A multi-cohort genome-wide association study in African ancestry individuals reveals risk loci for primary open-angle glaucoma.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, disproportionately affects individuals of African ancestry. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for POAG in 11,275 individuals of African ancestry (6,003 cases; 5,272 controls). We detected 46 risk loci associated with POAG at genome-wide significance.

Recruitment strategies and lessons learned from a large genetic study of African Americans.

Genetic studies must enroll large numbers of participants to obtain adequate statistical power. Data are needed on how researchers can best use limited financial and practical resources to achieve these targets, especially in under-represented populations. This paper provides a retrospective analysis of the recruitment strategies for a large glaucoma genetics study in African Americans.

LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can reduce the risk of hospitalization from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) when administered early. However, SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) have negatively affected therapeutic use of some authorized mAbs. Using a high-throughput B cell screening pipeline, we isolated LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab), a highly potent SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific antibody.

Fit Factor Change on Quantitative Fit Testing of Duckbill N95 Respirators with the Use of Safety Goggles.

Unlabelled: N95 respirators and safety goggles are important components of personal protective equipment to reduce the spread of airborne infections, such as COVID-19, among healthcare workers. Poor N95 respirator seal may reduce its protective effect, thereby increasing transmission. Quantitative fit testing is an established way of assessing the N95 respirator fit, which provides a quantitative measure for seal, called the fit factor.

LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can reduce the risk of hospitalization when administered early during COVID-19 disease. However, the emergence of variants of concern has negatively impacted the therapeutic use of some authorized mAbs. Using a high throughput B-cell screening pipeline, we isolated a highly potent SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific antibody called LY-CoV1404 (also known as bebtelovimab).

The neutralizing antibody, LY-CoV555, protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection in nonhuman primates.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a public health threat for which preventive and therapeutic agents are urgently needed. Neutralizing antibodies are a key class of therapeutics that may bridge widespread vaccination campaigns and offer a treatment solution in populations less responsive to vaccination. Here, we report that high-throughput microfluidic screening of antigen-specific B cells led to the identification of LY-CoV555 (also known as bamlanivimab), a potent anti-spike neutralizing antibody from a hospitalized, convalescent patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Isolation of monoclonal antibodies from anti-synthetase syndrome patients and affinity maturation by recombination of independent somatic variants.

The autoimmune disease known as Jo-1 positive anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) is characterized by circulating antibody titers to histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HARS), which may play a role in modulating the non-canonical functions of HARS. Monoclonal antibodies to HARS were isolated by single-cell screening and sequencing from three Jo-1 positive ASS patients and shown to be of high affinity, covering diverse epitope space. The immune response was further characterized by repertoire sequencing from the most productive of the donor samples.

Breath-synchronized electrical stimulation of the expiratory muscles in mechanically ventilated patients: a randomized controlled feasibility study and pooled analysis.

Background: Expiratory muscle weakness leads to difficult ventilator weaning. Maintaining their activity with functional electrical stimulation (FES) may improve outcome. We studied feasibility of breath-synchronized expiratory population muscle FES in a mixed ICU population ("Holland study") and pooled data with our previous work ("Australian study") to estimate potential clinical effects in a larger group.

LY-CoV555, a rapidly isolated potent neutralizing antibody, provides protection in a non-human primate model of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 poses a public health threat for which therapeutic agents are urgently needed. Herein, we report that high-throughput microfluidic screening of antigen-specific B-cells led to the identification of LY-CoV555, a potent anti-spike neutralizing antibody from a convalescent COVID-19 patient. Biochemical, structural, and functional characterization revealed high-affinity binding to the receptor-binding domain, ACE2 binding inhibition, and potent neutralizing activity.

Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) Study: gender and risk of POAG in African Americans.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between gender and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) among African Americans and to assess demographic, systemic, and behavioral factors that may contribute to differences between genders. The Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study had a case-control design and included African Americans 35 years and older, recruited from the greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Diagnosis of POAG was based on evidence of both glaucomatous optic nerve damage and characteristic visual field loss.

Abdominal functional electrical stimulation to assist ventilator weaning in critical illness: a double-blinded, randomised, sham-controlled pilot study.

Background: For every day a person is dependent on mechanical ventilation, respiratory and cardiac complications increase, quality of life decreases and costs increase by > $USD 1500. Interventions that improve respiratory muscle function during mechanical ventilation can reduce ventilation duration. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of employing an abdominal functional electrical stimulation (abdominal FES) training program with critically ill mechanically ventilated patients.

Mitochondrial haplogroup L1c2 is associated with increased disease severity in African American patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role mitochondrial inheritance plays in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) characteristics in African Americans.

Methods: POAG cases from the L1c2 and L1b mitochondrial haplogroups were compared in a retrospective case-case study. Twenty-six pairs of self-identified African American POAG cases from L1c2 and L1b mitochondrial haplogroups matched on age (mean [SD] = 71.

SNP located in an repeat downstream of rs4657473, is protective for POAG in African Americans.

Aims: To determine the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) downstream from the gene with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in African Americans (AA).

Methods: AA subjects were recruited for the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study from the Scheie Eye Institute and its satellite sites in Philadelphia. A region containing an repeat and seven SNPs, including rs4656461 near the gene, were PCR-Sanger sequenced from POAAGG cases (n=1537) and controls (n=1570).

The association of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups with POAG in African Americans.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). However, the potential significance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups to POAG has not been evaluated in the overaffected African American population. To investigate the association of mtDNA haplogroups with POAG and its phenotypic characteristics, genotyping data from 4081 African American subjects (1919 cases and 2162 controls) was analyzed using 1293 positions on mtDNA.

Functional classification of long non-coding RNAs by k-mer content.

The functions of most long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are unknown. In contrast to proteins, lncRNAs with similar functions often lack linear sequence homology; thus, the identification of function in one lncRNA rarely informs the identification of function in others. We developed a sequence comparison method to deconstruct linear sequence relationships in lncRNAs and evaluate similarity based on the abundance of short motifs called k-mers.

The MT-CO1 V83I Polymorphism is a Risk Factor for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in African American Men.

Purpose: We investigate the function of the V83I polymorphism (m.6150G>A, rs879053914) in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (MT-CO1) gene and its role in African American (AA) primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: This study used Sanger sequencing (1339 cases, 850 controls), phenotypic characterization of Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics study (POAAGG) cases, a masked chart review of CO1 missense cases (V83I plus M117T, n = 29) versus wild type cases (n = 29), a yeast 2-hybrid (Y2H) cDNA library screen, and quantification of protein-protein interactions by Y2H and ELISA.

Characterizing the "POAGome": A bioinformatics-driven approach to primary open-angle glaucoma.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a genetically, physiologically, and phenotypically complex neurodegenerative disorder. This study addressed the expanding collection of genes associated with POAG, referred to as the "POAGome." We used bioinformatics tools to perform an extensive, systematic literature search and compiled 542 genes with confirmed associations with POAG and its related phenotypes (normal tension glaucoma, ocular hypertension, juvenile open-angle glaucoma, and primary congenital glaucoma).

Risk Factors Associated with Progression to Blindness from Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in an African-American Population.

Purpose: To determine the risk factors associated with progression to blindness from primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in an African-American population.

Methods: This study examined 2119 patients enrolled in the Primary Open-Angle African-American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study. A total of 59 eyes were identified as legally blind as a result of POAG (cases) and were age-and sex-matched to 59 non-blind eyes with glaucoma (controls).

Association of primary open-angle glaucoma with mitochondrial variants and haplogroups common in African Americans.

Purpose: To estimate the population frequencies of all common mitochondrial variants and ancestral haplogroups among 1,999 subjects recruited for the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) Study, including 1,217 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) cases and 782 controls, and to identify ancestral subpopulations and mitochondrial mutations as potential risk factors for POAG susceptibility.

Methods: Subject classification by characteristic glaucomatous optic nerve findings and corresponding visual field defects, as defined by enrolling glaucoma specialists, stereo disc photography, phlebotomy, extraction of total DNA from peripheral blood or saliva, DNA quantification and normalization, PCR amplification of whole mitochondrial genomes, Ion Torrent deep semiconductor DNA sequencing on DNA pools ("Pool-seq"), Sanger sequencing of 3,479 individual mitochondrial DNAs, and bioinformatic analysis.

Results: The distribution of common African haplogroups within the POAAGG study population was broadly similar to prior surveys of African Americans.

Saliva DNA quality and genotyping efficiency in a predominantly elderly population.

Background: The question of whether DNA obtained from saliva is an acceptable alternative to DNA from blood is a topic of considerable interest for large genetics studies. We compared the yields, quality and performance of DNAs from saliva and blood from a mostly elderly study population.

Methods: Two thousand nine hundred ten DNAs from primarily elderly subjects (mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 65 ± 12 years), collected for the Primary Open-Angle African-American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study, were evaluated by fluorometry and/or spectroscopy.

The primary open-angle african american glaucoma genetics study: baseline demographics.

Purpose: To describe the baseline characteristics of the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study cohort, the largest African American population with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) recruited at a single institution (University of Pennsylvania [UPenn], Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute) to date.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional, case-control study.

Participants: A total of 2520 African American subjects aged 35 years or more who were recruited from the greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

Mitochondrial sequence variation in African-American primary open-angle glaucoma patients.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a major cause of blindness and results from irreversible retinal ganglion cell damage and optic nerve degeneration. In the United States, POAG is most prevalent in African-Americans. Mitochondrial genetics and dysfunction have been implicated in POAG, and potentially pathogenic sequence variations, in particular novel transversional base substitutions, are reportedly common in mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) from POAG patient blood.

RB116: an RB1+ retinoblastoma cell line expressing primitive markers.

Purpose: Retinoblastoma (RB), an intraocular tumor of childhood, is commonly associated with mutations in the RB1 gene. RB116 is a novel, early passage RB cell line that has not been previously characterized. In this study, we examined RB116 for the expression of RB1 and tested the hypothesis that RB116 cells would express stem cell markers as well as retinal progenitor cell markers.

Paracetamol induced skin blood flow and blood pressure changes in febrile intensive care patients: An observational study.

Objective: To determine the relationship between paracetamol administration and skin blood flow (skBF) and blood pressure (BP) in critically ill patients treated for fever.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Setting: Intensive care units of university teaching hospital.

Promotion of homologous recombination and genomic stability by RAD51AP1 via RAD51 recombinase enhancement.

Homologous recombination (HR) repairs chromosome damage and is indispensable for tumor suppression in humans. RAD51 mediates the DNA strand-pairing step in HR. RAD51 associated protein 1 (RAD51AP1) is a RAD51-interacting protein whose function has remained elusive.