Oseltamivir Reduces 30-Day Mortality in Older Adults With Influenza: A Pooled Analysis From the 2012-2019 Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network of the Canadian Immunization Research Network.

Background: Oseltamivir is recommended for the treatment of adults hospitalized with influenza, but adherence is often suboptimal. This may be due to doubts about the reliability of the evidence supporting its benefits, particularly when initiation is delayed. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of oseltamivir in reducing mortality in older adults hospitalized with influenza, with a focus on the timing of initiation.

Underwater low-power electromagnetic transducers with Central permanent magnet integration.

High-efficiency electromagnetic transducers are crucial for enabling the self-sustained operation of underwater electromagnetic sound sources under power-constrained conditions as noted by Hao, Xie, and Ma [Proceedings of the 2019 Western China Acoustics Academic Conference, Guangzhou, China (November 5-9, 2019)]. This paper proposes a permanent magnet drive technology to enhance the electromechanical conversion efficiency of can-type electromagnetic transducers under low-power driving conditions. The can-type transducers consist of coils, an armature, and a cylindrical magnetic core with a central pillar, similar to the pot core proposed by Cui, Xu, Xu, and Shui [Electr.

Increased Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalizations and Ambulatory Visits in Very Preterm Infants in the First Year of Life following Discontinuation of Access to Palivizumab.

Objective:  From 2002 to 2023, palivizumab was the only intervention to reduce respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated hospitalizations in high-risk infants in Canada but advances in RSV prevention are drastically changing this landscape. Eligibility criteria for this monoclonal antibody for preterm infants varied over time across each of 10 Canadian provinces and 3 territories. The National Professional Pediatric Association (Canadian Pediatric Society) revised its eligibility recommendations in 2015, removing access for preterm infants 30 to 32 weeks gestation (WG).

Vaccination during pregnancy and modulation of IgG response to pertussis vaccines in infants: The impact of different vaccine formulations.

The IgG response following infant diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) immunization is influenced by the formulation of the infant and/or the adult vaccine (Tdap) given during pregnancy. DTaP vaccines containing either 3 (DTaP3) or 5 (DTaP5) pertussis antigens are commonly used. By conducting a secondary analysis of a large randomized controlled trial, we compared IgG levels against pertussis vaccine antigens in children of Td- and Tdap5-vaccinated mothers, after stratifying by infant vaccine formulation.

Resolution-increased fiber-optic strain sensor with a large dynamic range driven by white light.

The white light interferometer is advantageous for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), but the excessive noise floor limits its application in practicality. In this Letter, we propose a fiber-optic sensor driven by a broadband light source, which uses a fiber-optic Fabry-Perot cavity and a reference interferometer to enhance strain resolution. In the experiment, the strain resolution of a 5.

An enveloped virus-like particle alum-adjuvanted cytomegalovirus vaccine is safe and immunogenic: A first-in-humans Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) study.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection and affected children often have permanent neurodevelopmental sequelae, including hearing loss and intellectual disability. Vaccines to prevent transmission of CMV during pregnancy are a public health priority. This first-in-humans dose-ranging, randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of an enveloped virus-like particle (eVLP) vaccine expressing a modified form of the CMV glycoprotein B (gB).

Synergistic modulation of electrical and thermal transport toward promising n-type MgOCuSbSe thermoelectric performance by MO-intercalated CuSbSe.

The layered ternary CuSbSe semiconductor with ultralow thermal conductivity is particularly suitable for thermoelectric applications. Nevertheless, its poor electrical conductivity greatly lowers the dimensionless figure of merit and accordingly limits its thermoelectric applications. Here, we use first-principles calculations combined with semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory to evaluate the thermoelectric properties of MO-intercalated (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) CuSbSe.

Vaccine Effectiveness of non-adjuvanted and adjuvanted trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines in the prevention of influenza-related hospitalization in older adults: A pooled analysis from the Serious Outcomes Surveillance (SOS) Network of the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN).

Background: Influenza vaccines prevent influenza-related morbidity and mortality; however, suboptimal vaccine effectiveness (VE) of non-adjuvanted trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (naTIV) or quadrivalent formulations in older adults prompted the use of enhanced products such as adjuvanted TIV (aTIV). Here, the VE of aTIV is compared to naTIV for preventing influenza-associated hospitalization among older adults.

Methods: A test-negative design study was used with pooled data from the 2012 to 2015 influenza seasons.

Fibronectin promotes tumor angiogenesis and progression of non-small-cell lung cancer by elevating WISP3 expression via FAK/MAPK/ HIF-1α axis and activating wnt signaling pathway.

Background: Fibronectin, an extracellular matrix protein, has been reported to be associated with heterogeneous cancer stemness, angiogenesis and progression in multiple cancer types. However, the roles and the underlying mechanism of fibronectin on the progression NSCLC need to be further elucidated.

Methods: Public dataset such as Kaplan-Meier Plotter was used to determine the prognostic significance of genes.

Leveraging Influenza Virus Surveillance From 2012 to 2015 to Characterize the Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease in Canadian Adults ≥50 Years of Age Hospitalized With Acute Respiratory Illness.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in older adults is undercharacterized. To help inform future immunization policies, this study aimed to describe the disease burden in Canadian adults aged ≥50 years hospitalized with RSV.

Methods: Using administrative data and nasopharyngeal swabs collected from active surveillance among adults aged ≥50 years hospitalized with an acute respiratory illness (ARI) during the 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015 influenza seasons, RSV was identified using a respiratory virus multiplex polymerase chain reaction test to describe the associated disease burden, incidence, and healthcare costs.

Fabrication of poly (styrene-acrylate)/silver nanoparticle-graphene oxide composite antibacterial by in situ Pickering emulsion polymerization.

Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were easily synthesized by chemical reduction, and the prepared nanocomposite was then used as a stabilizer in the Pickering emulsion polymerization of poly (styrene-acrylate) to prepare PSA/AgNPs-GO composites. The AgNPs-GO nanocomposites were fully characterized by TEM, FTIR, Raman, SEM and XPS, which demonstrated that about 5-30 nm AgNPs with spherical, octahedral and cubic structures were decorated on the surface of wrinkled GO nanosheets. TEM photos and EDS spectrum of composites showed that the transparent GO nanosheets decorated with AgNPs were covered on the surface of PSA latexes and the AgNPs were uniformly dispersed on the surface of the PSA latexes without aggregation.

Preparation and characterization of silanized graphene oxide based polyacrylate composites in situ copolymerization.

In the present work, graphene oxide (GO) was initially prepared by the modified Hummers' method and then surface modification with 3-Methacryloxypropyltrimeth- oxysilane (MPS) was carried out. The silanized GO based polyacrylate (PA) composite emulsion was fabricated via in situ copolymerization. The covalent bonds formed between GO and PA matrix were proposed to improve the dispersion of MPS-GO in composites.

Intensity Equalization of Bidirectional Fiber Laser Based on a Non-Reciprocal Optical Attenuator.

The application of a bidirectional laser requires the laser intensity in both directions to be balanced. However, the CW and CCW light intensities in current bidirectional erbium-doped fiber laser experiments differ due to the gain competition effect. There is no report on equalizing the intensity in the CW and CCW directions.

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring mutations.

Background: Despite immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) being widely used to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), few studies examine the role of ICI in patients with proto-oncogene B-Raf, serine/threonine kinase () mutations.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted for patients with -mutant NSCLC who received treatment at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between 2014 and 2022. Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).

Influence of Exosomes on Astrocytes in the Pre-Metastatic Niche of Lung Cancer Brain Metastases.

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death globally. There are several reasons for this high mortality rate, including metastasis to multiple organs, especially the brain. Exosomes play a pivotal role in tumor metastasis by remodeling the microenvironment of remote target organs and promoting the pre-metastatic niche's formation.

Healthcare provider awareness, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding the role of pharmacists as immunizers.

We explored perceptions of healthcare providers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick about pharmacists as immunizers. Pharmacists' scopes of practice are increasingly broadening to include immunization, and providers and policymakers may find meaning in the lessons we learned. Invitations to participate in our online survey were circulated by professional associations, health authorities, and in social media posts.

Deblurring of Sound Source Orientation Recognition Based on Deep Neural Network.

Underwater target detection and identification technology are currently two of the most important research directions in the information disciplines. Traditionally, underwater target detection technology has struggled to meet the needs of current engineering. However, due to the large manifold error of the underwater sonar array and the complexity of ensuring long-term signal stability, traditional high-resolution array signal processing methods are not ideal for practical underwater applications.

Frequency-Modulated Signal Measurement Using Closed-Loop Methodology.

Frequency-modulated (FM) signals are widely used in sensing, measurement, and signal detection due to their strong anti-interference and easy transmission characteristics. Although the high-precision measurement methods for static signals are quite complete, the high-precision measurement methods for dynamic FM signals still need to be studied, and the measurement accuracy in the high-sampling system still has room for improvement. Traditionally, the equal-precision measurement method is widely applied in most scenarios.

Risk factors for mechanical complications of peripherally inserted central catheters in children.

Objective: To determine risk factors for mechanical (noninfectious) complications in peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in children.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Pediatric tertiary-care center in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema secondary to dental extraction: Two case reports.

Background: Dental extraction is a common operation in oral surgery and is usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and local infection. The application of high-speed air turbines increases the comfort of alveolar surgery and makes it more minimally-invasive. However, high-speed gas can enter the subcutaneous tissue of the face and neck or even the chest and mediastinum, which is a serious iatrogenic complication.

Impact of respiratory viral infections on mortality and critical illness among hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Seasonal respiratory viral infections are associated with exacerbations and morbidity among patients with COPD. The real-world clinical outcomes associated with seasonal viral infections are less well established among hospitalized patients.

Research Question: To estimate the association between seasonal respiratory viral infections, 30-day mortality, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission among hospitalized COPD patients.