Lineages of acidophilic archaea revealed by community genomic analysis.

Novel, low-abundance microbial species can be easily overlooked in standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based surveys. We used community genomic data obtained without PCR or cultivation to reconstruct DNA fragments bearing unusual 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and protein-coding genes from organisms belonging to novel archaeal lineages. The organisms are minor components of all biofilms growing in pH 0.

Depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients: demographic, clinical, and psychological predictors.

Objective: To confirm the prevalence of depression in a sample of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients; to identify the most significant predictors of depression in RA and to explore patients attitudes to medication in relation to depression.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 134 RA patients (77% female, 23% male). Participants were divided into depressed and nondepressed groups based on their scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale.

Does the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire predict outcomes following a work-related compensable injury?

The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the usefulness of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (OMPQ) to predict return to work outcomes following a compensable musculoskeletal injury. Participants (n=196 injured workers, 66% male, 36% with back pain) were screened at 4-12 weeks, and followed up at 6 months, post-injury. Total scores on the OMPQ were able to differentiate between work status on both occasions, indicating the potential predictive validity of this instrument.

Genome-directed isolation of the key nitrogen fixer Leptospirillum ferrodiazotrophum sp. nov. from an acidophilic microbial community.

Analysis of assembled random shotgun sequence data from a low-diversity, subsurface acid mine drainage (AMD) biofilm revealed a single nif operon. This was found on a genome fragment belonging to a member of Leptospirillum group III, a lineage in the Nitrospirae phylum with no cultivated representatives. Based on the prediction that this organism is solely responsible for nitrogen fixation in the community, we pursued a selective isolation strategy to obtain the organism in pure culture.

Cultivating the uncultivated: a community genomics perspective.

Current isolation methods access only a small subset of the total microbial diversity. Although an isolate traditionally has been required for genomic characterization, the advent of sequencing of entire natural microbial communities enables culture-independent genomic analysis. Information about the genetic potential of uncultivated organisms can be used to predict the form of metabolic interdependencies and nutritional requirements.

Community proteomics of a natural microbial biofilm.

Using genomic and mass spectrometry–based proteomic methods, we evaluated gene expression, identified key activities, and examined partitioning of metabolic functions in a natural acid mine drainage (AMD) microbial biofilm community. We detected 2033 proteins from the five most abundant species in the biofilm, including 48% of the predicted proteins from the dominant biofilm organism, group II. Proteins involved in protein refolding and response to oxidative stress appeared to be highly expressed, which suggests that damage to biomolecules is a key challenge for survival.

Community structure and metabolism through reconstruction of microbial genomes from the environment.

Microbial communities are vital in the functioning of all ecosystems; however, most microorganisms are uncultivated, and their roles in natural systems are unclear. Here, using random shotgun sequencing of DNA from a natural acidophilic biofilm, we report reconstruction of near-complete genomes of Leptospirillum group II and Ferroplasma type II, and partial recovery of three other genomes. This was possible because the biofilm was dominated by a small number of species populations and the frequency of genomic rearrangements and gene insertions or deletions was relatively low.

The impact of ward design on the behaviour, occupational satisfaction and well-being of psychiatric nurses.

Studies have shown that modifications to the physical environment of psychiatric institutions are associated with positive changes in patients' behaviour, attitudes and perceptions. However, little attention has been paid to the impact such modifications to the physical environment have on the nursing staff. The building of two completely new wards at a rural psychiatric hospital provided an opportunity to examine this issue.

Filamentous Chloroflexi (green non-sulfur bacteria) are abundant in wastewater treatment processes with biological nutrient removal.

Most filamentous bacteria in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes have not been identified beyond their morphotype and simple staining reactions. Furthermore, the majority of sludge filaments observed under the microscope do not hybridize to commonly used phylogenetic probes for well characterized bacterial phyla such as the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and BACTEROIDETES: Specific 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes were designed for the phylum Chloroflexi (green non-sulfur bacteria) and optimized for use in fluorescence in situ hybridization. Chloroflexi have been implicated in BNR systems by phylogenetic identification of filamentous bacteria isolated by micromanipulation from sludge and culture-independent molecular phylogenetic surveys.

Investigation of candidate division TM7, a recently recognized major lineage of the domain Bacteria with no known pure-culture representatives.

A molecular approach was used to investigate a recently described candidate division of the domain Bacteria, TM7, currently known only from environmental 16S ribosomal DNA sequence data. A number of TM7-specific primers and probes were designed and evaluated. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a laboratory scale bioreactor using two independent TM7-specific probes revealed a conspicuous sheathed-filament morphotype, fortuitously enriched in the reactor.

Boron neutron capture therapy for glioblastoma multiforme: interim results from the phase I/II dose-escalation studies.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of these Phase I/II dose-escalation studies is to evaluate the safety of boronophenylalanine (BPA)-fructose-mediated boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). A secondary purpose is to assess the palliation of GBM by BNCT, if possible. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with GBM have been treated.

Effect of subendocardial resection on sinus rhythm endocardial electrogram abnormalities.

Background: Patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia after acute myocardial infarction frequently have characteristic abnormalities of left ventricular endocardial electrical activity, including fractionated (prolonged, multicomponent, low-amplitude), split (having discrete widely separated deflections), and late (extending after the end of the QRS complex) electrograms. The exact cause and source of these electrograms are not clear.

Methods And Results: In this study, endocardial electrograms from 18 patients were recorded with a 20-electrode array from the same area immediately before and immediately after resection of subendocardial tissue at the time of surgery for ventricular tachycardia.

The quality of psychiatric nurses' interactions with patients: an observational study.

The behaviour of nursing staff in each ward of a psychiatric hospital was observed at 5-min intervals for between 7 and 10 h per day for 10 days. The nurses' behaviour was equally divided between interacting with patients, interacting with staff, solitary task oriented behaviour and other behaviours. There was less staff-patient interaction in the acute ward than in the long-term and psychogeriatric wards and senior nurses interacted less with patients and engaged in more solitary task oriented behaviour.

Physiology of cardiac tamponade and paradoxical pulse in conscious dogs.

The physiological mechanism of paradoxical pulse in cardiac tamponade remains controversial. In eight conscious dogs with intact pericardia, ultrasonic dimension transducers assessed biventricular geometry and volumes, while micromanometers measured right ventricular (RV), left ventricular (LV), pleural, and pericardial pressures. With normal inspiration, peak LV pressure fell by 7.

The stretched ventricle. Myocardial creep and contractile dysfunction after acute nonischemic ventricular distention.

The hypothesis that nonischemic distention of the arrested, flaccid ventricle causes myocardial creep and reduces ventricular contractile force was tested in 16 sheep. Left ventricular volume was calculated from ultrasonic dimension transducers spanning left ventricular major and minor axes and left ventricular wall thickness. Changes in left ventricular volume were plotted against left ventricular pressure, with and without temporary occlusion of both venae cavae before and after nonischemic distention of the continuously perfused, flaccid nonbeating left ventricle arrested with oxygenated, normothermic blood-potassium perfusate.

Repair of left ventricular aneurysm. Changes in ventricular mechanics, hemodynamics, and oxygen consumption.

Anteroapical left ventricular aneurysms were produced in 23 sheep by coronary arterial ligation. Plication of the aneurysm does not change stroke volume or cardiac output and does not significantly change left ventricular oxygen consumption from the preoperative value of 5.1 +/- 2.

Late potentials in an ovine model of acute transmural myocardial infarction.

The development of slow conduction during the first hours of acute transmural myocardial infarction (ATMI) was studied by signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAE) in 19 adult anesthetized sheep. SAEs were recorded before and after intravenous infusions of lidocaine and bretylium were begun and 10, 30, and 60 min after ATMI produced by ligation of the left anterior descending and second diagonal coronary arteries. Four sheep died promptly of ventricular tachyarrhythmias; two others developed sustained ventricular arrhythmias, which precluded additional data.

Hepatic abscess. Changes in etiology, diagnosis, and management.

Most recent reviews of pyogenic hepatic abscess emphasize percutaneous versus open surgical management and devote little time to studying the etiology or the clinical condition of the patient. In this study a detailed review was performed with a computerized analysis of multiple clinical parameters in 73 patients treated for pyogenic hepatic abscess during a 17-year period. The mean age of the patients was 55 years and 38 of them (52%) were male.

Blood conservation in cardiac surgery. Preliminary results with an institutional commitment.

To evaluate the effect of blood conservation in cardiac surgery, use of blood products was analyzed in patients undergoing CABG before and after implementation of blood conservation techniques. Age, sex, coronary anatomy, ejection fraction, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and the preoperative hematocrit, platelet count, and clotting studies were similar in both groups. Methods of blood conservation included autologous transfusion of blood withdrawn before bypass, autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood, strict protocols for transfusion, and acceptance of normovolemic anemia.