Micro-/bio-/nano-/syn-encapsulations and co-treatments of bioactive microbial feed supplementation in augmenting finfish health and aquaculture nutrition: a review

Finfish and fish products are globally the most acknowledged health-promoting foods. The rising incidence of pathogenic and disease outbreaks have had a sizeable impact on aquaculture. Microbial supplementation of food in the form of probiotics, prebiotics, and their controlled release combinations (=co-encapsulations) as 'synbiotics' is noted for its significant biotherapeutic and health benefits. Supplementation of probiotic microbial feed additives in the fish diet claims to improve fish health by modulation of resident intestinal microbiota and by introducing healthy microbiota procured from an exogenous source, capable of combating pathogens, improving nutrient uptake, assimilation, growth as well as survival. Prebiotics are selectively digestible substrates beneficially used by host gut microbes to enhance probiotic effects. Formulating a fish diet with augmented probiotics and prebiotic microbial bio-supplements can ensure a sustainable alternative for establishing fish health in a naturally susceptible aquaculture scenario. Micro-encapsulation, co-encapsulation, and nano-encapsulation are novel strategies of biotechnical interventions in functional feeds for finfish. These aim to improve probiotic persistence, survivability, and efficacy in commercial formulations during probiotic transit through the host-gut environment. This review discusses the importance of co-treatment and encapsulation strategies for improving probiotic and prebiotic potential in aquafeed formulations, reliably improving finfish health and nutritional returns from aquaculture, and, consequently, for consumers.

Microbiological analysis and predictors of gallbladder infection with antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in an HIV setting

Background South Africa has a high prevalence of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH) who have shown to affect the prevalence and severity of infection and sepsis particularly gallbladder disease.  Empirical Antimicrobial (EA) therapy for acute cholecystitis (AC) is based largely on bacteria colonisation of bile (bacteriobilia) and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns (antibiograms) obtained from the developed world where the prevalence of PLWH is very low. In an ever-emerging era of increasing antimicrobial resistance, monitoring and updating local antibiograms is underscored.  Objective Due to the paucity of data available locally to guide treatment we found it pertinent to examine gallbladder bile for bacteriobilia and antibiograms in a setting with a high prevalence of PLWH to determine if this may demand a review of our local antimicrobial policies for gallbladder infections for both EA and pre-operative antimicrobial prophylaxis (PAP) for laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC). Methodology A retrospective observational descriptive study was undertaken at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Hospital records were reviewed for all patients undergoing cholecystectomy over a 3-year period. Gallbladder bacteriobilia and antibiograms were assessed and compared between PLWH and HIV uninfected (HIV-U). Pre-operative age, ERCP, PCT, CRP and NLR were used as predictors for bacteriobilia. Statistical analyses were performed using R Project and p values of less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results There were no differences in bacteriobilia or antibiograms between PLWH and HIV-U. There was >30% resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate and cephalosporins. Aminoglycoside-based therapy, had good susceptibility patterns whilst carbapenem-based therapy demonstrated the lowest resistance levels. ERCP and age were predictors of bacteriobilia (p<0.001 and 0.002 respectively). PCT, CRP and NLR were not. Conclusion PLWH should follow the same PAP and EA recommendations as HIV-U. For EA, we recommend, a combination of amoxicillin/clavulanate with aminoglycoside-based therapy (amikacin or gentamycin) or piperacillin/tazobactam as monotherapy. Carbapenem-based therapy should be reserved for drug resistant species. For PAP, we recommend the routine use in older patients and patients with history of ERCP undergoing LC.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550-1613

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Neocamarosporium halophilum in leaf spots of Atriplex undulata. Australia, Aschersonia merianiae on scale insect (Coccoidea), Curvularia huamulaniae isolated from air, Hevansia mainiae on dead spider, Ophiocordyceps poecilometigena on Poecilometis sp. Bolivia, Lecanora menthoides on sandstone, in open semi-desert montane areas, Sticta monlueckiorum corticolous in a forest, Trichonectria epimegalosporae on apothecia of corticolous Megalospora sulphurata var. sulphurata, Trichonectria puncteliae on the thallus of Punctelia borreri. Brazil, Catenomargarita pseudocercosporicola (incl. Catenomargarita gen. nov.) hyperparasitic on Pseudocercospora fijiensis on leaves of Musa acuminata, Tulasnella restingae on protocorms and roots of Epidendrum fulgens. Bulgaria, Anthracoidea umbrosae on Carex spp. Croatia, Hymenoscyphus radicis from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Microthlaspi erraticum, Orbilia multiserpentina on wood of decorticated branches of Quercus pubescens. France, Calosporella punctatispora on dead corticated twigs of Aceropalus. French West Indies (Martinique), Eutypella lechatii on dead corticated palm stem. Germany, Arrhenia alcalinophila on loamy soil. Iceland, Cistella blauvikensis on dead grass (Poaceae). India, Fulvifomes maritimus on living Peltophorum pterocarpum, Fulvifomes natarajanii on dead wood of Prosopis juliflora, Fulvifomes subazonatus on trunk of Azadirachta indica, Macrolepiota bharadwajii on moist soil near the forest, Narcissea delicata on decaying elephant dung, Paramyrothecium indicum on living leaves of Hibiscus hispidissimus, Trichoglossum syamviswanathii on moist soil near the base of a bamboo plantation. Iran, Vacuiphoma astragalicola from stem canker of Astragalus sarcocolla. Malaysia, Neoeriomycopsis fissistigmae (incl. Neoeriomycopsidaceae fam. nov.) on leaf spots on flower Fissistigma sp. Namibia, Exophiala lichenicola lichenicolous on Acarospora cf. luederitzensis. Netherlands, Entoloma occultatum on soil, Extremus caricis on dead leaves of Carex sp., Inocybe pseudomytiliodora on loamy soil. Norway, Inocybe guldeniae on calcareous soil, Inocybe rupestroides on gravelly soil. Pakistan, Hymenagaricus brunneodiscus on soil. Philippines, Ophiocordyceps philippinensis parasitic on Asilus sp. Poland, Hawksworthiomyces ciconiae isolated from Ciconia ciconia nest, Plectosphaerella vigrensis from leaf spots on Impatiens noli-tangere, Xenoramularia epitaxicola from sooty mould community on Taxus baccata. Portugal, Inocybe dagamae on clay soil. Saudi Arabia, Diaporthe jazanensis on branches of Coffea arabica. South Africa, Alternaria moraeae on dead leaves of Moraea sp., Bonitomyces buffels-kloofinus (incl. Bonitomyces gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Constrictochalara koukolii on living leaves of Itea rhamnoides colonised by a Meliola sp., Cylindromonium lichenophilum on Parmelina tiliacea, Gamszarella buffelskloofina (incl. Gamszarella gen. nov.) on dead insect, Isthmosporiella africana (incl. Isthmosporiella gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothoeucasphaeria buffelskloofina (incl. Nothoeucasphaeria gen. nov.), on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothomicrothyrium beaucarneae (incl. Nothomicrothyrium gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Beaucarnea stricta, Paramycosphaerella proteae on living leaves of Protea caffra, Querciphoma foliicola on leaf litter, Rachicladosporium conostomii on dead twigs of Conostomium natalense var. glabrum, Rhamphoriopsis synnematosa on dead twig of unknown tree, Waltergamsia mpumalanga on dead leaves of unknown tree. Spain, Amanita fulvogrisea on limestone soil, in mixed forest, Amanita herculis in open Quercus forest, Vuilleminia beltraniae on Cistus symphytifolius. Sweden, Pachyella pulchella on decaying wood on sand-silt riverbank. Thailand, Deniquelata cassiae on dead stem of Cassia fistula, Stomiopeltis thailandica on dead twigs of Magnolia champaca. Ukraine, Circinaria podoliana on natural limestone outcrops, Neonematogonum carpinicola (incl. Neonematogonum gen. nov.) on dead branches of Carpinus betulus. USA, Exophiala wilsonii water from cooling tower, Hygrophorus aesculeticola on soil in mixed forest, and Neocelosporium aereum from air in a house attic. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Costa MM, Kandemir H, et al. 2023. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550-1613. Persoonia 51: 280-417. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.08.

Agreement of LC-MS assays for IGF-1 traceable to NIST and WHO standards permits harmonization of reference intervals between laboratories

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we aimed to determine the feasibility of transferring IGF-1 reference intervals between two liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assays with distinct assay formats and calibration traceability.

DESIGN AND METHODS

To adopt a reference interval (RI) for our new assay we have conducted RI transference and verification studies according to the CLSI C28-A3 and EP9c guidelines. Specifically, the analytical agreement between the assays was evaluated using the linear model and the appropriateness of the linear model for RI transference was assessed using Deming regression, correlation coefficients, Q-Q plot, difference plot and studentized residues for the LC-MS/MS against DiaSorin LiaisonXL IGF-1 immunoassay and the liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS/HRMS) IGF-1 assay. Both Diasorin immunoassay and LC-MS/HRMS assays are traceable to WHO, 02/254.

RESULTS

Our study showed a strong correlation (R²>0.93) and agreement (slope=1.006, negligible intercept) between LC-MS/MS and LC-MS/HRMS regardless of their traceability and all statistical criteria were met per CLSI guidelines. Conversely, while the LC-MS/MS and Diasorin immunoassay results showed a strong correlation (R²>0.97, slope=1.055), they failed to meet all statistical criteria for RI transference due to the bias (-44.91) and non-normal distribution of the residues. The RI verification study showed that 95% of the local LC-MS results fell within the RIs transferred from the reference LC-MS method, thus meeting CLSI C28-A3 guidelines and permitting the transference of the reference LC-MS RIs.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, this study provides data to suggest excellent agreement between assays traceable to distinct reference standards for IGF-1.

P. Seasonal Characterization and Possible Solutions for Municipal Solid Waste Management in the City of Patna, Bihar, India

The present study aims to characterize the municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in the municipality of Patna, the second-largest city in Eastern India. MSW is heterogeneous and the composition varies with seasons and within the different parts of the city. MSW samples were characterized for the three different seasons Winter (November), Summer (May), and Monsoon (August) to select feasible waste treatment methods. The physical characterization indicates that the major fractions of the MSW were biodegradable (48.83%) and inert (18.26%), which shows variations in different seasons of about ~5%. On a seasonal basis, the chemical characterization of MSW revealed that the moisture content varies between 43.21% to 51.78%, and volatile matter between 20.18% to 29.45%. ash content between 20.20% to 26.23% and fixed carbon between 4.11% to 5.91%. The C/N was found to be between 15.81 to 28.84 and the calorific value lies between 1212 to 2627 kcal.kg-1 during different seasons. The characterization of MSW highlights the virtue of waste segregation at the source and developing an efficient MSW system, including the potential for recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, and production of refuse-derived fuels (RDFs). The outcomes of the present study will be helpful for Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) in the planning for implementing suitable waste treatment technologies for integrated solid waste management systems (ISWM).

Extensive morphological and behavioural diversity among fourteen new and seven described species in Phytophthora Clade 10 and its evolutionary implications

During extensive surveys of global Phytophthora diversity 14 new species detected in natural ecosystems in Chile, Indonesia, USA (Louisiana), Sweden, Ukraine and Vietnam were assigned to Phytophthora major Clade 10 based on a multigene phylogeny of nine nuclear and three mitochondrial gene regions. Clade 10 now comprises three subclades. Subclades 10a and 10b contain species with nonpapillate sporangia, a range of breeding systems and a mainly soil- and waterborne lifestyle. These include the previously described P. afrocarpa, P. gallica and P. intercalaris and eight of the new species: P. ludoviciana, P. procera, P. pseudogallica, P. scandinavica, P. subarctica, P. tenuimura, P. tonkinensis and P. ukrainensis. In contrast, all species in Subclade 10c have papillate sporangia and are self-fertile (or homothallic) with an aerial lifestyle including the known P. boehmeriae, P. gondwanensis, P. kernoviae and P. morindae and the new species P. celebensis, P. chilensis, P. javanensis, P. multiglobulosa, P. pseudochilensis and P. pseudokernoviae. All new Phytophthora species differed from each other and from related species by their unique combinations of morphological characters, breeding systems, cardinal temperatures and growth rates. The biogeography and evolutionary history of Clade 10 are discussed. We propose that the three subclades originated via the early divergence of pre-Gondwanan ancestors > 175 Mya into water- and soilborne and aerially dispersed lineages and subsequently underwent multiple allopatric and sympatric radiations during their global spread. Citation: Jung T, Milenković I, Corcobado T, et al. 2022. Extensive morphological and behavioural diversity among fourteen new and seven described species in Phytophthora Clade 10 and its evolutionary implications. Persoonia 49: 1-57. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.01.

Cohort profile: the ESC EURObservational Research Programme Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction (NSTEMI) Registry

AIMS

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) Registry aims to identify international patterns in NSTEMI management in clinical practice and outcomes against the 2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without ST-segment-elevation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Consecutively hospitalised adult NSTEMI patients (n = 3620) were enrolled between 11 March 2019 and 6 March 2021, and individual patient data prospectively collected at 287 centres in 59 participating countries during a two-week enrolment period per centre. The registry collected data relating to baseline characteristics, major outcomes (in-hospital death, acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, bleeding, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, and 30-day mortality) and guideline-recommended NSTEMI care interventions: electrocardiogram pre- or in-hospital, pre-hospitalization receipt of aspirin, echocardiography, coronary angiography, referral to cardiac rehabilitation, smoking cessation advice, dietary advice, and prescription on discharge of aspirin, P2Y12 inhibition, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), beta-blocker, and statin.

CONCLUSION

The EORP NSTEMI Registry is an international, prospective registry of care and outcomes of patients treated for NSTEMI, which will provide unique insights into the contemporary management of hospitalised NSTEMI patients, compliance with ESC 2015 NSTEMI Guidelines, and identify potential barriers to optimal management of this common clinical presentation associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Interstitial Duplication on Chromosome 3p14.3p13 in an Adolescent with Dysmorphic Features and Autism, Case Report

Introduction/Objective

The genetic etiology of autism spectrum disorders is only partially understood. Here we describe a 16-year-old male diagnosed with autism at two years of age. He has dysmorphic features, severe cognitive disability, and history of cryptorchidism. A review of systems was significant for slightly coarse features overall, with deep-set eyes, pinched nasal bridge with wide nasal tip, and widely spaced teeth. A large pectus excavatum deformity was also noted. Although the parent’s genetic testing concluded that this likely represents de novo mutation, it is worth mentioning that our patient has a 13-year-old female maternal first cousin with learning difficulties that were said to be less severe. There is no other family history of autism.

Methods/Case Report

Chromosome analysis showed an abnormal karyotype identifying a duplication of the short arm of chromosome 3 from p13 to p14.3, 46,XY,dup(3)(p13p14.3). Additional microarray testing confirmed this duplication and defined the size as 14.9 Mb. Regions of homozygosity of 29.8 Mb were also identified, representing about 1% of the autosomal genome. The duplicated area includes over 70 genes, thirteen of which are known Mendelian disease genes (IL17RD, HESX1, APPL1, FLNB, DNASEIL3, PDHB, ACOX2, ATXN7, SLC25A26, EOGT, LMOD3, MITF, and FOXP1). Duplications of 3p are extremely rare and can be de novo or inherited from a parent with a balanced translocation. Individuals with these better-described chromosome 3p duplications typically present with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism, as 3p duplications typically present with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism and distinctive dysmorphic features. This duplication has never been reported as a known syndrome and has minimal overlap with copy number variants (CNVs) among healthy individuals.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

NA

Conclusion

Autism spectrum disorders are largely characterized by speech, communication, and social impairment of varying degrees. Diagnosis is typically made on clinical grounds, but in 14-35% of cases, a genetic basis for the disorder, typically either due to a single gene disorder or a chromosomal deletion/duplication, may be found. This case report describes a rare finding of a 14.9 Mb interstitial duplication on chromosome 3p.

Atypical Presentation in Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma: A Case Report

Introduction/Objective

Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a rare sarcoma with characteristic EWSR1::CREB3L1 fusion and MUC4 positivity by immunohistochemistry (IHC). SEF most often presents as a primary soft tissue tumor in the lower extremities. Histologically, SEF is characterized by cords, nests or sheets of monotonous, epithelioid tumor cells in a dense collagenous background. We report a case of SEF in an atypical location with unique histological and atypical cytogenetic findings.

Methods/Case Report

A 13-year-old male presented with left leg and back pain. A CT scan demonstrated a 7.3 x 5.7 x 6.8 cm left hemiabdomen mesenteric mass with metastatic nodules in the pancreas, liver, L1 vertebrae and sacrum. Sacral biopsy demonstrated infiltrative and discohesive nests of small to medium round cells with scant eosinophilic to clear cytoplasm but without conspicuous tumor stroma. An extensive IHC panel was positive only for CD99. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated an unusual finding with a variant pattern. FISH revealed an EWSR1 rearrangement with an unidentified partner. The tumor karyotype was normal in the dividing cells utilized for chromosome analysis, suggesting the rearrangement was enriched in the non-dividing cell population. Next- generation sequencing (NGS) revealed a EWSR1::CREB3L1 fusion that was confirmed by FISH, and MUC4 was positive by IHC, further supporting classification as SEF.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

NA

Conclusion

Due to the atypical presentation and histologic appearance of this rare sarcoma, integration of IHC, FISH, and NGS were required to fully characterize the lesion.

Comparison of clinical and economic burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with and without connective tissue disease treated with macitentan

Introduction

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and connective tissue disease (CTD) have a poorer prognosis than those diagnosed with other PAH etiologies.

Purpose

To compare the clinical and economic burden among PAH patients with and without CTD (PAH-CTD/PAH non-CTD) treated with macitentan.

Methods

This retrospective study used the Optum Clinformatics DataMart to identify PAH-CTD and PAH non-CTD patients aged ≥18 years and prescribed macitentan from 01JAN2015–30JUN2019. The index date was the date of the first macitentan claim. Patients had to have ≥12 months of continuous enrollment before index and were followed until earliest of macitentan discontinuation, health plan disenrollment, death, or study end. Patients in the PAH-CTD cohort had to have a claim for a CTD condition at any time during the 12-month baseline period. Patients with a baseline claim for any PAH medication, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, prior atrial septostomy or lung transplant were excluded. Descriptive analysis comprised means, standard deviations, medians, and interquartile ranges for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Multivariable analyses (Cox proportional hazards and generalized linear models) adjusting for baseline characteristics were used to compare time to PAH-related and all-cause hospitalization, disease progression (death, lung transplant, atrial septostomy or addition of intravenous/subcutaneous prostanoids), and PAH- and all-cause related medical (inpatient and outpatient) costs between the two cohorts with PAH non-CTD as reference.

Results

The analysis included 203 PAH-CTD and 750 PAH non-CTD patients treated with macitentan. Versus PAH non-CTD, PAH-CTD patients were younger, had proportionately more females, and lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores (Table). The proportion of patients with a baseline hospitalization, length of stay and inpatient costs were similar across groups. There were no significant differences observed in time to PAH-related hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR]=0.99; p=0.910), all-cause hospitalization (HR=1.13; p=0.195), or disease progression (HR=1.00; p-value=0.973) for the PAH-CTD cohort (PAH non-CTD as reference). All-cause medical costs were similar between the cohorts ($3,836 per patient per month [PPPM] for PAH CTD vs $3,521 PPPM for PAH non-CTD, p=0.362). PAH-CTD patients incurred higher mean PAH-related medical costs vs PAH non-CTD ($2,806 PPPM vs $1,961 PPPM, p=0.047).

Conclusion

The study suggests that risk of all-cause and PAH-related hospitalization and disease progression did not differ for PAH-CTD and PAH non-CTD patients. Treatment with macitentan in the real world appears to confer similar clinical benefits in both PAH-CTD and PAH non-CTD groups. All-cause costs did not differ between the two cohorts but PAH-related costs were significantly higher in PAH-CTD patients suggesting an incremental burden associated with CTD.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC

Identifications of good and bad structural fragments of hydrazone/2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole hybrids with correlation intensity index and consensus modelling using Monte Carlo based QSAR studies, their molecular docking and ADME analysis

The application of QSAR along with other in silico tools like molecular docking, and molecular dynamics provide a lot of promise for finding new treatments for life-threatening diseases like Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study is an attempt to develop Monte Carlo algorithm-based QSAR models using freely available CORAL software. The experimental data on the α-amylase inhibition by a series of benzothiazole-linked hydrazone/2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole hybrids were selected as endpoint for the model generation. Initially, a total of eight QSAR models were built using correlation intensity index (CII) as a criterion of predictive potential. The model developed from split 6 using CII was the most reliable because of the highest numerical value of the determination coefficient of the validation set (r²_VAL = 0.8739). The important structural fragments responsible for altering the endpoint were also extracted from the best-built model. With the goal of improved prediction quality and lower prediction errors, the validated models were used to build consensus models. Molecular docking was used to know the binding mode and pose of the selected derivatives. Further, to get insight into their metabolism by living beings, ADME studies were investigated using internet freeware, SwissADME.

Epidemiology and impact of frailty in patients with atrial fibrillation in Europe

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a medical syndrome characterised by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors. Data regarding the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) are still inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to perform a comprehensive evaluation of frailty in a large European cohort of AF patients.

METHODS

A 40-item frailty index (FI) was built according to the accumulation of deficits model in the AF patients enrolled in the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry. Association of baseline characteristics, clinical management, quality of life, healthcare resources use and risk of outcomes with frailty was examined.

RESULTS

Among 10,177 patients [mean age (standard deviation) 69.0 (11.4) years, 4,103 (40.3%) females], 6,066 (59.6%) were pre-frail and 2,172 (21.3%) were frail, whereas only 1,939 (19.1%) were considered robust. Baseline thromboembolic and bleeding risks were independently associated with increasing FI. Frail patients with AF were less likely to be treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs) (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.89), especially with non-vitamin K antagonist OACs and managed with a rhythm control strategy, compared with robust patients. Increasing frailty was associated with a higher risk for all outcomes examined, with a non-linear exponential relationship. The use of OAC was associated with a lower risk of outcomes, except in patients with very/extremely high frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of AF patients, there was a high burden of frailty, influencing clinical management and risk of adverse outcomes. The clinical benefit of OAC is maintained in patients with high frailty, but not in very high/extremely frail ones.