Droplet Digital PCR for Precise Quantification of Human Norovirus in Shellfish Associated with Gastroenteritis Illness.

Norovirus is the predominant cause of viral gastroenteritis globally with foodborne outbreaks commonly reported. Filter-feeding bivalve molluscan shellfish can become contaminated with norovirus when grown in waters impacted by inadequately treated effluent wastewater, overflows, or other human fecal sources. Contaminated shellfish pose a significant risk to consumers, because combined with a low norovirus infectious dose, oysters and mussels are often eaten raw or lightly cooked resulting in no or minimal virus inactivation, respectively.

Digital Biometry as an Obesity Diagnosis Tool: A Review of Current Applications and Future Directions.

Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease and a major public health concern due to its high prevalence and associated complications. Paradoxically, several studies have found that obesity might positively impact the prognosis of patients with certain existing chronic diseases, while some individuals with normal BMI may develop obesity-related complications. This phenomenon might be explained by differences in body composition, such as visceral adipose tissue (VAT), total body fat (TBF), and fat-free mass (FFM).

Nanoluciferase-based cell fusion assay for rapid and high-throughput assessment of SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies in patient samples.

After more than two years, COVID-19 still represents a global health burden of unprecedented extent and assessing the degree of immunity of individuals against SARS-CoV-2 remains a challenge. Virus neutralization assays represent the gold standard for assessing antibody-mediated protection against SARS-CoV-2 in sera from recovered and/or vaccinated individuals. Neutralizing antibodies block the interaction of viral spike protein with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in vitro and prevent viral entry into host cells.

Body fat assessment in youth with overweight or obesity by an automated bioelectrical impedance analysis device, in comparison with the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry: a cross sectional study.

Background: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a widely used method to assess total body fat (TBF) depots characterising obesity. Automated BIA devices provide an inexpensive and easy assessment of TBF, making them widely available to the general public and healthcare providers without specific qualification to assess body composition. The equations included in the automated BIA devices have been developed in very few specific populations, which means that they are not suitable to assess TBF for everyone and need to be validated before use in other populations.

Detection of Human Enteric Viruses in French Polynesian Wastewaters, Environmental Waters and Giant Clams.

Lack of wastewater treatment efficiency causes receiving seawaters and bivalve molluscan shellfish to become contaminated, which can lead to public health issues. Six wastewater samples, five seawater samples and three batches of giant clams from Tahiti (French Polynesia) were investigated for the presence of enteric viruses, but also if present, for the diversity, infectivity and integrity of human adenoviruses (HAdV). Enteroviruses (EV), sapoviruses (SaV) and human polyomaviruses (HPyV) were detected in all wastewater samples.