Effect of a probiotics supplementation on respiratory infections and immune and hormonal parameters during intense military training

This study examined the effect of a probiotics supplementation on respiratory tract infection (RTI) and immune and hormonal changes during the French Commando training (3-week training followed by a 5-day combat course). Cadets (21 +/- 0.4 years) received either a probiotics (n = 24) or a placebo (n = 23) supplementation over the training period. We found no difference in the RTI incidence between groups but a significantly greater proportion of rhinopharyngitis in the probiotic group (p < 0.05). Among immune parameters, the major finding was an immunoglobulin A decrease after the combat course only in the placebo group (p < 0.01), but the difference between the two groups was not significant. A greater increase in dehydroepiandrostane sulfate was observed in the probiotics group after the combat course (p < 0.05). This study suggested that the benefits of a probiotics supplementation in a multistressor environment relied mainly on its capacity to prevent the infection to spread throughout the respiratory tract.     

A novel pathogenic germline mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli gene in a Tunisian family with FAP

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant disorder which typically presents with colorectal cancer in early adult life, secondary to extensive adenomatous polyps of the colon. In addition to the colonic manifestations, the syndrome presents several extracolonic features including, congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment, osteomata and desmoid tumors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical and genetic features in a Tunisian family with FAP. Sequence of the APC gene (Adenomatous Polyposis Coli) revealed a novel mutation (c.2016-2017 del TA) in exon 15, present in all affected individuals in an heterozygous state. The frameshift mutation generates a premature stop codon at amino acid 677 of the APC protein (p. H672Qfs X5). The unaffected family members did not harbor this mutation, however, a first degree relative of the patient aged of 32 year-old was phenotypically normal but carries the c.2016-2017 del TA mutation. This discrepancy can be explained by the effect of modifier gene which can affect the expressivity of the disease.     

Brucella Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: A Systematic Review

ObjectiveBrucella prosthetic valve endocarditis is a rare but a life-threatening complication of brucellosis. It remains a diagnostic challenge. Optimal treatment of Brucella prosthetic valve endocarditis is debated. Available data is limited to case reports or small case series. The purpose of this study was to systematically review all published cases of Brucella prosthetic valve endocarditis in the literature.MethodA systematic review of PubMed database, Google, Google Scholar, and Scopus (From January 1974 to the present) for studies providing epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data as well as data on treatment and outcomes of Brucella prosthetic valve endocarditis was performed.ResultsA total of 51 reported cases were reviewed. Brucella melitensis (45%) and Brucella abortus (11.7%) were the most frequently isolated species. Most common type of prosthesis valve was mechanical prothesis (84.3%) and ten patients had double valve prosthesis (19.6%). Fever and dyspnea were present in 100% and 37.2% of the cases, respectively. The diagnosis was set with echocardiographic finding in 30 cases (93.7%), which revealed vegetation in 27 cases (84.3%). Most used antibiotics were rifampicin, doxycycline and aminoglycoside or cotrimoxazole. No deaths were noted in patients treated by combined medical and surgical treatment, but mortality was noted in 27.7% of the cases treated by antibiotics alone (p = 0.006).ConclusionThis systematic review highlights diagnostic challenges and demonstrates that surgery improved outcome by reducing mortality in patients treated with the combined surgical and medical treatment option. Brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of prosthetic valve endocarditis in patients residing in or traveling to areas of endemicity.     

Detection of aneuploidy rate for chromosomes X,Y and 8 by fluorescence in-situ hybridization in spermatozoa from patients with severe non-obstructive oligozoospermia

Purpose  

To evaluate the frequency of sperm nuclei disomy for chromosomes 8, X, and Y in patients with severe non-obstructive oligozoospermia and to assess possible correlations between sperm nuclei aneuploidy and semen parameters or a particular clinical phenotype.     

Cystic undifferentiated sarcoma of liver in children: a pitfall diagnosis in endemic hydatidosis areas

Undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma (UES) of the liver is a very rare pediatric neoplasm with an aggressive behavior. Multimodal treatment including complete surgical resection and chemotherapy has improved survival.We report a case of UES occurring in a 15-year-old female. Radiographic findings showed a multicystic mass appearance. The diagnosis of hydatid cyst was initially presumed. A complete tumor resection after 3 cycles of chemotherapy was performed. Histologically, only 20% of tumor necrosis was noted. Adjuvant chemotherapy was instituted. She remained well at 11 months of follow-up.Cystic appearance is a usual finding in UES. Differential diagnosis with hydatid cyst may be problematic in endemic hydatidosis areas.     

Foot and eye preferences in adults: relationship with handedness, sex and age.

Age, sex, and handedness effects in foot and eye preferences were studied by questionnaire in large samples of normal adult populations from five different countries (total sample, n = 5064). Foot and eye preference were significantly associated with handedness category (right or left) in all the 10 sex by country samples for foot, and in 9/10 samples for eye. The overall frequencies of crossed preferences were 5% between hand and foot and 19.5% between hand and eye. In right-handers, a gradual shift toward the "right" with increasing age was systematically observed, both for footedness and eyedness. The proportion of crossed hand-foot preference was higher in men than women (7.4% vs 2.5%), and higher in left-handers than right-handers (16.3% vs 4.1%). Sex differences in the proportion of crossed hand-eye preference were variable from one country to the other.     

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on the rapid shallow breathing index in patients following cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVES: To compare the rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) under different ventilatory support settings prior to extubation trials. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Cardiac surgery unit at a university hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 33 coronary artery bypass grafting patients ready for extubation. INTERVENTIONS: Enrolled patients received a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) trial of 5 cm H(2)O and fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO(2)) of 40% (condition 1), a CPAP trial of 5 cmH(2)O and FIO(2) of 21% (condition 2), and a 1-min spontaneously breathing room air trial without ventilatory support (condition 3). These trials were applied in random order. Measurements and main results: Average values of respiratory frequency and tidal volume were measured under the three experimental conditions in all patients immediately prior to extubation. The RSBIs were determined for each patient under each condition; the average RSBIs under conditions 1, 2, and 3 were compared for significance. The average RSBIs (+/- SD) were significantly smaller under condition 1 (34 +/- 13) and condition 2 (36 +/- 14) compared to condition 3 (71 +/- 24). There was no significant difference in RSBI between conditions 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of 5 cm H(2)O of CPAP can influence the determination of the RSBI. In contrast, changes in FIO(2) have no effect on RSBI determination. We speculate that using the RSBI during CPAP may mislead the clinician into premature discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. Consequently, different threshold values for the RSBI should be derived for different ventilatory support levels.     

Lectin reactivity of expanded mouse blastocysts after exposure to sera from women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion

Embryotoxic factors existing in maternal sera may influence their effects via specific binding to, or alteration of cell surface molecules in the conceptus. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of sera from women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) on cell surface glycoconjugates of the early conceptus. Four cell stage embryos were cultured in medium supplemented with sera from women with URSA, from normal women, or in medium without serum. Developmental competence was assessed as the stage distribution of embryos advancing to during 96 h in culture. Hatched (expanded) blastocysts were stained with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), peanut agglutinin (PNA) and dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) to detect surface glucoconjugates. We observed that patient sera could be divided into high- and low-risk groups on the basis of the ability to decrease the number of four-cell embryos reaching the expanded blastocyst stage. Furthermore, the intensity of reactivity to PNA changed after exposure to high-risk sera. Morula formation was reduced and blastocyst formation was delayed. Although the sera from women with URSA had embryotoxic effects, no influence on the glycoconjugate patterns were evident in hatched blastocysts, aside from PNA reactivivity. We suggest altered developmental display of PNA-reactive proteins was a biomarker for poor developmental quality due to emrbyotoxic factors in serum from URSA patients.     

Influence of hypercalcic and/or hyperoxalic diet on calcium oxalate renal stone formation in rats

OBJECTIVE: To test whether increasing dietary calcium intake prevents calcium oxalate stone formation when the diet is oxalate-rich. Material and methods. Four groups, eight rats in each, were subjected to a lithogenic diet by the addition of 0.5% ethylene glycol to drinking water for 3 weeks. The first group, used as a control, simultaneously received a standard diet. The second group was supplemented with calcium at 500 mg/100 g of diet and the third group with oxalate at 3 g/100 g of diet. The diet given to the last group was supplemented with similar doses of calcium and oxalate. One day before the end of treatment, each animal was placed in a metabolic cage to collect 24-h urine samples and determine urinary parameters. The kidneys were removed to determine calcium oxalate deposits and for histological examination. RESULTS: The number of calcium oxalate crystals in renal tissue was highest in the oxalate group and calcium oxalate deposits were also found to be elevated in this group. Hyperoxaluria and hypocitraturia, induced by a oxalate-rich diet, seemed to be the major causes contributing to aggravated renal stone formation. The protective effect of dietary calcium supplementation, which was clear in the calcium + oxalate group, was probably due to intestinal binding of oxalate by calcium, thereby reducing urinary oxalate excretion. CONCLUSION: Increased dietary calcium intake can prevent calcium oxalate stone formation only when the diet is oxalate-rich.