Utility of ISARIC 4C Mortality Score, Vaccination History, and Anti-S Antibody Titre in Predicting Risk of Severe COVID-19.

The ISARIC 4C Mortality score was developed to predict mortality risk among patients with COVID-19. Its performance among vaccinated individuals is understudied. This is a retrospective study of all patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, from January-2020 to December-2021.

Proximal Renal Artery Stenosis Presenting as Uncontrolled Hypertension.

Presentation: We present a case of 50-year-old lady who present with 1-month history of uncontrolled hypertension.

Diagnosis: Magnetic resonance angiography showed stenosis of the left renal artery just beyond the ostium extending over approximately 7mm in length. Computed tomography angiography show focal narrowing of the proximal renal artery just distal to vessel origin, approximately 60% stenosis.

A covalent creatine kinase inhibitor ablates glioblastoma migration and sensitizes tumors to oxidative stress.

Glioblastoma is a Grade 4 primary brain tumor defined by therapy resistance, diffuse infiltration, and near-uniform lethality. The underlying mechanisms are unknown, and no treatment has been curative. Using a recently developed creatine kinase inhibitor (CKi), we explored the role of this inhibitor on GBM biology in vitro.

B cell-based therapy produces antibodies that inhibit glioblastoma growth.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and malignant brain tumor with limited therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. Despite current treatments, the invasive nature of GBM often leads to recurrence. A promising alternative strategy is to harness the potential of the immune system against tumor cells.

Cadaver Dissection Experience for First-Time Dissectors: a Hypothetical Three-Pronged Approach for Student Preparation.

This systematic review synthesized evidence for the development of a preparatory process for first-time dissectors, geared toward improving cadaver dissection (CD) experiences. Eleven studies focused on pre-CD intervention were selected from a literature search in PubMed, the Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC), Google Scholar, PsycNET, and the Cochrane Library. A three-pronged preparatory process was formulated for first-time dissectors based on the evidence from the review.

Identification of Panoramic Photographic Image Composition Using Fuzzy Rules.

Making panoramic images has gradually become an essential function inside personal intelligent devices because panoramic images can provide broader and richer content than typical images. However, the techniques to classify the types of panoramic images are still deficient. This paper presents novel approaches for classifying the photographic composition of panoramic images into five types using fuzzy rules.

The CXCL16-CXCR6 axis in glioblastoma modulates T-cell activity in a spatiotemporal context.

Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) pathobiology is characterized by its significant induction of immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment, predominantly mediated by immunosuppressive tumor-associated myeloid cells (TAMCs). Myeloid cells play a pivotal role in shaping the GBM microenvironment and influencing immune responses, with direct interactions with effector immune cells critically impacting these processes.

Methods: Our study investigates the role of the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis in T-cell myeloid interactions within GBM tissues.

Antigen-presenting B cells promote TCF-1 PD1 stem-like CD8 T-cell proliferation in glioblastoma.

Understanding the spatial relationship and functional interaction of immune cells in glioblastoma (GBM) is critical for developing new therapeutics that overcome the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Our study showed that B and T cells form clusters within the GBM microenvironment within a 15-μm radius, suggesting that B and T cells could form immune synapses within the GBM. However, GBM-infiltrating B cells suppress the activation of CD8 T cells.

Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Nanostructures as a Tunable Delivery Platform: Perspective and Framework for the Future Drug Product Development.

Nanoformulation of active payloads or pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has always been an area of interest to achieve targeted, sustained, and efficacious delivery. Various delivery platforms have been explored, but loading and delivery of APIs have been challenging because of the chemical and structural properties of these molecules. Polymersomes made from amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCPs) have shown enormous promise as a tunable API delivery platform and confer multifold advantages over lipid-based systems.

Myeloid cell-derived creatine in the hypoxic niche promotes glioblastoma growth.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignancy dominated by the infiltration of tumor-associated myeloid cells (TAMCs). Examination of TAMC metabolic phenotypes in mouse models and patients with GBM identified the de novo creatine metabolic pathway as a hallmark of TAMCs. Multi-omics analyses revealed that TAMCs surround the hypoxic peri-necrotic regions of GBM and express the creatine metabolic enzyme glycine amidinotransferase (GATM).

Different mechanisms of X-ray irradiation-induced male and female sterility in Aedes aegypti.

Background: Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) is the major vector that transmits many diseases including dengue, Zika, and filariasis in tropical and subtropical regions. Due to the growing resistance to chemical-based insecticides, biological control methods have become an emerging direction to control mosquito populations.

IL-2Rα-biased agonist enhances antitumor immunity by invigorating tumor-infiltrating CD25CD8 T cells.

To avoid regulatory T cell promotion and vascular toxicity, the interleukin-2 receptor-β/interleukin-2 receptor-γ (IL-2Rβγ)-biased approach is used by most IL-2 analogs in immuno-oncology. However, recent clinical disappointments in these IL-2 agonists have questioned this strategy. Here we show that both wild-type (IL-2) and IL-2Rβγ-attenuated (IL-2) agonists that preserve IL-2Rα (CD25) activities can effectively expand tumor-specific CD8 T cells (TSTs) and exhibit better antitumor efficacy and safety than the 'non-α' counterpart (IL-2).

Coda and Catharsis: Exploring the Emotional Challenges and Coping of Junior Palliative Physicians Through Cinematic Reflection.

There has been little research on reflective tools for junior doctors, whom may have encountered challenges working in palliative care whereby grief and losses are high. This is a qualitative study aiming to firstly explore the emotional challenges of junior doctors and secondly whether the movie is an effective reflective tool. 32 junior doctors rotating through the palliative care unit were recruited and underwent a combined movie screening with a focus group discussion after.

Longer-term Mortality and Kidney Outcomes of Participants in the Combination Antibiotics for Methicillin-Resistant (CAMERA2) Trial: A Post Hoc Analysis.

Background: The Combination Antibiotic Therapy for Methicillin-Resistant (CAMERA2) trial ceased recruitment in July 2018, noting that a higher proportion of patients in the intervention arm (combination therapy) developed acute kidney injury (AKI) compared to the standard therapy (monotherapy) arm. We analyzed the long-term outcomes of participants in CAMERA2 to understand the impact of combination antibiotic therapy and AKI.

Methods: Trial sites obtained additional follow-up data.

Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Meta-Analysis.

While subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was reportedly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, the relationship between SCH and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the association of SCH and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing PCI. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CENTRAL databases from its inception until April 1, 2022 for studies comparing the outcomes between SCH and euthyroid patients undergoing PCI.

B-cells Drive Response to PD-1 Blockade in Glioblastoma Upon Neutralization of TGFβ-mediated Immunosuppression.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment but has yet to be translated into brain tumors. Studies in other solid tumors suggest a central role of B-cell immunity in driving immune-checkpoint-blockade efficacy. Using single-cell and single-nuclei transcriptomics of human glioblastoma and melanoma brain metastasis, we found that tumor-associated B-cells have high expression of checkpoint molecules, known to block B-cell-receptor downstream effector function such as plasmablast differentiation and antigen-presentation.

The Omicron-transformer: Rise of the subvariants in the age of vaccines.

Introduction: Omicron is the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, the pathogen that causes COVID-19. Since its emergence in late 2021, Omicron has displaced other circulating variants and caused successive waves of infection worldwide throughout 2022. Omicron is characterised by the rapid emergence of many subvariants and high rates of infection in people with vaccine- and/or infection induced immunity.

Artificial Cell Membrane Polymersome-Based Intranasal Beta Spike Formulation as a Second Generation Covid-19 Vaccine.

Current parenteral coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines inadequately protect against infection of the upper respiratory tract. Additionally, antibodies generated by wild type (WT) spike-based vaccines poorly neutralize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. To address the need for a second-generation vaccine, we have initiated a preclinical program to produce and evaluate a potential candidate.

Converting avocado seeds into a ready to eat snack and analysing for persin and amygdalin.

Avocado seeds account for 13% of the waste from industrial production of cold-pressed avocado oil (CPAO). Therefore, the aim of this study was to valorise avocado seeds by converting it into an extruded snack product using a friction cooker and comparing their textural and physical characteristics to extruded brown rice and malted barley ready to eat (RTE) snacks. Concentration of toxins; amygdalin and persin were compared in extruded avocado seed and fresh avocado seeds.

Optimal target saturation of ligand-blocking anti-GITR antibody IBI37G5 dictates FcγR-independent GITR agonism and antitumor activity.

Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) is a co-stimulatory receptor and an important target for cancer immunotherapy. We herein present a potent FcγR-independent GITR agonist IBI37G5 that can effectively activate effector T cells and synergize with anti-programmed death 1 (PD1) antibody to eradicate established tumors. IBI37G5 depends on both antibody bivalency and GITR homo-dimerization for efficient receptor cross-linking.