HC, was not of sufficient quality to support additional findings. The identified gut microbial markers can be used in a panel for diagnosing ADA and/or CRC. Further research in the metabolite markers area is needed to evaluate the possibility to use in diagnostic or prognostic markers for colorectal cancer.
PubMed: 37630597
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082037 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023Areca nut and slaked lime, with or without tobacco wrapped in leaf, prepared as betel quid, is extensively consumed as a masticatory product in many countries across... (Review)
Review
Areca nut and slaked lime, with or without tobacco wrapped in leaf, prepared as betel quid, is extensively consumed as a masticatory product in many countries across the world. Betel Quid can promote the malignant transformation of oral lesions as well as trigger benign cellular and molecular changes. In the oral cavity, it causes changes at the compositional level in oral microbiota called dysbiosis. This dysbiosis may play an important role in Oral Cancer in betel quid chewers. The abnormal presence and increase of bacteria , , , sp., , and in saliva and/or other oral sites of the cancer patients has attracted frequent attention for its association with oral cancer development. In the present review, the authors have analysed the literature reports to revisit the oncogenic potential of betel quid and oral microbiome alterations, evaluating the potential of oral microbiota both as a driver and biomarker of oral cancer. The authors have also shared a perspective that the restoration of local microbiota can become a potentially therapeutic or prophylactic strategy for the delay or reversal of lip and oral cavity cancers, especially in high-risk population groups.
PubMed: 37623956
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12080996 -
Acta Bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis Aug 2023Corynebacterium or diphtheroid's are gram-positive aerobic, pleomorphic skin and mucosal membrane components that are not pathogenic in nature. Peptostreptococcus...
Corynebacterium or diphtheroid's are gram-positive aerobic, pleomorphic skin and mucosal membrane components that are not pathogenic in nature. Peptostreptococcus indolicus belongs to the Peptostreptococcus genus and is a Gram-Positive Anaerobic Cocci (GPAC). Less than one percent of endocarditis is caused by gram-positive anaerobic bacteria. We report the first case of Peptoniphilus indolicus and Corynebacterium endocarditis in a patient with native valves and a pacemaker. In time, diagnosis of a Peptoniphilus indolicus infection can lead to early management of the infection and a decreased incidence of serious complications such as embolization or abscess formation. The combination of aggressive antibiotic administration and surgical intervention can significantly decrease morbidity and mortality. This case report will highlight the importance of Peptoniphilus infective endocarditis, ultimately leading to better diagnostic strategies and management.
Topics: Humans; Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Corynebacterium; Embolization, Therapeutic
PubMed: 37606054
DOI: 10.23750/abm.v94iS1.14614