Publications by authors named "Maura Benson"
Article Synopsis
- SARS-CoV-2 infection results in varying immune responses, with neutralizing antibodies generally protecting against reinfection.
- The study investigated mild cases linked to a single event, revealing sex-specific differences in T cell responses and their correlation with antibody levels, particularly in males.
- Additionally, single-cell immunoprofiling indicated variations in type I IFN signaling that may influence antibody production, emphasizing the importance of sex-based factors in immune responses to SARS-CoV-2.
Serum Sodium, Patient Symptoms, and Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19.
J Prim Care Community Health
January 2022
Introduction: Disorders of serum sodium (SNa) are common in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and may reflect underlying disease severity. However, the association of SNa with patient-reported outcomes is not clear.
Methods: The Brigham and Women's Hospital COVID-19 Registry is a prospective cohort study of consecutively admitted adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 809).
Article Synopsis
- * The researchers used published datasets to show that the gene expression linked to MS1 is present in severe COVID-19 cases and can be replicated in lab models using healthy hematopoietic stem cells.
- * They found that cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 in patient plasma promote the development of myeloid cells and are essential for activating the MS1 gene program, indicating a role for these cytokines in immune responses during severe infections.
Article Synopsis
- * An expanded state of CD14+ monocytes (MS1) linked to poor outcomes in sepsis and COVID-19 was identified, suggesting a potential role in disease prognosis.
- * The research shows that severe infections trigger systemic cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10) that lead to the expansion of immunosuppressive MS1 cells, indicating their importance in understanding and managing sepsis.
Article Synopsis
- An amendment to the original paper has been released.
- The amendment contains updates or corrections to the original content.
- You can find the link to access this amendment at the top of the paper.
Article Synopsis
- * The study reveals the evolutionary adaptability of K. pneumoniae, showing that it can switch between two infection strategies through mutations that either enhance or reduce capsule production, impacting its virulence.
- * Hypercapsule mutants are linked to serious bloodstream infections, while capsule-deficient mutants thrive in urinary tract infections, contributing to drug-tolerant, persistent infections that are difficult to treat.
Article Synopsis
- Dysregulated leukocyte responses are crucial in understanding sepsis, a major cause of death, yet their functional assessments are not common in clinical settings.
- Researchers developed an inertial microfluidic system to isolate and examine leukocytes from small blood samples, comparing sepsis patients to healthy individuals.
- Their findings indicated that assessing leukocyte function and phenotype in sepsis patients over time offers better predictive insights into patient outcomes than traditional blood count methods.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers tackled the issue of quickly identifying bacterial pathogens in infectious diseases by creating a new molecular method that uses ribosomal RNA for rapid detection without needing complicated amplification processes.
- The developed assay demonstrated over 89% accuracy in identifying specific bacterial species and 100% accuracy at the family level from a diverse group of 117 bacterial isolates.
- Initial tests using clinical samples like sputum and blood cultures effectively identified bacteria from five different phyla, showcasing its practical application in real-world situations.