Domination of Filamentous Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria and Prediction of Metabolic Pathways in Microbial Mats from the Hot Springs of Al Aridhah.

Microbial mats in hot springs form a dynamic ecosystem and support the growth of diverse communities with broad-ranging metabolic capacity. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to analyse microbial communities in mat samples from two hot springs in Al Aridhah, Saudi Arabia. Putative metabolic pathways of the microbial communities were identified using phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt). Filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria associated with phylum Chloroflexi were abundant (> 50 %) in both hot springs at 48 °C. Chloroflexi were mainly represented by taxa Chloroflexus followed by Roseiflexus. Cyanobacteria of genus Arthrospira constituted 3.4 % of microbial mats. Heterotrophic microorganisms were mainly represented by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Archaea were detected at a lower relative abundance (< 1 %). Metabolic pathways associated with membrane transport, carbon fixation, methane metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and degradation of aromatic compounds were commonly found in microbial mats of both hot springs. In addition, pathways for production of secondary metabolites and antimicrobial compounds were predicted to be present in microbial mats. In conclusion, microbial communities in the hot springs of Al Aridhah were composed of diverse bacteria, with taxa of Chloroflexus being dominant.

Association between glycaemic control and quality of life in diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Relationship between quality of life (QOL) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) amongst diabetics in the community setting is unclear. AIMS: Assess the association between QOL and change in HbA1c in diabetic patients over one year. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cohort study of patients from four community clinics in California, USA. METHODS: Diabetic patients identified from databases using International Classification of Disease (ICD-9) codes were asked to complete Short Form 36 (SF-36), which measures health-related QOL, and invited to attend monthly diabetes workshops. From December 2000 to December 2001, data were collected on multiple parameters, including HbA1c. SF-36 surveys were re-collected at project termination. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Regression analysis was used to correlate change in HbA1c with change in QOL physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores, while considering potential confounders. RESULTS: Of 1679 eligible patients, 380 completed SF-36 at project initiation. 243 of those completed SF-36 at project termination. Pre and post HbA1c data were available for 170 of the 243 who completed SF-36 at both times. Average MCS increased by 8.46% and PCS decreased by 2.24%. After adjustment, a 5% decrease in HbA1c values was associated with a 1% increase in MCS. No association between changes in HbA1c and PCS was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Association between better HbA1c and improved mental, but not physical, QOL may reflect physical inconvenience of increased regimen complexity and mental empowerment from proactive disease management. Larger cohort studies with longer follow-up are needed to further elucidate the relationship between glycemic control and QOL.

Self-rated health and its relationship to functional status and well-being in a group of elderly Guatemalan subjects.

This study examined the association of self-rated health with physical function and emotional well-being, while controlling for differences in sex, age and anthropometry. Subjects were participants in a multicentre study originated by the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS). A total of 151 elderly Guatemalan subjects were examined using a questionnaire which included information on self-rated health, activities of daily living, well-being, and a common battery of anthropometric variables. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) obtained with polytomous logistic regression showed that subjects with the highest score on the well-being index compared with those with the lowest were 1.67 times more likely (P-value <0.001, confidence interval (C.I.) = 1.31-2.14) to rate themselves in 'good' health versus 'fair' and 'poor' health. Subjects with the highest score versus those with the lowest on the mobility index were 1.15 times more likely (P-value <0.05, (C.I.) = 1.00-1.32) to rate themselves in 'good' health versus the other health ratings. These are the first results to examine the relationship of self-rated health to physical function and emotional well-being of elderly, free-living Guatemalans.

Dispersion Index: measuring trend assessment of geographical inequality in health--the example of under-five mortality in the Middle East/north African region, 1980-1994.

A Dispersion Index for the measurement of geographical inequality in the distribution of health status indicators across space and time is proposed. The Dispersion Index is computed independently of the mean and is robust to changes in distributional shape over time. Therefore, the Dispersion Index is shown to possess more desirable statistical properties as compared to the coefficient of variation for assessing trends in the geographical distribution of health status indicators. Application of the Dispersion Index to the 1994 under-five mortality data from the Middle East/North African region shows that regional inequality in the distribution of under-five mortality was reduced by 47% as compared to 1980. Curve-fitting illustrated that the trend in the Dispersion Index values was non-monotonic from 1980 through 1994. We suggest that apart from the World Summit for Children's under-five mortality target for the year 2000, intraregional targets to reduce geographical inequalities in under-five mortality should be specified. We also suggest that changes in the magnitude of the Dispersion Index be used for the assessment of progress made by a region or nation in achieving the specified numerical targets. From a policy perspective, the Dispersion Index has the potential to be useful in the evaluation of specific health strategies designed to reduce intraregional geographical inequality in the distribution of health status indicators within a specified period.