Cytokines in chest tube drainage after pediatric cardiac surgery - Is chylothorax the only phenotype?

Background: Chylothorax after pediatric cardiac surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Poor understanding exists regarding inflammation within the pleural fluid. Our aim was to determine the relationship between proinflammatory markers and chylothorax.

Evaluating patient immunocompetence through antibody response to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine using a newly developed 23 serotype multiplexed assay.

Assessing T-cell independent antibody response to polysaccharide vaccines is crucial for diagnosing humoral immune deficiencies. However, immunocompetence criteria based on S. pneumoniae vaccination remain unclear.

Specimen type validation and establishment of normal cytokine reference intervals in cerebrospinal fluid.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a critical body fluid to examine in attempts to discover potential biomarkers for neuroinflammatory and other disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Serum and/or plasma cytokine levels have been associated with a variety of inflammatory conditions, and some have been shown to be actionable therapeutic targets. Less is known, however, about cytokine levels in CSF.

Neurologic Manifestations of Common Variable Immunodeficiency: Impact on Quality of Life.

Background And Objectives: Common variable immunodeficiency is a systemic disease and not solely a disease of humoral immunity. Neurologic symptoms associated with common variable immunodeficiency are underrecognized and warrant further study. This work aimed to characterize the neurologic symptoms reported by people living with common variable immunodeficiency.

Cytokine Deficiencies in Patients with Long-COVID.

Up to half of individuals who contract SARS-CoV-2 develop symptoms of long-COVID approximately three months after initial infection. These symptoms are highly variable, and the mechanisms inducing them are yet to be understood. We compared plasma cytokine levels from individuals with long-COVID to healthy individuals and found that those with long-COVID had 100% reductions in circulating levels of Interferon Gamma (IFNγ) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8).

Plasma cytokine levels reveal deficiencies in IL-8 and gamma interferon in Long-COVID.

Up to half of individuals who contract SARS-CoV-2 develop symptoms of long-COVID approximately three months after initial infection. These symptoms are highly variable, and the mechanisms inducing them are yet to be understood. We compared plasma cytokine levels from individuals with long-COVID to healthy individuals and found that those with long-COVID had 100% reductions in circulating levels of interferon gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin-8 (IL-8).

An enzyme-linked immunospot assay to evaluate Pneumovax response when on intravenous immunoglobulin.

Background: Testing for common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) requires evaluation of specific antibody responses to vaccines. Current practice of evaluating pneumococcal serotype-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G levels after Pneumovax (P23) has several limitations and is not accurate for patients already on immunoglobulin replacement. In contrast, the enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay can be interpreted in patients on immunoglobulin replacement as ex vivo measurement of specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs).

Spinal fluid IgG antibodies from patients with demyelinating diseases bind multiple sclerosis-associated bacteria.

A panel of 10 IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the detection of anti-microbial immune responses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with demyelinating diseases (DD). The anti-microbial ELISA assays follow on prior human brain tissue RNA sequencing studies that established multiple sclerosis (MS) microbial candidates. Lysates included in the ELISA panel were derived from Akkermansia muciniphila, Atopobium vaginae, Bacteroides fragilis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Odoribacter splanchnicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Streptococcus mutans.

Clinical significance of measuring serum cytokine levels as inflammatory biomarkers in adult and pediatric COVID-19 cases: A review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly evolving infectious/inflammatory disorder which has turned into a global pandemic. With severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as its etiologic agent, severe COVID-19 cases usually develop uncontrolled inflammatory responses and cytokine storm-like syndromes. Measuring serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.

Role of Host Immune and Inflammatory Responses in COVID-19 Cases with Underlying Primary Immunodeficiency: A Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly and become a pandemic. Caused by a novel human coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), severe COVID-19 is characterized by cytokine storm syndromes due to innate immune activation. Primary immunodeficiency (PID) cases represent a special patient population whose impaired immune system might make them susceptible to severe infections, posing a higher risk to COVID-19, but this could also lead to suppressed inflammatory responses and cytokine storm.

Frontline Science: Cxxc5 expression alters cell cycle and myeloid differentiation of mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

CXXC5 is a member of the CXXC-type zinc finger epigenetic regulators. Various hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic roles have been assigned to CXXC5. In the present study, the role of Cxxc5 in myelopoiesis was studied using overexpression and short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown in mouse early stem and progenitor cells defined as Lineage Sca-1 c-Kit (LSK) cells.

Outcomes and Treatment Strategies for Autoimmunity and Hyperinflammation in Patients with RAG Deficiency.

Background: Although autoimmunity and hyperinflammation secondary to recombination activating gene (RAG) deficiency have been associated with delayed diagnosis and even death, our current understanding is limited primarily to small case series.

Objective: Understand the frequency, severity, and treatment responsiveness of autoimmunity and hyperinflammation in RAG deficiency.

Methods: In reviewing the literature and our own database, we identified 85 patients with RAG deficiency, reported between 2001 and 2016, and compiled the largest case series to date of 63 patients with prominent autoimmune and/or hyperinflammatory pathology.

Fitness genes of group A streptococci in necrotizing fasciitis and myositis.

Necrotizing fasciitis and myositis caused by group A streptococci (GAS) are among the most fulminating infections, with a mortality rate of 20% to 30%. Although numerous regimens have been utilized in attempts to control these devastating infections, such as combinations of various antimicrobial agents and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) as well as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, none have been the complete answer. Zhu and colleagues have utilized a transposon-directed insertion-site sequencing (TraDIS) protocol to identify 126 genes of M1 and 116 genes of M28 strains of GAS required for myositis, of which 25% encode transporters, which could be used as possible targets for future therapeutic protocols.

A pilot study evaluating biomarker development for drug-induced chronic eczematous eruptions of aging individuals.

Background: Identifying the drug(s) responsible for drug-induced chronic eczematous eruptions of aging individuals (CEEA) is a clinical challenge in patients on multiple medications. Reliable testing methods and biomarkers are needed to identify the causative agent and allow simultaneous assessment of T-cell responses to multiple drugs being taken concurrently. This study examined the feasibility of using , drug-specific T cell activation responses as a biomarker for drug-induced CEEA.

Specific Immunoglobulin (Ig) G Reference Intervals for Common Food, Insect, and Mold Allergens.

Background: The clinical utility of serum IgG measurement in the diagnosis of allergy and food-induced hypersensitivity has been largely discredited. Recent studies, however, have shown that specific IgG can inhibit IgE mediated allergies, and may play a role in allergen specific desensitization. Accurate reference intervals for IgG specific allergens have not been widely established and are needed for better interpretation of serum antibody concentrations.

Detection of Acetylcholine Receptor Blocking Antibodies by Flow Cytometry.

Objectives: Detection of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) blocking antibodies through the use of a radiolabel has become standard procedure in most laboratories. Known drawbacks associated with radioassay, including cost of radioisotopes, hazards to laboratory professionals, and manufacture and disposal of radioactive materials, have prompted investigation into replacement assays. We describe here a high-throughput immunofluorescent flow cytometric assay designed for the detection of AChR blocking antibodies.

Detection of acetylcholine receptor modulating antibodies by flow cytometry.

Objectives: To determine the clinical utility and performance characteristics of a laboratory-adapted flow cytometric method for the detection of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) modulating antibodies in myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: Serum samples from 120 healthy donors and 100 patients with suspected MG were assessed for the ability to reduce surface AChR concentrations (antigenic modulation) in RD (TE671) or DB40 human muscle cell lines by flow cytometry. Reference ranges were established by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and results were then compared with those of the current radioimmunoassay (RIA).

Fertility, pregnancies and outcomes reported by females with common variable immune deficiency and hypogammaglobulinemia: results from an internet-based survey.

Background: Issues of fertility and pregnancy place an extra burden on females with primary immunodeficiencies. Patients lack reliable information and providers lack guidelines to counsel patients on these anxiety-provoking matters.

Objective: To collate concerns and experiences related to fertility and pregnancy from females with humoral immune deficiencies.

Use and clinical interpretation of pneumococcal antibody measurements in the evaluation of humoral immune function.

Pneumococcal vaccination is a commonly used technique for assessing the humoral immune status of a patient suspected of having immunodeficiency. Interpretation of what constitutes an adequate response, however, can be challenging. This is due to the complexity of the data generated from serotype-specific assays, historical variations in the assays used to measure pneumococcal antibodies, and varying recommendations on the relevant cut points that define response.

Identification of patients with RAG mutations previously diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency disorders.

Purpose: Combined immunodeficiency (CID) presents a unique challenge to clinicians. Two patients presented with the prior clinical diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) disorder marked by an early age of presentation, opportunistic infections, and persistent lymphopenia. Due to the presence of atypical clinical features, next generation sequencing was applied documenting RAG deficiency in both patients.

Severely depressed interleukin-17 production by human neonatal mononuclear cells.

Background: The role of T-helper 17 cells (Th17) in neonatal host defense remains to be fully elucidated. Interleukin (IL)-17 plays an important role in the immune response to bacterial and fungal pathogens by promoting inflammation.

Methods: We examined neonatal production of IL-17 in mixed mononuclear cells (MMCs) isolated from umbilical cord blood for comparison with adult peripheral blood mononuclear cell controls.

Blood pressure, salivary cortisol, and inflammatory cytokine outcomes in senior female cancer survivors enrolled in a tai chi chih randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Older cancer survivors are a vulnerable population due to an increased risk for chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease) compounded with treatment late-effects and declines in physical functioning.