Human Lymphadenopathy Caused by Ratborne Bartonella,Tbilisi, Georgia

Lymphadenopathy and fever that developed in a woman in Tbilisi, Georgia, most likely were caused by a ratborne Bartonella strain related B. tribocorum and B. elizabethae. The finding suggests that this Bartonella strain could be spread by infected rats and represents a potential human risk.     

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) parameters associated with euploidy rates in donor oocytes

Although oocyte donors are young and are expected to provide a high rate of euploid oocytes, significant differences of euploidy rates for donor embryos exist between different IVF centers (1). Laboratory conditions can lead to differences of euploidy (2,3,4,5,6,7); but, the role of COH has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated whether euploidy rates in the embryos created from donor oocytes are influenced by controlled ovarian hyperstimulation parameters used during assisted reproduction. Euploidy rates in egg donor cycles undergoing PGT-A (N = 423) were examined retrospectively for associations with donor age, gonadotropin doses (dose per day), the fraction of gonadotropin provided by hMG (F(hMG)), days of stimulation, estradiol per mature oocyte on day of trigger, number of mature oocytes retrieved, number of embryos biopsied, incidence of euploidy and physician of record. Differences in euploidy rates between physicians were examined using analysis of variance. The proportion of euploid embryos per donor cycle was examined for associations with COH parameters using pairwise post-hoc comparisons, adjusting for multiple testing. The set of variables from this analysis was then submitted to a principal component analysis. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationships between stimulation parameters and the incidence of euploidy (the dependent variable). Euploidy rates and cycle parameters varied significantly among treating physicians. Euploidy rates (expressed as a fraction of biopsied embryos) were associated (p = 0.01) only with the F(hMG) but not with the number of MII retrieved or other variables. On the other hand, the number of euploid embryos (in contrast to the euploidy rate) was associated with the number of MII produced. Donor euploidy rates are significantly associated with the fraction of total gonadotropin comprising human menopausal gonadotropin (or F(hMG)) during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation but are not associated with other cycle parameters. The study provides the first suggestion that patient stimulation parameters can affect the incidence of euploidy in embryos generated through the use of standard assisted reproductive techniques. The study is limited by its retrospective approach and because the aCGH analysis used is less sensitive than more recent NGS technology. Further, it provides a suggestion that the use of hMG is beneficial for obtaining euploid embryos.     

Nightlife and Drug Use in Tbilisi,Georgia: Results of an Exploratory Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT

Tbilisi is fast becoming a regional hub for electronic dance music. This study describes the use of illicit psychoactive drugs by frequent nightclub visitors in a club setting. We conducted 16 qualitative in-depth interviews with young nightclubbers with a history of drug use in Tbilisi. The majority of respondents had experience with two or more drugs consumed in a club setting, with the most prevalent substances being MDMA/ecstasy, amphetamines, and synthetic cannabinoids. Most respondents had limited information regarding the drugs they consumed. Often this information was provided by dealers or friends and was limited to the name of the drug (but not the substance) and its expected effects. Receiving often unknown substances from unknown people was prevalent. The majority of respondents reported combining psychoactive substances with alcohol, or mixing the use of other substances. Participants by their own account indicated a lack of knowledge about the adverse effects of drugs, as well as an ignorance of overdose signs and response strategies. Study findings may guide future efforts to investigate the prevalence and context of club drug use in the country, to assess health risks associated with it, and to propose strategies to mitigate those risks.     

Class II HLA in Georgia Caucasus Tbilisi Georgians and their Mediterranean ancestry: The Usko Mediterranean languages

Georgia (or Sakartvelo in its own language) is a South Caucasus Mts. country with its easternmost part is enigmatically named Iberia, like the Iberian Peninsula, which may refer to rivers “Kura” and “Ebro” or their valleys respectively. Most of their inhabitants speak Georgian which is included within Dene-Caucasian group and Usko-Mediterranean subgroup of languages. The latter includes Basque, Berber, ancient Iberian-Tartessian, Etruscan, Hittite, Minoan Lineal A and others. In the present paper, HLA class II -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles has been studied and extended haplotypes calculated. Most frequent haplotypes are also of Mediterranean origin (i. e.: (A*02-B*51)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01, (A*02-B*51)-DRB1*13:01-DQB1*06:03, or (A*24-B*35)-DRB1*01:01-DQB1*05:01) and DA genetic distances show that closest world populations to Georgians are Mediterraneans. Georgians also show common extended haplotypes ((A*02-B*51)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01, (A*02-B*13)-DRB1*07:01-DQB1*02:01 and (A*03-B*35)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01) with Svan people, a secluded population in North Georgia mountains. We can conclude that Georgians belong to a very old Mediterranean substratum according to both linguistics (Usko Mediterranean languages) and HLA genetics.