Automated, Quantitative Capillary Western Blots to Analyze Host Cell Proteins in COVID-19 Vaccine Produced in Vero Cell Line.

Background/objectives: Host cell protein (HCP) content is a major attribute for biological and vaccine products that must be extensively characterized prior to product licensure. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Mass Spectrometry (MS) are conventional methods for quantitative host cell protein analysis in biologic and vaccine products. Both techniques are usually very tedious, labor-intensive, and challenging to transfer to other laboratories.

High-Throughput Algorithmic Optimization of Transcription for SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Production.

The transcription (IVT) of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) from the linearized deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) template of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant (B.1.617.

Effects of testosterone and metformin on the GlycanAge index of biological age and the composition of the IgG glycome.

With aging, the body's ability to maintain regular functions declines, increasing susceptibility to age-related diseases. Therapeutic interventions targeting the underlying biological changes of aging hold promise for preventing or delaying multiple age-related diseases. Metformin, a drug commonly used for diabetes treatment, has emerged as a potential gerotherapeutic agent due to its established safety record and preclinical and clinical data on its anti-aging effects.

Correlating Stability-Indicating Biochemical and Biophysical Characteristics with In Vitro Cell Potency in mRNA LNP Vaccine.

The development of mRNA vaccines has increased rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic. As one of the critical attributes, understanding mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) stability is critical in the vaccine product development. However, the correlation between LNPs' physiochemical characteristics and their potency still remains unclear.

Profiling an integrated network of cellular senescence and immune resilience measures in natural aging: a prospective multi-cohort study.

Background: Biological aging begins decades before the onset of age-related clinical conditions and is mediated by both cellular senescence and declining adaptive immune function. These processes are functionally related with the rate of senescent cell accumulation dependent upon a balance between induction and immune clearance. We previously showed that biomarkers in these domains can identify patients at-risk of surgery-related adverse events.

A meta-analysis of immune-cell fractions at high resolution reveals novel associations with common phenotypes and health outcomes.

Background: Changes in cell-type composition of tissues are associated with a wide range of diseases and environmental risk factors and may be causally implicated in disease development and progression. However, these shifts in cell-type fractions are often of a low magnitude, or involve similar cell subtypes, making their reliable identification challenging. DNA methylation profiling in a tissue like blood is a promising approach to discover shifts in cell-type abundance, yet studies have only been performed at a relatively low cellular resolution and in isolation, limiting their power to detect shifts in tissue composition.

Variation in Care of Well-Appearing Hypothermic Young Infants: A Multisite Study.

Background And Objectives: Numerous decision tools have emerged to guide management of febrile infants, but limited data exist to guide the care of young infants presenting with hypothermia. We evaluated the variation in care for well-appearing hypothermic young infants in the hospital and/or emergency department setting between participating sites.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of well-appearing infants ≤90 days old across 9 academic medical centers from September 1, 2016 to May 5, 2021.

Prevalence of Invasive Bacterial Infection in Hypothermic Young Infants: A Multisite Study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of bacteremia and meningitis (invasive bacterial infection [IBI]) in hypothermic young infants, and also to determine the prevalence of serious bacterial infections (SBI) and neonatal herpes simplex virus and to identify characteristics associated with IBI.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of infants ≤90 days of age who presented to 1 of 9 hospitals with historical or documented hypothermia (temperature ≤36.0°C) from September 1, 2017, to May 5, 2021.

Quantitation of Coxsackievirus A21 Viral Proteins in Mixtures of Empty and Full Capsids Using Capillary Western.

A prototype strain of Coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21) is being evaluated as an oncolytic virus immunotherapy. CVA21 preferentially lyses cells that upregulate the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, which includes some types of tumor cells. CVA21 has an icosahedral capsid structure made up of 60 protein subunits encapsidating a viral RNA genome with a particle diameter size of 30 nm.

Development of a microchip capillary electrophoresis method for determination of the purity and integrity of mRNA in lipid nanoparticle vaccines.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines are advantageous because they can be relatively quicker and more cost efficient to manufacture compared to other traditional vaccine products. Lipid nanoparticles have three common purposes: delivery, self-adjuvanting properties, and mRNA protection. Faster vaccine development requires an efficient and fast assay to monitor mRNA purity and integrity.

Freezing fertility or freezing false hope? A content analysis of social egg freezing in U.S. print media.

In 2012, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) lifted the experimental label on oocyte preservation, but cautioned against women using it to avoid age-related infertility, known as social egg freezing (SEF). In 2014, Facebook and Apple announced that they would offer SEF as a workplace benefit. Within the context of a rapidly growing market for SEF, we were interested in how these two decisions affected media discussions, given that such discourse can strongly influence public perceptions and behaviors.

Impact of personalized report cards on nurses managing central lines.

Background: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine the effect of providing feedback to managers and bedside nurses on the nurses' central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) contributing factors, found on visual and documentation audits.

Methods: This nonexperimental, quality improvement project was conducted in a 715-bed, 2-campus acute care community hospital health care system in Southwest Florida. The intervention consisted of providing confidential feedback on central line audits deviations, through the systematic delivery of unit case reports and personalized nurse report cards.

A Natural Product Telomerase Activator Lengthens Telomeres in Humans: A Randomized, Double Blind, and Placebo Controlled Study.

TA-65 is a dietary supplement based on an improved formulation of a small molecule telomerase activator that was discovered in a systematic screening of natural product extracts from traditional Chinese medicines. This study summarizes the findings on telomere length (TL) changes from a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of TA-65 over a 1 year period. The study was conducted on 117 relatively healthy cytomegalovirus-positive subjects aged 53-87 years old.

New Introductions, Spread of Existing Matrilines, and High Rates of Pyrethroid Resistance Result in Chronic Infestations of Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) in Lower-Income Housing.

Infestations of the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) have increased substantially in the United States in the past 10-15 years. The housing authority in Harrisonburg, Virginia, conducts heat-treatments after bed bugs are detected in a lower-income housing complex, by treating each infested unit at 60°C for 4-6 hours.

A natural product telomerase activator as part of a health maintenance program: metabolic and cardiovascular response.

A short average telomere length is associated with low telomerase activity and certain degenerative diseases. Studies in animals and with human cells confirm a causal mechanism for cell or tissue dysfunction triggered by critically short telomeres, suggesting that telomerase activation may be an approach to health maintenance. Previously, we reported on positive immune remodeling in humans taking a commercial health maintenance program, PattonProtocol-1, composed of TA-65® (a natural product-derived telomerase activator) and other dietary supplements.

A natural product telomerase activator as part of a health maintenance program.

Most human cells lack sufficient telomerase to maintain telomeres, hence these genetic elements shorten with time and stress, contributing to aging and disease. In January, 2007, a commercial health maintenance program, PattonProtocol-1, was launched that included a natural product-derived telomerase activator (TA-65®, 10-50 mg daily), a comprehensive dietary supplement pack, and physician counseling/laboratory tests at baseline and every 3-6 months thereafter. We report here analysis of the first year of data focusing on the immune system.

Long-term renoprotection by perindopril or nifedipine in non-hypertensive patients with Type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria.

Aims: To assess the efficacy of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (perindopril), a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (sustained release nifedipine) and placebo in preventing the progression of albuminuria and decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with Type 2 diabetes and microalbuminaria.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, open, blinded end point study of 77 patients allocated to three treatment groups (23 perindopril, 27 nifedipine, 27 placebo). Drug doses were adjusted to achieve a decrease in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 5 mmHg in the first 3 months and additional therapy was given if hypertension developed (supine DBP > 90 mmHg and/or systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 140 mmHg if < or = 40 years; supine DBP > 90 mmHg and/or SBP > 160 mmHg if > 40 years).

Long-term comparison between perindopril and nifedipine in normotensive patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria.

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor with a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker in preventing progression to macroalbuminuria and/or a decline in renal function in normotensive patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria. Forty-two patients were randomized to treatment with either perindopril, slow-release nifedipine, or placebo. In the first 3 months, drug dosage was titrated to achieve a decrease in diastolic blood pressure of at least 5 mm HG: Thirty-three patients had a minimum of 24 months' data, and 25 patients were followed up beyond 36 months (mean, 67 +/- 4 months).

Natural history of early diabetic nephropathy: what are the effects of therapeutic intervention? Melbourne Diabetic Nephropathy Study Group.

Several studies have shown that lowering of blood pressure slows the rate of progression of diabetic renal disease. Some placebo-controlled studies have also shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors decrease or stabilize albuminuria in incipient nephropathy and slow the rate of progression of advanced nephropathy. However, it is not yet clear if prolonged treatment with ACE inhibitors or with other agents exerts a specific renoprotective effect in incipient diabetic nephropathy.