Gut-on-a-Chip for the Analysis of Bacteria-Bacteria Interactions in Gut Microbial Community: What Would Be Needed for Bacterial Co-Culture Study to Explore the Diet-Microbiota Relationship?

Bacterial co-culture studies using synthetic gut microbiomes have reported novel research designs to understand the underlying role of bacterial interaction in the metabolism of dietary resources and community assembly of complex microflora. Since lab-on-a-chip mimicking the gut (hereafter "gut-on-a-chip") is one of the most advanced platforms for the simulative research regarding the correlation between host health and microbiota, the co-culture of the synthetic bacterial community in gut-on-a-chip is expected to reveal the diet-microbiota relationship. This critical review analyzed recent research on bacterial co-culture with perspectives on the ecological niche of commensals, probiotics, and pathogens to categorize the experimental approaches for diet-mediated management of gut health as the compositional and/or metabolic modulation of the microbiota and the control of pathogens.

Experiential QI Activity for Residents to Improve Women's Preventive Services.

Introduction: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires family medicine residents to complete a quality improvement (QI) project. There is a need for more QI training activities to be shared to meet this requirement. Our objective was to describe an activity for residents to improve women's preventive health services in an underserved clinic.

Risk Factors of Dysphagia Among Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged Women: Focused on Oropharyngeal Phase.

This study aimed to characterize a population of middle-aged South Korean women at risk of developing dysphagia and to identify relevant risk factors. This study describes a cross-sectional survey. Data on the general characteristics of the participants, risk factors for dysphagia, depression, and dental pain were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis.

Is there scope for expanding the optometrist's scope of practice in Singapore? - A survey of optometrists, opticians in Singapore.

Purpose: In Singapore, optometrists' roles are limited compared to their counterparts elsewhere. The purpose of the survey is to investigate optometrists' current roles, views on extended roles, self-reported primary eye care knowledge, needs for continuing professional education (CPE) and views on suitable modes for CPE.

Methods: Members of the Optometrist and Optician Board (OOB) were invited via email to take part in an anonymous online survey.

Effect of Pulsed Electric Field on Membrane Lipids and Oxidative Injury of Salmonella typhimurium.

Salmonella typhimurium cells were subjected to pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment at 25 kV/cm for 0-4 ms to investigate the effect of PEF on the cytoplasmic membrane lipids and oxidative injury of cells. Results indicated that PEF treatment induced a decrease of membrane fluidity of Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimuriumi), possibly due to the alterations of fatty acid biosynthesis-associated gene expressions (down-regulation of cfa and fabA gene expressions and the up-regulation of fabD gene expression), which, in turn, modified the composition of membrane lipid (decrease in the content ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids).