The impact of COVID-19 epidemic phase and changes in mean viral loads: implications for SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies.

The sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests is inherently linked to viral load. We explored whether average viral loads changed at a population level in Queensland, Australia during the early phase of the pandemic. RT-PCR threshold cycle (C) values, a crude marker for viral load, were compared for samples collected in February/March-2020 to those collected in April/May-2020, noting that the major public health interventions began in late-March 2020.

A Plasmodium vivax experimental human infection model for evaluating efficacy of interventions.

BACKGROUNDInterventions that interrupt Plasmodium vivax transmission or eliminate dormant P. vivax liver-stage parasites will be essential for malaria elimination. Development of these interventions has been hindered by the lack of P.

A controlled human malaria infection model enabling evaluation of transmission-blocking interventions.

Background: Drugs and vaccines that can interrupt the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum will be important for malaria control and elimination. However, models for early clinical evaluation of candidate transmission-blocking interventions are currently unavailable. Here, we describe a new model for evaluating malaria transmission from humans to Anopheles mosquitoes using controlled human malaria infection (CHMI).

Infectivity of Plasmodium falciparum in Malaria-Naive Individuals Is Related to Knob Expression and Cytoadherence of the Parasite.

Plasmodium falciparum is the most virulent human malaria parasite because of its ability to cytoadhere in the microvasculature. Nonhuman primate studies demonstrated relationships among knob expression, cytoadherence, and infectivity. This has not been examined in humans.

Piperaquine Monotherapy of Drug-Susceptible Plasmodium falciparum Infection Results in Rapid Clearance of Parasitemia but Is Followed by the Appearance of Gametocytemia.

Background: Piperaquine, coformulated with dihydroartemisinin, is a component of a widely used artemisinin combination therapy. There is a paucity of data on its antimalarial activity as a single agent. Such data, if available, would inform selection of new coformulations.

Adenovirus species C is associated with chronic suppurative lung diseases in children.

Background: The role of human adenoviruses (HAdVs) in chronic respiratory disease pathogenesis is recognized. However, no studies have performed molecular sequencing of HAdVs from the lower airways of children with chronic endobronchial suppuration. We thus examined the major HAdV genotypes/species, and relationships to bacterial coinfection, in children with protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and mild bronchiectasis (BE).

Respiratory virus detection in nasopharyngeal aspirate versus bronchoalveolar lavage is dependent on virus type in children with chronic respiratory symptoms.

Background: The comparative yield of respiratory virus detection from nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) versus bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is uncertain. Furthermore, the significance of virus detection and its relationship to lower airway neutrophilic inflammation is poorly studied.

Objectives: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of NPA for detecting respiratory viruses in BAL; and to determine the relationship between viruses and lower airway neutrophilia in children with non-acute respiratory illness.

On the association between statin and fracture: a Bayesian consideration.

Background: The association between statin use and fracture risk is controversial, due to conflicting findings from previous studies. This study utilized the Bayesian approach to combine existing evidence and update the association with consideration of potential bias.

Methods: Data on the association between statin use and fracture incidence from 11 observational studies and 4 RCTs were synthesized by both empirical Bayesian analysis and fully Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis models.

Beta3-adrenergic receptor gene, body mass index, bone mineral density and fracture risk in elderly men and women: the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study (DOES).

Background: Recent studies have suggested that the Arg allele of beta3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) gene is associated with body mass index (BMI), which is an important predictor of bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk. However, whether the ADRB3 gene polymorphism is associated with fracture risk has not been investigated. The aim of study was to examine the inter-relationships between ADRB3 gene polymorphisms, BMI, BMD and fracture risk in elderly Caucasians.