Discrepancies between two total IgE assays and difference in reference intervals in healthy adults.

Objective: To compare total immunoglobulin (Ig) E assay performance characteristics between Abbott Architect and Siemens Immulite test systems. Reference intervals were also determined for both platforms in an American population of healthy adults.

Methods: Agreement of the two total IgE assays was evaluated in a cohort of 331 subjects with normal complete blood count (CBC) and comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) results.

Myeloperoxidase Staining Identifies Endothelial Injury of Peritubular Capillaries and Glomeruli in Renal Antibody-Mediated Rejection.

Objective: It remains unclear if C4d staining is related to any peritubular and glomerular injury during antibody mediated rejection (ABMR). The goal of this study was to determine if myeloperoxidase (MPO) staining can highlight endothelial injury in peritubular capillaries (PTC) and glomeruli.

Methods: The study included 12 native negative controls, 19 transplant biopsies with borderline changes (BC) as transplant controls, and one group of renal transplant biopsies with ABMR as the study group (acute/chronic, n=22).

Immune responses of lung transplant recipients against SARS-CoV-2 and common respiratory coronaviruses: Evidence for pre-existing cross-reactive immunity.

Humoral and cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in lung transplant recipients are unknown. We measured antibodies and T cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike S2 and nucleocapsid antigens and spike antigens from common respiratory coronaviruses (229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1) after vaccination or infection of LTxRs. 148 LTxRs from single center were included in this study: 98 after vaccination and 50 following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Dried blood spots are a valid alternative to venipuncture for COVID-19 antibody testing.

Background: Serologic analysis is an important tool towards assessing the humoral response to COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Numerous serologic tests and platforms are currently available to support this line of testing. Two broad antibody testing categories are point-of-care lateral flow immunoassays and semi-quantitative immunoassays performed in clinical laboratories, which typically require blood collected from a finger-stick and a standard venipuncture blood draw, respectively.

Predictors of hospitalization and severe disease due to breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated individuals.

Objective: We aimed to identify risk factors for hospital admission and severe disease among fully vaccinated (FV) individuals with COVID-19. Further, we investigated if risk factors for hospitalization and severe disease are similar between unvaccinated (UV) and vaccinated individuals.

Methods: This was a multicenter, observational cohort analysis from a large regional healthcare system in metro Detroit using electronic health record data to evaluate risk factors for hospitalization and severe COVID-19 disease.

Prognostic Value of SARS-CoV-2 Anti-RBD IgG Antibody Quantitation on Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 can be used as an indicator of recent or past vaccination or infection. However, the prognostic value of antibodies targeting the receptor binding protein (anti-RBD) in hospitalized patients is not widely reported.

Purpose: Determine prognostic impact of SARS-CoV-2 antibody quantification at the time of admission on clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Clinical and analytical evaluation of the Abbott AdviseDx quantitative SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay and comparison with two other serological tests.

Introduction: Serological testing is an important tool to assist with assessing the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infections, the causative agent of COVID-19. A quantitative assay was recently developed by Abbott Laboratories to measures antibodies against the receptor binding domain of the spike protein. In addition to assessing disease prevalence, this assay is useful towards determining the scale and duration of the humoral response to infection and vaccination.

Vaccination reduces need for emergency care in breakthrough COVID-19 infections: A multicenter cohort study.

Background: While recent literature has shown the efficacy of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in preventing infection, it's impact on need for emergency care/hospitalization in breakthrough infections remain unclear, particularly in regions with a high rate of variant viral strains. We aimed to determine if vaccination reduces hospital visits in breakthrough COVID-19.

Methods: This observational cohort analysis compared unvaccinated (UV), partially vaccinated (PV), and fully vaccinated (FV) adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring emergency care(EC)/hospitalization within an eight-hospital system in Michigan.

Piloting an interprofessional chronic pain management program: Perspectives of health students and community clients.

Interprofessional learning (IPL) is vital for developing work-ready graduates of tertiary health professions and enhancing outcomes of patients with chronic pain. Twenty-two students from six health professions participated in or co-facilitated components of a 6-week group chronic pain management program. Twelve community clients with chronic pain and one family member participated.

Longitudinal characterization of the IgM and IgG humoral response in symptomatic COVID-19 patients using the Abbott Architect.

Background: Antibody testing has recently emerged as an option to assist with determining exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Elucidation of the kinetics and duration of the humoral response is important for clinical management and interpreting results from serological surveys.

Objectives: Here we evaluated the clinical performance of Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG assays, as well as the longitudinal dynamics of the antibody response in symptomatic COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Seropositivity and Asymptomatic Rates in Healthcare Workers Are Associated with Job Function and Masking.

Background: Although the risk of exposure to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is higher for frontline healthcare workers, not all personnel have similar risks. Determining infection rate is difficult due to the limits on testing and the high rate of asymptomatic individuals. Detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 may be useful for determining prior exposure to the virus and assessing mitigation strategies, such as isolation, masks, and other protective equipment.

Aged care staff's experiences of 'Better Oral Health in Residential Care Training': a qualitative study.

Background: The The Better Oral Health in Residential Care (BOHRC) Training was rolled out to Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) across Australia in 2010.

Aim: To examine aged care staff's views on the implementation of the BOHRC Training at their facilities; challenges that they faced in the provision of oral health care to residents and their training needs.

Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 20 staff across Tasmania.

Evaluation of a next generation direct whole blood enzymatic assay for hemoglobin A1c on the ARCHITECT c8000 chemistry system.

Background: The utility of HbA1c for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes requires an accurate, precise and robust test measurement system. Currently, immunoassay and HPLC are the most popular methods for HbA1c quantification, noting however the limitations associated with some platforms, such as imprecision or interference from common hemoglobin variants. Abbott Diagnostics has introduced a fully automated direct enzymatic method for the quantification of HbA1c from whole blood on the ARCHITECT chemistry system.

Acute tubular injury is an important component in type I acute antibody-mediated rejection.

Background: "Acute tubular necrosis (ATN)-like" changes in type I acute antibody- mediated rejection (AAMR) have been proposed since 2005, but the presence of "ATN-like" injury in AAMR has not well been established. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of acute tubular injury in type I AAMR, using the specific proximal tubular injury marker, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1).

Design: The study included 3 groups of cases, namely, a negative control group (normal nontransplantation renal parenchyma as group 1, n = 11), a positive control group (transplant ATN with negative C4d staining as group 2, n = 12), and study cases (type 1 AAMR as group 3, n = 19).

CCDC22 deficiency in humans blunts activation of proinflammatory NF-κB signaling.

NF-κB is a master regulator of inflammation and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of immune disorders and cancer. Its regulation involves a variety of steps, including the controlled degradation of inhibitory IκB proteins. In addition, the inactivation of DNA-bound NF-κB is essential for its regulation.

Kinetics of CMV seroconversion in a Swiss pregnant women population.

Retrospective evaluation of the kinetics of cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroconversion with CMV IgM, IgG, and IgG avidity assays, in a Swiss pregnant women population, has shown that the current published CMV serologic diagnostic algorithms were valid and fit for use. In 19% of the cases analyzed, CMV-specific IgM was detected before IgG.

The need for standardization of tacrolimus assays.

Background: Owing to the lack of an internationally recognized tacrolimus reference material and reference method, current LC-MS and immunoassay test methods used to monitor tacrolimus concentrations in whole blood are not standardized. The aim of this study was to assess the need for tacrolimus assay standardization.

Methods: We sent a blinded 40-member whole-blood tacrolimus proficiency panel (0-30 μg/L) to 22 clinical laboratories in 14 countries to be tested by the following assays: Abbott ARCHITECT (n = 17), LC-MS (n = 9), and Siemens Dade Dimension (n = 5).

COMMD1 (copper metabolism MURR1 domain-containing protein 1) regulates Cullin RING ligases by preventing CAND1 (Cullin-associated Nedd8-dissociated protein 1) binding.

Cullin RING ligases (CRLs), the most prolific class of ubiquitin ligase enzymes, are multimeric complexes that regulate a wide range of cellular processes. CRL activity is regulated by CAND1 (Cullin-associated Nedd8-dissociated protein 1), an inhibitor that promotes the dissociation of substrate receptor components from the CRL. We demonstrate here that COMMD1 (copper metabolism MURR1 domain-containing 1), a factor previously found to promote ubiquitination of various substrates, regulates CRL activation by antagonizing CAND1 binding.

Regulation of NF-κB activity by competition between RelA acetylation and ubiquitination.

The nuclear factor (NF)-κB transcription factor has essential roles in inflammation and oncogenesis. Its ubiquitous RelA subunit is regulated by several post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination and acetylation. Ubiquitination promotes the termination of RelA-dependent transcription, but its regulation is incompletely understood.

A bimolecular affinity purification method under denaturing conditions for rapid isolation of a ubiquitinated protein for mass spectrometry analysis.

Ubiquitination can have profound effects on the stability and function of cellular proteins. Mass spectrometry (MS) can be used to map the specific amino acid residues that are conjugated to ubiquitin in a target protein. However, the purification required for proteomic analysis can be challenging.