Microbial Diversity and Characteristics of Kombucha as Revealed by Metagenomic and Physicochemical Analysis

Kombucha is a fermented tea made from a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY) with a long history of use as a health tonic. It is likely that most health benefits come from the tea and fermentation metabolites from specific microbial communities. Despite its growing importance as a functional health drink, the microbial ecosystem present in kombucha has not been fully documented. To characterize the microbial composition and biochemical properties of ‘The Good Brew’ original base kombucha, we used metagenomics amplicon (16S rRNA and ITS) sequencing to identify the microbial communities at the taxonomic level. We identified 34 genera with 200 microbial species yet described in kombucha. The dominance of organic acid producing microorganisms Acetobacter, Komagataeibacter and Starmerella are healthy for the human gut and their glucose metabolising activities have a putative role in preventing conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Kombucha contains high protein (3.31 µg/mL), high phenolic content (290.4 mg/100 mL) and low sugars (glucose: 1.87 g/L; sucrose 1.11 g/L; fructose: 0.05 g/L) as compared to green tea. The broad microbial diversity with proven health benefits for the human gut suggests kombucha is a powerful probiotic. These findings are important to improve the commercial value of kombucha and uncover the immense prospects for health benefits.     

Genotypic characterization of dengue virus strains circulating during 2007-2009 in New Delhi

Dengue is an important arboviral disease of tropical and subtropical regions, with significant morbidity and mortality. Dengue virus is antigenically classified into four serotypes, which are further classified into 4–5 genotypes based on their genetic diversity. Since genotypes vary in their virulence, their detection and analysis of spatial and temporal transition are essential. We utilized sequence information from the E-NS1 gene region for molecular and phylogenetic characterization of dengue viruses isolated from dengue patients between 2007 and 2009. All four serotypes and multiple genotypes were detected, with predominance and emergence of DENV-1 genotype V. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the emergence of DENV-1 genotype V from India for the first time, which has replaced the earlier circulating genotype III and genotype I. The circulation of multiple genotypes and genotype replacement is critical, since genotypes vary in their virulence, and this should be a point of concern for healthcare agencies.     

Effect of noncontact normothermic wound therapy on the healing of neuropathic (diabetic) foot ulcers: An interim analysis of 20 patients

This is the interim analysis of a prospective, randomized, controlled study comparing diabetic foot ulcer healing in patients being treated with either noncontact normothermic wound therapy (Warm-UP; Augustine Medical Inc. Eden Prairie, MN) applied for 1 hour 3 times daily until healing or 12 weeks, or standard care (saline-moistened gauze applied once a day). Surgical debridement and adequate foot off-loading was provided to both groups. Evaluations were performed weekly and consisted of acetate tracings, wound assessment, and serial photography. Twenty patients have completed the trial and both treatment groups were distributed evenly (N = 10). Ulcers treated with noncontact normothermic wound therapy had a greater mean percent wound closure than control-treated ulcers at each evaluation point (weeks 1-12). After 12 weeks, 70% of the wounds treated with noncontact normothermic wound therapy were healed compared with 40% for the control group. In this subset of patients there have been no adverse events associated with noncontact normothermic wound therapy.     

Examination of Tissue Distribution of Helicobacter pylori Within Columnar-Lined Esophagus

H. pylori may colonize columnar-lined esophagus,although an etiologic role in esophageal adenocarcinomais unproven. H. pylori can adhere to intestinalmetaplasia in the stomach. This study was designed to examine if H. pylori adheres to specializedintestinal metaplasia in columnar-lined esophagus.Esophageal biopsies from patients with columnar-linedesophagus were reviewed. Patients with only gastric metaplasia were excluded. Sections withspecialized intestinal metaplasia in at least one thirdof at least one gland were recut, stained using theGiemsa stain, and reexamined by two independentpathologists using strict criteria for adherence by H.pylori . The 209 esophageal biopsies with adequatespecialized intestinal metaplasia from 58 patients wereexamined: H. pylori was only seen on gastric metaplasia in three patients — and never onspecialized intestinal metaplasia. Within the esophagus,H. pylori adheres only to gastric metaplasia, which isnot considered premalignant for esophagealadenocarcinoma.     

Differential usage of transcriptional repressor Zeb2 enhancers distinguishes adult and embryonic hematopoiesis

1. Download : Download high-res image (170KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Managed care, deficit financing, and aggregate health care expenditure in the United States: A cointegration analysis

We applied a battery of cointegration tests comprising those of Johansen and Juselius [19], Phillips and Hansen [35], and Engle and Granger [6], to model aggregate health care expenditure using 1960–96 US data. The existence of a stable long-run economic relationship or cointegration is confirmed, in the United States, between aggregate health care expenditure and real GDP, population age distribution, managed care enrollment, number of practicing physicians, and government deficits. The evidence of cointegration among these variables, chosen on the theoretical basis of prior studies, implies that while they are individually non-stationary in levels, together they are highly correlated and move, in the long run to form an economic equilibrium relationship of US aggregate health care expenditure. More specifically, and for the first time in this line of inquiry, (i) managed care enrollment is found to be negatively associated with the level of health care spending, (ii) supply disinduced demand effects of physicians tend to moderate health expenditure, and (iii) government deficit financing is positively related to health care spending. The observed sign and magnitude of the income coefficient are consistent with health care being a luxury good. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The pharmacodynamics of lansoprazole administered via gastrostomy as intact, non-encapsulated granules

Background:

Because of its acid-labile nature, lansoprazole is usually administered as encapsulated enteric-coated granules. The gelatin capsule and acid-resistant coating of the granules have been considered essential for effective drug absorption and optimal bioavailability. Lansoprazole may attain effective plasma levels when given as non-encapsulated intact granules, but effects on intragastric acidity are unknown.

Aim:

To test the effectiveness of non-encapsulated, intact lansoprazole granules in suppressing intragastric acidity when administered through a gastrostomy.

Methods:

Eight men, each with an established gastrostomy, underwent baseline 24 h intragastric pH monitoring while off any acid-suppressing medication. Via the gastrostomy, they then received 7 days of once-daily dosing with 30 mg lansoprazole as intact granules in 3 fl. oz. of orange juice. Intragastric pH monitoring was repeated on day 7.

Results:

Mean intragastric pH pre-dosing was 1.96 ± 0.5 (s.d.). This increased to 4.7 ± 0.6 on day 7 (P < 0.0001). Median intragastric pH rose from 1.5 to 5.2 (P < 0.0001). Before lansoprazole, the proportions of time when intragastric pH was above 3, 4 and 5 were 23.2, 13.5 and 7.5%, respectively. Corresponding values after 7 days of lansoprazole were 81.1, 70.2 and 52.3% (P < 0.0001 for each comparison).

Conclusion:

Lansoprazole can effectively suppress intragastric acidity when given through a gastrostomy as intact, non-encapsulated granules in orange juice.