.. A total of 254 participants (184 men [72%]; mean [SD] age, 34 [6] years) were enrolled in the trial; 126 were randomized to receive zinc, and 128 were randomized to receive placebo. Participants had high CD4 cell counts (mean [SD], 521 [292] cells/mm3), and 188 (74%) reported heavy drinking in the past week. In… Continue reading Effect of #Zinc Supplementation vs Placebo on Mortality Risk and #HIV Disease Progression Among HIV-Positive Adults With Heavy #Alcohol Use
Category: Infectivology
Environmental Factors and Host Microbiomes Shape Host–Pathogen Dynamics
In many cases, interactions among host, pathogen, and environment are insufficient to describe disease dynamics in the wild. The host microbiome plays an important role in host immunity, at the interface between the host and the pathogen, and affects disease outcome. The environment, as well as environmental microbiomes, influence the host microbiome, and also influence… Continue reading Environmental Factors and Host Microbiomes Shape Host–Pathogen Dynamics
Skeletal muscle antagonizes antiviral CD8+ T cell exhaustion
CD8+ T cells become functionally impaired or “exhausted” in chronic infections, accompanied by unwanted body weight reduction and muscle mass loss. Whether muscle regulates T cell exhaustion remains incompletely understood. We report that mouse skeletal muscle increased interleukin (IL)–15 production during LCMV clone 13 chronic infection. Muscle-specific ablation of Il15 enhanced the CD8+ T cell… Continue reading Skeletal muscle antagonizes antiviral CD8+ T cell exhaustion
CDC people at risk of devere COVID-19 illness
..CDC has removed the specific age threshold from the older adult classification. CDC now warns that among adults, risk increases steadily as you age, and it’s not just those over the age of 65 who are at increased risk for severe illness.. ..There was consistent evidence (from multiple small studies or a strong association from… Continue reading CDC people at risk of devere COVID-19 illness
Greater T Regulatory Cells in Females Attenuate DOCA-Salt–Induced Increases in Blood Pressure Versus Males
Hypertension is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular disease, causing over 18 million deaths a year. Although the mechanisms controlling blood pressure (BP) in either sex remain largely unknown, T cells play a critical role in the development of hypertension. Further evidence supports a role for the immune system in contributing to sex differences… Continue reading Greater T Regulatory Cells in Females Attenuate DOCA-Salt–Induced Increases in Blood Pressure Versus Males
Detection of Ciprofloxacin resistant beta lactamase producing Neisseria meningitidis
What is already known about this topic? Most Neisseria meningitidis isolates in the United States have been susceptible to antibiotics recommended for treatment and prophylaxis. What is added by this report? During 2019–2020, 11 meningococcal isolates from U.S. patients had isolates containing a blaROB-1 β-lactamase gene associated with penicillin resistance and mutations associated with ciprofloxacin… Continue reading Detection of Ciprofloxacin resistant beta lactamase producing Neisseria meningitidis
Association of Azithromycin Use With Cardiovascular Mortality
Azithromycin is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in the US. It has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death in some observational studies.. ..The study included 7 824 681 antibiotic exposures, including 1 736 976 azithromycin exposures (22.2%) and 6 087 705 amoxicillin exposures (77.8%), among 2 929 008 unique individuals (mean [SD] age, 50.7 [12.3] years; 1 810 127 [61.8%]… Continue reading Association of Azithromycin Use With Cardiovascular Mortality
Prevalence of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly throughout the world since the first cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were observed in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It has been suspected that infected persons who remain asymptomatic play a significant role in the ongoing pandemic, but their relative number and effect have… Continue reading Prevalence of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of #COVID-19
Various mitigation measures have been implemented to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including widely adopted social distancing and mandated face covering. However, assessing the effectiveness of those intervention practices hinges on the understanding of virus transmission, which remains uncertain. Here we show that airborne transmission is highly virulent and represents the dominant route… Continue reading Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of #COVID-19
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