Citroniella saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., a member of the family Peptoniphilaceae isolated from a human fecal sample from a coastal traditional community member.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming coccus-shaped obligately anaerobic bacterium was recovered from a fecal sample obtained from an individual from a traditional community located on the southern coast of Peru. The results of analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated the novel bacterium to be phylogenetically distinct from other genera of members of the Peptoniphilaceae family, sharing a loose affinity with the genera Ezakiella, Finegoldia, Gallicola and Parvimonas. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel isolate were determined to be C16:0, C17:1ω8c, and C18:1ω9c. The DNA G+C content was 29.9 mol%. End products of metabolism from peptone yeast glucose broth (PYG) were determined to be acetate and methyl succinate. The diagnostic diamino acid present in the cell wall was lysine. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results the organism is a member of a novel genus belonging to the family Peptoniphilaceae for which the name Citroniella saccharovorans gen nov. sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is M6.X9T (DSM 29873T=CCUG 66799T).

Peptoniphilus catoniae sp. nov., isolated from a human faecal sample from a traditional Peruvian coastal community.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, coccus-shaped, obligately anaerobic bacterium was isolated from a faecal sample obtained from an individual in a traditional community located off the southern coast of Peru. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed the novel bacterium belonged to the genus Peptoniphilus but showed no particular relationship with any species, demonstrating less than 91 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with all members of the genus. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel isolate were determined to be C10 : 0, C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C18 : 2ω6,9c/anteiso-C18 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 34.4 mol%. End-products of metabolism from peptone-yeast-glucose broth (PYG) were determined to be acetate and butyrate. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results, the organism represents a novel species of the genus Peptoniphilus, for which the name Peptoniphilus catoniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M6.X2DT ( = DSM 29874T = CCUG 66798T).

Ezakiella peruensis gen. nov., sp. nov. isolated from human fecal sample from a coastal traditional community in Peru.

A novel Gram-stain positive, non-motile, non-sporeforming coccus-shaped, obligately anaerobic bacterium was isolated from a fecal sample of an individual residing in a traditional Peruvian community. The organism was characterized using biochemical, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic methods. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses and phenotypic characteristics demonstrated that the organism was biochemically and phenotypically related, but distinct, from a group of organisms referred to as the Gram-stain positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC). The major cellular fatty acids of the novel isolate were determined to be C16:0 (18.3%), C18:1ω9c (39.8%), C18:2ω6,9c/C18:0 ANTE (13.2%). Fermentation end products from PYG are acetate and formate. Cell-wall peptidoglycan was found to be A4α (L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Glu) and the G + C content was determined to be 38.4 mol%. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic results, Ezakiella peruensis gen. nov., sp. nov., is now proposed. The type strain is M6.X2(T) (DSM 27367(T) = NBRC 109957 (T) = CCUG 64571(T)).

Circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and soluble markers of vascular endothelial cell activation in growth hormone-deficient adolescents.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Significant endothelial dysfunction as determined by lower flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery was recently reported by us in growth hormone-deficient (GHD) adolescents. The circulating concentrations of markers of vascular endothelial cell and platelet activation and their relationship to inflammatory markers have not been previously evaluated in this group of patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble markers of vascular endothelial cell activation in GHD adolescents. DESIGN/METHODS: Twenty-eight GHD children on GH treatment with a chronological age of 15.7 +/- 2.6 years and 16 untreated GHD adolescents with a chronological age of 16.6 +/- 3.3 years were studied. Concentrations of CRP, as an inflammatory marker, were measured in all patients and the association between CRP and the fasting soluble markers of vascular endothelial cell activation intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and P-selectin levels was evaluated. Sixteen healthy adolescents with a mean chronological age of 15.1 +/- 2.2 years served as controls. RESULTS: CRP and P-selectin levels were significantly higher in untreated GHD adolescents than in treated GHD subjects or in healthy controls (p < 0.02), while VCAM-1 concentrations were increased in both untreated and treated GHD adolescents when compared to controls (p < 0.007). E-selectin and ICAM-1 levels were similar in all three groups. CRP was found to be associated with BMI (r: 0.62; p < 0.001), P-selectin (r: 0.43; p < 0.01), E-selectin (r: 0.27; p < 0.03), ICAM-1 (r: 0.23; p < 0.05) and VCAM-1 (r: 0.40; p < 0.001) concentrations in untreated GHD adolescents and with P-selectin (r: 0.88; p < 0.001) and E-selectin (r: 0.29; p < 0.01) in treated GHD subjects. A weak inverse association was observed in a subgroup of patients between brachial artery endothelium-dependent dilation and P-selectin (r: -0.56; p < 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Low-grade inflammation as manifested by increased circulating levels of CRP seems to be associated with the early activation of vascular endothelial cells in GHD adolescents.

Growth hormone deficiency, low levels of adiponectin, and unfavorable plasma lipid and lipoproteins.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of adolescent growth hormone deficiency (GHD) on circulating adiponectin levels and the relation between adiponectin, fasting insulin, plasma lipid, and lipoprotein levels. STUDY DESIGN: Twelve children with GHD on GH treatment with a chronological age (CA) of 14.4 +/- 2.0 years and 12 untreated adolescents with GHD with a CA of 14.9 +/- 2.3 years were studied. Adiponectin concentrations were measured in all patients, and the association of adiponectin with fasting insulin, total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A-1, and apolipoprotein B was evaluated. Twelve healthy adolescents served as control subjects. RESULTS: Adiponectin levels were significantly lower in untreated GHD adolescents than in treated GHD subjects or in control subjects (P < .008). Total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and Apo B concentrations were increased in untreated GHD adolescents, whereas HDL cholesterol levels were similar in all three groups. Insulin levels were significantly increased in treated GHD adolescents when compared with control subjects (P < .05) but similar to those with untreated GHD. Adiponectin was found to be negatively associated with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and with Apo B, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol concentrations in untreated GHD adolescents, whereas a positive correlation between adiponectin and HDL cholesterol was noted in both untreated and treated GHD subjects. Adiponectin correlated inversely with fasting insulin levels in untreated and treated GHD adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: GHD in adolescence is associated with low levels of adiponectin and with an unfavorable plasma lipid and lipoprotein profile. Our data suggest that treatment with GH may improve the abnormalities seen.

Peripheral inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers in adolescents with growth hormone deficiency: relation to postprandial dyslipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether peripheral inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers are elevated in growth hormone-deficient (GHD) adolescents and associated with increased postprandial lipoproteins. STUDY DESIGN: Fifteen GHD children on GH treatment with a chronologic age of 12.7 +/- 2.5 years and 10 untreated GHD adolescents with a chronologic age of 13.0 +/- 2.6 years were studied. Triglycerides (TG), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in the fasting state and 4 hours after ingesting a high-fat meal; 15 healthy adolescents served as controls. RESULTS: Fasting and postprandial TG of untreated GHD children were higher than those in treated subjects and healthy controls. Fasting TNF-alpha, CRP, and fibrinogen concentrations of untreated GHD adolescents were higher than those in healthy controls, but similar to those of GH-treated GHD adolescents. Although fibrinogen levels increased after a high-fat meal in GHD adolescents, CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 concentrations did not increase further. Fasting and postprandial TG of untreated GHD adolescents were positively associated with fasting and postprandial CRP, and with postprandial TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations. Fasting TG also correlated positively with fasting fibrinogen concentrations in untreated and treated GHD adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The pronounced inflammatory response seen in GHD adolescents seems to be associated with the presence of elevated levels of fasting and postprandial TG, which may result in an increased susceptibility for premature atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular risk of young growth-hormone-deficient adolescents. Differences in growth-hormone-treated and untreated patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether postprandial lipids, coagulation factors and homocysteine levels are abnormal in young growth hormone (GH)-deficient (GHD) adolescents. METHODS: Fifteen GHD adolescents on GH replacement were studied. Ten untreated GHD adolescents and 15 healthy subjects served as controls. Fasting lipids, lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels were measured. Cholesterol and triglycerides were measured 4 h after a high fat meal. RESULTS: Fasting and postprandial triglycerides and homocysteine levels of untreated GHD patients were increased compared to those of GH-treated GHD subjects and healthy controls; fibrinogen concentrations were elevated in both treated and untreated adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: GHD adolescents present an abnormal fasting and postprandial lipid profile. In addition, the increased fibrinogen and homocysteine levels are suggestive of the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors early on in life.

Timoma maligno con miastemia gravis y metástasis hepáticas. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Malignant thymoma with myasthenia gravis and hepatic metastasis: report of a case and review of the literature

Presentamos el caso de un paciente con un timoma de aspecto histológico no agresivo que se manifestó clínicamente como una miastenia gravis. Tres años después de su extirpación quirúrgica completa dió metástasis a hígado sin evidencia de recidiva tumoral en el tórax. Las metástasis extratorácicas son poco comunes y la miastenia gravis de origen tímico se presenta entre el 25 al 50% de los casos. Revisamos la literatura disponible y analizamos sus características clínico patológicas y ensayos terapéuticos