Plasmid stability of potential probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum strains in artificial gastric juice, at elevated temperature, and in the presence of novobiocin and acriflavine.

In this study, the presence of plasmids responsible for carbohydrate fermentation and antibiotic resistance and the stability of these plasmids in artificial gastric juice were investigated in 20 Lactobacillus plantarum strains with probiotic properties. Plasmid curing was performed with novobiocin, acriflavine and elevated incubation temperature to identify plasmids encoded with carbohydrate fermentation and antibiotic resistance genes and to compare them with artificial gastric juice. Plasmid profiling of the strains revealed that 100% of the strains were harbouring plasmids in varying sizes and numbers. The plasmid number of the potential probiotic strains ranged between 1 and 4, and the plasmid size ranged between 5.779 and 16.138 kb. The potential probiotic strains could not survive in the artificial gastric juice at pH 2.0. Although the strains maintained their viability in an artificial gastric juice at pH 2.5 and 3.0, and their derivatives lost their plasmids at a high rate (100%). Similarly, high levels of cured derivatives were obtained with 8 µg/mL novobiocin and 100 µg/mL acriflavine applications, and 24 h incubation at 43 °C. All the experiments were also performed to compare with two L. plantarum-type strains containing plasmids responsible for tetracycline and tetracycline + erythromycin resistances. Artificial gastric juice and other plasmid curing treatments caused a high-frequency loss in the antibiotic resistances of type strains. Determining plasmid stability in artificial gastric juice is a novel approach. Plasmid stability in the gastrointestinal tract is important for maintaining the plasmid-encoded probiotic properties.

Integration of DNA barcoding for the initial recordings of Lessepsian fishes: a case study of the Indo-Pacific slender ponyfish Equulites elongatus.

In this study, the DNA barcode of a regional Lessepsian sighting of the slender ponyfish Equulites elongatus is integrated with morphometric and meristic descriptors as a case study to address further identification problems in the Mediterranean Sea. The study also aims to contribute to the regional mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I information pool, to support other potential uses. The initial sighting of E. elongatus from the north-eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey is provided from a trawl survey on 3 June 2015, where 76 specimens were captured during a 15 min tow.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy versus corticosteroid injection in the treatment of trigger finger: a randomized controlled study.

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacies of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and corticosteroid injection for the management of trigger finger. In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 40 patients with actively correctable trigger fingers were randomly assigned to extracorporeal shock wave therapy (1000 impulses and 2.1 bar) or injection groups. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed using cure rates, a visual analogue scale, the frequency of triggering, the severity of triggering, the functional impact of triggering, and the Quick-Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. An intention-to- treat analysis was used in this study. Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all outcome measures after treatment. The intention-to-treat analyses showed no between-group differences for cure rates, pain, and functional status at follow-up. We conclude that extracorporeal shock wave therapy could be a non-invasive option for treating trigger finger, especially for those patients who wish to avoid steroid injections. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Impact of exercises administered to stroke patients with balance trainer on rehabilitation results: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of the exercises administered to stroke patients with the balance trainer (BALANCE-trainer, art.nr. 07001-001(TM)) on balance, level of independence and ambulation parameters. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty patients with hemiplegia were randomized into either study group or control group. Patients in the control group received 30 sessions of conventional rehabilitation program and patients in the study group were trained with balance trainer in addition to conventional rehabilitation program. Balance level and postural control were evaluated with Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed-Up and Go Test (TUG). Their functional statuses were evaluated using Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Evaluations were repeated following the six-week rehabilitation program. RESULTS: Of the 50 participants, 19 were women (38%) and 31 were men (62%). The mean age was 57.1 ± 9.2 years. The time that elapsed after stroke was 87.3 ± 26.3 days. Statistically significant improvements were noted in BBS, TUG and FIM in intra-group evaluations for both groups. Statistically significant improvements were documented in BBS and TUG levels for inter-group evaluation (respectively p =0.038, p =0.025), while the difference in FIM levels was not statistically significant (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: Positive impact of balance trainer on balance and postural control was demonstrated in stroke patients in the current study. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (2):125-130.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is involved in the severity of ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive chronic inflammatory disease mainly characterized by axial skeleton and sacroiliac joint involvement. We aimed to investigate the relation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and disease severity of AS and to explore its availability in clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 102 AS patients and 60 individuals who were age- and gender-compatible with the control group were included into the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores. Patients with BASDAI scores < 4 were considered to be having mild disease activity, whereas those with scores ≥ 4 were considered to be displaying severe disease activity. Hemogram test during the diagnosis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and other laboratory values of the control group were recorded. RESULTS: NLR was observed to be higher in AS patients compared to the controls (2.47 ± 1.33 and 1.72 ± 0.47; respectively; p<0.0001). NLR was observed to be significantly higher in severe AS disease activity compared to the mild AS disease activity (2.72 ± 1.41, 2.20 ± 1.19; respectively; p = 0.001). NLR had statistical significant differences between mild disease activity compared to the controls (2.20 ± 1.19 and 1.72 ± 0.47, respectively; p = 0.263). There was a positive correlation between NLR and BASDAI (r = 0.193, p = 0.041). The performance of NLR evaluating the disease severity by Roc analysis had sensitivity of 69%, specificity of 54% (cut-off value 1.91), and AUC of 0.652 (95% Cl, 0.549-0.755) (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: NLR may be a simple and inexpensive marker to indicate disease activity in patients with AS in daily clinical practice (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 25).

Genotypic identification of some lactic acid bacteria by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis and investigation of their potential usage as starter culture combinations in Beyaz cheese manufacture.

In this study, 2 different starter culture combinations were prepared for cheesemaking. Starter culture combinations were formed from 8 strains of lactic acid bacteria. They were identified as Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (2 strains), Lactobacillus plantarum (5 strains), and Lactobacillus paraplantarum (1 strain) by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. The effects of these combinations on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of Beyaz cheeses were investigated. These cheeses were compared with Beyaz cheeses that were produced with a commercial starter culture containing Lc. lactis ssp. lactis and Lc. lactis ssp. cremoris as control. All cheeses were ripened in brine at 4 degrees C for 90 d. Dry matter, fat in dry matter, titratable acidity, pH, salt in dry matter, total N, water-soluble N, and ripening index were determined. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE patterns of cheeses showed that alpha(S)-casein and beta-casein degraded slightly during the ripening period. Lactic acid bacteria, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeast, molds, and coliforms were also counted. All analyses were repeated twice during d 7, 30, 60, and 90. The starter culture combinations were found to be significantly different from the control group in pH, salt content, and lactobacilli, lactococci, and total mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts, whereas the cheeses were similar in fat, dry matter content, and coliform, yeast, and mold counts. The sensory analysis of cheeses indicated that textural properties of control cheeses presented somewhat lower scores than those of the test groups. The panelists preferred the tastes of treatment cheeses, whereas cheeses with starter culture combinations and control cheeses had similar scores for appearance and flavor. These results indicated that both starter culture combinations are suitable for Beyaz cheese production.

Outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum Biovar 2 Causing Brown Rot on Potato in the Aegean Region of Turkey.

Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi, Kosako, Yano, Hotta, and Nishiuchi, the cause of brown rot of potato (Solanum tuberosum), was detected for the first time in Turkey in 1995 in five potato fields in the Nevsehir Province of the central Anatolia Region and was eradicated under measures mandated by the government. Occurrence of the pathogen was not reported in other parts of the country. However, in 2006, brown rot symptoms were observed in potato (cv. Marabel) fields in the Balikesir Province of the Aegean Region. Symptoms and signs included wilting, browning of stem vascular tissues, and ooze exudation from the transversely cut stem. On tubers, brown discoloration of the vascular ring was observed. Creamy bacterial ooze emerged from the vascular ring a few minutes after cutting. In advanced stages, bacterial slime oozed from the tuber heel end (stolon) and "eyes" causing soil particles to adhere. Isolation of bacteria from diseased stem and tuber tissues on mSMSA medium (1) consistently resulted in white, fluid colonies with red coloration in the center. On the basis of biochemical, immunofluorescence (IF), and real-time PCR tests, 10 representative isolates (one per affected field) were identified as Ralstonia solanacearum. They were further identified as biovar 2 according to metabolization of maltose, lactose, and D (+) cellobiose but not mannitol, sorbitol, and dulcitol. In the IF tests, fluorescent cells were observed at antibody dilutions from 200 to 12,800. The expected real-time PCR products were generated using biovar 2-specific primers (2). Pathogenicity tests were performed by injecting a bacterial suspension (106 CFU/ml) into the stem of 2-week-old tomato seedlings (cv. Alta F1). Inoculated plants (five plants per isolate) were incubated for up to 2 weeks at 25°C and 70 to 80% humidity. Wilting symptoms developed within 5 to 10 days. No symptoms were observed on controls inoculated with sterile water. The bacterium was reisolated and identified as R. solanacearum biovar 2 as described above. The incidence of the disease in the affected fields varied between 20 and 40%, and surveys showed that approximately 163 ha were infested. Phytosanitary measures that were taken included a prohibition of production of host plants in the infested areas, tracing and testing programs to identify the source of the bacterium, and measures to prevent any further spread of the bacterium to new areas. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solanacearum biovar 2 on potato in the Aegean Region of Turkey. References: (1) J. G. Elphinstone et al. EPPO Bull. 26:663, 1996. (2) M. Ozakman and N. W.Schaad. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 25:232, 2003.