RESUMO
The cutaneous microbiome represents a topic of high interest nowadays. Multiple studies have suggested the importance of the skin microbiome in different dermatological pathologies, highlighting the possible implications of cutaneous microorganisms in either the pathogenesis or prognosis of skin maladies. Psoriasis represents a common inflammatory skin disease, with a high prevalence in the worldwide population. The role of the cutaneous microbiome in psoriasis could explain a number of pathogenic theories and treatment objectives of this incurable skin disease. Our interest in the characteristics of the cutaneous microbiome, especially in psoriatic patients who attended a tertiary dermatological centre in Galati, Romania, is reflected in our current study, of which the preliminary results are discussed in this article. Using three types of skin sampling techniques (swabs, adhesive tape, and punch biopsies), we tried to characterise the microorganisms harboured in the skin of psoriatic patients and healthy individuals. This study was performed using culture-based probes, which were analysed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer equipment. Our preliminary results suggested that the greatest diversity was observed in the perilesional areas of psoriatic patients. The lowest cutaneous diversity was obtained from sampling psoriatic plaques. These results are similar to other studies of the cutaneous microbiome in psoriasis. The most frequent microorganisms found in all groups studied were of the Staphylococcus species: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Analysing the living environment of each individual from this study, our preliminary results suggested different results from other studies, as higher diversity and heterogenicity was observed in urban environments than in rural living areas. Regarding the differences between sexes, our preliminary results showed higher quantitative and qualitative changes in the skin microbiome of male participants than female participants, opposite to the results found in other studies of the cutaneous microbiome in psoriasis. Given these preliminary results, we can conclude that we have found important differences by studying the cutaneous microbiome of psoriatic patients and healthy control individuals from a population that, to our knowledge, has not been yet studied from this point of view. Our results showed important characteristics of the skin microbiome in an Eastern European population, where cultural and environmental living habits could influence the cutaneous microbiome.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Common reed (Phragmites australis L.) is a highly productive wetland plant and a possible valuable resource of renewable biomass worldwide. For a sustainable management the exploitation of reed is beneficial because the increasing demand for sustainable biomass which presents reed bed areas and wetlands. Knowing the properties of plant biomass obtained from reeds is essential both for the effect on combustion equipment and for the impact on the environment. Brates Lake, situated in Galati, Romania is a natural watershed with reed plantations. RESULTS: We used the convolutional neural network method combined with the cropped image techniques represent a powerful tool for high-precision image-based biomass detection in lake areas. The study aimed to investigate the morphological and chemical parameters through SEM-EDX analysis and pH, conductivity, nitrate anion, nitrite anion, total nitrogen, sulphate anion, sulphide anion, phosphate anion concentrations were determined from reed extract. The samples have a moderately acidic reaction pH 4.91-4.98. The number of soluble salts in the reed extract is in the range of 3.24-4.70 g/L, the values are within normal limits, providing the plant with the necessary nutrients. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time that neural networks are used for the detection and prediction of areas at risk for biodiversity (reduction of water gloss until it disappears, imbalances caused by keeping reeds dry in water) caused by the aggressive and uncontrolled growth of reeds.