肺结核合并肺部感染患者的菌群分布特点及其耐药性分析

目的分析肺结核合并肺部感染患者的菌群分布特点及其耐药性,为临床合理使用抗菌药物提供参考。方法选择2011年3月—2015年4月孝感市中心医院收治的肺结核合并肺部感染患者314例,取患者早晨洗漱后咳出的深部痰或支气管灌洗液进行细菌培养,分析其菌群分布特点及耐药性。结果 314份标本共培养出病原菌414株,其中革兰阳性菌108株(占26.09%)、革兰阴性菌290株(占70.05%)、真菌16株(占3.86%);革兰阳性菌以金黄色葡萄球菌为主(占13.53%),革兰阴性菌以铜绿假单胞菌为主(占22.22%),真菌均为白色假丝酵母菌。药敏试验结果显示,金黄色葡萄球菌和溶血葡萄球菌对青霉素G的耐药率为100.0%,对万古霉素的耐药率均为0;铜绿假单胞菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动杆菌、阴沟肠杆菌、大肠埃希菌对氨苄西林耐药率均为100.0%,肺炎克雷伯菌、阴沟肠杆菌和大肠埃希菌对亚胺培南和美罗培南的耐药率为0,铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南和美罗培南的耐药率较低,均为15.2%,鲍曼不动杆菌对阿米卡星和头孢哌酮的耐药率较低,分别为18.7%和21.9%。结论肺结核合并肺部感染患者病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主,主要革兰阳性菌为金黄色葡萄球菌,主要革兰阴性菌为铜绿假单胞菌。金黄色葡萄球菌和溶血葡萄球菌对万古霉素无耐药,肺炎克雷伯菌、阴沟肠杆菌和大肠埃希菌对亚胺培南和美罗培南无耐药,鲍曼不动杆菌对头孢哌酮耐药率低。     

血液肿瘤并发败血症143株病原菌分布及耐药分析

目的探讨血液肿瘤患者并发败血症病原菌分布及对抗生素的敏感性。方法回顾分析2004-01/2006-12住院的血液肿瘤患者血培养标本中分离的病原菌。结果472份血培养标本检出致病菌143株,阳性率30.3%。革兰阴性菌95株（66.4%）,以大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌为主;革兰阳性菌40株（28.0%）,以表皮葡萄球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌为主;真菌8株（5.6%）。革兰阴性杆菌除对亚胺培南、美洛培南的耐药率较低外,对其他抗菌药耐药性较高,铜绿假单胞菌对美洛培南也有一定耐药性。3种主要革兰阴性菌大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌对氨苄西林均高度耐药。革兰阳性球菌对万古霉素、替考拉宁耐药率低,尚未检出耐万古霉素菌株,部分肠球菌和溶血葡萄球菌株对替考拉宁耐药。结论血液肿瘤患者并发败血症的病原菌中,以革兰阴性菌为主;抗生素的大量使用,使革兰阴性菌和阳性菌的耐药率都增高,应根据细菌培养及药敏实验在临床中合理使用抗生素。     

178株血培养检出菌及药敏结果分析

目的:观察血培养检出菌变迁的规律以及耐药性。方法:总结1998年至2007年间北京安贞医院血培养178株检出菌及药敏结果。结果:主要以凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌(CNS)为首;CNS和金黄色葡萄球菌对多种抗生素耐药率达60%以上,目前尚未发现对万古霉素耐药菌株;在大肠埃希氏菌、阴沟肠杆菌及克雷伯杆菌中,目前尚未发现耐亚胺培南的菌株;但在非发酵菌中,有52.9%的菌株对亚胺培南耐药。结论:凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌是血培养常见菌株;万古霉素是有效的抗葡萄球菌药物;对于大肠埃希氏菌、阴沟肠杆菌及克雷伯杆菌,亚胺培南仍是最有效的抗生素;真菌感染应值得关注。     

烧伤住院患者医院感染细菌菌群分布及耐药性分析

目的了解吉化集团总医院烧伤住院患者医院感染病原菌分布特点及耐药情况。方法收集2005年3月~2008年1月烧伤患者各类临床标本,分离病原菌,K-B纸片扩散法进行药敏试验。结果 112例患者292份标本共分离病原菌356株。肠杆菌科细菌占41.57%(148株),其中大肠埃希菌58株(占39.19%)、阴沟肠杆菌33株(占22.30%)、变形杆菌25株(占16.89%);革兰阳性球菌占35.39%(126株),非发酵菌占21.63%(77株),其他细菌占2.08%(5株)。烧伤患者检出病原菌耐药性严重,79.31%(46/58)的大肠埃希菌产超广谱β内酰胺酶,88.71%(55/62)的金黄葡萄球菌为耐甲氧西林金黄葡萄球菌,58.97%(23/39)的铜绿假单胞菌为耐药菌株。革兰阳性球菌敏感的药物为万古霉素,阴性杆菌较敏感药物有阿莫西林/克拉维酸和亚胺培南。结论葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、肠球菌、铜绿假单胞菌、阴沟肠杆菌、变形杆菌是烧伤患者常见的医院感染菌,且耐药严重,及时监测病原菌的变化及耐药趋势对指导临床用药至关重要。     

肺癌患者下呼吸道感染病原菌分布和耐药分析

目的了解肺癌患者下呼吸道感染主要病原菌的分布和耐药性特点。方法对肺癌住院患者下呼吸道感染的痰标本所分离的病原菌进行菌种和耐药性回顾性分析。结果分离病原菌347株,其中革兰阴性杆菌249株(71.8%)占主导地位,以铜绿假单胞菌、鲍曼不动杆菌、大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌为主。,氨苄西林、哌拉西林耐药率达79.0～96.8%,对亚胺培南、头孢哌酮/舒巴坦、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦较敏感,耐药率<18.0%;革兰阳性球菌63株(18.2%)其中金黄色葡萄球菌23株(6.6%),8株(34.7%)耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA),未发现对万古霉素耐药株;真菌以白色假丝酵母菌为主。结论肺癌患者下呼吸道感染以革兰阴性杆菌为主,在使用抗生素前应尽早做病原菌培养,根据药敏结果合理使用抗菌药物。减少耐药株产生。     

老年患者医院获得性肺炎耐药性临床分析

目的 分析老年患者医院获得性肺炎致病菌的菌群分布及其对抗生素的耐药情况,为临床合理使用抗生素提供依据.方法 对我院2006年6月至2009年9月160例老年患者医院获得性肺炎的临床资料进行回顾性分析,明确病原学特点及对抗生素的耐药情况.结果 共分离出180株病原菌,其中革兰阴性菌108株(60.0%),革兰阳性菌48株(26.7%),真菌24株(13.3%).革兰阴性菌中铜绿假单胞菌检出率最高(20.5%),革兰阳性菌中金黄色葡萄球菌检出率最高(11.1%).长期使用抗生素、广谱抗生素的慢性患者真菌检出率增高.革兰阴性杆菌对三代头孢菌素均耐药,产超广谱β内酰胺酶的大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌对青霉素类、青霉素+酶抑制剂、头孢菌素类和单酰胺类抗生素均耐药,铜绿假单胞菌耐药严重,但对头孢他啶尚敏感.革兰阴性菌对阿米卡星、哌拉西林+他唑巴坦、头孢哌酮+舒巴坦、亚胺培南、美洛培南的敏感性较高.耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)占92.6%,革兰阳性菌对阿奇霉素、环丙沙星、氨苄西林、氨苄西林+舒巴坦的耐药率多在76%以上,而对万古霉素、利奈唑胺、替考拉宁敏感性高,尚未发现耐万古霉素、利奈唑胺、替考拉宁的葡萄球菌菌株.结论 老年患者医院获得性肺炎以革兰阴性杆菌为优势菌株,产超广谱β内酰胺酶的大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌呈逐年增高趋势,且耐药性日趋严重,其对阿米卡星、哌拉西林+他唑巴坦、头孢哌酮+舒巴坦、亚胺培南、美洛培南敏感性较高.革兰阳性球菌感染宜用万古霉素、利奈唑胺或替考拉宁.     

1654例开放性骨折患者伤口感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的 分析1 654例开放性骨折患者伤口感染病原菌的分布特点及耐药性.方法 对1 654例开放性骨折患者的伤口感染情况进行回顾性分析,采集患者的创面分泌物标本,进行病原菌分离、鉴定与药敏试验.结果 共分离出病原菌1 654株,其中革兰阳性球菌506株(30.6％),革兰阴性杆菌1 148株(69.4％).分离率最高的3种病原菌为大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌、金黄色葡萄球菌,分别为23.1％、19.5％、18.3％.大肠埃希菌对亚胺培南、美罗培南、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦的耐药率分别为5.8％、13.9％、19.4％;铜绿假单胞菌对美罗培南、阿米卡星、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦的耐药率分别为16.8％、18.9％、21.1％;金黄色葡萄球菌对呋喃妥因和利福平耐药率分别为7.3％、9.2％,未发现耐万古霉素菌株.结论 开放性骨折患者伤口感染的病原菌以革兰阴性杆菌为主,病原菌对常用抗菌药物耐药率较高,应根据药物敏感试验合理选择抗菌药物.     

老年科患者医院感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的了解我院老年科医院感染患者病原菌分布特点及其对常用抗菌药物的耐药性。方法采用Vitek-2-Compact仪进行菌株鉴定及药敏试验,WHONET5.6软件进行统计分析。结果共检出病原菌766株,以下呼吸道痰标本检出率最高,占59.9%。病原菌检出前几位的依次是铜绿假单胞菌、大肠埃希菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、肺炎克雷伯菌和鲍曼不动杆菌;大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌中产超广谱β-酰胺酶(ESBLs)菌株的阳性率分别为70.4%和58.2%;非发酵菌中,铜绿假单胞菌对多种抗菌药物耐药率仍较低;而鲍曼不动杆菌呈多重耐药,亚胺培南耐药菌株分离率高达63.3%。金黄色葡萄球菌中耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)的检出率为50.3%。结论老年科主要的病原菌对临床常用抗菌药物耐药严重,临床应加强抗菌药物的合理使用和医院感染监控。     

ICU呼吸机相关性肺炎病原菌分布和耐药性分析

目的了解我院ICU呼吸机相关性肺炎(ventilator-associated pneumonia,VAP)的病原菌分布和耐药性状况,为临床合理应用抗菌药物提供病原学依据。方法回顾性分析2014年1月—2016年12月我院ICU诊断为VAP的118例患者的基本资料,并分析气管深部分泌物的病原菌的构成比和药敏试验结果。结果从118例VAP确诊患者气管深部分泌物中共检出130株病原菌。其中革兰阴性菌103株(79.23%),革兰阳性菌20株(15.38%),真菌7株(5.38%)。革兰阴性菌主要包括:鲍曼溶血不动杆菌33株(32.04%),粘质沙雷菌20株(19.42%)、肺炎克雷伯杆菌18株(17.47%),铜绿假单胞菌11株(10.68%),大肠埃希菌10株(9.71%);革兰阳性菌主要为金黄色葡萄球菌10株(50.00%)。其中粘质沙雷菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌和大肠埃希菌对亚胺培南和阿米卡星的耐药率均低于10.00%,而鲍曼溶血不动杆菌对多种常见抗生素的耐药率均超过80.00%(美罗培南81.97%、阿米卡星83.61%、头孢曲松88.33%、左氧氟沙星80.33%)。金黄色葡萄球菌对万古霉素、利奈唑胺和替考拉宁均敏感。结论我院ICU中VAP患者感染主要以革兰阴性菌为主,且存在多重耐药现象。了解VAP的病原菌分布和耐药性,对于合理应用抗生素、提高治愈率等方面有极大帮助。     

我院老年患者呼吸机相关性肺炎病原菌分布及药敏分析

目的研究我院老年住院患者呼吸机相关肺炎(VAP)的病原菌分布及其药物敏感性,对临床用药进行指导。方法对我院收治的100例确诊为呼吸机相关性肺炎患者的临床资料进行分析。结果 100例VAP患者共分离224株菌株,病原菌以革兰氏阴性菌为主,共153株(68.3%),革兰氏阳性54株(24.1%),真菌17株(7.6%)。革兰氏阴性菌中以铜绿假单胞菌(24.18%)、鲍曼不动杆菌(18.95%)、肺炎克雷伯杆菌(17.65%)、大肠埃希菌(11.76%)为主;革兰氏阳性菌中以金黄色葡萄球菌(62.96%)为主;真菌以白色念珠菌最多(64.7%)。病原菌普遍耐药,革兰阴性菌对亚胺培南、多粘菌素B较敏感,革兰阳性菌对万古霉素、替考拉宁敏感。结论我院老年患者呼吸机相关性肺炎病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主,病原菌耐药性普遍严重。     

胰岛素瘤的解剖分布特点分析

目的胰岛素瘤是最常见的胰腺神经内分泌肿瘤，因其临床表现多样，导致诊断困难。影像学诊断尤其是超声内镜(EUS)在胰岛素瘤的诊断中起着重要作用，拥有较高的敏感性和特异性。本研究拟通过明确胰岛素瘤的解剖分布特点，以期有助于提高影像学的诊断准确率和降低漏诊率，尤其是在教育和培训实践中对于EUS的学习者更具有指导价值。 方法回顾性分析解放军总医院第一医学中心病案资料数据库1993年1月至2019年11月经外科手术、病理确诊为胰岛素瘤的患者的临床资料，检索方法采取搜索术后病理诊断为"胰岛素瘤"的病例，通过查阅病例的方法，提取出胰岛素瘤的大小和解剖分布等数据，进一步分析其特点。 结果共检索到确诊为胰岛素瘤的患者116例，其中，男45例、女71例，年龄13～76岁，平均年龄(44.4±14.85)岁。胰岛素瘤单发110例(94.8%)、多发6例(5.2%)。位置分布：头颈部46例(39.7%)，单发45例、多发1例；体尾部68例(58.6%)，单发65例、多发3例；全胰腺多发2例(1.7%)。病变大小特点：最大径0.4～3.4 cm，平均大小(1.53±0.58)cm。≤1 cm 29例、>1 cm而≤1.5 cm41例、>1.5 cm而≤2.0 cm28例，≤3 cm 15例，>3 cm 3例。年龄与肿瘤的大小相关，≤44岁患者肿瘤平均大小为(1.36±0.51)cm、>44岁患者肿瘤平均大小为(1.70±0.60)cm，P<0.05。头颈部的肿瘤大于体尾部的肿瘤，头颈部肿瘤平均大小(1.66±0.63)cm，体尾部(1.42±0.52)cm，P<0.05。 结论胰岛素瘤在胰腺体尾部较头颈部更好发；绝大多数单发，但可以全胰腺多发；多数小于1.5 cm，肿瘤的大小与患者年龄和肿瘤的解剖分布相关。     

Pathogenesis of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater

Most adenomas and carcinomas of the small intestine and extrahepatic bile ducts arise in the region of the papilla of Vater. In familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) it is the main location for carcinomas after proctocolectomy. In many cases symptoms due to stenosis lead to diagnosis at an early tumor stage. In about 80%, curative intended resection is possible. Operability is the most relevant prognostic factor. Most ampullary carcinomas resp. carcinomas of the papilla of Vater develop from adenomatous or flat dysplastic precursor lesions. They can be sited in the ampulloduodenal part of the papilla of Vater, which is lined by intestinal mucosa. They also can develop in deeper parts of the ampulla, which are lined by pancreaticobiliary duct mucosa. Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma and pancreaticobiliary-type adenocarcinoma represent the main histological types of ampullary carcinoma. Furthermore, there exist unusual types and undifferentiated carcinomas. Many carcinomas of intestinal type express the immunohistochemical marker profile of intestinal mucosa (keratin 7?, keratin 20+, MUC2+). Carcinomas of pancreaticobiliary type usually show the immunohistochemical profile of pancreaticobiliary duct mucosa (keratin 7+, keratin 20?, MUC2?). Even poorly differentiated carcinomas, as well as unusual histological types, may conserve the marker profile of the mucosa they developed from. These findings underline the concept of histogenetically different carcinomas of the papilla of Vater which develop either from intestinal- or from pancreaticobiliary-type mucosa of the papilla of Vater. Molecular alterations in ampullary carcinomas are similar to those of colorectal as well as pancreatic carcinomas, although they appear at different frequencies. In future studies, molecular alterations in ampullary carcinomas should be correlated closely with the different histologic tumor types. Consequently, the histologic classification should reflect the histogenesis of ampullary tumors from the two different types of papillary mucosa.     

Demonstration of the mechanism of action of biguanides

Summary Palmitic acid oxidation in rat diaphragm homogenate is depressed by biguanide concentrations that are still incapable of inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation. Glucose oxidation is not directly effected by the same biguanide concentrations: however, the inhibitory effect of palmitic acid on glucose oxidation is partly removed by biguanides. Inhibition of fatty acid oxidation, which accounts for most of the metabolic effects caused by these drugs, can be regarded as the fundamental mechanism of action of biguanides. There is some evidence suggesting that these drugs might interact with carnitine, thus preventing long-chain fatty acids from being transported across the mitochondrial membrane to the site of oxidation. Traduzione a cura degli AA.     

Lack of correlation of degree of villous atrophy with severity of clinical presentation of coeliac disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Both the clinical presentation and the degree of mucosal damage in coeliac disease vary greatly. In view of conflicting information as to whether the mode of presentation correlates with the degree of villous atrophy, we reviewed a large cohort of patients with coeliac disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We correlated mode of presentation (classical, diarrhoea predominant or atypical/silent) with histology of duodenal biopsies and examined their trends over time. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 499 adults, mean age 44.1 years, 68% females. The majority had silent coeliac disease (56%) and total villous atrophy (65%). There was no correlation of mode of presentation with the degree of villous atrophy (p=0.25). Sixty-eight percent of females and 58% of males had a severe villous atrophy (p=0.052). There was a significant trend over time for a greater proportion of patients presenting as atypical/silent coeliac disease and having partial villous atrophy, though the majority still had total villous atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Among our patients the degree of villous atrophy in duodenal biopsies did not correlate with the mode of presentation, indicating that factors other than the degree of villous atrophy must account for diarrhoea in coeliac disease.     

血吸虫童虫生长发育及其机制的研究进展

血吸虫童虫是宿主免疫系统攻击的重要靶标,包括皮肤型、肺型和肝门型童虫。宿主分子对童虫生长发育具有重要作用。童虫生长发育机制包括免疫调节、信号转导、性别发育及凋亡等。肌动蛋白、组织蛋白酶、烯醇化酶和葡萄糖基转移酶等分子为血吸虫童虫生长发育的重要分子。本文对血吸虫童虫生长发育及其机制的研究进展做一综述。     

124例耐多药结核分枝杆菌基因突变特征分析

目的对临床分离的耐多药结核分枝杆菌相关基因的突变特征进行分析。方法对124例耐多药结核分枝杆菌以及50株敏感株的耐药相关基因(包括异烟肼inh A、kat G、oxyR-ahp C间隔区以及利福平rpo B)进行序列测定,分析其基因突变情况。结果异烟肼耐药inh A基因突变率为14.5%;kat G基因突变率为70.2%(87/124),主要位于315位;oxyR-ahp C间隔区突变率为15.3%;inh A、kat G两种基因同时突变率75.0%,三种基因同时突变率为89.5%。利福平rpo B基因突变的检出率高达95.2%,突变主要发生在531、526、516位点。结论我省耐多药菌异烟肼耐药相关基因最常见突变为kat G 315、inh A C-T(-15)、axyR-ahp C间隔区(-10)C-T,利福平为rpo B531、526、516。结合MDR-TB耐药相关基因的特征分析,可以建立一种快速、准确、特异的适合于我省的检测结核菌耐多药性的新方法。     

氯硝柳胺悬浮剂的毒性评价

目的评价氯硝柳胺悬浮剂的毒性，为现场大规模应用灭螺提供依据。方法按照中华人民共和国国家标准GB 15670-1995《农药登记毒理学试验方法》和鱼类毒性试验方法进行。结果经口、经皮肤的LDso雌、雄性大鼠均>5 000 mg/kg，经呼吸道的LCso雌、雄性大鼠均>5 000mg/m3，该药经口、经皮肤、经呼吸道毒性均属微毒类药物；兔眼用药后，观察期内无不良反应，对眼无刺激性；皮肤用药后对皮肤无刺激性。与氯硝柳胺原药、氯硝柳胺乙醇胺盐原药和氯硝柳胺乙醇胺盐可湿性粉剂相比，氯硝柳胺悬浮剂对鱼急性毒性最低。结论氯硝柳胺悬浮剂属微毒类药物，对鱼的毒性低于其乙醇胺盐可湿性粉剂，适合于现场应用。     

Assessment of quality of life of parents of children with juvenile chronic arthritis

The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) and the psychological status of parents of children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). The QOL, anxiety and depression of the parents of 28 children with JCA were evaluated and compared to those of the parents of 28 healthy children. Mothers of JCA children and mothers of healthy children reported similar QOL. The reported anxiety and depression levels were similar for mothers and fathers in both groups. The parents of children with pauciarticular-type JCA reported lower QOL and higher levels of anxiety and depression than the parents of children with other types, namely polyarticular and systemic JCA. These findings may be explained by the fact that the pauciarticular patients had shorter disease duration and were less frequently seen in the outpatient clinic. The QOL of mothers of children with JCA was found to be slightly impaired in the group of children with pauciarticular JCA. Future larger studies are needed to confirm these results, as the number of subjects in the three groups was rather low. Received: 26 September 2001 / Accepted: 8 February 2002     

Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Rate of Change of Glucose on Measurement Error of Continuous Glucose Monitors

Background

A 5-day in-patient study designed to assess the accuracy of the FreeStyle Navigator® Continuous Glucose Monitoring System revealed that the level of accuracy of the continuous sensor measurements was dependent on the rate of glucose change. When the absolute rate of change was less than 1 mg•dl⁻¹•min⁻¹ (75% of the time), the median absolute relative difference (ARD) was 8.5%, with 85% of all points falling within the A zone of the Clarke error grid. When the absolute rate of change was greater than 2 mg•dl⁻¹•min⁻¹ (8% of the time), the median ARD was 17.5%, with 59% of all points falling within the Clarke A zone.

Method

Numerical simulations were performed to investigate effects of the rate of change of glucose on sensor measurement error. This approach enabled physiologically relevant distributions of glucose values to be reordered to explore the effect of different glucose rate-of-change distributions on apparent sensor accuracy.

Results

The physiological lag between blood and interstitial fluid glucose levels is sufficient to account for the observed difference in sensor accuracy between periods of stable glucose and periods of rapidly changing glucose.

Conclusions

The role of physiological lag on the apparent decrease in sensor accuracy at high glucose rates of change has implications for clinical study design, regulatory review of continuous glucose sensors, and development of performance standards for this new technology. This work demonstrates the difficulty in comparing accuracy measures between different clinical studies and highlights the need for studies to include both relevant glucose distributions and relevant glucose rate-of-change distributions.     

Study of constancy of hydrogen-consuming flora of human colon

The constancy of the hydrogen consuming flora of the human colon was studied in 15 healthy subjects via two measurements obtained 18 to 36 months apart. Hydrogen disappearance rate and the major products of H₂-consuming bacteria, methane and sulfide, were measured during incubation of fecal homogenates with excess hydrogen and sulfate. In 11/15, the hydrogen consumption rate and the predominant hydrogen-consuming pathway (methanogenesis, sulfate reduction, or neither) remained constant. However, major shifts in these pathways were observed in four subjects, with two losing and two gaining the ability to produce methane. Methanogenesis was associated with the highest hydrogen consumption rate. This study demonstrates that clinically unrecognizable, major alterations of the colonic flora occur in healthy subjects. Understanding of the factors responsible for these alterations might allow for therapeutic manipulation of the colonic flora.Supported in part by the Department of Veterans Affairs and NIDDKD RO1 DK 13309-25.