The effect of selective decontamination on the intestinal microbiota as measured with IS-pro: a taxonomic classification tool applicable for direct evaluation of intestinal microbiota in clinical routine.

Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) is aimed at elimination of potential pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, the effect of SDD on gut microbiota was evaluated in a large homogenous group of elective colorectal cancer surgery patients. Rectal swabs were taken from 118 patients undergoing colorectal surgery. These patients were randomly assigned to receive perioperative SDD or to the control group (no SDD). Rectal swabs were taken prior to surgery, 3 days after commencing administration of SDD. Gut microbial profiles were obtained with the IS-pro technique, a standardized microbiota profiling assay applicable in clinical routine. Differences in abundance for different taxonomical groups and diversity between the groups were assessed. Unsupervised and supervised classification techniques were used to assess microbial signatures, differentiating between the SDD group and the control group. Patients in the SDD group had different gut microbial signatures than in the control group, also in phyla that are not a target for SDD. Escherichia coli, Sutterella spp., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Streptococcus spp. were the species that differed the most between the two groups. The SDD group showed clustering into two subgroups. In one subgroup, a decrease in Proteobacteria was observed, whereas the other subgroup showed a shift in Proteobacteria species. This study shows that SDD not only decreases colonization of the gastrointestinal tract with potential pathogenic Gram-negative microorganisms, but also reduces the abundance of normal colonizers of our gastrointestinal system and leads to a shift in total microbiota composition.

The profiling of microbiota in vaginal swab samples using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and IS-pro analysis.

BACKGROUND: 16S rRNA gene sequencing is currently the most common way of determining the composition of microbiota. This technique has enabled many new discoveries to be made regarding the relevance of microbiota to the health and disease of the host. However, compared to other diagnostic techniques, 16S rRNA gene sequencing is fairly costly and labor intensive, leaving room for other techniques to improve on these aspects. RESULTS: The current study aimed to compare the output of 16S rRNA gene sequencing to the output of the quick IS-pro analysis, using vaginal swab samples from 297 women of reproductive age. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and IS-pro analyses yielded very similar vaginal microbiome profiles, with a median Pearson's R2 of 0.97, indicating a high level of similarity between both techniques. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and IS-pro are highly comparable and that both can be used to accurately determine the vaginal microbiota composition, with the IS-pro analysis having the benefit of rapidity.

The vaginal microbiome as a predictor for outcome of in vitro fertilization with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a prospective study.

STUDY QUESTION: Is the presence or absence of certain vaginal bacteria associated with failure or success to become pregnant after an in vitro fertilization (IVF) or IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI) treatment? SUMMARY ANSWER: Microbiome profiling with the use of interspace profiling (IS-pro) technique enables stratification of the chance of becoming pregnant prior to the start of an IVF or IVF-ICSI treatment. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Live-birth rates for an IVF or IVF-ICSI treatment vary between 25 and 35% per cycle and it is difficult to predict who will or will not get pregnant after embryo transfer (ET). Recently, it was suggested that the composition of the vaginal microbiota prior to treatment might predict pregnancy outcome. Analysis of the vaginal microbiome prior to treatment might, therefore, offer an opportunity to improve the success rate of IVF or IVF-ICSI. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In a prospective cohort study, 303 women (age, 20-42 years) undergoing IVF or IVF-ICSI treatment in the Netherlands were included between June 2015 and March 2016. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Study subjects provided a vaginal sample before the start of the IVF or IVF-ICSI procedure. The vaginal microbiota composition was determined using the IS-pro technique. IS-pro is a eubacterial technique based on the detection and categorization of the length of the 16S-23S rRNA gene interspace region. Microbiome profiles were assigned to community state types based on the dominant bacterial species. The predictive accuracy of the microbiome profiles for IVF and IVF-ICSI outcome of fresh ET was evaluated by a combined prediction model based on a small number of bacterial species. From this cohort, a model was built to predict outcome of fertility treatment. This model was externally validated in a cohort of 50 women who were undergoing IVF or IVF-ICSI treatment between March 2018 and May 2018 in the Dutch division of the MVZ VivaNeo Kinderwunschzentrum Düsseldorf, Germany. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: In total, the vaginal microbiota of 192 women who underwent a fresh ET could be analysed. Women with a low percentage of Lactobacillus in their vaginal sample were less likely to have a successful embryo implantation. The prediction model identified a subgroup of women (17.7%, n = 34) who had a low chance to become pregnant following fresh ET. This failure was correctly predicted in 32 out of 34 women based on the vaginal microbiota composition, resulting in a predictive accuracy of 94% (sensitivity, 26%; specificity, 97%). Additionally, the degree of dominance of Lactobacillus crispatus was an important factor in predicting pregnancy. Women who had a favourable profile as well as <60% L. crispatus had a high chance of pregnancy: more than half of these women (50 out of 95) became pregnant. In the external validation cohort, none of the women who had a negative prediction (low chance of pregnancy) became pregnant. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Because our study uses a well-defined study population, the results will be limited to the IVF or IVF-ICSI population. Whether these results can be extrapolated to the general population trying to achieve pregnancy without ART cannot be determined from these data. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our results indicate that vaginal microbiome profiling using the IS-pro technique enables stratification of the chance of becoming pregnant prior to the start of an IVF or IVF-ICSI treatment. Knowledge of their vaginal microbiota may enable couples to make a more balanced decision regarding timing and continuation of their IVF or IVF-ICSI treatment cycles. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was financed by NGI Pre-Seed 2014-2016, RedMedTech Discovery Fund 2014-2017, STW Valorisation grant 1 2014-2015, STW Take-off early phase trajectory 2015-2016 and Eurostars VALBIOME grant (reference number: 8884). The employer of W.J.S.S.C. has in collaboration with ARTPred acquired a MIND subsidy to cover part of the costs of this collaboration project. The following grants are received but not used to finance this study: grants from Innovatie Prestatie Contract, MIT Haalbaarheid, other from Dutch R&D tax credit WBSO, RedMedTech Discovery Fund, (J.D.d.J.). Grants from Ferring (J.S.E.L., K.F., C.B.L. and J.M.J.S.S.), Merck Serono (K.F. and C.B.L.), Dutch Heart Foundation (J.S.E.L.), Metagenics Inc. (J.S.E.L.), GoodLife (K.F.), Guerbet (C.B.L.). R.K. is employed by ARTPred B.V. during her PhD at Erasmus Medical Centre (MC). S.A.M. has a 100% University appointment. I.S.P.H.M.S., S.A.M. and A.E.B. are co-owners of IS-Diagnostics Ltd. J.D.d.J. is co-owner of ARTPred B.V., from which he reports personal fees. P.H.M.S. reports non-financial support from ARTPred B.V. P.H.M.S., J.D.d.J. and A.E.B. have obtained patents `Microbial population analysis' (9506109) and `Microbial population analysis' (20170159108), both licenced to ARTPred B.V. J.D.d.J. and A.E.B. report patent applications `Method and kit for predicting the outcome of an assisted reproductive technology procedure' (392EPP0) and patent `Method and kit for altering the outcome of an assisted reproductive technology procedure' by ARTPred. W.J.S.S.C. received personal consultancy and educational fees from Goodlife Fertility B.V. J.S.E.L. reports personal consultancy fees from ARTPred B.V., Titus Health B.V., Danone, Euroscreen and Roche during the conduct of the study. J.S.E.L. and N.G.M.B. are co-applicants on an Erasmus MC patent (New method and kit for prediction success of in vitro fertilization) licenced to ARTPred B.V. F.J.M.B. reports personal fees from Advisory Board Ferring, Advisory Board Merck Serono, Advisory Board Gedeon Richter and personal fees from Educational activities for Ferring, outside the submitted work. K.F. reports personal fees from Ferring (commercial sponsor) and personal fees from GoodLife (commercial sponsor). C.B.L. received speakers' fee from Ferring. J.M.J.S.S. reports personal fees and other from Merck Serono and personal fees from Ferring, unrelated to the submitted paper. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN83157250. Registered 17 August 2018. Retrospectively registered.

Survival after curative surgical treatment for primary oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to review recurrence rate and survival of patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) that have received surgical treatment and adjuvant radio-therapy with curative intent in our clinic over a 6-year period. A total of 106 patients were included. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 41%, 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 77%, 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 72%. DSS was significantly different between early and advanced stage, 87% and 67% respectively (p = 0.04). Recurrence significantly affected survival: OS with or without recurrence at 20 months was 24% and 87% respectively (p < 0.001). Although a guideline based approach for the treatment of OSCC might provide an advantage, more data are needed for these guidelines to be based on.

Definition of quality indicators in microsurgery in head and neck reconstruction based on a 5-year follow-up without a loss.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical tissue transfer is a standard procedure in reconstructive surgery of defects in head and neck oncology patients. According to the literature vascular thrombosis occurs in 8-14% of cases and is considered to be the main reason for flap failure. A review of the literature on this subject was carried out and related to the quality guidelines of the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery in the Maastricht University Medical Centre. We defined quality indicators and quality goals for the reconstruction of head and neck defects. We investigated whether or not these parameters are practicable in a specialized head and neck cancer unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 81 consecutive patients with oral cancer/osteoradionecrosis of the mandible who received a microsurgical free tissue transfer for reconstruction. The patients were treated in our institution between August 2007 and December 2011. Patient data were collected in a prospective database. Follow-up was conducted in the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery. Data were analysed for the defined reference groups, and the results were compared with the quality goals. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 29.1 (range 1-55) months. There were only six (7.4%) immediate complications leading to compromised flaps. Among the complications were four (5.0%) anastomosis-related complications and two haematomas (2.5%). There was no flap loss. Based on the quality goals we were able to reach an overall flap success rate of 100%. CONCLUSION: Most of the defined quality goals can be attained in a specialized head and neck unit. Careful patient selection, pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic and surgical measures for preventing thrombosis, such as meticulous micro-vascular surgery are considered to be essential. No consensus in the literature was found on how complications could best be prevented. The role of a standardized pre-, peri- and postoperative management is presented. The importance of thorough planning and the technical skill of the reconstructive surgeon are highlighted. The debate on quality goals has the potential to enable further improvement in the care of head and neck cancer patients.

Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME): a review of the literature.

Transverse maxillary hypoplasia, in adolescents and adults, is frequently seen in non-syndromal and syndromal patients including cleft patients. In skeletally matured patients, the uni- or bilateral transverse hypoplasia can be corrected by means of a surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. The treatment is a combination of orthodontics and surgical procedures and provides dental arch space for alignment of teeth. The procedure also causes a substantial enlargement of the maxillary apical base and of the palatal vault, providing space for the tongue for correct swallowing and thus preventing relapse. In addition, a distinct subjective improvement in nasal breathing associated with enlargement of the nasal valve towards normal values is seen with an increase of nasal volume in all compartments. In this article we give a review on surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. We conclude that there is no consensus in the searched literature regarding either the surgical technique, the type of distractor used (tooth-borne or bone-borne), the existence, cause and amount of relapse and whether or not overcorrection is necessary. A proposal for a prospective randomized patient study in order to find answers to the lacunas in knowledge regarding this treatment is done.