The effects of diabetes clubs on peer-support, disclosure of diabetes status, and sources of information regarding diabetes management: results of a pilot-intervention in rural Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the effects of diabetes clubs on peer support, disclosure of diabetes status, and the source of information regarding the management of diabetes among persons living with type-2 diabetes (T2D) in rural Vietnam. STUDY DESIGN: A pre- and post-pilot intervention study was carried out in Thai Binh Province, Vietnam (n = 222). RESULTS: Post-intervention, 57.7 % reported using experiences shared by other persons with T2D during the diabetes club sessions. Compared to pre-intervention, there was an increase in the proportion of persons with T2D who disclosed their diabetes status to friends and/or community members (an increase of 15.3 and 13.8 percentage points, respectively). The proportion of persons who reported gathering their own information regarding diabetes management without any support from others decreased from 15.7 % to 6.3 %. Those who reported a relative inside their home or a relative outside their household as their primary source of T2D-relevant information increased from 10.8 % to 18.6 % and from 2.7 % to 9.5 %, respectively. Persons who mentioned that they did not have a need for further support for their diabetes care increased from 18.5 % to 32.0 %. Specific support regarding diabetes-related knowledge received from family members, friends, and/or community members increased from 27.5 % to 62.2 % CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a promising potential for the implementation of diabetes clubs to enhance diabetes-relevant knowledge and the quality of self-management among persons living with T2D diabetes in rural areas of Vietnam.

Reutericyclin producing Lactobacillus reuteri modulates development of fecal microbiota in weanling pigs.

Lactobacillus reuteri is used as probiotic culture in food and feed applications; however, strain specific properties of L. reuteri that mediate probiotic activity remain unknown. This study aimed to determine effects of feed fermentation with exopolysaccharide and reutericyclin producing L. reuteri on the transition of the gut microbiome of piglets after weaning. The reutericyclin and reuteran producing L. reuteri TMW1.656 was compared to the reutericyclin negative and levan producing L. reuteri LTH5794 and unfermented controls. Both strains were fermented at conditions supporting exopolysaccharide formation, or at conditions not supporting exopolysaccharide formation. Fecal microbiota were characterized by partial sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, and by quantitative PCR targeting clostridial toxins. The transition to solid food resulted in a transient increase of Proteobacteria to 12% of total bacteria, and increased bacterial diversity by increasing the abundance of anaerobic fiber fermenting Firmicutes. Three weeks after weaning, Prevotella and Lactobacillus were among the dominant bacterial genera. Feed fermentation with L. reuteri affected the abundance of few bacterial taxa and particularly reduced the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae (P < 0.05) when compared to unfermented controls. Reutericyclin producing L. reuteri increased the abundance of Dialister spp. and Mitsuokella spp. (P < 0.05) but did not influence the abundance of clostridial toxins in the feces. In conclusion, data on the contribution of specific metabolic activities of L. reuteri to probiotic activity will facilitate the strain selection for probiotic applications in food and feed.

10 Mb/s visible light transmission system using a polymer light-emitting diode with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing.

We present a newly designed polymer light-emitting diode with a bandwidth of ~350 kHz for high-speed visible light communications. Using this new polymer light-emitting diode as a transmitter, we have achieved a record transmission speed of 10 Mb/s for a polymer light-emitting diode-based optical communication system with an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing technique, matching the performance of single carrier formats using multitap equalization. For achieving such a high data-rate, a power pre-emphasis technique was adopted.

Triple combination of amantadine, ribavirin, and oseltamivir is highly active and synergistic against drug resistant influenza virus strains in vitro.

The rapid emergence and subsequent spread of the novel 2009 Influenza A/H1N1 virus (2009 H1N1) has prompted the World Health Organization to declare the first pandemic of the 21st century, highlighting the threat of influenza to public health and healthcare systems. Widespread resistance to both classes of influenza antivirals (adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors) occurs in both pandemic and seasonal viruses, rendering these drugs to be of marginal utility in the treatment modality. Worldwide, virtually all 2009 H1N1 and seasonal H3N2 strains are resistant to the adamantanes (rimantadine and amantadine), and the majority of seasonal H1N1 strains are resistant to oseltamivir, the most widely prescribed neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI). To address the need for more effective therapy, we evaluated the in vitro activity of a triple combination antiviral drug (TCAD) regimen composed of drugs with different mechanisms of action against drug-resistant seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza viruses. Amantadine, ribavirin, and oseltamivir, alone and in combination, were tested against amantadine- and oseltamivir-resistant influenza A viruses using an in vitro infection model in MDCK cells. Our data show that the triple combination was highly synergistic against drug-resistant viruses, and the synergy of the triple combination was significantly greater than the synergy of any double combination tested (P<0.05), including the combination of two NAIs. Surprisingly, amantadine and oseltamivir contributed to the antiviral activity of the TCAD regimen against amantadine- and oseltamivir-resistant viruses, respectively, at concentrations where they had no activity as single agents, and at concentrations that were clinically achievable. Our data demonstrate that the TCAD regimen composed of amantadine, ribavirin, and oseltamivir is highly synergistic against resistant viruses, including 2009 H1N1. The TCAD regimen overcomes baseline drug resistance to both classes of approved influenza antivirals, and thus may represent a highly active antiviral therapy for seasonal and pandemic influenza.

Triple combination of oseltamivir, amantadine, and ribavirin displays synergistic activity against multiple influenza virus strains in vitro.

The recurring emergence of influenza virus strains that are resistant to available antiviral medications has become a global health concern, especially in light of the potential for a new influenza virus pandemic. Currently, virtually all circulating strains of influenza A virus in the United States are resistant to either of the two major classes of anti-influenza drugs (adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors). Thus, new therapeutic approaches that can be rapidly deployed and that will address the issue of recurring resistance should be developed. We have tested double and triple combinations of the approved anti-influenza drugs oseltamivir and amantadine together with ribavirin against three influenza virus strains using cytopathic effect inhibition assays in MDCK cells. We selected A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) and A/Sydney/05/97 (H3N2) as representatives of the wild-type versions of the predominant circulating seasonal influenza virus strains and A/Duck/MN/1525/81 (H5N1) as a representative of avian influenza virus strains. Dose-response curves were generated for all drug combinations, and the degree of drug interaction was quantified using a model that calculates the synergy (or antagonism) between the drugs in double and triple combinations. This report demonstrates that a triple combination of antivirals was highly synergistic against influenza A virus. Importantly, the synergy of the triple combination was 2- to 13-fold greater than the synergy of any double combination depending on the influenza virus subtype. These data support the investigation of a novel combination of oseltamivir, amantadine, and ribavirin as an effective treatment for both seasonal and pandemic influenza virus, allowing the efficient use of the existing drug supplies.