The Nasogastric Tube for Adhesional Small Bowel Obstruction: An Analysis of Treatment Effect and Outcomes in a Tertiary Acute General Surgical Unit.

Background Nasogastric tubes (NGTs) have long been considered standard practice for the management of adhesional small bowel obstructions (ASBOs). However, the evidence to support the routine use of NGTs in ASBO is sparse. This study aims to review outcomes associated with NGT use in a large tertiary centre.

Affinity maturation endows potent activity onto class 6 SARS-CoV-2 broadly neutralizing antibodies.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) has greatly diminished the neutralizing activity of previously FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), including that of antibody cocktails and of first-generation broadly neutralizing antibodies such as S309 (Sotrovimab). In contrast, antibodies targeting cryptic conformational epitopes of the receptor binding domain (RBD) have demonstrated broad activity against emerging variants, but exert only moderate neutralizing activity, which has so far hindered clinical development. Here, we utilize in vitro display technology to identify and affinity-mature antibodies targeting the cryptic class 6 epitope, accessible only in the "up" conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer.

Melatonin supplementation to sows in mid to late gestation affects offspring circadian, myogenic, and growth factor transcript abundance in pre and postnatal skeletal muscle.

The neuroendocrine hormone melatonin is associated with circadian rhythms and has antioxidant and vasodilative properties. In cattle, melatonin rescues fetal growth during maternal nutrient restriction in a seasonally dependent manner, but melatonin research in swine is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary melatonin supplementation during mid to late gestation on circadian rhythm and muscle growth and development of the longissimus dorsi in utero and postnatally.

Adoptive transfer of membrane-restricted IL-12-TCR T cells promotes antigen spreading and elimination of antigen-negative tumor variants.

Background: Adoptive T-cell therapy has demonstrated clinical activity in B-cell malignancies, offering hope for its application to a broad spectrum of cancers. However, a significant portion of patients with solid tumors experience primary or secondary resistance to this treatment modality. Target antigen loss resulting either from non-uniform antigen expression or defects in antigen processing and presentation machinery is one well-characterized resistance mechanism.