Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 Serum Antibodies Through the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron Surges Among Vaccinated Health Care Workers at a Boston Hospital.

Background: Longitudinal serology studies can assist in analyzing the kinetics of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, helping to inform public health decision making. Our study aims to characterize circulating antibody trends over 18 months in vaccinated participants with and without evidence of COVID-19 infection.

Methods: A cohort of health care workers employed at Boston Medical Center was followed to collect serum samples and survey data over 6 time points from July 2020 through December 2021 (N = 527).

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and risk factors in health care workers at an academic medical center in Boston, Massachusetts.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel virus that causes Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). We aim to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG among healthcare workers and compare risk-factors between seropositive and seronegative HCWs. In this observational study, serum samples were collected from HCWs between July 13th to 26th, 2020 at Boston Medical Center (BMC).

HCV screening, linkage to care, and treatment patterns at different sites across one academic medical center.

Background: It is unclear whether sites that screen large numbers of patients for Hepatitis C Virus but achieve limited follow-up are more or less effective at having patients succeed through linkage and treatment than lower volume sites that have higher linkage percentages. The objective was to compare the rates of HCV identification, linkage to care, and treatment success between different study sites including the Emergency Department, 3 outpatient clinics with unique patients, and the inpatient setting at one medical center.

Methods: This is a descriptive analysis of 2 years of data from a protocol that integrated HCV screening and treatment into clinical services throughout multiple departments in one medical center.

A computational solution to improve biomarker reproducibility during long-term projects.

Biomarkers are fundamental to basic and clinical research outcomes by reporting host responses and providing insight into disease pathophysiology. Measuring biomarkers with research-use ELISA kits is universal, yet lack of kit standardization and unexpected lot-to-lot variability presents analytic challenges for long-term projects. During an ongoing two-year project measuring plasma biomarkers in cancer patients, control concentrations for one biomarker (PF) decreased significantly after changes in ELISA kit lots.

The Biospecimen Preanalytical Variables Program: A Multiassay Comparison of Effects of Delay to Fixation and Fixation Duration on Nucleic Acid Quality.

Context.—: Despite widespread use of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue in clinical and research settings, potential effects of variable tissue processing remain largely unknown.

Objective.

Implementation and Preliminary Results of an Emergency Department Nontargeted, Opt-out Hepatitis C Virus Screening Program.

Background: Emergency department (ED) visits provide an opportunity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening for patients who otherwise might not be tested. We report on a novel nontargeted, opt-out HCV screening and linkage-to-care (LTC) program implemented in an urban ED.

Methods: This is a descriptive analysis from 3 months (November 2016-January 2017) of a nontargeted, opt-out ED HCV screening and LTC program among patients at least 13 years old undergoing phlebotomy for clinical purposes.

Biobanking-Budgets and the Role of Pathology Biobanks in Precision Medicine.

Biobanks have become an important component of the routine practice of pathology. At the 2016 meeting of the Association of Pathology Chairs, a series of presentations covered several important aspects of biobanking. An often overlooked aspect of biobanking is the fiscal considerations.

On the dynamics of nitrite, nitrate and other biomarkers of nitric oxide production in inflammatory bowel disease.

Nitrite and nitrate are frequently used surrogate markers of nitric oxide (NO) production. Using rat models of acute and chronic DSS-induced colitis we examined the applicability of these and other NO-related metabolites, in tissues and blood, for the characterization of inflammatory bowel disease. Global NO dynamics were assessed by simultaneous quantification of nitrite, nitrate, nitroso and nitrosyl species over time in multiple compartments.

1-Tetradecanol complex: therapeutic actions in experimental periodontitis.

Background: The present study was planned to investigate the therapeutic actions of 1-tetradecanol complex (1-TDC), a novel monounsaturated fatty acid mixture, in established periodontitis in rabbits.

Methods: Periodontitis was initiated in 18 New Zealand White rabbits using ligatures around mandibular second premolars, followed by topical Porphyromonas gingivalis application (10(9) colony forming units). After 6 weeks of disease induction (phase 1), three animals were sacrificed to assess the established periodontitis level.

Transcription factor YY1 expression in human gastrointestinal cancer cells.

Over-expression of the multifunctional zinc-finger transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) has been associated with cellular proliferation and resistance to apoptotic stimuli. In this study, we report that YY1 was uniformly highly over-expressed in a wide range of human cancer cell lines and in human colon cancer tissue samples. The examination of YY1-specific mRNA expression demonstrated at least six mRNA isoforms ubiquitously expressed in normal human adult and fetal tissues.

Resolvin E1 regulates inflammation at the cellular and tissue level and restores tissue homeostasis in vivo.

Resolvin E1 (RvE1) is a potent proresolving mediator of inflammation derived from omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid that acts locally to stop leukocyte recruitment and promote resolution. RvE1 displays potent counter-regulatory and tissue-protective actions in vitro and in vivo. Periodontal disease is a local inflammatory disease initiated by bacteria characterized by neutrophil-mediated tissue injury followed by development of a chronic immune lesion.

1-Tetradecanol complex reduces progression of Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced experimental periodontitis in rabbits.

Background: It has been recently shown that monounsaturated fatty acids inhibit endothelial activation and reduce tissue responsiveness to cytokines. The present study has been planned to investigate topical application of a novel monounsaturated fatty acid complex (1-tetradecanol complex) for prevention of Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontitis in rabbits.

Methods: Experimental periodontitis was induced in New Zealand white rabbits with silk sutures tied around the mandibular second premolars bilaterally, followed by the topical application of 10(9) colony forming units (CFU) of P.