Pukyongia salina gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae.

A Gram-negative aerobic bacterium, designated RR4-38T, was isolated from a biofilter in a seawater recirculating aqua-culture system (RAS) in Busan, South Korea. The bacteria were irregular, short, rod-shaped, non-motile, oxidase-positive, and catalase-negative. Growth of the strain RR4-38T was observed at 15-35·C (optimum, 25-30·C), pH 5.5-9.5 (optimum, pH 8.0), and in the presence of 0-5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3%). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain RR4-38T formed a distinct lineage with close genera Ulvibacter (≤ 95.01% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Aureitalea (94.74%), Aureisphaera (≤ 93.27%), and Jejudonia (93.07%) that all belong to the family Flavobacteriaceae. Whole-genome sequence comparison revealed that the ANI (average nucleotide identity) and digital DDH (DNA-DNA hybridization) values between strain RR4-38T and the two closest strains, Ulvibacter antarcticus DSM 23424T and Aureitalea marina S1-66T, were 68.96-69.88% and 17.4-19%, respectively. The genome analysis revealed that the strain might be involved in biodegradation of organic debris produced by farmed fish in aquaculture systems. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-6 and the major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (26.5%), iso-C17:0 3-OH (16.4%), iso-C15:1 G (15%), and iso-C16:0 3-OH (9.6%). The major cellular polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified aminolipids, and glycolipids. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic features, strain RR4-38t represents a novel genus and species in the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Pukyongia salina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RR4-38T (= KCTC 52651T = DSM 108068T).

The effect of electrically heated humidifier on the body temperature and blood loss in spinal surgery under general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: General anesthesia often produces some degree of hypothermia and hypothermia causes much more blood loss during surgery than normothermia. Electrically heated humidifiers (EHHs) have been used for patients under general anesthesia and in the intensive care unit. However, the benefits of the EHH have not been widely reported in the literature. METHODS: Patients scheduled for posterior lumbar spine fusion, were randomly assigned to a mechanically ventilated with EHH circuit group or to a conventional respiratory circuit group. Their tympanic membrane temperature was monitored every 30 min after induction up to 180 min, and perioperative blood losses, transfusion requirements during surgery, and other complications were noted. RESULTS: Patients in the control group (n = 40) showed a lower mean body temperature at all times than immediately after induction, while the EHH group (n = 40) showed a lower body temperature from 60 minute after induction comparing to the initial temperature. Furthermore, patients in the EHH group had a higher mean body temperature than patients in the control group during surgery (35.9 ± 0.4 vs 35.4 ± 0.5, P < 0.001). Mean intraoperative blood loss (9.75 ± 5.4 vs 7.48 ± 3.9, P = 0.035) and transfusion requirements (57.5% vs 25%, P = 0.006) were significantly less in the EHH group, but postoperative blood loss, duration of hospitalization, and other complications were not significantly different in the two study groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an electrically heated humidifier did not prevent a body temperature drop under general anesthesia. However, it helped maintain body temperature and was associated less blood loss and transfusion requirement during surgery.

The effect of transdermal scopolamine plus intravenous dexamethasone for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients with epidural PCA after major orthopedic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is common complication of Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) after surgery. The authors sought to determine whether a transdermal scopolamine (TDS) patch in combination with IV dexamethasone is more effective than IV dexamethasone alone or IV dexamethasone plus IV ramosetron for reducing PONV in patients receiving epidural PCA after major orthopedic surgery. METHODS: 120 patients that received epidural PCA with hydromorphone and ropivacaine after major orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia were allocated to 3 groups: Group D (n = 40) received IV dexamethasone 8 mg, Group DR (n = 40) received IV dexamethasone 8 mg plus IV ramosetron 0.3 mg, Group DS (n = 40) received IV dexamethasone 8 mg plus a TDS patch (Group DS, n = 40). Nausea and vomiting incidences, VAS for nausea, the use of additional antiemetics, and adverse effects (a dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness) during the first 24 hours postoperatively were subjected to analysis. RESULTS: The DS Group had a significantly higher rate of complete remission of PONV than the D and DR groups (82.5% vs 47.5%, and 50.0%, respectively), and had lower rates of nausea (17.5% vs 55.0%, and 50.0%), and vomiting (10.0% vs 50.0%, and 25.0%), and required less antiemetics (5.0% vs 35.0%, 22.5%) than group D and Group DR during the first 24 hours after surgery. Furthermore, no inter-group differences were observed with respect to adverse effects in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The prophylactic use of a TDS patch plus dexamethasone was found to be a more effective means of preventing PONV in patients that received epidural PCA after major orthopedic surgery than dexamethasone alone or dexamethasone plus ramosetron without adversely affecting side effects.