eRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) are extensively used in clinical laboratories. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of RADTs for diagnosis of RSV infection and to determine factors associated with accuracy estimates. We searched EMBASE and PubMed for diagnostic-accuracy studies of commercialized RSV RADTs. Studies reporting sensitivity and specificity data compared to a reference standard (reverse transcriptase PCR [RT-PCR], immunofluorescence, or viral culture) were considered. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics, diagnostic-accuracy estimates, and study quality. Accuracy estimates were pooled using bivariate random-effects regression models. Heterogeneity was investigated with prespecified subgroup analyses. Seventy-one articles met inclusion criteria. Overall, RSV RADT pooled sensitivity and specificity were 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 76% to 83%) and 97% (95% CI, 96% to 98%), respectively. Positive-and negative-likelihood ratios were 25.5 (95% CI, 18.3 to 35.5) and 0.21 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.24), respectively. Sensitivity was higher in children (81% [95% CI, 78%, 84%]) than in adults (29% [95% CI, 11% to 48%]). Because of this disparity, further subgroup analyses were restricted to pediatric data (63 studies). Test sensitivity was poorest using RT-PCR as a reference standard and highest using immunofluorescence (74% versus 88%; P < 0.001). Industry-sponsored studies reported significantly higher sensitivity (87% versus 78%; P ‫؍‬ 0.01). Our results suggest that the poor sensitivity of RSV RADTs in adults may preclude their use in this population. Furthermore, industry-sponsored studies and those that did not use RT-PCR as a reference standard likely overestimated test sensitivity.A cute respiratory infection (ARI) due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in infants and children (1-3). RSV also produces substantial morbidity and mortality among the elderly and adults with underlying medical conditions (4, 5).Accurate and prompt diagnosis of RSV ARI can have important benefits for patient care. Because concurrent serious bacterial infection with RSV is uncommon, especially in children (6), a timely diagnosis of RSV ARI should diminish unnecessary antibiotic use (7)(8)(9). It may also minimize ancillary testing (10), decrease hospital stay durations (11), and permit prompt implementation of cohort assignment for the purpose of limiting nosocomial transmission within hospitals and long-term-care facilities (13)(14)(15)(16)57). Laboratory testing of respiratory secretions is required for confirmation of RSV infection because its seasonality and nonspecific clinical manifestations may overlap those of other viral and bacterial causes of ARI (17,18).There are currently four RSV diagnostic modalities in clinical use. Viral culture was long considered the gold standard for RSV diagnosis, but it has a turnaround time of 3 to 7 day...

Purpose of review New respiratory viruses have been discovered in recent years and new molecular diagnostic assays have been developed that improve our understanding of respiratory virus infections. This article will review the changing epidemiology of these viruses after hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplantation. Recent findings Respiratory viruses are frequently detected in transplant recipients. A number of viruses have been newly discovered or emerged in the last decade, including human metapneumovirus, human bocavirus, new human coronaviruses and rhinoviruses, human polyomaviruses, and a new 2009 pandemic strain of influenza A/H1N1. The potential for these viruses to cause lower respiratory tract infections after transplantation varies, and is greatest for human metapneumovirus and H1N1 influenza, but appears to be limited for the other new viruses. Acute and long term complications in hematopoietic and solid organ transplant recipients are active areas of research. Summary Respiratory viral infections are frequently associated with significant morbidity following transplantation and are therefore of great clinical and epidemiologic interest. As new viruses are discovered, and more sensitive diagnostic methods are developed, defining the full impact of emerging respiratory viruses in transplant recipients must be elucidated by well-designed clinical studies.

and GBS remain the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in the first 90 days of life. For empirical therapy of suspected bacterial meningitis, one should consider a third-generation cephalosporin (plus ampicillin for at least the first month), potentially substituting a carbapenem for the cephalosporin if there is evidence for Gram-negative meningitis.

Key Points• In patients with previously diagnosed IPS, more than half (57%) had pathogens detected by currently available diagnostic methods.• Detection of a pathogen was significantly associated with high mortality regardless of significance of pathogenicity in lung. HHV-6 and HRV were rarely detected in controls, whereas CMV and Aspergillus were occasionally detected with low pathogen load. Patients with pathogens had worse day-100 survival than those without (hazard ratio, 1.88; P 5 .03). Mortality in patients with only pathogens of "uncertain" significance in lung was similar to that in patients with pathogens of "established" significance. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing did not reveal additional significant pathogens. Our study demonstrated that approximately half of patients with IPS had pathogens detected in BAL, and pathogen detection was associated with increased mortality. Thus, an expanded infection detection panel can significantly increase the diagnostic precision for idiopathic pneumonia. (Blood. 2015;125(24):3789-3797)

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a common respiratory virus, can cause severe disease in pre- and post-hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis in HCT patients with HMPV (N=23) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV, N=23) detected in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples by reverse-transcription PCR between 2006 and 2011 to determine disease characteristics and factors associated with outcome. Mortality rates at 100 days were 43% for both HMPV and RSV lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD). Steroid therapy, oxygen requirement > 2L or mechanical ventilation and bone marrow as cell source were significant risk factors for overall and virus-related mortality in multivariable models while the virus type was not. The presence of centrilobular/nodular radiographic infiltrates was a possible protective factor for mechanical ventilation. Thus, HMPV LRTD is associated with high mortality in HCT recipients. Earlier detection in combination with new antiviral therapy is needed to reduce mortality among HCT recipients.

S U M M A R YLeptin is a hormone that plays important roles in nutritional status and in obesity. By means of immunocytochemistry, two populations of leptin-secreting cells were found in the lower half of the gastric mucosa. One consists of numerous large cells located around the gastric pits, the Chief epithelial cells, whereas the second refers to much smaller cells, strongly stained, few in number, and scattered between the gastric pits, the endocrine cells. By double immunostaining, leptin and pepsinogen were colocalized in the Chief cells, whereas the endocrine cells were positive only for leptin. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that leptin is present along the rough endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi-granules secretory pathways of the Chief and endocrine cells. On the other hand, leptin-receptor (long and short forms) immunolabelings, although absent in the gastric epithelial cell plasma membranes, were present in enterocytes at the level of their apical and basolateral membranes. Duodenal, jejunal, and ileal enterocytes displayed similar labelings for the leptin receptor. Thus, exocrine and endocrine secretions of leptin together with the presence of leptin receptors on enterocyte plasma membranes constitute a gastroenteric axis that coordinates the role played by leptin in the digestive tract.

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During the last decade, a variety of molecular assays targeting respiratory viruses have been developed and commercialized. Therefore, multiplex PCR are increasingly used in everyday clinical practice. This improves our understanding of respiratory virus epidemiology and enhances our concerns about their clinical impact in specific patient populations. However, questions remain regarding cost-effectiveness of performing these diagnostic tests in routine and their real impact on patient care. This article will review available data and highlight unresolved questions about cost-effectiveness, infection control, clinical utility and public health impact of multiplex respiratory virus assays.