Antibiotics produced by Streptomyces

Streptomyces is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria that grows in various environments, and its shape resembles filamentous fungi. The morphological differentiation of Streptomyces involves the formation of a layer of hyphae that can differentiate into a chain of spores. The most interesting property of Streptomyces is the ability to produce bioactive secondary metabolites, such as antifungals, antivirals, antitumorals, anti-hypertensives, immunosuppressants, and especially antibiotics. The production of most antibiotics is species specific, and these secondary metabolites are important for Streptomyces species in order to compete with other microorganisms that come in contact, even within the same genre. Despite the success of the discovery of antibiotics, and advances in the techniques of their production, infectious diseases still remain the second leading cause of death worldwide, and bacterial infections cause approximately 17 million deaths annually, affecting mainly children and the elderly. Self-medication and overuse of antibiotics is another important factor that contributes to resistance, reducing the lifetime of the antibiotic, thus causing the constant need for research and development of new antibiotics.     

Managing Risks of Neoplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been linked with a variety of intestinal and extraintestinal cancers. This review summarizes the latest literature with regard to which cancers are truly linked with IBD and which are not, the absolute and relative risks of these cancers, how medications commonly prescribed for IBD affect this risk, and finally strategies for managing these risks. Physicians and health professionals may find this information useful for counseling and educating patients as well as for improving patient care.     

Risks, Benefits, and Therapeutic Potential of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Autoimmune Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that results from the autoimmune response against pancreatic insulin producing β cells. Apart of several insulin regimens, since the decade of 80s various immunomodulatory regimens were tested aiming at blocking some steps of the autoimmune process against β cell mass and at promoting β cell preservation. In the last years, some independent research groups tried to cure type 1 diabetes with an "immunologic reset" provided by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed patients, and the majority of patients became free form insulin with increasing levels of C-peptide along the time. In this review, we discuss the biology of hematopoietic stem cells and the possible advantages and disadvantages related to the high dose immunosuppression followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.     

Epiretinal membrane vitrectomy: outcomes with or without cataract surgery and a novel prognostic factor for cystoid macular edema

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To assess the outcomes of vitrectomy with or without cataract surgery for the treatment of idiopathic ERM in phakic eyes and...     

Predicting retinal pigment epithelium remodelling and its functional impact

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To identify predictive factors for RPE tear remodelling and its correlation with functional and morphological outcomes....