Pedobacter deserti sp. nov., a novel species isolated from desert soil.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated as SYSU D00382T, was sourced from soil of Gurbantunggut Desert, PR China. The strain was short-rod-shaped, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative, with yellow-colored, convex, round, and smooth colonies on TSA plate. Growth and proliferation occurred at 4-37 °C (optimal: 28-30 °C), pH 5.0-8.0 (optimal: pH 6.0-7.0) and NaCl concentration of 0-2.5% (optimal: 0-0.5%). The 16S rRNA gene based phylogenetic assessment showed that SYSU D00382T belonged to the genus Pedobacter, and was most closely related to Pedobacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 104T with similarity of 97.7%. The genomic DNA G+C content of SYSU D00382T was 46.4%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between SYSU D00382T and P. ginsengisoli Gsoil 104T were 75.7% and 17.5%, respectively. The main polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids (> 5%) were iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, summed features 3 and 9. The sole respiratory quinone identified was MK-7. The phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences revealed that SYSU D00382T formed a robust lineage with P. ginsengisoli Gsoil 104T. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, a novel specie named Pedobacter deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU D00382T (= CGMCC 1.18627T = MCCC 1K04972T = KCTC 82279T).

Capturing the microbial dark matter in desert soils using culturomics-based metagenomics and high-resolution analysis.

Deserts occupy one-third of the Earth's terrestrial surface and represent a potentially significant reservoir of microbial biodiversity, yet the majority of desert microorganisms remain uncharacterized and are seen as "microbial dark matter". Here, we introduce a multi-omics strategy, culturomics-based metagenomics (CBM) that integrates large-scale cultivation, full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicon, and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that CBM captured a significant amount of taxonomic and functional diversity missed in direct sequencing by increasing the recovery of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and high/medium-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Importantly, CBM allowed the post hoc recovery of microbes of interest (e.g., novel or specific taxa), even those with extremely low abundance in the culture. Furthermore, strain-level analyses based on CBM and direct sequencing revealed that the desert soils harbored a considerable number of novel bacterial candidates (1941, 51.4%), of which 1095 (from CBM) were culturable. However, CBM would not exactly reflect the relative abundance of true microbial composition and functional pathways in the in situ environment, and its use coupled with direct metagenomic sequencing could provide greater insight into desert microbiomes. Overall, this study exemplifies the CBM strategy with high-resolution is an ideal way to deeply explore the untapped novel bacterial resources in desert soils, and substantially expands our knowledge on the microbial dark matter hidden in the vast expanse of deserts.

A multicenter survey of perioperative anxiety in China: Pre- and postoperative associations.

OBJECTIVES: To describe patient characteristics associated with preoperative anxiety and subsequently assess the relationship between preoperative anxiety and postoperative anxiety, pain, sleep quality, nausea and vomiting. METHODS: The study collected data from patients undergoing elective operation from 12 hospitals in China. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) were used to assess anxiety and sleep quality before surgery. Evaluations of anxiety, pain, sleep quality, nausea and vomiting were quantified using the Visual Analogue Scale on postoperative days 1 and 2. RESULTS: Data from 997 patients were analyzed. Preoperatively, 258 (25.9%) patients had high anxiety (STAI-State>44). Multivariate analyses showed a significant relationship between high anxiety and female gender (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.08-2.57, p = 0.02), highly invasive surgery (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.29-4.06, p = 0.005), higher trait anxiety (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.20-1.28, p < 0.001) and insomnia (AIS ≥ 6, OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.17-2.76, p = 0.008). Preoperative anxiety demonstrated a negative correlation with postoperative anxiety following highly invasive surgery; this became a positive relationship following less invasive surgery. Preoperative anxiety was also positively related to postoperative pain and poor sleep quality. The correlation between preoperative anxiety and postoperative nausea and vomiting was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Female gender, highly invasive surgery, higher trait anxiety and insomnia are independent risk factors for high preoperative anxiety. Surgical invasiveness influences association between pre- and postoperative anxiety. Higher preoperative anxiety is related to poorer sleep quality and more severe pain postoperatively.

Emergency Pacing via the Umbilical Vein and Subsequent Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in a Neonate.

A dying neonate with congenital complete atrioventricular block underwent an emergency temporary pacing via the umbilical vein 1 h after birth. Implantation of a permanent epicardial pacemaker system was performed at the age of 10 days. During the follow-up period of 3 months, the child had been growing well with the VVIR pacemaker.

Management of polycystic ovarian syndrome with Diane-35 or Diane-35 plus metformin.

In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safe usage of the oral contraceptive, Diane-35, in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) when combined with the drug metformin. Eighty-two patients with PCOS were randomly divided into two equal groups: Diane-35 treatment group and Diane-35 plus metformin group. Three treatment cycles were administered. Patients' biomedical data such as height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat percentage, acne score, hirsutism score and serum hormone levels were selected, which were tested between the second and the fifth day of the menstrual cycle and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), blood glucose, blood lipids and insulin levels(IR) were analyzed. Significant reduction in body mass index (BMI), acne score, LH and T levels were observed in both groups after three months of treatment; on the other hand, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) concentration elevated (p < 0.05). Combined treatment group had a significant change in BMI index and fasting blood glucose levels compared to Diane-35 alone treatment group (p < 0.05). With personalized nutrition and exercise program, Diane-35 only group or Diane-35 plus metformin group had both significantly lowered their serum testosterone levels and had improved acne symptoms. Diane-35 plus metformin combination had shown reduced fat percentage levels in patients with PCOS, and had shown improved glucose and lipid metabolism.

Distinct expression patterns of Toll-like receptor 7 in tumour cells and fibroblast-like cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

AIMS: Toll-like receptor (TLR)-7 agonists have been used in cancer immunotherapy, but tumour heterogeneity means that TLR-7 activity is variable in different components of the tumour microenvironment and the characteristics of TLR-7 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty healthy oral tissues, 50 oral leukoplakia tissues and 166 retrospective primary OSCC samples were collected for immunohistochemical staining of TLR-7 and showed up-regulated expression during carcinogenesis. Moreover, patients with high expression of TLR-7 in tumour cells (TCs) had poor differentiation and prognosis. Interestingly, patients with high expression of TLR-7 in stroma fibroblast-like cells (FLCs) had low tumour stage, no lymph node metastasis (LNM) and better prognosis. Furthermore, Ki-67, CD3, CD4, CD8 and forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)(+) tumour-infiltrated lymphocytes were assessed and we found that TLR-7(high) TCs were infiltrated by fewer CD3(+) CD4(+) but more FoxP3(+) lymphocytes. Importantly, patients with TLR-7(low) TCs and TLR-7(high) FLCs had less FoxP3(+) lymphocyte infiltration and longer survival time than those with TLR-7(high) TCs/TLR-7(low) FLCs, although TLR-7 was not an independent prognostic factor for OSCC. CONCLUSIONS: The low expression of TLR-7 in tumour and high expression of TLR-7 in stroma predict a good clinical outcome for OSCC patients, and stroma FLCs might be amenable to immunotherapy by a TLR-7 agonist.

Serum IL-17F combined with VEGF as potential diagnostic biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Although interleukin (IL) 17A can promote angiogenesis in several tumors, there are limited clinical evidences on cancer about the correlation between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and IL-17F, which is the most homologous to IL-17A. In this study, serum concentration of IL-17F and VEGF from healthy (n = 28), leukoplakia (n = 15), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) groups (n = 85) were assessed and showed that IL-17F level was remarkably downregulated from healthy group (394.3 pg/ml) to OSCC group (82.96 pg/ml). Conversely, the OSCC group had a highest level of VEGF (P < 0.05) in whole groups, and there was a negative correlation between IL-17F and VEGF in serum or in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at mRNA level. Moreover, the lowest ratio of IL-17F/VEGF was found in OSCC patients (P < 0.05) and lower ratio of IL-17F/VEGF correlated to higher tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, the serum level of IL-17F and the ratio of IL-17F/VEGF were positively associated with the numbers of CD3(+) CD4(+) T cells, which indicated that serum IL-17F could originate from PBMCs during the development of OSCC, and could be used for the diagnosis by effectively distinguishing OSCC patients from healthy individuals.

[Reasonable anesthetic management for correction of Ebstein's anomaly].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience in anesthetic management for correction of Ebstein's anomaly. METHODS: A total of 79 patients with Ebstein's anomaly who underwent surgical repair in our hospital during the time from March 2004 to September 2010 were retrospectively summarized for their anesthetic management. Anesthesia was done for the patients undergoing correction of Ebstein's anomaly. The adults patients were premedicated with intramuscular morphine 0.2 mg/kg and diazepam 0.05 mg/kg. The children patients were premedicated with intramuscular ketamine 5 - 8 mg/kg and atropine 0.05 - 0.20 mg. General anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg, etomidate 0.2 - 0.3 mg/kg, sulfentanil 1.0 - 1.5 µg/kg, pipecuronium or vecuronium 0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg, and maintained with isoflurane inhalation and intermittent iv. midazolam and sulfentanil. RESULTS: Anesthetic course was smooth. The symptom in all cases was improved significantly after operation. No patients died during perioperative period. CONCLUSION: The key points for the anesthetic management of Ebstein's anomaly include precise preoperative evaluation, steady hemodynamic, proper maintenance of suitable pulmonary vascular resistance and cardiac function.