Inferior outcomes in lung transplant recipients with serum Pseudomonas aeruginosa specific cloaking antibodies.

Background: Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD) limits long-term survival following lung transplantation. Colonization of the allograft by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is associated with an increased risk of CLAD and inferior overall survival. Recent experimental data suggests that 'cloaking' antibodies targeting the O-antigen of the P.

Pretransplant Cytomegalovirus-Specific Cellular Immunity and Risk of Viral Reactivation Following Lung Transplantation: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a significant burden in lung transplant recipients. Deficiencies in T-cell immunity posttransplant increase the risk of CMV-associated complications. However, it is not clear if underlying poor pretransplant immunity increases risk.

Anaplasmosis Presenting With Respiratory Symptoms and Pneumonitis.

Anaplasmosis is a now common tick-borne illness that is characterized by the presence of fever, myalgias, thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver function tests. We report 4 cases with an atypical presentation with pulmonary symptoms and imaging findings, along with the characteristics of each patient, clinical course, and response to therapy.

Endothelial Glycocalyx Shedding Predicts Donor Organ Acceptability and Is Associated With Primary Graft Dysfunction in Lung Transplant Recipients.

Background: The endothelial glycocalyx, a sieve-like structure located on the luminal surface of all blood vessels, has been found to be integral to regulation of capillary permeability and mechanotransduction. Given this, we investigated the role of endothelial glycocalyx breakdown products in organ donors and recipients in terms of acceptability for transplant and risk of primary graft dysfunction (PGD).

Methods: Endothelial glycocalyx breakdown products were measured in the peripheral blood of 135 intended and actual organ donors.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplement skin cancer prophylaxis in lung transplant recipients: A randomized, controlled pilot trial.

Background: Lung transplant recipients (LTRs) are at very high risk of skin cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating and could potentially reduce this risk. We assessed the feasibility of omega-3 FA supplementation to reduce skin cancer among these patients.

Strategies to identify candidates for D variant genotyping.

Background: RhD variants have altered D epitopes and/or decreased antigen copies per red cell. Individuals carrying these variants may test antigen negative, weakly positive, or positive by serology, and may or may not be at risk of alloimmunisation after exposure. There have been recommendations to perform RHD genotyping of patients, pregnant women and females of childbearing potential with serological weak D phenotype, to guide prophylactic use of Rh immune globulin (RhIG), and better conserve D-negative blood products.

Does therapeutic plasma exchange have a role in the treatment of prosthetic hip-associated cobalt toxicity? A case report and literature review.

Background: Prosthetic hip-associated cobalt toxicity (PHACT) is an uncommon, but potentially devastating, complication for patients with metal-on-metal hip implants (MoMs). Clinical management of PHACT is poorly defined, with primary intervention being MoM explant followed by chelation therapy. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in cobalt toxicity has not been previously described.

Comparative Evaluation of the BD Phoenix Yeast ID Panel and Remel RapID Yeast Plus System for Yeast Identification.

Becton Dickinson Phoenix Yeast ID Panel was compared to the Remel RapID Yeast Plus System using 150 recent clinical yeast isolates and the API 20C AUX system to resolve discrepant results. The concordance rate between the Yeast ID Panel and the RapID Yeast Plus System (without arbitration) was 93.3% with 97.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury in an era of TRALI risk mitigation.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a rare complication of transfusion, for which the true incidence remains obscure, since there are a number of factors that may lead to misdiagnosis. Despite this, it continues to be the leading cause of transfusion-associated mortality. Here we present a historical case of TRALI in an elderly female who received group AB plasma and discuss how current mitigation strategies would likely have prevented its occurrence.

Env-2dCD4 S60C complexes act as super immunogens and elicit potent, broadly neutralizing antibodies against clinically relevant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

The ability to induce a broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) response following vaccination is regarded as a crucial aspect in developing an effective vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The bNAbs target the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) which is exposed on the virus surface, thereby preventing cell entry. To date, conventional vaccine approaches such as the use of Env-based immunogens have been unsuccessful.