Compositional analyses reveal correlations between taxon-level gut bacterial abundance and peripheral T cell marker expression in African infants

ABSTRACT

Although exclusive breastfeeding has been linked to lower rates of postnatal HIV transmission compared to nonexclusive breastfeeding, mechanisms underlying this are unclear. Across a longitudinally sampled cohort of South African infants, we showed that exclusively breastfed (EBF) infants had altered gut bacterial communities when compared to nonexclusively breastfed (NEBF) infants, as well as reduced peripheral CD4 + T cell activation and lowered chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in the oral mucosa. We further demonstrated that the relative abundance of key taxa was correlated with peripheral CD4 + T cell activation. Here, we supplement those findings by using compositional data analyses to identify shifts in the abundance of several Bifidobacteria strains relative to select strains of Escherichia, Bacteroides, and others that are associated with the transition to NEBF. We illustrate that the abundance ratio of these taxa is tightly correlated with feeding modality and is a strong predictor of peripheral T cell activation. More broadly, we discuss our study in the context of novel developments and explore future directions for the field.     

Patterns in metabolite profile are associated with risk of more aggressive prostate cancer: A prospective study of 3,057 matched case–control sets from EPIC

Metabolomics may reveal novel insights into the etiology of prostate cancer, for which few risk factors are established. We investigated the association between patterns in baseline plasma metabolite profile and subsequent prostate cancer risk, using data from 3,057 matched case–control sets from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). We measured 119 metabolite concentrations in plasma samples, collected on average 9.4 years before diagnosis, by mass spectrometry (AbsoluteIDQ p180 Kit, Biocrates Life Sciences AG). Metabolite patterns were identified using treelet transform, a statistical method for identification of groups of correlated metabolites. Associations of metabolite patterns with prostate cancer risk (OR_1SD) were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Supplementary analyses were conducted for metabolite patterns derived using principal component analysis and for individual metabolites. Men with metabolite profiles characterized by higher concentrations of either phosphatidylcholines or hydroxysphingomyelins (OR_1SD = 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.66–0.89), acylcarnitines C18:1 and C18:2, glutamate, ornithine and taurine (OR_1SD = 0.72, 0.57–0.90), or lysophosphatidylcholines (OR_1SD = 0.81, 0.69–0.95) had lower risk of advanced stage prostate cancer at diagnosis, with no evidence of heterogeneity by follow-up time. Similar associations were observed for the two former patterns with aggressive disease risk (the more aggressive subset of advanced stage), while the latter pattern was inversely related to risk of prostate cancer death (OR_1SD = 0.77, 0.61–0.96). No associations were observed for prostate cancer overall or less aggressive tumor subtypes. In conclusion, metabolite patterns may be related to lower risk of more aggressive prostate tumors and prostate cancer death, and might be relevant to etiology of advanced stage prostate cancer.     

Sensitive skin: correlation with skin surface microrelief appearance

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Sensitive skin is a condition associated with reduced tolerance to environmental factors and/or the application of topical products, such as cosmetics. Its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated and few data are available on its prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlation between objective sensitivity and skin surface microrelief. METHODS: During an epidemiological survey conducted for a campaign promoted by International Society of Plastic Dermatology in Italy, 243 adult healthy subjects of both sexes with no evident dermatological disorder but positive to the lactic acid stinging test, were submitted to cyanoacrylate stratum corneum stripping from the volar forearm for the determination of the irregularity of the skin surface microrelief (irregularity skin index (ISI)). RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between intensity of symptoms in stingers and ISI (r(s)=-0.47; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sensitive skin is common in the healthy population. ISI can contribute towards the identification of subjects with sensitive skin and the development of more specific skin treatments for this prevalent condition.     

Modeling in Frequency Domain Used for Assessment of In Vivo Dissolution Profile

Purpose. To present a model-dependent approach for the assessment of the in vivo drug dissolution profile based on in vitrodata for the multiple unit dosage form, as an alternative to the numerical method proposed in the study by Hayashi et al, Pharm. Res. 12:1333–1337 (1995). Methods. The data for aspirin granules administered to healthy subjects obtained in the above mentioned study were re-evaluated. The subject dissolution system was considered to consist of two subsystems connected in series, i.e. the subsystem describing the gastric-emptying process and the subsystem describing the intestinal dissolution process. The frequency response method was used to model the subject dissolution system. Results. The model in vivodissolution profile of aspirin, assessed as the integral of the model weighting function of the subject dissolution system, was in agreement with the in vivo cumulative absorption profile calculated by the Wagner-Nelson method. Conclusions. Comparison of dynamic properties of the subject dissolution system with the subsystem describing the gastric-emptying process yielded quantitative confirmation of the decisive role of the gastric-emptying process in the in vivodrug dissolution after administration in the multi unit dosage form.     

基于广义逆的无谱逆反卷积算法

在时域循环卷积运算实现反卷积方法的基础上，基于广义逆的概念提出了一种改进算法，该算法不仅可以有效地避开无谱逆问题，而且运算量增加较少，易于编程实现。     

用视诱发电位和富里叶变换作视力客观估计

目的:研究用图形视觉诱发电位(PVEP)和离散富里叶变换(DFT)作视力客观估计的方法。方法:检测对象为33只正常眼。用翻转频率为10次/秒,条纹张角分别为30、20、18、12、10、6、4和2弧分的垂直方波光栅图形刺激,记录相应的稳态图形视诱发电位。用离散富里叶交换提取WEP频谱中10Hz成分的幅值。以光栅条纹张角为横坐标、相应的VEP频谱幅值为纵坐标作关系曲线,取阈值附近的近似线性部分的数据点作直线回归,用外推法求得阈值和视力。结果:比较VEP所测之视力与用国际标准视力表所测之视力,可见在本研究中70％的受检眼VEP视力估计较准确。结论:用本研究中的VEP技术客观地测量视力可靠性较高。眼科学报1997;13:59～61。     

正常闪光视网膜电图的频域分析

应用快速傅里叶转换技术对正常视网膜电图进行频域分析，发现其ａ、ｂ波的优势频及能量集中在５－７５Ｈｚ；与ＯＰＳ波的分离点为７７ＨＺ，从而提出单纯记录ａ、ｂ波及ＯＰＳ波各自的较理想的通频带。     

握力大小与前臂肌肉表面肌电活动模式的相关性研究

目的 研究手部握力大小与前臂肌肉表面肌电信号特征的相关性.方法 9名健康被试者参加了试验,包括最大自主收缩力(maximum volunteer contraction,MVC),80% MVC及40% MVC,记录指浅屈肌和腕长伸肌的表面肌电信号,并采用均方根和小波分析方法提取其特征参数;运用SPSS软件统计以被试者自身的MVC为基准的不同握力水平的相对特征值,使不同的被试者具有可比性.结果 对于单个被试者握力水平与表面肌电活动模式存在正相关性,即握力越大则对应的表面肌电信号的特征值也越大;对于所有的被试者这种正相关性也存在.结论 握力水平与肌肉活动模式具有相关性,这提示通过表面肌电信号的特征值不但可以预测握力的大小,还可用于运动功能测试及康复的评价.     

调脂宜从肝脾入手

中医学认为血脂异常在病机方面属“痰浊”、“血瘀”范畴，生理上与中医之膏脂相类似，属津液之范畴，肝脾功能的正常是血脂正常代谢的重要条件，脾“化”的相对不足是血脂代谢异常的根本原因；肝失疏泄是血脂代谢失常的重要因素，治疗的根本在于截断血脂失调的源头，或者扭转已有的病理趋势，使其不再发生代谢紊乱。     

Significance of beaten copper appearance on skull radiographs in children with isolated sagittal synostosis

Aims and Objectives The significance of beaten copper appearance (BCA) on skull radiographs in children following surgery for isolated sagittal craniosynostosis has not been studied. This study was designed to look for any correlation between BCA and symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension in this group of patients. Materials and Methods Forty-eight consecutive children, who were operated for isolated sagittal synostosis from1987 to 2000 and had postoperative skull radiographs, were included. Patients were divided into: (a) BCA group (n = 20), consisting of children who had beaten copper appearance on skull radiographs at last follow up, and (b) Non-BCA group (n = 28), consisting of children who did not have this finding. Records were reviewed to look for symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension, such as headache, head banging, and irritability. Results Median age at surgery was 4.8 months for BCA group and 4 months for the non-BCA group. Follow up ranged from 4 to 156 months with a mean of 36.2 months. Total of 28.6% (n = 6) of the children with follow up radiographs done at ≤18 months of age had BCA. The incidence of BCA increased to 83.3% in children with skull radiographs performed after 48 months of age. In 18 (90%) children, the BCA was ‘diffuse’ with 5 (25%) children having the maximum possible score of 8. In the BCA group, 45% (n = 9) had symptoms compared to 10.7% (n = 3) in the control group (p = 0.0068). Conclusions This study suggests a significant number of children with BCA on radiographs develop symptoms suggestive of raised ICP following surgical treatment in infancy and prolonged follow up may be warranted in this group of patients.