Uromodulin and Risk of Upper Urinary Tract Infections: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Rationale & Objective: Observational studies suggest that uromodulin, produced by the kidneys, is associated with a reduced the risk of upper urinary tract infections, but inferences are limited by potential confounding factors. This study sought to explore further the validity of this association using Mendelian randomization.

Study Design: Two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Leveraging explainable artificial intelligence for early prediction of bloodstream infections using historical electronic health records.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a severe public health threat due to their rapid progression into critical conditions like sepsis. This study presents a novel eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) framework to predict BSIs using historical electronic health records (EHRs). Leveraging a dataset from St.

Prolonged outpatient parenteral antimicrobial treatment: frequency and evolution over a six-year period in a Swiss University Hospital.

Background: Emerging research indicates the potential for early transition from intravenous to oral antimicrobial therapy in certain infections. This trend may have implications for outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) programs, as the demand for prolonged intravenous treatment could decrease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency and evolution of OPAT courses of ≥ 14 days over the years and determine the medical justification for those prolonged treatments.

In-hospital mortality, readmission, and prolonged length of stay risk prediction leveraging historical electronic patient records.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive capabilities of historical patient records to predict patient adverse outcomes such as mortality, readmission, and prolonged length of stay (PLOS).

Methods: Leveraging a de-identified dataset from a tertiary care university hospital, we developed an eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) framework combining tree-based and traditional machine learning (ML) models with interpretations and statistical analysis of predictors of mortality, readmission, and PLOS.

Results: Our framework demonstrated exceptional predictive performance with a notable area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of 0.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Reduced by Tocilizumab and Associated With Infarct Size.

Background: Interleukin-6-receptor inhibition with tocilizumab improves myocardial salvage in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Reduced levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which consist of nuclear material studded with proteins released upon neutrophil activation, might contribute to this effect.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tocilizumab on NETs and investigate the association between NETs and myocardial injury in patients with STEMI.

C-C Motif Ligand 7 (CCL7) and C-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 3 (CCR3) dysregulation in patients with scrub typhus and association with mortality.

Background: Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi involves infiltration of a mixture of perivascular lymphocytes and macrophages into affected organs. We investigated if this is characterized by chemokine dysregulation.

Methods: mRNA expression of chemokines and receptors were screened in whole blood by cDNA microarray in a subgroup of patients and controls.

Prevalence of HIV-related stigma among people with HIV in Switzerland: addressing the elephant in the room.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV-related stigma among people with HIV (PWH) in Switzerland.

Design: A cross-sectional multicenter study nested within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).

Methods: We included adult PWH enrolled in the SHCS, attending follow-up between March 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021.

Chronic HIV Infection Increases Monocyte NLRP3 Inflammasome-Dependent IL-1α and IL-1β Release.

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has converted HIV from a lethal disease to a chronic condition, yet co-morbidities persist. Incomplete immune recovery and chronic immune activation, especially in the gut mucosa, contribute to these complications. Inflammasomes, multi-protein complexes activated by innate immune receptors, appear to play a role in these inflammatory responses.

A Genome-wide Association Study of Susceptibility to Upper Urinary Tract Infections.

Background: Our goal was to identify genetic and modifiable risk factors for upper urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Methods: We used data from UK Biobank, the Trøndelag Health Study, and the Michigan Genomics Initiative to conduct genome-wide association studies and sex-stratified analyses on upper UTI. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to examine potential causal relationships between cardiometabolic risk factors and upper UTIs.

Chronic kidney disease and risk of bloodstream infections and sepsis: a 17-year follow-up of the population-based Trøndelag Health Study in Norway.

Purpose: Bloodstream infections (BSI) and sepsis are important causes of hospitalization, loss of health, and death globally. Targetable risk factors need to be identified to improve prevention and treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and risk of and mortality from BSI and sepsis in the general population during a 22-year period.

[HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: physicians are not prepared].

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective tool in HIV prevention but is rarely prescribed by primary care physicians. A survey conducted among 147 physicians to assess their knowledge and interest in prescribing PrEP shows that 97% stated they have already heard of PrEP, but their knowledge of its indications, dosage, price, and side-effects is often incomplete or incorrect. For 69% of them, the main obstacle to prescribing PrEP is the lack of training on the subject.

Weight, Anthropometric and Metabolic Changes After Discontinuing Antiretroviral Therapy Containing Tenofovir Alafenamide in People With HIV.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-related weight gain is of particular concern in people with HIV (PWH). Although weight gain was observed among PWH receiving tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), little is known about the potential reversibility after TAF discontinuation. We evaluated weight and metabolic changes 12 months after TAF discontinuation in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Major determinants of primary non function from kidney donation after Maastricht II circulatory death: A single center experience.

Purpose: Organ shortage greatly limits treatment of patients with end-stage chronic kidney. Maastricht type 2 donation after circulatory death (DCD) has been shown to have similar results in long term outcomes in kidney transplantation, when compared with brain dead donation. Our main goal was to assess Maastricht type 2 DCD and evaluate factors that impact on early graft function.

Canonical notch activation in patients with scrub typhus: association with organ dysfunction and poor outcome.

Purpose: The mechanisms that control inflammation in scrub typhus are not fully elucidated. The Notch pathways are important regulators of inflammation and infection, but have not been investigated in scrub typhus.

Methods: Plasma levels of the canonical Notch ligand Delta-like protein 1 (DLL1) were measured by enzyme immunoassay and RNA expression of the Notch receptors (NOTCH1, NOTCH2 and NOTCH4) in whole blood was analyzed by real-time PCR in patients with scrub typhus (n = 129), in patients with similar febrile illness without O.

Incidence of invasive infections with Group B streptococcus in adults in Norway 1996-2019: a nationwide registry-based case-control study.

Purpose: Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonizes the gastrointestinal and vaginal mucosa in healthy adults, but has also become an increasing cause of invasive infection. The aims of this study were to describe the incidence and factors associated with the occurrence of invasive GBS disease in adults in Norway.

Methods: We performed a nationwide retrospective case-control study of invasive GBS infections during 1996-2019, with two control groups; invasive Group A streptococcal disease (GAS) to control for changes in surveillance and diagnostics, and a second representing the general population.

Coding practice for sepsis 2008-21.

Background: Sepsis has a high incidence and mortality rate. Accurate data are needed for health service planning and for research, and there is a need to identify coding practices in Norway.

Material And Method: All patients over 17 years of age who had been admitted to Norwegian hospitals with sepsis in the period 2008-21 were identified using diagnostic codes for infection plus organ failure, and specific codes for sepsis, from the Norwegian Patient Registry.

The Effects of Shift Work on the Immune System: A Narrative Review.

Working a shift work schedule has been hypothesized to have negative effects on health. One such described consequence is altered immune response and increased risk of infections. Former reviews have concluded that more knowledge is needed to determine how shift work affects the immune system.

syntenyPlotteR: a user-friendly R package to visualize genome synteny, ideal for both experienced and novice bioinformaticians.

Motivation: The rapid increase in the number of chromosome-scale genome assemblies has renewed interest in chromosome evolution studies. The visualization of syntenic relationships between genomes is a crucial initial step in the study of chromosome rearrangements and evolution. There are few tools available that serve this purpose, and they can be difficult to learn.

Return to work after hospitalization for sepsis: a nationwide, registry-based cohort study.

Background: Sepsis survivors commonly experience functional impairment, which may limit return to work. We investigated return to work (RTW) of patients hospitalized with sepsis and the associations with patient and clinical characteristics.

Methods: Working-age patients (18-60 years) admitted to a Norwegian hospital with sepsis between 2010 and 2021 were identified using the Norwegian Patient Registry and linked to sick-leave data from the Norwegian National Social Security System Registry.