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The term metagenomics refers to the use of sequencing methods to simultaneously identify genomic material from all organisms present in a sample, with the advantage of greater taxonomic resolution than culture or other methods. Applications include pathogen detection and discovery, species characterisation, antimicrobial resistance detection, virulence profiling, and study of the microbiome and microecological factors affecting health. However, metagenomics involves complex and multistep processes and there are important technical and methodological challenges that require careful consideration to support valid inference. We co-ordinated a multidisciplinary, international expert group to establish reporting guidelines that address specimen processing, nucleic acid extraction, sequencing platforms, bioinformatics considerations, quality assurance, limits of detection, power and sample size, confirmatory testing, causality criteria, cost, and ethical issues. The guidance recognises that metagenomics research requires pragmatism and caution in interpretation, and that this field is rapidly evolving.

Objectives The novel dual-target triazaacenaphthylene, gepotidacin, recently showed promising results in its Phase III randomized controlled trial for the treatment of gonorrhoea. We investigated alterations in the gepotidacin GyrA and ParC targets in gonococci by in silico mining of publicly available global genomes (n  = 33 213) and determined gepotidacin MICs in isolates with GyrA A92 alterations combined with other GyrA and/or ParC alterations. Methods We examined gonococcal gyrA and parC alleles available at the European Nucleotide Archive. MICs were determined using the agar dilution method (gepotidacin) or Etest (four antimicrobials). Models of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV were obtained from AlphaFold and used to model gepotidacin in the binding site. Results GyrA A92 alterations were identified in 0.24% of genomes: GyrA A92P/S/V + S91F + D95Y/A/N (0.208%), A92P + S91F (0.024%) and A92P (0.003%), but no A92T (previously associated with gepotidacin resistance) was found. ParC D86 alterations were found in 10.6% of genomes: ParC D86N/G (10.5%), D86N + S87I (0.051%), D86N + S88P (0.012%) and D86G + E91G (0.003%). One isolate had GyrA A92P + ParC D86N alterations, but remained susceptible to gepotidacin (MIC = 0.125 mg/L). No GyrA plus ParC alterations resulted in a gepotidacin MIC > 4 mg/L. Modelling of gepotidacin binding to GyrA A92/A92T/A92P suggested that gepotidacin resistance due to GyrA A92T might be linked to the formation of a new polar contact with DNA. Conclusions In silico mining of 33 213 global gonococcal genomes (isolates from 1928 to 2023) showed that A92 is highly conserved in GyrA, while alterations in D86 of ParC are common. No GyrA plus ParC alterations caused gepotidacin resistance. MIC determination and genomic surveillance of potential antimicrobial resistance determinants are imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is among the most common congenital infections globally. Of 85%–90% cCMV‐infected infants without symptoms at birth, 10%–15% develop sequelae, most commonly sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL); their childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes are less well understood. Embase and MEDLINE were searched for publications from 16th September 2016 to 9th February 2024 to identify studies reporting primary data on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with asymptomatic cCMV (AcCMV), measured using assessment tools or as evaluated by the study investigators, clinicians, educators, or parents. The Newcastle‐Ottawa scale was applied to studies to assess risk of bias. Of 28 studies from 18 mostly high‐income countries, there were 5‐109 children with AcCMV per study and 6/28 had a mean or median age at last follow‐up of ≥5 years. Children with AcCMV had better neurodevelopmental outcomes than children with symptomatic cCMV in 16/19 studies. Of 9/28 studies comparing AcCMV with CMV‐uninfected children, six reported similar outcomes whilst three reported differences limited to measures of full‐scale intelligence and receptive vocabulary among children with AcCMV and SNHL, or more generally in motor impairment. Common limitations of studies for our question were a lack of cCMV‐uninfected controls, heterogeneous definitions of AcCMV, lack of focus on neurodevelopment, selection bias and inadequate follow‐up. There was little evidence of children with AcCMV having worse neurodevelopmental outcomes than CMV‐uninfected children, but this conclusion is limited by study characteristics and quality; findings highlight the need for well‐designed and standardised approaches to investigate long‐term sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global concern and affects all classes of antimicrobial drugs used for treatment. Penicillin, ciprofloxacin, and cefixime were the recommended first-line antimicrobial drug [...]

Research demonstrates that children exposed to domestic violence experience a myriad of internalising and externalising symptoms. The current study examines this pathway within a Cambodian sample, specifically determining if the effect of witnessing domestic violence on the child's tendency to bully or to be bullied is mediated by symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, a revised version of a 12-item bullying and victimisation questionnaire, and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale were administered to 206 high school students in Phnom Penh. A significant mediational effect of PTSD symptoms was found for victimisation (being bullied); no such mediational model was supported for bullying as the outcome variable. However, controlling for emotional, physical, and sexual child abuse resulted in the mediation effect being non-significant. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

This study examined the relationship among projective drawings and mental health symptomatology to determine if projective drawings provide clinical utility in pet bereavement. Projective drawings, standardized questionnaires, and clinical interview results were collected from 33 adults grieving the loss of a pet. Drawings were coded into a psychosocial adjustment score based on formal artistic elements, specific indicators (e.g., placement of figure), subject portrayal, and use of space. Results showed that those with greater severity of grief and/or somatization displayed poorer psychosocial adjustment. In conjunction with behavioral observations and verbal reflections, projective drawings add clinical utility by introducing a nonverbal form of expression helpful in understanding the severity of grief and in opening up shared communication with those experiencing loss.

Historically, shigellosis is an infection associated with travel to countries in which this infection is endemic. In England in 2009, Shigellaflexneri 3a infections dramatically increased among men who have sex [...]

The authors investigated the importance of dreams of the deceased in the experiencing of prolonged grief (PG) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Cambodian refugees who survived the Pol Pot genocide (1975-1979). Such dreams were frequent in the last month (52% of those surveyed), and most often involved a relative who died in the Pol Pot period. Past month frequency was correlated with PG severity ("r" = 0.59) and PTSD severity ("r" = 0.52). The dreams were almost always deeply upsetting because the dreams indicated the deceased to be in a difficult spiritual state. Dreams of the deceased as a central component of PG and PTSD among Cambodian refugees is discussed. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.)

The present study examined the effects of attachment style and continuing bonds, defined as the extent to which a bereaved individual feels that the deceased remains a part of his/her life, on post bereavement adjustment among 71 conjugally bereaved individuals. It was shown that bereaved individuals with an anxious attachment style tended to show more externalized continuing bonds as well as more grief symptoms. An anxious attachment style played a direct and significant role in post bereavement adjustment over and above the contribution of externalized continuing bonds. Interventions to facilitate restoration tasks and to reduce externalized continuing bonds would be discussed. (Contains 5 tables.)

Government controls over intimate relationships, imposed to limit the spread of Sars-CoV-2, were unprecedented in modern times. This study draws on data from qualitative interviews with 18 participants in Natsal-COVID, a quasi-representative web-panel survey of the British population (n = 6,654 people), reporting that they had sex with someone from outside their household in the preceding four weeks; a period in which contact between households was restricted in the UK. Whilst only 10% of people reported sexual contact outside their household, among single people and those in non-cohabiting relationships, rates were much higher (Natsal-COVID). Our findings show that individuals did not take decisions to meet up with sexual partners lightly. Participants were motivated by needs—for connection, security, intimacy and a sense of normality. People balanced risks—of catching COVID-19, social judgement and punishment for rule-breaking—against other perceived risks, including to their mental health or relationships. We used situated rationality and social action theories of risk to demonstrate that people weighed up risk in socially situated ways and exhibited complex decision-making when deciding not to comply with restrictions. Understanding motivations for non-compliance is crucial to informing future public health messaging which accounts for the needs and circumstances of all population members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]