Secret History: Return of the Black Death Channel 4, 7-8pm In 1348 the Black Death swept through London, killing people within days of the appearance of their first symptoms. Exactly how many died, and why, has long been a mystery. This Secret History documentary follows experts as they pick through the evidence and reveal why the plague killed on such a scale. And they ask, what might be coming next?

Medscape

Assessment and characterization of gut microbiota has become a major research area in human disease, including type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent endocrine disease worldwide. To carry out analysis on gut microbial content in patients with type 2 diabetes, we developed a protocol for a metagenome-wide association study (MGWAS) and undertook a two-stage MGWAS based on deep shotgun sequencing of the gut microbial DNA from 345 Chinese individuals. We identified and validated approximately 60,000 type-2-diabetes-associated markers and established the concept of a metagenomic linkage group, enabling taxonomic species-level analyses. MGWAS analysis showed that patients with type 2 diabetes were characterized by a moderate degree of gut microbial dysbiosis, a decrease in the abundance of some universal butyrate-producing bacteria and an increase in various opportunistic pathogens, as well as an enrichment of other microbial functions conferring sulphate reduction and oxidative stress resistance. An analysis of 23 additional individuals demonstrated that these gut microbial markers might be useful for classifying type 2 diabetes.

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A metagenome-wide association study of gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes

Infectious Diseases Society of America.

The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020 is the update of similar evidence based position papers published in 2005 and 2007 and 2012. The core objective of the EPOS2020 guideline is to provide revised, up-to-date and clear evidence-based recommendations and integrated care pathways in ARS and CRS. EPOS2020 provides an update on the literature published and studies undertaken in the eight years since the EPOS2012 position paper was published and addresses areas not extensively covered in EPOS2012 such as paediatric CRS and sinus surgery. EPOS2020 also involves new stakeholders, including pharmacists and patients, and addresses new target users who have become more involved in the management and treatment of rhinosinusitis since the publication of the last EPOS document, including pharmacists, nurses, specialised care givers and indeed patients themselves, who employ increasing self-management of their condition using over the counter treatments. The document provides suggestions for future research in this area and offers updated guidance for definitions and outcome measurements in research in different settings. EPOS2020 contains chapters on definitions and classification where we have defined a large number of terms and indicated preferred terms. A new classification of CRS into primary and secondary CRS and further division into localized and diffuse disease, based on anatomic distribution is proposed. There are extensive chapters on epidemiology and predisposing factors, inflammatory mechanisms, (differential) diagnosis of facial pain, allergic rhinitis, genetics, cystic fibrosis, aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease, immunodeficiencies, allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and the relationship between upper and lower airways. The chapters on paediatric acute and chronic rhinosinusitis are totally rewritten. All available evidence for the management of acute rhinosinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps in adults and children is systematically reviewed and integrated care pathways based on the evidence are proposed. Despite considerable increases in the amount of quality publications in recent years, a large number of practical clinical questions remain. It was agreed that the best way to address these was to conduct a Delphi exercise . The results have been integrated into the respective sections. Last but not least, advice for patients and pharmacists and a new list of research needs are included. The full document can be downloaded for free on the website of this journal: http://www.rhinologyjournal.com.

/pdf/european-position-paper-on-rhinosinusitis-and-nasal-polyps-mj734vsl7p.pdf

European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020

Background
People who are prescribed self-administered medications typically take less than half the prescribed doses. Efforts to assist patients with adherence to medications might improve the benefits of prescribed medications, but also might increase their adverse effects.

Objectives
To update a review summarizing the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions to help patients follow prescriptions for medications for medical problems, including mental disorders but not addictions.

Search methods
We updated searches of The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), PsycINFO (all via OVID) and Sociological Abstracts (via CSA) in January 2007 with no language restriction. We also reviewed bibliographies in articles on patient adherence and articles in our personal collections, and contacted authors of relevant original and review articles.

Selection criteria
Articles were selected if they reported an unconfounded RCT of an intervention to improve adherence with prescribed medications, measuring both medication adherence and treatment outcome, with at least 80% follow-up of each group studied and, for long-term treatments, at least six months follow-up for studies with positive initial findings.

Data collection and analysis
Study design features, interventions and controls, and results were extracted by one review author and confirmed by at least one other review author. We extracted adherence rates and their measures of variance for all methods of measuring adherence in each study, and all outcome rates and their measures of variance for each study group, as well as levels of statistical significance for differences between study groups, consulting authors and verifying or correcting analyses as needed. The studies differed widely according to medical condition, patient population, intervention, measures of adherence, and clinical outcomes. Therefore, we did not feel that quantitative analysis was scientifically justified; rather, we conducted a qualitative analysis.

Main results
For short-term treatments, four of ten interventions reported in nine RCTs showed an effect on both adherence and at least one clinical outcome, while one intervention reported in one RCT significantly improved patient adherence, but did not enhance the clinical outcome. For long-term treatments, 36 of 83 interventions reported in 70 RCTs were associated with improvements in adherence, but only 25 interventions led to improvement in at least one treatment outcome. Almost all of the interventions that were effective for long-term care were complex, including combinations of more convenient care, information, reminders, self-monitoring, reinforcement, counseling, family therapy, psychological therapy, crisis intervention, manual telephone follow-up, and supportive care. Even the most effective interventions did not lead to large improvements in adherence and treatment outcomes.

Authors' conclusions
For short-term treatments several quite simple interventions increased adherence and improved patient outcomes, but the effects were inconsistent from study to study with less than half of studies showing benefits. Current methods of improving adherence for chronic health problems are mostly complex and not very effective, so that the full benefits of treatment cannot be realized. High priority should be given to fundamental and applied research concerning innovations to assist patients to follow medication prescriptions for long-term medical disorders.

Interventions for enhancing medication adherence.

From 1974 to 1994, 2033 microbiological specimens from children were submitted for cultures for anaerobic bacteria Fifty-seven isolates of Bifidobacterium spp were obtained from 55 (3%) children, 67 isolates of Eubacterium spp from 65 (3%) children and 41 isolates of Lactobacillus spp from 40 (2%) children Most Bifidobacterium isolates were from chronic otitis media, abscesses, peritonitis, aspiration pneumonia and paronychia Most Eubacterium isolates were from abscesses, peritonitis, decubitus ulcers and bites Lactobacillus spp were mainly isolated from abscesses, aspiration pneumonia, bacteraemia and conjunctivitis Most (> 90%) infections from which these species were isolated were polymicrobial and yielded a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria The organisms most commonly isolated with the non-sporing anaerobic gram-positive rods were Peptostreptococcus spp, Bacteroides spp, pigmented Prevotella and Porphyromonas spp, Fusobacterium spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Most Bacteroides spp and E coli were isolated from intra-abdominal infection and skin and soft tissue infection around the rectal area, whereas most Prevotella, Porphyromonas and Fusobacterium isolates were from oropharyngeal, pulmonary and head and neck sites The predisposing conditions associated with the isolation of non-sporing anaerobic gram-positive rods were previous surgery, malignancy, steroid therapy and immunodeficiency Antimicrobial therapy was given to 149 (83%) of the 160 patients, in conjunction with surgical drainage or correction of pathology in 89 (56%)

Isolation of non-sporing anaerobic rods from infections in children

The term periodontal disease refers to all diseases that involve the supportive structures of the periodontium. Peridontal diseases commonly begin as a gingivitis and progress to periodontitis. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) is the most fulminate form of gingivitis. The two main forms of periodontitis are chronic periodontitis (also known as adult periodontitis) and aggressive periodontitis (also known as early onset periodontitis, destructive periodontitis, and juvenile periodontitis). Gingivitis treatment involves removing dental plaques and maintaining good oral hygiene. Periodontitis therapy should include root debriding, draining the infected root, and surgically resecting inflamed periodontal tissues. Systemic antimicrobials often are indicated in NUG, chronic periodontitis, and aggressive periodontitis. When possible, antimicrobial selection should be based upon culture and susceptibility testing of the subgingival flora.

Microbiology and management of periodontal infections.

We studied the microbial flora of tonsils removed from 20 children who suffered from recurrent group A β-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) tonsillitis and 20 who had tonsillar hypertrophy following r...

Comparison of the Microbiology of Group a and Non-Group a Streptococcal Tonsillitis:

Despite the fact that group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) is always susceptible to penicillin, bacteriologic failure occurs in up to 20% of the patients treated with penicillin, and half of these cases are also a clinical failure. Various theories have been offered to explain this phenomenon. One explanation is that beta-lactamase-producing bacteria (BLPB) "shield" GABHS by inactivating penicillin. Beta-lactamase-producing bacteria were recovered from over 75% of the tonsils of patients who had tonsillectomy for recurrent infection. The absence of interfering aerobic and anaerobic organisms in many patients may also lead to failure of penicillin therapy in these individuals. Other explanations include noncompliance with a 10-day course of therapy, carrier state, re-infection, bacterial interference, GABHS intracellular internalization, and penicillin tolerance. Penicillin is still considered the antibiotic of choice for the therapy of GABHS tonsillitis. However, antibiotics other than penicillin were found to be more effective in eradicating the infection. These included cephalosporins (of all generations), clindamycin, macrolides, and amoxicillin-clavulanate. These agents were more effective than penicillin, especially in treating patients who failed previous penicillin therapy. Treatment of tonsillitis in patients who failed penicillin therapy is aimed at the eradication of the the BLPB that protect GABHS from penicillin, while preserving the oropharyngeal "protective" organisms. This review will describe the scientific and clinical data that demonstrate and explain the phenomena of beta-lactamase production and bacterial interference.

Failure of penicillin to eradicate group A beta-hemolytic streptococci tonsillitis: causes and management.

The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of recovery of potential pathogens and aerobic and anaerobic interfering bacteria in the nasopharynx and nasal cavity of sinusitis prone (SP) children, with their recovery in non-sinusitis prone (N-SP) children. Nasopharyngeal and nasal cultures were taken from 20 SP and 20 N-SP children. Potential pathogens and aerobic and anaerobic bacteria with interfering capabilities against these micro-organisms were identified. Twenty-one potential pathogens (1.05/patient) were isolated from nasopharyngeal cultures from 14 of the 20 SP children, and 10 (0.5/patient) were recovered from 6 of the 20 NSP (p<0.05). Bacterial interference between two aerobic (alpha and non-haemolytic streptococci) and two anaerobic species (Prevotella and Peptostreptococcus species) and four potential pathogens was observed. Bacterial interference was noted in 64 instances against 4 potential pathogens by 24 normal flora isolates that were recovered from 7 of the SP group and in 144 ...

Itzhak Brook

Papers

Isolation of non-sporing anaerobic rods from infections in children

Microbiology and management of periodontal infections.

Comparison of the Microbiology of Group a and Non-Group a Streptococcal Tonsillitis:

Failure of penicillin to eradicate group A beta-hemolytic streptococci tonsillitis: causes and management.

Bacterial interference in the nasopharynx and nasal cavity of sinusitis prone and non-sinusitis prone children.