Evaluation of Viremia Frequencies of a Novel Human Pegivirus by Using Bioinformatic Screening and PCR.

Next-generation sequencing has critical applications in virus discovery, diagnostics, and environmental surveillance. We used metagenomic sequence libraries for retrospective screening of plasma samples for the recently discovered human hepegivirus 1 (HHpgV-1). From a cohort of 150 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive case-patients, we identified 2 persons with HHpgV-1 viremia and a high frequency of human pegivirus (HPgV) viremia (14%).

Mental State Decoding in Adolescent Boys with Major Depressive Disorder versus Sex-Matched Healthy Controls.

Background: Several adult depression studies have investigated mental state decoding, the basis for theory of mind, using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. Findings have been mixed, but a comprehensive study found a greater severity of depression to be associated with poorer mental state decoding. Importantly, there has yet to be a similar study of adolescent depression.

Mapping the evolutionary trajectories of morbilliviruses: what, where and whither.

Morbilliviruses are pathogens of humans and other animals. Live attenuated morbillivirus vaccines have been used to end endemic transmission of measles virus (MV) in many parts of the developed world and to eradicate rinderpest virus. Entry is mediated by two different receptors which govern virus lymphotropism and epitheliotropism.

"It Looks Like an Adult Sweetie Shop": Point-of-Sale Tobacco Display Exposure and Brand Awareness in Scottish Secondary School Students.

Introduction: As further restrictions have been placed on tobacco advertising and promotions, point-of-sale (PoS) displays of cigarettes in shops have become an increasingly important source of young people's exposure to tobacco products. This study explored the relationship between PoS displays of cigarettes and brand awareness among secondary school students in Scotland.

Methods: Cross-sectional school surveys (n = 1406) and focus groups (n = 86) were conducted with S2 (13-14 years) and S4 (15-16 years) students in four schools of differing socioeconomic status in 2013, prior to the PoS display ban in large shops.

The Role of Impulsivity in the Relation Between Negative Affect and Risky Sexual Behaviors.

While risky sexual behavior associates with negative affect, and impulsivity often increases during negative affective states, little is known about the interrelations of these factors. This study examined whether impulsivity explained the relation between negative affect and risky sex among college students. Negative affect exhibited an indirect effect via impulsivity on number of sexual partners for both males and females, and on inconsistent condom use for females, but not males.

Who uses NHS health checks? Investigating the impact of ethnicity and gender and method of invitation on uptake of NHS health checks.

Background: NHS Health Checks is a national risk assessment prevention programme for all individuals aged 40-74 that reside in England. Through the systematic assessment of an individual's ten year disease risk, this programme aims to provide early identification and subsequent management of this risk. However, there is limited evidence on how socio-demographic factors impact on uptake and what influence the invitation method has on uptake to this programme.

Selective Pressure of Temperature on Competition and Cross-Feeding within Denitrifying and Fermentative Microbial Communities.

In coastal marine sediments, denitrification and fermentation are important processes in the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. Microbial communities performing these two processes were enriched from tidal marine sediments in replicated, long term chemostat incubations at 10 and 25°C. Whereas denitrification rates at 25°C were more or less stable over time, at 10°C denitrification activity was unstable and could only be sustained either by repeatedly increasing the amount of carbon substrates provided or by repeatedly decreasing the dilution rate.

Repeated administration of low-dose cisplatin in mice induces fibrosis.

Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic used for the treatment of solid cancers, has nephrotoxic side effects leading to acute kidney injury (AKI). Cisplatin cannot be given to patients that have comorbidities that predispose them to an increased risk for AKI. Even without these comorbidities, 30% of patients administered cisplatin will develop kidney injury, requiring the oncologist to withhold or reduce the next dose, leading to a less effective therapeutic regimen.

Hypermentalizing, attachment, and epistemic trust in adolescent BPD: Clinical illustrations.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been shown to be a valid and reliable diagnosis in adolescents and associated with a decrease in both general and social functioning. With evidence linking BPD in adolescents to poor prognosis, it is important to develop a better understanding of factors and mechanisms contributing to the development of BPD. This could potentially enhance our knowledge and facilitate the design of novel treatment programs and interventions for this group.

Use of highly alkaline conditions to improve cost-effectiveness of algal biotechnology.

Phototrophic microorganisms have been proposed as an alternative to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and to produce biofuels and other valuable products. Low CO2 absorption rates, low volumetric productivities, and inefficient downstream processing, however, currently make algal biotechnology highly energy intensive, expensive, and not economically competitive to produce biofuels. This mini-review summarizes advances made regarding the cultivation of phototrophic microorganisms at highly alkaline conditions, as well as other innovations oriented toward reducing the energy input into the cultivation and processing stages.

Successful treatment of Solanum dulcamara intoxication in a Labrador retriever puppy.

A 10-week-old intact male Labrador retriever dog was presented for acute onset of weakness, ataxia, and generalized muscle tremors. The puppy was suffering respiratory and central nervous system (CNS) depression, was mildly pyrexic, and vomited plant material that was identified as creeping nightshade (Solanum dulcamara). He responded well to supportive care and was discharged successfully.

Suramin protects from cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury.

Cisplatin, a commonly used cancer chemotherapeutic, has a dose-limiting side effect of nephrotoxicity. Approximately 30% of patients administered cisplatin suffer from kidney injury, and there are limited treatment options for the treatment of cisplatin-induced kidney injury. Suramin, which is Federal Drug Administration-approved for the treatment of trypanosomiasis, improves kidney function after various forms of kidney injury in rodent models.

Large-scale screening and characterization of enteroviruses and kobuviruses infecting pigs in Vietnam.

A recent survey of pigs in Dong Thap province, Vietnam identified a high frequency of enterovirus species G (EV-G) infection (144/198; 72.7%). Amongst these was a plethora of EV-G types (EV-G1, EV-G6 and four new types EV-G8-EV-G11).

Acculturative Stress and Risky Sexual Behavior: The Roles of Sexual Compulsivity and Negative Affect.

Recent syndemic models of sexual health disparities affecting racial/ethnic minorities have highlighted the role of discrimination. Yet no previous work has examined how acculturative stress (distress at the transition from one's original culture toward a new culture) associates with sexual HIV-risk behavior (SHRB). Work among other minority populations suggests sexual compulsivity (SC) may contribute to syndemic sexual health disparities as a means of coping with distress.

Sexual Orientation and Borderline Personality Disorder Features in a Community Sample of Adolescents.

Empirical literature demonstrates that sexual minorities are at an increased risk of developing psychopathology, including borderline personality disorder (BPD). The specific link between sexual orientation and BPD has received significantly less attention in youth, and it remains unclear what drives this relation. Given that there are higher rates of psychopathology in both sexual minorities and individuals with BPD, the present study aimed to determine if sexual orientation uniquely contributes to borderline personality pathology, controlling for other psychopathology.

Emotion dysregulation, psychological inflexibility, and shame as explanatory factors between neuroticism and depression.

Background: The association between neuroticism and depression is well documented. However, neuroticism is a general risk factor associated with many forms of psychopathology, such as anxiety, eating, and personality disorders. Past research has suggested that other factors may mediate the relationship between neuroticism and symptoms of particular disorders.

Factors associated with depression among adolescents living with HIV in Malawi.

Background: Prior research suggests that a high prevalence of depression, with a detrimental impact on treatment outcomes exists among HIV-infected youth. Data on potential risk factors of depression among HIV-infected youth in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify contributory/protective factors associated with depression in Malawian adolescents 12-18 years old living with HIV.

Vulnerabilities of the mentalization-based models of vulnerability: A rejoinder to commentaries on the special issue on mentalization in borderline personality disorder.

Fonagy and Sharp read the commentaries with interest, respect, and deep gratitude. Interest, because, consistent with their mentalization-based approach, they discover most about themselves through the eyes of others. Respect, because all the commentators are major contributors to the field whose contributions deserve special issues in their own right.

Mentalization in borderline personality disorder: From bench to bedside.

The current special issue focuses on the potential of mentalizing as a translational construct for the understanding and treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Mentalizing, which provides the central construct around which mentalization-based therapy (MBT) and theory is organized, refers to the capacity to meaningfully reflect on the mind of others as well as the self. In this introductory article to the special issue, we begin by discussing the need for and nature of translational research.

Lesson of the month 1: A cough that doesn't fit the mould.

Aspergillus disease has a wide spectrum of manifestations within the lungs; however invasive Aspergillus is most commonly associated with immunocompromise or pre-existing respiratory disease. Here we present a case of Aspergillus tracheobronchitis causing right middle lobe collapse, masquerading as late-onset asthma in a patient with no pre-existing risk factors following massive inhalation of Aspergillus spores from working with compost. This case highlights the importance of having a high index of suspicion for Aspergillus-related disease even in those with no traditional risk factors.