Colonoscopy aspiration lavages for mucosal metataxonomic profiling of spondylarthritis-associated gastrointestinal tract alterations.

The study of the GI-tract microbiota of spondylarthritis (SpA) patients has focused on the analysis of feces samples, that picture mostly the luminal microbiota. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of mucosal and luminal microbiome to the gut dysbiosis in SpA, using colonoscopy aspiration lavages (CAL), a recent alternative for regional studies of the GI-tract. We analyzed 59 CAL (from sigmoid colon and distal ileum), and 41 feces samples, from 32 SpA patients and 7 healthy individuals, using 16S rRNA gene-targeted metataxonomic profiling.

Perceptions of health care quality in Central America.

Objectives: To examine user perceptions of health care delivery in selected rural and urban areas of three Central American countries.

Design: Three focus group studies were conducted in 1997-98 in Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama. In each selected region, 10 to 15 groups met to discuss health services available, access to and use of the services, satisfaction with different aspects of care and suggestions for improvement.