Safety assessment of Staphylococcus phages of the family Myoviridae based on complete genome sequences.

Staphylococcus phages of the Myoviridae family have a wide host range and potential applications in phage therapy. In this report, safety assessments of these phages were conducted based on their complete genome sequences. The complete genomes of Staphylococcus phages of the Myoviridae family were analyzed, and the Open Reading Frame (ORFs) were compared with a pool of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes using the BLAST algorithm. In addition, the lifestyle of the phages (virulent or temperate) was also confirmed using PHACTS. The results showed that all phages were lytic and did not contain resistance or virulence genes based on bioinformatic analyses, excluding the possibility that they could be vectors for the dissemination of these undesirable genes. These findings suggest that the phages are safe at the genome level. The SceD-like transglycosylase, which is a biomarker for vancomycin-intermediate strains, was widely distributed in the phage genomes. Approximately 70% of the ORFs encoded in the phage genomes have unknown functions; therefore, their roles in the antibiotic resistance and virulence of Staphylococcus aureus are still unknown and require consideration before use in phage therapy.

The optimal minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy strategy for the treatment of staghorn stones in a solitary kidney.

The objective of the study was to analyze the treatment outcomes for staghorn stones in patients with solitary kidney using either the single-tract or the multi-tract minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL). We retrospectively reviewed 105 patients who underwent MPCNL for staghorn calculi in solitary kidney from 2012 to 2014. The patients who underwent the single-tract approach (71 patients) were assigned to Group 1. The 34 patients who underwent the multi-tract approach (34 patients) were assigned to Group 2. We recorded and compared the patient's demographics, intraoperative parameters, and post-operative outcomes. We also analyzed any complications as a result of the particular procedure, as well as any resulting stone-free rates (SFRs). The mean number of access tracts was 2.38 ± 0.70 (range 2-4) for Group 2. The mean operative time was longer for Group 2, p = 0.01. The initial SFR was 52.1% for Group 1 and 47.1% for Group 2 after the one-session procedure, p = 0.63.The final SFR improved to 83.1 and 79.4% for both groups following auxiliary treatment, p = 0.65. The mean hemoglobin drop was higher in Group 2 as compared to Group 1, p < 0.01. There was no significant difference in the change of mean serum creatinine in either group. There were fewer overall complications in Group 1 than in Group 2 (23.9 vs. 44.1%). Almost half of the patients who underwent multi-tract MPCNL required an additional procedure to achieve satisfactory stone clearance. The results showed that single-tract MPCNL might be a better treatment option for staghorn stones in a solitary kidney with the same therapeutic outcome, but with less complications.