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Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is an important pathogen causing healthcare-associated infections. In recent years, an increasing number of CA-MRSA clones have emerged and rapidly spread in the community and hospital settings in China. To investigate the molecular epidemiology and resistance of CA-MRSA in the respiratory tracts of Chinese adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). A total of 243 sputum samples were collected from adult patients with CAP at the Nantong Hospital in China between 2018 and 2021. S. aureus was identified using PCR, and its susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials was tested using the broth dilution method. Genomic characterization of respiratory CA-MRSA and our previously collected intestinal CA-MRSA isolates was performed using whole-genome sequencing, and the evolutionary relationships of these isolates were assessed using phylogenetic analysis. The CA-MRSA colonization rate among adults with CAP in China was 7.8 % (19/243). Antimicrobial resistance analysis revealed that the proportion of multidrug-resistant respiratory CA-MRSA isolates (100 %) was higher than that of intestinal CA-MRSA isolates (6.3 %). Among the 35 CA-MRSA isolates, 10 MLST types were identified and clustered into five clone complexes (CCs). CC5 (48.6 %) and CC88 (20 %) were predominant CA-MRSA clones. Notably, the CC5 clone ST764/ST6292-MRSA-II-t002 was identified as the major lineage causing respiratory tract infections in Chinese adults with CAP. The prevalence of CA-MRSA among Chinese adults with CAP is high and often involves ST764/ST6292-MRSA-II-t002 as the causal pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Anorexia of aging, defined as a decrease in appetite and a preponderant loss of body weight occurring in late life, is one of the most common diseases affecting older people. The peptide hormone cholecystokinin (Cck) is known to play a key role in regulating food intake and satiety in higher vertebrates. In humans as well as in rats, an increased concentration of Cck was described as the basis of appetite loss in elderly. However, the role of increased plasma Cck concentrations in mediating the age-related decrease in appetite remains to be established. Although in vitro studies are an excellent resource for investigating aging, the use of a model organism that shares and imitates the human physiological processes guarantees a better understanding of the in vivo mechanisms. African annual fishes from the genus Nothobranchius are emerging as a prominent model organism in biogerontology and developmental biology due to their short captive lifespan. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the possibility of using the genus Nothobranchius to model the anorexia of aging and their potential contribution to better understanding the pathway by which Cck induce appetite loss in older people providing a comparative/evolutionary localization of the current study model among the aging canonicals models, the morphology of its gastrointestinal tract and its Cck expression pattern. The comparative/evolutionary investigation was conducted using the NCBI blastp (protein-protein BLAST) and NCBI Tree Viewer. The macroscopic morphology, histological features, ultrastructural organization of Nothobranchius rachovii gastrointestinal tract were investigated using stereomicroscope, Masson's trichrome and alcian blue–PAS staining, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The cck expression pattern was studied through immunofluorescence labeling, western blotting, and quantitative RT-PCR. The intestine was folded into different segments divided into an anterior intestine made of a rostral intestinal bulb and an intestinal annex of lower diameter, mid and posterior intestine. The gradual transition from the rostral intestinal bulb to the posterior intestine sections's epithelium is characterized by a gradual reduction in the striated muscular bundles, villi height, and goblet mucous cells count. The lining epithelium of the intestinal villi was characterized by a typical brush border enterocytes full of mitochondria. Moreover, Cc k expression was detected in scattered intraepithelial cells concentrated in the anterior tract of the intestine. Our study introduces Nothobranchius rachovii as a model for anorexia of aging, giving the first bases on the gastrointestinal tract morphology and cck expression pattern. Future studies on young and elderly Notobranchius can divulge the contribution of cck in the mechanisms of anorexia associated with aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was applied to investigate the genetic diversity of Candida albicans in the intestinal tract of cirrhosis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used CHROM agar Candida medium to obtain 105 Candida sp. isolates from fecal samples (276 subjects), including 63 isolates from the cirrhosis group (141 subjects) and 42 isolates from the healthy control group (135 subjects). RESULTS: Among the 105 Candida strains isolated, 60 strains were identified as Candida albicans. Patients with cirrhosis had significantly higher rates of colonization by Candida sp. (44.68% vs. 31.11%, p < 0.05) and C. albicans (27.66% vs. 15.56%, p < 0.05) relative to healthy controls. In the cirrhosis group, the rate of colonization further increased with disease progression and antibiotic treatment (p < 0.01). Sixty C. albicans isolates were analyzed by MLST. Fifty diploid sequence types (DST) were observed, and 26 new DSTs and 3 novel alleles were found. The majority of isolates were distributed among three clades, clade 8 (31.67%), clade 14 (15.00%) and clade 18 (21.67%). Among 39 strains from the cirrhosis group, 16 strains (41.02%) belonged to clade 8, while only 3 strains (14.29%) from healthy group belonged to clade 8 (p < 0.05). In addition, concatenated sequences of the 7 housekeeping gene fragments were analyzed for all the different DSTs in clade 8 to evaluate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH), which indicates C. albicans microvariation in the gut of cirrhosis patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that cirrhosis disease progression and antibiotic treatment is associated with increased colonization by Candida sp. and C. albicans. We are the first to provide MLST-based genotype profiles for C. albicans Guizhou China, and to identify clade 8 as the potential main clade of C. albicans colonization in the gut of cirrhosis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avian Diseases is the property of American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an important opportunistic pathogen that affects immunocompromised individuals. Viable bacterial count method was used to count the number of adhered bacteria. The current study showed the efficiency of S. maltophilia (Sm2) adhesion on different parts of mouse intestinal tract (IT), small intestinal tract (SIT), large intestinal tract (LIT) and rectum (P<0.05) and this ability was equal for each part of IT [ANOVA test (P > 0.05)]. Moxifloxacin (0.03 x MIC) resulted a significant decrease in adhesion of S. maltophilia to SIT (P<0.05) versus control and other sub-inhibitory moxifloxacin concentrations (0.06 x and 1.2 x MIC). It can be concluded from the current study that the S. maltophilia (Sm2) has a good ability to adhere to mouse IT and the lowest concentrations of moxifloxacin (0.03 x MIC) reduced the ability of this bacterium to infect IT by reducing the ability of this bacterium to adhere to IT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 14-yr- old, male harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina) presented with depression, anorexia, and weight loss. Clinical examination revealed no specific abnormalities. Diagnostic imaging displayed an enlarged mass in the dorso-cranial abdomen. The animal was euthanized due to progressive worsening of symptoms. Grossly, severe emaciation and a massive enlargement of one mesenteric lymph node were found. Microscopically, a neoplastic round cell population with morphologic characteristics of mature lymphocytes infiltrated the mesenteric lymph node as well as the jejunal mucosa and exhibited a marked invasion of the mucosal epithelial layer. Immunohistochemically, the majority of cells expressed CD3, but not CD79α, indicating a T-cell origin of the tumor cells. Microscopic as well as immunohistochemical findings enabled the diagnosis of an epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma, a neoplasm that has yet not been described in a harbor seal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finding of ultrasonography of the intestinal tract was studied in 396 dogs. Out of which 15 cases had changes in their intestinal tract which included intussusceptions, complete and partial obstruction, inflammatory changes without obstruction, duodenal polyp, colonic and ileocaecal impaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to describe, in detail, the lesions and pathogenesis observed in free-living sea turtles that ingested fishing lines and to relate the physical characteristics of these lines with tissue damage. Thirty sea turtles were analyzed and eight of these had ingested fishing line. Three out of eight had severe macroscopic lesions, but all eight had microscopic lesions. Therefore, ingestion of fishing line by free-living sea turtles is frequent and always causes injury, with predominance of microscopic lesions, and characterized by decrease, degeneration, congestion, and hemorrhage of the villi. The ingested fishing lines can be long or short, and monofilament or multifilament. In the severe cases, the development of intestinal plication, twisting, intussusception, and fecalomas in different portions of the gastrointestinal tract can be observed, with the ingested fishing lines. In less severe cases, there were only small quantities of line fragments. The severity of injuries to the gastrointestinal tracts of sea turtles that ingested fishing lines was revealed in this study, which demonstrated that these injuries impair quality of life and can result in death. [Display omitted] • Thirty sea turtles were analyzed and eight of these ingested fishing line. • All turtles that ingested fishing line suffered microscopic injury. • The most relevant microscopic changes affected the mucosa. • Three turtles developed intestinal plication, torsion, intussusception and fecaloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Acute ischaemic colitis can occur postoperatively, mainly after aortic surgery, or spontaneously. Surgical treatment is debated. Study aim was to describe factors related to ischaemic colitis severity, determine if postoperative and spontaneous ischaemic colitis share similar outcomes, and evaluate results of standardized management. Methods: 191 consecutive cases of ischaemic colitis observed from 1997 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed: 119 (62%) after surgery and 72 (38%) spontaneous. Colon resection was performed for endoscopic type 2 colitis with multiple organ failure, and for every type 3. Types 1 and 2 without multiple organ failure were managed nonoperatively. Results: Seventeen patients (9%) were managed nonoperatively, without mortality. Mortality rate after resection was 48% (84/174), within 9 days (range, 0–152). Multivariate analysis found 2 independent factors associated with postoperative death: age≥75 years and multiple organ failure. The context in which ischaemic colitis occurred was not a risk factor for mortality. Mortality rates were 51% for final type 3 (66% with multiple organ failure, 17% without), 53% for final type 2 with multiple organ failure, and 0% for type 1 or type 2 without multiple organ failure. Conclusion: An aggressive surgical approach in patients with ischaemic colitis seems justified in patients with multiple organ failure and findings of severe form of ischaemia at endoscopy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lead is a metal that exists naturally in the Earth's crust and is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. The alleviation of lead toxicity is important to keep human health under lead exposure. Biosynthesized selenium nanoparticle (SeNPs) and selenium-enriched Lactobacillus rhamnosus SHA113 (Se-LRS) were developed in this study, and their potentials in alleviating lead-induced injury to the liver and intestinal tract were evaluated in mice by oral administration for 4 weeks. As results, oral intake of lead acetate (150 mg/kg body weight per day) caused more than 50 times and 100 times lead accumulation in blood and the liver, respectively. Liver function was seriously damaged by the lead exposure, which is indicated as the significantly increased lipid accumulation in the liver, enhanced markers of liver function injury in serum, and occurrence of oxidative stress in liver tissues. Serious injury in intestinal tract was also found under lead exposure, as shown by the decrease of intestinal microbiota diversity and occurrence of oxidative stress. Except the lead content in blood and the liver were lowered by 52% and 58%, respectively, oral administration of Se-LRS protected all the other lead-induced injury markers to the normal level. By the comparison with the effects of normal L. rhamnosus SHA113 and the SeNPs isolated from Se-LRS, high protective effects of Se-LRS can be explained as the extremely high efficiency to promote lead excretion via feces by forming insoluble mixture. These findings illustrate the developed selenium-enriched L. rhamnosus can efficiently protect the liver and intestinal tract from injury by lead. [Display omitted] • Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus can synthesize selenium nanoparticles. • Selenium-enriched Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus can alleviate lead toxicity. • The alleviation of lead toxicity is due to the promotion of lead excrete in feces. • Selenium enriched bacterial cells changing lead ions into a precipitation. • High lead immobilization is related to the selenium-induced increase of glutathione. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background & aims: We reviewed the literature that has specifically investigated the effects of nutritional support on the preservation of small bowel mucosal mass in humans or large mammals. Methods: We searched various databases (up to March 2009) for experimental studies which addressed intestinal protein metabolism of living organisms (humans or large mammals). Results: In adults, luminal proteins are of central importance for maintaining the intestinal protein content most likely by stimulating protein synthesis. With exclusive total parenteral nutrition, the small intestinal protein content can be largely preserved in humans over prolonged periods of time (1–2 months). To do so, amino acids are of central importance. Carbohydrates are presumably less important for the preservation of gut protein and may be even detrimental. Preponderant carbohydrate feeding may cause a relative intestinal protein deficit in the presence of insufficient luminal protein or parenteral amino acid supply. Conclusion: These findings may explain why a selective inadequate protein intake impairs intestinal function more than a balanced insufficient calorie supply. However, most of the substrate–gut interactions have been examined in healthy or mostly healthy organisms. Corresponding regulatory mechanisms in severely ill or malnourished individuals require further studies to test the hypotheses described above. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ischemic colitis is the most common type of intestinal ischemia, and it represents the consequences of acute or, more commonly, chronic blockage of blood flow through arteries that supply the large intestine. Ischemic colitis is manifested through a continuum of injury and considered as an illness of the elderly. The incidence of ischemic colitis has been underestimated, because many mild cases may go unreported. Patients experience abdominal pain, usually, localized to the left side of the abdomen, along with tenderness and bloody diarrhea. Severe ischemia may lead to bowel necrosis and perforation, which results in an acute abdomen and shock, frequently, being accompanied by lactic acidosis. Although computed tomography may have indicative findings, colonoscopy is the golden standard of diagnosis. Supportive care with intravenous fluids, optimization of hemodynamic status, avoidance of vasoconstrictive drugs, bowel rest, and empiric antibiotics will produce clinical improvement within 1 to 2 days in most patients. The condition resolves completely with conservative treatment, in most cases, but late diagnosis or severe ischemia can be associated with high rates of complications and death. However, when the interruption to the blood supply is more severe or more prolonged, the affected portion of the large intestine may have to be surgically removed. The present paper aims at bringing ischemic colitis up to date, by reviewing the current medical literature and extracting the contemporary data, about its presentation, diagnosis and treatment, which is of benefit to the readership, who may encounter this potentially fatal entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]