Hereditary angioedema: patient healthcare experiences within underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder in which unpredictable angioedema attacks significantly impact patient quality of life (QoL). There is limited information regarding patient experiences and perspectives of HAE management within underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

Objective: To gain insight into the experiences and perspectives of medical care and treatment for HAE among underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the US.

Factors influencing equine veterinarians' job satisfaction and retention: A focus group study.

Background: There is a shortage of equine veterinarians. Understanding what factors are associated with job satisfaction in equine veterinarians can inform interventions to increase retention in equine medicine.

Objective: To explore the prominent factors causing work dissatisfaction and burnout in equine veterinarians.

Prevalence and Impact of Recurrent Rejection on Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients: A PHTS Multi-Institutional Analysis.

Background: Studies evaluating the prevalence and impact of recurrent rejection (RR) in pediatric heart transplant (HT) are sparse.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe prevalence and impact of RR on cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and graft loss after pediatric HT.

Methods: Data on HT from January 1, 2000, to June 30, 2020, in the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society database were included.

The complexities of decision-making associated with on-demand treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by debilitating attacks of tissue swelling in various locations. While guidelines recommend the importance of early on-demand treatment, recent data indicate that many patients delay or do not treat their attacks.

Objective: This survey aimed to investigate patient behavior and evaluate the key factors that drive on-demand treatment decision-making, as reported by those living with HAE.

Incremental cost burden among patients with severe uncontrolled asthma in the United States.

The economic burden of severe asthma and severe uncontrolled asthma (SUA) is significant. Updated assessments of health care resource utilization (HCRU) and cost are needed given the increase in treatment options and updates to guidelines in recent years. To describe all-cause and asthma-related HCRU and costs among patients with SUA vs patients with nonsevere asthma in the United States using real-world data.

Racial and Ethnic Minorities at the Highest Risk of Uncontrolled Moderate-to-Severe Asthma: A United States Electronic Health Record Analysis.

Purpose: The identification of risk factors associated with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma is important to improve asthma outcomes. Aim of this study was to identify risk factors for uncontrolled asthma in United States cohort using electronic health record (EHR)-derived data.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective real-world study, de-identified data of adolescent and adult patients (≥12 years old) with moderate-to-severe asthma, based on asthma medications within 12 months prior to asthma-related visit (index date), were extracted from the Optum Humedica EHR.

Oral corticosteroid-sparing effects of mepolizumab in severe eosinophilic asthma: evidence from randomized controlled trials and real-world studies.

Oral corticosteroids (OCS) have long been a mainstay of treatment for asthma exacerbations and chronic severe asthma. However, it is increasingly recognized that both long-term and short-term OCS use are directly associated with a wide range of serious adverse effects, and as such OCS-sparing treatment alternatives are now widely recommended for patients with severe asthma. While several international guidelines recommend these treatments, guidance on OCS tapering, and which patients are most likely to tolerate OCS reduction and/or discontinuation, is still lacking.

Population-Based Incidence, Severity, and Risk Factors Associated with Treated Acute-Onset COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination-Associated Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Background: COVID-19 mRNA vaccination-associated acute-onset hypersensitivity reactions have caused anxiety and may be contributing to vaccine hesitancy.

Objective: To determine the incidence, severity, and risk factors for treated acute-onset COVID-19 mRNA vaccination-associated hypersensitivity reactions in a well-characterized population.

Methods: All Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) members who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations between December 15, 2020, and March 11, 2021, at a KPSC facility were identified and characterized, along with all treated acute-onset vaccination-associated hypersensitivity events.

Changes in circumferential strain can differentiate pediatric heart transplant recipients with and without graft rejection.

Background: Routine surveillance protocols rely heavily on endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) for detection of rejection in pediatric heart transplant recipients. More sensitive echocardiographic tools to assess rejection may help limit the number of EMBs. This study compared changes in left ventricular (LV) strain in patients who had rejection versus those who did not.

Real-world NOx emissions from heavy-duty diesel, natural gas, and diesel hybrid electric vehicles of different vocations on California roadways.

This study assessed the real-world nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from 50 heavy-duty vehicles of different vocations and engine technologies using portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS). This is one of the most comprehensive in-use emissions studies conducted to date, which played a key role in the development of CARB's (California Air Recourses Board) updated EMission FACtor (EMFAC) model, especially for natural gas vehicles. In-use emissions testing was performed on school and transit buses, refuse haulers, goods movement vehicles, and delivery vehicles while were driven over their normal operating routes in the South Coast Air Basin.

Immune evasion by TGFβ-induced miR-183 repression of MICA/B expression in human lung tumor cells.

Immune escape is a hallmark of cancer. In human lung cancer, we have identified a unique microRNA (miR)-based pathway employed by tumor cells to repress detection by immune cells via the NKG2D-MICA/B receptor-ligand system. MICA/B is readily induced by cell transformation and serves as a danger signal and ligand to alert NK and activated CD8 T cells.

Real-world exhaust temperature and engine load distributions of on-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles in various vocations.

Real-world vehicle and engine activity data were collected from 90 heavy-duty vehicles in California, United States, most of which have engine model year 2010 or newer and are equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR). The 90 vehicles represent 19 different groups defined by a combination of vocational use and geographic region. The data were collected using advanced data loggers that recorded vehicle speed, position (latitude and longitude), and more than 170 engine and aftertreatment parameters (including engine load and exhaust temperature) at the frequency of one Hz.

Real-world exhaust temperature profiles of on-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles equipped with selective catalytic reduction.

On-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles are a major contributor of oxides of nitrogen (NO) emissions. In the US, many heavy-duty diesel vehicles employ selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to meet the 2010 emission standard for NO. Typically, SCR needs to be at least 200°C before a significant level of NO reduction is achieved.

Characterization of the emissions impacts of hybrid excavators with a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS)-based methodology.

Hybrid engine technology is a potentially important strategy for reduction of tailpipe greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants that is now being implemented for off-road construction equipment. The goal of this study was to evaluate the emissions and fuel consumption impacts of electric-hybrid excavators using a Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS)-based methodology. In this study, three hybrid and four conventional excavators were studied for both real world activity patterns and tailpipe emissions.

Longer Ischemic Time is Associated with Increased Ventricular Stiffness as Measured by Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between clinical factors and cardiac function as measured by pressure-volume loops (PVLs) in a pediatric heart transplant cohort.

Methods: Patients (age < 20 years) who underwent heart transplantation presenting for a clinically indicated catheterization were enrolled. PVLs were recorded using microconductance catheters (CD Leycom, Zoetermeer, Netherlands).

Student threat assessment as a standard school safety practice: Results from a statewide implementation study.

Threat assessment has been widely endorsed as a school safety practice, but there is little research on its implementation. In 2013, Virginia became the first state to mandate student threat assessment in its public schools. The purpose of this study was to examine the statewide implementation of threat assessment and to identify how threat assessment teams distinguish serious from nonserious threats.

Autoimmune enteropathy and hepatitis in pediatric heart transplant recipient.

AIE is a rare disorder in children that presents with severe diarrhea and malabsorption, caused by immune-mediated damage to intestinal mucosa. AIE is often associated with various syndromes of immunodeficiency including IPEX syndrome (immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy and enteropathy, X-linked). Dysfunctional T regulatory cells are the source of pathology in both IPEX syndrome and AIE as they are essential in maintaining tolerance to self-antigens and eliminating autoreactive B cells.

Novel therapeutic approach to improve hematopoiesis in low risk MDS by targeting MDSCs with the Fc-engineered CD33 antibody BI 836858.

We recently reported that the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), defined as CD33HLA-DRLin, has a direct role in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). In particular, CD33 is strongly expressed in MDSC isolated from patients with MDS where it has an important role in MDSC-mediated hematopoietic suppressive function through its activation by S100A9. Therefore, we tested whether blocking this interaction with a fully human, Fc-engineered monoclonal antibody against CD33 (BI 836858) suppresses CD33-mediated signal transduction and improves the bone marrow microenvironment in MDS.

Scavenging nucleic acid debris to combat autoimmunity and infectious disease.

Nucleic acid-containing debris released from dead and dying cells can be recognized as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) or pattern-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by the innate immune system. Inappropriate activation of the innate immune response can engender pathological inflammation and autoimmune disease. To combat such diseases, major efforts have been made to therapeutically target the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that recognize such DAMPs and PAMPs, or the downstream effector molecules they engender, to limit inflammation.

Effect of Induction Therapy on Graft Survival in Primary Pediatric Heart Transplantation: A Propensity Score Analysis of the UNOS Database.

Background: The use of induction therapy in pediatric heart transplantation has increased. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of induction therapy on graft survival.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for isolated pediatric heart transplants from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2013.

Validation of a Simple Score to Determine Risk of Early Rejection After Pediatric Heart Transplantation.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a reliable and feasible score to assess the risk of rejection in pediatric heart transplantation recipients during the first post-transplant year.

Background: The first post-transplant year is the most likely time for rejection to occur in pediatric heart transplantation. Rejection during this period is associated with worse outcomes.