High transmission of endemic human coronaviruses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents in Cebu, Philippines.

Background: SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is a betacoronavirus belonging to the same genus as endemic human coronaviruses (hCoVs) OC43 and HKU1 and is distinct from alpha hCoVs 229E and NL63. In a study of adolescents in the Philippines, we evaluated seroprevalence to the hCoVs, whether pre-pandemic hCoV immunity modulated subsequent risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and if SARS-CoV-2 infection affected the transmission of the hCoVs.

Methods: From 499 individuals screened in 2021 for SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we randomly selected 59 SARS-CoV-2 negative and 61 positive individuals for further serological evaluation.

Lessons learned from an fMRI-guided rTMS study on performance in a numerical Stroop task.

The Stroop task is a well-established tool to investigate the influence of competing visual categories on decision making. Neuroimaging as well as rTMS studies have demonstrated the involvement of parietal structures, particularly the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), in this task. Given its reliability, the numerical Stroop task was used to compare the effects of different TMS targeting approaches by Sack and colleagues (Sack AT 2009), who elegantly demonstrated the superiority of individualized fMRI targeting.

High transmission of endemic human coronaviruses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents in Cebu, Philippines.

Background: SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is a betacoronavirus belonging to the same genus as endemic human coronaviruses (hCoVs) OC43 and HKU1 and is distinct from alpha hCoVs 229E and NL63. In a study of adolescents in the Philippines, we evaluated the seroprevalence to hCoVs, whether pre-pandemic hCoV immunity modulated subsequent risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and if SARS-CoV-2 infection affected the transmission of the hCoVs.

Methods: From 499 samples collected in 2021 and screened by SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we randomly selected 59 SARS-CoV-2 negative and 61 positive individuals for further serological evaluation.

Antigenic cartography of well-characterized human sera shows SARS-CoV-2 neutralization differences based on infection and vaccination history.

The rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants challenges vaccination strategies. Here, we collected 201 serum samples from persons with a single infection or multiple vaccine exposures, or both. We measured their neutralization titers against 15 natural variants and 7 variants with engineered spike mutations and analyzed antigenic diversity.

as a rare cause of meningitis and ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection.

is an extremely rare pathogen responsible for ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection and meningitis. This young female patient with history of multiple shunt revisions in the past, came to us with shunt dysfunction and exposure of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt tube in the neck. The abdominal end of the shunt tube was seen migrating into the bowel during shunt revision.

Rationale, Design, and Implications of Bifurcation Coronary Stenting: Insight from the Indian Bifurcation Stenting (IBIS) Registry.

Background Bifurcation coronary stenting (BCS) has unique therapeutic challenges. Several BCS strategies are prescribed for treatment, with conflicting data, and which is the best strategy for optimal short- and long-term outcomes remains a matter of debate. There is no systematic data from an Indian perspective in regard to patterns of BCS and its outcomes.

Comparison of resting and adenosine-free pressure indices with adenosine-induced hyperemic fractional flow reserve in intermediate coronary lesions.

Objective: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) using adenosine has been the gold standard in the functional assessment of intermediate coronary stenoses in the catheterization laboratory. We aim to study the correlation of adenosine-free indices such as whole cycle Pd/Pa [the ratio of mean distal coronary pressure (Pd) to the mean pressure observed in the aorta (Pa)], instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), and contrast-induced submaximal hyperemia (cFFR) with FFR.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study included patients with stable angina or acute coronary syndrome (>48 h since onset) with discrete intermediate coronary lesions (40-70% diameter stenosis).

Urgent surgery compared with fibrinolytic therapy for the treatment of left-sided prosthetic heart valve thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Aims: Left-sided prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) occurs frequently in developing countries and causes major morbidity and mortality. Fibrinolytic therapy (FT) is most commonly used as treatment, but increases the risk of stroke and bleeding. Urgent surgery may be more efficacious and cause fewer complications.