Evidence from whole genome sequencing of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 almost 5 hours after hospital room turnover.

Experimental evidence suggests that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains viable within aerosols with a half-life of approximately 3 hours; however, it remains unclear how long airborne SARS-CoV-2 can transmit infection. Whole genome sequencing during an outbreak suggested in-room transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to two patients admitted nearly 2 and 5 hours, respectively, after discharge of an asymptomatic infected patient. These findings suggest that airborne SARS-CoV-2 may transmit infection for over 4 hours, even in a hospital setting.

Trends in antibiotic prescribing in primary care out-of-hours doctors' services in Ireland.

Background: Infections are a common reason for patient consultation in out-of-hours (OOH) doctors' services. Surveillance of antibiotic prescribing in OOH settings is important to develop tailored antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions.

Objectives: To evaluate antibiotic prescribing patterns in OOH services in the Cork Kerry region, Ireland to inform future AMS interventions.

Correlation of a commercial platform's results with post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response and clinical host factors.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to describe the correlation between the commercially available assay for anti-S1/RBD IgG and protective serum neutralizing antibodies (nAb) against SARS-CoV-2 in an adult population after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and determine if clinical variables impact this correlation.

Methods: We measured IgG anti-S1/RBD using the IgG-II CMIA assay and nAb IC50 values against SARS-CoV-2 WA-1 in sera serially collected post-mRNA vaccination in veterans and healthcare workers of the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS) between December 2020 and January 2022. The correlation between IgG and IC50 was measured using Pearson correlation.

Search of a genomic sequence database for potential novel blood group antigens: Investigation into why some amino acid substitutions are not immunogenic.

Background: Polypeptide blood group antigens are typically identified through investigation of the antibodies they induce. Human genome sequence databases are a new tool to identify AA substitutions that potentially create blood group antigens.

Study Design And Methods: The Erythrogene genomic sequence database was searched for missense mutations not known to be blood group antigens in the extracellular domains of selected RBC proteins in European populations.

Relationship between B-cell epitope structural properties and the immunogenicity of blood group antigens: Outlier properties of the Kell K1 antigen.

Background: The immunogenicities of polypeptide blood group antigens vary, despite most being created by single amino acid (AA) substitutions. To study the basis of these differences, we employed an immunoinformatics approach to determine whether AA substitution sites of blood group antigens have structural features typical of B-cell epitopes and whether the extent of B-cell epitope properties is positively related to immunogenicity.

Study Design And Methods: Fifteen structural property prediction programs were used to determine the likelihood of β-turns, surface accessibility, flexibility, hydrophilicity, particular AA composition and AA pairs, and other B-cell epitope properties at AA substitution sites of polypeptide blood group antigens.

Clinical and virologic factors associated with outcomes of COVID-19 before and after vaccination among Veterans: Retrospective analysis from six New England states.

We aimed to characterize clinical and demographic factors affecting clinical outcomes of COVID-19 and describe viral epidemiology among unvaccinated Veterans in New England. Veterans infected with COVID-19 in Veterans Administration healthcare systems in six New England states from April 8, 2020, to September 2, 2021, were correlated with outcomes of 30-day mortality, nonpsychiatric hospitalization, and intensive care unit admission (ICU-care). We sequenced 827 viral genomes.

Selective Delivery of Clinically Approved Tubulin Binding Agents through Covalent Conjugation to an Active Targeting Moiety.

The efficacy and tolerability of tubulin binding agents are hampered by their low specificity for cancer cells like most clinically used anticancer agents. To improve specificity, tubulin binding agents have been covalently conjugated to agents that target cancer cells to give actively targeted drug conjugates. These conjugates are designed to increase uptake of the drug by cancer cells while having limited uptake by normal cells, thereby improving efficacy and tolerability.

SARS-CoV-2 detection in setting of viral swabs scarcity: Are MRSA swabs and viral swabs equivalent?

Background: The global pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has resulted in unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems. One barrier to widespread testing has been a paucity of traditional respiratory viral swab collection kits relative to the demand. Whether other sample collection kits, such as widely available MRSA nasal swabs can be used to detect SARS-CoV-2 is unknown.

Career destinations of graduates from a medical school with an 18-week longitudinal integrated clerkship in general practice: a survey of alumni 6 to 8 years after graduation.

Background: There is a worldwide recruitment and retention crisis in general practice. Workforce planning has identified the need to train more general practitioners as an urgent priority. Exposure of medical students to general practice as part of the formal and hidden curriculum, the use of longitudinal integrated clerkships, and positive experiences and role models in general practice are all thought to be contributing factors to doctors choosing careers in general practice.

β-Glucan extracts from the same edible shiitake mushroom Lentinus edodes produce differential in-vitro immunomodulatory and pulmonary cytoprotective effects - Implications for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) immunotherapies.

Coronavirus pneumonia is accompanied by rapid virus replication, where a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine storm may lead to acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death. The uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, is associated with ARDS. This constituted the first study to report on the variability in physicochemical properties of β-glucans extracts from the same edible mushroom Lentinus edodes on the reduction of these pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.

More than coffee - a World Café to explore enablers of pharmacy practice research.

Background: Pharmacists are in demand now more than ever to provide high-quality expertise about the effectiveness, safety and use of medications. Amidst an increasingly complex and costly healthcare system, policy makers need robust evidence to justify public spending on pharmacy services. Research on the impact of existing and emerging pharmacy practices is required.

The University of Limerick Education and Research Network for General Practice (ULEARN-GP): practice characteristics and general practitioner perspectives.

Background: A well-functioning general practice sector that has a strong research component is recognised as a key foundation of any modern health system. General practitioners (GPs) are more likely to collaborate in research if they are part of an established research network. The primary aims of this study are to describe Ireland's newest general practice-based research network and to analyse the perspectives of the network's members on research engagement.

Relationship of epitope glycosylation and other properties of blood group proteins to the immunogenicity of blood group antigens.

Background: The intrinsic properties of polypeptide blood group antigens that determine their relative immunogenicities are unknown. Because size, composition, charge, dose, and epitope glycosylation affect the immunogenicity of other polypeptides, we examined whether similar properties were related to the immunogenicity of blood group antigens.

Study Design And Methods: Amino acid (AA) sequences of antithetical blood group antigens were searched for N- and O-glycosylation sites.

Structural and functional impacts of amino acid substitutions that create blood group antigens: implications for immunogenicity.

Background: The immunogenicities of polypeptide blood group antigens vary widely. One possible determinant of immunogenicity is antigenic foreignness. The goal was to employ alternative ways of assessing foreignness and determine whether foreignness was related to immunogenicity.

Detection rate of blood group alloimmunization based on real-world testing practices and kinetics of antibody induction and evanescence.

Background: Failure to detect non-ABO blood group alloantibodies places patients at risk for hemolytic reactions. Suboptimal alloantibody detection could result from posttransfusion testing performed too early, too late, or not at all. Testing performed too early may precede antibody induction, while testing performed too late could miss antibodies that have evanesced.

Estimating the immunogenicity of blood group antigens: a modified calculation that corrects for transfusion exposures.

Calculations of blood group antigen immunogenicity have been based on antigen and antibody frequencies in transfused populations, with the assumption of a single red blood cell (RBC) unit exposure per patient. Given that patients are usually transfused >1 RBC unit, antigen exposures will be greater than assumed, resulting in inaccurate immunogenicity calculations. As such, the goal of this study was to modify the calculation to correct for RBC exposures.

Warfarin Pharmacogenetics Reevaluated: Subgroup Analysis Reveals a Likely Underestimation of the Maximum Pharmacogenetic Benefit by Clinical Trials.

Objectives: Various patient subgroups were examined to determine which ones obtain the largest pharmacogenetic improvements in warfarin dose accuracy. Subgrouping schemes of recent clinical trials were analyzed for comparison.

Methods: The accuracy of a pharmacogenetic dose algorithm was determined retrospectively in comparison to that of a clinical algorithm in subgroups of the International Warfarin Pharmacogenetics Consortium (IWPC) patient database (n = 2,274) and of newly studied clinic patients (n = 146).

Fluid motion and shear forces in platelet storage bags with different modes of agitation.

This study describes a new method for comparison of fluid motion and associated shear forces with various modes of platelet agitation. Fluid motion generated by flatbed, tumbler-type and circular platelet agitators was investigated. Trajectory tracings of polyethylene beads suspended inside platelet storage bags were used to calculate motion parameters.

Platelet transfusion: a clinical practice guideline from the AABB.

Background: The AABB (formerly, the American Association of Blood Banks) developed this guideline on appropriate use of platelet transfusion in adult patients.

Methods: These guidelines are based on a systematic review of randomized, clinical trials and observational studies (1900 to September 2014) that reported clinical outcomes on patients receiving prophylactic or therapeutic platelet transfusions. An expert panel reviewed the data and developed recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.