Sex differences in hippocampal β-adrenergic receptor subtypes drive retrieval, retention, and learning of cocaine-associated memories.

Background: Drug seeking behavior occurs in response to environmental contexts and drug-associated cues. The presence of these pervasive stimuli impedes abstinence success. β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) have a long-standing historical implication in driving processes associated with contextual memories, including drug-associated memories in substance use disorders.

Quercetin improves epithelial regeneration from airway basal cells of COPD patients.

Background: Airway basal cells (BC) from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) regenerate abnormal airway epithelium and this was associated with reduced expression of several genes involved in epithelial repair. Quercetin reduces airway epithelial remodeling and inflammation in COPD models, therefore we examined whether quercetin promotes normal epithelial regeneration from COPD BC by altering gene expression.

Methods: COPD BC treated with DMSO or 1 µM quercetin for three days were cultured at air/liquid interface (ALI) for up to 4 weeks.

COVID-19 Vaccine Antibody Response in a Single-Center Urban Hemodialysis Unit.

Background: The longitudinal response to the COVID-19 vaccines among patients on hemodialysis with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been well characterized.

Methods: To guide vaccination strategies in patients on hemodialysis, it is critical to characterize the longevity and efficacy of the vaccine; therefore, we conducted a prospective single-center monthly antibody surveillance study between March 2021 and March 2022 to investigate the dynamic humoral response to a series of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in patients on hemodialysis with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Monthly quantitative antibody testing was performed using the Beckman Coulter Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Test©, which detects IgG antibodies targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine-induced humoral response and reactogenicity in individuals with prior COVID-19 disease.

BACKGROUNDMost individuals with prior COVID-19 disease manifest long-term protective immune responses against reinfection. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that humoral immune and reactogenicity responses to a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine differ in individuals with and without prior COVID-19 disease.METHODSHealth care workers (n = 61) with (n = 30) and without (n = 31) prior COVID-19 disease received two 30 μg doses of Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine 3 weeks apart.

Astegolimab (anti-ST2) efficacy and safety in adults with severe asthma: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: The IL-33/ST2 pathway is linked with asthma susceptibility. Inhaled allergens, pollutants, and respiratory viruses, which trigger asthma exacerbations, induce release of IL-33, an epithelial-derived "alarmin." Astegolimab, a human IgG mAb, selectively inhibits the IL-33 receptor, ST2.