Evaluation of bexagliflozin in cats with poorly regulated diabetes mellitus.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bexagliflozin on glycemic control in poorly regulated diabetic cats and to evaluate for adverse events associated with this medication. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are a newer class of drugs used in the management of humans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the orally administered drug, bexagliflozin in a group of poorly regulated diabetic cats over a 4-week study period. Five client-owned cats with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy were enrolled. Bexagliflozin was administered once daily. Serum fructosamine, serum biochemistry profile, and 10-hour blood glucose curves were assessed at baseline (Day 0), Day 14, and Day 28. All cats had a significant reduction in insulin dose requirement (P = 0.015) and insulin was discontinued in 2 cats. There was a significant decrease in blood glucose concentration obtained from blood glucose concentration curves during the study period (P = 0.022). Serum fructosamine decreased in 4 of the 5 cats with a median decrease of 152 μmol/L (range: 103 to 241 μmol/L), which was not statistically significant (P = 0.117). No cats had any documented episodes of hypoglycemia. Adverse effects were mild. The addition of bexagliflozin significantly improved diabetic management in this group of cats

Characterization of EhaJ, a New Autotransporter Protein from Enterohemorrhagic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) are diarrheagenic pathotypes of E. coli that cause gastrointestinal disease with the potential for life-threatening sequelae. While certain EHEC and EPEC virulence mechanisms have been extensively studied, the factors that mediate host colonization remain to be properly defined. Previously, we identified four genes ( ehaA , ehaB , ehaC , and ehaD ) from the prototypic EHEC strain EDL933 that encode for proteins that belong to the autotransporter (AT) family. Here we have examined the prevalence of these genes, as well as several other AT-encoding genes, in a collection of EHEC and EPEC strains. We show that the complement of AT-encoding genes in EHEC and EPEC strains is variable, with some AT-encoding genes being highly prevalent. One previously uncharacterized AT-encoding gene, which we have termed ehaJ , was identified in 12/44 (27%) of EHEC and 2/20 (10%) of EPEC strains. The ehaJ gene lies immediately adjacent to a gene encoding a putative glycosyltransferase (referred to as egtA ). Western blot analysis using an EhaJ-specific antibody indicated that EhaJ is glycosylated by EgtA. Expression of EhaJ in a recombinant E. coli strain, revealed EhaJ is located at the cell surface and in the presence of the egtA glycosyltransferase gene mediates strong biofilm formation in microtiter plate and flow cell assays. EhaJ also mediated adherence to a range of extracellular matrix proteins, however this occurred independent of glycosylation. We also demonstrate that EhaJ is expressed in a wild-type EPEC strain following in vitro growth. However, deletion of ehaJ did not significantly alter its adherence or biofilm properties. In summary, EhaJ is a new glycosylated AT protein from EPEC and EHEC. Further studies are required to elucidate the function of EhaJ in colonization and virulence

Low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 detected in symptomatic children admitted to hospital

Aims Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan, China in 2019 and is responsible for the condition known as COVID-19. COVID-19 was first reported in Ireland in February 2020 with University Hospital Limerick’s (UHL) first paediatric case reported on 4th March 2020. Studies have shown clinical manifestations of children’s cases are generally less severe than those of adults. UHL serves a catchment population of approximately 100,000 children. We aimed to describe the clinical presentation, and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, in children requiring inpatient hospitalization during the initial phase of the pandemic in Ireland. Methods Data were examined relating to all inpatients aged 0 – 16 years admitted with a queried or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 from 8 th February 2020 to 8th June 2020. Emergency Department notes and inpatient records along with laboratory and radiology records were reviewed. Results 220 paediatric inpatients were tested by PCR for SARS-CoV-2 during this period; 101 (45.9%) were female. Ninety-five (43.2%) were diagnosed with ‘viral illnesses’. Seven (3.2%) had laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2, with an average age of 8.1 years (range: 0.59 years to 13.77 years). There were two Kawasaki-like illnesses admitted; both tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on PCR. In our SARS-CoV-2 positive cohort, there was no associated significant morbidity and no associated mortality. Conclusion During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, prevalence of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic hospitalised children was low at 3.2