Keratinocyte EGF signalling dominates in atopic dermatitis lesions: A comparative RNAseq analysis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) remains a highly heterogenous disorder with a multifactorial aetiology. Whilst keratinocytes are known to play a fundamental role in AD, their contribution to the overall immune landscape in moderate-to-severe AD is still poorly understood. In order to design new therapeutics, further investigation is needed into common disease pathways at the molecular level.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Access to Selected Ambulatory Care Services Among Populations With Severely Uncontrolled Diabetes and Hypertension in Massachusetts.

Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 in Massachusetts may have reduced ambulatory care access. Our study aimed to quantify this impact among populations with severely uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension; these populations are at greatest risk for adverse outcomes caused by disruptions in care.

Methods: We analyzed multidisciplinary ambulatory electronic health record data from MDPHnet.

Trichuris muris infection drives cell-intrinsic IL4R alpha independent colonic RELMα+ macrophages.

The intestinal nematode parasite Trichuris muris dwells in the caecum and proximal colon driving an acute resolving intestinal inflammation dominated by the presence of macrophages. Notably, these macrophages are characterised by their expression of RELMα during the resolution phase of the infection. The RELMα+ macrophage phenotype associates with the presence of alternatively activated macrophages and work in other model systems has demonstrated that the balance of classically and alternatively activated macrophages is critically important in enabling the resolution of inflammation.

Staphylococcus aureus second immunoglobulin-binding protein drives atopic dermatitis via IL-33.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the dominant infective trigger of atopic dermatitis (AD). How this bacterium drives type 2 allergic pathology in the absence of infection in patients with AD is unclear.

Objective: We sought to identify the S aureus-derived virulence factor(s) that initiates the cutaneous type 2-promoting immune response responsible for AD.

Splenic Capture and Intracellular Biodegradation of Biological-Grade Graphene Oxide Sheets.

Carbon nanomaterials, including 2D graphene-based materials, have shown promising applicability to drug delivery, tissue engineering, diagnostics, and various other biomedical areas. However, to exploit the benefits of these materials in some of the areas mentioned, it is necessary to understand their possible toxicological implications and long-term fate . We previously demonstrated that following intravenous administration, 2D graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were largely excreted the kidneys; however, a small but significant portion of the material was sequestered in the spleen.

Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in children and youth in Canada, January 15-April 27, 2020.

Understanding the epidemiology of COVID-19 among children and youth in Canada will help to inform public health measures in settings where children gather. As of April 27, 2020, provinces and territories provided the Public Health Agency of Canada with detailed information on 24,079 cases, of which 3.9% (n=938) were younger than 20 years of age.

Surgical smoke: articulating the problem.

This six-part series focuses on surgical smoke evacuation legislation and policy. It provides answers to important frequently asked questions (FAQs) about surgical smoke from policymakers and people not working in perioperative services and suggests resources and tools to help you become a strong advocate for surgical smoke evacuation. The FAQs and legislative checklists that will be shared will cover the basics of surgical smoke and its harmful effects, strategies and solutions for eradicating surgical smoke in the OR, the role of regulatory agencies, and how to lay the groundwork for successful state legislation on your own and in tandem with AORN's Government Affairs Department.

Community Primary Care Diabetes Pathway.

"Quality Improvement Success Stories" are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians, Inc., and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions.

Internalized by Skin Keratinocytes Evade Antibiotic Killing.

causes the majority of skin and soft tissue infections. Half of patients treated for primary skin infections suffer recurrences within 6 months despite appropriate antibiotic sensitivities and infection control measures. We investigated whether internalized by human skin keratinocytes are effectively eradicated by standard anti-staphylococcal antibiotics.

Early induction of C/EBPβ expression as a potential marker of steroid responsive colitis.

The precise mechanism of hydrocortisone immune regulation in the management of colitis is poorly understood. Whilst not without limitations, its ability to suppress pathology and rapidly improve patient clinical outcome is key. We were interested in identifying early markers of therapeutic responsiveness in order to identify patients' refractory to therapy.

A comparative effectiveness study of eSource used for data capture for a clinical research registry.

Objective: This pilot study compared eSource-enabled versus traditional manual data transcription (non-eSource methods) for the collection of clinical registry information. The primary study objective was to compare the time spent completing registry forms using eSource versus non-eSource methods The secondary objectives were to compare data quality associated with these two data capture methods and the flexibility of the workflows. This study directly addressed fundamental questions relating to eSource adoption: what time-savings can be realized, and to what extent does eSource improve data quality.

The use of flow cytometry to examine calcium signalling by TRPV1 in mixed cell populations.

Flow cytometric analysis of calcium mobilisation has been in use for many years in the study of specific receptor engagement or isolated cell:cell communication. However, calcium mobilisation/signaling is key to many cell functions including apoptosis, mobility and immune responses. Here we combine multiplex surface staining of whole spleen with Indo-1 AM to visualise calcium mobilisation and examine calcium signaling in a mixed immune cell culture over time.

Anti-inflammatory effects of infliximab in mice are independent of tumour necrosis factor α neutralization.

Infliximab (IFX) has been used repeatedly in mouse preclinical models with associated claims that anti-inflammatory effects are due to inhibition of mouse tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. However, the mechanism of action in mice remains unclear. In this study, the binding specificity of IFX for mouse TNF-α was investigated ex vivo using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry and Western blot.

P2X7 receptor-dependent tuning of gut epithelial responses to infection.

Infection and injury of the gut are associated with cell damage and release of molecules such as extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), which is recognised by the purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). P2X7R is widely expressed in the gut by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and epithelial cells, but the role of the P2X7R on epithelial cells is poorly understood. We investigated P2X7R in intestinal epithelium in vitro and in vivo using two model infections, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spiralis.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 expression and function in splenic dendritic cells: a potential role in immune homeostasis.

Neuro-immune interactions, particularly those driven by neuropeptides, are increasingly implicated in immune responses. For instance, triggering calcium-channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) on sensory nerves induces the release of calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide known to moderate dendritic cell activation and T helper cell type 1 polarization. Despite observations that CGRP is not confined to the nervous system, few studies have addressed the possibility that immune cells can respond to well-documented 'neural' ligands independently of peripheral nerves.

Avoidable mortality among First Nations adults in Canada: A cohort analysis.

Background: Avoidable mortality is a measure of deaths that potentially could have been averted through effective prevention practices, public health policies, and/or provision of timely and adequate health care. This longitudinal analysis compares avoidable mortality among First Nations and non-Aboriginal adults.

Data And Methods: Data are from the 1991-to-2006 Canadian Census Mortality and Cancer Follow-up Study.

Cross-talk between neural and immune receptors provides a potential mechanism of homeostatic regulation in the gut mucosa.

The relationship between elements of the immune system and the nervous system in the presence of bacteria has been addressed recently. In particular, the sensory vanilloid receptor 1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1)) and the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have been found to modulate cytokine response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) independently of adaptive immunity. In this review we discuss mucosal homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract where bacterial concentration is high.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide is a key neurotransmitter in the neuro-immune axis.

The question of how the neural and immune systems interact in host defense is important, integrating a system that senses the whole body with one that protects. Understanding the mechanisms and routes of control could produce novel and powerful ways of promoting and enhancing normal functions as well as preventing or treating abnormal functions. Fragmentation of biological research into specialities has resulted in some failures in recognizing and understanding interactions across different systems and this is most striking across immunology, hematology, and neuroscience.

Genetic analysis of the Trichuris muris-induced model of colitis reveals QTL overlap and a novel gene cluster for establishing colonic inflammation.

Background: Genetic susceptibility to colonic inflammation is poorly defined at the gene level. Although Genome Wide Association studies (GWAS) have identified loci in the human genome which confer susceptibility to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis), it is not clear if precise loci exist which confer susceptibility to inflammation at specific locations within the gut e.g.