Antibiotic allergy de-labeling in the intensive care unit: The prospective ADE-ICU study.

Purpose: Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are frequently prescribed antibiotics, with many reporting an antibiotic allergy label, predominantly to penicillin. Mislabeling contributes to suboptimal antibiotic use, increasing multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile infections, and increased hospital length of stay. This prospective study implemented an antibiotic allergy assessment and testing program in the ICU, independently of clinical immunology/allergy services.

Immune response in vaccinated healthcare workers with frequent COVID-19 infections is characterised by blunted IFNγ and IL-2 responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite widespread vaccination, some HCWs develop frequent symptomatic infection. We hypothesised that HCWs with frequent symptomatic COVID-19 have impaired T and B cell mediated immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

Metabolic dysfunction mediated by HIF-1α contributes to epithelial differentiation defects in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background: Investigating the contributory role that epithelial cell metabolism plays in allergic inflammation is a key factor to understanding what influences dysfunction and the pathogenesis of the allergic disease eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We previously highlighted that the absence of hypoxia signaling through hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α in EoE contributes to esophageal epithelial dysfunction. However, metabolic regulation by HIF-1α has not been explored in esophageal allergy.

Neratinib plus dasatinib is highly synergistic in HER2-positive breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Background: HER2-targeted therapies have revolutionised the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. However, de novo resistance or the emergence of acquired resistance is a persistent clinical problem. Here we report that neratinib, an irreversible pan-HER inhibitor, in combination with the multi-kinase inhibitor dasatinib, currently used to treat certain leukemias, has strong anti-proliferative effects against models of HER2-positive breast cancer that are innately resistant to trastuzumab or have acquired resistance to neratinib.

Impact of COVID-19 vaccination on seminal and systemic inflammation in men.

Expedited development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines led to public concerns regarding impacts of the novel vaccine on gametes in patients seeking assisted reproduction. In cases of an acute intermittent illness or fever in men, it is often advised to postpone ART treatments so that efforts can be made to enhance wellbeing and improve sperm parameters. However, it is unknown whether sperm parameters are altered in the acute (24-72 hour) phase following COVID-19 vaccination.

Anaesthetic gases and the environment: Is it time for a rethink?

Background: General anaesthesia is in common use for patients undergoing surgical procedures, with the option of both inhalational and intravenous anaesthetic techniques. Anaesthetic gases are often excluded from discussions on sustainable healthcare delivery, despite being a significant contributor to the overall environmental impact of healthcare services.

Methods: A literature review was carried out on previously published papers on the impact anaesthetic gases have on our environment and at ways to reduce their impact in current anaesthetic practice.

LinCD117CD34FcεRI progenitor cells are increased in chronic spontaneous urticaria and predict clinical responsiveness to anti-IgE therapy.

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common, debilitating skin disorder characterized by recurring episodes of raised, itchy and sometimes painful wheals lasting longer than 6 weeks. CSU is mediated by mast cells which are absent from peripheral blood. However, lineageCD34CD117FcεRI cells in blood have previously been shown to represent a mast cell precursor.

Novel scoring system provides high separation of diploidy and triploidy to aid partial hydatidiform mole diagnosis: an adaption of D-DISH for ploidy analysis.

Aims: Diagnosis of hydatidiform mole or molar pregnancy based on morphology alone can be challenging, particularly in early gestation, necessitating the use of ancillary techniques for accurate diagnosis. We sought to adapt the VENTANA dual-colour dual-hapten in-situ hybridisation (D-DISH) assay by using the internal chromosome 17 enumeration probe to determine ploidy status.

Methods: We selected 25 products of conception, consisting of molar and non-molar cases, to validate the D-DISH assay.

Disease-Modifying Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis Affect Measures of Cellular Immune Responses to EBNA-1 Peptides.

Background And Objectives: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite this, there are no routinely used tests to measure cellular response to EBV. In this study, we analyzed the cellular response to EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) in people with MS (pwMS) using a whole blood assay.

Experience of pediatric to adult transition in immunology services: patient experience questionnaire and micro-costing analysis.

The effective transition from pediatric to adult care for individuals with chronic medical conditions should address the medical, psychosocial and educational needs of the cohort. The views and experiences of service users and their families are an integral component of service development. This study sought to evaluate the current provision of transition services from pediatric immunology services to adult immunology services for patients with a diagnosis of an inborn error of immunity at St.

Blood-brain barrier disruption and sustained systemic inflammation in individuals with long COVID-associated cognitive impairment.

Vascular disruption has been implicated in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis and may predispose to the neurological sequelae associated with long COVID, yet it is unclear how blood-brain barrier (BBB) function is affected in these conditions. Here we show that BBB disruption is evident during acute infection and in patients with long COVID with cognitive impairment, commonly referred to as brain fog. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, we show BBB disruption in patients with long COVID-associated brain fog.

The use of a systems approach to increase NAD in human participants.

Reversal or mitigation against an age-related decline in NAD has likely benefits, and this premise has driven academic and commercial endeavour to develop dietary supplements that achieve this outcome. We used a systems-based approach to improve on current supplements by targeting multiple points in the NAD salvage pathway. In a double-blind, randomised, crossover trial, the supplement - Nuchido TIME+® (NT) - increased NAD concentration in whole blood.

Event-triggered robot self-assessment to aid in autonomy adjustment.

Human-robot teams are being called upon to accomplish increasingly complex tasks. During execution, the robot may operate at different levels of autonomy (LOAs), ranging from full robotic autonomy to full human control. For any number of reasons, such as changes in the robot's surroundings due to the complexities of operating in dynamic and uncertain environments, degradation and damage to the robot platform, or changes in tasking, adjusting the LOA during operations may be necessary to achieve desired mission outcomes.

A multi-disciplinary commentary on preclinical research to investigate vascular contributions to dementia.

Although dementia research has been dominated by Alzheimer's disease (AD), most dementia in older people is now recognised to be due to mixed pathologies, usually combining vascular and AD brain pathology. Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), which encompasses vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common type of dementia. Models of VCI have been delayed by limited understanding of the underlying aetiology and pathogenesis.

Point of care detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and neutralisation capacity-lateral flow immunoassay evaluation compared to commercial assay to inform potential role in therapeutic and surveillance practices.

Introduction: As the COVID-19 pandemic moves towards endemic status, testing strategies are being de-escalated. A rapid and effective point of care test (POCT) assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immune responses can inform clinical decision-making and epidemiological monitoring of the disease. This cross-sectional seroprevalence study of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Irish healthcare workers assessed how rapid anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing can be compared to a standard laboratory assay, discusses its effectiveness in neutralisation assessment and its uses into the future of the pandemic.