Erratum to: Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13017-016-0089-y.].

Nucleotide sequence of precore region of hepatitis B virus DNA in HBsAg-positive carriers in Malaysia

As most published studies on precore mutants have been carried out on isolates from patients with liver diseases, and it is unclear whether HBsAg carriers with viraemia in the absence of HBeAg are also generally infected by such mutants, it was decided to sequence the precore region in some HBV-DNA isolated from HBsAg-positive carriers. Precore sequences of HBV-DNA from 43 HBsAg carriers in Malaysia were studied. Three HBV subtypes were identified according to the nucleotide sequence of the precore region. Most of the carriers were found to be infected by the subtype adr. Mutations were detected in the precore regions. The most common conserved mutation was a silent mutation involving conversion from T to C (CCT to CCC) at position 1858 at codon 15 (proline). It was found that 4/43 (9.3%) had a mutation at the penultimate codon where TGG was changed to TAG. All 4 isolates with the TAG mutation had nt T at position 1858. Of the 4 carriers who were infected by these mutant viruses, 2 were coinfected with the wild type, 1 was infected only by a variant with the mutation at position 1896, while another was infected by a variant with mutations at positions 1896 and 1899. Three of the 4 were anti-HBe positive while 1 was HBeAg positive. Alanine aminotransaminase activities in all 4 carriers were normal. This study therefore demonstrated that variants with stop codons at the penultimate codon could be found in asymptomatic carriers in Malaysia.

[Forum: reconstruction of the traumatic thumb. Reconstruction of the thumb in a child by double transfer. Apropos of a clinical case]

The authors present a case of atypical thumb reconstruction in children, using a combined vascularized joint transfer and a free partial big toe transfer. They describe a burned hand with first metacarpal amputation and transproximal phalanx amputation of the index. According to the "bank finger" principle the metacarpophalangeal joint was transferred on the top of the first metacarpal, vascularized by the two collateral pedicles. The second metacarpal shaft was removed to create the first web and kept for bone grafting. A "wrap-around" flap (Morrison) with an intercalated bone graft completed this reconstruction. A first web orthesis was used to prevent retraction. Result at six months was functionally and cosmetically good, but the normal growth of the reconstructed thumb must be demonstrated by the future. Finally, the other procedures are considered.