Microbial cell-free DNA for diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infection in the immunocompromised host - what do we know?

Purpose Of Review: Plasma metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) enables detection of microbial cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (mcfDNA) in blood without the need for culture or organism-specific primers. Here, we review clinical performance, methodological variability, and real-world application of plasma mNGS for infectious disease diagnosis in immunocompromised hosts (ICHs).

Recent Findings: Plasma mNGS has rapidly gained attention as a novel diagnostic tool for infections in ICHs, offering broad-range pathogen detection from a noninvasive blood sample.

Human Placental Extract Enhances Neonatal Intestinal Epithelial Reparative Capacity in Porcine Models.

Background And Aims: The devastation caused by necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has continued to claim the lives of infants despite advances in neonatal medicine. To address the acute, and often severe, intestinal epithelial damage caused by NEC, therapeutics that directly target epithelial recovery and cellular regeneration processes are needed.

Methods: We investigated the capacity of a decellularized human placental extract (HPE) to prevent and enhance recovery from NEC-like injury using in vitro and in vivo models.

Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia.

The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance also affects equine veterinarians with increasing frequency. Antimicrobial stewardship and responsible prescribing are essential for a future in which effective antimicrobials are available, as it is unlikely that new antimicrobials will become available for use in horses. While antimicrobials are commonly used to treat equine infections, complications with therapy are also relatively common.

Remorse for discrimination: The role of group dominance in judging hate crimes against subordinate group members.

Power, especially in the court system, is a potent determinant of intergroup relationships. Blind justice being only an ideal, public opinion can influence whether harm to low power groups is considered criminal and should be prosecuted. Our experiments investigated the impact of social dominance orientation (SDO) on the perceived appropriateness of punishment for harm to subordinate group members by dominant group members.

The Royal College of Radiologists' Re-Audit of UK Prostate Brachytherapy Delivery.

Aims: The Royal College of Radiologists' (RCR) audit of prostate brachytherapy was initially performed in 2012 and provided the first comprehensive picture of the use of prostate brachytherapy in the UK. A re-audit in 2022 examined the adherence to audit standards based on national and international guidelines.

Materials And Methods: A web-based data collection tool was developed by The RCR Quality Improvement and Audit Committee and sent to audit leads at all cancer centres in the United Kingdom (UK).