Efficacy of Fecal Calprotectin Combined With Stool Hemoglobin in Differentiating Bacterial Origin in Acute Gastroenteritis

We compared fecal samples from responders and non-responders to administration of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. Data for this post hoc analysis were collected from an RCT assessing the efficacy of L. reuteri for the management of acute gastroenteritis. Responders were defined as subjects with diarrhea lasting no longer than 48 h. 44 children (17 responders and 27 non-responders) were analyzed. There were no differences in clinical characteristics and gut colonization between both groups. In the responder group, there were significantly lower levels of five metabolites before beginning of the intervention: lactate, choline, ethanol, creatine, and formate. The fecal calprotectin level did not differ between groups prior to the intervention, but its level was significantly lower after intervention in the responder group. Possibly, the responder group with a “metabolic niche”, including lower level of metabolites, especially lactate, that are potential products of Lactobacillus genus, would determine the response to probiotic treatment. These findings need to be confirmed, but identification of some differences in the fecal metabolomics and the calprotectin level suggests that further studies are warranted.

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A Sensitive On-Grid Immunoelectron Microscopic Procedure for Diagnosis of Rotavirus Infection

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s143192760000221x ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 506-507

Author(s):

M. F. Miller ◽

A. R. Rubenstein

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Specific Antibody ◽

Immune Complexes ◽

Acute Gastroenteritis ◽

Plant Viruses ◽

Aggregation Process ◽

Microscopic Technique ◽

Fecal Material ◽

Present Communication ◽

Number Of Particles

Studies of rotavirus particles in humans, monkeys and various non-primates with acute gastroenteritis have involved detection of virus in fecal material by electron microscopy. The EM techniques most commonly employed have been the conventional negative staining (Fig. 1) and immune aggregation (Fig. 2) procedures. Both methods are somewhat insensitive and can most reliably be applied to samples containing large quantities of virus either naturaLly or as a result of concentration by ultracentrifugation. The formation of immune complexes by specific antibody in the immune aggregation procedures confirms the rotavirus diagnosis, but the number of particles per given microscope field is effectively reduced by the aggregation process. In the present communication, we describe use of an on-grid immunoelectron microscopic technique in which rotavirus particles are mounted onto microscope grids that were pre-coated with specific antibody. The technique is a modification of a method originalLy introduced by Derrick (1) for studies of plant viruses.

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