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The recommendations of the Immunization and Vaccines-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC) are based on discussions during a virtual meeting of IVIR-AC on 26 February-1 March 2024. (1) Four sessions [...]

Lyme disease, caused by infection with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common vectorborne illness in the United States and is steadily affecting an expanding area of the country [...]

Before the Omicron variant emerged, 6 months of age have been recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccines in Japan, where mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, https://www.pfizer.com; Moderna, https://www. modernatx.com) are predominantly used. Seroepidemiologic [...]

In July 2018, after 60 years of endemic circulation in European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), myxoma virus (MYXV) jumped to the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) (1). This species jump resulted [...]

Infection caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) have caused major economic losses in the poultry industry and pose a serious threat to public health. The A/goose/ Guangdong/1/1996 (gs/GD) [...]

The zoonotic hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum infects canids, felids, and humans in tropical regions of the world (2,2). Heavy infections may cause iron-deficiency anemia and bloody diarrhea as a result of [...]

In 1926, A.C. Chandler described "a new schistosome infection of man" based on the presence of distinctive terminal spined schistosome eggs from 2 human fecal samples collected in Krishnanagar, West [...]

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus [GBS]) is a major pathogen of humans, cattle, aquatic species, and camels (2-4). GBS has been detected in pork but has not been associated with [...]

From early 2013 through October 2017, a total of 5 outbreaks of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection occurred, resulting in 616 human deaths (1). In particular, the fifth wave of [...]

Medscape CME Activity In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Medscape, LLC and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Medscape, LLC is jointly accredited with commendation [...]

Recognizing the key role early detection plays in interrupting further tuberculosis (TB) transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the need for global investment in that area. In line [...]

Scedosporium spp. and Lomentospora prolificans are non-Aspergillus filamentous fungi causing increasingly recognized invasive fungal disease (IFD) in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients (2,2). Scedosporium spp. comprise S. apiospermum complex species, [...]

Human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) is a major cause of acute respiratory tract infections, such as croup in children and pneumonia in immunocompromised patients (1). HPIV is a single-stranded, enveloped RNA [...]

Objective To determine whether adding urine culture to urinary tract infection diagnosis in pregnant women from refugee camps in Lebanon reduced unnecessary antibiotic use. Methods We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study between April and June 2022 involving pregnant women attending a Medecins Sans Frontieres sexual reproductive health clinic in south Beirut. Women with two positive urine dipstick tests (i.e. a suspected urinary tract infection) provided urine samples for culture. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial sensitivity testing were conducted following European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines. We compared the characteristics of women with positive and negative urine culture findings and we calculated the proportion of antibiotics overprescribed or inappropriately used. We also estimated the cost of adding urine culture to the diagnostic algorithm. Findings The study included 449 pregnant women with suspected urinary tract infections: 18.0% (81/449) had positive urine culture findings. If antibiotics were administered following urine dipstick results alone, 368 women would have received antibiotics unnecessarily: an overprescription rate of 82% (368/449). If administration was based on urine culture findings plus urinary tract infection symptoms, 144 of 368 women with negative urine culture findings would have received antibiotics unnecessarily: an overprescription rate of 39.1% (144/368). The additional cost of urine culture was 0.48 euros per woman. Conclusion A high proportion of pregnant women with suspected urinary tract infections from refugee camps unnecessarily received antibiotics. Including urine culture in diagnosis, which is affordable in Lebanon, would greatly reduce antibiotic overprescription. Similar approaches could be adopted in other regions where microbiology laboratories are accessible. Objectif Determiner si l'ajout d'une uroculture pour diagnostiquer une infection urinaire chez les femmes enceintes dans les camps de refugies au Liban permet d'eviter de recourir inutilement aux antibiotiques. Methodes Nous avons mene une etude transversale prospective entre avril et juin 2022 sur des femmes enceintes frequentant une clinique de sante sexuelle et reproductive geree par Medecins Sans Frontieres dans le sud de Beyrouth. Les femmes presentant deux tests positifs par bandelette urinaire (c'est-a-dire souffrant potentiellement d'une infection urinaire) ont fourni des echantillons d'urine pour culture. Les tests d'identification bacterienne et de sensibilite aux antimicrobiens ont ete effectues conformement aux lignes directrices du Comite europeen des antibiogrammes. Nous avons compare les caracteristiques des femmes ayant obtenu des resultats d'uroculture positifs et negatifs puis nous avons calcule la proportion d'antibiotiques surprescrits ou utilises de fagon inappropriee. Enfin, nous avons estime combien couterait l'ajout d'une uroculture a l'algorithme de diagnostic. Resultats Letude a porte sur 449 femmes enceintes susceptibles de souffrir d'infections urinaires: 18,0% (81/449) ont obtenu des resultats positifs lors de l'uroculture. Si des antibiotiques avaient ete administres uniquement sur la base des resultats aux tests par bandelette urinaire, 368 femmes en auraient regu sans en avoir besoin, ce qui equivaut a un taux de surprescription de 82% (368/449). S'ils avaient ete administres sur la base des resultats de l'uroculture ainsi que des symptomes d'infection urinaire, 144 des 368 femmes ayant obtenu des resultats negatifs auraient regu des antibiotiques sans en avoir besoin, ce qui represente un taux de surprescription de 39,1% (144/368). La mise en place de l'uroculture a engendre un cout supplemental de 0,48 euro par femme. Conclusion Dans les camps de refugies, une proportion elevee de femmes enceintes potentiellement atteintes d'infections urinaires se sont vu prescrire des antibiotiques sans que ce ne soit necessaire. Inclure dans le diagnostic une uroculture, proposee a prix abordable au Liban, permettrait de reduire considerablement leur surprescription. Des approches similaires pourraient en outre etre adoptees dans d'autres regions ou des laboratoires de microbiologie sont accessibles. Objetivo Determinar si la adicion del urocultivo al diagnostico de infeccion urinaria en mujeres embarazadas de campos de refugiados en Libano redujo el uso innecesario de antibioticos. Metodos Entre abril y junio de 2022, se realizo un estudio prospectivo transversal en el que participaron mujeres embarazadas que acudian a una clinica de salud reproductiva sexual de Medicos Sin Fronteras en el sur de Beirut. Las mujeres con dos pruebas de tira reactiva en orina positivas (es decir, sospecha de infeccion urinaria) proporcionaron muestras de orina para cultivo. La identificacion bacteriana y las pruebas de sensibilidad antimicrobiana se realizaron siguiendo las directrices del Comite Europeo sobre Pruebas de Susceptibilidad Antimicrobiana. Se compararon las caracteristicas de las mujeres con urocultivos positivos y negativos, y se calculo el porcentaje de antibioticos prescritos en exceso o utilizados de forma inadecuada. Tambien se calculo el coste de anadir el urocultivo al algoritmo diagnostico. Resultados En el estudio participaron 449 mujeres embarazadas con sospecha de infeccion urinaria: el 18,0% (81/449) tuvieron resultados positivos en el urocultivo. Si la administracion de antibioticos se basaba unicamente en los resultados de la tira reactiva de orina, 368 mujeres habrian recibido antibioticos sin necesidad: una tasa de prescripcion excesiva del 82% (368/449). Si la administracion se basaba en los resultados del urocultivo mas los sintomas de infeccion urinaria, 144 de las 368 mujeres con resultados negativos del urocultivo habrian recibido antibioticos sin necesidad: una tasa de sobreprescripcion del 39,1% (144/368). El coste adicional del urocultivo fue de 0,48 [euro] por mujer. Conclusion Un alto porcentaje de embarazadas con sospecha de infeccion urinaria procedentes de campos de refugiados recibieron antibioticos innecesariamente. La inclusion del urocultivo en el diagnostico, asequible en Libano, reduciria en gran medida la prescripcion excesiva de antibioticos. Se podrian adoptar enfoques similares en otras regiones donde se pueda acceder a los laboratorios de microbiologia. [phrase omitted], Introduction Inappropriate antibiotic use is one of the main drivers of anti-microbial resistance. (1) The standard of care for pregnant women is to give antibiotics to prevent complications, particularly in [...]

Introduction In accordance with its mandate to provide normative guidance to Member States on health policy matters, WHO issues a series of regularly updated position papers on vaccines and combinations [...]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health issue, associated with an estimated 4.95 million deaths worldwide in 2019 (2,2). Although the effects of AMR on clinical and economic outcomes [...]

Consumers' practices and knowledge play a significant role in ensuring meat safety and hygiene application. This is important in an environment where the slaughter and release of such meat is restricted and not always controlled and monitored. This could have been contributed by the lack of slaughter facilities; the controlled movement of live animal restrictions applicable in a typical veterinary diseases-controlled area. The aim of this investigation was to identify meat hygiene practices and general meat safety knowledge applied by consumers of central Bushbuckridge, South Africa. Structured interviews (n=81) were conducted with consumers observed purchasing meat from local meat supply centres. Data analysis was achieved by SAS Statistical software (Version 26) SAS and graphs were drawn using MS Excel 2020. The majority (84.2%, [sigma]=29.4) of the consumers indicated that meat supplied in the region were from registered facilities. The general belief amongst the consumers was that routine hygiene inspection was conducted by authorities at all meat distributing or butchery facilities (74.1%, [sigma]=39.7). None of the facilities or/and butcheries in the study area was registered and therefore, no formal regulated practices could have been conducted. Slaughter and distribution of meat within the area were seen as a good business by 78.6%, [sigma]=18.9 of the consumers, and as a result, the consumers did not have a problem with widespread slaughter and release of this meat to the public outside of those facilities. The extent of hygiene application practices at household level varied. These included the assurance that perishable products were properly handled after purchase (84.1%, [sigma]=8.3), and the handling or transportation of sourced meat did not comply with cold chain management prescripts (39.9%, [sigma]=44.9). The likelihood of consumers feeling the same about meat hygiene concerns and practices is undoubtedly low as represented by a high standard deviation ([sigma]) of the responses. These results show that consumers were relying on authorities for meat safety assurances. This ought to caution authorities on consumer practices and needed interventions such as animal movement policies enforcement. The adoption of such policies by consumers lies with the development and rollout of consumer awareness and meat safety assurances training programs. Key words: abattoir, consumer practices, illegal slaughter, meat safety, meat hygiene, INTRODUCTION Article 11(1) of the Covenant of the United Nations (2012) affirms that everybody has a right to access sufficient and safe food including meat [1]. This resolution clarifies that [...]

Probiotics have emerged as agents that improve a wide range of conditions and provide essential ingredients for potential health benefits. Probiotics exhibit a diverse array of effects by engaging in [...]

This exploratory study investigated the outcomes of the program 'Des mots pour les maux', a program adapted to French and aimed at re-educating different components of written language on graphophonological correspondences and spelling representations with six students with dyslexia or at risk of presenting such disorder. The study is divided into 2 phases which 6 measures are taken: Phase 1 (at the beginning of the study, and 3 and 6 weeks after standard orthopedagogical interventions) and phase 2 (8 weeks, 16 weeks and 24 weeks after introducing the program tested) in order to assess the skills before and after the introduction of the program. The results suggest some improvement regarding phonological correspondences in reading and, more importantly, orthographic representations in reading and spelling 16 weeks after using the program. This study has thus indicated that dyslexic or at-risk students could benefit from this program 'Des mots pour les maux'. Keywords: Dyslexia, reading and spelling interventions, dual-route cascaded model, reading, spelling La presente etude exploratoire evalue les effets du programme Des mots pour les maux : un programme adapte au francais et visant la reeducation de differentes composantes du langage ecrit sur les correspondances graphophonologiques et les representations orthographiques, aupres de six eleves ayant une dyslexie ou a risque de presenter un tel trouble. L'etude se deroule en 2 phases durant lesquelles 6 mesures sont prises : phase 1 (au debut de l'etude, et apres 3 et 6 semaines d'orthopedagogie habituelle) et phase 2 (apres 8, 16 et 24 semaines du programme teste), afin d'evaluer les competences avant et apres l'introduction du programme. Les resultats semblent indiquer que le programme ameliore en partie les correspondances graphophonologiques en lecture, et plus particulierement les representations orthographiques en lecture et en orthographe apres 16 semaines d'intervention. Cette etude demontre ainsi que les eleves a risque de presenter une dyslexie ou ayant une dyslexie pourraient tirer profit du programme. Mots-cles : dyslexie, programmes reeducatifs, modele cognitif a double voie, decodage, orthographe, Introduction La dyslexie est un trouble neurodeveloppemental qui affecte la capacite a apprendre a lire et a ecrire, plus particulierement sur le plan du decodage de la lecture et de [...]

Introduction In accordance with its mandate to provide normative guidance to Member States on health policy matters, WHO issues a series of regularly updated position papers (1) on vaccines and [...]

The pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder involves a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors that begins in the early stages of neurodevelopment. Recent advancements in the field of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a promising tool for understanding the neurobiological alterations involved in these disorders and, potentially, for developing new treatment options. In this review, we summarize the results of iPSC-based research on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, showing disturbances in neurodevelopmental processes, imbalance in glutamatergic-GABAergic transmission and neuromorphological alterations. The limitations of the reviewed literature are also highlighted, particularly the methodological heterogeneity of the studies, the limited number of studies developing iPSC models of both diseases simultaneously, and the lack of in-depth clinical characterization of the included samples. Further studies are needed to advance knowledge on the common and disease-specific pathophysiological features of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and to promote the development of new treatment options., Introduction Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are complex and challenging mental disorders, whose etiopathogenesis can be traced back to a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors that begins at the [...]

Background: Recent reports have indicated that symptom exacerbation after a period of improvement, referred to as relapse, in early-stage psychosis could result in brain changes and poor disease outcomes. We hypothesized that substantial neuroimaging alterations may exist among patients who experience relapse in early-stage psychosis. Methods: We studied patients with psychosis within 2 years after the first psychotic event and healthy controls. We divided patients into 2 groups, namely those who did not experience relapse between disease onset and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (no-relapse group) and those who did experience relapse between these 2 timings (relapse group). We analyzed 3003 functional connectivity estimates between 78 regions of interest (ROIs) derived from resting-state functional MRI data by adjusting for demographic and clinical confounding factors. Results: We studied 85 patients, including 54 in the relapse group and 31 in the no-relapse group, along with 94 healthy controls. We observed significant differences in 47 functional connectivity estimates between the relapse and control groups after multiple comparison corrections, whereas no differences were found between the no-relapse and control groups. Most of these pathological signatures (64%) involved the thalamus. The Jonckheere-Terpstra test indicated that all 47 functional connectivity changes had a significant cross-group progression from controls to patients in the no-relapse group to patients in the relapse group. Limitations: Longitudinal studies are needed to further validate the involvement and pathological importance of the thalamus in relapse. Conclusion: We observed pathological differences in neuronal connectivity associated with relapse in early-stage psychosis, which are more specifically associated with the thalamus. Our study implies the importance of considering neurobiological mechanisms associated with relapse in the trajectory of psychotic disorders., Introduction The trajectory of psychotic disorders after onset is heterogeneous and many patients show deteriorating courses. (1,2) One of the major determinants of poor prognosis is the occurrence of relapse, [...]

* Context.--Genetic profiling data of prostatic adenocarcinoma are derived from predominantly White patients. In African Americans, prostatic adenocarcinoma has a poorer prognosis, raising the possibility of distinct genetic alterations. Objective.--To investigate the genomic alterations of prostatic adenocarcinoma metastatic to regional lymph nodes in African American patients, with an emphasis on SPOP mutation. Design.--We retrospectively reviewed African American patients with pN1 prostatic adenocarcinoma managed with radical prostatectomy and lymph node dissection. Comprehensive molecular profiling was performed, and androgen receptor signaling scores were calculated. Results.--Nineteen patients were included. The most frequent genetic alteration was SPOP mutations (5 of 17; 29.4% [95% CI: 10.3-56.0]). While most alterations were associated with a high androgen receptor signaling score, mutant SPOP was exclusively associated with a low median and interquartile range (IQR) androgen receptor signaling score (0.788 [IQR 0.765-0.791] versus 0.835 [IQR 0.828-0.842], P = .003). In mutant SPOP, mRNA expression of SPOP inhibitor G3BP1 and SPOP substrates showed a significantly decreased expression of AR (33.40 [IQR 28.45-36.30] versus 59.53 [IQR 53.10-72.83], P = .01), TRIM24 (3.95 [IQR 3.28-5.03] versus 9.80 [IQR 7.39-11.70], P = .008), and NCOA3 (15.19 [IQR 10.59-15.93] versus 21.88 [IQR 18.41-28.33], P = .046). Conclusions.--African American patients with metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma might have a higher prevalence of mutant SPOP (30%), compared to ~10% in unselected cohorts with lower expressions of SPOP substrates. In our study, in patients with mutant SPOP, the mutation was associated with decreased SPOP substrate expression and androgen receptor signaling, raising concern for suboptimal efficacy of androgen deprivation therapy in this subset of patients., Prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa) is the third most common cancer in the United States, with approximately 1 in 9 men developing PCa during their lifetime. (1) At presentation, most PCas are [...]

* Context.--Immunohistochemistry plays an important role in dermatopathology, particularly for melanocytic lesions and poorly differentiated malignancies. In the field of bone and soft tissue pathology, molecular methods remain the gold standard for diagnosis; however, immunohistochemistry targeting underlying molecular alterations represents a valuable screening tool, especially in areas with limited access to molecular testing. Objective.--To describe the utility and limitations of new and emerging immunohistochemical stains in the diagnosis of skin, soft tissue, and bone tumors. Data Sources.--A literature review of recently described immunohistochemical stains in the fields of dermatopathology and bone and soft tissue pathology was performed. Conclusions.--Immunohistochemistry is an important adjunctive tool for select entities in dermatopathology and bone and soft tissue pathology, and it provides pathologists with valuable evidence of their behavior, underlying molecular alterations, and line of differentiation. Furthermore, immunostains targeting molecular abnormalities have the potential to replace current molecular methods. Many of these recently described stains demonstrate higher sensitivity and specificity; however, limitations and pitfalls still exist, and correlation with morphologic and clinical findings remains essential for diagnosis., The hematoxylin-eosin stain is still the primary tool used by pathologists for the diagnosis of both neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases in dermatopathology and bone and soft tissue pathology. However, the [...]

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a mysticete with a cosmopolitan distribution, including Brazil (1). Morbillivirus in cetaceans first occurred in 1988 in Europe. Since then, various strains of cetacean [...]

Ensitrelvir fumaric acid (hereafter ensitrelvir) is a drug that inhibits the 3-chymotrypsin-like protease of SARS-CoV-2, also known as nonstructural protein 5 (NSP5), thereby inhibiting virus replication (1-3). Ensitrelvir was first [...]

Food irradiation has been studied globally for decades and is a safe, effective means of reducing foodborne illness-causing pathogens, sterilizing insects, delaying ripening or sprouting, and extending shelf life (2,2). [...]

A monovalent COVID-19 vaccine containing the XBB.1.5 variant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was approved in September 2023, but uptake has been hesitant (1). Evaluating the immunogenicity of variant-adapted vaccines could inspire [...]