Using a human colonoid-derived monolayer to study bacteriophage translocation.

Bacteriophages (phages) are estimated to be the most abundant microorganisms on Earth. Their presence in human blood suggests that they can translocate from non-sterile sites such as the gastrointestinal tract where they are concentrated. To examine phage translocation , we adapted a primary colonoid monolayer model possessing cell diversity and architecture, and a thick layer of mucus akin to the colonic environment .

Infection: Clinical Practice and Health Outcomes in 6 Large Tertiary Hospitals in Eastern Australia.

Background: infection (CDI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in both healthcare and community settings. We aimed to define the predisposing factors, risks for severe disease, and mortality determinants of CDI in eastern Australia over a 1-year period.

Methods: This is an observational retrospective study of CDI in hospitalized patients aged ≥18 years in 6 tertiary institutions from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016.

Utility of Fibroscan XL to assess the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Significant weight loss can modify the progression of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with the most convincing evidence coming from bariatric surgery cohorts. Effective ways to non-invasively characterise NAFLD in these patients has been lacking, with high Fibroscan failure rates reported. We prospectively evaluated the utility of Fibroscan using XL-probe over a two-year period.

Expansion of dysfunctional CD56-CD16+ NK cells in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background & Aims: Natural killer (NK) cells are primary innate effector cells that play an important role in the control of human viral infections. During chronic viral infection, NK cells undergo significant changes in phenotype, function and subset distribution, including the appearance of CD56-CD16+ (CD56-) NK cells, previously identified in chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus infection. However, the presence of CD56- NK cells in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unknown.