Advancing gender inclusivity for Two-Spirit, trans, nonbinary and other gender-diverse blood and plasma donors.

Background And Objectives: Two-Spirit, trans, nonbinary and other gender-diverse (2STGD) donors face challenges in donation. While many blood operators aim to address these challenges, to date, no empirical study with these donors has been conducted to guide their efforts. This paper reports 2STGD donors' views on a two-step approach asking donors their gender and sex assigned at birth (SAAB), and expanding gender options in donor registration.

Navigating imperfect policies to donate plasma: Survey on plasma donation and a pilot plasma donation program among men who have sex with men in Canada.

Background: In 2021, Canada implemented a pilot plasma program allowing some sexually active men who have sex with men (including but not limited to gay and bisexual men; gbMSM) to donate plasma. Changes to plasma donation policy could help address inequities in access to plasma donation and increase Canada's domestically collected plasma supply if more gbMSM donate as a result. We aimed to (1) examine views regarding plasma donation and the pilot program prior to implementation and (2) identify modifiable theory-informed predictors of gbMSM's intention to donate plasma.

Improved access yet inequitable experience: gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men's views of more inclusive criteria for source plasma donation.

Background: Canada has incrementally reduced restrictions to blood and plasma donation that impact men who have sex with men, gay, bisexual, and queer men, and some Two Spirit, transgender and non-binary individuals (MSM/2SGBTQ+). Prior to the launch of a pilot program in 2021 enabling some MSM/2SGBTQ + to donate source plasma, we explored the acceptability of the program among individuals who could become eligible to donate in the program.

Methods: We invited men identifying as MSM/2SGBTQ + to participate in two consecutive semi-structured interviews to explore their views on blood and plasma donation policy, plasma donation, and the proposed Canadian plasma donation program.

Barriers and enablers to source plasma donation by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men under revised eligibility criteria: protocol for a multiple stakeholder feasibility study.

Background: Blood donation policy in Canada for gay, bisexual and other men who have had sex with men (gbMSM) has changed progressively in the last decade from indefinite deferral to 3-month deferral from last male-to-male sex. Driven by safety data and overseen by the national regulator, more inclusive policies continue to redress the disparity in donation for gbMSM. At the same time, the need for source plasma to prepare fractionated blood products is growing worldwide.

Localized and delocalized bound states of the main isotopologue O and of O-enriched O isotopomers of the ozone molecule near the dissociation threshold.

Knowledge of highly excited rovibrational states of ozone isotopologues is of key importance for modelling the dynamics of exchange reactions, for understanding longstanding problems related to isotopic anomalies of the ozone formation, and for analyses of extra-sensitive laser spectral experiments currently in progress. This work is devoted to new theoretical study of high-energy states for the main isotopologue 48O3 = 16O16O16O and for the family of 18O-enriched isotopomers 50O3 = {16O16O18O, 16O18O16O, 18O16O16O} of the ozone molecule considered using a full-symmetry approach. Energies and wave functions of bound states near the dissociation threshold are computed in hyperspherical coordinates accounting for the permutation symmetry of three identical nuclei in 48O3 and of two identical nuclei in 50O3, using the most accurate potential energy surface available now.

The Role of Ozone Vibrational Resonances in the Isotope Exchange Reaction OO + O → OO + O: The Time-Dependent Picture.

We consider the time-dependent dynamics of the isotope exchange reaction in collisions between an oxygen molecule and an oxygen atom: OO + O → OO + O. A theoretical approach using the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method was employed to model the time evolution of the reaction. Two potential surfaces available in the literature were used in the calculations, and the results obtained with the two surfaces are compared with each other as well as with results of a previous theoretical time-independent approach.

The esophageal cooling device: A new temperature control tool in the intensivist's arsenal.

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia has been demonstrated to improve neurological outcome in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. Current temperature control modalities however, have several limitations. Exploring innovative methods of temperature management has become a necessity.

Safety and immunogenicity of RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in infants and children with WHO stage 1 or 2 HIV disease: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.

Background: Malaria remains a major global public health concern, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The RTS,S/AS01 malaria candidate vaccine was reviewed by the European Medicines Agency and received a positive scientific opinion; WHO subsequently recommended pilot implementation in sub-Saharan African countries. Because malaria and HIV overlap geographically, HIV-infected children should be considered for RTS,S/AS01 vaccination.

Genetic Diversity and Protective Efficacy of the RTS,S/AS01 Malaria Vaccine.

Background: The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine targets the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum and has partial protective efficacy against clinical and severe malaria disease in infants and children. We investigated whether the vaccine efficacy was specific to certain parasite genotypes at the circumsporozoite protein locus.

Methods: We used polymerase chain reaction-based next-generation sequencing of DNA extracted from samples from 4985 participants to survey circumsporozoite protein polymorphisms.

Temperature control in critically ill patients with a novel esophageal cooling device: a case series.

Background: Mild hypothermia and fever control have been shown to improve neurological outcomes post cardiac arrest. Common methods to induce hypothermia include body surface cooling and intravascular cooling; however, a new approach using an esophageal cooling catheter has recently become available.

Methods: We report the first three cases of temperature control using an esophageal cooling device (ECD).

Safety and immunogenicity of candidate vaccine M72/AS01E in adolescents in a TB endemic setting.

Background: Vaccination that prevents tuberculosis (TB) disease, particularly in adolescents, would have the greatest impact on the global TB epidemic. Safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate M72/AS01E was evaluated in healthy, HIV-negative adolescents in a TB endemic region, regardless of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection status.

A phase 3 trial of RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in African infants.

Background: The candidate malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01 reduced episodes of both clinical and severe malaria in children 5 to 17 months of age by approximately 50% in an ongoing phase 3 trial. We studied infants 6 to 12 weeks of age recruited for the same trial.

Methods: We administered RTS,S/AS01 or a comparator vaccine to 6537 infants who were 6 to 12 weeks of age at the time of the first vaccination in conjunction with Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines in a three-dose monthly schedule.

Lysophosphatidic acid: a potential mediator of osteoblast-osteoclast signaling in bone.

Osteoclasts (bone resorbing cells) and osteoblasts (bone forming cells) play essential roles in skeletal development, mineral homeostasis and bone remodeling. The actions of these two cell types are tightly coordinated, and imbalances in bone formation and resorption can result in disease states, such as osteoporosis. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potent bioactive phospholipid that influences a number of cellular processes, including proliferation, survival and migration.

Pooled analysis of safety data from pediatric Phase II RTS,S/AS malaria candidate vaccine trials.

Prior to progression to Clinical Development Phase III, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals performed a pooled analysis of phase two safety data following administration of 8860 doses of RTS,S/AS to 2981 children under 5 years old. RTS,S/AS was associated with increased rates of non-serious URTI, rash and diaper dermatitis graded mild or moderate. There was no significant increased rate of overall or single SAEs.

First results of phase 3 trial of RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in African children.

Background: An ongoing phase 3 study of the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of candidate malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01 is being conducted in seven African countries.

Methods: From March 2009 through January 2011, we enrolled 15,460 children in two age categories--6 to 12 weeks of age and 5 to 17 months of age--for vaccination with either RTS,S/AS01 or a non-malaria comparator vaccine. The primary end point of the analysis was vaccine efficacy against clinical malaria during the 12 months after vaccination in the first 6000 children 5 to 17 months of age at enrollment who received all three doses of vaccine according to protocol.

Efficacy of RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine and exploratory analysis on anti-circumsporozoite antibody titres and protection in children aged 5-17 months in Kenya and Tanzania: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: RTS,S/AS01E is the lead candidate malaria vaccine. We recently showed efficacy against clinical falciparum malaria in 5-17 month old children, during an average of 8 months follow-up. We aimed to assess the efficacy of RTS,S/AS01E during 15 months of follow-up.

Evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria candidate vaccine when integrated in the expanded program of immunization.

Background: The RTS,S/AS01(E) malaria candidate vaccine is being developed for immunization of African infants through the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI).

Methods: This phase 2, randomized, open, controlled trial conducted in Ghana, Tanzania, and Gabon evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of RTS,S/AS01(E) when coadministered with EPI vaccines. Five hundred eleven infants were randomized to receive RTS,S/AS01(E) at 0, 1, and 2 months (in 3 doses with diphtheria, tetanus, and whole-cell pertussis conjugate [DTPw]; hepatitis B [HepB]; Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib]; and oral polio vaccine [OPV]), RTS,S/AS01(E) at 0, 1, and 7 months (2 doses with DTPwHepB/Hib+OPV and 1 dose with measles and yellow fever), or EPI vaccines only.

Lysophosphatidic acid signals through multiple receptors in osteoclasts to elevate cytosolic calcium concentration, evoke retraction, and promote cell survival.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive phospholipid whose functions are mediated by multiple G protein-coupled receptors. We have shown that osteoblasts produce LPA, raising the possibility that it mediates intercellular signaling among osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Here we investigated the expression, signaling and function of LPA receptors in osteoclasts.

Risk of myocardial infarction and abacavir therapy: no increased risk across 52 GlaxoSmithKline-sponsored clinical trials in adult subjects.

Background: Recently, the Data collection of Adverse events of Anti-HIV Drugs Group (D:A:D) described results from their international observational cohort of 33,347 HIV-1-infected individuals, suggesting unexpected increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) associated with abacavir (ABC) therapy [relative rate 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47 to 2.

Versican isoforms modulate expression and function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Versican is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan whose isoforms are differentially expressed, but little is known of their functions in the neuronal system. Here we show that isoforms of versican play different roles in neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Expression of versican V1 isoform in PC12 cells induced complete neuronal differentiation and increased the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in NGF-independent manners.