Gut Commensal Bacteroidetes Encode a Novel Class of Vitamin B12-Binding Proteins.

Human gut commensal Bacteroidetes rely on multiple transport systems to acquire vitamin B12 and related cobamides for fitness in the gut. In addition to a set of conserved transport proteins, these systems also include a diverse repertoire of additional proteins with unknown function. Here, we report the function and structural characterization of one of these proteins, BtuH, which binds vitamin B12 directly via a C-terminal globular domain that has no known structural homologs. This protein is required for efficient B12 transport and competitive fitness in the gut, demonstrating that members of the heterogeneous suite of accessory proteins encoded in Bacteroides cobamide transport system loci can play key roles in vitamin acquisition. IMPORTANCE The gut microbiome is a complex microbial community with important impacts on human health. One of the major groups within the gut microbiome, the Bacteroidetes, rely on their ability to capture vitamin B12 and related molecules for fitness in the gut. Unlike well-studied model organisms, gut Bacteroidetes genomes often include multiple vitamin B12 transport systems with a heterogeneous set of components. The role, if any, of these components was unknown. Here, we identify new proteins that play key roles in vitamin B12 capture in these organisms. Notably, these proteins are associated with some B12 transport systems and not others (even in the same bacterial strain), suggesting that these systems may assemble into functionally distinct machines to capture vitamin B12 and related molecules.

[Efficacy and safety of topical diltiazem 2 % in anal fissure]. / Efectividad y seguridad de diltiazem 2 % tópico en fisura anal.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 2 per cent diltiazem ointment in the treatment of anal fissure. To analyse the relationship between healing and diagnosis, and duration of the treatment and the number of applications. METHODS: A prospective observational study of all patients diagnosed with anal fissure that began treatment with topical diltiazem between January and June in 2007. Diltiazem ointment was prepared in the Pharmacy Service. Effectiveness and safety were assessed by a telephone survey conducted with each patient after 8 weeks of treatment, adding it to the patient's clinical records. The variables that were analysed were healing, adverse effects, diagnosis, duration of treatment and number of applications, among others. Follow-up was carried out for up to one year until complete healing of the fissure. The data analysis was carried out by descriptive statistics, crosstabs and Chi-square. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included in the study and anal fissure healed in 48.6 % of them. Healing occurred in 54.5 % of patients with anal fissure and in 33.3 % of patients with anal fissure and haemorrhoids. Some adverse effects occurred in 30 % of patients. Therapy was abandoned due to adverse reactions for 5.7 %. The fissure was cured for 60 % of patients who underwent treatment for a month or more. More than twice-daily applications did not lead to improved healing. There were no significant statistical differences in these results. CONCLUSIONS: Despite not having found statistical differences between the analysed variables, treatment of anal fissures with 2 per cent diltiazem ointment has avoided surgery in nearly 50 % of patients, with few adverse effects.

Efectividad y seguridad de diltiazem 2 % tópico en fisura anal / No disponible

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad y la seguridad de la pomada de diltiazem al 2 % en el tratamiento de la fi sura anal. Analizar la relación entre la cicatrización de la fi sura y diagnóstico, duración del tratamiento y número de aplicaciones. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo observacional de todos los pacientes diagnosticados de fi sura anal que comenzaron tratamiento con diltiazem tópico entre enero y junio de 2007. La pomada de diltiazem al 2 % se preparó como fórmula magistral en el servicio de farmacia. La efectividad y la seguridad se evaluó mediante encuesta telefónica a cada paciente tras 8 semanas de tratamiento, completándose con la historia clínica del paciente. Las variables analizadas fueron cicatrización, efectos adversos, diagnóstico, duración del tratamiento y número de aplicaciones, entre otras. Se realizó seguimiento hasta resolución de la fi sura hasta un período de 1 año. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante estadística descriptiva y frecuencia, tablas de contingencia y 2 (..) (AU)

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 2 per cent diltiazem ointment in the treatment of anal fissure. To analyse the relationship between healing and diagnosis, and duration of the treatment and the number of applications. Methods: A prospective observational study of all patients diagnosed with anal fissure that began treatment with topical diltiazem between January and June in 2007. Diltiazem ointment was prepared in the Pharmacy Service. Effectiveness and safety were assessed by a telephone survey conducted with each patient after 8 weeks of treatment, adding it to the patient’s clinical records. The variables that were analysed were healing, adverse effects, diagnosis, duration of treatment and number of applications, among others. Follow-up was carried out for up to one year until complete healing of the fissure. The data analysis was carried out by descriptive statistics, crosstabs and Chi-square. Results: A total of 70 patients were included in the study and anal fissure healed in 48.6 % of them. Healing occurred in 54.5 % of patients with anal fissure and in 33.3 % of patients with anal fissure and haemorrhoids. Some adverse effects occurred in 30 % of patients. Therapy was abandoned due to adverse reactions for 5.7 %. The fissure was cured for 60 % of patients who underwent treatment for a month or more. More than twice-daily applications did not lead to improved healing. There were no significant statistical differences in these results. Conclusions: Despite not having found statistical differences between the analysed variables, treatment of anal fissures with 2 per cent diltiazem ointment has avoided surgery in nearly 50 % of patients, with few adverse effects (AU)

Validación farmacéutica y detección de errores de prescripción de antineoplásicos en pacientes oncohematológicos / Pharmaceutical validation and error detection in the prescription of antineoplastics in oncohematological patients

Objetivo: Identificar los distintos tipos de error de prescripción de citostáticos en pacientes oncohematológicos adultos y pediátricos de nuestro hospital y proponer estrategias de mejora. Métodos: Estudio observacional longitudinal prospectivo en el que se validaron las prescripciones médicas de antineoplásicos procedentes de Hematología y Oncohematología Pediátrica durante 15 me ses. Se clasificaron los tipos de error atendiendo a la terminología y taxonomía publicadas por Otero et al en el documento "Errores de medicación: estandarización de la terminología y clasificación", recogiéndose 11 variables. Entre otros parámetros se determinaron: porcentaje de error global, por tipo de prescripción y servicios, así como de intervención farmacéutica y grado de aceptación. Resultados: Se detectaron un total de 92 errores correspondientes al 1,4% del total de prescripciones, y los de mayor frecuencia fueron: dosificación incorrecta (28,2%), duración incorrecta (21,7%) y volumen y/o vehículo inadecuados (16,3%). Además se detectó una orden de tratamiento de un paciente pediátrico alérgico al citostático prescrito. El 81,8% de órdenes con error se prescribieron de forma manual. En Hematología se obtuvo un 0,9% de error y en Oncohematología Pediátrica un 3,5%. Tanto el índice de intervención farmacéutica como su grado aceptación fueron del 100% (AU)

Objective: To identify the different types of cytostatic prescription errors in adult and paediatric oncohematological patients in our hospital and to propose strategies for improvement. Methods: Longitudinal, prospective, observational study in which prescriptions for antineoplastics from the haematology and paediatric oncohaematology departments were validated over a 15-monthperiod. The types of error were classified in accordance with the terminology and taxonomy published by Otero and cols in the document “Medication errors: standardisation of terminology and classification”. Eleven variables were recorded. Amongst other parameters, the following were determined: percentage of overall error, percentage of error in type of prescription, percentage of service error, percentage of pharmaceutical intervention and level of acceptance. Results: A total of 92 errors were recorded which corresponded to1.4% of the total prescriptions. The most significant errors were: incorrect dose (28.2%), incorrect duration (21.7%), incorrect volume and/or inadequate vehicle (16.3%), and in one case a prescription was made up where the patient was allergic to the specific cytostatic drug prescribed. 81.8% of prescription errors were made manually. In the haematology department a 0.9% error was recorded, as was a3.5% error in paediatric oncohaematology. Both the rate of pharmaceutical intervention and its level of acceptance were 100% (AU)

[Pharmaceutical validation and error detection in the prescription of antineoplastics in oncohematological patients]. / Validación farmacéutica y detección de errores de prescripción de antineoplásicos en pacientes oncohematológicos.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the different types of cytostatic prescription errors in adult and paediatric oncohematological patients in our hospital and to propose strategies for improvement. METHODS: Longitudinal, prospective, observational study in which prescriptions for antineoplastics from the haematology and paediatric oncohaematology departments were validated over a 15-month period. The types of error were classified in accordance with the terminology and taxonomy published by Otero and cols in the document "Medication errors: standardisation of terminology and classification". Eleven variables were recorded. Amongst other parameters, the following were determined: percentage of overall error, percentage of error in type of prescription, percentage of service error, percentage of pharmaceutical intervention and level of acceptance. RESULTS: A total of 92 errors were recorded which corresponded to 1.4% of the total prescriptions. The most significant errors were: incorrect dose (28.2%), incorrect duration (21.7%), incorrect volume and/or inadequate vehicle (16.3%), and in one case a prescription was made up where the patient was allergic to the specific cytostatic drug prescribed. 81.8% of prescription errors were made manually. In the haematology department a 0.9% error was recorded, as was a 3.5% error in paediatric oncohaematology. Both the rate of pharmaceutical intervention and its level of acceptance were 100%.