Clinical outcomes in patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 treated with monoclonal antibody therapy versus an untreated control cohort.

Background: Monoclonal antibody therapy (MAT) received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for mild to moderate COVID-19 treatment in adults at a high-risk for progression to severe disease in November 2020. This study assessed the impact of MAT on clinical outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study comparing 30-day COVID-19-related emergency department (ED) visits, admissions, and mortality in patients receiving MAT (bamlanivimab, bamlanivimab-etesevimab, or casirivimab-imdevimab) between 16 November 2020 and 19 June 2021, compared to a control group of high-risk adults diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19 prior to MAT availability between 16 May 2020 and 15 November 2020.

Understanding Solid-State Photochemical Energy Storage in Polymers with Azobenzene Side Groups.

Solar thermal fuel (STF) materials store energy through light-induced changes in the structures of photoactive molecular groups, and the stored energy is released as heat when the system undergoes reconversion to the ground-state structure. Solid-state STF devices could be useful for a range of applications; however, the light-induced structural changes required for energy storage are often limited or prevented by dense molecular packing in condensed phases. Recently, polymers have been proposed as effective solid-state STF platforms, as they can offer the bulk properties of solid materials while retaining the molecular-level free volume and/or mobility to enable local structural changes in photoresponsive groups.

Blind Subgrouping of Task-based fMRI.

Significant heterogeneity in network structures reflecting individuals' dynamic processes can exist within subgroups of people (e.g., diagnostic category, gender).

Evidence Based Scarce Resource Allocation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Bamlanivimab Administration in the Emergency Department.

Patients presenting for emergency department (ED) evaluation may be appropriate for treatment with monoclonal antibodies for mild to moderate COVID-19. While many sites have implemented infusion centers for these agents, EDs will continue to evaluate these patients where appropriate identification and efficient infusion of eligible patients is critical. Patients receiving bamlanivimab in the EDs of an academic medical center are described.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction update-2016.

The first practice parameter on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) was published in 2010. This updated practice parameter was prepared 5 years later. In the ensuing years, there has been increased understanding of the pathogenesis of EIB and improved diagnosis of this disorder by using objective testing.

Differential effects of 10-Hz and 40-Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on endogenous versus exogenous attention.

Previous electrophysiological studies implicate both alpha (8-12 Hz) and gamma (>30 Hz) neural oscillations in the mechanisms of selective attention. Here, participants preformed two separate visual attention tasks, one endogenous and one exogenous, while transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), at 10 Hz, 40 Hz, or sham, was applied to the right parietal lobe. Our results provide new evidence for the roles of gamma and alpha oscillations in voluntary versus involuntary shifts of attention.

Eucapnic Voluntary Hyperventilation to Detect Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) has not been well studied in cystic fibrosis (CF), and eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation (EVH) testing has not been used as an objective assessment of EIB in CF to date.

Methods: A prospective cohort pilot study was completed where standard EVH testing was completed by 10 CF patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) ≥70% of predicted. All patients also completed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with pre- and post-CPET spirometry as a comparative method of detecting EIB.

Improving screening and diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: a call to action.

This article summarizes the findings of an expert panel of nationally recognized allergists and pulmonologists who met to discuss how to improve detection and diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), a transient airway narrowing that occurs during and most often after exercise in people with and without underlying asthma. EIB is both commonly underdiagnosed and overdiagnosed. EIB underdiagnosis may result in habitual avoidance of sports and physical activity, chronic deconditioning, weight gain, poor asthma control, low self-esteem, and reduced quality of life.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) occurs commonly in patients with asthma but also can affect individuals without asthma. EIB is particularly common in populations of athletes. Common symptoms include cough, dyspnea, chest tightness, and wheezing; however, there can be a variety of more subtle symptoms.

Sex differences in asthma symptom profiles and control in the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers.

Objective: Important differences between men and women with asthma have been demonstrated, with women describing more symptoms and worse asthma-related quality of life (QOL) despite having similar or better pulmonary function. While current guidelines focus heavily on assessing asthma control, they lack information about whether sex-specific approaches to asthma assessment should be considered. We sought to determine if sex differences in asthma control or symptom profiles exist in the well-characterized population of participants in the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers (ALA-ACRC) trials.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm, asthma control, and obesity.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) commonly affects patients with asthma. However, the relationship between EIB and asthma control remains unclear. Exercise limitation due to asthma might lead to reduced physical activity, but little information is available regarding obesity and EIB in asthma.

Low-frequency intermediate penetrance variants in the ROCK1 gene predispose to Tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Epidemiological studies indicate a substantial excess familial recurrence of non-syndromic Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), implicating genetic factors that remain largely unknown. The Rho induced kinase 1 gene (ROCK1) is a key component of the planar cell polarity signalling pathway, which plays an important role in normal cardiac development. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of genetic variation in ROCK1 on the risk of TOF.

An official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline: exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Background: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) describes acute airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise. EIB occurs in a substantial proportion of patients with asthma, but may also occur in individuals without known asthma.

Methods: To provide clinicians with practical guidance, a multidisciplinary panel of stakeholders was convened to review the pathogenesis of EIB and to develop evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of EIB.

Genome-wide association study identifies loci on 12q24 and 13q32 associated with tetralogy of Fallot.

We conducted a genome-wide association study to search for risk alleles associated with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), using a northern European discovery set of 835 cases and 5159 controls. A region on chromosome 12q24 was associated (P = 1.4 × 10(-7)) and replicated convincingly (P = 3.

Managing respiratory problems in athletes.

Respiratory problems are common in athletes of all abilities and can significantly impact upon their health and performance. In this article, we provide an overview of respiratory physiology in athletes. We also discuss the assessment and management of common clinical respiratory conditions as they pertain to athletes, including airways disease, respiratory tract infection and pneumothorax.

Etiology of dyspnea in elite and recreational athletes.

Background: Breathing complaints are common in athletes. Studies have suggested that the prevalence of asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is higher in elite athletes than the general population. Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) may mimic asthma and EIB as a cause of dyspnea in athletes.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of potent NAD+-dependent DNA ligase inhibitors as potential antibacterial agents. Part I: aminoalkoxypyrimidine carboxamides.

A series of 2,6-disubstituted aminoalkoxypyrimidine carboxamides (AAPCs) with potent inhibition of bacterial NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligase was discovered through the use of structure-guided design. Two subsites in the NAD(+)-binding pocket were explored to modulate enzyme inhibitory potency: a hydrophobic selectivity region was explored through a series of 2-alkoxy substituents while the sugar (ribose) binding region of NAD(+) was explored via 6-alkoxy substituents.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of potent NAD+-dependent DNA ligase inhibitors as potential antibacterial agents. Part 2: 4-amino-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5(8H)-ones.

A series of 4-amino-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5(8H)-ones were designed and synthesized as a novel class of inhibitors of NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligase that possess potency against Gram-positive bacteria.

A common variant in the PTPN11 gene contributes to the risk of tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the commonest cyanotic form of congenital heart disease. In 80% of cases, TOF behaves as a complex genetic condition exhibiting significant heritability. As yet, no common genetic variants influencing TOF risk have been robustly identified.

HIV and asthma, is there an association?

Objective: To evaluate whether asthma and airway hyper-responsiveness are associated with HIV infection.

Methods: We reviewed the literature on HIV-associated pulmonary diseases, pulmonary symptoms, and immune changes which may play a role in asthma. The information was analyzed comparing the pre-HAART era to the post-HAART era data.

Screening for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in college athletes.

Objective: Previous studies have reported that the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in athletes is higher than that of the general population. There is increasing evidence that athletes fail to recognize and report symptoms of EIB. As a result, there has been debate whether athletes should be screened for EIB, particularly in high-risk sports.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm: a case study in a nonasthmatic patient.

Purpose: To provide an overview of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) without underlying asthma.

Data Sources: Case presentation and review of the EIB Landmark Survey.

Conclusions: EIB is a common and well-described occurrence in patients with asthma, as well as in patients with no overt respiratory condition.

Impact of exercise-related respiratory symptoms in adults with asthma: Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Landmark National Survey.

An estimated 5-20% of the general population and up to 90% of people with asthma experience exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). The EIB Landmark Survey is the first comprehensive study on exercise-related respiratory symptoms in the United States. Two surveys were conducted: the first surveyed adults (≥18 years) in the general public and the second surveyed adults with asthma or taking medications for asthma in the prior year.