Diagnostic Accuracy of Chest X-ray Computer-Aided Detection Software for Detection of Prevalent and Incident Tuberculosis in Household Contacts.

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) tuberculosis (TB) screening guidelines recommend computer-aided detection (CAD) software for chest radiograph (CXR) interpretation. However, studies evaluating their diagnostic and prognostic accuracy are limited.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of household contacts of rifampicin-resistant TB in South Africa.

Adding Oscillometry and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide to Guidelines Potentially Enhances Identification of Exacerbation Risk Factors in Asthmatic Children.

Background: A possible explanation for the continued risk of asthma exacerbations while utilizing current asthma guideline-based management is the failure to consider small airway dysfunction (SAD) and eosinophilic airway inflammation in assuming asthma-controlled status.

Objective: To construct a practical algorithm that potentially identifies additional risks of not well-controlled (NWC) asthma and exacerbations beyond guideline criteria with oscillometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) determination.

Methods: This was a retrospective, posthoc analysis of 183 children, ages 4-18 years, with moderate-to-severe asthma, characterized by demographic factors, National Health Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) determined asthma-controlled status, therapy step, and lung function status.

Baseline Impulse Oscillometry Metrics Differentiate Asthmatic Children From Non-Asthmatic Children Across Ethnicity/Race: A Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Identifying the asthmatic early to prevent permanent airway remodeling and the progression of the disease is desirable. In children, baseline impulse oscillometry has been found effective in identifying asthma in some studies but not others.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to utilize a meta-analysis to determine whether there were significant peripheral airway differences between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children across ethnicity/race, utilizing baseline impulse oscillometry (IOS) to establish its usefulness as a diagnostic tool in this age group.

Analysis of Spermine Oxidase gene and proinflammatory cytokines expression in gastric cancer patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection - A pilot study in Polish population.

Purpose: Many types of cancer have infectious origins. Gastric cancer patients can demonstrate high seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

TrkB receptor interacts with mGlu receptor and mediates antipsychotic-like effects of mGlu receptor activation in the mouse.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu) attracts particular attention as a possible target for a new class of antipsychotics. However, the signaling pathways transducing the effects of mGlu in the brain remain poorly characterized. Here, we addressed this issue by identifying native mGlu interactome in mouse prefrontal cortex.

Adding oscillometry to spirometry in guidelines better identifies uncontrolled asthma, future exacerbations, and potential targeted therapy.

The objective of this review is to provide new advances in our understanding of the clinical importance of establishing peripheral airway impairment (PAI) by impulse oscillometry (IOS) and targeted therapy, which could result in better asthma outcomes. Data sources include PubMed and Google search, limited to English language and human disease, with key words IOS and asthma. Key findings include PAI being consistently associated with uncontrolled asthma across ethnicities, using IOS reference equations factoring Hispanic and White reference algorithms.

Impact of 5-HT Receptor Subcellular Localization on Its Signaling and Its Pathophysiological Roles.

The serotonin (5-HT) receptor still raises particular interest given its unique spatio-temporal pattern of expression among the serotonin receptor subtypes. It is the only serotonin receptor specifically expressed in the central nervous system, where it is detected very early in embryonic life and modulates key neurodevelopmental processes, from neuronal migration to brain circuit refinement. Its predominant localization in the primary cilium of neurons and astrocytes is also unique among the serotonin receptor subtypes.

In young children with asthma, obesity and uncontrolled disease are highly associated with peripheral airway impairment.

Background: Despite the fact that impulse oscillometry (IOS)-determined peripheral airway impairment (PAI) phenotype is a major risk factor for uncontrolled asthma, IOS is seldom used clinically.

Objective: To identify clinical characteristics that can best identify the PAI phenotype.

Methods: Clinical characteristics and spirometry results were compared in 227 patients with asthma with the PAI phenotype determined by resistance and reactance values that exceeded IOS‑predictive normal values using Gochicoa-Rangel equations.

External validation can provide the clinician with IOS equations that best predict the risk of uncontrolled asthma in their population.

Background: Peripheral airway impairment (PAI) has been shown to have a close association to risk of uncontrolled asthma in children. However, clear methods have not been established for the clinician to select impulse oscillometry (IOS) reference equations best suited for their population. Our study aimed to develop a practical external validation analytic approach for the clinician to determine which of the available reference equations best predicts uncontrolled asthma for their patients.

Assessment of an LSDV-Vectored Vaccine for Heterologous Prime-Boost Immunizations against HIV.

The modest protective effects of the RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial have prompted the further exploration of improved poxvirus vector systems that can yield better immune responses and protection. In this study, a recombinant lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) expressing HIV-1 CAP256.SU gp150 (Env) and a subtype C mosaic Gag was constructed (LSDVGC5) and compared to the equivalent recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVAGC5).

Advancements in the Growth and Construction of Recombinant Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV) for Use as a Vaccine Vector.

Attenuated vaccine strains of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) have become increasingly popular as recombinant vaccine vectors, to target both LSDV, as well as other pathogens, including human infectious agents. Historically, these vaccine strains and recombinants were generated in primary (lamb) testis (LT) cells, Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells or in eggs. Growth in eggs is a laborious process, the use of primary cells has the potential to introduce pathogens and MDBK cells are known to harbor bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV).

Peripheral Airway Impairment and Dysanapsis Define Risk of Uncontrolled Asthma in Obese Asthmatic Children.

Background: Factors that determine the relationship between obesity and poor outcomes in asthmatic children are not well understood. Dysanapsis and peripheral airway impairment (PAI) could provide an explanation in the obese asthmatic patient.

Objectives: To determine the effect of obesity on increased dysanapsis and PAI and establish the effect of obesity, dysanapsis, and PAI on increased risk of uncontrolled asthma.

Evaluating the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on asthma morbidity: A comprehensive analysis of potential influencing factors.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period is experiencing better asthma control, fewer exacerbations, and health care utilization, with limited data on factors that could explain this phenomenon.

Objective: To confirm these improved asthma outcomes during COVID-19 and evaluate potential contributing factors.

Methods: In 18,912 pediatric patients with asthma treated in the Children's Hospital of Orange County network from 2017 to 2020, monthly asthma-related encounters and medication summaries were extracted from electronic health records, particulate matter 2.

Normal growth variance by Z scores should be considered when interpreting the growth inhibitory effect of inhaled corticosteroids.

Background: Randomized clinical trials suggest that long-term inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment significantly inhibits growth velocity (GV) assessed by centimeters/year (cm/year) in primarily prepubescent, mild asthmatics. However, several observational studies measuring normal growth variance by Z score suggest the absence of the ICS inhibitory effect.

Objective: To demonstrate the generalizability of ICS growth inhibition in cm/year by establishing whether this measure exceeds the expected normal changes in GV by Z score for similar age and sex.

Modifications to the HIV-1 SAAVI MVA-C vaccine improve in vitro expression and in vivo immunogenicity.

Two HIV-1 vaccines (SAAVI DNA-C2 and SAAVI MVA-C) were previously developed in South Africa and tested in preclinical studies and Phase 1 clinical trials. Here we report on improvements made to the SAAVI MVA-C vaccine design which include: the use of different promoters for both the Gag and Env genes, replacement of the native Gag gene with an in silico designed subtype C mosaic Gag antigen which forms virus-like particles and the modification of Env by sequence changes to improve stability and transport to the cell surface. A head-to-head comparison of the newly conceived MVAGD5 candidate vaccine with SAAVI MVA-C showed increased in vitro expression of both Env and Gag, and superior immunogenicity in rabbits.

Standardized IOS Reference Values Define Peripheral Airway Impairment-Associated Uncontrolled Asthma Risk Across Ethnicity in Children.

Background: Although clinically useful in identifying peripheral airway impairment (PAI), impulse oscillometry (IOS) has not received universal acceptance. This may be due to variable cutoff points, and the perception that available standardized reference values may not be clinically relevant in all populations.

Objective: To establish the relationship between PAI, based on standardized IOS reference values, and uncontrolled asthma as well as interchangeability between Hispanic and white reference algorithms.

Immunogenicity of HIV-1 Vaccines Expressing Chimeric Envelope Glycoproteins on the Surface of Pr55 Gag Virus-Like Particles.

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) is present on the surface of the virion at a very low density compared to most other enveloped viruses. Substitution of various parts of the stalk domain of Env (gp41) with the corresponding elements from other viral glycoproteins has been shown to increase Env spike density on the cell membrane and surface of virus-like particles (VLPs). In this study, chimeric Env antigens were generated by replacing the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of HIV-1 Env with the corresponding regions from the influenza H5 hemagglutinin (HA) (gp140HAtr) and by replacing the entire gp41 region of Env with the HA subunit of HA (gp120HA).