Investigation of bacterial and fungal communities in indoor and outdoor air of elementary school classrooms by 16S rRNA gene and ITS region sequencing

The advent of high-throughput sequencing methods allowed researchers to fully characterize microbial community in environmental samples, which is crucial to better understand their health effects upon exposures. In our study, we investigated bacterial and fungal community in indoor and outdoor air of nine classrooms in three elementary schools in Seoul, Korea. The extracted bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS regions were sequenced, and their taxa were identified. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction for total bacteria DNA was also performed. The bacterial community was richer in outdoor air than classroom air, whereas fungal diversity was similar indoors and outdoors. Bacteria such as Enhydrobacter, Micrococcus, and Staphylococcus that are generally found in human skin, mucous membrane, and intestine were found in great abundance. For fungi, Cladosporium, Clitocybe, and Daedaleopsis were the most abundant genera in classroom air and mostly related to outdoor plants. Bacterial community composition in classroom air was similar among all classrooms but differed from that in outdoor air. However, indoor and outdoor fungal community compositions were similar for the same school but different among schools. Our study indicated the main source of airborne bacteria in classrooms was likely human occupants; however, classroom airborne fungi most likely originated from outdoors.     

Neoagarooligosaccharide Protects against Hepatic Fibrosis via Inhibition of TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway

Hepatic fibrosis occurs when liver tissue becomes scarred from repetitive liver injury and inflammatory responses; it can progress to cirrhosis and eventually to hepatocellular carcinoma. Previously, we reported that neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs), produced by the hydrolysis of agar by β-agarases, have hepatoprotective effects against acetaminophen overdose-induced acute liver injury. However, the effect of NAOs on chronic liver injury, including hepatic fibrosis, has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we examined whether NAOs protect against fibrogenesis in vitro and in vivo. NAOs ameliorated PAI-1, α-SMA, CTGF and fibronectin protein expression and decreased mRNA levels of fibrogenic genes in TGF-β-treated LX-2 cells. Furthermore, downstream of TGF-β, the Smad signaling pathway was inhibited by NAOs in LX-2 cells. Treatment with NAOs diminished the severity of hepatic injury, as evidenced by reduction in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver fibrosis mouse models. Moreover, NAOs markedly blocked histopathological changes and collagen accumulation, as shown by H&E and Sirius red staining, respectively. Finally, NAOs antagonized the CCl₄-induced upregulation of the protein and mRNA levels of fibrogenic genes in the liver. In conclusion, our findings suggest that NAOs may be a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of chronic liver injury via inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.     

Root caries in a sample of elderly persons

With the anticipated increase in the aged adult population and the associated gingival recession, the prevalence of root caries is expected to increase. The purpose of this study was to determine the experience and distribution of root caries in a group of aged adults living in Kayelitsha. All non-institutionalized elderly black adults participating in a community geriatric programme were examined. Root caries was recorded using visual and tactile criteria and expressed as the root caries index (RCI) rate. The mean age of the subjects was 65.2 years, the mean number of teeth present was 17.3 and the mean RCI rate was 2.2 per cent. All subjects had gingival recession while only 23.8 per cent had root caries. No surfaces with restored root caries lesions were found. In the maxilla the highest RCI rate was observed on the interproximal surfaces of the posterior teeth (4.4 per cent) but in the mandible the buccal surfaces of the posterior teeth had the highest RCI rate (4.2 per cent). In both the maxilla and the mandible the lingual surfaces of the anterior teeth showed no root caries. Maxillary teeth did not have a significantly higher root caries attack rate than mandibular teeth. Root caries does not appear to be a public health problem in the sampled population.     

Albuminuria and overall capillary permeability of albumin in acute altitude hypoxia

The mechanism of proteinuria at high altitude is unclear. Renal function and urinary excretion rate of albumin (Ualb) at rest and during submaximal exercise and transcapillary escape rate of 125I-labeled albumin (TERalb) were investigated in 12 normal volunteers at sea level and after rapid and passive ascent to 4,350 m. The calcium antagonist isradipine (5 mg/day; n = 6) or placebo (n = 6) was administered to abolish hypoxia-induced rises in blood pressure. Lithium clearance and urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin were used to evaluate renal tubular function. High altitude increased Ualb from 2.8 to > 5.0 micrograms/min in both groups (P < 0.05). In the placebo group, high altitude significantly increased filtration fraction (P < 0.05), but this response was abolished by isradipine. Lithium clearance and urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin remained unchanged by hypoxia in both groups. Exercise did not reveal any further renal dysfunction. In both groups, high altitude increased TERalb from 4.8 to > 6.7%/h (P < 0.05). In conclusion, acute altitude hypoxia increases Ualb despite unchanged tubular function and independent of effects of isradipine on filtration fraction. The elevated TERalb suggests an overall increase in capillary permeability, including the glomerular endothelium, as the critical factor in high-altitude induced albuminuria.     

Development of the enhanced neural response to NaCl in Fischer 344 rats

Duplications of the esophagus or stomach alone are infrequent, and complete foregut duplication has only rarely been described. Most combined esophagogastric duplications present within the first year of life, and if communication with the normal alimentary tract does occur, it does so only either above or below the diaphragm. This report illustrates a case of continuous duplication of the esophagus and stomach with communication to the normal alimentary tract at both proximal and distal ends. Operative management and a review of the literature and embryology are described.     

Postoperative Tc-scintimetry in femoral neck fracture. A prospective study of 46 cases

This article presents panic diary results of a dose-response study with imipramine hydrochloride in panic disorder with agoraphobia patients. Analysis of variance revealed significant time effects on panic frequency and severity measures, but group x time interaction effects were present for the severity measures only. Results also provided evidence for a positive dose-response relationship with 20 percent of patients in the placebo group, 31 percent in the low-dose group (0.5 mg/kg/day), 54 percent in the medium-dose group (1.5 mg/kg/day), and 70 percent in the high-dose (3 mg/kg/day) group being free of recurrent or severe panic attacks at posttreatment. Further stratified and logistic regression analyses revealed a direct linear relationship between total plasma tricyclic concentration and response. These findings affirm the dose-dependent nature and the specificity of imipramine's antipanic effects.     

High-level resistance of cytomegalovirus to ganciclovir is associated with alterations in both the UL97 and DNA polymerase genes

The study describes rates of coronary heart disease death and nonfatal coronary events over five years in a cohort of random sample population and relates them to levels of three major risk factors. It is based on a longitudinal follow-up of survey conducted initially in 1990 in all geographic regions of Turkey. Two-thirds of the original cohort aged 20 years or over 2259 adults comprising 1146 women was followed up by physical examination and an ECG recording at rest. New coronary events were defined to include myocardial infarction and stable angina with or without associated myocardial ischemia developed during the follow-up period. Overall annual death rate was nine per 1000 adults. Coronary deaths numbered 55 (of which 26 were women) representing 4.1 per year and were found high in women. New coronary events were registered in 37 men and 32 women (annual rates 7.2 and 5.8 per 1000, respectively). Among male participants aged initially 40 years or over, high systolic blood pressure (> or = 130 mmHg) at baseline significantly predicted coronary death (age-adjusted risk ratio (RR) 3.3) while high cholesterol concentrations (> or = 5.2 mmol l-1) predicted new coronary events alone (RR almost 2). In women systolic pressure again strongly predicted coronary death (age-adjusted RR 3.9), whereas abnormal cholesterol levels discriminated for coronary death and new coronary events (RR around 2.3 for each). High diastolic pressure (> or = 85 mmHg) was of predictive value for the combined outcome of coronary death and events in women (RR 1.9) but not in men. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression identified systolic blood pressure in men as significant independent predictor of coronary death, while total cholesterol concentration in both genders and systolic blood pressure in men were independent predictors of the combined outcome of coronary death or nonfatal coronary events. It was concluded that known major risk factors act in similar magnitudes commensurate with the specific risk increments also in populations with essentially low cholesterol levels. The relatively high coronary morbidity and mortality in Turkish women approaching that in men may be accounted for by an inherent greater risk burden.     

The origin and mode of fibroblast migration and proliferation in granulation tissue

The professions of nursing and medicine are committed to interprofessional education, in the belief that through this, patient care and satisfaction will be improved. Most initiatives involving nurses have been at post-qualification level, in primary health care, and concerning interpersonal or information management skills. Much of this collaboration has been with professions allied to medicine or social services. This paper discusses an innovative programme of shared learning in acute care, involving final year medical students and newly qualified staff nurses. The programme, developed in response to the blurring of professional roles between nurses and junior doctors, took place in our interprofessional Clinical Skills Centre. It was based around a developing patient scenario which was pertinent to the participants' area of practice. Each session was led by an experienced nurse lecturer and doctor, supported by specialist contributors. The style of learning was participative, with small interprofessional groups addressing a range of patient management issues. In this way, relevant clinical and communication skills were integrated within the context of holistic patient care. The course was well evaluated by both professional groups of participants and their managers. Subsequent research and curriculum development are leading to the expansion of this successful initiative.