Effect of Domestic Wastewater as Co-Substrate on Biological Stain Wastewater Treatment Using Fungal/Bacterial Consortia in Pilot Plant and Greenhouse Reuse

In this study, a pilot wastewater treatment plant was used to evaluate the co-treatment of biological-staining residues and domestic wastewater under non-sterile conditions. A novel microbial consortia formed by Trametes versicolor, Trametes sp, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas azotoformans, Pseudomonas sp, Enterobacter xianfangensis and Bacillus subtillis was inoculated in an extended aeration type bio-reactor. The treatment units were operated during three consecutive cycles during a period of 147 h. After the last operating cycle, the concentrations of Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Color Units, Total suspended solids, and the pH value were 1695 mg/L, 105 mg/L, 106 CU, 5), 1367 (CU), 566 mg/L (TSS) and 7.0 (pH) respectively. The reduction of pollutants load was related with the ratio of the two types of wastewater (3.5:0.5) combined to increase biodegradability, the concentration of fungi and bacteria used in the consortia (30 × 103 - 55 × 106 CUF/mL Total Fungi and 70 × 107 - 83 × 108 CFU/mL of Total Bacteria) and ligninolytic enzymes production, Laccase (13 - 96 U/L), MnP (9.8 - 39 U/L) and LiP (0.3 - 5.3 U/L). The post-treated effluent was used as irrigation water. Lolium perenne plants were watered during 60 days with post-treated effluent. The results of root weight showed that there are significant differences between the initial water and the effluent obtained after the operational cycles (p = 0.00470). The highest root weights (1 - 1.12 g) were found in plants irrigated with water obtained from the last treatment cycle.

OsWRKY65 enhances immunity against fungal and bacterial pathogens in rice

Diverse bacterial and fungal pathogens attack plants,causing biotic stress and severe yield losses globally.These losses are expected to become more serious as climate change improves conditions for many pathogens.Therefore,identifying genes conferring broad-spectrum disease resistance and elucidating their underlying mechanisms provides important resources for plant breeding.WRKY transcription factors affect plant growth and stress responses.However,the functions of many WRKY proteins remain to be elucidated.Here,we demonstrated the role of rice(Oryza sativa)WRKY groupⅢtranscription factor OsWRKY65 in immunity.OsWRKY65 localized to the nucleus and acted as transcriptional repressor.Genetic and molecular functional analyses showed that OsWRKY65 increases resistance to the fungal pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi through downregulation of GA signaling and upregulation of JA signaling.Moreover,OsWRKY65 modulated the expression of the key genes that confer susceptibility or resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae to enhance immunity against the pathogen.In particular,OsWRKY65directly bound to the promoter region of OsSWEET13 and repressed its expression.Taken together,our findings demonstrate that the OsWRKY65 enhances resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens in rice.

Comparison of fungal vs bacterial infections in the medical intensive liver unit:Cause or corollary for high mortality?

BACKGROUND Due to development of an immune-dysregulated phenotype,advanced liver disease in all forms predisposes patients to sepsis acquisition,including by opportunistic pathogens such as fungi.Little data exists on fungal infection within a medical intensive liver unit(MILU),particularly in relation to acute on chronic liver failure.AIM To investigate the impact of fungal infections among critically ill patients with advanced liver disease,and compare outcomes to those of patients with bacterial infections.METHODS From our prospective registry of MILU patients from 2018-2022,we included 27 patients with culture-positive fungal infections and 183 with bacterial infections.We compared outcomes between patients admitted to the MILU with fungal infections to bacterial counterparts.Data was extracted through chart review.RESULTS All fungal infections were due to Candida species,and were most frequently blood isolates.Mortality among patients with fungal infections was significantly worse relative to the bacterial cohort(93%vs 52%,P<0.001).The majority of the fungal cohort developed grade 2 or 3 acute on chronic liver failure(ACLF)(90%vs 64%,P=0.02).Patients in the fungal cohort had increased use of vasopressors(96%vs 70%,P=0.04),mechanical ventilation(96%vs 65%,P<0.001),and dialysis due to acute kidney injury(78%vs 52%,P=0.014).On MILU admission,the fungal cohort had significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(108 vs 91,P=0.003),Acute Physiology Score(86 vs 65,P=0.003),and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium scores(86 vs 65,P=0.041).There was no significant difference in the rate of central line use preceding culture(52%vs 40%,P=0.2).Patients with fungal infection had higher rate of transplant hold placement,and lower rates of transplant;however,differences did not achieve statistical significance.CONCLUSION Mortality was worse among patients with fungal infections,likely attributable to severe ACLF development.Prospective studies examining empiric antifungals in severe ACLF and associations between fungal infections and transplant outcomes are critical.

Bacterial Cellulose/Zwitterionic Dual-network Porous Gel Polymer Electrolytes with High Ionic Conductivity

Bacterial cellulose(BC)was innovatively combined with zwitterionic copolymer acrylamide and sulfobetaine methacrylic acid ester[P(AM-co-SBMA)]to build a dual-network porous structure gel polymer electrolytes(GPEs)with high ionic conductivity.The dual network structure BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)gels were formed by a simple one-step polymerization method.The results show that ionic conductivity of BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)GPEs at the room temperature are 3.2×10^(-2) S/cm@1 M H_(2)SO_(4),4.5×10^(-2) S/cm@4 M KOH,and 3.6×10^(-2) S/cm@1 M NaCl,respectively.Using active carbon(AC)as the electrodes,BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)GPEs as both separator and electrolyte matrix,and 4 M KOH as the electrolyte,a symmetric solid supercapacitors(SSC)(AC-GPE-KOH)was assembled and testified.The specific capacitance of AC electrode is 173 F/g and remains 95.0%of the initial value after 5000 cycles and 86.2%after 10,000 cycles.

Response of Bacterial Community and Enzyme Activity of Greenhouse Tomato under Different Irrigation Systems

The micro-sprinkler irrigation mulched(MSM)has been suggested as a novel water-saving approach in con-trolled environment agriculture.However,the effects of microbial community structure and enzyme activity in the rhizosphere soil on crop growth under MSM remain unclear.This study conducted a randomized experimen-tal design using greenhouse tomatoes to investigate changes in bacterial community structure and enzyme activity in rhizosphere soil under different irrigation frequencies(F)and amounts(I)of MSM.Thefindings revealed that with the increase of F or I,The total count of soil bacteria in tomatoesfirst rose and then fell in terms of Opera-tional Taxonomic Units(OTUs)classification.Compared to other F,the most abundance of nitrogen and phos-phorus metabolism genes and enzyme activities were observed with a 5-day F.Moreover,the diversity of soil bacterial community structure initially rose before eventually declining with the increase of the I.Applying 1.00 Epan(cumulative evaporation of a 20 cm standard pan)under MSM helped boost the abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism functional genes in soil bacteria,ensuring higher enzyme activities related to nitro-gen,carbon,and phosphorus metabolism in the rhizosphere soil of tomatoes.Tomatoes’yield initially rose before eventually declining with the increase in F or I,whereas I had a more significant effect on yield.A 1.00%increase in I yielded a minimum of 39.24%increase in tomato yield.The study showed a positive correlation between soil bacterial community,soil enzyme activity,and greenhouse tomato yield under MSM.Considering the results comprehensively,the combined irrigation mode of F of 5 d and I of 1.00 Epan was recommended for greenhouse tomatoes under MSM.This conclusion provides theoretical support for water-saving practices and yield improve-ment in facility agriculture,especially tomato cultivation.

Oxygen vacancy boosting Fenton reaction in bone scaffold towards fighting bacterial infection

Bacterial infection is a major issue after artificial bone transplantation due to the absence of antibacterial function of bone scaffold,which seriously causes the transplant failure and even amputation in severe cases.In this study,oxygen vacancy(OV)defects Fe-doped Ti O2(OV-FeTiO2)nanoparticles were synthesized by nano TiO2and Fe3O4via high-energy ball milling,which was then incorporated into polycaprolactone/polyglycolic acid(PCLGA)biodegradable polymer matrix to construct composite bone scaffold with good antibacterial activities by selective laser sintering.The results indicated that OV defects were introduced into the core/shell-structured OV-FeTiO2nanoparticles through multiple welding and breaking during the high-energy ball milling,which facilitated the adsorption of hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)in the bacterial infection microenvironment at the bone transplant site.The accumulated H2O2could amplify the Fenton reaction efficiency to induce more hydroxyl radicals(·OH),thereby resulting in more bacterial deaths through·OH-mediated oxidative damage.This antibacterial strategy had more effective broad-spectrum antibacterial properties against Gram-negative Escherichia coli(E.coli)and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus).In addition,the PCLGA/OV-FeTiO2scaffold possessed mechanical properties that match those of human cancellous bone and good biocompatibility including cell attachment,proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.

Improving treatment plan and mental health in children with abdominal infection for broad-spectrum bacterial infections

BACKGROUND Pediatric abdominal infection is a common but serious disease that requires timely and effective treatment.In surgical treatment,accurate diagnosis and rational application of antibiotics are the keys to improving treatment effects.AIM To investigate the effect of broad-spectrum bacterial detection on postoperative antibiotic therapy.METHODS A total of 100 children with abdominal infection who received surgical treatment in our hospital from September 2020 to July 2021 were grouped.The observation group collected blood samples upon admission and sent them for broad-spectrum bacterial infection nucleic acid testing,and collected pus or exudate during the operation for bacterial culture and drug sensitivity testing;the control group only sent bacterial culture and drug sensitivity testing during the operation.RESULTS White blood cell count,C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,3 days after surgery,showed better postoperative index than the control group(P<0.05).The hospital stay in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group.The hospitalization cost in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Early detection of broad-spectrum bacterial infection nucleic acids in pediatric abdominal infections can help identify pathogens sooner and guide the appropriate use of antibiotics,improving treatment outcomes and reducing medical costs to some extent.

Immune response to inactivated bacterial vector carrying the recombinant K39 antigen of Leishmania infantum in mice

Objective:To evaluate the immunological response elicited by an inactivated bacterial vector carrying the K39 antigen of Leishmania infantum,and a purified antigen.Methods:Mice were subjected to the following treatments:(1)Purified recombinant K39(rK39)protein at a 20μg dose with complete Freund’s adjuvant;(2)Inactivated Escherichia coli(BL21 DE3)carrying the K39 protein at an equivalent total protein content of 200μg;(3)Inactivated bacteria lacking the K39 protein;(4)Non-immunized control animals.Serological monitoring was performed.All groups were challenged by intraperitoneal injection of 10^(7) Leishmania infantum promastigotes.After euthanasia,the liver and spleen were collected to analyze the levels of TNF,IFN-γ,IL-12,IL-4,and IL-10.Results:Mice immunized with purified rK39 or the inactivated bacterial vector carrying the K39 antigen of Leishmania infantum showed a long-lasting immune response with high levels of polyclonal antibodies specifically recognizing the recombinant proteins.The IgG1 subclass was the predominant immunoglobulin;however,the induction of IgG2a and the profile of cytokines produced were indicative of the induction of a mixed-type response.Conclusions:The inactivated bacterial vector carrying the K39 antigen,as well as the purified antigen can induce a long-lasting immune response in immunized mice,predominantly favouring a Th2 profile response.

A comparative study for petroleum removal capacities of the bacterial consortia entrapped in sodium alginate,sodium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol),and bushnell haas agar

The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the degradation efficiencies of free and entrapped bacterial consortia(Staphylococcus capitis CP053957.1 and Achromobacter marplatensis MT078618.1)to different polymers such as Sodium Alginate(SA),Sodium Alginate/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)(SA/PVA),and Bushnell Haas Agar(BHA).In addition to SA and SA/PVA,which are cost-effective,non-toxic and have different functional groups,BHA,which is frequently encountered in laboratory-scale studies but has not been used as an entrapment material until now.Based on these,the polymers with different surface morphologies and chemical compositions were analyzed by SEM and FT-IR.While the petroleum removal efficiency was higher with the entrapped bacterial consortia than with the free one,BHA-entrapped bacterial consortium enhanced the petroleum removal more than SA and SA/PVA.Accordingly,the degradation rate of bacterial consortia entrapped with BHA was 2.039 day^(-1),SA/PVA was 1.560,SA was 0.993,the half-life period of BHA-entrapped bacterial consortia is quite low(t_(1/2)=0.339)compared with SA(t_(1/2)=0.444)and SA/PVA(t_(1/2)=0.697).The effects of the four main factors such as:amount of BHA(0.5,1,1.5,2,2.5,3 g),disc size(4,5,6,7,8 mm),inoculum concentration(1,2.5,5,7.5,10 mL),and incubation period on petroleum removal were also investigated.The maximum petroleum removal(94.5%)was obtained at≥2.5 mL of bacterial consortium entrapped in 2 g BHA with a 7 mm disc size at 168 h and the results were also confirmed by statistical analysis.Although a decrease was observed during the reuse of bacterial consortium entrapped in BHA,the petroleum removal was still above 50%at 10th cycle.Based on GC-MS analysis,the removal capacity of BHA-entrapped consortium was over 90%for short-chain n-alkanes and 80%for medium-chain n-alkanes.Overall,the obtained data are expected to provide a potential guideline in cleaning up the large-scale oil pollution in the future.Since there has been no similar study investigating petroleum removal with the bacterial consortia entrapped with BHA,this novel entrapment material can potentially be used in the treatment of petroleum pollution in advanced remediation studies.

Retrospective study of the incidence, risk factors, treatment outcomes of bacterial infections at uncommon sites in cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND Bacterial infections(BI)negatively affect the natural course of cirrhosis.The most frequent BI are urinary tract infections(UTI),pneumonia,and spontaneousbacterial peritonitis(SBP).AIM To assess the relevance of bacterial infections beyond the commonly recognized types in patients with cirrhosis and to investigate their relationship with other clinical variables.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed patients with cirrhosis and BI treated between 2015 and 2018 at our tertiary care center.BIs were classified as typical and atypical,and clinical as well as laboratory parameters were compared between the two groups.RESULTS In a cohort of 488 patients with cirrhosis,we identified 225 typical BI(95 UTI,73 SBP,72 pulmonary infections)and 74 atypical BIs,predominantly cholangitis and soft tissue infections(21 each),followed by intra-abdominal BIs(n=9),cholecystitis(n=6),head/throat BIs(n=6),osteoarticular BIs(n=5),and endocarditis(n=3).We did not observe differences concerning age,sex,or etiology of cirrhosis in patients with typical vs atypical BI.Atypical BIs were more common in patients with more advanced cirrhosis,as evidenced by Model of End Stage Liver Disease(15.1±7.4 vs 12.9±5.1;P=0.005)and Child-Pugh scores(8.6±2.5 vs 8.0±2;P=0.05).CONCLUSION Atypical BIs in cirrhosis patients exhibit a distinct spectrum and are associated with more advanced stages of the disease.Hence,the work-up of cirrhosis patients with suspected BI requires detailed work-up to elucidate whether typical BI can be identified.

Infantile bacterial meningitis combined with sepsis caused by Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus:A case report

BACKGROUND Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus(SGSP)is a rare pathogen responsible for infant sepsis and meningitis and is potentially overlooked because it is not included in routine group B streptococcal screenings.Hence,we present a case of SGSP-induced infant meningitis and sepsis,accompanied by bronchopneumonia induced by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),providing insights into the identification,management,and prognosis of this bacterial infection.CASE SUMMARY A 45-day-old female infant presented with two episodes of high fever(maximum temperature:39.5°C)and two generalized grand mal seizure episodes that lasted over ten seconds and self-resolved without concomitant symptoms.Postadmission,the patient’s C-reactive protein level was 40.73 mg/L,white blood cell count was 13.42×10^(9)/L,neutrophil ratio was 78.4%,procalcitonin level was 7.89μg/L,cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)white cell count was 36×10^(6)/L,multinucleated cell ratio was 95.2%,and protein concentration was 0.41 g/L.Blood and CSF culture revealed that the pathogen was SGSP.The bacterium was sensitive to ampicillin,furazolidone,penicillin,lincomycin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,vancomycin,and levofloxacin but resistant to clindamycin and tetracycline.Sputum culture revealed the presence of MRSA,which was sensitive to vancomycin.The patient was diagnosed with meningitis and sepsis caused by SGSP,accompanied by bronchopneumonia induced by MRSA.Ceftriaxone(100 mg/kg/d)combined with vancomycin(10 mg/kg/dose,q6h)was given as an anti-infective treatment postadmission.After 12 days of treatment,the infant was discharged from the hospital with normal CSF,blood culture,and routine blood test results,and no complications,such as subdural effusion,were observed on cranial computed tomography.No growth retardation or neurological sequelae occurred during follow-up.CONCLUSION SGPSP-induced infant bacterial meningitis and sepsis should be treated with prompt blood and CSF cultures,and a sensitive antibiotic therapy to ensure a favorable prognosis.

Oils with different degree of saturation:effects on ileal digestibility of fat and corresponding additivity and bacterial community in growing pigs

Background Oils are important sources of energy in pig diets.The combination of oils with different degree of saturation contributes to improve the utilization efficiency of the mixed oils and may reduce the cost of oil supplemented.An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of oils with different degree of saturation on the fat digestibility and corresponding additivity and bacterial community in growing pigs.Methods Eighteen crossbred(Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)barrows(initial body weight:29.3±2.8 kg)were surgically fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum.The experimental diets included a fat-free basal diet and 5 oil-added diets.The 5 oil-added diets were formulated by adding 6%oil with different ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids(U:S)to the basal diet.The 5 oils were palm oil(U:S=1.2),canola oil(U:S=12.0),and palm oil and canola oil were mixed in different proportions to prepare a combination of U:S of 2.5,3.5 and 4.5,respectively.Results The apparent and standardized ileal digestibility(AID and SID)of fat and fatty acids increased linearly(P<0.05)as the U:S of dietary oils increased except for SID of fat and C18:2.The AID and SID of fat and fatty acids differed among the dietary treatments(P<0.05)except for SID of unsaturated fatty acids(UFA)and C18:2.Fitted one-slope broken-line analyses for the SID of fat,saturated fatty acids(SFA)and UFA indicated that the breakpoint for U:S of oil was 4.14(R^(2)=0.89,P<0.01),2.91(R^(2)=0.98,P<0.01)and 3.84(R^(2)=0.85,P<0.01),respectively.The determined SID of fat,C18:1,C18:2 and UFA in the mixtures was not different from the calculated SID of fat,C18:1,C18:2 and UFA.However,the determined SID of C16:0,C18:0 and SFA in the mixtures were greater than the calculated SID values(P<0.05).The abundance of Romboutsia and Turicibacter in pigs fed diet containing palm oil was greater than that in rapeseed oil treatment group,and the two bacteria were negatively correlated with SID of C16:0,C18:0 and SFA(P<0.05).Conclusions The optimal U:S for improving the utilization efficiency of mixed oil was 4.14.The SID of fat and UFA for palm oil and canola oil were additive in growing pigs,whereas the SID of SFA in the mixture of two oils was greater than the sum of the values of pure oils.Differences in fat digestibility caused by oils differing in degree of saturation has a significant impact on bacterial community in the foregut.

Evaluating bacterial contamination and surgical site infection risks in intracorporeal anastomosis: Role of bowel preparation

We recently read the study by Kayano et al on intracorporeal anastomosis(IA)for colon cancer,which assessed bacterial contamination and medium-term onco-logical outcomes and affirmed that IA is analogous to extracorporeal anastomosis in reducing intraperitoneal bacterial risk and achieving similar oncological results.Our commentary addresses gaps,particularly concerning bowel preparation and surgical site infections(SSIs),and highlights the need for comprehensive details on the bowel preparation methods that are currently employed,including mecha-nical bowel preparation,oral antibiotics(OA),their combination,and specific OA types.We emphasize the necessity for further analyses that investigate these me-thods and their correlation with SSI rates,to enhance clinical protocol guidance and optimize surgical outcomes.Such meticulous analyses are essential for refi-ning strategies to effectively mitigate SSI risk in colorectal surgeries.

Development of Spectral Features for Monitoring Rice Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease Using Broad-Band Remote Sensing Systems

As an important rice disease, rice bacterial leaf blight (RBLB, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae), has become widespread in east China in recent years. Significant losses in rice yield occurred as a result ofthe disease’s epidemic, making it imperative to monitor RBLB at a large scale. With the development of remotesensing technology, the broad-band sensors equipped with red-edge channels over multiple spatial resolutionsoffer numerous available data for large-scale monitoring of rice diseases. However, RBLB is characterized by rapiddispersal under suitable conditions, making it difficult to track the disease at a regional scale with a single sensorin practice. Therefore, it is necessary to identify or construct features that are effective across different sensors formonitoring RBLB. To achieve this goal, the spectral response of RBLB was first analyzed based on the canopyhyperspectral data. Using the relative spectral response (RSR) functions of four representative satellite or UAVsensors (i.e., Sentinel-2, GF-6, Planet, and Rededge-M) and the hyperspectral data, the corresponding broad-bandspectral data was simulated. According to a thorough band combination and sensitivity analysis, two novel spectralindices for monitoring RBLB that can be effective across multiple sensors (i.e., RBBRI and RBBDI) weredeveloped. An optimal feature set that includes the two novel indices and a classical vegetation index was formed.The capability of such a feature set in monitoring RBLB was assessed via FLDA and SVM algorithms. The resultdemonstrated that both constructed novel indices exhibited high sensitivity to the disease across multiple sensors.Meanwhile, the feature set yielded an overall accuracy above 90% for all sensors, which indicates its cross-sensorgenerality in monitoring RBLB. The outcome of this research permits disease monitoring with different remotesensing data over a large scale.

High-throughput screening system of citrus bacterial cankerassociated transcription factors and its application to the regulation of citrus canker resistance

One of the main diseases that adversely impacts the global citrus industry is citrus bacterial canker(CBC),caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas citri subsp.citri(Xcc).Response to CBC is a complex process,with both proteinDNA as well as protein–protein interactions for the regulatory network.To detect such interactions in CBC resistant regulation,a citrus high-throughput screening system with 203 CBC-inducible transcription factors(TFs),were developed.Screening the upstream regulators of target by yeast-one hybrid(Y1H)methods was also performed.A regulatory module of CBC resistance was identified based on this system.One TF(CsDOF5.8)was explored due to its interactions with the 1-kb promoter fragment of CsPrx25,a resistant gene of CBC involved in reactive oxygen species(ROS)homeostasis regulation.Electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA),dual-LUC assays,as well as transient overexpression of CsDOF5.8,further validated the interactions and transcriptional regulation.The CsDOF5.8–CsPrx25 promoter interaction revealed a complex pathway that governs the regulation of CBC resistance via H2O2homeostasis.The high-throughput Y1H/Y2H screening system could be an efficient tool for studying regulatory pathways or network of CBC resistance regulation.In addition,it could highlight the potential of these candidate genes as targets for efforts to breed CBC-resistant citrus varieties.

Evaluating the accuracy and reproducibility of ChatGPT-4 in answering patient questions related to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

BACKGROUND Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)poses diagnostic and treatment challenges due to its complex management and evolving guidelines.Patients often seek online information related to their health,prompting interest in large language models,like GPT-4,as potential sources of patient education.AIM To investigate ChatGPT-4's accuracy and reproducibility in responding to patient questions related to SIBO.METHODS A total of 27 patient questions related to SIBO were curated from professional societies,Facebook groups,and Reddit threads.Each question was entered into GPT-4 twice on separate days to examine reproducibility of accuracy on separate occasions.GPT-4 generated responses were independently evaluated for accuracy and reproducibility by two motility fellowship-trained gastroenterologists.A third senior fellowship-trained gastroenterologist resolved disagreements.Accuracy of responses were graded using the scale:(1)Comprehensive;(2)Correct but inadequate;(3)Some correct and some incorrect;or(4)Completely incorrect.Two responses were generated for every question to evaluate reproducibility in accuracy.RESULTS In evaluating GPT-4's effectiveness at answering SIBO-related questions,it provided responses with correct information to 18/27(66.7%)of questions,with 16/27(59.3%)of responses graded as comprehensive and 2/27(7.4%)responses graded as correct but inadequate.The model provided responses with incorrect information to 9/27(33.3%)of questions,with 4/27(14.8%)of responses graded as completely incorrect and 5/27(18.5%)of responses graded as mixed correct and incorrect data.Accuracy varied by question category,with questions related to“basic knowledge”achieving the highest proportion of comprehensive responses(90%)and no incorrect responses.On the other hand,the“treatment”related questions yielded the lowest proportion of comprehensive responses(33.3%)and highest percent of completely incorrect responses(33.3%).A total of 77.8%of questions yielded reproducible responses.CONCLUSION Though GPT-4 shows promise as a supplementary tool for SIBO-related patient education,the model requires further refinement and validation in subsequent iterations prior to its integration into patient care.

Inclusion of peanut in wheat–maize rotation increases wheat yield and net return and improves soil organic carbon pool by optimizing bacterial community

Improving soil quality while achieving higher productivity is the major challenge in the agricultural industry. Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)–maize(Zea mays L.)(W–M) rotation is the dominant planting pattern in the Huang-HuaiHai Plain and is important for food security in China. However, the soil quality is deteriorating due to the W–M rotation’s long-term, intensive, and continuous cultivation. Introducing legumes into the W–M rotation system may be an effective way to improve soil quality. In this study, we aimed to verify this hypothesis by exploring efficient planting systems(wheat–peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)(W–P) rotation and wheat rotated with maize and peanut intercropping(W–M/P)) to achieve higher agricultural production in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Using traditional W–M rotation as the control, we evaluated crop productivity, net returns, soil microorganisms(SMs), and soil organic carbon(SOC) fractions for three consecutive years. The results indicated that wheat yields were significantly increased under W–P and W–M/P(382.5–579.0 and 179.8–513.1 kg ha-1, respectively) compared with W–M. W–P and W–M/P provided significantly higher net returns(58.2 and 70.4%, respectively) than W–M. W–M/P and W–M retained the SOC stock more efficiently than W–P, increasing by 25.46–31.03 and 14.47–27.64%, respectively, in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Compared with W–M, W–M/P improved labile carbon fractions;the sensitivity index of potentially mineralizable carbon, microbial biomass carbon(MBC), and dissolved organic carbon was 31.5, 96.5–157.2, and 17.8% in 20–40, 10–40, and 10–20 cm soil layers, respectively. The bacterial community composition and bacteria function were altered as per the soil depth and planting pattern. W–M/P and W–M exhibited similar bacterial community composition and function in 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers. Compared with W–P, a higher abundance of functional genes, namely, contains mobile elements and stress-tolerant, and a lower abundance of genes, namely,potentially pathogenic, were observed in the 10–20 cm soil layer of W–M and the 0–20 cm soil layer of W–M/P. SOC and MBC were the main factors affecting soil bacterial communities, positively correlated with Sphingomonadales and Gemmatimonadales and negatively correlated with Blastocatellales. Organic input was the main factor affecting SOC and SMs, which exhibited feedback effects on crop productivity. In summary, W–M/P improved productivity, net returns, and SOC pool compared with traditional W–M rotation systems, and it is recommended that plant–soil–microbial interactions be considered while designing high-yield cropping systems.

Impact of multidrug resistance on the management of bacterial infections in cirrhosis

Patients with cirrhosis have an increased risk of infection and differently from other complications,that over the years are improving in their outcomes,infections in cirrhotic patients are still a major cause of hospitalization and death(up to 50%in-hospital mortality).Infections by multidrug-resistant organisms(MDRO)have become a major challenge in the management of cirrhotic patients with significant prognostic and cost-related impact.About one third of cirrhotic patients with bacterial infections is infected with MDR bacteria and their prevalence has increased in recent years.MDR infections have a worse prognosis compared to infections by non-resistant bacteria because they are associated with lower rate of infection resolution.An adequate management of cirrhotic patients with infections caused by MDR bacteria depends on the knowledge of some epidemiological aspects,such as the type of infection(spontaneous bacterial peritonitis,pneumonia,urinary tract infection and spontaneous bacteremia),bacteriological profile of antibiotic resistance at each health care unit and site of infection acquisition(community acquired,healthcare associated or nosocomial).Furthermore,regional variations in the prevalence of MDR infections determine that the choice of empirical antibiotic therapy must be adapted to the local microbiological epidemiology.Antibiotic treatment is the most effective measure to treat infections caused by MDRO.Therefore,optimizing antibiotic prescribing is critical to effectively treat these infections.Identification of risk factors for multidrug resistance is essential to define the best antibiotic treatment strategy in each case and the choice of an effective empirical antibiotic therapy and its early administration is cardinal to reduce mortality.On the other hand,the supply of new agents to treat these infections is very limited.Thus,specific protocols that include preventive measures must be implemented in order to limit the negative impact of this severe complication in cirrhotic patients.

Spontaneous bacterial and fungal peritonitis in patients with liver cirrhosis: A literature review

Spontaneous bacterial(SBP) and spontaneous fungal peritonitis(SFP) can be a life-threatening infection in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC) and ascites. One of the possible mechanisms of developing SBP is bacterial translocation. Although the number of polymorphonuclear cells in the culture of ascitic fluid is diagnostic for SBP, secondary bacterial peritonitis is necessary to exclude. The severity of underlying liver dysfunction is predictive of developing SBP; moreover, renal impairment and infections caused by multidrug-resistant(MDR) organism are associated with a fatal prognosis of SBP. SBP is treated by antimicrobials, but initial empirical treatment may not succeed because of the presence of MDR organisms, particularly in nosocomial infections. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for patients with LC at a high risk of developing SBP, gastrointestinal bleeding, or a previous episode of SBP, but the increase in the risk of developing an infection caused by MDR organisms is a serious concern globally. Less is known about SFP in patients with LC, but the severity of underlying liver dysfunction may increase the hospital mortality. SFP mortality has been reported to be higher than that of SBP partially because the difficulty of early differentiation between SFP and SBP induces delayed antifungal therapy for SFP.

Rhizosphere bacterial communities and soil nutrient conditions reveal sexual dimorphism of Populus deltoides

Sexual dimorphism of plants shapes the diff erent morphology and physiology between males and females.However,it is still unclear whether it infl uences belowground ecological processes.In this study,rhizosphere soil of male and female Populus deltoides and bulk soil were collected from an 18-year plantation(male and female trees mix-planted)and grouped into three soil compartments.Soil carbon(C),nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)levels were determined,and soil bacterial communities were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing.The results showed the less total carbon and total organic carbon,the more nutrients(available phosphorus,nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen)available in the rhizosphere soils of female poplars than soils of males.However,α-diversity indices of the rhizosphere bacterial communities under male plants were signifi-cantly higher.Principal component analysis showed that the bacterial communities were signifi cantly diff erent between the male and female soil compartments.Further,the bacterial co-occurrence network in soil under male trees had more nodes and edges than under females.BugBase analysis showed the more functional bacteria taxa related to biofi lm formation and antioxidation under males.The results indicate that soils under male poplars had more diverse and more complex co-occurrence networks of the rhizosphere bacterial community than soils under female trees,implying that male poplars might have better environmental adaptability.The study provides insight into the diff erent soil-microbe interactions of dioecious plants.More details about the infl uencing mechanism of sexual dimorphism on rhizosphere soil bacterial communities need to be further studied.