Editorial for the Special Issue: Advances in the Biology of Phototrophic Bacteria

Phototrophic bacteria represent a very ancient phylogenetic and highly diverse metabolic type of bacteria that diverged early into several major phylogenetic lineages with quite different properties. [...]

Biochemical blood values of ewes in the first month of lactation and their relation to milk productivity

Milk productivity and a set of biochemical blood parameters characterizing the metabolic status were studied in suck-ling semi-fine-fleece wool-and-meat ewes of the first month of lactation (n = 80) of the experimental herd of L. A. Kaneva farm in the Ust-Tsilemsky district of Komi Republic. The ewes with lambs were kept in the same room in similar conditions of keeping and feeding. To characterize the metabolic type, all controlled ewes were divided into three groups depending on the level of their milk productivity. There was no significant linear variation of the metabolites during the transition from group to group. As a result of studying the associations between milking capacity and biochemical parameters of blood serum within the groups, in high-milking ewes of group 3, statistically significant correlations were found with the level of urea (r = -0.47, P < 0.05), and the activity of alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.40, P < 0.05), as well as not reliable, but relatively high coefficient with glucose (r = 0.36, P > 0.05). As a result of combining urea, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and glucose into one complex index – AP*glucose/urea, it was possible to increase significantly the correlation coefficient with milking capacity to 0.61 at P < 0.001. The obtained results indicate that high-milking ewes have metabolic features developed as the result of the body's adaptation to intensive lactation activity. These features are expressed in the interrelated fluctuation of three metabolites – urea, AP and glucose. It is assumed that urea indicates more efficient assimilation of nitrogen of the diet with an increase in milk productivity, intense inclusion of amino groups into metabolic processes necessary for the synthesis of milk proteins. Glucose and alkaline phosphatase indicate an increase in the intensity of cellular metabolism.

No lab is an island: universal coding of laboratory test names

The local laboratory with a local client-base, that never needs to exchange information with any outside entity, is a dying breed. As marketing channels, animal movement, and reporting requirements become increasingly national and international, the need to communicate about laboratory tests and results grows. Local and proprietary names of laboratory tests often fail to communicate enough detail to distinguish between similar tests. To avoid a lengthy description of each test, laboratories need the ability to assign codes that, although not sufficiently user-friendly for day-to-day use, contain enough information to translate between laboratories and even languages. The Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) standard provides such a universal coding system. Each test—each atomic observation—is evaluated on 6 attributes that establish its uniqueness at the level of clinical—or epidemiologic—significance. The analyte detected, analyte property, specimen, and result scale combine with the method of analysis and timing (for challenge and metabolic type tests) to define a unique LOINC code. Equipping laboratory results with such universal identifiers creates a world of opportunity for cross-institutional data exchange, aggregation, and analysis, and presents possibilities for data mining and artificial intelligence on a national and international scale. A few challenges, relatively unique to regulatory veterinary test protocols, require special handling.

Homo-and heterofermentative lactobacilli are differently affected by lignocellulosic inhibitory compounds

Second generation (2G) ethanol is produced through the use of lignocellulosic biomass. However, the pretreatment processes generates a variety of molecules (furan derivatives, phenolic compounds and organic acids) that act as inhibitors of microbial metabolism, and thus reduce the efficiency of the fermentation step in this process. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of furan derivatives on the physiology of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains that are potential contaminants of ethanol production. Homofermentative and heterofermentative strains of laboratory LAB and isolated from first generation ethanol fermentation were used. LAB strains were challenge to grow in the presence of furfural and hydroxymethyylfurfural (HMF). We found that the effect of HMF and furfural on the growth rate of LAB is dependent of the metabolic type, and growth kinetics in the presence of these compounds is enhanced for heterofermentative LAB, whereas is inhibitory to homofermentative LAB. Sugar consumption and product formation were also enhanced in the presence of furaldehydes in heterofermentative LAB, that displayed an effective detoxification kinetics when compared to the homofermentative LAB. This knowledge is important because LAB can be explored both within the scope of bio-detoxification, being applied before the fermentation.Key points‐Heterofermentative LAB presented the ability to decrease the concentrations of furfural and HMF‐LAB can be used in the bio-detoxification to remove the inhibitors before fermentations‐The presence of furan derivatives had a growth stimulus observed in heterofermentative LAB

Multi-component infusion hepatoprotectors for liver damage

Drug-induced liver injuries (DILI) remain today one of the most pressing problems not only in gastroenterology, but also in all therapy. Up to 10% of the changes in laboratory parameters can be attributed to the use of drugs. The importance of DILI has increased significantly in recent years, due to the increase in the number of over-the-counter medicines on the pharmaceutical market, as well as non-compliance with the methods and modes of administration. There are common links in the pathogenesis of DILI, including hypoxia, de-energization (deficit of ATP production), damage to hepatocyte membranes and suppression of antioxidant protection. Therefore, pathogenetic pharmacotherapy and prevention of liver damage are based on drugs with an action mechanism aimed at eliminating one or more links in the pathogenesis. One of these drugs is Remaxol, which includes antihypoxantantioxidants of metabolic type: natural metabolites, substrates and cofactors involved in energy metabolism. Remaxol was administered to 30 patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) in the acute phase in addition to the main eradication therapy in the case of cytolytic syndrome by the end of the first week of therapy intravenously dripping at a rate of 40-60 drops/min in a daily dose of 400 ml for 10 days a day. Against the background of Remaxol application, the patients with DILI had stabilization of the main biochemical parameters: the level of AST, ALT, direct bilirubin, GGT and alkaline phosphatase. These changes were accompanied by a positive dynamics of the general state of health. The use of Remaxol in patients with DILI will allow to achieve clinical and biochemical remission, preventing the development of severe liver damage, and contributes to the preservation of the recommended duration of treatment of the underlying disease.

Prediction risk of complications and death in children with chronic hepatitis infection and extrahepatic manifestations

Background. Cirhogenetic chronic evolution of these patients is related to the etiology, co-morbidities, the type of virus, the addition of metabolic diseases. Fibrosis markers of biological and clinical aspects must be permanently monitored. Materials and method. In a retrospective study we followed 40 patients diagnosed with cirrhosis, in the IInd Pediatric Clinic of the „Sf. Maria“ Emergency Hospital for Children in Iasi, between 2004-2014, out of 239 cases chronically infected recorded in this period of time. Results. The analysis of patients with extrahepatic manifestations showed no statistically significant differences, although the lack of seroconversion is more frequent in patients with extrahepatic manifestations versus those without (31.42% vs. 22.18%). The prospective study conducted in the pediatric population that was followed demonstrated that the risk of liver cirrhosis is by 3.03 times higher in male patients. The average age was 12.88 years, most children were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis after 10 years of age. The etiology predominant predisposing to development was HBV hepatitis, unlike hepatitis metabolic type, which has a milder trend. Conclusion. Complications detected included portal hypertension, ascites, pruritus, hepatic encephalopathy. In terms of frequency, itching had the largest share, followed by hepatic encephalopathy.