Metered-Dose Inhaler Versus Nebulizer Treatment for Acute Asthma Exacerbation: A Process Evaluation.

The prevalence of childhood asthma in the United States is 6.5%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) implemented metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) with spacers instead of nebulized albuterol to reduce aerosolization of pathogens and reduce costs.

Novel Tissue Factor Inhibition for Thromboprophylaxis in COVID-19: Primary Results of the ASPEN-COVID-19 Trial.

Background: Thrombo-inflammation is central to COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. TF (tissue factor), a driver of disordered coagulation and inflammation in viral infections, may be a therapeutic target in COVID-19. The safety and efficacy of the novel TF inhibitor rNAPc2 (recombinant nematode anticoagulation protein c2) in COVID-19 are unknown.

Safety and performance of the Spectra Optia apheresis system for white blood cell depletion in patients with elevated white blood cell counts.

Background: For the past 30 years, white blood cell depletion (WBCD) or leukocytapheresis has been conducted to rapidly reduce excessive circulating white blood cell (WBC) concentrations in patients at risk for or with symptoms of leukostasis due to hyperleukocytosis. The goal of leukocytapheresis is to prevent or treat acute complications from leukostasis, thereby enabling patients to receive potentially curative chemotherapy.

Methods: This report details the results from a retrospective and a prospective clinical study conducted in the European Union and the People's Republic of China, which assessed the use of the Spectra Optia Apheresis System for leukocytapheresis in patients with hyperleukocytosis.

The safety and performance of the Spectra Optia apheresis system platelet depletion protocol in patients with elevated platelet counts.

Background: Thrombocytosis is a presenting and progressive clinical feature found in multiple disease states. It is characterized by high platelet (PLT) counts (>450 × 10 /L) and can lead to thrombohemorrhagic events. Thrombocytapheresis or platelet depletion (PLTD) can be performed in acutely symptomatic patients suffering from thrombocytosis and may reduce or prevent acute serious complications associated with thrombocythemia thereby enabling patients to receive potentially curative high-dose chemotherapy.

Rationale and design of a study to assess the safety and efficacy of rNAPc2 in COVID-19: the Phase 2b ASPEN-COVID-19 trial.

Background: The interaction between thrombosis and inflammation appears central to COVID-19-associated coagulopathy and likely contributes to poor outcomes. Tissue factor is a driver of disordered coagulation and inflammatory signaling in viral infections and is important for viral replication; therefore, tissue factor may be an important therapeutic target in COVID-19.

Study Design: ASPEN-COVID-19 (NCT04655586) is a randomized, prospective open-label blinded endpoint (PROBE), active comparator Phase 2b trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of recombinant Nematode Anticoagulant Protein c2 (rNAPc2), a potent tissue factor inhibitor, in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 with elevated D-dimer levels.

Bayesian modeling of pretransplant variables accurately predicts kidney graft survival.

Introduction: Machine learning can enable the development of predictive models that incorporate multiple variables for a systems approach to organ allocation. We explored the principle of Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) to determine whether a predictive model of graft survival can be derived using pretransplant variables. Our hypothesis was that pretransplant donor and recipient variables, when considered together as a network, add incremental value to the classification of graft survival.

Lymphocyte depletion in experimental hemorrhagic shock in Swine.

Background: Hemorrhagic shock results in systemic activation of the immune system and leads to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Lymphocytes have been identified as critical mediators of the early innate immune response to ischemia-reperfusion injury, and immunomodulation of lymphocytes may prevent secondary immunologic injury in surgical and trauma patients.

Methods: Yorkshire swine were anesthetized and underwent a grade III liver injury with uncontrolled hemorrhage to induce hemorrhagic shock.

Lymphocyte modulation with FTY720 improves hemorrhagic shock survival in swine.

The inflammatory response to severe traumatic injury results in significant morbidity and mortality. Lymphocytes have recently been identified as critical mediators of the early innate immune response to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Experimental manipulation of lymphocytes following hemorrhagic shock may prevent secondary immunologic injury in surgical and trauma patients.

Incidence of pulmonary embolus in combat casualties with extremity amputations and fractures.

Background: The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in casualties of wartime extremity wounds and specifically in casualties with a trauma-associated amputation.

Methods: Records of all combat-wounded evacuated and admitted between March 1, 2003, and December 31, 2007, were retrospectively reviewed. Continuous and categorical variables were studied with the Student's t test, Fisher's exact test or χ² test; multivariate analysis was performed using a stepwise regression logistic model.

Analysis of glucose transporter topology and structural dynamics.

Homology modeling and scanning cysteine mutagenesis studies suggest that the human glucose transport protein GLUT1 and its distant bacterial homologs LacY and GlpT share similar structures. We tested this hypothesis by mapping the accessibility of purified, reconstituted human erythrocyte GLUT1 to aqueous probes. GLUT1 contains 35 potential tryptic cleavage sites.

Cooperative nucleotide binding to the human erythrocyte sugar transporter.

The human erythrocyte glucose transport protein (GluT1) is an adenine nucleotide binding protein. When complexed with cytosolic ATP, GluT1 exhibits increased affinity for the sugar export site ligand cytochalasin B, prolonged substrate occlusion, reduced net sugar import capacity, and diminished reactivity with carboxyl terminal peptide-directed antibodies. The present study examines the kinetics of nucleotide interaction with GluT1.