Exploring viral aetiology in upper respiratory tract infections: insights from metagenomic next-generation sequencing in Swiss outpatients before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Aims Of The Study: Upper respiratory tract infections are among the most common reasons for primary care consultations. They are diagnosed predominantly based on clinical assessment. Here, we investigated the benefit of viral metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in an outpatient setting.

Estimation of reference curves for the urinary steroid metabolome in the first year of life in healthy children: Tracing the complexity of human postnatal steroidogenesis.

Context: Complex steroid disorders such as P450 oxidoreductase deficiency or apparent cortisone reductase deficiency may be recognized by steroid profiling using chromatographic mass spectrometric methods. These methods are highly specific and sensitive, and provide a complete spectrum of steroid metabolites in a single measurement of one sample which makes them superior to immunoassays. The steroid metabolome during the fetal-neonatal transition is characterized by (a) the metabolites of the fetal-placental unit at birth, (b) the fetal adrenal androgens until its involution 3-6 months postnatally, and (c) the steroid metabolites produced by the developing endocrine organs.