Plasma free amino acid profiles and nutrition proteins in chronic renal failure; effect of dialysis treatment

Summary A well preserved nutritional status is beneficial in chronically uremic patients for slowing the pace of deterioration of renal function, and delaying the need for dialysis therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional profile of 10 patients in a steady state of advanced CRF, and of 15 patients with terminal renal failure immediately prior to their first hemodialysis session (J0), and 7, 14, 45, 60, days post start of dialysis. Patients were 18 to 65 years old with total plasma proteins 60g/1. Plasma concentrations of amino acids, nutrition proteins, apolipoproteins A1, and B were evaluated. Non inflammatory reaction was evaluated by determination of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, and C reactive protein. The data (mean ± 1 SD) were compared with mean values of 15 healthy individuals.     

COPYCAT: cophylogenetic analysis tool

We have developed the software CopyCat which provides an easy and fast access to cophylogenetic analyses. It incorporates a wrapper for the program ParaFit, which conducts a statistical test for the presence of congruence between host and parasite phylogenies. CopyCat offers various features, such as the creation of customized host-parasite association data and the computation of phylogenetic host/parasite trees based on the NCBI taxonomy. AVAILABILITY: CopyCat and its manual are freely available at http://www-ab.informatik.uni-tuebingen.de/software/copycat. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Results of the real-world example can be found at http://www-ab.informatik.uni-tuebingen.de/software/copycat or Bioinformatics online.     

100-year-old enigma solved: identification,genomic characterization and biogeography of the yet uncultured Planctomyces bekefii

The first representative of the phylum Planctomycetes, Planctomyces bekefii, was described nearly one century ago. This morphologically conspicuous freshwater bacterium is a rare example of as-yet-uncultivated prokaryotes with validly published names and unknown identity. We report the results of molecular identification of this elusive bacterium, which was detected in a eutrophic boreal lake in Northern Russia. By using high-performance cell sorting, P. bekefii-like cell rosettes were selectively enriched from lake water. The retrieved 16S rRNA gene sequence was nearly identical to those in dozens of metagenomes assembled from freshwater lakes during cyanobacterial blooms and was phylogenetically placed within a large group of environmental sequences originating from various freshwater habitats worldwide. In contrast, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to all currently described members of the order Planctomycetales was only 83%–92%. The metagenome assembled for P. bekefii reached 43% genome coverage and showed the potential for degradation of peptides, pectins, and sulfated polysaccharides. Tracing the seasonal dynamics of P. bekefii by Illumina paired-end sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments and by fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that these bacteria only transiently surpass the detection limit, with a characteristic population peak of up to 10⁴ cells ml⁻¹ following cyanobacterial blooms.     

Physiological susceptibility of the predator Macrolophus basicornis (Hemiptera: Miridae) to pesticides used to control of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

In order to aid the integration of biological and chemical controls for the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), this study evaluated the relative toxicity of five insecticides to the leaf miner predator Macrolophus basicornis (Stal) (Hemiptera: Miridae). The insecticides evaluated were teflubenzuron, abamectin, chlorantraniliprole, chlorfenapyr, and cartap hydrochloride, all of which are recommended for control of T. absoluta in Brazil. Nymphs and adults of M. basicornis were exposed to tomato leaves treated with the insecticides, under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The overall mortality caused by the products in both situations was recorded, and the survival of congeneric groups was analysed using the Weibull model. The persistence of the insecticides was also evaluated and they were categorised into toxicity classes proposed by the International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC) based on predator mortality and persistence. Abamectin and chlorfenapyr were toxic to M. basicornis nymphs and adults in all bioassays. Cartap hydrochloride was slightly harmful to adults in laboratory assays, but harmful to nymphs, and moderately harmful under greenhouse conditions. Chlorantraniliprole and teflubenzuron were harmless in most assays, except when nymphs were exposed in the laboratory, where they were moderately and slightly harmful, respectively. Chlorantraniliprole and teflubenzuron should be preferred insecticides for use in tomato leaf miner IPM programmes that aim to conserve M. basicornis populations.     

A comparison of the illness beliefs of people with angina and their peers: a questionnaire study

Background

Systolic compression of a coronary artery by overlying myocardial tissue is termed myocardial bridging. Myocardial bridging usually has a benign prognosis, but some cases resulting in myocardial ischemia, infarction and sudden cardiac death have been reported. We are reporting a case of myocardial bridging which was complicated with acute myocardial infarction associated with inappropriate blood donation.

Case presentation

A 33 year-old-man was admitted to our emergency with acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction after a blood donation. The electrocardiography showed sinus rhythm and was consistent with an acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction. We decided to perform primary percutanous intervention (PCI). Myocardial bridging was observed in the mid segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery on coronary angiogram. PCI was canceled and medical follow up was decided. Blood transfusion was made because he had a deep anemia. A normal hemaglobin level and clinical reperfusion was achieved after ten hours by blood transfusion. At the one year follow up visit, our patient was healthy and had no cardiac complaints.

Conclusions

Myocardial bridging may cause acute myocardial infarction in various clinical conditions. Although the condition in this case caused profound anemia related acute myocardial infarction, its treatment and management was unusual.