HIV Subtypes and Drug-resistance-associated Mutations in US Blood Donors, 2015-2020.

Background: Monitoring genotypes of HIV infections in blood donors may provide insights into infection trends in the general population.

Methods: HIV RNA was extracted from plasma samples of blood donors confirmed as HIV positive by blood screening nucleic acid and antibody tests. HIV genome target regions were amplified using nested real time-polymerase chain reaction followed by next-generation sequencing.

Unraveling the genomic landscape of wrens along western Ecuador's precipitation gradient: Insights into hybridization, isolation by distance, and isolation by the environment.

Environmental gradients have the potential to influence genetic differentiation among populations ultimately leading to allopatric speciation. However, environmental gradients can also facilitate hybridization between closely related taxa. We investigated a putative hybrid zone in western Ecuador, involving two polytypic wren species (Aves: Troglodytidae), and .

SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates in asymptomatic workers at a cancer referral center in Mexico City: A prospective observational study in the context of adapting hospitals back to regular practice.

Background: Healthcare workers are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The positivity rates in hospitals that do not receive patients with COVID-19, such as the National Cancer Institute (INCan) in Mexico, and the associated factors are unknown.

Objective: To assess the incidence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers at INCan.

Clinical characteristics and ultra-widefield fundus image analysis of two siblings with Bardet-Biedl syndrome type 1 p.Met390Arg variant.

Purpose: To present the case of two siblings with a genetic diagnosis of Bardet Biedl syndrome (BBS) type 1, yet different clinical profiles and disease manifestations.

Observations: Sequencing analysis revealed a p.Met390Arg pathogenic variant in the BBS1 gene of both patients, as well as several additional variants of uncertain significance Patient 1 was 41 years old, had three primary (cone-rod dystrophy, hypogonadism, and truncal obesity) and three secondary (arterial hypertension, strabismus, and astigmatism) BBS features.

Replicate Aptima Assay for Quantifying Residual Plasma Viremia in Individuals on Antiretroviral Therapy.

Detection of residual plasma viremia in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-suppressed HIV-infected individuals is critical for characterizing the latent reservoir and evaluating the impact of cure interventions. Ultracentrifugation-based single-copy assays are sensitive but labor intensive. Fully automated replicate testing using a standard clinical viral load assay was evaluated as a high-throughput alternative for the quantification of low-level viremia.

Lack of persistent microchimerism in contemporary transfused trauma patients.

Background: Following transfusion, donor white blood cells (WBCs) can persist long-term in the recipient, a phenomenon termed transfusion-associated microchimerism (TA-MC). Prior studies suggest TA-MC is limited to transfusion following traumatic injury, and is not prevented by leukoreduction.

Study Design And Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study at a major trauma center to evaluate TA-MC following injury.

A Novel, 5-Transcript, Whole-blood Gene-expression Signature for Tuberculosis Screening Among People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Gene-expression profiles have been reported to distinguish between patients with and without active tuberculosis (TB), but no prior study has been conducted in the context of TB screening.

Methods: We included all the patients (n = 40) with culture-confirmed TB and time-matched controls (n = 80) enrolled between July 2013 and April 2015 in a TB screening study among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in Kampala, Uganda. We randomly split the patients into training (n = 80) and test (n = 40) datasets.

Intravitreal bevacizumab as therapy for refractory neovascular glaucoma secondary to iris metastasis of breast carcinoma.

Purpose: To report a case of refractory glaucoma secondary to iris metastasis from breast cancer which was successfully treated with intravitreal bevacizumab.

Observations: A 72-year-old woman presented with left ocular pain, vision loss and neovascular glaucoma secondary to iris metastasis from breast cancer. A single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab resulted in prolonged resolution of iris neovascularization, reduction of intraocular pressure and ocular pain relief.

Polymorphisms in HLA-C and KIR alleles are not associated with HAM/TSP risk in HTLV-1-infected subjects.

Introduction: Several genetic polymorphisms may be related to susceptibility or resistance to viral disease outcomes. Immunological or genetic factors may act as major triggers of the immune pathogenesis of HAM/TSP. This study investigated the association of immune related genetic polymorphisms with viral and immunological markers.

A prospective evaluation of chronic Babesia microti infection in seroreactive blood donors.

Background: Babesia microti is the foremost infectious risk to the US blood supply for which a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-licensed test is unavailable for donation screening. Characterization of the antibody response to B. microti and correlation with parasitemia is necessary to guide screening and donor management policies.

FEVR-Like Presentation of Homocystinuria.

A male infant with a diagnosis of homocystinuria presented with avascularity of the peripheral retina with a ridge on ophthalmic exam, consistent with a FEVR-like manifestation homocystinuria. Upon follow-up and treatment for homocystinuria, the retinal vascularity improved without the need for prophylactic treatment to the peripheral avascular retina.

Microchimerism in the transfused obstetric population.

Microchimerism (MC), the coexistence of allogeneic populations of cells within a host, is well described in pregnancy and blood transfusion. To date, transfusion-associated MC (TA-MC) appears unique to patients transfused after severe traumatic injury. We sought to determine whether transfusion in the peripartum period results in enduring, high-level TA-MC.

Association between insulin resistance and breast carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the association between components defining insulin resistance and breast cancer in women.

Study Design: We conducted a systematic review of four databases (PubMed-Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus) for observational studies evaluating components defining insulin resistance in women with and without breast cancer. A meta-analysis of the association between insulin resistance components and breast cancer was performed using random effects models.

Development of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for sensitive detection and quantitation of Babesia microti infection.

Background: Babesia microti, the most frequently implicated pathogen in transfusion-transmitted babesiosis, is widely endemic in the Northeast and upper Midwestern United States. High seroprevalence in endemic areas limits antibody-based donor screening. A high-performance molecular test is needed to identify donors in the preseroconversion window phase as well as to discriminate past serologic exposure with parasite clearance from continued parasitemia.

Antibody levels correlate with detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA by sensitive polymerase chain reaction assays in seropositive blood donors and possible resolution of infection over time.

Background: The clinical significance of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi low-level reactive samples is incompletely understood. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive rates and antibody levels among seropositive blood donors in three countries are described.

Study Design And Methods: Follow-up samples were collected from T.

Adenocarcinoma metastatic to the uterine cervix: a case series.

Aims: The objectives of this report are, first, to describe the clinical behavior of cases of carcinoma metastatic to the uterine cervix treated at our institution in order to carry out a systematic review to establish the behavioral patterns of the most frequent metastases to the cervix and, second, to generate guidelines for their diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: At the National Institute of Cancer of Mexico (INCan), we performed a review of the clinical files with a diagnosis of malignant neoplasm metastatic to the uterine cervix between 1990 and 2009. For a systematic review, we conducted a PubMed search between the years 1970 and 2009 of case reports and series of cases of patients with metastatic gastric, breast, ovarian and colorectal cancer.

Development and application of a high-throughput microneutralization assay: lack of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus and/or murine leukemia virus detection in blood donors.

Background: Xenotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related virus (XMRV) and other related MLVs have been described with chronic fatigue syndrome and certain types of prostate cancer. In addition, prevalence rates as high as 7% have been reported in blood donors, raising the risk of transfusion-related transmission. Several laboratories have utilized microneutralization assays as a surrogate marker for detection of anti-MLV serologic responses--with up to 25% of prostate cancer patients reported to harbor neutralizing antibody responses.

No evidence for XMRV nucleic acids, infectious virus or anti-XMRV antibodies in Canadian patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The gammaretroviruses xenotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related virus (XMRV) and MLV have been reported to be more prevalent in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients than in healthy controls. Here, we report the complex analysis of whole blood and plasma samples from 58 CFS patients and 57 controls from Canada for the presence of XMRV/MLV nucleic acids, infectious virus, and XMRV/MLV-specific antibodies. Multiple techniques were employed, including nested and qRT-PCR, cell culture, and immunoblotting.

Absence of transfusion-associated microchimerism in pediatric and adult recipients of leukoreduced and gamma-irradiated blood components.

Background: Transfusion-associated microchimerism (TA-MC), the persistence of significant levels of donor white blood cells (WBCs) in blood recipients for prolonged periods, has been demonstrated after nonleukoreduced and leukoreduced transfusion to patients with severe traumatic injury. Development of TA-MC has not been rigorously studied in settings that do not involve massive trauma where the blood is leukoreduced and irradiated.

Study Design And Methods: A cohort of 409 prospectively followed medical and surgical adult and pediatric female recipients of leukoreduced and mostly irradiated allogeneic red blood cell and platelet transfusions were evaluated to determine development of TA-MC.

Male microchimerism in peripheral blood leukocytes from women with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Fetal microchimerism (F-MC), the persistence of fetal cells in the mother, is frequently encountered following pregnancy. The high prevalence of F-MC in autoimmune disease prompts consideration of the role for immune tolerance and regulation. This study examines the association between F-MC and multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disorder, of undetermined etiology.

Distribution of parvovirus B19 DNA in blood compartments and persistence of virus in blood donors.

Background: Because the receptor for parvovirus B19 (B19V) is on red blood cells (RBCs), we investigated B19V distribution in blood by in vitro spiking experiments and evaluated viral compartmentalization and persistence in natural infection.

Study Design And Methods: Two whole blood (WB) protocols (ultracentrifugation and a rapid RBC lysis and removal protocol) were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. WB was spiked with known concentrations of B19V and recovery in various blood fractions was determined.

The coexistence of an intrasellar adenoma, lymphocytic hypophysitis, and primary pituitary lymphoma in a patient with acromegaly.

The concomitant presence of three histopathologically different entities in the pituitary gland is a rare occurrence. Most publications identify at least two distinct pathologies, mainly, a pituitary adenoma coexisting with a second intrasellar lesion. We present a case of a 71-year-old female referred for evaluation and treatment of acromegaly.