Combined oral contraceptive pill-exposure alone does not reduce the risk of bacterial vaginosis recurrence in a pilot randomised controlled trial.

We conducted a pilot open-label randomised controlled trial of combined (oestrogen-progesterone) oral contraceptive pill (COCP)-exposure aimed to examine its effect on BV-recurrence following first-line antibiotics compared to antibiotics alone. Ninety-five women with symptomatic BV were prescribed antibiotic therapy, randomised to COCP-exposure (intervention) or current non-hormonal contraceptive practices (control) and followed monthly for six-months or until BV-recurrence. Modified intention-to-treat methods requiring either ≥1 clinical (primary/Amsel-outcome) or ≥1 microbiological (secondary/Nugent-outcome) BV-recurrence assessment were applied to determine cumulative recurrence rates.

The Role of BACH2 in T Cells in Experimental Malaria Caused by AS.

BTB and CNC Homology 1, Basic Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor 2 (BACH2) is a transcription factor best known for its role in B cell development. More recently, it has been associated with T cell functions in inflammatory diseases, and has been proposed as a master transcriptional regulator within the T cell compartment. In this study, we employed T cell-specific -deficient (B6.

Tear film inflammatory cytokine upregulation in contact lens discomfort.

Purpose: To investigate the ocular inflammatory response, using clinical and immunological techniques, in people experiencing contact lens (CL) discomfort.

Methods: This study involved 38 adults who were full-time, silicone-hydrogel CL wearers. Participants were categorized into groups based upon a validated CL dry-eye questionnaire (CLDEQ-8) (n = 17 'asymptomatic', CLDEQ-8 score <9; n = 21 'symptomatic', CLDEQ-8 score ≥13).

Insights From Deep Sequencing of the HBV Genome-Unique, Tiny, and Misunderstood.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a unique, tiny, partially double-stranded, reverse-transcribing DNA virus with proteins encoded by multiple overlapping reading frames. The substitution rate is surprisingly high for a DNA virus, but lower than that of other reverse transcribing organisms. More than 260 million people worldwide have chronic HBV infection, which causes 0.

Modulating Contact Lens Discomfort With Anti-Inflammatory Approaches: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of anti-inflammatory approaches, comprising a topical corticosteroid and omega-3 supplements, for modulating the inflammatory overlay associated with contact lens discomfort (CLD).

Methods: This randomized controlled trial involved 72 adults with CLD, randomized (1:1:1:1) to one of the following: placebo (oral olive oil), oral fish oil (900 mg/d eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] + 600 mg/d docosohexaenoic acid [DHA]), oral combined fish+flaxseed oils (900 mg/d EPA + 600 mg/d DHA + 900 mg/d alpha-linolenic acid), or omega-3 eye-drops (0.025% EPA + 0.

Molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in African children living in Australia identifies genotypes and variants associated with poor clinical outcome.

Migration from sub-Saharan Africa is contributing to the rising incidence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and its complications in Australia. African CHB is associated with unique genotypes, such as E and A1, which are associated with reduced vaccine efficacy and early-onset hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively, although the prevalence of these genotypes outside Africa is poorly described. Treatment-naïve children of African origin with CHB were recruited at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne.

Uncomplicated Cystitis in an Adult Male Following Influenza B Virus Infection.

BACKGROUND Influenza B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of respiratory illness, circulating concurrently with influenza A viruses. However, virological and clinical knowledge of influenza B viruses is less well advanced than for influenza A, and in particular, complications associated with influenza B infection are not as commonly reported. Complications of influenza B infection predominantly include neurological and musculoskeletal pathologies, while a review of the literature shows that bacterial infections associated with influenza B viruses often involve Gram-positive organisms, with a smaller subset featuring Gram-negative species.

Antiviral strategies to eliminate hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA).

It has been over 50 years since the discovery of hepatitis B virus (HBV), yet 240 million people worldwide live with chronic HBV, resulting in up to 800000 deaths per year. A cure is yet to be achieved, due largely to a viral nuclear reservoir of transcriptionally active covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). While current antiviral therapies are effective at reducing viral replication, they have no impact on the existing cccDNA reservoir.

Tear Interferon-Gamma as a Biomarker for Evaporative Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose: To assess whether tear hyperosmolarity, being diagnostic of dry eye disease (DED), is associated with specific alterations to the cytokine content of human tears that may provide a biomarker for DED.

Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional, clinical study, participants (n = 77) were recruited from a single clinical site and categorized into groups based upon tear osmolarity status (n = 62 hyperosmolar, n = 15 normo-osmolar). Comprehensive anterior eye clinical assessments were undertaken.

Influenza NA and PB1 Gene Segments Interact during the Formation of Viral Progeny: Localization of the Binding Region within the PB1 Gene.

The influenza A virus genome comprises eight negative-sense viral RNAs (vRNAs) that form individual ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. In order to incorporate a complete set of each of these vRNAs, the virus uses a selective packaging mechanism that facilitates co-packaging of specific gene segments but whose molecular basis is still not fully understood. Recently, we used a competitive transfection model where plasmids encoding the A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) and A/Udorn/307/72 (Udorn) PB1 gene segments were competed to show that the Udorn PB1 gene segment is preferentially co-packaged into progeny virions with the Udorn NA gene segment.

High conservation level of CD8(+) T cell immunogenic regions within an unusual H1N2 human influenza variant.

Current seasonal influenza vaccines require regular updates due to antigenic drift causing loss of effectiveness and therefore providing little or no protection against novel influenza A subtypes. Next generation vaccines capable of eliciting CD8(+) T cell (CTL) mediated cross-protective immunity may offer a long-term alternative strategy. However, measuring pre- and existing levels of CTL cross-protection in humans is confounded by differences in infection histories across individuals.

Reducing the impact of influenza-associated secondary pneumococcal infections.

When administered prophylactically, we show that the Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) agonist PEG-Pam2Cys (pegylated-S-(2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)propyl)cysteine) not only mediates potent anti-viral activity against influenza virus but also reduces the impact of secondary infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) by reducing (i) pulmonary viral and bacterial burdens, (ii) the levels of proinflammatory cytokines that normally accompany influenza and S. pneumoniae secondary infections and (iii) the vascular permeability of the pulmonary tract that can allow bacterial invasion of the blood in mice. We also show that an inactivated detergent-disrupted influenza virus vaccine formulated with the Pam2Cys-based adjuvant R4-Pam2Cys provides the host with both immediate and long-term protection against secondary pneumococcal infections following influenza virus infection through innate and specific immune mechanisms, respectively.

Different arms of the adaptive immune system induced by a combination vaccine work in concert to provide enhanced clearance of influenza.

Current split influenza virus vaccines that induce strain-specific neutralising antibodies provide some degree of protection against influenza infection but there is a clear need to improve their effectiveness. The constant antigenic drift of influenza viruses means that vaccines are often not an exact match to the circulating strain and so levels of relevant antibodies may not be sufficiently high to afford protection. In the situation where the emergent influenza virus is completely novel, as is the case with pandemic strains, existing vaccines may provide no benefit.

The role of HIV-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in HIV prevention and the influence of the HIV-1 Vpu protein.

There is growing interest in the role of anti-HIV antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) antibodies in the prevention and control of HIV infection. Passive transfer studies in macaques support a role for the Fc region of antibodies in assisting in the prevention of simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection. The Thai RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial induced anti-HIV ADCC antibodies that may have played a role in the partial protection observed.