SNPs in innate immune genes are important in determining susceptibility to RSV bronchiolitis.

The role of nutrients and food factors in relation to esophageal cancer was observed in a large case-control study in a region having a high incidence of the disease. Several factors that increased or decreased the risk were identified. After adjusting for other covariates, we found that animal proteins and polyunsaturated fats had a significant protective effect. Separating the effects of specific nutrients was difficult because of the intercorrelation between individual intakes of most nutrients. Foods were not so highly intercorrelated. Fresh meat, citrus fruits, and oil were found to be protective. A dietary index combining these foods was used; between the lowest and the highest levels of intake, a nine-fold difference in risk was observed. This effect is added to that of alcohol, which remains the major risk factor. The adequacy of the concepts of nutrients and foods in epidemiological studies is discussed in addition to the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.

Rapid antibody responses after challenge with oral polio vaccine provide evidence for poliovirus-specific memory immunity in seronegative elderly people. However, in contrast to preexisting immunity, memory immunity does not protect against virus excretion. These results have important implications for the poliomyelitis-eradication initiative, in particular for future immunization policies after eradication has been achieved.

Prematurity is a risk factor for severe respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. We show that genetic factors in innate immune genes (IFNA13, IFNAR2, STAT2, IL27, NFKBIA, C3, IL1RN, TLR5), in innate and adaptive immunity (IFNG), and in airway remodeling genes (ADAM33 and TGFBR1), affect disease susceptibility to a different extent in preterm children, born with underdeveloped lungs, than in term children.

BackgroundThe aim of this harmonized meta-analysis was to examine the independent and combined effects of physical activity and BMI on the incidence of type 2 diabetes.MethodsOur systematic literature review in 2011 identified 127 potentially relevant prospective studies of which 9 fulfilled the inclusion criteria (total N = 117,878, 56.2 % female, mean age = 50.0 years, range = 25–65 years). Measures of baseline physical activity (low, intermediate, high), BMI-category [BMI < 18.4 (underweight), 18.5–24.9 (normal weight), 25.0–29.9 (overweight), 30+ (obese)] and incident type 2 diabetes were harmonized across studies. The associations between physical activity, BMI and incident type 2 diabetes were analyzed using Cox regression with a standardized analysis protocol including adjustments for age, gender, educational level, and smoking. Hazard ratios from individual studies were combined in a random-effects meta-analysis.ResultsMean follow-up time was 9.1 years. A total of 11,237 incident type 2 diabetes cases were recorded. In mutually adjusted models, being overweight or obese (compared with normal weight) and having low physical activity (compared with high physical activity) were associated with an increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes (hazard ratios 2.33, 95 % CI 1.95–2.78; 6.10, 95 % CI: 4.63–8.04, and 1.23, 95 % CI: 1.09–1.39, respectively). Individuals who were both obese and had low physical activity had 7.4-fold (95 % CI 3.47–15.89) increased risk of type 2 diabetes compared with normal weight, high physically active participants.ConclusionsThis harmonized meta-analysis shows the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active in diabetes prevention.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0304-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.