Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Anqi Jin, Tony Chien, Qiwen Huang, Pragati Kenkare, Mai Vu, Sandra Wilson, Edward S. Huang
Summary: The study found that cholecystectomy is associated with a slightly increased risk of incident CDI, but this effect is not influenced by the use of proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, or hospitalization.
DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Ryan M. Hanson, Amy J. Wagner
Summary: Severe, complicated Clostridium difficile colitis is rare in pediatric patients and little is known about its medical and surgical management in this population. A case report of a 15-year-old female patient with severe, complicated C difficile colitis successfully treated with diverting loop ileostomy and colonic lavage is presented. This approach, instead of subtotal colectomy and end ileostomy, should be considered as an alternative for pediatric patients with severe, complicated C difficile colitis.
Article
Microbiology
Siqi Wang, Leyang Xiang, Fang li, Wenlin Deng, Pinjing Lv, Ye Chen
Summary: This study found that levels of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, are reduced, and normal colon structure is damaged in patients with CDI compared with those in healthy individuals. Bile acid (BA) metabolic disorder in patients with CDI is characterized by increased primary BA levels and decreased secondary BAs. Butyrate treatment may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for patients with CDI.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Ibrahim A. Al-Zahrani
Summary: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is a global threat to many healthcare settings. Excessive use of antimicrobials, lack of optimal antibiotic policies, and suboptimal infection control practices have fueled the development of this health issue. Prudent use of antimicrobials and simple infection control measures can significantly reduce infection rates.
SAUDI MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Piccioni, Federico Rosa, Federica Manca, Giulia Pignataro, Christian Zanza, Gabriele Savioli, Marcello Covino, Veronica Ojetti, Antonio Gasbarrini, Francesco Franceschi, Marcello Candelli
Summary: The composition of the human microbiome plays a crucial role in health, and alterations in the microbiota can lead to Clostridium difficile infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Meng Wang, Zifeng Deng, Yanmei Li, Yi Ma, Jufang Wang
Summary: A novel lytic protein Cw1-CWB2 with high binding specificity and strong lytic activity has been designed in this study for combating C. difficile.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashleigh S. Paparella, Briana L. Aboulache, Rajesh K. Harijan, Kathryn S. Potts, Peter C. Tyler, Vern L. Schramm
Summary: Clostridium difficile produces toxins TcdA and TcdB causing diarrhea by affecting host cell functions using UDP-glucose, leading to disease onset. Researchers identified potential therapeutic approach using transition state analogue iminosugars.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Justin Weppner, Joelle Gabet, Mark Linsenmeyer, Mohamed Yassin, Gary Galang
Summary: The study found the presence of C difficile spores in an acute rehabilitation environment and showed that proper disinfection methods can effectively reduce the risk of infection. It is important to sporicidally disinfect surfaces such as beds and wheelchairs to decrease the rates of C difficile infection.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Aaron C. Miller, Daniel K. Sewell, Alberto M. Segre, Sriram Pemmaraju, Philip M. Polgreen
Summary: A case-control study compared hospitalized patients with and without Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) to determine the association between healthcare exposures prior to hospitalization and risk for hospital-onset CDI, with results showing that patients with CDI had more frequent prior healthcare exposures. The likelihood of CDI during hospitalization was greater with healthcare visits, antibiotic use, and family exposures, but the association decreased with time between exposure and hospitalization. These findings were consistent across different CDI case definitions.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Alexis Hess, Saskya Byerly, Emily Lenart, Cory Evans, Andrew Kerwin, Dina Filiberto
Summary: This study aimed to identify predictors of Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) in general surgery patients. Patients who underwent general surgery operations were analyzed, and it was found that older age, emergent operation, increased time to operation, infections at surgical sites, deep organ space infections, steroid use, metastatic cancer, smoking, and decreased body mass index (BMI) were independent predictors of CDI.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mao Hagihara, Tadashi Ariyoshi, Yasutoshi Kuroki, Shuhei Eguchi, Seiya Higashi, Takeshi Mori, Tsunemasa Nonogaki, Kenta Iwasaki, Makoto Yamashita, Nobuhiro Asai, Yusuke Koizumi, Kentaro Oka, Motomichi Takahashi, Yuka Yamagishi, Hiroshige Mikamo
Summary: CBM 588 enhances the antibacterial activity against C. difficile, reduces colon epithelial damage, and improves immunity through upregulating pathogen specific immunoglobulin A and enhancing gut epithelial barrier function to protect colon tissue from CDI.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Malin Inghammar, Henrik Svanstrom, Marianne Voldstedlund, Mads Melbye, Anders Hviid, Kare Molbak, Bjorn Pasternak
Summary: In a nationwide study among adults in Denmark, it was found that the use of PPIs is associated with a moderately increased risk of community-associated Clostridium difficile infection. The elevated risk remained up to 1 year after the end of PPI treatment.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Kulecka, Edyta Waker, Filip Ambrozkiewicz, Agnieszka Paziewska, Karolina Skubisz, Patrycja Cybula, Lukasz Targonski, Michal Mikula, Jan Walewski, Jerzy Ostrowski
Summary: Our study revealed that the presence of specific genes related to carbon metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation increased the risk of infection recurrence. More core genes were found to be under positive selective pressure in recurrent disease isolates, mainly associated with amino acid metabolism. Prophage elements were more prevalent in single infection isolates, while plasmids did not influence the odds of recurrence.
Article
Immunology
Jen-Chieh Lee, Yuan -Pin Hung, Bo -Yang Tsai, Pei -Jane Tsai, Wen -Chien Ko
Summary: Severe CDIs in the ICU were not rare in this study. The ileus group tended to have more severe presentation, with severe and fulminant CDIs accounting for 65.2% and an ICU mortality rate of 39.1%. Clinicians should be aware of abdominal symptoms and signs other than diarrhea, such as ileus, for timely diagnosis and management of CDI.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tadakuni Monma, Junichi Iwamoto, Akira Honda, Hajime Ueda, Fumio Kakizaki, Shoichiro Yara, Teruo Miyazaki, Tadashi Ikegami
Summary: The ratio of secondary bile acids in serum can serve as a biomarker for predicting susceptibility to Clostridium difficile infection, with levels below a certain threshold indicating a higher risk of CDI.
Article
Nursing
Hayley Martin, Edwin van Wijngaarden, Christopher L. Seplaki, Jenney Stringer, Geoffrey C. Williams, Ann M. Dozier
Summary: The study validated a breastfeeding-specific adaptation of the TSRQ, using it to predict prenatal breastfeeding intentions and outcomes, which may help identify patients at risk for suboptimal breastfeeding outcomes before delivery.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN LACTATION
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Elizabeth K. Belcher, Eva Culakova, Nikesha J. Gilmore, Sara J. Hardy, Amber S. Kleckner, Ian R. Kleckner, Lianlian Lei, Charles Heckler, Michael B. Sohn, Bryan D. Thompson, Louis T. Lotta, Zachary A. Werner, Jodi Geer, Judith O. Hopkins, Steven W. Corso, David Q. Rich, Edwin van Wijngaarden, Michelle C. Janelsins
Summary: Inflammation levels are elevated in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy, which is associated with worse attention and processing speed. Lower levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and higher levels of inflammatory cytokines and receptors are observed in patients. Further confirmatory studies are needed.
JNCI-JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jennifer Vermilion, Erika F. Augustine, Heather R. Adams, Amy Vierhile, Alyssa T. Collins, Michael P. McDermott, Thomas G. O'Connor, Roger Kurlan, Edwin van Wijngaarden, Jonathan W. Mink
Summary: The study found no significant differences in risky behaviors between youth with TS and control youth, but ADHD was more common in youth with TS, and those who were bullied in school had higher ADHD symptom severity scores.
PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
H. Alzamil, T. T. Wu, E. van Wijngaarden, M. Mendoza, H. Malmstrom, K. Fiscella, D. T. Kopycka-Kedzierawski, R. J. Billings, J. Xiao
Summary: This study found that wearing removable dentures is a risk predictor for increased pneumonia incidence among older adults, even after adjusting for other risk factors. Clinicians and older patients can refer to these study results when choosing dental prostheses to restore missing teeth.
JDR CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Toni Spence, Alexis Zavez, Philip J. Allsopp, Marie C. Conway, Alison J. Yeates, Maria S. Mulhern, Edwin van Wijngaarden, J. J. Strain, Gary J. Myers, Gene E. Watson, Philip W. Davidson, Conrad F. Shamlaye, Sally W. Thurston, Emeir M. McSorley
Summary: The study found that methylmercury exposure from fish consumption does not seem to affect inflammation markers in cord blood. The association of cord n-3 PUFA with lower IL-10 and total Th2 cytokines suggests that they may have a beneficial influence on the regulation of the inflammatory milieu. These findings are important for public health advice and warrant further investigation in follow-up studies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Sally W. Thurston, Gary Myers, Daniel Mruzek, Donald Harrington, Heather Adams, Conrad Shamlaye, Edwin van Wijngaarden
Summary: The study found that postnatal MeHg exposure may be adversely associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in early adulthood, but the results need confirmation in other cohorts.
Article
Neurosciences
Karin Wahlberg, Daniela Pineda, Grazyna Zareba, Sally W. Thurston, Philip W. Davidson, Conrad F. Shamlaye, Gary J. Myers, Matthew Rand, Edwin Van Wijngaarden, Karin Broberg
Summary: This study suggests that genetic variation in ABC transporter genes in children may contribute to prenatal methylmercury exposure and early neurodevelopment. One specific gene, ABCC1 rs11075290, was associated with cord blood MeHg concentrations, while another gene, ABCB1 rs10276499, showed an interaction effect on the relationship between cord MeHg and the Mental Developmental Index of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alistair Thorpe, Angela Fagerlin, Frank A. Drews, Jorie Butler, Vanessa Stevens, Marian S. Riddoch, Laura D. Scherer
Summary: This study investigates how to effectively communicate about the side effects and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The findings suggest that providing information on the benefits of vaccination, reframing the likelihood of side effects, and emphasizing post-vaccine symptoms can increase vaccine interest. Using verbal certainty and an efficacy range in messages can also enhance confidence in vaccine efficacy. The study also reveals that Veterans show higher levels of interest and confidence in COVID-19 vaccines compared to non-Veterans.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH PROMOTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juho Joutsa, Khaled Moussawi, Shan H. Siddiqi, Amir Abdolahi, William Drew, Alexander L. Cohen, Thomas J. Ross, Harshawardhan U. Deshpande, Henry Z. Wang, Joel Bruss, Elliot A. Stein, Nora D. Volkow, Jordan H. Grafman, Edwin van Wijngaarden, Aaron D. Boes, Michael D. Fox
Summary: Drug addiction is a significant public health crisis, and new treatments are urgently needed. Research has shown that focal brain damage can lead to addiction remission, which can be used to identify potential therapeutic targets. The study analyzed cohorts of smokers with addiction and found that specific patterns of brain connectivity were associated with addiction remission. These findings were reproducible across different cohorts and specific to addiction metrics.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lori M. Gawron, Tao He, Lacey Lewis, Hannah Fudin, Lisa S. Callegari, David K. Turok, Vanessa Stevens
Summary: The provision of oral emergency contraception (EC) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) remains low, but there is an increasing use of ulipristal acetate (UPA). Levonorgestrel (LNG) prescriptions are commonly given to high BMI veterans, who would benefit from the increased efficacy of UPA. Expanding access to oral EC in VHA is crucial in ensuring veterans' ability to prevent unintended pregnancies.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alistair Thorpe, Angela Fagerlin, Jorie Butler, Vanessa Stevens, Frank A. Drews, Holly Shoemaker, Marian S. Riddoch, Laura D. Scherer
Summary: This study examines the effectiveness of messages addressing beliefs and concerns related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The results show that providing information about vaccine risks and the development process did not significantly improve vaccine intentions. Further research is needed to effectively address concerns and understand influencing factors.
Letter
Dermatology
Caitlin M. Bolender, Amber Jimenez, Jennie T. Clarke, Tina M. Willson, Vanessa W. Stevens, Jamie L. W. Rhoads
Summary: This cohort study examined the incidence of dermatomyositis and its trend over time in the US Department of Veterans Affairs health care system.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Andrea Gurmankin Levy, Alistair Thorpe, Laura D. Scherer, Aaron M. Scherer, Frank A. Drews, Jorie M. Butler, Nicole Burpo, Holly Shoemaker, Vanessa Stevens, Angela Fagerlin
Summary: This survey study of US adults found that nearly half of the participants reported misrepresentation and/or nonadherence regarding public health measures against COVID-19. Further research is needed to examine strategies for communicating the consequences of misrepresentation and nonadherence and to address contributing factors.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Holly E. Shoemaker, Alistair Thorpe, Vanessa Stevens, Jorie M. Butler, Frank A. Drews, Nicole Burpo, Laura Scherer, Angela Fagerlin
Summary: This study examines the characteristics and experiences of telehealth users and nonusers, including both veterans and nonveterans. The findings reveal that although there is no significant difference in the likelihood of using telehealth between veterans and nonveterans, veterans tend to have more telehealth visits when they do use it. Individuals aged 55 and older and those living in small cities are less likely to use telehealth and report fewer visits. Receiving healthcare primarily or partly at the Veterans Health Administration (VA) is associated with higher telehealth use and more telehealth visits.
JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Amber S. Kleckner, Edwin van Wijngaarden, Todd A. Jusko, Ian R. Kleckner, Po -Ju Lin, Karen M. Mustian, Luke J. Peppone
Summary: A higher diet quality, as indicated by higher serum concentrations of carotenoids, vitamin A, and vitamin E, is associated with lower cancer-related fatigue. However, this association is not observed among cancer survivors. This study highlights the importance of diet and nutrition interventions in addressing cancer-related fatigue, particularly in post-treatment survivorship.
CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)