Publications by authors named "R Christopher Pierce"
Red tide is caused by the accumulation of Karenia (K.) brevis, which produces brevetoxin (BTx), a neurotoxin. Excreted BTx is incorporated into sea spray aerosol (SSA), which is created from the bursting of bubbles at the ocean's surface.
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- To prevent HIV-1 transmission, high levels of broadly neutralizing antibodies are necessary at mucosal sites of exposure, particularly in the colorectal and genitourinary tracts.
- A study compared the biodistribution of two monoclonal antibodies, VRC01 and its longer-lasting variant VRC01LS, over 1-52 weeks post-infusion, finding VRC01LS levels significantly higher in various tissues at earlier and later time points.
- While both antibodies are mainly retained in rectal and cervical tissue, only a small percentage reaches seminal and rectal secretions; VRC01LS shows a longer elimination half-life, indicating its potential for sustained protection against HIV-1.
Purpose: The receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is expressed in hematopoietic and epithelial cancers but has limited expression on normal adult tissues. This phase 1 study evaluated the safety of targeting ROR1 with autologous T-lymphocytes engineered to express a ROR1 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Secondary objectives evaluated persistence, trafficking, and antitumor activity of CAR T cells.
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- - The study focuses on the molecular characteristics of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) that can cause infections outside of the lungs, detailing a collection of 45 extrapulmonary isolates over a span of six months from various sites.
- - Key findings revealed that the most frequently isolated species were Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium chelonae, and Mycobacterium fortuitum, with significant variations in sequence types and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in some isolates.
- - The research emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance to monitor the prevalence and resistance patterns of NTM, helping to identify emerging strains and improve understanding of their virulence factors.
Healthcare AI faces an ethical dilemma between selective and equitable deployment, exacerbated by flawed performance metrics. These metrics inadequately capture real-world complexities and biases, leading to premature assertions of effectiveness. Improved evaluation practices, including continuous monitoring and silent evaluation periods, are crucial.
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