Enrichment of intracellular sulphur cycle -associated bacteria in intertidal benthic foraminifera revealed by 16S and aprA gene analysis.

Benthic foraminifera are known to play an important role in marine carbon and nitrogen cycles. Here, we report an enrichment of sulphur cycle -associated bacteria inside intertidal benthic foraminifera (Ammonia sp. (T6), Haynesina sp. (S16) and Elphidium sp. (S5)), using a metabarcoding approach targeting the 16S rRNA and aprA -genes. The most abundant intracellular bacterial groups included the genus Sulfurovum and the order Desulfobacterales. The bacterial 16S OTUs are likely to originate from the sediment bacterial communities, as the taxa found inside the foraminifera were also present in the sediment. The fact that 16S rRNA and aprA -gene derived intracellular bacterial OTUs were species-specific and significantly different from the ambient sediment community implies that bacterivory is an unlikely scenario, as benthic foraminifera are known to digest bacteria only randomly. Furthermore, these foraminiferal species are known to prefer other food sources than bacteria. The detection of sulphur-cycle related bacterial genes in this study suggests a putative role for these bacteria in the metabolism of the foraminiferal host. Future investigation into environmental conditions under which transcription of S-cycle genes are activated would enable assessment of their role and the potential foraminiferal/endobiont contribution to the sulphur-cycle.

Metabarcoding successfully tracks temporal changes in eukaryotic communities in coastal sediments.

Metabarcoding is a method that combines high-throughput DNA sequencing and DNA-based identification. Previously, this method has been successfully used to target spatial variation of eukaryote communities in marine sediments, however, the temporal changes in these communities remain understudied. Here, we follow the temporal changes of the eukaryote communities in Baltic Sea surface sediments collected from two coastal localities during three seasons of two consecutive years. Our study reveals that the structure of the sediment eukaryotic ecosystem was primarily driven by annual and seasonal changes in prevailing environmental conditions, whereas spatial variation was a less significant factor in explaining the variance in eukaryotic communities over time. Therefore, our data suggests that shifts in regional climate regime or large-scale changes in the environment are the overdriving factors in shaping the coastal eukaryotic sediment ecosystems rather than small-scale changes in local environmental conditions or heterogeneity in ecosystem structure. More studies targeting temporal changes are needed to further understand the long-term trends in ecosystem stability and response to climate change. Furthermore, this work contributes to the recent efforts in developing metabarcoding applications for environmental biomonitoring, proving a comprehensive option for traditional monitoring approaches.

Abdominal disorders arising from 71 Meckel's diverticulum.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The study was done to investigate the frequency of Meckel's diverticulum, and its manifestations as the cause of abdominal disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material consisted of 71 patients with Meckel's diverticulum treated in our hospital during the years 1988-1998. From the material the age and sex were analyzed as well the outcome of patients. The histological findings of diverticulectomies were evaluated. RESULTS: In a retrospective analysis 46 males (65.5%) and 25 females (34.5%) were found. At the same eleven-year study period Meckel's diverticulum was found during 55 out of 3758 appendicectomies (1.5%). The age of patients ranged from 11 months to 87 years (mean 30.4 years). Preoperatively the diagnosis was made in three cases: two patients with TC-99m scanning and one patient with intestinal passage radiography. 46 Meckel's diverticles were asymptomatic, but 25 (34.5%) cases were symptomatic. Nine patients had ulcer in the diverticulum, which was perforated in five cases. Eight patients had intestinal occlusion, five patients had Meckel's diverticulitis, two patients had invagination, and in one case a sharp piece of plastic material had perforated the Meckel's diverticulum. CONCLUSION: Meckel's diverticulum should be searched in the laparotomy due to acute abdomen. It can be the cause of serious abdominal complications.

Birth fractures of long bones.

A case of traumatic separation of the proximal humeral epiphysis in a newborn is described. Three other cases of birth fractures of long bones have been taken care of in our hospital during 1980-89, when the frequency of birth fractures of long bones was 0.02%. The causes and diagnostic problems of these fractures are discussed.

Birth injuries: incidence and predisposing factors.

The incidence of birth-associated major injuries among 14.265 live born infants during seven years is presented. The occurrence of major trauma was 3.16% or 441 injuries in 437 children. The most usual injury was fracture of the clavicle, which occurred in 3.0%, after that brachial plexus injury with occurrence of 0.11%, and fracture of long bones with 0.03%. In addition to that there was one child with facial nerve palsy. Four children had two birth injuries each. The most important causes of brachial plexus injury were macrosomia and shoulder dystocia. Eight of 16 children with brachial plexus injury had shoulder dystocia and six of 16 macrosomia. The frequency of macrosomia in our material of 14.265 children was 4.7%, which is much higher than earlier reports by other authors.

Comparison of the effects of NaCl on the thermotropic behaviour of sn-1' and sn-3' stereoisomers of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol.

The phase behaviour of liposomes of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl-sn-1'-glycerol (1'-DMPG) and the corresponding sn-3' stereoisomer (3'-DMPG) were studied by DSC as a function of NaCl concentration. The melting of the metastable gel phase to the liquid-crystalline phase was similar for both lipids. However, in the presence of salt and at 6 degrees C (T less than Tp) the gel phase of both stereoisomers of DMPG was shown to be metastable and a new phase nominated here as the highly crystalline phase was formed as the stable state. However, significant differences in the formation and melting of the highly crystalline phase were evident between the two polar headgroup stereoisomers. For 3'-DMPG in the presence of 300 mM NaCl the melting enthalpy of this phase is approx. 82 kJ/mol and the transition temperature about 11 degrees higher (at 33.6 degrees C) than for the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition (25 kJ/mol at 23.0 degrees C). In the presence of 0.15-1.2 M NaCl at 6 to 10 degrees C the formation of the highly crystalline phase of 3'-DMPG is complete within 2 to 5 days, increasing [NaCl] facilitates the rate. For a 1:1 mixture of 1'- and 3'-DMPG the formation of the highly crystalline phase requires several weeks and melts at about 20 degrees higher than the gel phase (at approx. 40 degrees C). For 1'-DMPG partial conversion into the highly crystalline phase requires several months. For 3'-DMPG several intermediate phases appeared as endothermic peaks between the main phase transition temperature and the melting temperature of the highly crystalline phase. In contrast, for 1'-DMPG and the 1:1 mixture the subgel phase appears to be the only metastable intermediate phase. Different monovalent cations differ in their effect on the metastable behaviour.

Fourier transform infrared study of fully hydrated dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol. Effects of Na+ on the sn-1' and sn-3' headgroup stereoisomers.

Molecular packing and the thermotropic phase behavior of fully hydrated ammonium salts of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl-sn-1'-glycerol (1'-DMPG) and the corresponding 3' stereoisomer (3'-DMPG) as well as the effects of 300 mM NaCl on these lipids were studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The ammonium salts of both stereoisomer show similar thermotropic phase behavior and have an order-disorder phase transition at approximately 21 degrees C. While complexing with Na+, however, an incubation of liposomes at +6 degrees C for 3 days results in significant structural differences between liposomes of 1'-DMPG and 3'-DMPG. In the presence of 300 mM NaCl the infrared spectra for 3'-DMPG reveal the appearance of a more solidified lipid nominated here as the highly crystalline phase with a transition into the liquid-crystalline state at a significantly higher temperature (approximately at 33 degrees C) than that for 1'-DMPG (approximately at 23 degrees C). Crystal field splitting resulting from interchain vibrational coupling is observed in the CH2 scissoring mode of the 3'-DMPG(Na+) complex in the highly crystalline phase (T less than 33 degrees C); i.e., the acyl chains are packed in a rigid orthorhombic- or monoclinic-like crystal lattice. At temperatures above the transition at 33 degrees C the acyl chains of 3'-DMPG(Na+) give rise to infrared spectra indicative of hexagonal packing. The latter type of hydrocarbon chain packing is also found for the ammonium salts of 1'-DMPG and 3'-DMPG without Na+ as well as for 1'-DMPG with Na+. In addition, the binding of Na+ to 3'-DMPG causes narrowing of the bands associated with the interfacial and polar headgroup regions of 3'-DMPG and thus reveals reduced motional freedom. This demonstrates that Na+ binds tightly to 3'-DMPG, leading to the immobilization of the entire phospholipid polar headgroup. Such effects by Na+ are not observed for 1'-DMPG.

Treatment of acute pancreatic injuries in childhood.

Eight cases of acute pancreatic injuries in children aged between 3 and 15 years are presented. All the injuries were blunt. Four children were managed with distal pancreatectomy and four with abdominal lavation and canalization. Three patients were classed as grade I and five to grade II in terms of severity of injury, according to the classification of Lucas. Hospital mortality was zero. In the follow-up study after the average time of three years and seven months, all eight patients were doing well. There were no postoperative diabetes in our patient sample.

Radiopertechnetate imaging of haemorrhagic Meckel's diverticulum.

Meckel's diverticulum is rarely seen on the standard small bowel follow-through and the diagnosis may be overlooked unless 99mTc -pertechnetate scanning or other complementary radiological examinations are performed. Three cases of bleeding Meckel's diverticulum with a negative barium sulphate meal examination and positive 99mTc -pertechnetate scanning are presented.

Intestinal blind pouch- and blind loop-syndrome in children operated previously for congenital duodenal obstruction.

A follow-up study of 27 children operated for congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) in years 1953-71 is presented. Nine children belonged to the intrinsic and 18 children to the extrinsic group of CDO. A total of 7 retrocolic, isoperistaltic, side-to-side duodeno-jejunostomy, 7 Ladd's operation, 8 duodenolysis, 2 reduction of midgut volvulus, 2 duodenostomy a.m. Morton and one gastro-jejunostomy were performed at the age of 1 day-15 years. The clinical and radiological examinations were performed 3-21 years (mean 10 years 2 months) after these operations. In 3 cases there was a moderate duodenal dilation, but reoperation was not necessary. During the follow-up period, one boy, now aged 8 years, developed a blind pouch-syndrome in the I portion of the duodenum containing a 5 X 5 cm phytobezoar 4 1/2 years after duodeno-jejunostomy. The frequency of blind pouch-syndrome after duodeno-jejunostomy was thus 1:7 or 14%. One girl, now aged 9 years, developed a blind loop-syndrome in the ileocaecal segment 3 months after side-to-side ileotransversostomy, which was performed from adhesion-obstruction after duodenolysis for malrotation I and CDO. Both the blind pouch- and the blind loop-deformation were resected and the children recovered well. To avoid blind pouch- and blind loop-deformations in the intestines, the anastomosis must be made wide enough, and especially in the surgery of the jejuno-ileo-colic region an end-to-end anastomosis is preferable.

Intestinal blind pouch- and blind loop- syndrome in children operated previously for congenital duodenal obstruction.

A follow-up study of 27 children operated for congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) in the years 1953--71 is presented. Nine children belonged to the intrinsic and 18 children to the extrinsic group of CDO. A total of 7 retrocolic, isoperistaltic, side-to-side duodeno-jejunostomy, 7 Ladd's operation, 8 duodenolysis, 2 reduction of midgut volvulus, 2 duodenostomy a.m. Morton and one gastro-jejunostomy were performed at the age of 1 day--15 years. The clinical and radiological examinations were performed 3--21 years (mean 10 years 2 months) after these operations. In 3 cases there was a moderate duodenal dilatation, but reoperation was not necessary. During the follow-up period, one boy, now aged 8 years, developed a blind pouch-syndrome in the I portion of the duodenum containing a 5 x 5 cm phytobezoar 4 1/2 years after duodeno-jejunostomy. The frequency of blind pouch-syndrome after duodeno-jejunostomy was thus 1:7 or 14%. One girl, now aged 9 years, developed a blind loop-syndrome in the ileocaecal segment 3 months after side-to-side ileotransversostomy, which was performed from adhesion-obstruction after duodenolysis for malrotation I and CDO. Both the blind pouch- and the blind loop-deformation were resected and the children recovered well. To avoid blind-pouch- and blind loop-deformations in the intestines, the anastomosis must be made wide enough, and especially in the surgery of the jejuno-ileo-colic region an end-to-end anastomosis is preferable.