Investigating the combination of Temsavir and entry inhibitors on HIV replication: Synergistic and antagonistic effects observed against various R5-tropic envelopes.

HIV is still a pandemic; antiretroviral therapeutics for preventing and treating HIV infection continue to present significant challenges. The demand for new drugs and effective treatments remains ongoing. Here, we investigated the effects of combining Temsavir with other HIV entry inhibitors, including CD4 mimetic BNM-III-170, T20 or enfuvirtide, Ibalizumab, and Maraviroc.

Antimicrobial efficacy and amino acid substitutions associated with susceptibility to the tellurium compound AS101 against Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae.

The tellurite toxicity in Haemophilus influenzae and H. parainfluenzae remains unclear. To understand the potential of tellurite as a therapeutic option for these bacteria, we investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of AS101, a tellurium compound, against H.

Amino acid substitutions in the region between RpoB clusters II and III on rifampin susceptibility in Haemophilus influenzae.

Background: Rifampin is a potent chemoprophylactic antibiotic for Haemophilus influenzae infection, and the resistance rate in H. influenzae is low. In this study, we assessed rifampin resistance-related genetic variations in H.

Molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae with high-level resistance to cefuroxime, levofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Background: Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) has become the major cause of invasive H. influenzae diseases in the post-H. influenzae type b vaccine era.

Molecular characterization of cefepime and aztreonam nonsusceptibility in Haemophilus influenzae.

Background: Cefepime and aztreonam are highly efficacious against H. influenzae, and resistant strains are rare. In this study, we isolated cefepime- and aztreonam-nonsusceptible H.

Hepatitis B virus virion secretion is a CRM1-spike-mediated late event.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major human pathogen worldwide. To date, there is no curative treatment for chronic hepatitis B. The mechanism of virion secretion remains to be investigated.

Tracheostomy Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients in a Low Resource Setting.

Objectives: COVID-19 predominately affects safety net hospitals. Tracheostomies improve outcomes and decrease length of stay for COVID-19 patients. Our objectives are to determine if (1) COVID-19 tracheostomies have similar complication and mortality rates as non-COVID-19 tracheostomies and (2) to determine the effectiveness of our tracheostomy protocol at a safety net hospital.

Rapid, reliable, and reproducible cell fusion assay to quantify SARS-Cov-2 spike interaction with hACE2.

COVID-19 is a global crisis of unimagined dimensions. Currently, Remedesivir is only fully licensed FDA therapeutic. A major target of the vaccine effort is the SARS-CoV-2 spike-hACE2 interaction, and assessment of efficacy relies on time consuming neutralization assay.

Thermal Conductance Through the Skull Base From Endoscopic Surgery Cauterization Instruments: Cadaver and Goat Model.

Objective: Cauterization prevents hemorrhage and optimizes the surgical field during endoscopic sinus surgery but may cause injury to nearby structures. The objective of this study is to examine thermal conductance from cauterization equipment across the skull base.

Study Design: Cadaver and animal model.

Trends in Operative Complex Middle and Upper Maxillofacial Trauma: A 17-Year Study.

Objectives/hypothesis: Over 3 million incidents of facial trauma occur each year in the United States. This study aims to determine trends in operative middle and upper maxillofacial trauma in one of the largest US cities.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Advanced Practice Providers Utilization Trends in Otolaryngology From 2012 to 2017 in the Medicare Population.

Objective: Nurse practitioners and physician assistants form a growing advanced practice provider (APP) group. We aim to analyze the trends and types of services provided by APPs in otolaryngology.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

CSF Leaks due to Electric Scooter Injury.

Background: There has been a rapid increase in electric motorized scooter (e-scooter) usage after the introduction of dockless, shareable devices.

Methods: Case series from three tertiary hospitals in Los Angeles between May-September 2019.

Results: Five patients had skull base fractures and CSF leaks or pneumocephalus after e-scooter accident, none wore helmets.

Extensively drug-resistant Haemophilus influenzae - emergence, epidemiology, risk factors, and regimen.

Background: Concern about Haemophilus influenzae infection has been increasing over recent decades. Given the emergence of H. influenzae with severe drug resistance, we assessed the prevalence of as well as risk factors and potential therapies for extensively drug-resistant (XDR) H.

Adding a C-terminal Cysteine (CTC) Can Enhance the Bactericidal Activity of Three Different Antimicrobial Peptides.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has threatened our health worldwide. There is an urgent need for novel antibiotics. Previously, we identified a novel 37-mer antimicrobial peptide (AMP), HBcARD, with broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.

HIV-1 Nef Antagonizes SERINC5 Restriction by Downregulation of SERINC5 via the Endosome/Lysosome System.

The primate lentiviral accessory protein Nef downregulates CD4 and major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) from the cell surface via independent endosomal trafficking pathways to promote viral pathogenesis. In addition, Nef antagonizes a novel restriction factor, SERINC5 (Ser5), to increase viral infectivity. To explore the molecular mechanism of Ser5 antagonism by Nef, we determined how Nef affects Ser5 expression and intracellular trafficking in comparison to CD4 and MHC-I.

Societal Identification of Facial Paralysis and Paralysis Location.

Importance: When able to identify facial paralysis, members of society regard individuals with facial paralysis differently. They perceive a decrease in attractiveness, more negative affect, and lower quality of life. However, the ability of lay people in society to accurately identify the presence of facial paralysis has not yet been defined.

Medical student healthcare consulting groups: A novel way to train the next generation of physician-executives.

Meeting the challenges of the evolving healthcare environment requires leadership of physicians well-trained in clinical medicine and healthcare management. However, many physicians lack training in business and leadership. While some residency programs have management tracks, training at the medical school level is currently lacking.

HBV maintains electrostatic homeostasis by modulating negative charges from phosphoserine and encapsidated nucleic acids.

Capsid assembly and stability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) particles depend on balanced electrostatic interactions between encapsidated nucleic acids and an arginine-rich domain (ARD) of HBc in the capsid interior. Arginine-deficient ARD mutants preferentially encapsidated spliced viral RNA and shorter DNA, which can be fully or partially rescued by reducing the negative charges from acidic residues or serine phosphorylation of HBc, dose-dependently. Similarly, empty capsids without RNA encapsidation can be generated by ARD hyper-phosphorylation in insect, bacteria, and human hepatocytes.

Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Surgeon Diagnostic Accuracy in Facial Plastic and Oculoplastic Surgery Clinics.

Importance: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relative contraindication for facial plastic surgery, but formal screening is not common in practice. The prevalence of BDD in patients seeking facial plastic surgery is not well documented.

Objective: To establish the prevalence of BDD across facial plastic and oculoplastic surgery practice settings, and estimate the ability of surgeons to screen for BDD.

Societal Value of Surgery for Facial Reanimation.

Importance: Patients with facial paralysis are perceived negatively by society in a number of domains. Society's perception of the health utility of varying degrees of facial paralysis and the value society places on reconstructive surgery for facial reanimation need to be quantified.

Objective: To measure health state utility of varying degrees of facial paralysis, willingness to pay (WTP) for a repair, and the subsequent value of facial reanimation surgery as perceived by society.

Perception of Hair Transplant for Androgenetic Alopecia.

Importance: Hair transplant is among the most common cosmetic services sought by men, with more than 11 000 procedures performed in 2014. Despite its growing popularity, the effect of hair transplant on societal perceptions of youth, attractiveness, or facets of workplace and social success is unknown.

Objectives: To determine whether hair transplant improves observer ratings of age, attractiveness, successfulness, and approachability in men treated for androgenetic alopecia and to quantify the effect of hair transplant on each of these domains.

Improvement of in vivo antimicrobial activity of HBcARD peptides by D-arginine replacement.

We previously identified a novel antimicrobial peptide with a broad spectrum bactericidal activity from human hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) arginine-rich domain (ARD). We compared the antimicrobial activities of HBcARD peptides from different hepadnaviruses which share similar amino acid sequences. In general, mammalian HBcARD peptides exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity than avian peptides.