Reduced control of SARS-CoV-2 infection associates with lower mucosal antibody responses in pregnancy.

Pregnant patients are at greater risk of hospitalization with severe COVID-19 than non-pregnant people. This was a retrospective observational cohort study of remnant clinical specimens from patients who visited acute care hospitals within the Johns Hopkins Health System in the Baltimore, MD-Washington DC, area between October 2020 and May 2022. Participants included confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected pregnant people and matched non-pregnant people (the matching criteria included age, race/ethnicity, area deprivation index, insurance status, and vaccination status to ensure matched demographics).

Association of IL-10-592 C > A /-1082 A > G and the TNFα -308 G > A with susceptibility to COVID-19 and clinical outcomes.

Background: Variation in host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 is regulated by multiple genes involved in innate viral response and cytokine storm emergence like IL-10 and TNFa gene polymorphisms. We hypothesize that IL-10; -592 C > A and - 1082 A > G and TNFa-308 G > A are associated with the risk of SARS-COV2 infections and clinical outcome.

Methods: Genotyping, laboratory and radiological investigations were done to 110 COVID-19 patients and 110 healthy subjects, in Ismailia, Egypt.

Reduced control of SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with lower mucosal antibody responses in pregnant women.

Importance: Pregnant women are at increased risk of severe COVID-19, but the contribution of viral RNA load, the presence of infectious virus, and mucosal antibody responses remain understudied.

Objective: To evaluate the association of COVID-19 outcomes following confirmed infection with vaccination status, mucosal antibody responses, infectious virus recovery and viral RNA levels in pregnant compared with non-pregnant women.

Design: A retrospective observational cohort study of remnant clinical specimens from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients between October 2020-May 2022.

An increase in enterovirus D68 circulation and viral evolution during a period of increased influenza like illness, The Johns Hopkins Health System, USA, 2022.

Background: An increase in influenza like illness in children and adolescents at the Johns Hopkins Health system during summer 2022 was associated with increased positivity for enterovirus/ rhinovirus. We sought to characterize the epidemiology and viral evolution of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68).

Methods: A cohort of remnant respiratory samples tested at the Johns Hopkins Microbiology Laboratory was screened for EV-D68.

Impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants on Inpatient Clinical Outcome.

Background: Prior observation has shown differences in COVID-19 hospitalization risk between SARS-CoV-2 variants, but limited information describes hospitalization outcomes.

Methods: Inpatients with COVID-19 at 5 hospitals in the eastern United States were included if they had hypoxia, tachypnea, tachycardia, or fever, and SARS-CoV-2 variant data, determined from whole-genome sequencing or local surveillance inference. Analyses were stratified by history of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection.

Omicron Subvariants: Clinical, Laboratory, and Cell Culture Characterization.

Background: The variant of concern Omicron has become the sole circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant for the past several months. Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.

Omicron Subvariants: Clinical, Laboratory, and Cell Culture Characterization.

Background: The variant of concern, Omicron, has become the sole circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant for the past several months. Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.

SARS-CoV-2 reinfections during the Delta and Omicron waves.

BACKGROUNDIncreased SARS-CoV-2 reinfection rates have been reported recently, with some locations basing reinfection on a second positive PCR test at least 90 days after initial infection. In this study, we used Johns Hopkins SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance data to evaluate the frequency of sequencing-validated, confirmed, and inferred reinfections between March 2020 and July 2022.METHODSPatients who had 2 or more positive SARS-CoV-2 tests in our system, with samples sequenced as a part of our surveillance efforts, were identified as the cohort for our study.

Three key genes expression profiling in Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multi-system autoimmune disease with synovial joints involvement. The triad of autoimmunity, genetics, and environment is the key player in RA pathogenesis. We intended to investigate gene expression of C-C Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2), protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22), and Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) in RA patients versus controls, and its correlation with the activity of the disease.

The circulation of Non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses and coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 during the surge of the Omicron variant.

Background: In December 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant displaced the Delta variant and caused an unprecedented spike in the numbers of COVID-19 cases. This study reports the positivity rates of circulating non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses and evaluates coinfections of these viruses with SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron surge.

Methods: Data from the multiplex respiratory panels used for diagnosis at the Johns Hopkins Microbiology Laboratory were used to assess positivity rates and respiratory virus coinfections in the time frame between November 2021 and February 2022.

Sequence Proven Reinfections with SARS-CoV-2 at a Large Academic Center.

Background: Increased reinfection rates with SARS-CoV-2 have recently been reported, with some locations basing reinfection on a second positive PCR test at least 90 days after initial infection.

Methods: We identified cases where patients had two positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated which of these had been sequenced as part of our surveillance efforts, and evaluated sequencing and clinical data.

Results: 750 patients (920 samples) had a positive test at least 90 days after the initial test.

The displacement of the SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta with Omicron: An investigation of hospital admissions and upper respiratory viral loads.

Background: The increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections in December 2021 was driven primarily by the Omicron variant, which largely displaced the Delta over a three-week span. Outcomes from infection with Omicron remain uncertain. We evaluated whether clinical outcomes and viral loads differed between Delta and Omicron infections during the period when both variants were co-circulating.

A Quick Displacement of the SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta with Omicron: Unprecedented Spike in COVID-19 Cases Associated with Fewer Admissions and Comparable Upper Respiratory Viral Loads.

Background: The increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections in December 2021 in the United States was driven primarily by the Omicron variant which largely displaced the Delta over a three week span. Outcomes from infection with the Omicron remain uncertain. We evaluate whether clinical outcomes and viral loads differ between Delta and Omicron infections during the period when both variants were co-circulating.

Prevalence of Aminoglycoside Resistance and Aminoglycoside Modifying Enzymes in Among Intensive Care Unit Patients, Ismailia, Egypt.

Background: is an opportunistic pathogen that rapidly develops antibiotic resistance against commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents in hospitalized patients worldwide. Aminoglycosides are commonly used in the treatment of health care-associated infections (HAIs). Aminoglycosides resistance mechanisms are varied and commonly involve production of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AME) and efflux systems.

Identification and Targeting of Thomsen-Friedenreich and IL1RAP Antigens on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells Using Bi-Specific Antibodies.

Introduction: Quiescent leukemia stem cells (LSCs) play a major role in therapeutic resistance and disease progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). LSCs belong to the primitive population; CD34+CD38-Lin-, which does not distinguish normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from CML LSCs. Because Thomsen-Friedenreich/CD176 antigen is expressed on CD34+ HSC and IL1RAP is tightly correlated to BCR-ABL expression, we sought to increase the specificity towards LSC by using additional biomarkers.

The potential neuroprotective role of Amphora coffeaeformis algae against monosodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in adult albino rats.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a neurotoxin found in most processed and infant formulas. Amphora coffeaeformis (AC) has neuroprotective properties. We investigated, for the first time, the potential neuroprotective role of AC on MSG-induced neurotoxicity in brain using a unique procedural approach.

Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen 4 Gene +49 A/G (rs231775) Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Aim: To assess the probable role of +49AG polymorphism in susceptibility to SLE in an Egyptian population.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a compound inflammatory chronic disease distinguished through the release of autoantibodies. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 is a main down controller of T-cell response; its dysregulation could affect SLE pathogenesis by altered T cells activation to self-antigens.

Application of Modified Team-Based Learning Approach for Enhancing Undergraduate Medical Educational Seminars.

Background: Team-Based Learning (TBL) is an instructor-led, structured form of cooperative learning that promotes self-directed learning and teamwork while equipping students with the problem-solving and collaborative skills needed to meet the demands of their future professions. This study examines the impact of applying a modified TBL approach to enhance educational seminars in a PBL-adopted curriculum.

Methods: A total of 300 students participated in the study.