Accurate and Strict Identification of Probiotic Species Based on Coverage of Whole-Metagenome Shotgun Sequencing Data.

Identifying the microbes present in probiotic products is an important issue in product quality control and public health. The most common methods used to identify genera containing species that produce lactic acid are matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. However, the high cost of operation, difficulty in distinguishing between similar species, and limitations of the current sequencing technologies have made it difficult to obtain accurate results using these tools. To overcome these problems, a whole-genome shotgun sequencing approach has been developed along with various metagenomic classification tools. Widely used tools include the marker gene and k-mer methods, but their inevitable false-positives (FPs) hampered an accurate analysis. We therefore, designed a coverage-based pipeline to reduce the FP problem and to achieve a more reliable identification of species. The coverage-based pipeline described here not only shows higher accuracy for the detection of species and proportion analysis, based on mapping depth, but can be applied regardless of the sequencing platform. We believe that the coverage-based pipeline described in this study can provide appropriate support for probiotic quality control, addressing current labeling issues.

Mucibacter soli gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Chitinophagaceae producing mucin.

A Gram-stain-negative, mucus-forming, motile by gliding, non-spore-forming and short rod-shaped bacterial strain designated R1-15T was isolated from soil and its taxonomic position was evaluated using a polyphasic approach. Strain R1-15T grew at 15-37°C (optimum, 30°C), at pH 6-7 (optimum, pH 6) and in the presence of 0-1% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0%) on 0.1X TSA. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the novel strain was assigned to the family Chitinophagaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes, and its closest related taxa were species of the genera Taibaiella (88.76-90.02% sequence similarity), Lacibacter (89.24-90.00%), Chitinophaga (88.61-89.76%), and Terrimonas (89.04%). Flexirubin- type pigments were produced. The only isoprenoid quinone was MK-7, and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. Based on whole genome comparisons between the strain R1-15T and the type strains of relatives, the orthologous average nucleotide identity values were 66.9-67.0%. The DNA G + C content of strain R1-15T was 43.8 mol%. The combination of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data clearly supported separation of strain R1-15T from related taxa, and thus the name Mucibacter soli gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R1-15T (= KCTC 62274T = JCM 31190T).

Streptacidiphilus pinicola sp. nov., isolated from pine grove soil.

A moderately acidophilic actinobacterial strain, designated MMS16-CNU450T, was isolated from pine grove soil, and its taxonomic position was analysed using a polyphasic approach. The isolate showed best growth at 30 °C, pH 6 and 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the isolate was assigned to the genus Streptacidiphilus, and the closest species were Streptacidiphilus rugosus AM-16T (sequence similarity, 98.61 %), Streptacidiphilus melanogenes NBRC 103184T (98.53 %), Streptacidiphilus jiangxiensis NBRC 100920T (98.19 %) and Streptacidiphilus anmyonensis NBRC 103185T (98.05 %). The isolate formed a distinct cluster of its own within the Streptacidiphilusclade in the phylogenetic tree. Based on whole-genome comparison between the strain MMS16-CNU450T and the type strains of related species, the orthologous average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values were in the range of 77.9-87.0 and 22.3-32.7 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 68.6 mol%. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic data supported the affiliation of the strain to Streptacidiphilus, and the name Streptacidiphilus pinicola sp. nov. (type strain, MMS16-CNU450T=KCTC 49008T=JCM 32300T) is proposed accordingly.

Draft Genome Sequence of Streptacidiphilus oryzae TH49T, an Acidophilic Actinobacterium Isolated from Soil.

The draft genome sequence of Streptacidiphilus oryzae strain TH49(T), an acidophilic actinobacterium, was obtained. The draft is composed of six scaffolds totaling 7.8 Mbp, and it contains 6,829 protein-coding genes and 91 RNA genes. Genes related to respiratory nitrate reduction, siderophore production, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites were identified.

The Patient's Age and American Society of Anesthesiologists Status Are Reasonable Criteria for Deciding Whether to Perform Same-Day Bilateral TKA.

We investigated whether basing a decision to perform same-day bilateral TKA (SD BTKA) on the patient's age and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status was reasonable. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1386 patients who underwent 2086 TKAs (686 unilateral TKAs [UTKAs], 1038 SD BTKAs, and 362 one-week staged BTKAs). For the entire cohort, patients undergoing SD BTKA had a higher risk of major complications compared to those undergoing UTKA. However, there was no difference in the incidence of complications for patients aged<75 years with an ASA status of 1 or 2 who underwent UTKA or SD BTKA. If patients are selected based on age and ASA status, SD BTKA may have a risk of postoperative complication similar to UTKA.

Condylar-stabilizing tibial inserts do not restore anteroposterior stability after total knee arthroplasty.

The Triathlon condylar-stabilizing (CS) lipped insert is designed to provide anteroposterior (AP) stability of the posterior-stabilized (PS) insert, without a post. The purpose of this study was to compare the AP stability of the knee in patients with Triathlon CS and PS total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with midterm follow-up. Thirty-one patients received a Triathlon PS TKA in one knee and a Triathlon CS TKA in the contralateral knee, and 28 patients were followed up with a minimum duration of 5years. Although there was no difference in functional outcomes, the posterior displacement was significantly greater in the CS TKA group than in the PS TKA group (P<0.001). The Triathlon CS lipped insert could not restore posterior stability with PCL sacrifice.

Fracture of titanium nitride-coated femoral component after total knee arthroplasty.

UNLABELLED: We report a case of fracture of a titanium nitride-coated femoral component 3 years after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The fracture was at the medial condylar area just posterior to the medial peg of the femoral component. The backside of the broken medial condylar portion of the femoral component was devoid of cement. Debonding of the component is a possible cause of the stress fracture. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of the fracture of the femoral component manufactured from titanium alloy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

The efficacy of unilateral use of a blood reinfusion device in one-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of unilateral use of a blood reinfusion device in one-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective cohort study on 100 patients having one-stage bilateral TKA. In 50 of these patients (study group), a blood reinfusion device was applied on one knee and a standard suction drain on the other, and they were compared with 50 matched controls who received bilateral suction drains (control group). The hemoglobin (Hb) level, the hematocrit (Hct) and the platelet count were checked preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and the third and seventh days postoperatively. The total drain output and the amount of allogeneic blood transfusion were also compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the total drain output and required amount of allogeneic blood transfusions between groups (p>0.05). However, the study group had significantly lower Hb and Hct values by the first day postoperatively and significantly lower platelet count values by the third day postoperatively than the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with use of bilateral suction drains, unilateral use of reinfusion device was not advantageous in reducing allogeneic transfusion in one-stage bilateral TKA.

The effect of femoral component design on patellar tracking in total knee arthroplasty: Genesis II prosthesis versus Vanguard prosthesis.

INTRODUCTION: The Genesis II knee system incorporates 3° of external rotation into the femoral component and the femoral component is implanted in neutral rotation to the femur. The purpose of this study was to compare patellar tracking of the Genesis II knee system with that of the Vanguard knee system, in which the femoral component is routinely implanted in a 3° externally rotated position to the posterior condylar axis (PCA) of the femur. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive knees scheduled to undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were enrolled. Fifty knees underwent TKA with the posterior-stabilized (PS) Genesis II prosthesis and 50 knees underwent TKA with the PS Vanguard prosthesis. Rotation of the femoral component was calculated by measuring the acute angle between the transepicondylar axis (TEA) and the PCA on axial computed tomography (CT) images. The postoperative patellar tilt and displacement were compared between groups. The range of motion and Knee Society scores were also compared. RESULTS: Forty-eight knees in each group were followed up for 2 years. There was no difference in the angle between the PCA and the TEA on postoperative CT scans between the two designs. There was also no difference in patellar tracking between groups. Both the Genesis II and Vanguard knee systems showed good clinical results at 2 years postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The patellar tracking of the Genesis II prosthesis was comparable to that of the Vanguard prosthesis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective cohort study, Level II.