23 research outputs found

    Recommendations for enterovirus diagnostics and characterisation within and beyond Europe.

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    Enteroviruses (EV) can cause severe neurological and respiratory infections, and occasionally lead to devastating outbreaks as previously demonstrated with EV-A71 and EV-D68 in Europe. However, these infections are still often underdiagnosed and EV typing data is not currently collected at European level. In order to improve EV diagnostics, collate data on severe EV infections and monitor the circulation of EV types, we have established European non-polio enterovirus network (ENPEN). First task of this cross-border network has been to ensure prompt and adequate diagnosis of these infections in Europe, and hence we present recommendations for non-polio EV detection and typing based on the consensus view of this multidisciplinary team including experts from over 20 European countries. We recommend that respiratory and stool samples in addition to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples are submitted for EV testing from patients with suspected neurological infections. This is vital since viruses like EV-D68 are rarely detectable in CSF or stool samples. Furthermore, reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) targeting the 5'noncoding regions (5'NCR) should be used for diagnosis of EVs due to their sensitivity, specificity and short turnaround time. Sequencing of the VP1 capsid protein gene is recommended for EV typing; EV typing cannot be based on the 5'NCR sequences due to frequent recombination events and should not rely on virus isolation. Effective and standardized laboratory diagnostics and characterisation of circulating virus strains are the first step towards effective and continuous surveillance activities, which in turn will be used to provide better estimation on EV disease burden

    Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

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    We show the distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three genomic nomenclature systems to all sequence data from the World Health Organization European Region available until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation, compare the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2

    Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor-agonists for antipsychotic-associated cardio-metabolic risk factors: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

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    Patients with schizophrenia have higher cardio-metabolic risk, partially from antipsychotic-induced weight-gain. Glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor-agonists (GLP-1RAs) may reduce antipsychotic-associated weight-gain, however, safety and efficacy in schizophrenia has not been systematically reviewed.We systematically searched PubMed/EMBASE/PsycINFO/Cochrane, using the search terms "(antipsychotic and GLP-1RA)". Individual participant data from studies randomizing patients to GLP-1RA or control were meta-analysed. Primary outcome was difference in body weight between GLP-1RA and control; secondary outcomes included cardio-metabolic parameters and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Multiple linear regression was conducted including sex, age, psychosis severity, metabolic parameter, ADRs, and GLP-1RA-agent.Three studies (exenatide once-weekly=2; liraglutide once-daily=1) provided participant-level data (n=164, age=40.0±11.1years, weight=105.8±20.8kg). After 16.2±4.0 weeks of treatment, weight loss was 3.71 kg (95% CI=2.44-4.99 kg) greater for GLP-1RA vs. control (
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