Comparison of microbial growth on primed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits in varying environments using different priming solutions.

Background: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a life support device for patients with severe heart and/or lung failure. Emergency situations require immediate ECMO response. Primed circuits have become a routine practice, as it may take 30-60 min to assemble and prime.

New functions of pirin proteins and a 2-ketoglutarate: Ferredoxin oxidoreductase ortholog in Bacteroides fragilis metabolism and their impact on antimicrobial susceptibility to metronidazole and amixicile.

The understanding of how central metabolism and fermentation pathways regulate antimicrobial susceptibility in the anaerobic pathogen Bacteroides fragilis is still incomplete. Our study reveals that B. fragilis encodes two iron-dependent, redox-sensitive regulatory pirin protein genes, pir1 and pir2.

Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Care for Historically Marginalized Communities Affected by Parkinson Disease: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Members of the Black Diaspora (MBD) and Hispanic/Latinx people are less likely to receive a timely diagnosis following the onset of symptoms and more likely to experience greater disease severity due to late diagnosis. Historically marginalized populations (i.

Analysis of Six Gene Homologs in Bacteroides fragilis Revealed That is Essential for Survival in Experimental Intestinal Colonization and Intra-Abdominal Infection.

The opportunistic, anaerobic pathogen and commensal of the human large intestinal tract, Bacteroides fragilis strain 638R, contains six predicted TonB proteins, termed TonB1-6, four ExbBs orthologs, ExbB1-4, and five ExbDs orthologs, ExbD1-5. The inner membrane TonB/ExbB/ExbD complex harvests energy from the proton motive force (Δp), and the TonB C-terminal domain interacts with and transduces energy to outer membrane TonB-dependent transporters (TBDTs). However, TonB's role in activating nearly one hundred TBDTs for nutrient acquisition in B.

The and Genes Conserved among Tetrapyrrole Synthesizing-Deficient Are Involved in Bacteroides fragilis Heme Assimilation and Survival in Experimental Intra-abdominal Infection and Intestinal Colonization.

The human intestinal anaerobic commensal and opportunistic pathogen does not synthesize the tetrapyrrole protoporphyrin IX in order to form heme that is required for growth stimulation and survival Consequently, acquires essential heme from host tissues during extraintestinal infection. The absence of several genes necessary for heme biosynthesis is a common characteristic of many anaerobic bacteria; however, the gene, encoding a uroporphyrinogen III synthase for an early step of heme biosynthesis, is conserved among the heme-requiring that inhabit the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we show that the ability of to utilize heme or protoporphyrin IX for growth was greatly reduced in a Δ mutant.

Association between cell-derived microparticles and adverse events in patients with nonpulsatile left ventricular assist devices.

Background: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) expose blood cells to high shear stress, potentially resulting in the production of microparticles that express phosphatidylserine (PS+) and promote coagulation and inflammation. In this prospective study, we attempted to determine whether PS+ microparticle levels correlate with clinical outcomes in LVAD-supported patients.

Methods: We enrolled 20 patients undergoing implantation of the HeartMate II LVAD (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA) and 10 healthy controls who provided reference values for the microparticle assays.

Development of an IPTG inducible expression vector adapted for Bacteroides fragilis.

The genus Bacteroides are gram-negative, obligate anaerobes indigenous to the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. The Bacteroides and other members of the Bacteroidetes phylum have diverged from the Proteobacteria. These organisms evolved a unique promoter structure for the initiation of transcription, hence common genetic tools are of limited use in the Bacteroides.

Genetic and functional analyses of the mob operon on conjugative transposon CTn341 from Bacteroides spp.

Bacteroides are Gram-negative anaerobes indigenous to the intestinal tract of humans, and they are important opportunistic pathogens. Mobile genetic elements, such as conjugative transposons (CTns), have contributed to an increase in antibiotic resistance in these organisms. CTns are self-transmissible elements that belong to the superfamily of integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs).

Thioredoxins in redox maintenance and survival during oxidative stress of Bacteroides fragilis.

The anaerobe Bacteroides fragilis is a gram-negative, opportunistic pathogen that is highly aerotolerant and can persist in aerobic environments for extended periods. In this study, the six B. fragilis thioredoxins (Trxs) were investigated to determine their role during oxidative stress.

Analysis of the zinc finger domain of TnpA, a DNA targeting protein encoded by mobilizable transposon Tn4555.

The mobilizable transposon Tn4555, found in Bacteroides spp., is an important antibiotic resistance element encoding a broad spectrum beta-lactamase. Tn4555 is mobilized by conjugative transposons such as CTn341 which can transfer the transposon to a wide range of bacterial species where it integrates into preferred sites on the host chromosome.

Left ventricular morphology, global and longitudinal function in normal older individuals: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Background: The heart transforms structurally and functionally with age but the nature and magnitude of reported changes appear inconsistent. This study was designed to assess left ventricular (LV) morphology, global and longitudinal function in healthy older men and women using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: Ninety-five healthy subjects (age 62+/-16 years, range 22-91 years) underwent breath-hold cine CMR.

The effect of micronutrient supplementation on quality-of-life and left ventricular function in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.

Aims: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common and leading cause of death in industrialized countries. The potential benefits of micronutrient supplementation in CHF are extensive. Therefore, we examined the influence of long-term multiple micronutrient supplementation on left ventricular (LV) function, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and quality-of-life (QoL) in elderly patients with CHF.

An interdisciplinary approach to transitioning ventilator-dependent patients to home.

Home mechanical ventilation was once a remote idea and thought to be used only in extreme cases. However, patient preference as well as limited financial resources to care for these patients in a long-term setting is forcing acute care facilities and families to make the choice of home care. This article describes how an interdisciplinary team used a quality process to develop and implement tools to assist with discharge planning in this complex patient population.

A multicomponent system is required for tetracycline-induced excision of Tn4555.

Bacteroides spp. are the predominant organisms in the intestinal tract, and they also are important opportunistic pathogens. Antibiotic therapy of Bacteroides infections often is complicated by the prevalence of drug-resistant organisms which acquire resistance genes from a variety of mobile genetic elements including conjugative transposons (CTns) and mobilizable transposons (MTns).