ALBERT

Description: Background: In cirrhosis, a pathological gut microbiome has been linked with immune dysfunction. A pilot study of probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) in alcoholic cirrhosis demonstrated significant improvement in neutrophil function. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LcS on neutrophil function and significant infection rates in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: 92 cirrhotic patients (Child–Pugh score ≤10) were randomized to receive LcS or placebo, three times daily for six months. Primary end-points were incidence of significant infection and neutrophil function. Secondary end-points were cytokine profile, endotoxin, bacterial DNA positivity, intestinal permeability and quality of life. Results: Rates of infection, decompensation or neutrophil function did not differ between placebo and probiotic groups. LcS significantly reduced plasma monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and, on subgroup analysis, plasma interleukin-1β (alcoholic cirrhosis), interleukin-17a and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (non-alcoholic cirrhosis), compared with placebo. No significant differences in intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation or metabolomic profile were observed. Conclusion: LcS supplementation in patients with early cirrhosis is safe. Although no significant infections were observed in either group, LcS improved cytokine profile towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype, an effect which appears to be independent of bacterial translocation.

Description: Oak regeneration failures have been causing a slow decline in the occurrence of oak forest ecosystems in eastern North America. Accordingly, our study sought to determine a means of creating more vigorous and competitive oak seedlings by the addition of manganese (Mn) fertilizers. Seeds of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), one of oak’s major competitors in North America oak forest ecosystems, were sown in 0.7 liter pots that contained a growing medium mixture of peat moss, perlite, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:2, and germinated in a greenhouse. Three different chemical compound Mn fertilizer treatments—manganese chloride (0.16 mg L−1 Mn, MnCl2·4H2O), nanoparticle manganese in the form of manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg/L Mn, nanoparticle Mn(OH)2), and manganese hydroxide (0.01 mg L−1 Mn, Mn(OH)2)—and a treatment of Hoagland solution were applied to the planted seed. These treatments were compared to a control consisting of water, and treatments were applied twice a week over a 12 week period. Germination rates and seedling growth were measured over this period of time. At the end of 12 weeks seedlings were harvested, separated into roots, stem, and foliage for the purpose of biomass and nutrient analysis by seedling component. Northern red oak displayed a 100% germination success rate with MnCl2·4H2O and Mn(OH)2 treatments, while red maple germination was reduced with the MnCl2·4H2O and nanoparticle Mn(OH)2 treatments with only a 32% and 24% germination rate, respectively. The MnCl2·4H2O treatment produced the largest overall seedling size (basal diameter squared times the seedling height) of red maple with a 191.6% increase; however, the MnCl2·4H2O treatment produced the largest overall seedling size (basal diameter squared times the seedling height) of northern red oak and chestnut oak with an increase of 503.7% and 339.5%, respectively. The greatest increase in overall seedling size for northern red oak was with the Mn(OH)2 treatment at 507.2%, and 601.2% for chestnut oak with the nanoparticle Mn(OH)2 treatment. MnCl2·4H2O treatment significantly increased the oak foliar nitrogen (N) content. It appears that the application of Mn fertilizer can increase the germination and growth of these oak species while suppressing or having a lesser effect on red maple, thus creating a competitive advantage for oak over its competitor.

Description: A wildfire occurred in Shawnee State Forest located in southern Ohio that consumed 1215 hectares. Based on earlier forest inventories it was known that paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa), a non-native invasive tree species, occurred in the forest. The objective of this study was to determine if paulownia heavily colonized areas two years after the fire where the burn occurred, and if its presence had a negative impact on the regeneration (