Publications by authors named "R A Dodd"
Background: US blood donors are tested for syphilis because the bacterial agent is transfusion transmissible. Here we describe trends over an 11-year period of donations positive for recent and past syphilis infections, and donations classified as syphilis false positive (FP).
Methods: Data from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2023 (11 years) were compiled for all American Red Cross blood donations to evaluate demographics/characteristics and longitudinal trends in donors testing syphilis reactive/positive.
Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is an octameric protein, comprised of eight identical protomers, that has diverse functions in reproductive biology, innate immunity and cancer. PTX3 interacts with the large polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) to which heavy chains (HCs) of the inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) family of proteoglycans are covalently attached, playing a key role in the (non-covalent) crosslinking of HC•HA complexes. These interactions stabilise the cumulus matrix, essential for ovulation and fertilisation in mammals, and are also implicated in the formation of pathogenic matrices in the context of viral lung infections.
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- Accumulation of hyaluronan (HA) in the lungs is a common response to lung injury, particularly during Nb infection, which leads to tissue damage and prompts a type 2 immune response.
- HA levels peaked seven days post-infection, correlating with lung damage and immune involvement, specifically characterized by eosinophils and increased IL-13 cytokines.
- The study shows that HA accumulation is dependent on IL-13, highlighting its role in regulating the HA matrix and supporting lung tissue repair during inflammatory responses.
Article Synopsis
- Hyaluronan (HA) is a key component of lung extracellular matrix that increases after influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infections.
- A study by Hellman et al. found that fragmented HA builds up in the lungs of COVID-19 patients, correlating with decreased lung function several months post-infection.
- The research highlights HA's potential as a biomarker for COVID-19 severity but also emphasizes the need for further investigation into HA’s role and its interactions within the lung's immune response.
Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by renal phosphate wasting and impaired bone mineralization secondary to secretion of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) from mesenchymal tumors (phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors, PMTs). PMTs have wide anatomical distribution but typically affect extremities and craniofacial bones. Diagnosis of TIO/PMT is often delayed, and a high index of suspicion is essential in patients with unexplained fractures, but many physicians lack familiarity with TIO/PMT and simply attribute fractures to the more common diagnosis of osteoporosis.
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