Effect of omalizumab on inflammatory markers in COVID-19: an exploratory analysis of the COVID-19 immunologic antiviral therapy with omalizumab (CIAO) trial.

Background: The CIAO trial recently demonstrated a probable clinical benefit of omalizumab in the treatment of severe COVID-19; however, the mechanism underlying this benefit remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to longitudinally assess the impact of omalizumab on serum cytokines in CIAO trial patients to determine its mechanism of action.

Methods: Blood samples were collected on days 0, 2, 7, and 14 from patients recruited into the CIAO trial and who consented to this substudy.

Spatial variability of bacterial biofilm communities in a wastewater effluent-impacted suburban stream ecosystem.

Unlabelled: Wastewater discharge is a global threat to freshwater resources. Streams, in particular, are receiving waterbodies that are directly impacted chemically and biologically due to effluent discharge. However, it is largely unknown how wastewater serves as a subsidy or a stressor to aquatic biodiversity, particularly microbiota, over space.

A Brief Intervention on Alcohol Use Disorder Is Associated With Treatment Access for Inpatients With Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.

Background: Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is the most common indication for liver transplantation in the United States. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment is recommended in all patients with ALD and AUD, but it remains underutilized.

Aims: To identify predictors of AUD treatment and to assess 30-day readmission, return to drinking, and 1-year transplant-free survival.

Cutaneous Melanoma Mortality-to-Incidence Ratio and Its Association With Socioeconomic and Healthcare Factors in Canada: A National Ecological Study.

Introduction: The mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) can be used to approximate healthcare inequities and is helpful to understand/compare cancer survival between geographic regions/jurisdictions. We investigated cutaneous melanoma (CM) outcomes through MIR analysis in Canadian jurisdictions and census divisions (CDs) between 1992 and 2016.

Methods: Data were obtained from the national databases from 1992 to 2016 for all Canadian jurisdictions, except Quebec.

Dermatofibromas on the Foot and Ankle: A Clinicopathologic Characterization of 31 Cases.

Background: Dermatofibroma (DF) is a common benign soft-tissue tumor. It occurs anywhere on the body but is commonly seen on the upper and lower extremities. It is frequently found in young to middle-aged adults and predominantly in females.

Prevalence of tinnitus following non-blast related traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of literature.

Objectives: To establish the prevalence of tinnitus in adults who have sustained non-blast related traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as the prevalence of tinnitus following TBI in the absence of hearing loss.

Methods: A systematic search was carried out using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL from January 1st 1990 to August 14th 2023. TBI, tinnitus and auditory findings were extracted from all eligible studies, and a descriptive synthesis performed.

Comparing Transcriptomic Points of Departure to Apical Effect Concentrations For Larval Fathead Minnow Exposed to Chemicals with Four Different Modes Of Action.

It is postulated that below a transcriptomic-based point of departure, adverse effects are unlikely to occur, thereby providing a chemical concentration to use in screening level hazard assessment. The present study extends previous work describing a high-throughput fathead minnow assay that can provide full transcriptomic data after exposure to a test chemical. One-day post-hatch fathead minnows were exposed to ten concentrations of three representatives of four chemical modes of action: organophosphates, ecdysone receptor agonists, plant photosystem II inhibitors, and estrogen receptor agonists for 24 h.

A Pilot, Predictive Surveillance Model in Pharmacovigilance Using Machine Learning Approaches.

Introduction: The identification of a new adverse event (AE) caused by a drug product is one of the key activities in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the safety profile of a drug product. Machine learning (ML) has the potential to assist with signal detection and supplement traditional pharmacovigilance (PV) surveillance methods. This pilot ML modeling study was designed to detect potential safety signals for two AbbVie products and test the model's capability of detecting safety signals earlier than humans.

COVID-19 Immunologic Antiviral Therapy With Omalizumab (CIAO)-a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Omalizumab is an anti-immunoglobulin E monoclonal antibody used to treat moderate to severe chronic idiopathic urticaria, asthma, and nasal polyps. Recent research suggested that omalizumab may enhance the innate antiviral response and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in adults hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

Energy-Based Devices for the Treatment of Cutaneous Verrucae: A Systematic Review.

Background: Warts are one of the most common benign neoplasms caused by human papillomavirus infection and often pose a therapeutic challenge.

Objective: To summarize the current evidence on the safety and efficacy of laser and energy-based devices for the treatment of cutaneous verrucae.

Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature on laser and energy-based devices for the treatment of cutaneous verrucae was performed.

Transcriptomics-Based Points of Departure for Daphnia magna Exposed to 18 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a large group of contaminants of concern based on their widespread use, environmental persistence, and potential toxicity. Many traditional models for estimating toxicity, bioaccumulation, and other toxicological properties are not well suited for PFAS. Consequently, there is a need to generate hazard information for PFAS in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Derivation of Transcriptomics-Based Points of Departure for 20 Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using a Larval Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Reduced Transcriptome Assay.

Traditional toxicity testing has been unable to keep pace with the introduction of new chemicals into commerce. Consequently, there are limited or no toxicity data for many chemicals to which fish and wildlife may be exposed. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emblematic of this issue in that ecological hazards of most PFAS remain uncharacterized.

Conventional Versus Traction Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Colorectal Tumors: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Introduction: Compared with conventional endoscopic submucosal dissection (C-ESD) for colorectal lesions, the traction method (T-ESD) allows the lesion to be stabilized with easier dissection. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported conflicting results on the clinical outcomes of T-ESD as compared with C-ESD. We conducted a meta-analysis to compile the data.

Clinicopathologic Characterization of Kaposi Sarcoma on the Foot and Ankle: Analysis of 11 Patients Seen in Our Clinics.

Background: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) has multiple clinical variants, and most frequently presents on the lower extremities. Anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy has significantly reduced the incidence of KS. However, KS is still prevalent in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients.

Safety of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adults with mast cell disorders.

Mastocytosis is characterized by abnormal clonal mast cell proliferation. Given the paucity of data in patients with mastocytosis, it is crucial to assess the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in this population. We aimed to assess the risk of allergic reactions and the effect of COVID-19 infection among patients with mastocytosis.

Characterization of Selective M Acetylcholine Muscarinic Receptor Modulators on Dopamine Signaling in the Striatum.

The type-5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR, M) is almost exclusively expressed in dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta; therefore, they are ideally located to modulate DA signaling and underlying behaviors. However, the role of M in shaping DA release is still poorly characterized. In this study, we first quantitatively mapped the expression of M in different neurons of the mouse midbrain, then used voltammetry in mouse striatum to evaluate the effect of M-selective modulators on DA release.

Repair of a multi-subunit defect of the nasal ala, perialar cheek, and apical triangle of the upper lip.

A 67-year-old female was treated for a left nasal ala basal cell carcinoma; post-Mohs defect was 1.5 × 1.5 cm and extended to involve the perialar cheek and apical triangle of the upper lip.

Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in diagnosing hepatic artery occlusion after liver transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Hepatic artery occlusion (HAO) is a significant complication post-liver transplantation. Doppler ultrasound (DUS) has been widely used as an initial screening test for detecting HAO; however, its performance is often not sufficient. Although other diagnostic tests such as computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and angiogram are more accurate, they are invasive and have several limitations.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery Is Equivalent to Nail Unit Excision or Amputation for Melanoma In Situ of the Nail Unit: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Local recurrence (LR) rates of melanoma in situ (MIS) of the nail apparatus treated with different surgical modalities are unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the differences in LR rates of nail apparatus MIS treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) versus nail unit excision (NUE) versus amputation.

Methods: Studies of nail/subungual MIS treated with MMS, NUE, or amputation were identified through multiple literature databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library.

Strategies Used in Canadian Nursing Programs to Prepare Students for NCLEX-RN Licensure Exam.

Nursing educators need strategies for preparing students to be successful in the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Understanding the educational practices used is an important step in informing curricular decisions and helping regulatory agencies evaluate nursing programs' efforts to prepare students for practice. This study described strategies used in Canadian nursing programs to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN.