Whole genome sequencing to decipher the virulence phenotype of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae responsible for liver abscess,Marseille, France

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - We described three clinical cases of pyogenic liver abscess caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) successfully...     

FISSURE SEALANT IN A NUTSHELL. EVIDENCE-BASED META-EVALUATION OF SEALANTS’ EFFECTIVENESS IN CARIES PREVENTION AND ARREST

ObjectiveThis meta-evaluation aimed to summarize all available evidence regarding different fissure sealants on occlusal caries prevention, arrest, retention rate, adverse effect, and cost-effectiveness; when compared with no intervention, other preventive or minimally-invasive procedures.Materials and MethodsThe systematic reviews and meta-analyses were identified via four electronic databases and manual searching. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction, quality assessment with AMSTAR-2.ResultsAmong the 366 records yielded, 38 systematic reviews were identified as eligible 24 of them included meta-analyses. Moderate evidence has supported the efficacies of resin-based sealants (RBS) in occlusal caries prevention, arrest and cost-effectiveness compared to no interventions. Low to very low certainty of evidence suggested similar effectiveness of glass-ionomer cements in caries prevention with RBS and more superior performance of resin infiltration in arresting non-cavitated occlusal lesions.ConclusionThis meta-evaluation supports the use of RBS on permanent molars to reduce occlusal caries occurrence, arrest lesion progression and alleviate oral health inequalities between individuals of different socioeconomic status. This meta-evaluation also advocates further research on glass-ionomer cements and resin infiltration with respect to their efficacies in caries prevention and arrest.     

A National Study of Outcomes among HIV-Infected Kidney Transplant Recipients

Kidney transplantation is a viable treatment for select patients with HIV and ESRD, but data are lacking regarding long-term outcomes and comparisons with appropriately matched HIV-negative patients. We analyzed data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR; 2002–2011): 510 adult kidney transplant recipients with HIV (median follow-up, 3.8 years) matched 1:10 to HIV-negative controls. Compared with HIV-negative controls, HIV-infected recipients had significantly lower 5-year (75.3% versus 69.2%) and 10-year (54.4% versus 49.8%) post-transplant graft survival (GS) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.37; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.15 to 1.64; P<0.001) that persisted when censoring for death (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.84; P=0.005). However, compared with HIV-negative/hepatitis C virus (HCV)–negative controls, HIV monoinfected recipients had similar 5-year and 10-year GS, whereas HIV/HCV coinfected recipients had worse GS (5-year: 64.0% versus 52.0%, P=0.02; 10-year: 36.2% versus 27.0%, P=0.004 [HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.77; P=0.01]). Patient survival (PS) among HIV-infected recipients was 83.5% at 5 years and 51.6% at 10 years and was significantly lower than PS among HIV-negative controls (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.68; P<0.01). However, PS was similar for HIV monoinfected recipients and HIV-negative/HCV-negative controls at both times. HIV/HCV coinfected recipients had worse PS compared with HIV-negative/HCV-infected controls (5-year: 67.0% versus 78.6%, P=0.007; 10-year: 29.3% versus 56.23%, P=0.002 [HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.11 to 2.22; P=0.01]). In conclusion, HIV-negative and HIV monoinfected kidney transplant recipients had similar GS and PS, whereas HIV/HCV coinfected recipients had worse outcomes. Although encouraging, these results suggest caution in transplanting coinfected patients.     

Likely Introduction Date of Schmallenberg Virus into France According to Monthly Serological Surveys in Cattle

To estimate the date of introduction of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) into France, the prevalence of antibodies against the virus was determined monthly in cattle from two northern departments from August 2011 to April 2012. Seropositive cattle were detected from October 2011 in both departments with a prevalence of 55.6% in the westernmost department (Meurthe‐et‐Moselle) and of 12.7% in the easternmost department (Manche). Schmallenberg virus seroprevalence then increased rapidly to high levels.     

Significant linkage disequilibrium and high genetic diversity in a population of Plasmodium falciparum from an area (Republic of the Congo) highly endemic for malaria

A study based on 28 microsatellite loci was performed on 32 isolates of Plasmodium falciparum from Pointe Noire (Republic of the Congo) and compared with a cosmopolitan sample of 21 isolates collected from different countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The Pointe Noire population exhibited very high genetic diversity (A = 7.8 +/- 2.6, He = 0.79 +/- 0.11). Significant linkage disequilibria were observed in 28 of 378 pairs of microsatellite loci. This result could be explained by two non-exclusive hypotheses: 1) uniparental propagation (i.e., selfing), leading to non-panmictic associations, and/or 2) a Wahlund effect (i.e., spatial population genetic heterogeneity). These observations are in agreement with data previously obtained from isozyme loci of the same isolates, but contrast with other population genetic analyses conducted in other hyperendemic zones.     

Effects of high-intensity exercise on leptin and testosterone concentrations in well-trained males

Objective: A number of investigations have examined the effect of exercise on leptin concentrations, because leptin is associated with obesity, satiety, and reproductive function. High-intensity exercise is known to increase testosterone, an inhibitor of leptin. The objective of the study was to determine whether the leptin responses to a progressive, intermittent exercise protocol were related to serum testosterone concentrations. Most previous studies have examined leptin responses to low or moderately high exercise intensities. A second objective was to determine whether leptin responses were different than previous experiments using intermittent moderate and high-intensity exercise. Methods: Well-trained runners completed strenuous intermittent exercise consisting of treadmill running at 60, 75, 90, and 100% VO _2max and a subsequent resting control trial was also conducted. Results: There were significant increases in mean serum levels of leptin and testosterone with both quickly returning to baseline during recovery, but no relationship between the two hormones was found. After examining individual data for both hormones, it was discovered that subjects could be classified as leptin responders or nonresponders, whereas testosterone increased in all subjects. Responders had elevated serum leptin levels at baseline and exhibited increases after high-intensity exercise, whereas nonresponders did not show changes in leptin during exercise. Conclusions: Data suggest testosterone levels do not acutely affect leptin responses to exercise or 1-h of recovery. Moreover, varied leptin responses to intense exercise in comparable well-trained runners was observed and was associated with baseline leptin concentrations.     

Which type of sedentary behaviour intervention is more effective at reducing body mass index in children? A meta‐analytic review

Sedentary behaviour is emerging as an independent risk factor for paediatric obesity. Some evidence suggests that limiting sedentary behaviour alone could be effective in reducing body mass index (BMI) in children. However, whether adding physical activity and diet‐focused components to sedentary behaviour reduction interventions could lead to an additive effect is unclear. This meta‐analysis aims to assess the overall effect size of sedentary behaviour interventions on BMI reduction and to compare whether interventions that have multiple components (sedentary behaviour, physical activity and diet) have a higher mean effect size than interventions with single (sedentary behaviour) component. Included studies (n = 25) were randomized controlled trials of children (<18 years) with intervention components aimed to reduce sedentary behaviour and measured BMI at pre‐ and post‐intervention. Effect size was calculated as the mean difference in BMI change between children in an intervention group and a control group. Results indicated that sedentary behaviour interventions had a significant effect on BMI reduction. The pooled effect sizes of multi‐component interventions (g = ?0.060～?0.089) did not differ from the single‐component interventions (g = ?0.154), and neither of them had a significant effect size on its own. Future paediatric obesity interventions may consider focusing on developing strategies to decrease multiple screen‐related sedentary behaviours.