The effects of antibiotics on hemolytic behavior of red cells

Human blood was sheared between rotating polyethylene disks and plasma hemoglobin measured at intervals to produce kinetic hemolysis curves (KHC), plotted as free hemoglobin concentration vs time. The KHC produced by blood samples incubated in the presence of penicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, and amikacin lie always below those for control samples, indicating a reduction in hemolysis; this reduction was greater as the drug concentration was increased. Explanations in terms of alterations in red cell structure were sought by several characterization tests of amikacin-loaded blood samples. Drug-localization studies demonstrated that significant fractions of the total dosage were associated with the red-cell membrane. Resistive pulse spectroscopy was used to show how amikacin affected cell size, deformability, and osmotic fragility; results were sensitive to storage age of the blood. In all cases, the effect of shearing was to reduce cell size, deformability, and osmotic fragility. Mechanisms for hemolytic protection by drugs are proposed.     

Non-verbal communication of the residents living in homes for the older people in Slovenia

Aging of the population is a growing problem in all developed societies. The older people need more health and social services, and their life quality in there is getting more and more important. The study aimed at determining the characteristics of non-verbal communication of the older people living in old people's homes (OPH). The sample consisted of 267 residents of the OPH, aged 65-96 years, and 267 caregivers from randomly selected twenty-seven OPH. Three types of non-verbal communication were observed and analysed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. In face expressions and head movements about 75% older people looked at the eyes of their caregivers, and about 60% were looking around, while laughing or pressing the lips together was rarely noticed. The differences between genders were not statistically significant while statistically significant differences among different age groups was observed in dropping the eyes (p = 0.004) and smiling (0.008). In hand gestures and trunk movements, majority of older people most often moved forwards and clenched fingers, while most rarely they stroked and caressed their caregivers. The differences between genders were statistically significant in leaning on the table (p = 0.001), and changing the position on the chair (0.013). Statistically significant differences among age groups were registered in leaning forwards (p = 0.006) and pointing to the others (p = 0.036). In different modes of speaking and paralinguistic signs almost 75% older people spoke normally, about 70% kept silent, while they rarely quarrelled. The differences between genders were not statistically significant while statistically significant differences among age groups was observed in persuasive speaking (p = 0.007). The present study showed that older people in OPH in Slovenia communicated significantly less frequently with hand gestures and trunk movements than with face expressions and head movements or different modes of speaking and paralinguistic signs. The caregivers should be aware of this and pay a lot of attention to these two groups of non-verbal expressions. Their importance should be constantly emphasized during the educational process of all kinds of health-care professionals as well.     

Genome sequences and description of novel exopolysaccharides producing species Komagataeibacter pomaceti sp. nov. and reclassification of Komagataeibacter kombuchae (Dutta and Gachhui 2007) Yamada et al., 2013 as a later heterotypic synonym of Komagataeibacter hansenii (Gosselé et al. 1983) Yamada et al., 2013

Strains T5K1 and AV446 isolated from apple cider vinegars during a submerged vinegar production in two separate vinegar facilities showed 94% 16S rRNA gene similarity to its closest neighbors Komagataeibacter maltaceti LMG 1529^T and Gluconacetobacter entanii LTH 4560^T. Further phylogenetic and phenotypic characterizations indicated that the isolates belonged to a novel species of the Komagataeibacter genus. Comparison based on 16S–23S rRNA gene ITS sequences and concatenated partial sequences of the housekeeping genes dnaK, groEL and rpoB, grouped both strains to a single phylogenetic cluster well separated from the other species of the Komagataeibacter genus. Average nucleotide identity of T5K1 and AV446 draft genome sequences compared to other Komagataeibacter type strains was below 94% and at the same time, in-silico DNA–DNA hybridization was below 70%. Both strains on the other hand showed approximately 98% (average nucleotide identity) and 87% (in silico DNA–DNA hybridization) similarity to each other. Strains T5K1 and AV446 can be differentiated from other Komagataeibacter type strains based on their ability to produce 2-keto-d-gluconic acid and at the same time inability to produce 5-keto-d-gluconic acid. Furthermore, strains of the new species do not grow on Asai medium supplemented with d-glucose or d-mannitol. The growth is also absent (T5K1) or weak (AV446) on Hoyer–Frateur medium supplemented with afore mentioned sugars. Both strains produce cellulose. In addition, draft genome analysis revealed that strains T5K1 and AV446 possess genes involved in the synthesis of acetan-like extracellular heteropolysaccharide. We propose the name Komagataeibacter pomaceti sp. nov. for the new species with LMG 30150^T [= CCM 8723^T = ZIM B1029^T] as the type strain. Data collected in this study and in a previous study also revealed that Komagataeibacter kombuchae is a later heterotypic synonym of Komagataeibacter hansenii.     

Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and demonstration of genetic variability among bifidobacteria isolated from rats fed with raw kidney beans

A rise in bifidobacterial numbers resembling the Escherichia coli overgrowth phenomenon was observed in the rat small intestine in a feeding experiment with kidney beans. Bifidobacterial colony counts increased from 7.6 x 10(6) to 1.7 x 10(8) cfu.g-1 of intestinal tissue in the anterior part and from less than 1 x 10(5) to 2.65 x 10(8) cfu.g-1 in posterior part of the intestine. Fifteen bifidobacterial strains were purified and further analysed. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assays were used to genetically differentiate bifidobacterial isolates from rat gut and compare them with type strains of 20 different species from the genus Bifidobacterium. A total of 80 arbitrary decamere primers were screened with 6 isolates, and 7 primers were chosen for the final analysis. The amplified DNA bands were scored and analysed by the unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages clustering. The isolates were not identical to each other nor to the screened type strains. Whereas it was possible to group 12 of the isolates into 2 separate clusters, 3 strains showed no significant relatedness to any strain. The results of the RAPD analysis indicated that there was a large degree variability among the bifidobacteria in the rat gut and demonstrated the potential applicability of such an approach in the investigation of microbial diversity in complex ecosystems.     

Oral health related quality of life in Slovenian patients with craniomandibular disorders

Sixty eight consecutive Slovenian patients with craniomandibular disorders (CMD) participated as the study group and another 400 adults from the regional population sample participated as the control group. The aim was to determine the impact of craniomandibular disorders to the self-perceived oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) and to compare the OHRQoL with a control group. The mean Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) summary scores were computed for all patients with the same diagnosis and for the same subgroups of the axis I according to the RDC/TMD exam protocol. The mean OHIP subscores for the seven domains of the OHIP questionnaire were compared between the study and the control group. Significantly higher OHIP summary scores and all the OHIP subscores were obtained in the CMD patients in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, in the CMD group, patients with two related diagnoses had significantly higher impaired OHRQoL than patients with a single one. The results revealed: 1. The CMD subjects are highly associated with the reduced OHRQoL, 2. Higher number of diagnoses of the axis I according to the RDC/TMD results in the more impaired OHRQoL, 3. The higher age of the patients revealed the more impaired OHRQoL.     

The effects of antibiotics on hemolytic behavior of red cells

Human blood was sheared between rotating polyethylene disks and plasma hemoglobin measured at intervals to produce kinetic hemolysis curves (KHC), plotted as free hemoglobin concentration vs time. The KHC produced by blood samples incubated in the presence of penicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, and amikacin lie always below those for control samples, indicating a reduction in hemolysis; this reduction was greater as the drug concentration was increased. Explanations in terms of alterations in red cell structure were sought by several characterization tests of amikacin-loaded blood samples. Drug-localization studies demonstrated that significant fractions of the total dosage were associated with the red-cell membrane. Resistive pulse spectroscopy was used to show how amikacin affected cell size, deformability, and osmotic fragility; results were sensitive to storage age of the blood. In all cases, the effect of shearing was to reduce cell size, deformability, and osmotic fragility. Mechanisms for hemolytic protection by drugs are proposed.