Exploring the impact of MiR-92a-3p on FOLFOX chemoresistance biomarker genes in colon cancer cell lines.

One of the primary obstacles faced by individuals with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) is the potential development of acquired chemoresistance as the disease advances. Studies have indicated a direct association between elevated levels of miR-92a-3p and the progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance observed in CRC. We proposed that miR-92a-3p impairs FOLFOX (fluorouracil/oxaliplatin) chemotherapy response by upregulating the expression of chemoresistance biomarker genes through the activation of β-catenin and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Multiparameter immunoprofiling for the diagnosis and differentiation of progressive versus nonprogressive nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease-A pilot study.

Clinical prediction of nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease (NTM-LD) progression remains challenging. We aimed to evaluate antigen-specific immunoprofiling utilizing flow cytometry (FC) of activation-induced markers (AIM) and IFN-γ enzyme-linked immune absorbent spot assay (ELISpot) accurately identifies patients with NTM-LD, and differentiate those with progressive from nonprogressive NTM-LD. A Prospective, single-center, and laboratory technician-blinded pilot study was conducted to evaluate the FC and ELISpot based immunoprofiling in patients with NTM-LD (n = 18) and controls (n = 22).

Convalescent Adaptive Immunity Is Highly Heterogenous after SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The optimal detection strategies for effective convalescent immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination remain unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize convalescent immunity targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using a multiparametric approach. At the beginning of the pandemic, we recruited 30 unvaccinated convalescent donors who had previously been infected with COVID-19 and 7 unexposed asymptomatic controls.

Convalescent Adaptive Immunity is Highly Heterogenous after SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Optimal detection strategies for effective convalescent immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination remain unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize convalescent immunity targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using a multiparametric approach. At the beginning of the pandemic, between April 23, 2020, to May 11, 2020, we recruited 30 COVID-19 unvaccinated convalescent donors and 7 unexposed asymptomatic donors.

New diagnostics for the spectrum of asymptomatic TB: from infection to subclinical disease.

TB remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, most infected immunocompetent individuals are asymptomatic and only 5-10% of these will eventually develop active TB during their lifetime (typically within 2 years after exposure). Therefore, rapid diagnosis and efficient management of asymptomatic infected individuals who are at the highest risk of progression and transmission remain major clinical and public health challenges.

Agent-based model indicates chemoattractant signaling caused by Mycobacterium avium biofilms in the lung airway increases bacterial loads by spatially diverting macrophages.

Incidence and prevalence of MAC infections are increasing globally, and reinfection is common. Thus, MAC infections present a significant public health challenge. We quantify the impact of MAC biofilms and repeated exposure on infection progression using a computational model of MAC infection in lung airways.

Risk factors and outcomes of non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection in lung transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Patients with structural lung disease and immunocompromised status are at increased risk of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection. However, literature on NTM in lung transplant recipients (LTR) is limited. We sought to systematically review the literature and perform a meta-analysis to examine associations with NTM disease and isolation in LTRs and their influence on mortality and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD).

Risk factors associated with intestinal pathogenic parasites in schoolchildren.

Diseases caused by intestinal parasites impose a substantial burden on population of middle income countries including Pakistan. This research was aimed to assess the risk factors for intestinal parasites in school children of Malakand, Pakistan. Two hundred and eighty eight students were enrolled between February and June 2016.

Clinical and Epidemiological Correlates of Low IFN-Gamma Responses in Mitogen Tube of QuantiFERON Assay in Tuberculosis Infection Screening During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-Based Marker of COVID-19 Mortality?

Background: The clinical and epidemiological implications of abnormal immune responses in COVID-19 for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening are unclear.

Methods: We reviewed QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) results (36,709 patients) from July 2016 until October 2021 in Asturias (Spain). We also studied a cohort of ninety hospitalized patients with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia and a group of elderly hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who underwent serial QFT-Plus and immune profiling testing.

Antigen Specific Humoral and Cellular Immunity Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients Receiving B-Cell Depleting Therapy.

Humoral vaccine responses are known to be suboptimal in patients receiving B-cell targeted therapy, and little is known about vaccine induced T-cell immunity in these patients. In this study, we characterized humoral and cellular antigen-specific anti-SARS-CoV2 responses following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) receiving anti-CD20 therapy, who were either B-cell depleted, or B-cell recovered at the time of vaccination and in normal control subjects. SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike (S) and anti-nucleocapsid (NC) antibodies were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays, while SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell responses to S glycoprotein subunits 1 (S1) and 2 (S2) and receptor binding domain peptide pools were measured using interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assays.

The Role of Biofilms, Bacterial Phenotypes, and Innate Immune Response in Mycobacterium avium Colonization to Infection.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), is known for colonizing and infecting humans following inhalation of the bacteria. MAC pulmonary disease is notoriously difficult to treat and prone to recurrence. Both the incidence and prevalence MAC pulmonary disease have been increasing globally.

Risk assessment of latent tuberculosis infection through a multiplexed cytokine biosensor assay and machine learning feature selection.

Accurate detection and risk stratification of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) remains a major clinical and public health problem. We hypothesize that multiparameter strategies that probe immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis can provide new diagnostic insights into not only the status of LTBI infection, but also the risk of reactivation. After the initial proof-of-concept study, we developed a 13-plex immunoassay panel to profile cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated separately with Mtb-relevant and non-specific antigens to identify putative biomarker signatures.

A 70-Year-Old Man With Cough and Recurrent Respiratory Infections.

A 70-year-old man was referred for evaluation of recurrent respiratory infections requiring antibiotics and chronic cough over 3 years. Two months prior to presentation, he started to develop blood-tinged sputum but not frank hemoptysis. He otherwise denied any fever, chills, night sweats, or weight loss.

Sellar Gangliocytoma: Case Report and Review of an Extremely Rare Tumour.

Sellar gangliocytomas (SGs) are rare, well-differentiated, low-grade neoplasias that commonly present along with a pituitary adenoma (PA). We describe a case of a 52-year-old woman with a 2-year history of headache, body weight increase, and recent onset of arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Work-up tests revealed a normal hypophyseal profile, except for mild ACTH elevation, and a sellar mass on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Active and latent tuberculosis infections in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in a non-endemic tuberculosis area.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) blocking inhibitory immune pathways (e.g., programmed cell death protein-1/-ligand1 [PD-1/PD-L1]) have revolutionized cancer therapy for numerous malignancies.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and MicroRNAs in Colorectal Cancer Chemoresistance to FOLFOX.

The FOLFOX scheme, based on the association of 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin, is the most frequently indicated chemotherapy scheme for patients diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, development of chemoresistance is one of the major challenges associated with this disease. It has been reported that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is implicated in microRNA-driven modulation of tumor cells response to 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin.

Cavitary lung lesions caused by in setting of common variable immune deficiency.

pneumonia affects immunocompromised hosts. The typical imaging finding is bilateral diffuse ground glass opacities. Here we presented a case of causing biopsy-confirmed cavitary lung lesions in a patient with a predominant B cell defect with common variable immune deficiency.

Genetic polymorphisms as non-modifiable susceptibility factors to laryngeal cancer.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a highly disabling disease to the patient, affecting speech, swallowing and respiratory skills. Smoking and alcohol abuse are principal risk factors linked to this disease. Genetic factors can be involved in carcinogenesis by controlling the cell cycle, cell survival, angiogenesis, and invasiveness.