Summary
Background
Faecal microbiota transplantation is an experimental approach for the treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis. Although there is growing evidence that faecal microbiota ...transplantation is effective in this disease, factors affecting its response are unknown.
Aims
To establish a faecal microbiota transplantation treatment protocol in ulcerative colitis patients, and to investigate which patient or donor factors are responsible for the treatment success.
Methods
This is an open controlled trial of repeated faecal microbiota transplantation after antibiotic pre‐treatment (FMT‐group, n = 17) vs antibiotic pre‐treatment only (AB‐group, n = 10) in 27 therapy refractory ulcerative colitis patients over 90 days. Faecal samples of donors and patients were analysed by 16SrRNA gene‐based microbiota analysis.
Results
In the FMT‐group, 10/17 (59%) of patients showed a response and 4/17 (24%) a remission to faecal microbiota transplantation. Response to faecal microbiota transplantation was mainly influenced by the taxonomic composition of the donor's microbiota. Stool of donors with a high bacterial richness (observed species remission 946 ± 93 vs no response 797 ± 181 at 15367 rps) and a high relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (3.3 ± 3.1% vs 0.1 ± 0.2%), unclassified Ruminococcaceae (13.8 ± 5.0% vs 7.5 ± 3.7%), and Ruminococcus spp. (4.9 ± 3.5% vs 1.0 ± 0.7%) were more likely to induce remission. In contrast antibiotic treatment alone (AB‐group) was poorly tolerated, probably because of a sustained decrease of intestinal microbial richness.
Conclusions
The taxonomic composition of the donor's intestinal microbiota is a major factor influencing the efficacy of faecal microbiota transplantation in ulcerative colitis patients. The design of specific microbial preparation might lead to new treatments for ulcerative colitis.
A representative group of seal dies made of copper alloys from the collection of the National Museum of Slovenia was investigated by energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). ...Chronologically, the artefacts date from the early 13th century to the present. Non‐destructive EDXRF screening of elemental fingerprints of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag, Sn and Sb was performed on 95 seal dies, and the obtained elemental data set was further processed by chemometric tools such as principal component analysis (PCA). The relationships between the elemental composition of analysed seal dies, type of alloy applied and their historical context—date, location of manufacture and, possibly, social rank of the owner—were examined in detail.
Faecal microbiota transplantation—the Austrian approach Kump, P.K.; Krause, R.; Allerberger, F. ...
Clinical microbiology and infection,
November 2014, 2014-Nov, 2014-11-00, 20141101, Letnik:
20, Številka:
11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The intestinal microbiome is essential for maintaining human health and defending against intestinal pathogens. Alterations of the intestinal microbiota, also termed dysbiosis, play a pivotal role in ...the pathogenesis of various human diseases. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is aimed at correcting these alterations by delivering faecal microorganisms from a healthy person to the intestines of a patient. At present, recurrent Clostridium difficile infection is the only indication supported by solid scientific evidence, but many ongoing studies are investigating FMT in other dysbiosis-related diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. As there are no systematic methodological investigations, several questions about techniques, donor screening and safety issues remain. This shortage of evidence, especially on long-term safety concerns, is leading to worldwide controversy regarding the use of FMT. Regulations by healthcare authorities vary among different countries. This review reflects the Austrian situation and its FMT guidelines concerning indications, techniques and donor screening, recently developed by local scientific societies.
Trace and minor elements in Slovenian honey were analysed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Upto 16 elements (K, Cl, S, P, Ca, Mn, Rb, Cu, Fe, Ni, Cr, Br, Ti, Pb, Sr and As) were ...detected, in a range of average content from 1.24 mg
kg
−1 for Sr to 2590 mg
kg
−1 for K. Statistically significant differences were established between different types of honey (acacia, floral, lime, chestnut, spruce, fir, forest and
Metcalfa pruinosa honeydew honey). The highest content of elements was determined in forest honey and the lowest in acacia honey. Honeys were also separated according to their botanical origin as nectar honey or honeydew honey. Total elemental content and the content of S, Cl, K and Rb in honeydew honey was statistically significantly higher than in nectar honey. Chestnut honey differed in statistically its significantly higher contents of Rb and Ca from nectar and honeydew honeys. The year of honey production proved to have no statistically significant influence on elemental content. A comparison of our data with the literature data showed a relatively large diversity.
A comparison of different dissolution techniques for determination of uranium in soil samples was made. Conventional wet dissolution with mixtures of HNO3, HClO4 and HF acids, microwave dissolution ...using HNO3 and HF, and alkaline fusion with Na2CO3 and Na2O2 were evaluated. For testing the effectiveness of the dissolution procedures, two reference materials and six soil samples from the surroundings of a former uranium mine were investigated. It was observed that the content of uranium in the residues determined by INAA represents a significant contribution to its total concentration in the sample, especially in the case of microwave dissolution.
•Various most often used dissolution techniques for soil samples were investigated.•Conventional wet ashing, microwave dissolution and alkaline fusion were tested.•The residues obtained after dissolution were tested for uranium content.•Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used for uranium determination.•The results showed that the tested dissolution techniques must be improved.
Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an important therapeutic option for
infection. Promising findings suggest that FMT may play a role also in the management of other disorders associated with ...the alteration of gut microbiota. Although the health community is assessing FMT with renewed interest and patients are becoming more aware, there are technical and logistical issues in establishing such a non-standardised treatment into the clinical practice with safety and proper governance. In view of this, an evidence-based recommendation is needed to drive the practical implementation of FMT. In this European Consensus Conference, 28 experts from 10 countries collaborated, in separate working groups and through an evidence-based process, to provide statements on the following key issues: FMT indications; donor selection; preparation of faecal material; clinical management and faecal delivery and basic requirements for implementing an FMT centre. Statements developed by each working group were evaluated and voted by all members, first through an electronic Delphi process, and then in a plenary consensus conference. The recommendations were released according to best available evidence, in order to act as guidance for physicians who plan to implement FMT, aiming at supporting the broad availability of the procedure, discussing other issues relevant to FMT and promoting future clinical research in the area of gut microbiota manipulation. This consensus report strongly recommends the implementation of FMT centres for the treatment of
infection as well as traces the guidelines of technicality, regulatory, administrative and laboratory requirements.
The methods of electrodeposition and “molecular plating” were studied for the production of uranium targets with an areal density up to 0.6mgcm−2 on aluminium and up to 1.5mgcm−2 on stainless steel ...backings from aqueous and organic electrolytes. For characterisation of the deposited material, gamma-ray spectrometry, alpha-particle spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and autoradiography were applied.
•Target preparation procedures included electrodeposition and molecular plating.•Organic and inorganic solutions used as electrolytes.•Characterisation of layers for activity, thickness, homogeneity and morphology.
Minor and trace elements composition of bottom sediments from water bodies in Western Paraguay have been investigated by XRF techniques to determine their correlation as well as provenance. The ...analysis of complex spectra was performed by the AXIL software and the quantitative analysis by the QAES software. Analyzed trace elements were the refractory elements Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Zr, y and other HFSE as Cr, Ni, Cu, together with Zn. Minor elements were Ti, Mn, Fe which are often to the above refractories related. According to their normalized spidergrams two sets of sediments can be differentiated. Those from Pilcomayo and Verde rivers as well as from km164-Wetland show light rare earth elements (LREE) enrichment, negative Nb and Ti anomalies and no spike at Zr. On the other hand, sediments from Confuso, Aguaray(Jehe), Negro and Montelindo rivers have spidergrams very alike, with strong negative anomalies at Nb, Nd and Ti whereas a positive at Zr. Further, in the former there is a strong correlation of Fe versus the refractory elements; such a correlation does not exist in the latter. The sediments from the Pilcomayo & Verde Rivers and from the km164-Wetland evolved as the sub-Andean/Andean metamorphic/sedimentary materials.