Recruiting transgender men in the Southeastern United States for genital microbiome research: Lessons learned.

Background: Transgender men (TGM) are underrepresented in genital microbiome research. Our prospective study in Birmingham, AL investigated genital microbiota changes over time in TGM initiating testosterone, including the development of incident bacterial vaginosis (iBV). Here, we present lessons learned from recruitment challenges encountered during the conduct of this study.

Fixed versus individualized treatment for five common bacterial infectious syndromes: a survey of the perspectives and practices of clinicians.

Background: Traditionally, bacterial infections have been treated with fixed-duration antibiotic courses; however, some have advocated for individualized durations. It is not known which approach currently predominates.

Methods: We conducted a multinational clinical practice survey asking prescribers their approach to treating skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), pyelonephritis, cholangitis and bloodstream infection (BSI) of an unknown source.

Oral challenge vs routine care to assess low-risk penicillin allergy in critically ill hospital patients (ORACLE): a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Background: Self-reported penicillin allergies are highly prevalent in hospitalised patients and are associated with poor health and health service outcomes. Critically ill patients have historically been underrepresented in prospective delabelling studies in part due to concerns around clinical stability and reliability of penicillin skin testing. Allergy assessment tools exist to identify low-risk penicillin allergy phenotypes and facilitate direct oral challenge delabelling.

Risk factors for invasive fungal infection in 5-azacytidine treated patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.

The rate of invasive fungal infection (IFI) in patients with myelodysplasia (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving 5-azacytidine is incompletely defined and published recommendations for mold-active fungal prophylaxis in such patients vary according to source. We performed a retrospective cohort study in order to identify contemporary IFI rates and infection-related mortality in relation to known risk factors and the use of antifungal prophylaxis. One hundred and seventeen patients receiving 5-azacytidine for MDS and low blast count AML were identified, of whom 71 (61%) received antifungal prophylaxis.

The Relationship Between Glutamate Dynamics and Activity-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity.

The spatiotemporal dynamics of excitatory neurotransmission must be tightly regulated to achieve efficient synaptic communication. By limiting spillover, glutamate transporters are believed to prevent excessive activation of extrasynaptically located receptors that can impair synaptic plasticity. While glutamate transporter expression is reduced in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, the contributions of transporter dysfunction to disease pathophysiology remain ambiguous as the fundamental relationship between glutamate dynamics and plasticity, and the mechanisms linking these two phenomena, remain poorly understood.

Alcohol and fast food sponsorship in sporting clubs with junior teams participating in the 'Good Sports' program: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To examine: alcohol and fast food sponsorship of junior community sporting clubs; the association between sponsorship and club characteristics; and parent and club representative attitudes toward sponsorship.

Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey of representatives from junior community football clubs across New South Wales and Victoria, Australia, and parents/carers of junior club members. Participants were from junior teams with Level 3 accreditation in the 'Good Sports' program.

Promotion of healthy eating in clubs with junior teams in Australia: A cross-sectional study of club representatives and parents.

Issues Addressed: To: (i) describe the prevalence of policies and practices promoting healthy eating implemented by sports clubs with junior teams; (ii) examine differences in such practices across geographic and operational characteristics of clubs; and (iii) describe the attitudes of club representatives and parents regarding the acceptability of sports clubs implementing policies and practices to promote healthy eating.

Methods: Cross-sectional telephone surveys of junior community football club management representatives and parents/carers of junior players were conducted in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, Australia in 2016.

Results: Seventy-nine of the 89 club representatives approached to participate completed the telephone survey.

Virtual fracture clinic management of fifth metatarsal, including Jones', fractures is safe and cost-effective.

Virtual clinics have been shown to be safe and cost-effective in many specialties, yet barriers exist to their implementation in orthopaedics. The aims of this study were to look at whether the management of 5th metatarsal fractures using a virtual fracture clinic model is safe, cost effective and avoids adverse outcomes whilst being acceptable to patients using the service. All patients with a fifth metatarsal fracture between September 2013 and September 2015 had a standardised management plan initiated (blackboot, full weightbearing) in the emergency department (ED).

Genetic control of lithium sensitivity and regulation of inositol biosynthetic genes.

Lithium (Li(+)) is a common treatment for bipolar mood disorder, a major psychiatric illness with a lifetime prevalence of more than 1%. Risk of bipolar disorder is heavily influenced by genetic predisposition, but is a complex genetic trait and, to date, genetic studies have provided little insight into its molecular origins. An alternative approach is to investigate the genetics of Li(+) sensitivity.