Strength and durability of indirect protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection through vaccine and infection-acquired immunity.

Early investigation revealed a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among social contacts of COVID-19 vaccinated individuals, referred to as indirect protection. However, indirect protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection-acquired immunity and its comparative strength and durability to vaccine-derived indirect protection in the current epidemiologic context of high levels of vaccination, prior infection, and novel variants are not well characterized. Here, we show that both vaccine-derived and infection-acquired immunity independently yield indirect protection to close social contacts with key differences in their strength and waning.

Role of Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension.

Background: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), mainly known for its neuroprotective properties, belongs to the IL-6 (interleukin-6) cytokine family. In contrast to IL-6, the effects of CNTF on the vasculature have not been explored. Here, we examined the role of CNTF in AngII (angiotensin II)-induced hypertension.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced comprehensive assessment of the aortic valve stenosis continuum in echocardiography.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the primary modality for diagnosing aortic stenosis (AS), yet it requires skilled operators and can be resource-intensive. We developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system for evaluating AS that is effective in both resource-limited and advanced settings.

Methods: We created a dual-pathway AI system for AS evaluation using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset (developmental dataset, n = 8427): 1) a deep learning (DL)-based AS continuum assessment algorithm using limited 2D TTE videos, and 2) automating conventional AS evaluation.

Prediction of metabolic subphenotypes of type 2 diabetes via continuous glucose monitoring and machine learning.

The classification of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes does not consider heterogeneity in the pathophysiology of glucose dysregulation. Here we show that prediabetes is characterized by metabolic heterogeneity, and that metabolic subphenotypes can be predicted by the shape of the glucose curve measured via a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) during standardized oral glucose-tolerance tests (OGTTs) performed in at-home settings. Gold-standard metabolic tests in 32 individuals with early glucose dysregulation revealed dominant or co-dominant subphenotypes (muscle or hepatic insulin-resistance phenotypes in 34% of the individuals, and β-cell-dysfunction or impaired-incretin-action phenotypes in 40% of them).

Risk of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Computed Tomography: A 16 Institutional Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Concern about contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) may delay the timely administration of contrast media for computed tomography (CT). The precise causative effect of iodinated contrast media on CI-AKI and its relevant risk factors remains an area of ongoing investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the risk of CI-AKI following contrast-enhanced CT and its predisposing risk factors.

Tailoring resonant modes in dual cavities for transmissive structural colors with high brightness and high purity.

We present quad-layered structural color filters producing transmissive red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors with high brightness and high purity, where thicknesses of layers for the RGB colors are optimized by using a L-BFGS-B algorithm. To evaluate the performance of the proposed structural color filters, computer-based inverse designs based on meta-heuristic and reinforcement learning algorithms are employed, where the optical properties obtained from the inverse designs are comparable to those shown in our proposed design. A peak separation phenomenon in dual cavities is applied to make a spectral response rectangular, and also a resonance order is optimally tailored to maximize the transmittance at a resonant wavelength with the suppression of undesired higher-order resonances at the same time for achieving pure colors.

Cancer cachexia and weight loss before CAR T-cell therapy for lymphoma are independently associated with poor outcomes.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed the care of lymphoma, yet many patients relapse. Several prognostic markers have been associated with CAR T-cell outcomes, such as tumor burden, response to bridging chemotherapy, and laboratory parameters at the time of lymphodepletion or infusion. The effect of cancer cachexia and weight loss before CAR T cells on toxicity and outcomes is not well understood.

Cervical spine motion during videolaryngoscopic intubation using a Macintosh-style blade with and without the anterior piece of a cervical collar: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Applying a cervical collar during videolaryngoscopic intubation can increase the lifting force required to achieve adequate glottic view, potentially increasing cervical spine motion. We aimed to compared cervical spine motion during videolaryngoscopic intubation between applying only the posterior piece (posterior-only group) and applying both the anterior and posterior pieces (anterior-posterior group) in patients wearing a cervical collar.

Methods: We conducted a dingle-centre, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial in 102 patients (each group, N = 51).

Building the capacity of older adults and community: findings from a developmental evaluation of United Way British Columbia's social prescribing programs for older adults.

Introduction: Older adults with higher needs are ideal candidates for social prescribing interventions, given the complex and intersectoral nature of their needs. This article describes findings from a developmental evaluation of 19 social prescribing programs for older adults at risk of frailty.

Methods: An evaluation of the programs was conducted from 2020 to 2023.

Neuroprotective Effects of Phenolic Constituents from Drynariae Rhizoma.

This study aimed to provide scientific data on the anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) effects of phenolic compounds from Drynariae Rhizoma (DR) extract using a multi-component approach. Screening of DR extracts, fractions, and the ten phenolic compounds isolated from DR against the key AD-related enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) confirmed their significant inhibitory activities. The DR extract was confirmed to have BACE1-inhibitory activity, and the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions were found to inhibit all AD-related enzymes, including BACE1, AChE, BChE, and MAO-B.

Removal of circulating mitochondrial N-formyl peptides via immobilized antibody therapy restores sepsis-induced neutrophil dysfunction.

During recovery from septic shock, circulating mitochondrial N-formyl peptides predispose to secondary infection by occupying formyl peptide receptor 1 on the neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte) membrane, suppressing cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i)-dependent responses to secondarily encountered bacteria. However, no study has yet investigated therapeutic clearance of circulating mitochondrial N-formyl peptides in clinical settings. Thus, we studied how to remove mitochondrial N-formyl peptides from septic-shock plasma and whether such removal could preserve cell-surface formyl peptide receptor 1 and restore sepsis-induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte dysfunction by normalizing [Ca2+]i flux.

Impact of prior inotuzumab ozogamicin treatment on brexucabtagene autoleucel outcomes in adults with B-cell ALL.

The effect of prior inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO) treatment on brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) outcomes remains unclear in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We conducted a retrospective multicenter analysis of 189 patients with relapsed/refractory ALL treated with brexu-cel. Over half of the patients received InO before brexu-cel (InO exposed).

Artificial intelligence-enhanced automation of left ventricular diastolic assessment: a pilot study for feasibility, diagnostic validation, and outcome prediction.

Background: Evaluating left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) is crucial in echocardiography; however, the complexity and time demands of current guidelines challenge clinical use. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based framework for automatic LVDF assessment to reduce subjectivity and improve accuracy and outcome prediction.

Methods: We developed an AI-based LVDF assessment framework using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset from five tertiary hospitals.

No Differences in 2-Year Reoperation Rates for Meniscus Allograft Transplant With Concomitant Cartilage Restoration or Osteotomy: A National Database Study.

Purpose: To investigate reoperation rates after meniscus allograft transplant (MAT), comparing rates with and without concomitant articular cartilage and osteotomy procedures using a national insurance claims database.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent MAT from 2010 to 2021 with a minimum 2-year follow-up using the PearlDiver database. Using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases codes, we identified patients who underwent concomitant procedures including chondroplasty or microfracture, cartilage restoration defined as osteochondral graft or autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), or osteotomy.

Patients taking benralizumab, dupilumab, or mepolizumab have lower postvaccination SARS-CoV-2 immunity.

Background: Biologic therapies inhibiting the IL-4 or IL-5 pathways are very effective in the treatment of asthma and other related conditions. However, the cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 also play a role in the generation of adaptive immune responses. Although these biologics do not cause overt immunosuppression, their effect in primary severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunization has not been studied completely.

Literature review of non-pharmacological treatment for patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the sacroiliac joints and axial spine. Along with pharmacotherapy, non-pharmacological interventions for axSpA are crucial and constitute the cornerstone of treatment. Here, we review the evidence for non-pharmacological treatment of axSpA as a basis for the 2023 Korean treatment recommendations for patients with axSpA.

Stem cells, cell therapies, and bioengineering in lung biology and diseases 2023.

Repair and regeneration of a diseased lung using stem cells or bioengineered tissues is an exciting therapeutic approach for a variety of lung diseases and critical illnesses. Over the past decade, increasing evidence from preclinical models suggests that mesenchymal stromal cells, which are not normally resident in the lung, can be used to modulate immune responses after injury, but there have been challenges in translating these promising findings to the clinic. In parallel, there has been a surge in bioengineering studies investigating the use of artificial and acellular lung matrices as scaffolds for three-dimensional lung or airway regeneration, with some recent attempts of transplantation in large animal models.

De Novo Elastin Assembly Alleviates Development of Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis-Brief Report.

Background: A series of incurable cardiovascular disorders arise due to improper formation of elastin during development. Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS), resulting from a haploinsufficiency of , is caused by improper stress sensing by medial vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to progressive luminal occlusion and heart failure. SVAS remains incurable, as current therapies do not address the root issue of defective elastin.

Is Upper Extremity or Lower Extremity Function More Important for Patient Satisfaction? An Analysis of 24-Month Outcomes from the QOD Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Cohort.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of a prospective, multicenter registry.

Objective: To assess whether upper or lower limb mJOA improvement more strongly associates with patient satisfaction after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Summary Of Background Data: The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) is commonly used to assess functional status in patients with CSM.

Adiponectin-to-leptin ratio and incident chronic kidney disease: Sex and body composition-dependent association.

Background: The association between the adiponectin-to-leptin ratio (A/L ratio) and the risk of incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between A/L ratio and the risk of incident CKD and to examine whether such a relationship varied according to sex and body composition.

Methods: In this prospective community-based cohort, participants with normal kidney function were analysed (N = 5192).