J Infect Dis 2017 Sep;216(6):678-687

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, and Houston Methodist Hospital.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a respiratory virus detected in ≥9% of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, in whom it can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Given the lack of effective antivirals, we investigated the potential for immunotherapeutic intervention, using adoptively transferred T cells. Thus, we characterized the cellular immune response to the virus and identified F, N, M2-1, M, and P as immunodominant target antigens. Read More

J Intensive Care Med 2017 Jan 1:885066617732291. Epub 2017 Jan 1.

1 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: Arterial blood pressure is the most common variable used to assess the response to a fluid challenge in routine clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the change in the radial artery pulse pressure (rPP) to detect the change in cardiac output after a fluid challenge in patients with septic shock.

Methods: Prospective observational study including 35 patients with septic shock in which rPP and cardiac output were measured before and after a fluid challenge with 400 mL of crystalloid solution. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2017 Sep;65(6):1020-1025

Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes lower respiratory tract illness frequently. No effective antivirals or vaccines for RSV are approved for use in the United States; however, there are at least 50 vaccines and monoclonal antibody products in development, with those targeting older adults and pregnant women (to protect young infants) in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. Unanswered questions regarding RSV epidemiology need to be identified and addressed prior to RSV vaccine introduction to guide the measurement of impact and future recommendations. Read More

Front Psychol 2017 21;8:1385. Epub 2017 Aug 21.

Department of Education, University of AlmeríaAlmería, Spain.

This paper presents the results from the application of a serious game called Stigma-Stop among a group of high school students with the aim of reducing the stigma toward mental illnesses. The video game features characters with various mental disorders (schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia) and provides information about these problems. Additionally, the game asks players about whether they have ever felt the same as the characters, if they believe the characters are psychologically well, and if they think they could help these individuals. Read More

Dev Dyn 2017 Aug 29. Epub 2017 Aug 29.

Independent researcher, Viña del Mar, Chile.

Background: Many organisms are able to survive in extreme environments by entering a state of dormancy. In dormancy, vital activities are reduced until environmental conditions are compatible with active life. Annual killifishes show a special developmental pattern characterized by a phase of dispersion-reaggregation of the blastomeres that separates epiboly from organogenesis, and the capability to enter dormancy in diapause. Read More

J Parasitol 2017 Aug 7. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

† Laboratorio de Parasitología de Sitios Arqueológicos. FCEyN. UNMdP.

Carnivorous mammals are a trophic guild with an important role in the dissemination of parasite infective stages (larvae, eggs, cysts, and oocysts). In the present study, new samples of coprolites attributed to carnivorous mammals, obtained from two archaeological caves, were analyzed for the presence of parasites, with the aim to increase the knowledge about parasites in rockshelters that could have spread to humans and other mammals. To this purpose, fragments of 3 coprolites from Cerro Casa de Piedra, cave 5 (CCP5) and cave 7 (CCP7) were examined. Read More

Indian Dermatol Online J 2017 Jul-Aug;8(4):279-280

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India.

Hosp Pediatr 2017 Jul 31. Epub 2017 Jul 31.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and.

Objectives: Among children hospitalized for bronchiolitis, we examined temporal trends in the use of hypertonic saline (HTS) and the characteristics associated with receiving this treatment.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 2 large, multicenter prospective cohort studies that included young children hospitalized with bronchiolitis during 5 winter seasons (2008-2014). Our outcome was receipt of HTS any time during the preadmission visit or hospitalization. Read More

PLoS One 2017 28;12(6):e0180623. Epub 2017 Jun 28.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone. Read More

Vaccine 2017 Jun 1;35(30):3749-3759. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

Novavax, Inc., 20 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes significant morbidity and mortality in infants. We are developing an RSV fusion (F) protein nanoparticle vaccine for immunization of third trimester pregnant women to passively protect infants through transfer of RSV-specific maternal antibodies. The present trial was performed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of several formulations of RSV F vaccine in 1-dose or 2-dose schedules. Read More

Acta Ortop Mex 2016 Nov-Dec;30(6):279-283

Hospital Ángeles Pedregal, Periférico Sur Núm. 3707, Col. Héroes de Padierna, Del. Magdalena Contreras, CP 10700 Ciudad de México.

Background: Hip fractures have increased in the last decades, mainly in elderly patients with osteoporosis. The incidence becomes in some countries up to 250 thousand new cases per year, generating millions for health systems costs, so it should be considered a public health problem. They are treated in supine position, with a fracture table, through a lateral approach. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2017 Sep 16;106(9):1512-1518. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.

Aim: Infants hospitalised for bronchiolitis undergo examinations and treatments not supported by current research evidence and we investigated practice variations with regard to Finnish children under the age of two.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre cohort study was conducted in paediatric units in three university hospitals in Finland from 2008 to 2010. Hospital medical records were reviewed to collect data on clinical course, testing and treatment. Read More

Rev Chil Pediatr 2017 Apr;88(2):258-262

Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Infantil de México Dr. Federico Gómez, Ciudad de México, México.

Trichomycosis is a superficial infection caused by Corynebacterium flavescens, which regularly affects axillary, and to a a lesser extent, pubic, scrotal and intergluteal, and exceptionally, head hairs or trichomycosis capitis (TC). This condition is characterised by the formation of bacterial nodules. Clinically, it can be confused with white piedra or pediculosis. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2017 Sep;65(6):967-975

Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Background: LL-37 is a host defense peptide with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. We examined the relation of serum LL-37 levels to the severity of bronchiolitis and viral etiology.

Methods: We performed a 17-center prospective cohort study in infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis over 3 winters (2011-2014). Read More

J Health Popul Nutr 2017 May 22;36(1):19. Epub 2017 May 22.

Departments of Neurology, Global Health and Medicine (Infectious Disease) of University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA, USA.

Background: Adults of the peri-urban Peruvian shantytown of Lomas de Zapallal have a high prevalence of risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD)-likely due to behavioral choices established during childhood and adolescence. To guide the development of community-based risk reduction programs, we assessed the prevalence of risk factors for developing CVD among adolescents.

Methods: We collected cross sectional data from adolescents of Peruvian peri-urban shantytown to evaluate four domains of CVD risk factors: (1) clinical (blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and blood lipids), (2) anthropometric (height, weight, and waist circumference), (3) behavioral (physical activity, diet, and substance abuse), and (4) psychosocial (mental health and violence). Read More

J Infect Dis 2017 Jul;216(2):153-161

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, and Houston Methodist Hospital.

Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals, with no approved therapies. Our group has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of adoptively transferred virus-specific T cells for the prevention and treatment of a broad range of viral infections including BK virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, human herpesvirus 6, and Epstein-Barr virus. However, this approach is restricted to well-characterized viruses with known immunogenic/protective T-cell target antigens, precluding extension to PIV3. Read More

Allergy 2017 Apr 25. Epub 2017 Apr 25.

Department of Dermatology, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.

Background: Adherence to topical corticosteroids (TCS) is essential for the effective treatment of atopic dermatitis but can be limited by concerns about their use. This study examined the feasibility of applying the validated TOPICOP score for assessing TCS phobia across different countries.

Methods: This was a prospective multicentre feasibility study conducted in 21 hospitals in 17 countries. Read More

Nefrologia 2017 Jul - Aug;37(4):389-396. Epub 2017 Apr 14.

Servicio de Nefrología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, España; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD), Madrid, España; Servicio de Nefrología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España. Electronic address:

Parathormone plays a key role in controlling mineral metabolism. PTH is considered a uremic toxin causing cardiovascular damage and cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. There are two different assays to measure PTH called 2nd generation or intact PTH (iPTH) and 3rd generation or bioPTH (PTHbio). Read More

PLoS One 2017 17;12(4):e0175792. Epub 2017 Apr 17.

Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Background: The fusion (F) protein of RSV is the major vaccine target. This protein undergoes a conformational change from pre-fusion to post-fusion. Both conformations share antigenic sites II and IV. Read More

Immun Ageing 2017 12;14. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Novavax, Inc, 20 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 USA.

Background: A preventative strategy for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection constitutes an under-recognized unmet medical need among older adults. Four formulations of a novel recombinant RSV F nanoparticle vaccine (60 or 90 μg RSV F protein, with or without aluminum phosphate adjuvant) administered concurrently with a licensed inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) in older adult subjects were evaluated for safety and immunogenicity in this randomized, observer-blinded study.

Results: A total of 220 healthy males and females ≥ 60 years of age, without symptomatic cardiopulmonary disease, were vaccinated concurrently with TIV and RSV F vaccine or placebo. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2017 Aug;36(8):808-810

From the *Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, Florida; †Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; ‡Departments of Molecular Virology and Microbiology and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; and §Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

In this analysis of a prospective, multicenter study of children hospitalized with bronchiolitis, 925 had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-A and 649 had RSV-B. Overall, bronchiolitis severity did not differ by RSV subtype. However, among children with RSV-only bronchiolitis, those children with RSV-A had higher risk of intensive care treatment (odds ratio, 1. Read More

PLoS One 2017 24;12(3):e0173831. Epub 2017 Mar 24.

Servicio de Nefrología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, España.

Background: The mortality of dialysis patients is 10- to 100-fold higher than in the general population. Baseline serum PTH levels, and more recently, changes in serum PTH levels (ΔPTH) over time, have been associated to mortality in dialysis patients.

Methods: We explored the relationship between ΔPTH over 1 year with mortality over the next year in a prospective cohort of 115 prevalent hemodialysis patients from a single center that had median baseline iPTH levels within guideline recommendations. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2017 Mar 21;18(3). Epub 2017 Mar 21.

Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Roberto del Río, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Profesor Zañartu 1085, Independencia, 8380418 Santiago, Chile.

The clinical impact of viral factors (types and viral loads) during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is still controversial, especially regarding newly described genotypes. In this study, infants with RSV bronchiolitis were recruited to describe the association of these viral factors with severity of infection. RSV antigenic types, genotypes, and viral loads were determined from hospitalized patients at Hospital Roberto del Río, Santiago, Chile. Read More

Gerontologist 2017 Mar 15. Epub 2017 Mar 15.

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Los Angeles, California.

Purpose Of The Study: We examined the prospective effect of an evidence-based exercise intervention (¡Caminemos!) on cognitive function among older Hispanic/Latino adults and the potential synergistic effects (if any) of an attribution-retraining intervention given to a random sample to counter negative ascriptions of the aging process.

Design And Methods: We analyzed baseline and follow-up (1- and 2-year) data collected from Hispanics/Latinos ≥60 years (N = 571) who participated in ¡Caminemos! across 27 senior centers. All participants were randomly assigned to either (a) the treatment group-a 1-hr attribution-retraining session plus a 1-hr exercise class or (b) the control group-health education plus a 1-hr exercise class. Read More

Allergy 2017 Mar 17. Epub 2017 Mar 17.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Emerging evidence suggests that the airway microbiota plays an important role in viral bronchiolitis pathobiology. However, little is known about the combined role of airway microbiota and CCL5 in infants with bronchiolitis. In this multicenter prospective cohort study of 1005 infants (age <1 year) hospitalized for bronchiolitis during 2011-2014, we observed statistically significant interactions between nasopharyngeal airway CCL5 levels and microbiota profiles with regard to the risk of both intensive care use (Pinteraction =. Read More

PLoS One 2017 7;12(3):e0172953. Epub 2017 Mar 7.

Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes significant infant morbidity and mortality. For decades severe RSV-induced disease was thought to result from an uncontrolled host response to viral replication, but recent work suggests that a strong innate immune response early in infection is protective. To shed light on host-virus interactions and the viral determinants of disease, copy numbers of five RSV genes (NS1, NS2, N, G, F) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in nasal wash samples from children with RSV-associated bronchiolitis. Read More

Rev Neurol 2017 Mar;64(5):214-218

Hospital Jose Carrasco Arteaga, Azuay, Ecuador.

Introduction: Rapidly progressive dementias are an infrequent group of diseases characterised by cognitive deterioration and other neurological disorders that develop over a period ranging from weeks to months. Their causation is varied and includes a large number of neurodegenerative, toxic, metabolic, autoimmune, infectious and vascular conditions.

Case Report: We report the case of a 69-year-old male who was admitted to hospital due to a rapidly progressive dementia and parkinsonism caused by multiple dural arteriovenous fistulas, which were successfully treated by means of endovascular therapy. Read More

BMC Evol Biol 2017 Feb 20;17(1):56. Epub 2017 Feb 20.

Université de Bourgogne, Equipe Ecologie Evolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, 6 bd. Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France.

Background: Selective pressure from pathogens is thought to shape the allelic diversity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes in vertebrates. In particular, both local adaptation to pathogens and gene flow are thought to explain a large part of the intraspecific variation observed in MHC allelic diversity. To date, however, evidence that adaptation to locally prevalent pathogens maintains MHC variation is limited to species with limited dispersal and, hence, reduced gene flow. Read More

Transl Oncol 2017 Apr 16;10(2):255-261. Epub 2017 Feb 16.

Bioquímica Investigación, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: The skeleton is the most common site of colonization by metastatic cancers. Zoledronic acid (ZA) has been shown to be effective for the treatment of bone metastases regardless of whether the bone lesions are osteolytic or osteoblastic. Biochemical markers of bone turnover may be useful tools to quantify the degree of bone remodeling in the presence of bone metastases. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017 Jun 5;8(4):466-469. Epub 2017 Feb 5.

Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, TX, USA; Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, TX, USA.

The presence of ticks inside human constructions was evaluated in two localities from Colon province (Charco La Piedra and Espinar) and one from Panama province (Ancon, City of Panama). In two of houses, eight people from Charco La Piedra and one from Ancón reported "insect bites," which produced blisters for several weeks. The investigation resulted in the collection of argasid ticks, which were identified by morphology and sequencing the 16s ribosomal RNA gene, and later evaluated for the presence of relapsing fever Borrelia DNA. Read More

Ambix 2016 Nov 30;63(4):304-325. Epub 2017 Jan 30.

a Independent scholar , Haarlem , The Netherlands.

The Benedictine monk Benito Jerónimo Feijoo (1676-1764) is now considered one of the major figures of the Spanish and Iberian Enlightenment. However his work, both in Spain and in Portugal, was far from being universally acclaimed. His critical approach to the subject of alchemy in his essay "Piedra Filosofal," published in the third volume of his magisterial Teatro Crítico Universal (1726-1739), sparked an unexpected response from the Portuguese alchemist Anselmo Castelo Branco, who sought to refute Feijoo's claims in his own work, the Ennoea. Read More

Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2017 Mar 16;4(2):e324. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (A. Carpio, A. Campoverde, L.G., L.M.P.), Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador; GH Sergievsky Center (A. Carpio), College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (M.L.R.), CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, NY; Hospital del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (L.M.P., N.L.), José Carrasco Arteaga; Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso (M.P., J.A.), Ministerio de Salud Pública; Hospital Santa Inés (S.L.); Clínica Santa Ana (L.C.V.); and Hospital Universitario del Río (A.M.T., P.P.-T.), Cuenca, Ecuador.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the validity of a PCR assay in CSF for the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NC).

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective case-control study, recruiting participants from 5 hospitals in Cuenca, Ecuador, from January 2015 to February 2016. Cases fulfilled validated diagnostic criteria for NC. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2016 Dec 21. Epub 2016 Dec 21.

1Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; 2Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; 3Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; 4Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; 5Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; 6Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; and 7Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE.

Background: Little is known about the relationship of airway microbiota with bronchiolitis in infants. We aimed to identify nasal airway microbiota profiles and to determine their association with the likelihood of bronchiolitis in infants.

Methods: A case-control study. Read More

Nat Commun 2016 Dec 21;7:13916. Epub 2016 Dec 21.

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of infant hospitalization and there remains no pediatric vaccine. RSV live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs) have a history of safe testing in infants; however, achieving an effective balance of attenuation and immunogenicity has proven challenging. Here we seek to engineer an RSV LAV with enhanced immunogenicity. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2017 Apr 12;139(4):1383-1386.e6. Epub 2016 Nov 12.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

J Affect Disord 2017 Jan 24;208:567-576. Epub 2016 Oct 24.

School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

Background: In order to address the needs of the growing Latino immigrant population, this study aimed to systematically review peer-reviewed articles of intervention studies that used cognitive behavioral therapy to treat depressive symptoms among Latino immigrants in the U.S.

Methods: We searched PsycINFO, PubMed, and Medline databases from January 1995 through July 2016 as part of a registered review protocol (PROSPERO) following PRISMA guidelines. Read More

Mol Biol Cell 2016 Nov 4;27(22):3515-3525. Epub 2016 May 4.

Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390

Microtubules are dynamic polymers of αβ-tubulin that have essential roles in chromosome segregation and organization of the cytoplasm. Catastrophe-the switch from growing to shrinking-occurs when a microtubule loses its stabilizing GTP cap. Recent evidence indicates that the nucleotide on the microtubule end controls how tightly an incoming subunit will be bound (trans-acting GTP), but most current models do not incorporate this information. Read More

Eur Respir J 2016 11 6;48(5):1329-1339. Epub 2016 Oct 6.

Dept of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Little is known about the relationship between the specific airway microbiota composition and severity of bronchiolitis. We aimed to identify nasopharyngeal microbiota profiles and link these profiles to acute severity in infants hospitalised for bronchiolitis.We conducted a multicentre prospective cohort study of 1005 infants (age <1 year) hospitalised for bronchiolitis over three winters, 2011-2014. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2017 Jan 25;576:335-346. Epub 2016 Oct 25.

ETSI de Minas de Madrid, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/Ríos Rosas, 21, 28003 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

The Fuente de Piedra lake is a hypersaline wetland of great extension (13.5km(2)) and rich in aquatic birds and other species. It became therefore the third Spanish wetland to be included in the Ramsar convention and has been a "nature reserve" since 1984. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2016 Dec 4;63(12):1564-1573. Epub 2016 Oct 4.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Background:  Circulating A/H3N2 influenza viruses drifted significantly after strain selection for the 2014-2015 vaccines. Also in 2014-2015, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended preferential use of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) over inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) among children aged 2-8 years.

Methods:  Vaccine effectiveness (VE) across age groups and vaccine types was examined among outpatients with acute respiratory illness at 5 US sites using a test-negative design, that compared the odds of vaccination among reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-confirmed influenza positives and negatives. Read More

BMJ Open 2016 Sep 16;6(9):e012060. Epub 2016 Sep 16.

Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.

Introduction: Recent studies suggest that the high mortality rate of respiratory viral infections is a result of an overactive neutrophilic inflammatory response. Macrolides have anti-inflammatory properties, including the ability to downregulate the inflammatory cascade, attenuate excessive cytokine production in viral infections, and may reduce virus-related exacerbations. In this study, we will test the hypothesis that prophylactic macrolides will reduce the severity of respiratory viral illness in children with chronic lung disease by preventing the full activation of the inflammatory cascade. Read More

J Biol Chem 2016 Sep;291(36):18854

Rev Recent Clin Trials 2016 ;11(3):220-6

Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, ZP 14050, Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) can be defined as the hepatic manifestations caused by excessive alcohol intake. ALD comprises a spectrum from simple steatosis to cirrhosis.

Objective: To review diverse clinical and metabolic characteristics and their impact in ALD. Read More

Mycopathologia 2016 Dec 10;181(11-12):909-914. Epub 2016 Aug 10.

Department of Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Yuping Ran. No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.

White piedra is a superficial mycosis characterized by soft, white-to-tan, irregular nodules attached to the hair shafts. A 36-year-old man presented with small lumps in his pubic hair, without any other symptoms. The clinical features were suggestive of trichobacteriosis. Read More

JAAD Case Rep 2016 May 14;2(3):275-7. Epub 2016 Jul 14.

Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nutr J 2016 Aug 2;15(1):72. Epub 2016 Aug 2.

Translational Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150 Toriello Guerra, Tlalpan, ZC 14050, Mexico City, Mexico.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by fat deposition in hepatocytes, and a strong association with nutritional factors. Dietary fatty acids are classified according to their biochemical properties, which confer their bioactive roles. Monounsaturated fatty acids have a dual role in various human and murine models. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2016 ;1442:77-91

Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, BCM MS280, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Assays that measure RSV-specific neutralizing antibody activity are very useful for evaluating vaccine candidates, performing seroprevalence studies, and detecting infection. Neutralizing antibody activity is normally measured by a plaque reduction neutralization assay or by a microneutralization assay with or without complement. These assays measure the functional capacity of serum (or other fluids) to neutralize virus infectivity in cells as compared to ELISA assays that only measure the binding capacity against an antigen. Read More

Pediatrics 2016 Jul;138(1)

Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts;

Background: Little is known about the association of gut microbiota, a potentially modifiable factor, with bronchiolitis in infants. We aimed to determine the association of fecal microbiota with bronchiolitis in infants.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study. Read More

Thorax 2016 Aug 23;71(8):712-8. Epub 2016 Jun 23.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Objective: Although bronchiolitis is generally considered a single disease, recent studies suggest heterogeneity. We aimed to identify severe bronchiolitis profiles using a clustering approach.

Methods: We analysed data from two prospective, multicentre cohorts of children younger than 2 years hospitalised with bronchiolitis, one in the USA (2007-2010 winter seasons, n=2207) and one in Finland (2008-2010 winter seasons, n=408). Read More

J Virol 2016 Aug 27;90(16):7508-18. Epub 2016 Jul 27.

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Unlabelled: Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants, a safe and effective vaccine is not yet available. Live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs) are the most advanced vaccine candidates in RSV-naive infants. However, designing an LAV with appropriate attenuation yet sufficient immunogenicity has proven challenging. Read More