Leminorella sepsis in very low birth weight neonate as cause of neonatal mortality

Genomic insights into Leminorella grimontii and its chromosomal class A GRI β-lactamase

Leminorella grimontii strain LG-KP-E1-2-T0 was isolated from Zophobas morio larvae. It showed a susceptibility phenotype compatible with the expression of an inducible extended-spectrum β-lactamase. The presence of a chromosomal bla gene encoding for the class A GRI-1 β-lactamase was revealed by whole-genome sequencing. GRI-1 shared the highest amino acid identity with RIC-1 and OXY-type β-lactamases (76-80%). Analysis of six further publicly-available L. grimontii draft genomes deposited in NCBI revealed that blaGRI-1 was always present. Core-genome analysis indicated that LG-KP-E1-2-T0 was unique from other strains. We provided the first complete genome of L. grimontii and new insights on its chromosomal β-lactamases.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms, and their interactions with smoking on risk of low birth weight: a meta-analysis

Background: Published data regarding the association between glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphisms and risk of low birth weight (LBW) remains inconclusive, and data on the interactions between the two gene polymorphisms and smoking for LBW susceptibility is lacking. To clarify these associations, a meta-analysis was conducted.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in multiple databases until 11 January 2018. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed or random effects model.Results: Thirty-eight studies from 17 articles concerning maternal and neonatal GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphism with LBW risk were included in this meta-analysis, and nine studies from five articles provided data of maternal tobacco exposure status during pregnancy. Maternal GSTM1 null genotype was associated with increased LBW risk (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.12-1.45). There was a nonsignificant but positive association (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.97-1.46) between the maternal GSTT1 null genotype and the LBW risk in the overall analysis. There was a null association between neonatal GSTM1 or GSTT1 polymorphism and LBW risk. There were significant associations between the maternal GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotype and LBW risk (for the former, OR = 3.85, 95% CI: 1.68-8.81; for the later, OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.01-3.50) in individuals with active smoking, respectively.Conclusion: Maternal GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes, but not neonatal genotypes, are suggested to increase LBW susceptibility, and there are interactions between active smoking and these polymorphisms in the development of LBW.

Biomarkers for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis: a literature review

Sepsis is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in neonatal populations. There has been constant search of an ideal sepsis biomarker that have high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), so that both the diagnosis and exclusion of neonatal sepsis can be made at the earliest possible and appropriate antibiotics can be started to neonate. Ideal sepsis biomarker will help in guiding us when not to start antibiotics in case of suspect sepsis and total duration of antibiotics course in case of proven sepsis. There are numerous sepsis biomarkers that have been evaluated for early detection of neonatal sepsis but till date there is no single ideal biomarker that fulfills all essential criteria's for being an ideal biomarker. The most commonly used biomarkers are C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), but both have shown varied sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV in different studies. We conducted literature search for various neonatal sepsis biomarkers and this review article will cover briefly all the markers with current available evidence.