Local Genomic Surveillance of Invasive in Eastern North Carolina (ENC) in 2022-2023.

The recent increase in Group A (GAS) incidences in several countries across Europe and some areas of the Unites States (U.S.) has raised concerns.

Wastewater based epidemiology as a surveillance tool during the current COVID-19 pandemic on a college campus (East Carolina University) and its accuracy in predicting SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in dormitories.

The COVID-19 outbreak led governmental officials to close many businesses and schools, including colleges and universities. Thus, the ability to resume normal campus operation required adoption of safety measures to monitor and respond to COVID-19. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of wastewater-based epidemiology as a surveillance method in monitoring COVID-19 on a college campus.

Dynamic Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in a Patient on Chemotherapy.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved significantly during the pandemic and resulted in daunting numbers of genomic sequences. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 evolution during persistent cases could provide insight into the origins and dynamics of new variants. We report here a case of B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia on chemotherapy with infection of SARS-CoV-2 for more than two months.

Post-kidney transplant cancers: Racial and ethnic differences in sun-exposed skin versus non-sun-exposed anogenital skin.

Background: Transplant recipients have a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of developing malignancies over the general population. Cancer is the second most common cause of death for recipients. The magnitude of the risk depends on the cancer type and increases in viral-related malignancies.

Advanced limb salvage: Pedal artery interventions.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is on the rise due to the increasing prevalence of diabetes, which is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to diabetes, many patients with CLTI present with a predominance of tibial and pedal artery disease. Despite best care, limb amputation cannot always be prevented.

A drug-free nanozyme for mitigating oxidative stress and inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an incurable disease of the gastrointestinal tract with a lack of effective therapeutic strategies. The proinflammatory microenvironment plays a significant role in both amplifying and sustaining inflammation during IBD progression. Herein, biocompatible drug-free ceria nanoparticles (CeNP-PEG) with regenerable scavenging activities against multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS) were developed.

Population-Based Health Utility Assessment of Migraine Headache Symptoms before and after Surgical Intervention.

Background: Approximately 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. The primary goals of this study are to (1) use Migraine-Specific Symptoms and Disability criteria and Migraine Headache Index to describe the symptomatic improvement following decompressive surgery for refractory migraines, and (2) use the average Migraine Headache Index preoperatively and postoperatively for health utility assessment from a healthy patient's perspective.

Methods: The Migraine-Specific Symptoms and Disability criteria and the Migraine Headache Index were used to characterize migraine symptoms in the authors' patient population before and after decompressive surgery.

Opioids delay healing of spinal fusion: a rabbit posterolateral lumbar fusion model.

Background Context: Opioid use is prevalent in the management of pre- and postoperative pain in patients undergoing spinal fusion. There is evidence that opioids downregulate osteoblasts in vitro, and a previous study found that morphine delays the maturation and remodeling of callus in a rat femur fracture model. However, the effect of opioids on healing of spinal fusion has not been investigated before.

Impact of CYP3A5 genomic variances on clinical outcomes among African American kidney transplant recipients.

Little is known about the impact of CYP3A5 polymorphisms on transplantation outcomes among African American (AA) kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). To assess this issue, clinical outcomes were compared between AA CYP3A5*1 expressers and nonexpressers. This retrospective cohort study analyzed AA KTRs.

Systemic Biodistribution and Intravitreal Pharmacokinetic Properties of Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab, and Aflibercept in a Nonhuman Primate Model.

Purpose: To determine the intravitreal pharmacokinetic properties and to study the systemic biodistribution characteristics of I-124-labeled bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept with positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging in a nonhuman primate model.

Methods: Three groups with four owl monkeys per group underwent intravitreal injection with 1.25 mg/0.

A role for glycolipid biosynthesis in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus entry.

A novel bunyavirus was recently found to cause severe febrile illness with high mortality in agricultural regions of China, Japan, and South Korea. This virus, named severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), represents a new group within the Phlebovirus genus of the Bunyaviridae. Little is known about the viral entry requirements beyond showing dependence on dynamin and endosomal acidification.

Racial differences in incident de novo donor-specific anti-HLA antibody among primary renal allograft recipients: results from a single center cohort study.

Controversy exists as to whether African American (AA) transplant recipients are at risk for developing de novo donor-specific anti-human leucocyte antigen (HLA) antibody (dnDSA). We studied 341 HLA-mismatched, primary renal allograft recipients who were consecutively transplanted between 3/1999 and 12/2010. Sera were collected sequentially pre- and post-transplant and tested for anti-HLA immunoglobulin G (IgG) via single antigen bead assay.

Incidence and impact of anti-HLA-DP antibodies in renal transplantation.

Background: The role of anti-HLA-DP antibodies in renal transplantation is poorly defined. This study describes the impact of donor (donor-specific antibody [DSA]) and non-donor-specific antibodies against HLA-DP antigens in renal transplant patients.

Methods: Of 195 consecutive patients transplanted between September 2009 and December 2011, 166 primary kidney recipients and their donors were typed (high-resolution) for DP antigens.

Onset and progression of de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies after BK polyomavirus and preemptive immunosuppression reduction.

Background: BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) viremia/nephropathy and reduction in immunosuppression following viremia may increase the risk of alloimmune activation and allograft rejection. This study investigates the impact of BKPyV viremia on de novo donor anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-specific antibodies (dnDSA).

Patients And Methods: All primary renal transplants at East Carolina University from March 1999 to December 2010, with at least 1 post-transplant BKPyV viral load testing, were analyzed.

Nanoparticle-based imaging of inflammatory bowel disease.

Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been extensively studied, the pathogenesis is still not completely understood. As a result, the treatment options remain unsatisfactory and nonspecific. With the rapid advancement of diagnostic imaging techniques, imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are playing a more important role in IBD diagnosis and evaluation.

Risk Stratification of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II Donor Specific Antibody Positive Patients by Immunoglobulin G Subclasses.

Background: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies are a major cause of graft loss in mismatched transplant recipients. However, the time to graft loss resulting from antibody induced injury is unpredictable. The unpredictable nature of antibodies may be related to the subclass of antibodies.

Changes in successive measures of de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies intensity and the development of allograft dysfunction.

Background: Many patients develop de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies (dnDSA) after transplantation. Despite development of dnDSA, not all patients will immediately fail. This study analyzes dnDSA intensity and longitudinal trends as prospective clinical parameters to assess subsequent allograft function.

The major cellular sterol regulatory pathway is required for Andes virus infection.

The Bunyaviridae comprise a large family of RNA viruses with worldwide distribution and includes the pathogenic New World hantavirus, Andes virus (ANDV). Host factors needed for hantavirus entry remain largely enigmatic and therapeutics are unavailable. To identify cellular requirements for ANDV infection, we performed two parallel genetic screens.

Impact of IgM and IgG3 anti-HLA alloantibodies in primary renal allograft recipients.

Background: With standard IgG donor-specific anti-HLA antibody (DSA) testing, it is unclear which immunoglobulin-G (IgG) DSA positive patients will fail. We looked further into the immune response by studying immunoglobulin-M (IgM) and IgG subclass 3 (IgG3) DSA to determine if these identify the IgG DSA patients at highest risk for allograft loss.

Methods: In 189 consecutively transplanted primary renal allograft recipients, sera were collected sequentially pre- and posttransplant.

Improved Long-Term Survival in Kidney Transplant Recipients with Donor-Specific HLA Antibodies After Mycophenolic Acid Escalation.

The development of donor specific antibodies (DSA) post transplant has been associated with chronic rejection and graft failure. In a longitudinal study, we have shown that increases in DSA precede rejection by months, thus allowing time for intervention. We hypothesized that mycophenolic acid (MPA) dose increases may reduce and/or stabilize DSA strength and also preserve renal function.

Higher risk of kidney graft failure in the presence of anti-angiotensin II type-1 receptor antibodies.

Reports have associated non-HLA antibodies, specifically those against angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1R), with antibody-mediated kidney graft rejection. However, association of anti-AT1R with graft failure had not been demonstrated. We tested anti-AT1R and donor-specific HLA antibodies (DSA) in pre- and posttransplant sera from 351 consecutive kidney recipients: 134 with biopsy-proven rejection and/or lesions (abnormal biopsy group [ABG]) and 217 control group (CG) patients.

Trends and characteristics in early glomerular filtration rate decline after posttransplantation alloantibody appearance.

Background: Approximately 7% to 9% of patients with donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (DSA) fail within 1 year post-DSA onset. However, little is known as to how this DSA-associated failure temporally progresses. This longitudinal study investigates DSA's temporal relationship to allograft dysfunction and identifies predictors of allograft function's progressive deterioration post-DSA.

Expression of the chitinase family glycoprotein YKL-40 in undifferentiated, differentiated and trans-differentiated mesenchymal stem cells.

The glycoprotein YKL-40 (CHI3L1) is a secreted chitinase family protein that induces angiogenesis, cell survival, and cell proliferation, and plays roles in tissue remodeling and immune regulation. It is expressed primarily in cells of mesenchymal origin, is overexpressed in numerous aggressive carcinomas and sarcomas, but is rarely expressed in normal ectodermal tissues. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be induced to differentiate into various mesenchymal tissues and trans-differentiate into some non-mesenchymal cell types.

The role of immunoglobulin-G subclasses and C1q in de novo HLA-DQ donor-specific antibody kidney transplantation outcomes.

Background: Anti-HLA-DQ antibodies are the predominant HLA class II donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) after transplantation. Recently, de novo DQ DSA has been associated with worse allograft outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the further complement-binding characteristics of the most harmful DQ DSA.

Incidence and impact of de novo donor-specific alloantibody in primary renal allografts.

Background: To date, limited information is available describing the incidence and impact of de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (dnDSA) in the primary renal transplant patient. This report details the dnDSA incidence and actual 3-year post-dnDSA graft outcomes.

Methods: The study includes 189 consecutive nonsensitized, non-HLA-identical patients who received a primary kidney transplant between March 1999 and March 2006.