Leveraging collaborative research networks against antimicrobial resistance in Asia.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health security threat requiring research collaboration globally and regionally. Despite repeated calls for international research collaboration in Asia, literature analyzing the nature of collaborative AMR research in Asia has been sparse. This study aims to describe the characteristics of the AMR research network in Asia and investigate the factors influencing collaborative tie formation between organizations.

Pituitary metastasis: a clinical overview.

The pituitary gland is an unusual site for metastatic spread and has been associated with a poor prognosis. Clinical presentation is variable but can include visual field defects, cranial nerve palsies, anterior pituitary dysfunction and/ or diabetes insipidus. Management options include surgery or radiotherapy, chemotherapy/immunotherapy or a conservative approach.

Integration of a patient-centred MUO/CUP service within a new acute oncology service: challenges and rewards.

Background: Holistic approach to the clinical management pathway for malignancy of undefined primary origin (MUO)/carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) patients remains an unmet clinical need. To address this, an MUO/CUP service was implemented during conception of a new acute oncology service (AOS).

Methodology: Over a comparable 17 months' duration, patient outcomes pre-MUO/CUP service implementation was retrospectively analysed and compared prospectively with post-service implementation database.

Empirical Models of Social Learning in a Large, Evolving Network.

This paper advances theories of social learning through an empirical examination of how social networks change over time. Social networks are important for learning because they constrain individuals' access to information about the behaviors and cognitions of other people. Using data on a large social network of mobile device users over a one-month time period, we test three hypotheses: 1) attraction homophily causes individuals to form ties on the basis of attribute similarity, 2) aversion homophily causes individuals to delete existing ties on the basis of attribute dissimilarity, and 3) social influence causes individuals to adopt the attributes of others they share direct ties with.

Advanced Clinical Decision Support for Vaccine Adverse Event Detection and Reporting.

Background: Reporting of adverse events (AEs) following vaccination can help identify rare or unexpected complications of immunizations and aid in characterizing potential vaccine safety signals. We developed an open-source, generalizable clinical decision support system called Electronic Support for Public Health-Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (ESP-VAERS) to assist clinicians with AE detection and reporting.

Methods: ESP-VAERS monitors patients' electronic health records for new diagnoses, changes in laboratory values, and new allergies following vaccinations.

Emergence of segregation in evolving social networks.

In many social networks, there is a high correlation between the similarity of actors and the existence of relationships between them. This paper introduces a model of network evolution where actors are assumed to have a small aversion from being connected to others who are dissimilar to themselves, and yet no actor strictly prefers a segregated network. This model is motivated by Schelling's [Schelling TC (1969) Models of segregation.

Occurrence of ciprofloxacin-, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-, and vancomycin-resistant bacteria in a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was evaluated in aqueous samples obtained from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Samples collected from the influent, clarifier effluent, and disinfected effluent were assayed for fecal coliforms, E. coli, and enterococci exhibiting resistance to ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin.

TH17 cells mediate steroid-resistant airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in mice.

Steroid-resistant asthma comprises an important source of morbidity in patient populations. T(H)17 cells represent a distinct population of CD4(+) Th cells that mediate neutrophilic inflammation and are characterized by the production of IL-17, IL-22, and IL-6. To investigate the function of T(H)17 cells in the context of Ag-induced airway inflammation, we polarized naive CD4(+) T cells from DO11.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in lung dendritic cells promotes Th2 responses and allergic inflammation.

Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) has emerged as an important mediator of immune tolerance via inhibition of Th1 responses. However, the role of IDO in antigen-induced tolerance or allergic inflammation in the airways that is regulated by Th2 responses has not been elucidated. By using IDO(-/-) mice, we found no impairment of airway tolerance, but, surprisingly, absence of IDO provided significant relief from establishment of allergic airways disease, as evident from attenuated Th2 cytokine production, airway inflammation, mucus secretion, airway hyperresponsiveness, and serum ovalbumin-specific IgE.

Role of IL-17A, IL-17F, and the IL-17 receptor in regulating growth-related oncogene-alpha and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in bronchial epithelium: implications for airway inflammation in cystic fibrosis.

IL-17R signaling is critical for pulmonary neutrophil recruitment and host defense against Gram-negative bacteria through the coordinated release of G-CSF and CXC chemokine elaboration. In this study, we show that IL-17R is localized to basal airway cells in human lung tissue, and functional IL-17R signaling occurs on the basolateral surface of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. IL-17A and IL-17F were potent inducers of growth-related oncogene-alpha and G-CSF in HBE cells, and significant synergism was observed with TNF-alpha largely due to signaling via TNFRI.

Regulatory T cells and cytokines in malignant pleural effusions secondary to mesothelioma and carcinoma.

Immunotherapy against a variety of malignancies, including pleural-based malignancies, has shown promise in animal models and early human clinical trials, but successful efforts will need to address immunosuppressive factors of the tumor and host, particularly certain cytokines and CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg). Here, we evaluated the cellular and cytokine components of malignant pleural effusions from 44 patients with previously diagnosed mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or breast cancer and found significant differences in the immune profile of pleural effusions secondary to mesothelioma vs. carcinoma.

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins 3 and 5 are overexpressed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and contribute to extracellular matrix deposition.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fibrotic disease of unknown etiology that results in significant morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of IPF is not completely understood. Because recent studies have implicated insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, we examined the expression and function of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP)-3 and -5 in IPF.

Treatment of lung cancer using clinically relevant oral doses of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor rofecoxib: potential value as adjuvant therapy after surgery.

Objective: To investigate the uses and limitations of cyclooxygenase- (COX) 2 inhibition using clinically relevant doses of oral rofecoxib in the treatment of murine models of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Summary Background Data: Overexpression of COX-2 has been reported in lung cancer. Several studies have demonstrated that high doses of COX-2 inhibitors could inhibit the growth of rodent and human lung cancer cell lines.

Use of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Antitumor effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition have been reported in a wide variety of tumor models and in human cancers, both as chemoprevention and therapy. Human mesothelioma tumors have been shown to overexpress COX-2 and high levels of COX-2 protein have been demonstrated to be a prognostic factor, indicating poor outcome in this tumor. In this study, we determined that inhibition of COX-2 by oral administration of Rofecoxib significantly slowed but did not cure the growth of small tumors in mesothelioma-bearing mice.

WW domain containing oxidoreductase gene expression is altered in non-small cell lung cancer.

WWOX (WW domain containing oxidoreductase), a putative tumor suppressor gene that maps to the common fragile site FRA16D on chromosome 16q23.3-24.1, is altered in breast, esophageal, and ovarian cancer.

Interleukin-2 is one of the targets of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the immune system.

Interleukin (IL)-2 knockout (KO) mice, which spontaneously develop symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease similar to ulcerative colitis in humans, were made vitamin D deficient (D-) or vitamin D sufficient (D+) or were supplemented with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D3). 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 supplementation, but not vitamin D supplementation, reduced the early mortality of IL-2 KO mice. However, colitis severity was not different in D-, D+, or 1,25D3 IL-2 KO mice.