Differentiation of Spiral Ganglion Neurons from Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells: A Further Step towards Autologous Auditory Nerve Recovery.

The degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), which convey auditory signals from hair cells to the brain, can be a primary cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) or can occur secondary to hair cell loss. Emerging therapies for SNHL include the replacement of damaged SGNs using stem cell-derived otic neuronal progenitors (ONPs). However, the availability of renewable, accessible, and patient-matched sources of human stem cells is a prerequisite for successful replacement of the auditory nerve.

A non-canonical function of OAS1 to combat viral and bacterial infections.

The interferon-stimulated gene OAS1 has well-defined antiviral properties. In two recent issues of Immunity, Harioudh et al. describe a non-canonical function of OAS1 that selectively protects the translation of proteins involved in defense against viral or bacterial infections.

A wide scope, pan-comparative, systematic meta-analysis of the efficacy of prophylactic strategies for cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most common complication of cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI) is caused by systemic and renal hemodynamic impairment and parenchymal injury. Prophylaxis of CSA-AKI remains an unmet priority, for which preventive strategies based on drug therapies, hydration procedures, and remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) have been tested in pre-clinical and clinical studies, with variable success.

Broad-spectrum RNA antiviral inspired by ISG15 deficiency.

Unlabelled: Type I interferons (IFN-I) are cytokines with potent antiviral and inflammatory capacities. IFN-I signaling drives the expression of hundreds of IFN-I stimulated genes (ISGs), whose aggregate function results in the control of viral infection. A few of these ISGs are tasked with negatively regulating the IFN-I response to prevent overt inflammation.

miRNome Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles in Patients With Severe COVID-19 and Identification of Predictors of Mortality.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs), containing microRNAs (miRNAs) and other molecules, play a central role in intercellular communication, especially in viral infections caused by SARS-CoV-2. This study explores the miRNA profiles in plasma-derived EVs from patients with severe COVID-19 vs controls, identifying potential mortality predictors.

Methods: This prospective study included 36 patients with severe COVID-19 and 33 controls without COVID-19.

Value of the biomarker soluble tyrosine kinase 1 type fms (sFLT-1) in the diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis: a systematic review.

Introduction: The present systematic review analyses the role of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) as an indirect biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in sepsis or septic shock from articles published in PubMed between 2010 and March 2022.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of studies studying sFLT-1 monitoring in intensive care units in adults with sepsis or septic shock vs. controls for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis has been carried out (PROSPERO CRD42023412929 Registry).

COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) in hematological patients: Could antifungal prophylaxis be necessary? A nationwide study.

Background: COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has emerged as a relatively common complication. Multiple studies described this relationship in critical patients, however its incidence and outcome in other risk groups such as immunosuppressed patients remains unknown. In this sense, we aimed to evaluate the rates and outcomes of CAPA in hematological patients and according to the different hematological malignances, comparing to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in non-COVID-19 ones.

Individuals with JAK1 variants are affected by syndromic features encompassing autoimmunity, atopy, colitis, and dermatitis.

Inborn errors of immunity lead to autoimmunity, inflammation, allergy, infection, and/or malignancy. Disease-causing JAK1 gain-of-function (GoF) mutations are considered exceedingly rare and have been identified in only four families. Here, we use forward and reverse genetics to identify 59 individuals harboring one of four heterozygous JAK1 variants.

Post-operative sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome: risk factors for a life-threatening complication.

Introduction: Prevalence and mortality of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in intensive care units (ICU) are unacceptably high. There is scarce literature on post-operative sepsis-induced ARDS despite that sepsis and major surgery are conditions associated with ARDS. We aimed to examine the impact of post-operative sepsis-induced ARDS on 60-day mortality.

The mitochondrial signature of cultured endothelial cells in sepsis: Identifying potential targets for treatment.

Sepsis is the most common cause of death from infection in the world. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for patients with sepsis, and management relies on infection control and support of organ function. A better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of this syndrome will help to develop innovative therapies.

Gene Co-Expression Networks Offer New Perspectives on Sepsis Pathophysiology.

Sepsis is among the most common causes of death in intensive care units. Septic shock is a type of circulatory shock that shows signs and symptoms that are similar to non-septic shock. Despite the impact of shock on patients and the economic burden, knowledge of the pathophysiology of septic shock is scarce.

Prevalence and cost of hospitalized patients with asymptomatic COVID-19 in 2020 in Spain.

Introduction: COVID-19 transmission has been characterized by the presence of asymptomatic patients. Additionally, most studies evaluating costs focus on symptomatic COVID-19 cases.

Objective: To describe the prevalence, characteristics, and costs of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases at admission in Spanish hospitals in 2020.

Increase in driving after cocaine use in Spain: a cross-sectional dataset analysis for 2021.

Objective: Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs impairs skills essential for safe driving, increases the risk of being involved in a traffic accident and is particularly prevalent in Spain. The aim is to assess the prevalence of positive substance driving cases, what factors may be associated with driving after substance use, and the evolution of the progress in the prevalence of drug use among drivers in drivers based on the 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2021 studies.

Study Design And Setting: The present study was conducted in a representative sample of Spanish drivers in 2021 for alcohol (breath) and psychoactive substances [oral fluid (OF)].

Environmental factors are associated to hospital outcomes in COVID-19 patients during lockdown and post-lockdown in 2020: A nationwide study.

Objective: This study analyzed, at a postcode detailed level, the relation-ship between short-term exposure to environmental factors and hospital ad-missions, in-hospital mortality, ICU admission, and ICU mortality due to COVID-19 during the lockdown and post-lockdown 2020 period in Spain.

Methods: We performed a nationwide population-based retrospective study on 208,744 patients admitted to Spanish hospitals due to COVID-19 based on the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) during the first two waves of the pandemic in 2020. Environmental data were obtained from Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.

Autoimmunity in Down's syndrome via cytokines, CD4 T cells and CD11c B cells.

Down's syndrome (DS) presents with a constellation of cardiac, neurocognitive and growth impairments. Individuals with DS are also prone to severe infections and autoimmunity including thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes, coeliac disease and alopecia areata. Here, to investigate the mechanisms underlying autoimmune susceptibility, we mapped the soluble and cellular immune landscape of individuals with DS.

Dyslipidemia and Inflammation as Hallmarks of Oxidative Stress in COVID-19: A Follow-Up Study.

Recent works have demonstrated a significant reduction in cholesterol levels and increased oxidative stress in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The cause of this alteration is not well known. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate their possible association during the evolution of COVID-19.