Health disparities and equity in the era of COVID-19.

Over the last year, COVID-19 has emerged as a highly transmissible and lethal infection. As we address this global pandemic, its disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities has served to further magnify the health inequities in access and treatment that persist in our communities. These sobering realities should serve as the impetus for reexamination of the root causes of inequities in our health system.

The role of axicabtagene ciloleucel as a treatment option for patients with follicular/marginal zone lymphoma.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) continues to make its way in the treatment of B-cell lymphomas. Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the second most common non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. While its prognosis is usually good, the disease is considered incurable and patients still relapse.

Outcomes of CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy in Patients with Gastrointestinal Tract Involvement of Large B Cell Lymphoma.

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) or tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) is approved for the standard of care treatment of relapsed or refractory large B cell lymphoma (LBCL). Patients with LBCL involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are at risk of perforation after lymphoma-directed therapy. The outcomes of CAR T cell therapy in patients with GI involvement have not been reported previously.

On the origin and correction for inner filter effects in fluorescence. Part II: secondary inner filter effect -the proper use of front-face configuration for highly absorbing and scattering samples.

Fluorescence is an established technology for studying molecular processes and molecular interactions. More recently fluorescence became a leading method for detection, sensing, medical diagnostics, biotechnology, imaging, DNA analysis, and gene expression. Consequently, precise and accurate measurements in various conditions have become more critical for proper result interpretations.

SMA Identified: Clinical and Molecular Findings From a Sponsored Testing Program for Spinal Muscular Atrophy in More Than 2,000 Individuals.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) linked to chromosome 5q is an inherited progressive neuromuscular disorder with a narrow therapeutic window for optimal treatment. Although genetic testing provides a definitive molecular diagnosis that can facilitate access to effective treatments, limited awareness and other barriers may prohibit widespread testing. In this study, the clinical and molecular findings of SMA Identified-a no-charge sponsored next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based genetic testing program for SMA diagnosis-are reported.

Deciphering the architecture and interactome of hnRNP proteins and enigmRBPs.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have conserved domains and consensus sequences that interact with RNAs and other proteins forming ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. RNPs are involved in the regulation of several cellular processes, including transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA transport, localization, degradation and storage, and ultimately control of translation. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) comprise a family of RBPs that mediate transcription control and nuclear processing of transcripts.

Cellular Therapies for Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a subtype of B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by a heterogeneous clinical presentation. Patients who demonstrate an objective response to induction therapy(ies) and are eligible for intensive therapies are offered an autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) as front-line consolidation followed by rituximab maintenance. Allogeneic HCT is an option for younger and fit patients with high-risk disease or in patients who have relapsed after autologous HCT.

A Novel Method to Gently Mix and Uniformly Suspend Particulates for Automated Assays.

The SpinVessel system provides a methodology using pulsed radial flow to gently mix and uniformly suspend particulates (cells, magnetic beads, silica beads, and microcarrier beads) for automated assays. SpinVessels are well suited for aliquoting on robotic liquid handlers and with robotic reagent dispensers, as well as manually. The SpinVessel system combines two critical features: (1) special internal side fins and projections in the bottom of the vessels and (2) an instrument that quickly spins the vessels and repeatedly reverses the spin direction.

Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile-based health technology for smoking cessation: Mobile Anxiety Sensitivity Program.

Objectives: Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disability. Although most US smokers want to quit, more than 95% of cessation attempts end in relapse within 6 months. To improve cessation outcomes, research has turned to targetable mechanisms, such as anxiety sensitivity (AS), which maintain smoking behaviour, impede cessation success, and can be effectively targeted in the context of psychosocial interventions.

Wireless, Skin-Interfaced Devices for Pediatric Critical Care: Application to Continuous, Noninvasive Blood Pressure Monitoring.

Indwelling arterial lines, the clinical gold standard for continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), have significant drawbacks due to their invasive nature, ischemic risk, and impediment to natural body movement. A noninvasive, wireless, and accurate alternative would greatly improve the quality of patient care. Recently introduced classes of wireless, skin-interfaced devices offer capabilities in continuous, precise monitoring of physiologic waveforms and vital signs in pediatric and neonatal patients, but have not yet been employed for continuous tracking of systolic and diastolic BP-critical for guiding clinical decision-making in the PICU.

Chronic interleukin-1 exposure triggers selection for Cebpa-knockout multipotent hematopoietic progenitors.

The early events that drive myeloid oncogenesis are not well understood. Most studies focus on the cell-intrinsic genetic changes and how they impact cell fate decisions. We consider how chronic exposure to the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), impacts Cebpa-knockout hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in competitive settings.

Programming Fluorogenic DNA Probes for Rapid Detection of Steroids.

The ability of aptamers to recognize a variety of different molecules has fueled their emergence as recognition agents to probe complex media and cells. Many detection strategies require aptamer binding to its target to result in a dramatic change in structure, typically from an unfolded to a folded state. Here, we report a strategy based on forced intercalation (FIT) that increases the scope of aptamer recognition by transducing subtle changes in aptamer structures into fluorescent readouts.

PU.1 enforces quiescence and limits hematopoietic stem cell expansion during inflammatory stress.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are capable of entering the cell cycle to replenish the blood system in response to inflammatory cues; however, excessive proliferation in response to chronic inflammation can lead to either HSC attrition or expansion. The mechanism(s) that limit HSC proliferation and expansion triggered by inflammatory signals are poorly defined. Here, we show that long-term HSCs (HSCLT) rapidly repress protein synthesis and cell cycle genes following treatment with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1.

Stress Urinary Incontinence After Urethral Diverticulum Repair Without Concomitant Anti-Incontinence Procedure.

Objective: To review the rates of persistent and de novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) following urethral diverticulum (UD) repairs performed without concomitant SUI surgical procedures.

Methods: Following IRB approval, charts of women who underwent UD excision by three FPMRS surgeons were reviewed. Data collected from the electronic medical record included demographic information, preoperative symptoms and evaluation (validated questionnaires [UDI-6, QoL]), imaging studies, operative details, post-operative symptoms, and subsequent surgical interventions.

Impact of Porous Matrices and Concentration by Lyophilization on Cell-Free Expression.

Cell-free expression systems have drawn increasing attention as a tool to achieve complex biological functions outside of the cell. Several applications of the technology involve the delivery of functionality to challenging environments, such as field-forward diagnostics or point-of-need manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. To achieve these goals, cell-free reaction components are preserved using encapsulation or lyophilization methods, both of which often involve an embedding of components in porous matrices like paper or hydrogels.

A method for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in healthy human stool: a validation study.

Background: Faecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 has raised concerns about transmission through faecal microbiota transplantation procedures. Validation parameters of authorised tests for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in respiratory samples are described in product labelling, whereas the published methods for SARS-CoV-2 detection from faecal samples have not permitted a robust description of the assay parameters. We aimed to develop and validate a test specifically for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human stool.

Consensus on hemophilia in Mexico.

Hemophilia is a hemorrhagic disorder with a sex-linked inherited pattern, characterized by an inability to amplify coagulation due to a deficiency in coagulation factor VIII (hemophilia A or classic) or factor IX (hemophilia B). Sequencing of the genes involved in hemophilia has provided a description and record of the main mutations, as well as a correlation with the various degrees of severity. Hemorrhagic manifestations are related to levels of circulating factor, mainly affecting the musculoskeletal system and specifically the large joints (knees, ankles, and elbows).

Incidence and Management of Effusions Before and After CD19-Directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy in Large B Cell Lymphoma.

In patients with lymphoma, third-space fluid accumulations may develop or worsen during cytokine release syndrome (CRS) associated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. Pre-existing symptomatic pleural effusions were excluded by the ZUMA-1 trial of axicabtagene ciloleucel for large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) and variants. The incidence and management of effusions during CAR T cell therapy for LBCL are unknown.

Pancreatic Frozen Section Guides Operative Management With Few Deferrals and Errors.

Context.—: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, and frozen section analysis is used to confirm diagnosis and determine resectability and margin status.

Online marketing practices of regenerative medicine clinics in US-Mexico border region: a web surveillance study.

Introduction: The potential of regenerative medicine to improve human health has led to the rapid expansion of stem cell clinics throughout the world with varying levels of regulation and oversight. This has led to a market ripe for stem cell tourism, with Tijuana, Mexico, as a major destination. In this study, we characterize the online marketing, intervention details, pricing of services, and assess potential safety risks through web surveillance of regenerative medicine clinics marketing services in Tijuana.

Substance Use among Exclusive Electronic Cigarette Users and Dual Combustible Cigarette Users: Extending Work to Adult Users.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become increasingly popular in recent years. Existing evidence indicates e-cigarettes used in isolation are less harmful than combustible cigarettes, yet emerging work has demonstrated that adults use e-cigarettes largely in combination with combustible cigarettes (i.e.

Autologous stem cell transplantation after anti-PD-1 therapy for multiply relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) can be curative for patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Based on studies suggesting that anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can sensitize patients to subsequent chemotherapy, we hypothesized that anti-PD-1 therapy before ASCT would result in acceptable outcomes among high-risk patients who progressed on or responded insufficiently to ≥1 salvage regimen, including chemorefractory patients who are traditionally considered poor ASCT candidates. We retrospectively identified 78 HL patients who underwent ASCT after receiving an anti-PD-1 mAb (alone or in combination) as third-line or later therapy across 22 centers.

Umbralisib, a Dual PI3Kδ/CK1ε Inhibitor in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Indolent Lymphoma.

Purpose: Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors have shown activity in relapsed or refractory (R/R) indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL). PI3K inhibitors have been hampered by poor long-term tolerability and toxicity, which interfere with continuous use. Umbralisib, a dual inhibitor of PI3Kδ/casein kinase-1ε, exhibits improved selectivity for PI3Kδ compared with other PI3K inhibitors.

The Cholinergic System Contributes to the Immunopathological Progression of Experimental Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

The cholinergic system is present in both bacteria and mammals and regulates inflammation during bacterial respiratory infections through neuronal and non-neuronal production of acetylcholine (ACh) and its receptors. However, the presence of this system during the immunopathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and in its causative agent () has not been studied. Therefore, we used an experimental model of progressive pulmonary TB in BALB/c mice to quantify pulmonary ACh using high-performance liquid chromatography during the course of the disease.

Altered Light Sensitivity of Circadian Clock in Shank3 Mouse.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in communication and social interaction, repetitive or stereotypical behaviors, altered sensory perception, and sleep disorders. In general, the causes of ASD remain unknown, but in Phelan-McDermid syndrome, it is known that the disorder is related to the haploinsufficiency of the Shank3 gene. We used an autism model with compromised glutamatergic signaling, the Shank3 mouse, to study the circadian rhythm architecture of locomotion behavior and its entrainment to light.