Temporal dynamics of the fecal microbiome in female pigs from early life through estrus, parturition, and weaning of the first litter of piglets

BACKGROUND

Age-associated changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome of young pigs have been robustly described; however, the temporal dynamics of the fecal microbiome of the female pig from early life to first parity are not well understood. Our objective was to describe microbiome and antimicrobial resistance dynamics of the fecal microbiome of breeding sows from early life through estrus, parturition and weaning of the first litter of piglets (i.e., from 3 to 53 weeks of age).

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed that fecal bacterial populations in developing gilts undergo changes consistent with major maturation milestones. As the pigs progressed towards first estrus, the fecal bacteriome shifted from Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group- and UCG-002-dominated enterotypes to Treponema- and Clostridium sensu stricto 1-dominated enterotypes. After first estrus, the fecal bacteriome stabilized, with minimal changes in enterotype transition and associated microbial diversity from estrus to parturition and subsequent weaning of first litter piglets. Unlike bacterial communities, fecal fungal communities exhibited low diversity with high inter- and intra-pig variability and an increased relative abundance of certain taxa at parturition, including Candida spp. Counts of resistant fecal bacteria also fluctuated over time, and were highest in early life and subsequently abated as the pigs progressed to adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insights into how the fecal microbial community and antimicrobial resistance in female pigs change from three weeks of age throughout their first breeding lifetime. The fecal bacteriome enterotypes and diversity are found to be age-driven and established by the time of first estrus, with minimal changes observed during subsequent physiological stages, such as parturition and lactation, when compared to the earlier age-related shifts. The use of pigs as a model for humans is well-established, however, further studies are needed to understand how our results compare to the human microbiome dynamics. Our findings suggest that the fecal microbiome exhibited consistent changes across individual pigs and became more diverse with age, which is a beneficial characteristic for an animal model system.

Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injection versus Hyaluronic acid (HA) injection alone in Patients with Grade III and IV Knee Osteoarthritis (OA): A Retrospective Study on Functional Outcome

Introduction: Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely utilized in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis whereas platelet rich plasma (PRP) enhances the regeneration of articular cartilage. This study analyses the efficacy of HA and PRP in grade III and IV knee osteoarthritis.

Methodology: This is a cross sectional study with retrospective review of 64 patients (101 knees) which includes 56 knees injected with HA+ PRP, and 45 knees with HA only.

Results: During the post six months International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation, HA+PRP group showed marked improvement of 24.33 compared to 12.15 in HA group. Decrement in visual analogue score (VAS) in HA+PRP was 1.9 compared to 0.8 in HA group.

Conclusion: We propose intra-articular HA and PRP injections as an optional treatment modality in Grade III and IV knee osteoarthritis in terms of functional outcome and pain control for up to six months when arthroplasty is not an option.

Fasciola gigantica excretory-secretory products for immunodiagnosis and prevention of sheep fasciolosis

Excretory-secretory products (ESP) products of ex vivo Fasciola gigantica adult worms were used for immunodiagnosis of sheep experimental infection with F. gigantica and natural infection with Fasciola spp. by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. Specific IgG antibody binding to native or denatured ESP was detected as early as 2 weeks after experimental sheep infection with 100 or 200 metacercariae. No specific IgG antibody binding was displayed by sera obtained from 192 sheep considered to be Fasciola- and other parasite-free by microscopic examination of bile and feces. Additionally, sera from 200 apparently Fasciola-free sheep, yet infected with other parasites, were all negative. The data, thus, indicated that ESP-based ELISA reached nearly 100% sensitivity and specificity in immunodiagnosis of sheep fasciolosis. As expected, the ESP molecules were immunogenic in sheep eliciting interleukin-12p40 mRNA response and considerable amounts of antibodies, which were able to bind to the surface of newly excysted juvenile worms as judged by membrane indirect immunofluorescence, and mediate their attrition via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The ESP-induced cellular and humoral immune responses were associated with a modest reduction in worm count, yet with a highly significant (P<0.0001) decrease in size of recovered worms, thus suggesting that ESP immunization might be a safe and cost-effective strategy for reducing transmission of the infection.

A controlled prospective randomized trial of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy following radical cystectomy in advanced high risk bladder cancer

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Background: High risk locally advanced bladder cancer patients experienced low survival rates, high local recurrence and high rate of distant metastasis. Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) improved local control and survival, yet it did not affect distant metastasis. Methods: A prospective randomized trial was performed at NCI, Cairo, Egypt including 146 patients in 2 arms. Patients who underwent radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy had to have one or more of the following: stage P3b or P4a, G3 or involved lymphadenopathy. Arm I (74 patients) received PORT 45 Gy/30 fractions/3 weeks. Arm II (72 patients) received 2 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy (Gemcitabine 1 gm/m2 D1 and D8 and cisplatin 70 mg/m2 D2), same PORT regimen followed by another 2 courses of Gemcitabine-cisplatin. Results: Chemotherapy and radiation were tolerated with grade 1/2 toxicities. Delayed toxicity was comparable in both arms. The 45-month DFS was 51 ± 12 % in the whole group. This was affected significantly by performance status (p = 0.0001), pathological stage (p = 0.0099), nodal involvement (p = 0.004) and number of risk factors (p = 0.16). Though there was improvement of 45-month DFS from 28 ± 20% in PORT group to 70 ± 6 % in chemoradiotherapy group, yet it did not reach to the level of statistical significance (p = 0.18). Patients having one risk factor, G3 or no nodal involvement in arm II experienced better DFS than those in arm I (p = 0.17, 0.11 and 0.17 respectively). Distant metastasis-free survival (DMF) rate increased with the addition of chemotherapy from 29±21% to 75±6%. This effect was intensified in patients having one risk factor, grade 3 and negative nodes. Conclusions: Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy using Gemcitabine-cisplatin and PORT was tolerable. There was DFS improvement and higher DMF rates with the addition of chemotherapy to PORT (not statistically significant yet). Patients with one risk factor, G3 or no nodal involvement seemed to benefit more from the added chemotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after radical cystectomy in advanced high risk bladder cancer: A prospective randomized trial

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Background: High risk locally advanced bladder cancer patients experienced low survival rates, high local recurrence and extensive distant metastasis. Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) though improved the survival through improving local control. Methods: A prospective randomized trial was performed at NCI, Cairo, Egypt including 142 patients in 2 arms. Patients who underwent radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy had to have one more of the following: P3b or P4a stage, G3 or involved lymphadenopathy. Arm I (71 patients) received PORT 45 G/30 fractions/3 weeks. Arm II (71 patients) received 2 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy (Gemcitabine 1 gm/m2 D1 and D8 and cisplatin 70 mg/m2 D2), same PORT regimen followed by another 2 courses of Gemcitabine-cisplatin. Results: Chemotherapy was tolerated with grade 1/2 toxicities. Early radiation reactions were also tolerable in both arms, slightly more in arm II. Delayed toxicity was comparable in both arms. The 2-year DFS was 67.6 ± 5.9% in the whole group. This was affected significantly by performance status (p = 0.009), pathological stage (p = 0.001), tumor cell type (p = 0.053), nodal involvement (p = 0.07) and number of risk factors (p = 0.09). Though there was improvement of DFS from 61.5 ± 7.4% in PORT group to 70.9 ± 6.1% in chemoradiotherapy group, yet it was not statistically significant (p = 0.2). Patients having one risk factor, low pathological stage or no nodal involvement in arm II experienced better DFS than those in arm I (p = 0.07, 0.08 and 0.09 respectively). Conclusions: Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy using Gemcitabine-cisplatin and PORT was tolerable with minimal severe toxicities. There was DFS improvement with the addition of chemotherapy to PORT (not statistically significant yet). Patients with one risk factor, lower pathological stage or no nodal involvement seemed to benefit more from added chemotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

[Study on clinic and etiology of human laryngoceles by help of Silopren -casts (author's transl)]

In different papers the statistical number of the finding of a laryngocele is changing. This perhaps should be related to the fact that there is no equal definition. Therefore an own definition for the examination of 50 Silopren -casts from laryngeal autopsies is given. In 64% of the cases one or more sacculi laryngis were found. The sex-distribution was about 50%. By looking at the clinical history it seems that exogenic factors have an influence on the extent of laryngoceles.

Hepatitis B antigen subtypes in asymptomatic carriers in the Solomon Islands

Three hundred and fifty-three students attending King George VI School in Honiara, British Solomon Islands Protectorate, were tested by immunodiffusion for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag). The prevalence of HB Ag was 13% and the antigen was found more frequently in males. Twenty-seven samples which contained high titers of antigen were subtyped to define those subtype combinations present in the BSIP. The most frequent antigen was adr+yw-. This combination is also common in Thailand and Japan. The second most prevalent combination was ayw+dr-. The antigenic determinants also occurred less frequently as adw+yr-, adwr+y-, and awr+dy-. These unusual samples which contain both w and r may be the result of mixed particles, recombination of virus, mixing of viral proteins in doubly infected cells or extracellular aggregation of mixed viral products.