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International Journal of Systematic and... Jun 2024A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, motile bacterium, J379, was isolated from radioactive water spring C1, located in a former silver-uranium mine in the Czech...
A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, motile bacterium, J379, was isolated from radioactive water spring C1, located in a former silver-uranium mine in the Czech Republic. This slow-growing strain exhibited optimal growth at 24-28 °C on solid media with <1 % salt concentration and alkaline pH 8-10. The only respiratory quinone found in strain J379 was MK-7(H). C ω9 (60.9 %), C (9.4 %), C and alcohol-C (both 6.2 %) were found to be the major fatty acids. The peptidoglycan contained directly cross-linked -diaminopimelic acid. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences and the core-genome analysis revealed that strain J379 forms a separate phylogenetic lineage within the recently amended order . A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences between strain J379 and other members of the order showed <96 % similarity. This analysis revealed that the closest type strains were D16/0 /H6 (95.2 %), 0166_1 (94.9 %) and KV-962 (94.5 %). Whole-genome analysis showed that the closest type strain was BR7-21 with an average nucleotide identity of 78 %, average amino acid identity of 63.2 % and percentage of conserved proteins of 48.2 %. The G+C content of the J379 genomic DNA was 71.7 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phylogenomic data, as well as its physiological characteristics, strain J379 is proposed to represent a type strain (DSM 113746=CCM 9300) of gen. nov. sp. nov. within the family .
Topics: Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Fatty Acids; DNA, Bacterial; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Base Composition; Mining; Czech Republic; Peptidoglycan; Diaminopimelic Acid; Vitamin K 2; Silver; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 38922323
DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006432 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024The interaction between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is definite but not fully understood. This study aimed to analyze the risk...
PURPOSE
The interaction between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is definite but not fully understood. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors of AIS and explore the role of serum indicators such as angiotensin I (Ang I) in the prognosis of patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with AIS who underwent EVT and healthy controls were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and the patients were divided into a good or a poor prognosis group. We compared Ang I, blood routine indexes, biochemical indexes, electrolyte indexes, and coagulation indexes between patients and controls. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to evaluate possible risk factors for AIS and the prognosis of patients undergoing EVT. Independent risk factors for the prognosis of patients undergoing EVT were identified through multifactorial logistic regression analyses to construct diagnostic nomograms, further assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC).
RESULTS
Consistent with previous studies, advanced age, high blood glucose, high D-dimer, and high prothrombin activity are risk factors for AIS. In addition, Ang I levels are lower in AIS compared to the controls. The level of Ang I was higher in the good prognosis group. Furthermore, we developed a nomogram to evaluate its ability to predict the prognosis of AIS after EVT. The AUC value of the combined ROC model (Ang I and albumin-globulin ratio (AGR)) was 0.859.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, advanced age, high blood glucose, high D-dimer, and high prothrombin activity are risk factors for AIS. The combined Ang I and AGR model has a good predictive ability for the prognosis of AIS patients undergoing arterial thrombectomy.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Ischemic Stroke; Prognosis; Thrombectomy; Risk Factors; Middle Aged; Aged; Retrospective Studies; Endovascular Procedures; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Case-Control Studies; Biomarkers; ROC Curve
PubMed: 38919492
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1388871 -
Acta Dermatovenerologica Alpina,... Jun 2024Melasma, a chronic acquired skin pigmentation disorder, is characterized by the presence of irregular-edged brown to gray-brown patches with a symmetrical distribution,... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The effectiveness and safety of 3% tranexamic acid cream vs. 4% hydroquinone cream for mixed-type melasma in skin of color: a double-blind, split-face, randomized controlled trial.
INTRODUCTION
Melasma, a chronic acquired skin pigmentation disorder, is characterized by the presence of irregular-edged brown to gray-brown patches with a symmetrical distribution, primarily on sun-exposed areas such as the face. Topical hydroquinone (HQ) is the gold standard for melasma treatment but has numerous side effects. This study assesses the effectiveness of topical tranexamic acid (TA) as an alternative for melasma treatment.
METHODS
In a double-blind, split-face, randomized controlled trial involving 20 subjects, the effectiveness of 3% TA versus 4% HQ cream was evaluated over 8 weeks. The modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI), melanin index, erythema index, and side effects were assessed. Subjective improvement was measured using the patient global assessment (PtGA).
RESULTS
A significant decline in the mMASI score was observed at weeks 4 and 8 in both groups compared to baseline. There were no statistically significant differences in PtGA scores between the 3% TA group and the 4% HQ group.
CONCLUSIONS
Topical 3% TA is as effective and safe as 4% HQ for treating melasma in the Indonesian population, with potential advantages in terms of side-effect profiles.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Administration, Cutaneous; Double-Blind Method; Hydroquinones; Melanosis; Severity of Illness Index; Skin Cream; Tranexamic Acid; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38918942
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Jun 2024Acute hepatitis A infection is common among children in developing nations. The clinical presentation in children is usually asymptomatic and anicteric, and it is a...
BACKGROUND
Acute hepatitis A infection is common among children in developing nations. The clinical presentation in children is usually asymptomatic and anicteric, and it is a self-limiting infection. Rarely, it can be associated with extrahepatic complications such as pleural effusion, acalculous cholecystitis, and ascites.
CASE PRESENTATION
An 8-year-old middle eastern child presented with abdominal pain, jaundice in the sclera, yellowish color of urine, and poor appetite. In the last two days, abdominal distension developed. After conducting diagnostic investigations, the child was diagnosed with HAV hepatitis associated with bilateral pleural effusion, acalculous cholecystitis, and ascites. He was managed conservatively with vitamin K supplementation and supportive parenteral fluids. After 4 days, clinical improvement was observed.
CONCLUSION
Hepatitis A infections presented with extrahepatic manifestations like pleural effusion, acalculous cholecystitis, and ascites are very rare, especially in children. There have been some reports of these manifestations occurring in isolation, but for them to co-exist to our knowledge, this has only been reported in two cases in the literature, and this is the third case with all these three rare complications being presented simultaneously in a single child. Although HAV infection is an asymptomatic and self-limiting viral disease in childhood, it can manifest with rare extrahepatic complications, so pediatricians should be aware of this rare association to avoid unnecessary investigations.
Topics: Humans; Acalculous Cholecystitis; Hepatitis A; Ascites; Child; Pleural Effusion; Male; Vitamin K; Abdominal Pain
PubMed: 38918800
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04627-8 -
PLoS Pathogens Jun 2024COVID-associated coagulopathy seemly plays a key role in post-acute sequelae of SARS- CoV-2 infection. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly...
COVID-associated coagulopathy seemly plays a key role in post-acute sequelae of SARS- CoV-2 infection. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood, largely due to the lack of suitable animal models that recapitulate key clinical and pathological symptoms. Here, we fully characterized AC70 line of human ACE2 transgenic (AC70 hACE2 Tg) mice for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We noted that this model is highly permissive to SARS-CoV-2 with values of 50% lethal dose and infectious dose as ~ 3 and ~ 0.5 TCID50 of SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Mice infected with 105 TCID50 of SARS-CoV-2 rapidly succumbed to infection with 100% mortality within 5 days. Lung and brain were the prime tissues harboring high viral titers, accompanied by histopathology. However, viral RNA and inflammatory mediators could be detectable in other organs, suggesting the nature of a systemic infection. Lethal challenge of AC70 hACE2 Tg mice caused acute onset of leukopenia, lymphopenia, along with an increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Importantly, infected animals recapitulated key features of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. SARS-CoV-2 could induce the release of circulating neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), along with activated platelet/endothelium marker. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-platelet factor-4 (PF4) antibody revealed profound platelet aggregates especially within blocked veins of the lungs. We showed that acute SARS-CoV-2 infection triggered a hypercoagulable state coexisting with ill-regulated fibrinolysis. Finally, we highlighted the potential role of Annexin A2 (ANXA2) in fibrinolytic failure. ANXA2 is a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein that forms a heterotertrameric complexes localized at the extracellular membranes with two S100A10 small molecules acting as a co-receptor for tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA), tightly involved in cell surface fibrinolysis. Thus, our results revealing elevated IgG type anti-ANXA2 antibody production, downregulated de novo ANXA2/S100A10 synthesis, and reduced ANXA2/S100A10 association in infected mice, this protein might serve as druggable targets for development of antithrombotic and/or anti-fibrinolytic agents to attenuate pathogenesis of COVID-19.
PubMed: 38913740
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011777 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Jun 2024Esophageal cancer represents a significant public health concern; however, reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers have not been established. This study aimed to...
BACKGROUND
Esophageal cancer represents a significant public health concern; however, reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers have not been established. This study aimed to investigate the clinical value of plasma D-dimer levels in patients with esophageal cancer.
METHODS
Overall, 120 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent radical surgical resection at our department between January 2019 and 2020 were included (esophageal cancer group). Plasma D-dimer levels were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1 and 14. Additionally, 60 healthy participants (control group) with measured plasma D-dimer levels were included. The preoperative D-dimer levels and positive D-dimer test rates were compared between the groups. The 3-year survival rate in patients with esophageal cancer was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
RESULTS
Preoperative D-dimer concentration in the esophageal cancer group was (0.65 ± 0.859 µg/mL) significantly higher than that in the control group (0.32 ± 0.369 µg/mL). The positivity rate in the esophageal cancer group (35.0%, 42/120) was significantly higher than that in the control group (15%, 9/60). D-dimer concentrations were significantly higher 1 day postoperatively than preoperatively. Conversely, D-dimer concentrations were significantly lower 14 days postoperatively than preoperatively. Patients in the esophageal cancer group with plasma D-dimer concentrations ≤ 0.5 µg/mL had significantly higher 3-year survival rates than those with higher concentrations. In the logistic multivariate analysis, tumor pathological stage and preoperative plasma D-dimer levels were independent prognostic factors of 3-year survival rates in patients with esophageal cancer.
CONCLUSION
Plasma D-dimer concentrations are clinically valuable in esophageal cancer diagnosis, postoperative recurrence monitoring, and prognosis prediction.
Topics: Humans; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Esophageal Neoplasms; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Aged; Prognosis; Biomarkers, Tumor; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate; Esophagectomy
PubMed: 38907327
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02895-5 -
Annals of Emergency Medicine Jul 2024
Topics: Humans; Antifibrinolytic Agents; Tranexamic Acid; Emergency Medicine; Hemorrhage; Emergency Service, Hospital
PubMed: 38906636
DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2024.05.026 -
PloS One 2024To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS) used alone or in combination with D-dimer for detecting acute aortic syndrome... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS) used alone or in combination with D-dimer for detecting acute aortic syndrome (AAS) in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of AAS.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception to February 2024. Additionally, the reference lists of included studies and other systematic reviews were thoroughly searched. All diagnostic accuracy studies that assessed the use of ADD-RS alone or with D-Dimer for diagnosing AAS compared with a reference standard test (e.g. computer tomographic angiography (CTA), ECG-gated CTA, echocardiography, magnetic resonance angiography, operation, or autopsy) were included. Two reviewers independently selected and extracted data. Risk of bias was appraised using QUADAS-2 tool. Data were synthesised using hierarchical meta-analysis models.
RESULTS
We selected 13 studies from the 2017 citations identified, including six studies evaluating combinations of ADD-RS alongside D-dimer>500ng/L. Summary sensitivities and specificities (95% credible interval) were: ADD-RS>0 94.6% (90%, 97.5%) and 34.7% (20.7%, 51.2%), ADD-RS>1 43.4% (31.2%, 57.1%) and 89.3% (80.4%, 94.8%); ADD RS>0 or D-Dimer>500ng/L 99.8% (98.7%, 100%) and 21.8% (12.1%, 32.6%); ADD RS>1 or D-Dimer>500ng/L 98.3% (94.9%, 99.5%) and 51.4% (38.7%, 64.1%); ADD RS>1 or ADD RS = 1 with D-dimer>500ng/L 93.1% (87.1%, 96.3%) and 67.1% (54.4%, 77.7%).
CONCLUSIONS
Combinations of ADD-RS and D-dimer can be used to select patients with suspected AAS for imaging with a range of trade-offs between sensitivity (93.1% to 99.8%) and specificity (21.8% to 67.1%).
Topics: Humans; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Aortic Dissection; Syndrome; Sensitivity and Specificity; Acute Disease; Computed Tomography Angiography; Acute Aortic Syndrome
PubMed: 38905181
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304401 -
Archives of Microbiology Jun 2024Two myxobacterial strains (KH5-1 and NO1) were isolated from the activated sludge tanks treating municipal sewage wastewater in Japan. These strains were recognised as...
Two myxobacterial strains (KH5-1 and NO1) were isolated from the activated sludge tanks treating municipal sewage wastewater in Japan. These strains were recognised as myxobacteria based on their phenotypic characteristics of swarming colonies and fruiting bodies. Phylogenetic analyses using the 16S rRNA gene revealed that strains KH5-1 and NO1 were affiliated with the genus Corallococcus, with the closest neighbours being Corallococcus exercitus AB043A (99.77% and 99.84%, respectively). Genome comparisons using orthologous average nucleotide identity (orthoANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridisation similarity (dDDH) with strains KH5-1 and NO1 and their phylogenetically close relatives in Corallococcus spp. were below the thresholds. The major cellular fatty acids of strains KH5-1 and NO1 were iso-C (31.9%, 30.0%), summed feature 3 (comprising Cω7c and/or Cω6c) (20.2%, 17.7%), and iso-C (12.1%, 14.8%), and the major respiratory quinone was found to be menaquinone (MK)-8. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic evidence, strains KH5-1 and NO1 represent a new species in the genus Corallococcus, for which the proposed name is Corallococcus caeni sp. nov. The type strain is KH5-1 (= NCIMB 15510 = JCM 36609).
Topics: Sewage; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Fatty Acids; DNA, Bacterial; Base Composition; Myxococcales; Japan; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Vitamin K 2; Genome, Bacterial; Wastewater
PubMed: 38904779
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04037-w -
International Journal of Systematic and... Jun 2024Two Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, strictly aerobic strains, forming yellow colonies and designated F6058 and S2608, were isolated from marine sediment...
Two Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, strictly aerobic strains, forming yellow colonies and designated F6058 and S2608, were isolated from marine sediment collected in Weihai, PR China. Both strains grow at 4-40 °C (optimum, 30-33 °C), pH 6.0-7.5 (optimum, pH 6.5) and in the presence of 0-7.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The optimum NaCl concentrations for strains F6058 and S2608 were 2.0 % and 2.5 %, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains F6058 and S2608 share an evolutionary lineage with members of the genus . The isolates exhibited a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.7 % to each other. Strains F6058 exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to F64183 (98.8 %), and S2608 was most similar to A71 (96.9 %). Iso-C, anteiso-C and iso-C 3-OH were the major fatty acids of strains F6058 and S2608. The sole respiratory quinone of both isolates was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). The polar lipid profiles of the isolates both consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphoglycolipids; however, strain F6058 exhibited one glycolipid, one aminolipid and two unidentified polar lipids, and strain S2608 also had two glycolipids and one unidentified polar lipid. The DNA G+C contents of strains F6058 and S2608 were 34.6 % and 37.7 mol%, respectively. Based on their phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic characteristics, strains F6058 and S2608 were considered to represent novel species of the genus , for which the names sp. nov. and sp. nov. were proposed. The type strains are F6058 (=KCTC 92653=MCCC 1H01358) and S2608 (KCTC 92652=MCCC 1H01361).
Topics: RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Geologic Sediments; Phylogeny; Fatty Acids; China; Base Composition; Vitamin K 2; Bacterial Typing Techniques; DNA, Bacterial; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Seawater; Molecular Sequence Data; Phospholipids; Phosphatidylethanolamines
PubMed: 38904664
DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006423