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1.
Nature and bioprospecting of haloalkaliphilics: a review.
Uma, G, Babu, MM, Prakash, VSG, Nisha, SJ, Citarasu, T
World journal of microbiology & biotechnology. 2020;(5):66
Abstract
The haloalkaliphilics are an important subset of extremophiles that grow in salt [upto 33% (wt/vol) NaCl] and alkaline pH (> 9). They are found in hypersaline environments especially in the brines in arid, coastal and deep sea locations, and in alkaline environments, such as soda soils, lakes and deserts. Some authors have described haloalkaliphilic bacteria as moderate halophilic bacteria, but the molecular and classical studies revealed that they belong to moderately to extremely halophilic bacteria and archaea. Organic solutes, such as glycine, betaine and other amino acid derivatives, sugars such as, sucrose and trehalose, and sugar alcohols present in the haloalkaliphilics help for their osmoadaptation, and also serve as stabilizers. Haloalkalphilics secrete exoenzymes like proteases, amylases, xylanases, cellulases and peroxidases which have potential industrial applications. They also produce bacteriorhodopsin, compatible solutes, pigments, biopolymers, secondary metabolites like biosurfactants, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and exopolysaccharides and antimicrobial/anticancer compounds. They have unique metabolic pathways which can be used to treat industrial pollutants, heavy metals and waste water.
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2.
Traversing the "Omic" landscape of microbial halotolerance for key molecular processes and new insights.
Kumar, S, Paul, D, Bhushan, B, Wakchaure, GC, Meena, KK, Shouche, Y
Critical reviews in microbiology. 2020;(6):631-653
Abstract
Post-2005, the biology of the salt afflicted habitats is predominantly studied employing high throughput "Omic" approaches comprising metagenomics, transcriptomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics. Such "Omic-based" studies have deciphered the unfamiliar details about microbial salt-stress biology. The MAGs (Metagenome-assembled genomes) of uncultured halophilic microbial lineages such as Nanohaloarchaea and haloalkaliphilic members within CPR (Candidate Phyla Radiation) have been reconstructed from diverse hypersaline habitats. The study of MAGs of such uncultured halophilic microbial lineages has unveiled the genomic basis of salt stress tolerance in "yet to culture" microbial lineages. Furthermore, functional metagenomic approaches have been used to decipher the novel genes from uncultured microbes and their possible role in microbial salt-stress tolerance. The present review focuses on the new insights into microbial salt-stress biology gained through different "Omic" approaches. This review also summarizes the key molecular processes that underlie microbial salt-stress response, and their role in microbial salt-stress tolerance has been confirmed at more than one "Omic" levels.
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3.
Chloride as a Beneficial Macronutrient in Higher Plants: New Roles and Regulation.
Colmenero-Flores, JM, Franco-Navarro, JD, Cubero-Font, P, Peinado-Torrubia, P, Rosales, MA
International journal of molecular sciences. 2019;(19)
Abstract
Chloride (Cl-) has traditionally been considered a micronutrient largely excluded by plants due to its ubiquity and abundance in nature, its antagonism with nitrate (NO3-), and its toxicity when accumulated at high concentrations. In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in this regard since Cl- has gone from being considered a harmful ion, accidentally absorbed through NO3- transporters, to being considered a beneficial macronutrient whose transport is finely regulated by plants. As a beneficial macronutrient, Cl- determines increased fresh and dry biomass, greater leaf expansion, increased elongation of leaf and root cells, improved water relations, higher mesophyll diffusion to CO2, and better water- and nitrogen-use efficiency. While optimal growth of plants requires the synchronic supply of both Cl- and NO3- molecules, the NO3-/Cl- plant selectivity varies between species and varieties, and in the same plant it can be modified by environmental cues such as water deficit or salinity. Recently, new genes encoding transporters mediating Cl- influx (ZmNPF6.4 and ZmNPF6.6), Cl- efflux (AtSLAH3 and AtSLAH1), and Cl- compartmentalization (AtDTX33, AtDTX35, AtALMT4, and GsCLC2) have been identified and characterized. These transporters have proven to be highly relevant for nutrition, long-distance transport and compartmentalization of Cl-, as well as for cell turgor regulation and stress tolerance in plants.
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4.
Fungi in salterns.
Chung, D, Kim, H, Choi, HS
Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea). 2019;(9):717-724
Abstract
Salterns are hypersaline extreme environments with unique physicochemical properties such as a salinity gradient. Although the investigation of microbiota in salterns has focused on archaea and bacteria, diverse fungi also thrive in the brine and soil of salterns. Fungi isolated from salterns are represented by black yeasts (Hortaea werneckii, Phaeotheca triangularis, Aureobasidium pullulans, and Trimmatostroma salinum), Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium species. Most studies on saltern-derived fungi gave attention to black yeasts and their physiological characteristics, including growth under various culture conditions. Since then, biochemical and molecular tools have been employed to explore adaptation of these fungi to salt stress. Genome databases of several fungi in salterns are now publicly available and being used to elucidate salt tolerance mechanisms and discover the target genes for agricultural and industrial applications. Notably, the number of enzymes and novel metabolites known to be produced by diverse saltern-derived fungi has increased significantly. Therefore, fungi in salterns are not only interesting and important subjects to study fungal biodiversity and adaptive mechanisms in extreme environments, but also valuable bioresources with potential for biotechnological applications.
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5.
Normal saline for intravenous fluid therapy in critically ill patients.
Zhou, FH, Liu, C, Mao, Z, Ma, PL
Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi. 2018;(1):11-15
Abstract
The efficacy and safety of normal saline (NS) for fluid therapy in critically ill patients remain controversy. In this review, we summarized the evidence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared NS with other solutions in critically ill patients. The results showed that when compared with 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES), NS may reduce the onset of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, there is no significant different in mortality and incidence of AKI when compared with 10% HES, albumin and buffered crystalloid solution. Therefore, it is important to prescribe intravenous fluid for patients according to their individual condition.
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6.
Balanced crystalloids vs 0.9% saline for adult patients undergoing non-renal surgery: A meta-analysis.
Huang, L, Zhou, X, Yu, H
International journal of surgery (London, England). 2018;:1-9
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Fluid maintenance and resuscitation is an important strategy during major surgeries. There has been a debate on the choice of crystalloids over the past decades. 0.9% saline (normal saline) is more likely to cause hyperchloremic acidosis when compared to balanced crystalloids with low chloride content. Meta-analyses comparing these two kinds of crystalloids have been performed in renal transplantations. We aim to compare the safety of balanced crystalloids to normal saline among adult patients undergoing non-renal surgery. METHODS Relevant articles were searched through PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Nine randomized controlled trials (including 871 participants) comparing balanced crystalloids to normal saline on adult patients undergoing non-renal surgery were finally included. Possible effects were calculated using meta-analysis. RESULTS Patients in the normal saline group had significantly lower postoperative pH (MD: 0.05; 95% CI: 0.04-0.06; p < .001; I2 = 82%) and base excess (MD: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.44-2.65; p < .001; I2 = 87%). The postoperative serum chloride level was significantly higher in the normal saline group (MD: -4.79; 95% CI: -8.13∼-1.45; p = .005; I2 = 95%). CONCLUSION Comparing to normal saline, balanced crystalloids are more beneficial in keeping postoperative electrolytes and acid-base balance among adult patients undergoing non-renal surgery. Future researches should pay more attention to meaningful clinical outcomes concerning the safety of balanced crystalloids and normal saline.
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7.
Ringer's lactate versus normal saline in acute pancreatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Iqbal, U, Anwar, H, Scribani, M
Journal of digestive diseases. 2018;(6):335-341
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Aggressive i.v. hydration with crystalloids is the first step in managing acute pancreatitis (AP) and is associated with improved survival. Guidelines about the choice of crystalloids to use are unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to discern whether the choice of fluids in managing pancreatitis was associated with patients' outcomes. METHODS A comprehensive literature review was conducted by searching the Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed and Google Scholar databases to December 2017 to identify all studies that compared normal saline (NS) with Ringer's lactate (RL) for managing AP. The characteristics of the participants, outcome measurements (including mortality, the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome [SIRS] on admission and at 24 h, and pancreatic necrosis) were analyzed. RESULTS Five studies (three randomized controlled trials and two retrospective cohort studies) with 428 patients were included in this analysis. Mortality trended lower in the RL group but this was not statistically significant (pooled odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.28-1.29, P = 0.20). Patients in the RL group had significantly decreased odds of developing SIRS at 24 h (pooled OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15-0.98, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS RL has anti-inflammatory effects and is associated with decreased odds of persistent SIRS at 24 h, which is a marker of severe disease in AP patients. Although mortality trended lower in the RL group this did not achieve statistical significance and hence larger randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate this association.
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8.
Operative utility of salt-stable proteases of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria in the biotechnology sector.
Mokashe, N, Chaudhari, B, Patil, U
International journal of biological macromolecules. 2018;:493-522
Abstract
Proteases are universal in existence in all organisms and are needed for metabolic activities of the cell. Also, proteases are the paramount hydrolytic enzymes widely used in industrial sector accounting ~65% of the aggregate worldwide enzyme market. The market revenue of global protease sale is estimated to be $ 2.21 billion by 2021. Currently, a widening expectation of biotechnology sector necessitates the availability of robust protease with industrially suitable operative features. The commercially-compatible protease should show stability and altered specificity in organic solvents, and be economically as well as ecologically sustainable. The proteolytic halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms are a novel source of salt-stable proteases. Beside stable in the presence of significant amount of salt, the halo-proteases could occasionally display the polyextremophilic attributes like tolerance to alkaline pH, high temperature, and organic solvent tolerance etc. This review describes - halophilic/halotolerant proteolytic microorganisms as source of salt-stable protease, mechanisms of high salt tolerance, various physical and nutritional parameters affecting the protease production, purification strategies for protease, characteristics of salt-stable proteases, and commercial significance of salt-stable proteases. The study revises the current status of the research on salt-stable proteases obtained from extremophile with their operative utility in the biotechnology field.
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9.
Ileocolic intussusception: Predicting the probability of success of ultrasound guided saline enema from clinical and sonographic data.
Gondek, AS, Riaza, L, Cuadras, D, Castellarnau, XT, Krauel, L
Journal of pediatric surgery. 2018;(4):599-604
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE To identify factors that dim the efficacy of ultrasound guided saline enema (USGSE) and to design a mathematical model for predicting the probability of success of USGSE. METHODS Retrospective review of patients admitted with the diagnosis of ileocolic intussusception from 2009 to 2014. Demographics, clinical and sonographic data were reviewed. RESULTS 116 first episodes of ileocolic intussusceptions. 109 USGSE attempts were analyzed. Composite reduction rate was 77%. A significant relationship was found between initial location of the intussusception, free peritoneal fluid (OR=0.329, 95% CI: 0.124-0.875), negative Doppler signal and sonographic signs of intestinal occlusion and unsuccessful USGSE. Initial location beyond the splenic angle was an independent risk factor for USGSE failure (OR=0.053, 95% CI: 0.005-0.534). A predictive model based on onset of symptoms, free peritoneal fluid and intussusception location was a reliable tool for prediction (AUC 0.63, 95% CI: 0.53-0.817). Assuming that a patient with less than 75.3% chance of USGSE success is going to fail, we would identify more than 80.9% of the real failures. CONCLUSIONS This predictive model could be a filter selection for the patients at risk of USGSE failure and therefore candidates to further imaging investigations or referral to a surgical unit. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.
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10.
Where Do the Salt and Water Go? A Case of Profound Hyponatremia.
Portales-Castillo, I, Sterns, RH, Bress, J, Proano, RA
American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation. 2018;(6):885-889
Abstract
Treatment of profound hyponatremia is challenging. Severe symptoms mandate correction by 4 to 6 mEq/L within hours, but with risk factors for osmotic demyelination, daily correction should be <8 mEq/L. With a therapeutic window this narrow, clinicians would like to know how serum sodium (SNa) concentration will respond to their therapy. Based on isotopic measurements, Edelman showed SNa level to be a function of exchangeable sodium and potassium divided by total-body water. Edelman defined this relationship with linear regression yielding an equation of the form y = mx + b, where y is SNa level, x is exchangeable sodium and potassium divided by total-body water, m is the slope, and b is the intercept. Edelman said that the intercept of his regression "probably is a measure of the quantity of osmotically inactive exchangeable sodium and potassium per unit of body water." Predictive formulas are derived from Edelman's original linear regression, some including and some omitting the regression's intercept. We illustrate the performance and limitations of these formulas using comprehensive data for electrolyte and fluid balance obtained during the treatment of a critically patient who presented with an SNa concentration of 101 mEq/L.