Association of Picornavirus Infections With Acute Otitis Media in a Prospective Birth Cohort Study.

Background: Human rhinoviruses (HRVs), human enteroviruses (HEVs) and human parechoviruses (HPeVs) have been linked to acute otitis media (AOM). We evaluated this association in a prospective birth cohort setting.

Methods: A total of 324 healthy infants were followed up from birth to age 3 years.

Rhinoviruses in infancy and risk of immunoglobulin E sensitization.

Previous data about the role of viruses in the development of allergic immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization are contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine the possible associations between exposure to different viruses (rhinovirus, enterovirus, norovirus, and parechovirus) during the first year of life and IgE sensitization. Viruses were analyzed from stool samples collected monthly from infants participating in a prospective birth cohort study.

Nature-derived microbiota exposure as a novel immunomodulatory approach.

Aim: Current attempts to modulate the human microbiota and immune responses are based on probiotics or human-derived bacterial transplants. We investigated microbial modulation by soil and plant-based material.

Materials & Methods: We performed a pilot study in which healthy adults were exposed to the varied microbial community of a soil- and plant-based material.