Plasmid-encoded toxin defence mediates mutualistic microbial interactions.

Gut environments harbour dense microbial ecosystems in which plasmids are widely distributed. Plasmids facilitate the exchange of genetic material among microorganisms while enabling the transfer of a diverse array of accessory functions. However, their precise impact on microbial community composition and function remains largely unexplored.

Estimating the impact of cefuroxime versus cefazolin and amoxicillin/clavulanate use on future collateral resistance: a retrospective comparison.

Background: Quantitative estimates of collateral resistance induced by antibiotic use are scarce.

Objectives: To estimate the effects of treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate or cefazolin, compared with cefuroxime, on future resistance to ceftazidime among hospitalized patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with positive bacterial cultures hospitalized in an Israeli hospital during 2016-19 was conducted.

Protozoa populations are ecosystem engineers that shape prokaryotic community structure and function of the rumen microbial ecosystem.

Unicellular eukaryotes are an integral part of many microbial ecosystems where they interact with their surrounding prokaryotic community-either as predators or as mutualists. Within the rumen, one of the most complex host-associated microbial habitats, ciliate protozoa represent the main micro-eukaryotes, accounting for up to 50% of the microbial biomass. Nonetheless, the extent of the ecological effect of protozoa on the microbial community and on the rumen metabolic output remains largely understudied.

High grade, advanced, serous ovarian cancer with low serum CA125 levels.

This study compares characteristics of advanced stage, high grade serous ovarian cancer, presenting with high or low serum CA125 level. This was a retrospective cohort of 118 patients with high grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer, stages IIIC-IV diagnosed from January 1 1997 through January 9 2017. Patient demographics, tumour characteristics, surgical findings, chemotherapy protocols and clinical outcomes were collected.

First molecular identification of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in a cat presenting severe respiratory disease from Israel.

Feline lung worm infection is increasingly reported in recent years, and recognized as a cause for respiratory disease in cats. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is regarded as the most prevalent cause of such cases. Infective L3 larvae carried in gastropods and paratenic hosts infect felines, developing to adult worms that reside in the lungs' parenchyma and may cause verminous pneumonia.

Juvenile polymyositis associated with ureteral necrosis: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma-case report and review of the literature.

We describe an 11-year-old girl, diagnosed with juvenile polymyositis (JPM), who developed right ureteral obstruction secondary to necrosis. We emphasize the dilemmas regarding optimal timing for surgical intervention and medical treatment. Vascular involvement, which could be a part of juvenile dermatomyositis, may also be a feature of JPM.

Insights Into Culturomics of the Rumen Microbiome.

Cultivation of undescribed rumen microorganisms is one of the most important tasks in rumen microbiology. In this study, we aimed to discover the potential of culturomics for characterizing the rumen microbiome and for identifying factors, specifically sample dilution and media type, which affect microbial richness on agar plates. Our cultivation experiment captured 23% of all operational taxonomic units (OTUs) found in the rumen microbiome in this study.

Microbiome niche modification drives diurnal rumen community assembly, overpowering individual variability and diet effects.

Niche modification is a process whereby the activity of organisms modifies their local environment creating new niches for other organisms. This process can have a substantial role in community assembly of gut microbial ecosystems due to their vast and complex metabolic activities. We studied the postprandial diurnal community oscillatory patterns of the rumen microbiome and showed that metabolites produced by the rumen microbiome condition its environment and lead to dramatic diurnal changes in community composition and function.

Deficiency of the sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase SGPL1 is associated with congenital nephrotic syndrome and congenital adrenal calcifications.

We identified two unrelated consanguineous families with three children affected by the rare association of congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) diagnosed in the first days of life, of hypogonadism, and of prenatally detected adrenal calcifications, associated with congenital adrenal insufficiency in one case. Using exome sequencing and targeted Sanger sequencing, two homozygous truncating mutations, c.1513C>T (p.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 and vitamin D: anti-inflammatory response in diabetic kidney disease in db/db mice and in cultured endothelial cells.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut incretin hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and may affect the inflammatory pathways involved in diabetes mellitus. Calcitriol, an active form of vitamin D, plays an important role in renal, endothelial and cardiovascular protection. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory and histologic effects of a GLP-1 analogue (liraglutide) and of calcitriol in a db/db mouse diabetes model and in endothelial cells exposed to a diabetes-like environment.

MUC1-ARF-A Novel MUC1 Protein That Resides in the Nucleus and Is Expressed by Alternate Reading Frame Translation of MUC1 mRNA.

Translation of mRNA in alternate reading frames (ARF) is a naturally occurring process heretofore underappreciated as a generator of protein diversity. The MUC1 gene encodes MUC1-TM, a signal-transducing trans-membrane protein highly expressed in human malignancies. Here we show that an AUG codon downstream to the MUC1-TM initiation codon initiates an alternate reading frame thereby generating a novel protein, MUC1-ARF.

Molecular Predictors of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer.

Objectives: To determine whether the expression of specific molecular markers in the rectal cancer biopsies prior to treatment, can correlate with complete tumor response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) as determined by the pathology of the surgical specimen.

Methods: We retrospectively examined pretreatment rectal biopsies of patients aged 18 years or older with locally advanced rectal cancer who had been treated with neoadjuvant CRT and surgical resection in our tertiary-care, university-affiliated medical center, between January 2001 and December 2011. Samples were analyzed for expression of B-cell lymphoma 2, P53, Ki67, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and the tumor regression grade after CRT and radical surgery.

Mapping breast tissue types by miniature radio-frequency near-field spectroscopy sensor in ex-vivo freshly excised specimens.

Background: Receiving real-time information on tissue properties while performing biopsy procedures has the potential of improving biopsy accuracy. The study goal was to test the ability of a miniature flexible Radio-Frequency (RF) sensor (Dune Medical Devices), designed to be mounted on the surface of surgical tools, in measuring and mapping the various breast tissue types and abnormalities in terms of electrical properties.

Methods: Between January and October 2012, 102 patients undergoing lumpectomy, open-biopsy or mastectomy, in 3 medical centers, were enrolled in this study.

Spontaneous Bilateral Femoral Fractures After High-Dose Zoledronic Acid.

The authors report a case of spontaneous bilateral diaphyseal femoral fractures believed to be caused by oversuppression of bone remodeling as a result of long-term, high-dose treatment with bisphosphonate. The patient reported pain in both thighs before the fractures. Typical pathologic changes appeared on both femoral radiograph and bone scan before the fractures.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura antecedent to Crohn's disease.

We report a 13-year-old youth who initially presented with the typical rash of Henoch-Schonlein purpura followed a month later by a nephrotic syndrome and hematuria. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic IgA nephropathy. The patient was aggressively treated with steroids leading to a remission of his nephrotic syndrome.

Tracking the mammary architectural features and detecting breast cancer with magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer among women worldwide. Early detection of breast cancer has a critical role in improving the quality of life and survival of breast cancer patients. In this paper a new approach for the detection of breast cancer is described, based on tracking the mammary architectural elements using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Standardization of radiological evaluation of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI: application in breast cancer diagnosis.

Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI is applied as an adjuvant tool for breast cancer detection, diagnosis, and follow-up of therapy. Despite improvements through the years in achieving higher spatial and temporal resolution, it still suffers from lack of scanning and processing standardization, and consequently, high variability in the radiological evaluation, particularly differentiating malignant from benign lesions. We describe here a hybrid method for achieving standardization of the radiological evaluation of breast dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols, based on integrating the model based three time point (3TP) method with principal component analysis (PCA).

Telomere shortening sensitizes cancer cells to selected cytotoxic agents: in vitro and in vivo studies and putative mechanisms.

Background: Telomere/telomerase system has been recently recognized as an attractive target for anticancer therapy. Telomerase inhibition results in tumor regression and increased sensitivity to various cytotoxic drugs. However, it has not been fully established yet whether the mediator of these effects is telomerase inhibition per se or telomere shortening resulting from inhibition of telomerase activity.

Coexistent pyoderma gangrenosum and tibialis anterior myositis as presenting manifestations of Crohn's disease: case report and review of the literature.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a well defined inflammatory bowel disease. Patients primarily present with abdominal pain and diarrhea, however, extra-intestinal manifestations due to musculoskeletal and cutaneous involvement are seen in a varying range of patients. In this communication we describe a young woman who presented with a severe inflammatory illness that consequently developed into pyoderma gangrenosum, anterior tibialis myositis and arthritis that were all antecedent to the intestinal involvement.

Attitudes, knowledge and preferences of the Israeli public regarding mental health services.

We examined the public's preferences regarding the site of provision of mental health care and the basis for those preferences. A representative sample of the adult Israeli population (N = 1,583) was interviewed by telephone about their knowledge and attitudes. Self-referral to mental health professionals and primary medical doctors for milder disorders was low.

[Cancer of unknown primary site origin--advances in diagnosis and therapy].

Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is defined as a metastatic disease, identified on biopsy, with it's origin remaining unknown despite extensive clinical, laboratory and imaging studies. As much as 3% to 10% of all cancers can be defined as CUP. The primary workup includes history taking, a full physical examination, basic laboratory studies, imaging studies and immunohistochemical staining or genetic analysis of biopsy material.

Stigma experienced by persons under psychiatric care.

Mental health-related stigma causes suffering and interferes with care and social inclusion. This study explored stigma as experienced by mental health service users. Particular attention is given to their use of coping mechanisms.