Susceptibilities of Human ACE2 Genetic Variants in Coronavirus Infection.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in more than 235 million cases worldwide and 4.8 million deaths (October 2021), with various incidences and mortalities among regions/ethnicities. The coronaviruses SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and HCoV-NL63 utilize the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the receptor to enter cells.

SARS-CoV-2 Disrupts Proximal Elements in the JAK-STAT Pathway.

SARS-CoV-2 can infect multiple organs, including lung, intestine, kidney, heart, liver, and brain. The molecular details of how the virus navigates through diverse cellular environments and establishes replication are poorly defined. Here, we generated a panel of phenotypically diverse, SARS-CoV-2-infectible human cell lines representing different body organs and performed longitudinal survey of cellular proteins and pathways broadly affected by the virus.

SARS-CoV-2 desensitizes host cells to interferon through inhibition of the JAK-STAT pathway.

SARS-CoV-2 can infect multiple organs, including lung, intestine, kidney, heart, liver, and brain. The molecular details of how the virus navigates through diverse cellular environments and establishes replication are poorly defined. Here, we performed global proteomic analysis of the virus-host interface in a newly established panel of phenotypically diverse, SARS-CoV-2-infectable human cell lines representing different body organs.

A cross-reactive human IgA monoclonal antibody blocks SARS-CoV-2 spike-ACE2 interaction.

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a global pandemic requiring the development of interventions for the prevention or treatment to curtail mortality and morbidity. No vaccine to boost mucosal immunity, or as a therapeutic, has yet been developed to SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we discover and characterize a cross-reactive human IgA monoclonal antibody, MAb362.

IgA MAb blocks SARS-CoV-2 Spike-ACE2 interaction providing mucosal immunity.

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a global pandemic requiring the development of interventions for the prevention or treatment to curtail mortality and morbidity. No vaccine to boost mucosal immunity or as a therapeutic has yet been developed to SARS-CoV-2. In this study we discover and characterize a cross-reactive human IgA monoclonal antibody, MAb362.

Placement of central venous lines for sepsis in the elderly has markedly increased-Evidence from a cohort of New Jersey (USA) emergency departments.

Background: Early goal directed therapy for sepsis patients requires placement of central lines (CVPL) to measure central pressure.

Objective: We hypothesized that the percentage of CVPL placed for sepsis has increased over time, whereas the frequency of lines placed for other conditions has not changed.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Intravenous versus oral paracetamol for acute pain in adults in the emergency department setting: a prospective, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To determine if intravenous paracetamol was superior to oral paracetamol as an adjunct to opioids in the management of moderate to severe pain in the ED setting.

Methods: A prospective, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled trial was conducted at a single academic tertiary care ED. Adult patients with moderate to severe pain were randomly assigned to receive either the intravenous paracetamol or oral paracetamol.

Physician assistants in Australasian emergency departments.

A physician assistant (PA) is a university qualified health professional who's primary role is to provide medical care under the direction and supervision of medical staff. This is a new profession in Australasia. The PA is well suited to working in both rural, regional and urban settings that deliver emergency medical care.

Simplified modified Rankin Scale questionnaire correlates with stroke severity.

Objective: To further validate the simplified modified Rankin Scale questionnaire (smRSq), we compare it here to a well-established predictor of functional outcome after stroke, the initial stroke severity.

Design: Retrospective correlation analysis.

Participants: Forty patients identified from a registry of stroke patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator.

Death adder envenoming causes neurotoxicity not reversed by antivenom--Australian Snakebite Project (ASP-16).

Background: Death adders (Acanthophis spp) are found in Australia, Papua New Guinea and parts of eastern Indonesia. This study aimed to investigate the clinical syndrome of death adder envenoming and response to antivenom treatment.

Methodology/principal Findings: Definite death adder bites were recruited from the Australian Snakebite Project (ASP) as defined by expert identification or detection of death adder venom in blood.

Stroke size correlates with functional outcome on the simplified modified Rankin Scale questionnaire.

Background: Acute stroke size is one of the factors impacting functional outcome. To further validate the simplified modified Rankin Scale questionnaire (smRSq), we tested its correlation with stroke size.

Methods: We screened 60 ischemic stroke patients with acute brain images available for stroke volume measurement who were enrolled in 2 smRSq reliability studies.

Pediatric flecainide toxicity from a double dose.

A 23-month-old boy was brought to the emergency department of an adult and pediatric tertiary care center 1 hour after an inadvertent “double dose” of 120 mg flecainide (9.2 mg/kg). His electrocardiogram revealed sinus rhythm with a terminal R wave in aVR greater than 7 mm, a bifascicular block, and prolonged QRS and QTc intervals.

Simplified modified rankin scale questionnaire: reproducibility over the telephone and validation with quality of life.

Background And Purpose: The simplified modified Rankin Scale questionnaire (smRSq) enables a reliable and rapid determination of the modified Rankin Scale score after stroke. We test the reliability and validity of a slightly revised smRSq.

Methods: Fifty consecutive outpatients 4.

Seizures secondary to lamotrigine toxicity in a two-year-old.

Objective: To report a case of acute pediatric lamotrigine ingestion resulting in seizures.

Case Summary: A 2-year-old boy presented to the emergency department after an acute ingestion of up to 43 mg/kg of lamotrigine. He had 2 generalized seizures, with the first occurring 60 minutes after ingestion.

Improving modified Rankin Scale assessment with a simplified questionnaire.

Background And Purpose: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a popular primary stroke outcome measure, but its usefulness is limited by suboptimal reliability (inter-rater agreement).

Methods: We developed and tested the reliability of a simplified mRS questionnaire (smRSq) in 50 patients after stroke seen in outpatient clinics. Randomly chosen paired raters administered the smRSq within 20 minutes of each other and the ratings were blinded until the end of this study.

A telestroke network enhances recruitment into acute stroke clinical trials.

Background And Purpose: Acute stroke clinical trials are conducted primarily at academic medical centers. As a result, patients living in rural areas are excluded from participation, results may not be generalizable to nonacademic settings, and studies may be slow to recruit subjects. Telemedicine can provide rural patients with emergency neurovascular consultation.

Review article: Emergency Department implications of the TASER.

The TASER is a conducted electricity device currently being introduced to the Australian and New Zealand police forces as an alternative to firearms in dealing with violent and dangerous individuals. It incapacitates the subject by delivering rapid pulses of electricity causing involuntary muscle contraction and pain. The use of this device might lead to cardiovascular, respiratory, biochemical, obstetric, ocular and traumatic sequelae.