Production of two morphologically different antimony trioxides by a novel antimonate-reducing bacterium, Geobacter sp. SVR.

A novel dissimilatory antimonate [Sb(V)]-reducing bacterium, strain SVR, was isolated from soil of a former antimony (Sb) mine. Strain SVR coupled Sb(V) reduction to acetate oxidation with an apparent reduction rate of 2.4 mM d-1. The reduction of Sb(V) was followed by the precipitation and accumulation of white microcrystals in the liquid medium. The precipitates were initially small and amorphous, but they eventually developed to the crystal phase with a length > 50 µm. Strain SVR removed 96% of dissolved Sb as the precipitates. An X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the microcrystals were the orthorhombic Sb trioxide (Sb2O3), i.e., valentinite. Phylogenetic and physiological analyses revealed that strain SVR is a member of the genus Geobacter. The cell suspension of strain SVR incubated with acetate and Sb(V) at pH 7.0 was able to form valentinite. Interestingly, at pH 8.0, the cell suspension formed another crystalline Sb2O3 with a cubic structure, i.e., senarmontite. Our findings provide direct evidence that Geobacter spp. are involved in Sb(V) reduction in nature. Considering its superior capacity for Sb removal, strain SVR could be used for the recovery of Sb and the individual productions of valentinite and senarmontite from Sb-contaminated wastewater.

The success rate of oral appliances based on multiple criteria according to obstructive sleep apnoea severity, BMI and age: A large multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of oral appliance (OA) varies greatly in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OBJECTIVE(S): The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the success rate of OA for OSA patients. METHODS: This study was based on a cross-sectional multicentre survey of OA therapy for the management of OSA called the JAMS (Japanese Cross-sectional Multicenter Survey) Study performed at 10 medical institutions. A total of 442 patients fulfilled the selection criteria, which patients had worn OA, and undergone overnight polysomnography to assess both the pre-treatment baseline and follow-up for OA. Age, sex, BMI and apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) at the time of diagnosis and follow-up for OA were extracted. RESULTS: After OA treatment, the mean AHI decreased from 22.6 ± 13.8 to 10.0 ± 10.2/h, and the mean rate of decrease in the AHI was 52.5 ± 38.4%. Regarding the success rate to OA therapy, criterion 1 (AHI < 5/h), criterion 2 (AHI < 10/h), criterion 3 (AHI < 15/h) and criterion 4 (AHI reduction rate ≥ 50%) accounted for 33.5, 66.3, 80.5 and 63.3%, respectively. The success rate of OA treatment decreased according to the increase in OSA severity, obesity level (higher BMI) and older age. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the treatment success rate of OA on multiple criteria according to OSA severity, BMI and age. It may support for the clinician to make a decision on the OSA management.

Japanese Cross-Sectional Multicenter Survey (JAMS) of Oral Appliance Therapy in the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

We conducted a multicenter survey for oral appliance (OA) therapy to grasp and analyze the current situation of OA therapy, including efficacy, side effects, and follow-up, in Japan. The Japanese cross-sectional multicenter survey (JAMS) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was undertaken by patients in 10 institutions associated with oral appliance therapy during two years, from 2014 to 2015, retrospectively. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), baseline apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), OA type, adjustment, adverse reactions with OA, and AHI with OA were elicited from the patient clinical record. The number of included OSA patients was 3217. The number of patients with OA therapy was 2947. We evaluated 1600 patients for the OA treatment. The patients treated with OA, both male and female, were most commonly in their 50s. In terms of OSA severity, snoring was 2.3%, mild was 38.5%, moderate was 39.9%, and severe was 19.3%. The use of mono bloc appliance was 91.8%, bi bloc appliance was 7.9%, and tongue-retaining device (TRD) was 0.3%. After OA treatment, AHI decreased from 22.4/h to 9.3/h. The AHI reduction rate with OA was 52.0%. The rate of AHI <5 with OA was 35.6%. Adverse reactions developed in 14.7% of the subjects. OA reassessment was conducted for 54.3%. This study revealed the current situation of efficacy and side effects of OA therapy, and the problem that the reassessment rate of OA was low in Japan.