Discrimination of grass pollen of different species by FTIR spectroscopy of individual pollen grains.

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy enables the chemical characterization and identification of pollen samples, leading to a wide range of applications, such as paleoecology and allergology. This is of particular interest in the identification of grass (Poaceae) species since they have pollen grains of very similar morphology. Unfortunately, the correct identification of FTIR microspectroscopy spectra of single pollen grains is hindered by strong spectral contributions from Mie scattering. Embedding of pollen samples in paraffin helps to retrieve infrared spectra without scattering artifacts. In this study, pollen samples from 10 different populations of five grass species (Anthoxanthum odoratum, Bromus inermis, Hordeum bulbosum, Lolium perenne, and Poa alpina) were embedded in paraffin, and their single grain spectra were obtained by FTIR microspectroscopy. Spectra were subjected to different preprocessing in order to suppress paraffin influence on spectral classification. It is shown that decomposition by non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and extended multiplicative signal correction (EMSC) that utilizes a paraffin constituent spectrum, respectively, leads to good success rates for the classification of spectra with respect to species by a partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model in full cross-validation for several species. PLS-DA, artificial neural network, and random forest classifiers were applied on the EMSC-corrected spectra using an independent validation to assign spectra from unknown populations to the species. Variation within and between species, together with the differences in classification results, is in agreement with the systematics within the Poaceae family. The results illustrate the great potential of FTIR microspectroscopy for automated classification and identification of grass pollen, possibly together with other, complementary methods for single pollen chemical characterization.

A Prediction Model of Operation Efficacy Using Protruding Prostate Lobe Volume in Patients Who Are Candidates for Transurethral Resection of Prostate.

PURPOSE: To create a prediction model that could preoperatively measure the success of the transurethral prostate resection (TURP) because of bladder outlet obstruction. METHODS: Patients aged 50-80 years applied with TURP were examined prospectively and evaluated in respect of the preoperative and postoperative values of maximum flow rate (Qmax), international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) score and post-voiding residual (PVR) urine amount. On the preoperative transabdominal ultrasonography, total prostate volume (TPV), and protruding prostate lobe volume (PPLV) were measured and the protruding ratio (PR), as the ratio of PPLV to TPV, was calculated. Based on the mean of the preoperative and postoperative Qmax difference (Qmax-D) value, Group 1 (n = 33) was defined as "low efficacy" and Group 2 (n = 30) as "high efficacy". RESULTS: A correlation was determined between the QMax-D, IPSS difference, PVR difference, and QoL difference measured for the efficacy of the operation, and TPV, PPLV and PR. The results of multivariate analysis showed the main effect to be created by PR (p = 0.000; OR 1.596). In the evaluation with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of high efficacy obtained in the TURP, a significantly powerful effect of the measurements of PPLV area under curve (AUC 0.922 [0.855-0.989] p= 0.000) and PR (AUC 0.954 [0.982-1.000] p = 0.000) was determined. The cutoff value of 11.5 was detected for PR. Efficacy sensitivity and the positive predictive values were recorded as 93.3%, and specificity and negative predictive value as 93.9%. CONCLUSION: When determining candidate patients for TURP surgery, measurements of the PPLV and especially the PR should be taken into consideration in the preoperative prediction of efficacy.

Medical management in locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer: Does changes in treatment policy have any specific effect on PSA levels?

OBJECTIVE: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is commonly used as a first-line treatment for locally advanced and metastatic prostatic cancer (Pca). There is no consensus about which alternative treatment should be used after the failure of initial ADT. We aimed to investigate the effect of changes in treatment on PSA and testosterone levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients with an established diagnosis of either locally advanced or metastatic Pca in two different centers. Depending on the type of medical and/or surgical management protocol planned at initial presentation, all cases were divided into three main groups as follows. Group 1 (n: 80) included the patients who underwent medical management during whole follow-up period in whom the initial management protocol was later on switched to another medical treatment with different agents, Group 2 (n: 20) included patients who were initially treated with a medical management protocol and switched to surgical castration during follow-up evaluation and lastly Group 3 (n: 20) included the patients undergoing treated surgical castration as initial treatment modality without any further medical management protocol. RESULTS: Evaluation of our data did clearly demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the initial and final PSA as well as testosterone levels in Group 1 cases. Mean PSA and testosterone levels increased significantly in these cases despite a change in hormonal therapy by using another agent for androgen deprivation. Cases in Group 2 and 3 cases did not show any statistically significant difference with respect to the mean PSA as well as testosterone values during the same follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Our data clearly indicated that in case of a biochemical progression, switching into another alternative medical treatment was not effective enough in limiting the rising PSA levels in a statistically significant manner when compared with the approaches of switching to surgical castration after initial medical treatment or continuing with regular and close follow-up after initial surgical castration alone.

Simulation of RIRS in soft cadavers: a novel training model by the Cadaveric Research On Endourology Training (CRET) Study Group.

PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the use of fresh-frozen concurrently with embalmed cadavers as initial training models for flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) in a group of urologists who were inexperienced in retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). METHODS: Twelve urologists involved in a cadaveric fURS training course were enrolled into this prospective study. All the participants were inexperienced in fURS. Theoretical lectures and step-by-step tips and tricks video presentations on fURS were used to incorporate the technical background of the procedure to the hands-on-training course and to standardize the operating steps of the procedure. An 8-item survey was administered to the participants upon initiation and at the end of the course. RESULTS: Pre- and post-training scores were similar for each question. All the participants successfully completed the hands-on-training tasks. Mean pre-training duration [3.56 ± 2.0 min (range 1.21-7.46)] was significantly higher than mean post-training duration [1.76 ± 1.54 min (range 1.00-6.34)] (p = 0.008). At the end of the day, the trainers checked the integrity of the collecting system both by endoscopy and by fluoroscopy and could not detect any injury of the upper ureteral wall or pelvicalyceal structures. The functionality of the scopes was also checked, and no scope injury (including a reduction in the deflection capacity) was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The fURS simulation training model using soft human cadavers has the unique advantage of perfectly mimicking the living human tissues. This similarity makes this model one of the best if not the perfect simulator for an effective endourologic training.

ASSOCIATION OF MEAN PLATELET VOLUME AND THE MONOCYTE/LYMPHOCYTE RATIO WITH BRUCELLA-CAUSED EPIDIDYMO-ORCHITIS.

We evaluated the association between the mean platelet volume (MPV) and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) with brucella-caused epididymo-orchitis to determine if they could be used to differentiate between brucella and non-brucella epididymo-orchitis. The charts of 88 patients with non-brucella and 14 patients with brucella epididymo-orchitis were retrospectively reviewed. Brucellosis was diagnosed by isolating Brucella spp from a blood culture or from a serum agglutination titer ≥ 1:160 along with accompanying clinical findings. The patients with brucella epididymo-orchitis were significantly more likely to have a lower MPV and a higher MLR than those with non-brucella epididymo-orchitis. Using a MPV cut-off level of less than 9.25 fl to differentiate brucella from non-brucella epididymo-orchitis gives a sensitivity of 78.6%, a specifity of 78.4%, a positive predictive value of 36.7% and a negative predictive value of 95.8%. Using a MLR cut-off level of greater than 0.265 to differentiate brucella from non-brucella epididymo-orchitis gives a sensitivity of 71.4%, a specifity of 65.9%, a positive predictive value of 25% and a negative predictive value of 93.5.%. MPV and MLR values may assist in differentiating between brucella and non-brucella epididymo-orchitis.

Whole Grain Consumption Increases Gastrointestinal Content of Sulfate-Conjugated Oxylipins in Pigs - A Multicompartmental Metabolomics Study.

The effects of increased intake of dietary fiber as either whole grain rye or as resistant starch compared to a typical low dietary fiber Western-style diet on the metabolomics responses were studied in gastrointestinal content and tissue, peripheral plasma, and urine using a multicompartmental nontargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) approach in pigs. Both unsupervised and supervised multivariate analyses were used to study differences between the intervention groups, revealing significant effects of the dietary intervention on gastrointestinal contents and urine metabolites. Consumption of a diet composed of whole grain rye flakes and enzyme treated wheat bran increased gastrointestinal content of novel sulfate- and acetic acid-conjugated oxylipins, and urinary secretion of phenolic compounds. Furthermore, potential gastrointestinal and urinary biomarkers for consumption of resistant starch, whole grain rye, and a low dietary fiber intake were detected using multiblock analysis. This study provides insight into microbial fermentation products in the gastrointestinal tract and suggests a potential role in sulfate conjugation of metabolites on the bioavailability of ingested nutrients.

Vibrational microspectroscopy enables chemical characterization of single pollen grains as well as comparative analysis of plant species based on pollen ultrastructure.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Chemical imaging of pollen by vibrational microspectroscopy enables characterization of pollen ultrastructure, in particular phenylpropanoid components in grain wall for comparative study of extant and extinct plant species. A detailed characterization of conifer (Pinales) pollen by vibrational microspectroscopy is presented. The main problems that arise during vibrational measurements were scatter and saturation issues in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and fluorescence and penetration depth issues in Raman. Single pollen grains larger than approx. 15 µm can be measured by FTIR microspectroscopy using conventional light sources, while smaller grains may be measured by employing synchrotron light sources. Pollen grains that were larger than 50 µm were too thick for FTIR imaging since the grain constituents absorbed almost all infrared light. Chemical images of pollen were obtained on sectioned samples, unveiling the distribution and concentration of proteins, carbohydrates, sporopollenins and lipids within pollen substructures. The comparative analysis of pollen species revealed that, compared with other Pinales pollens, Cedrus atlantica has a higher relative amount of lipid nutrients, as well as different chemical composition of grain wall sporopollenin. The pre-processing and data analysis, namely extended multiplicative signal correction and principal component analysis, offer simple estimate of imaging spectral data and indirect estimation of physical properties of pollen. The vibrational microspectroscopy study demonstrates that detailed chemical characterization of pollen can be obtained by measurement of an individual grain and pollen ultrastructure. Measurement of phenylpropanoid components in pollen grain wall could be used, not only for the reconstruction of past environments, but for assessment of diversity of plant species as well. Therefore, analysis of extant and extinct pollen species by vibrational spectroscopies is suggested as a valuable tool in biology, ecology and palaeosciences.

Dose-dependant preventive effect of a herbal compound on crystal formation in rat model.

INTRODUCTION: To analyze the dose-dependent preventive effect of a plant-based herbal product on the new crystal formation in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 rats were divided into 7 groups and zinc discs were placed into the bladder of rats to provide a nidus for the development of new crystal formation: Group 1: control, Group 2: 0.75 percent ethylene glycol (EG); Group 3: 0.75 percent EG plus 0.051 ml of the compound; Group 4: 0.75 percent EG plus 0.179 ml of the compound; Group 5: 0.75 percent EG plus 0.217 ml of the compound; Group 6: 0.75 percent EG plus 0.255 ml of the compound; Group 7 0.75 percent EG plus 0.332 of the compound). The analysis and comparison focused on the disc weights, changes in urinary oxalate and calcium levels, urinary pH, and the histopathologic evaluation of the inflammatory changes in the bladder after 14 days. RESULTS: According to the evaluation of discs placed in the bladders of the animals, animals receiving the herbal compound on a dose-dependent basis showed a limited increase in the disc weights values after 14 days, despite a considerable increase in animals receiving EG alone (p = 0.001). Further evaluation of the increase in disc weights on a dose-dependent basis in different subgroups (from Groups 3 to 7) demonstrated that the limitation of crystal deposition began to be more prominent as the dose of herbal compound increased. This effect was more evident particularly in comparisons between group 7 and others, according to LSD multiple comparison tests (p = 0.001). As anticipated, there has been no discernible change in the weight of the discs in the control group. Although urinary calcium levels in animals of Groups 2, 6, and 7 were significantly higher than the other groups, we were not able to demonstrate a close correlation between urinary oxalate levels and the increasing dose levels. Even though mean urine pH levels were statistically considerably higher in Group 3, there was no statistically significant correlation between the oxalate and calcium levels between all groups, and no association was seen with the administration of herbal agents. The transitional epithelium between the three groups of animals' bladder samples did not exhibit any appreciable difference according to pathological analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In this animal model, the treatment of the compound was successful in lowering the amount of crystal deposition surrounding the zinc discs, most noticeably at a dosage of 0.332 ml, three times per day.

Is Medical Therapy for Distal Ureteral Stones Efficient? Tamsulosin versus Deflazacort: A Prospective Randomised Trial.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the efficacy of tamsulosin and deflazacort in the spontaneous expulsion of distal ureteral stones when applied in an independent or combined manner. METHODS: 134 patients with distal ureteral stones (4 - 10 mm) were included in tothe study. All patients were randomized into four groups: group 1 (n = 37) patients receiving tamsulosin (0.4 mg/day); group 2 (n = 26) patients receiving deflazacort (30 mg/day); group 3 (n = 37) patients receiving combined treatment (tamsulosin and deflazacort) with the same dosages; and group 4, control group cases (n = 34), receiving paracetamol on demand. Although deflazacort treatment was limited to 10 days due to the possible associated side effects, α-blocker and paracetamol lasted up to four weeks. Patients were followed up on a weekly basis and at the end of four weeks all groups were compared primarily with respect to the stone expulsion rates. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was noted between all groups regarding the age, sex, or stone burden (p > 0.05). Spontaneous stone expulsion rates after 4 weeks were 64.8 %, 69.2 %, 75.7 %, and 26.4 % in group 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Spontaneous passage rates were statistically higher in all treatment groups when compared with the control group. Despite the highest spontaneous stone expulsion rate noted in group 3; this difference was not statistically significant when compared with the group 1 and 2. No major side effect related to the medications was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Tamsulosin facilitated the spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones < 10 mm in size in an effective manner particularly when applied in combination with an oral corticosteroid.

Current status of uro-oncology training during urology residency and the need for fellowship programs: An international questionnaire study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the opinions of urologists from different countries about uro-oncology education, fellowship programs, and approaches to different urological malignancies at different stages using a questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 207 urologists from 22 countries were sent a questionnaire containing 18 items by email. The questions were related to urologic oncology training provided during residency, acceptance of uro-oncology as a sub-branch, the necessity of certification for treatment and follow-up, fellowship program preferences, adequateness of the programs, and approach differences to the different stages of urological malignancies among the urologists from different countries. RESULTS: In total, 111 (53.62%) urologists who completed the questionnaire were enrolled in the study, and 40.54% of the urologists reported that the uro-oncology training during the residency period was not sufficient. Furthermore, 79.27% of the urologists reported opinions about acceptance of uro-oncology as a sub-branch. The ratio of urologists who undertake the treatment of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (radical surgery and urinary diversion) and prostate cancer (radical prostatectomy, definitive radiation therapy, experimental local treatment, and hormonal therapy) is 27.92% and 37.83%, respectively. The urologists reported that they perform nephron-sparing surgery (NSS), radical nephrectomy (RN), and laparoscopic NSS/RN treatments in patients with localized renal cancer at the rates of 61.26%, 47.74%, and 25.22%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Uro-oncology training during the residency period seems to be inadequate in most of the countries, and a high number of the urologists tend to avoid high-volume operations and systemic treatments of uro-oncologic malignancies.

Machine Learning-Empowered FTIR Spectroscopy Serum Analysis Stratifies Healthy, Allergic, and SIT-Treated Mice and Humans.

The unabated global increase of allergic patients leads to an unmet need for rapid and inexpensive tools for the diagnosis of allergies and for monitoring the outcome of allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT). In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated the potential of Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, a high-resolution and cost-efficient biophotonic method with high throughput capacities, to detect characteristic alterations in serum samples of healthy, allergic, and SIT-treated mice and humans. To this end, we used experimental models of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation and allergen-specific tolerance induction in BALB/c mice. Serum collected before and at the end of the experiment was subjected to FTIR spectroscopy. As shown by our study, FTIR spectroscopy, combined with deep learning, can discriminate serum from healthy, allergic, and tolerized mice, which correlated with immunological data. Furthermore, to test the suitability of this biophotonic method for clinical diagnostics, serum samples from human patients were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. In line with the results from the mouse models, machine learning-assisted FTIR spectroscopy allowed to discriminate sera obtained from healthy, allergic, and SIT-treated humans, thereby demonstrating its potential for rapid diagnosis of allergy and clinical therapeutic monitoring of allergic patients.

Comparison of metabolic adaptation and biofilm formation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae field isolates from the upper and lower respiratory tract of swine with respiratory disease.

Most outbreaks of disease due to infection with Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae are caused by pigs already pre-colonised in tonsillar tissue, where the pathogen is protected from exposure to antibiotic substances administered for treatment. As it has been shown recently under experimental conditions, A. pleuropneumoniae displays host tissue-specific metabolic adaptation. In this study, pairs of A. pleuropneumoniae field isolates were recovered from lung as well as from tonsillar and nasal tissue from 20 pigs suffering from acute clinical signs of pleuropneumonia and showing characteristic pathological lung alterations. Metabolic adaptation to the porcine lower and upper respiratory tract of 32 A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 field isolates was examined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a high resolution metabolic fingerprinting method. All strains showed metabolic adaptations to organ tissue reflected by hierarchical cluster analysis of FTIR spectra similar to those previously observed under experimental conditions. Notably, differences in antimicrobial resistance patterns and minimal inhibitory concentrations of isolates from different tissues in the same animal, but not in biofilm production capability in a microtiter plate assay were found. Overall, biofilm formation was observed for 71 % of the isolates, confirming that A. pleuropneumoniae field isolates are generally able to form biofilms, although rather in a serotype-specific than in an organ-specific manner. A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 6 isolates formed significantly more biofilm than the other serotypes. Furthermore, biofilm production was negatively correlated to the lung lesion scores and tonsillar isolates tended to be more susceptible to antimicrobial substances with high bioavailability than lung isolates.

Safety and Efficacy of RIRS in Geriatric Patients: A Comparative Evaluation on an Age Based Manner.

PURPOSE: In this retrospective study, we aimed to comparatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of RIRS procedure on an age-based manner in patients younger and above 65 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 165 patients undergoing RIRS procedure for renal stones were divided into two groups on an age-based manner namely; Group 1 (n=122) patients aging < 65 years and Group 2 (n=43) patients aging above 65 years. Demographic and clinical data regarding the stone free rates, complication rates and need for secondary procedures were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Of all the patients undergoing RIRS for kidney stones, 122 were below the age of 65 (73.9%) and 43 were above the age of 65 (26.1%). Mean age value for the patients aging more than 65 years was 74.16 ± 5.03 years and in addition to higher percentage of comorbidities, serum creatinine levels as well as ASA scores were also higher in this group when compared with younger counterparts. Although there was no statistically significant difference with respect to the operative duration, stone-free rates (SFR) and hospitalization period between the two groups, both complication rates and the need for additional interventions were higher in the older patient group (p = 0.038; p = 0.032). All complications noted in the both groups were minor (Grade I) complications according to the Clavien classification system. CONCLUSION: RIRS procedure can be applied as an effective and safe treatment alternative for the minimal invasive management of renal stones in relatively older patients (> 65 years) with similar hospitalization as well as stone free rates noted in the younger patients. No procedure related severe complication was noted in these cases.

Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on sexuality: a cross-sectional study among couples in Turkey.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been continuing to affect the lives of all people globally. It has been shown that restrictions due to changes in lifestyles lead to mental health problems. This study aims to investigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on couples' sexuality. A total of 245 volunteers (148 men and 97 women) were enrolled in the study. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale were administered to screen anxiety and depression symptoms. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) along with self-constructed sexual behavior questionnaire were administered to participants, in order to evaluate sexual functions and behavioral changes during the pandemic. Sexual function scores (IIEF erectile function domain and total FSFI) during pandemic (24.55 ± 5.79 and 24.87 ± 7.88, respectively) were lower compared to the prepandemic period (26.59 ± 4.51 and 26.02 ± 6.22, respectively) (p = 0.001 and p = 0.027, respectively). During pandemic compared to prepandemic period, the frequency of sexual intercourse decreased in men (p = 0.001) and women (p = 0.001) while sexual avoidance and solitary sexual approach behaviors (masturbation or watching sexual content videos, etc.) increased in men (p = 0.001) and women (p = 0.022). However, the couples that spent more time together during the pandemic reported better sexual function scores (men; p = 0.001, women; p = 0.006). Although this is the first study evaluating couples from Turkey with a convenience sample, further studies with a greater number may better elucidate the effects of this pandemic on sexuality.

Efficacy and safety of fURS in stones larger than 20 mm: is it still the threshold?

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this article was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) in the management of renal calculi larger than 20 mm. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 92 cases with renal calculi were managed with fURS and divided into two groups depending on the size of the stones; <20 mm and >20 mm (Group 1 and Group 2, respectively). The groups were compared with respect to treatment-related parameters including success, complication rates, hospitalization period and need for auxiliary procedures with an emphasis on the rate of infections. Success rates were also compared in each group according to stone location. RESULTS: Overall success rates after 3 months showed that stone-free rates in both groups were 84.1% (< 20 mm) and 58.33% (>20 mm) respectively (p = 0.008). The success rates of upper/mid pole (100% vs. 80%) and pelvis stones (83.3% vs. 75%) showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.5, p = 0.51 respectively). Success rates for stones located in the lower pole were 75% vs. 14.28% respectively (p = 0.008). The rate of infectious complications was significantly higher in cases undergoing fURS for relatively larger stones (22.9%) as compared to smaller calculi (6.8%) (p = 0.032). No complications were recorded in Group 1, while 2 cases in Group 2 (4.1%) developed ureteral stricture. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the relatively low stone-free rates in lower pole stones, our current results indicate that fURS can be an effective and safe treatment alternative to PNL in larger renal stones (>20 mm) located in the pelvis and in the upper part of the calyceal system of the involved kidney.

Detection and Identification of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus cytotoxicus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus weihenstephanensis via Machine Learning Based FTIR Spectroscopy.

The Bacillus cereus group comprises genetical closely related species with variable toxigenic characteristics. However, detection and differentiation of the B. cereus group species in routine diagnostics can be difficult, expensive and laborious since current species designation is linked to specific phenotypic characteristic or the presence of species-specific genes. Especially the differentiation of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis, the identification of psychrotolerant Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus weihenstephanensis, as well as the identification of emetic B. cereus and Bacillus cytotoxicus, which are both producing highly potent toxins, is of high importance in food microbiology. Thus, we investigated the use of a machine learning approach, based on artificial neural network (ANN) assisted Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, for discrimination of B. cereus group members. The deep learning tool box of Matlab was employed to construct a one-level ANN, allowing the discrimination of the aforementioned B. cereus group members. This model resulted in 100% correct identification for the training set and 99.5% correct identification overall. The established ANN was applied to investigate the composition of B. cereus group members in soil, as a natural habitat of B. cereus, and in food samples originating from foodborne outbreaks. These analyses revealed a high complexity of B. cereus group populations, not only in soil samples but also in the samples from the foodborne outbreaks, highlighting the importance of taking multiple isolates from samples implicated in food poisonings. Notable, in contrast to the soil samples, no bacteria belonging to the psychrotolerant B. cereus group members were detected in the food samples linked to foodborne outbreaks, while the overall abundancy of B. thuringiensis did not significantly differ between the sample categories. None of the isolates was classified as B. cytotoxicus, fostering the hypothesis that the latter species is linked to very specific ecological niches. Overall, our work shows that machine learning assisted (FTIR) spectroscopy is suitable for identification of B. cereus group members in routine diagnostics and outbreak investigations. In addition, it is a promising tool to explore the natural habitats of B. cereus group, such as soil.

Combining Chemical Information From Grass Pollen in Multimodal Characterization.

The analysis of pollen chemical composition is important to many fields, including agriculture, plant physiology, ecology, allergology, and climate studies. Here, the potential of a combination of different spectroscopic and spectrometric methods regarding the characterization of small biochemical differences between pollen samples was evaluated using multivariate statistical approaches. Pollen samples, collected from three populations of the grass Poa alpina, were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The variation in the sample set can be described in a hierarchical framework comprising three populations of the same grass species and four different growth conditions of the parent plants for each of the populations. Therefore, the data set can work here as a model system to evaluate the classification and characterization ability of the different spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. ANOVA Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA) was applied to achieve a separation of different sources of variance in the complex sample set. Since the chosen methods and sample preparations probe different parts and/or molecular constituents of the pollen grains, complementary information about the chemical composition of the pollen can be obtained. By using consensus principal component analysis (CPCA), data from the different methods are linked together. This enables an investigation of the underlying global information, since complementary chemical data are combined. The molecular information from four spectroscopies was combined with phenotypical information gathered from the parent plants, thereby helping to potentially link pollen chemistry to other biotic and abiotic parameters.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) shows adaptation of grass pollen composition.

MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has become a widely used tool for the classification of biological samples. The complex chemical composition of pollen grains leads to highly specific, fingerprint-like mass spectra, with respect to the pollen species. Beyond the species-specific composition, the variances in pollen chemistry can be hierarchically structured, including the level of different populations, of environmental conditions or different genotypes. We demonstrate here the sensitivity of MALDI-TOF MS regarding the adaption of the chemical composition of three Poaceae (grass) pollen for different populations of parent plants by analyzing the mass spectra with partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Thereby, variances in species, population and specific growth conditions of the plants were observed simultaneously. In particular, the chemical pattern revealed by the MALDI spectra enabled discrimination of the different populations of one species. Specifically, the role of environmental changes and their effect on the pollen chemistry of three different grass species is discussed. Analysis of the group formation within the respective populations showed a varying influence of plant genotype on the classification, depending on the species, and permits conclusions regarding the respective rigidity or plasticity towards environmental changes.

Enterotoxin Production of Bacillus thuringiensis Isolates From Biopesticides, Foods, and Outbreaks.

While the relevance of Bacillus (B.) cereus as a major cause of gastroenteritis is undisputed, the role of the closely related B. thuringiensis in foodborne disease is unclear. B. thuringiensis strains frequently harbor enterotoxin genes. However, the organism has only very rarely been associated with foodborne outbreaks, possibly due to the fact that during outbreak investigations, B. cereus is routinely not differentiated from B. thuringiensis. A recent EFSA scientific opinion stresses the urgent need for further data allowing for improved risk assessment, in particular as B. thuringiensis is a commonly used biopesticide. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain further insights into the hazardous potential of B. thuringiensis. To this end, 39 B. thuringiensis isolates obtained from commercially used biopesticides, various food sources, as well as from foodborne outbreaks were characterized by panC typing, panC-based SplitsTree analysis, toxin gene profiling, FTIR spectroscopic analysis, a cytotoxicity assay screening for enterotoxic activity, and a sphingomyelinase assay. The majority of the tested B. thuringiensis isolates exhibited low (23%, n = 9) or mid level enterotoxicity (74%, n = 29), and produced either no (59%, n = 23) or low levels (33%, n = 13) of sphingomyelinase, which is reported to act synergistically with enterotoxins Nhe and Hbl. One strain isolated from rosemary was however classified as highly enterotoxic surpassing the cytotoxic activity of the high-level reference strain by a factor of 1.5. This strain also produced vast amounts of sphingomyelinase. Combining all results obtained in this study into a fingerprint pattern, several enterotoxic biopesticide strains were indistinguishable from those of isolates from foods or collected in association with outbreaks. Our study shows that many B. thuringiensis biopesticide strains exhibit mid-level cytotoxicity in a Vero cell assay and that some of these strains cannot be differentiated from isolates collected from foods or in association with outbreaks. Thus, we demonstrate that the use of B. thuringiensis strains as biopesticides can represent a food safety risk, underpinning the importance of assessing the hazardous potential of each strain and formulation used.

What is new in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer in 2016?

Approximately 75% of bladder cancers are non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), and 50% of NMIBC patients who are treated with transurethral resection (TUR) have a recurrence of the disease and 5-25% of these patients progressed to muscle-invasive disease after repeated recurrences. NMIBC patients receive various treatments aimed at reducing disease recurrence and progression. Although the recurrence rate of disease remains above target, thus increasing treatment cost, the true rate of recurrence after the primary surgery is controversial. Recurrences can be categorized as either true recurrence due to aggressive tumor biology and implantation of floating cancer cells or false recurrence such as small, flat, or carcinoma in situ lesions overlooked in the primary procedure. Here we discuss new diagnostic methods and treatment options to improve outcomes and reduce recurrence rates in NMIBC.