Evaluation of Real and Perceived Risk to Health Care Workers Caring for Patients With the Omicron Variant of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Surgery and Obstetrics.

Objectives: The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is described as more contagious than previous variants. We sought to assess risk to health care workers (HCWs) caring for patients with COVID-19 in surgical/obstetrical settings, and the perception of risk among this group.

Methods: From January to April 2022, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral ribonucleic acid in patient, environmental (floor, equipment, passive air) samples, and HCWs' masks (inside surface) during urgent surgery or obstetrical delivery for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 contamination in the operating room and birthing room setting: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The exposure risks to front-line health care workers caring for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection undergoing surgery or obstetric delivery are unclear, and an understanding of sample types that may harbour virus is important for evaluating risk. We sought to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection undergoing surgery or obstetric delivery was present in the peritoneal cavity of male and female patients, in the female reproductive tract, in the environment of the surgery or delivery suite (surgical instruments or equipment used, air or floors), and inside the masks of the attending health care workers.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from November 2020 to May 2021 at 2 tertiary academic Toronto hospitals, during urgent surgeries or obstetric deliveries for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Identification of an alpha-1 antitrypsin variant with enhanced specificity for factor XIa by phage display, bacterial expression, and combinatorial mutagenesis.

Coagulation Factor XIa (FXIa) is an emerging target for antithrombotic agent development. The M358R variant of the serpin alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) inhibits both FXIa and other proteases. Our aim was to enhance the specificity of AAT M358R for FXIa.

Quality and Reliability of Publicly Accessible Information on Laser Treatments for Urinary Incontinence: What Is Available to Our Patients?

Study Objective: To determine the quality and reliability of the top 20 internet search results for laser treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Design: Review of 20 websites.

Setting: N/A.

Serpin Phage Display: The Use of a T7 System to Probe Reactive Center Loop Libraries with Different Serine Proteinases.

Phage display is a protein engineering approach that involves construction of libraries of variant proteins displayed on the surface of bacteriophage as capsid fusion proteins and their screening for binding and inhibitory function through the use of bait proteins. Recently, we adapted a commercially available T7 phage display system to create phage-displayed serpin libraries hypervariable in up to five positions in their reactive center loop (RCL). The RCL is a key determinant in serpin specificity, the relationship between the structure of a given serpin and which target proteinase(s) it inhibits.

Pathogen inactivation by riboflavin and ultraviolet light illumination accelerates the red blood cell storage lesion and promotes eryptosis.

Background: Pathogen reduction treatment using riboflavin and ultraviolet light illumination (Mirasol) effectively reduces the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections. This treatment is currently licensed for only platelets and plasma products, while its application to whole blood (WB) to generate pathogen-inactivated red blood cells (RBCs) is under development. RBC storage lesion, constituting numerous morphologic and biochemical changes, influences RBC quality and limits shelf life.