scholarly journals Appendectomy Is Associated With Alteration of Human Gut Bacterial and Fungal Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuntian Cai ◽  
Yanyun Fan ◽  
Bangzhou Zhang ◽  
Jinzhou Lin ◽  
Xiaoning Yang ◽  
...  

Recent research has revealed the importance of the appendix in regulating the intestinal microbiota and mucosal immunity. However, the changes that occur in human gut microbial communities after appendectomy have never been analyzed. We assessed the alterations in gut bacterial and fungal populations associated with a history of appendectomy. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between appendectomy and the gut microbiome using 16S and ITS2 sequencing on fecal samples from 30 healthy individuals with prior appendectomy (HwA) and 30 healthy individuals without appendectomy (HwoA). Analysis showed that the gut bacterial composition of samples from HwA was less diverse than that of samples from HwoA and had a lower abundance of Roseburia, Barnesiella, Butyricicoccus, Odoribacter, and Butyricimonas species, most of which were short-chain fatty acids-producing microbes. The HwA subgroup analysis indicated a trend toward restoration of the HwoA bacterial microbiome over time after appendectomy. HwA had higher gut fungi composition and diversity than HwoA, even 5 years after appendectomy. Compared with those in samples from HwoA, the abundance correlation networks in samples from HwA displayed more complex fungal–fungal and fungal–bacterial community interactions. This study revealed a marked impact of appendectomy on gut bacteria and fungi, which was particularly durable for fungi.

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1164-1168
Author(s):  
M. A. Talat ◽  
I. Liaqat ◽  
T. Usman ◽  
M. K. Ashraf ◽  
A. Malik ◽  
...  

Aim: To investigate role of AdipoR1 concentrations and leptin levels in obese and healthy subjects along with their lipid status Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in residents of Sialkot city and included 132 subjects. Each group had 66 participants. Mean age was 39.6±0.97 years. Mean BMI for obese subjects was 31.55±0.6 while healthy group BMI was 20.5±0.2. Individuals with known history of diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, any malignancy and history of lipid lowering, antihypertensive, antipsychotics and antiepileptic were excluded. Fasting blood samples were taken after informed and written consent. Samples were centrifuged to extract serum and stored for analysis by ELISA method for AdiopR1 and leptin while lipid profile was determined by kits by Randox Diagnostics using micro lab. Data was analyzed by SPSS v. 26. Comparison between groups was carried out by Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Our study revealed higher levels of serum AdipoR1 (28.9±22.86 ng/mL), leptin (320.7±59.38 pg/mL), cholesterol (216±5.31 mg/dl), triglyceride (177.8±4.93 mg/dl) and LDL (139.3±4.56 mg/dl) in obese when compared with healthy individuals, AdiopoR1 (17.8±1.96ng/mL), leptin (219±20.76 pg/mL), cholesterol (179.8±3.25 mg/dl), triglyceride (149.8±3.17mg/dl), LDL (108.5±25.7 mg/dl) respectively. No statistical difference was found for HDL between groups. Conclusion: Our Study concludes that rising levels of AdipoR1 and leptin in addition to lipid profile are associated with obesity. Keywords: Obesity, Receptor Proteins AdipoR1, Leptin, lipid status, adipose tissue


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Mohammed Madadin ◽  
Ritesh G. Menezes ◽  
Maha A. Alassaf ◽  
Abdulaziz M. Almulhim ◽  
Mahdi S. Abumadini ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: Medical students are at high risk of suicidal ideation. Aim: We aimed to obtain information on suicidal ideation among medical students in Dammam located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine affiliated with Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Suicidal ideation in the past 12 months was assessed based on responses to four questions in the depression subscale of the General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28). In addition, data were collected to examine the association of suicidal ideation with various factors. Results: We found that 1 in 3 medical students in the study had suicidal ideation in the past 12 months, while around 40% had lifetime suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation was associated with feelings of parental neglect, history of physical abuse, and dissatisfaction with academic performance. Limitations: The cross-sectional nature of this study limits its ability to determine causality regarding suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These rates are considerably high when compared with rates from studies in other countries around the world. This study provides a reference in the field of suicidology for this region of Saudi Arabia.


Author(s):  
Kashish Narula ◽  
Narendra Kumar Dara ◽  
Shyam Lal Meena

Background: Thyroid hormones influence nearly all major metabolic pathways. Their most obvious and well-known action is the increase in basal energy expenditure obtained by acting on protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The lipid metabolism is more influenced by the thyroid hormone. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with suspicion of thyroid disorders were taken as cases. One hundred patients with normal thyroid profile and no history of other chronic diseases were taken as control group. Results: The serum TC, TG and LDL levels in hypothyroid individuals (both overt and subclinical) were significantly higher than euthyroid subjects but the levels were comparable between hyperthyroid and euthyroid group. Conclusion: Dyslipidemias are associated with thyroid disorders, so biochemical screening for thyroid dysfunction in all dyslipidemic patients. Therefore, patients presenting with dyslipidemia are recommended for investigation to explore thyroid dysfunction. Keywords: Thyroid profile, Total cholesterol, Triglycerides and LDL


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 388-395
Author(s):  
Daniel Vargas-Pacherrez ◽  
Helma P. Cotrim ◽  
Leonardo Pires ◽  
Vitor Cunha ◽  
Vitor Coelho ◽  
...  

Introduction: The global prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among people living with HIV/AIDS varies from 20% to 33%. Objective: to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated factors in a group of HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with HIV-infected patients from a reference center in Bahia, Brazil. We evaluated clinical, socio-demographic and anthropometric data. MS was defined according to the guidelines of International Diabetes Federation. Results: We evaluated 152 patients with mean age of 47.3±11.6 years, 59.2% male. The main comorbidities detected were diabetes (3.3%) hypertriglyceridemia (9.3%) and metabolic syndrome (MS,38.2%). Patients with MS were predominantly women (55.2% vs 31.9%; p=0.005), older [52.1 (10.4) vs 44.3 (11.3); p<0.001], and had overweight (74.1% vs 23.4%; p<0.001). After multivariate analysis MS remained associated with age (OR = 1.076; 95% CI: 1.030 – 1.125), female sex (OR = 2.452; 95% CI: 1.114 – 5.374) and family history of hypertension (OR = 3.678; 95% CI: 1.431 – 9.395). Conclusion: Almost half of the HIV-infected patients in Bahia presents with MS which seems to be driven by classical risk factors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nessrine Akasbi ◽  
Siar Nihad ◽  
Zoukal Sofia ◽  
El Kohen Khadija ◽  
Harzy Taoufik

Background: According to the new classification criteria developed by The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society, patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) can be classified in 2 subgroups: Patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: ankylosing spondylitis patients (AS) and those with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). Objective: The aim of the present study is to describe and discuss the differences and similarities between the two subgroups. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a single rheumatology hospital in Morocco. These included patients diagnosed as having axial spondyloarthritis according to ASAS criteria 2010, during a period of 6 years. The AS and the nr-axSpA subgroups were compared for the various axSpA-related variables. Results: Of the 277 patients with a diagnosis of axial SpA who were included in this study, 160 had AS and 117 had nr-axSpA. AS and nr-ax-SpA shared a similar age at diagnosis, similar prevalence of low back pain, lumbar stiffness, extra-articular manifestations, BASDAI and BASFI. In the multivariate analysis, AS patients were mainly male with cervical stiffness, enthesitis, coxitis and high level of ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). The females generally had a family history of SpA and arthritis and were associated to the nr-axSpA form in the univariate analysis. Conclusion: This was the first study to characterise patients with AS and nr-axSpA in Morocco. Consistent with other studies published, this study showed that patients with nr-axSpA and patients with AS shared a comparable degree of disease burden.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shweta R Singh ◽  
Bunsoth Mao ◽  
Konstantin Evdokimov ◽  
Pisey Tan ◽  
Phana Leab ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The rising incidence of infections caused by MDR organisms (MDROs) poses a significant public health threat. However, little has been reported regarding community MDRO carriage in low- and middle-income countries. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in Siem Reap, Cambodia comparing hospital-associated households, in which an index child (age: 2–14 years) had been hospitalized for at least 48 h in the preceding 2–4 weeks, with matched community households on the same street, in which no other child had a recent history of hospitalization. Participants were interviewed using a survey questionnaire and tested for carriage of MRSA, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) by culture followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing. We used logistic regression analysis to analyse associations between collected variables and MDRO carriage. Results Forty-two pairs of households including 376 participants with 376 nasal swabs and 290 stool specimens were included in final analysis. MRSA was isolated from 26 specimens (6.9%). ESBL-producing Escherichia coli was detected in 269 specimens (92.8%) whereas ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from 128 specimens (44.1%), of which 123 (42.4%) were co-colonized with ESBL-producing E. coli. Six (2.1%) specimens tested positive for CPE (4 E. coli and 2 K. pneumoniae). The prevalence ratios for MRSA, ESBL-producing E. coli and ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae carriage did not differ significantly in hospital-associated households and hospitalized children compared with their counterparts. Conclusions The high prevalence of ESBL-E across both household types suggests that MDRO reservoirs are common in the community. Ongoing genomic analyses will help to understand the epidemiology and course of MDRO spread.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Leena R. Baghdadi ◽  
Shatha G. Alghaihb ◽  
Alanoud A. Abuhaimed ◽  
Dania M. Alkelabi ◽  
Rawan S. Alqahtani

In 2019, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)) caused a global pandemic. There was an urgent need to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 to reduce its spread and economic burden. The main objective of this study was to understand the attitudes and concerns of healthcare workers (HCWs) towards the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine, whether their decision was influenced by their history of taking the seasonal influenza vaccine, and factors that influence the acceptance of the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We selected and surveyed 356 HCWs via an electronic self-administered questionnaire. A total of 61.16% of HCWs were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and 55.9% of them had received the seasonal influenza vaccine in the preceding year (2019–2020). The strongest predictors for taking the COVID-19 vaccine were the HCWs’ belief that the COVID-19 vaccine would be safe, needed even for healthy people, that all HCWs should be vaccinated against COVID-19, and that HCWs will have time to take the vaccine. Being female, being middle aged, having <5 years of work experience, having no fear of injections, and being a non-smoker were predictive factors for taking the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine. No associations were found between the intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine and a history of taking the seasonal influenza vaccine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sivaporn Gatechompol ◽  
Weerakit Harnpariphan ◽  
Ruamthip Supanan ◽  
Gompol Suwanpimolkul ◽  
Jiratchaya Sophonphan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Prisons are considered as major reservoirs for tuberculosis. Preventive therapy for latent TB infection (LTBI) is an adjunctive strategy to control TB. However, LTBI data in Thai prisoners is limited. This study assessed the prevalence of LTBI and feasibility of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among prisoners in Klong Prem Central Prison, Bangkok. Participants were screened for active TB by questionnaire and chest X-ray. LTBI was evaluated by Tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFTP) among subgroup. Participants with positive TST or QFTP were considered to have LTBI. Participants with LTBI were offered IPT. Results From August 2018–November 2019, 1002 participants were analyzed. All participants were male with a median age of 38 (IQR 32–50) years. LTBI identified by either TST/QFTP was present in 466 (46.5%) participants. TST was positive in 359 (36%) participants. In the subgroup of 294 participants who had both TST and QFTP results, 181/294 (61.6%) tested positive by QFTP. Agreement between TST and QFTP was 55.1% (Kappa = 0.17). The risk factors associated with LTBI were previous incarceration (aOR 1.53, 95%CI, 1.16–2.01, p = 0.002), history of prior active TB (aOR 3.02, 95%CI, 1.74–5.24, p < 0.001) and duration of incarceration ≥10 years (aOR 1.86, 95%CI, 1.24–2.79, p = 0.003). Majority of LTBI participants (82%) agreed to take IPT. Three hundred and 56 (93%) participants completed treatment whereas 27 (7%) participants discontinued IPT due to the side effects of INH. Conclusion This is the first study to evaluate the prevalence of LTBI and feasibility of IPT among Thai prisoners. LTBI prevalence in male prisoners in Thailand is high. LTBI screening and treatment should be implemented together with other preventive components.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2475
Author(s):  
Olivier Peyrony ◽  
Danaé Gamelon ◽  
Romain Brune ◽  
Anthony Chauvin ◽  
Daniel Aiham Ghazali ◽  
...  

Background: We aimed to describe red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in the emergency department (ED) with a particular focus on the hemoglobin (Hb) level thresholds that are used in this setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 12 EDs including all adult patients that received RBC transfusion in January and February 2018. Descriptive statistics were reported. Logistic regression was performed to assess variables that were independently associated with a pre-transfusion Hb level ≥ 8 g/dL. Results: During the study period, 529 patients received RBC transfusion. The median age was 74 (59–85) years. The patients had a history of cancer or hematological disease in 185 (35.2%) cases. Acute bleeding was observed in the ED for 242 (44.7%) patients, among which 145 (59.9%) were gastrointestinal. Anemia was chronic in 191 (40.2%) cases, mostly due to vitamin or iron deficiency or to malignancy with transfusion support. Pre-transfusion Hb level was 6.9 (6.0–7.8) g/dL. The transfusion motive was not notified in the medical chart in 206 (38.9%) cases. In the multivariable logistic regression, variables that were associated with a higher pre-transfusion Hb level (≥8 g/dL) were a history of coronary artery disease (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.29–3.41), the presence of acute bleeding (OR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.53–3.94), and older age (OR: 1.02/year; 95% CI: 1.01–1.04). Conclusion: RBC transfusion in the ED was an everyday concern and involved patients with heterogeneous medical situations and severity. Pre-transfusion Hb level was rather restrictive. Almost half of transfusions were provided because of acute bleeding which was associated with a higher Hb threshold.


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