Physiologic and structural characterization of desisobutyryl-ciclesonide, a selective glucocorticoid receptor modulator in newborn rats.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the most prevalent chronic lung disease of prematurity, is often treated with glucocorticoids (GCs) such as dexamethasone (DEX), but their use is encumbered with several adverse somatic, metabolic, and neurologic effects. We previously reported that systemic delivery of the GC prodrug ciclesonide (CIC) in neonatal rats activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcriptional responses in lung but did not trigger multiple adverse effects caused by DEX. To determine whether limited systemic metabolism of CIC was solely responsible for its enhanced safety profile, we treated neonatal rats with its active metabolite desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (Des-CIC).

Oxidized high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein in adolescents with obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasingly common in the pediatric population and may increase risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with MASLD. Oxidized high-density lipoprotein (oxHDL) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) are modified, pro-atherosclerotic lipoproteins that are increased in adults with MASLD and CVD but have not been reported in adolescents with MASLD.

Purpose: To determine if oxLDL and oxHDL are increased in adolescents with MASLD.

An analytical, numerical and experimental study of in-vitro SARS-CoV-2 evolution in Vero B4 cells.

We derive a numerical model representing the emergence and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, informed by data from in-vitro passaging experiments in Vero B4 cells. We compare our numerical simulation results against probabilistic derivations of the expected probability of and time until the fittest variant becomes fixed in the population. Contrary to literature surrounding DNA viruses and eukaryotes where probabilities of fitness extremes are often modelled by exponential decaying tail, we show that above wildtype fitness differences for SARS-CoV-2 are actually best modelled by a heavy-tailed Fréchet distribution.

Notes from the Field: Mpox Cluster Caused by Tecovirimat-Resistant Monkeypox Virus - Five States, October 2023-February 2024.

The antiviral drug tecovirimat* has been used extensively to treat U.S. mpox cases since the start of a global outbreak in 2022.

Vascular Access for Renal Replacement Therapy in Neonates and Infants: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction: Neonatal renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a treatment modality used for severe kidney failure. Historically, its use has been limited in small infants due to circuits with large extra-corporeal volumes that require large double lumen vascular catheters. We sought to review our institution's experience with vascular access and overall survival in infants who receive RRT.

High-Throughput Synthesis and Evaluation of Antiviral Copolymers for Enveloped Respiratory Viruses.

COVID-19 made apparent the devastating impact viral pandemics have had on global health and order. Development of broad-spectrum antivirals to provide early protection upon the inevitable emergence of new viral pandemics is critical. In this work, antiviral polymers are discovered using a combination of high-throughput polymer synthesis and antiviral screening, enabling diverse polymer compositions to be explored.

Organizational and infrastructural risk factors for health care-associated Clostridioides difficile infections or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hospitals.

Background: This study explores the infrastructural and organizational risk factors for health care-associated (HCA) Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study involving all eligible inpatient units from 12 hospitals in British Columbia, Canada, from April 1, 2020 to September 16, 2021. The outcomes were the average HCA CDI or MRSA rates.

A Novel Framework for Internal Responses to Detection of Pathogens in Wastewater by Public Health Agencies.

Objectives: To build on the success of wastewater surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic, jurisdictions funded under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Wastewater Surveillance System are looking to expand their wastewater programs to detect more pathogens. However, many public health agencies do not know how to use the collected wastewater data to formulate public health responses, underscoring a need for guidance. To address this knowledge gap, the Houston Health Department (HHD) developed a novel response framework that outlines an internal action plan that is tailored by pathogen type after detection of various pathogens in wastewater.

Evidence for vagal sensory neural involvement in influenza pathogenesis and disease.

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a common respiratory pathogen and a global cause of significant and often severe morbidity. Although inflammatory immune responses to IAV infections are well described, little is known about how neuroimmune processes contribute to IAV pathogenesis. In the present study, we employed surgical, genetic, and pharmacological approaches to manipulate pulmonary vagal sensory neuron innervation and activity in the lungs to explore potential crosstalk between pulmonary sensory neurons and immune processes.

A monthly gridded burned area database of national wildland fire data.

We assembled the first gridded burned area (BA) database of national wildfire data (ONFIRE), a comprehensive and integrated resource for researchers, non-government organisations, and government agencies analysing wildfires in various regions of the Earth. We extracted and harmonised records from different regions and sources using open and reproducible methods, providing data in a common framework for the whole period available (starting from 1950 in Australia, 1959 in Canada, 1985 in Chile, 1980 in Europe, and 1984 in the United States) up to 2021 on a common 1° × 1° grid. The data originate from national agencies (often, ground mapping), thus representing the best local expert knowledge.

The impact of nurse prescribing on health care delivery for patients with diabetes: a rapid review.

Introduction The global prevalence of diabetes is a pressing public health concern. Over 400 million individuals live with the effects of the disease, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), over 300 000 people have diabetes, resulting in a population rate of 43.

Comprehensive quality assessment for aphasia rehabilitation after stroke: protocol for a multicentre, mixed-methods study.

Introduction: People with aphasia following stroke experience disproportionally poor outcomes, yet there is no comprehensive approach to measuring the quality of aphasia services. The Meaningful Evaluation of Aphasia SeRvicES (MEASuRES) minimum dataset was developed in partnership with people with lived experience of aphasia, clinicians and researchers to address this gap. It comprises sociodemographic characteristics, quality indicators, treatment descriptors and outcome measurement instruments.

Nasal Delivery of Haemophilus haemolyticus Is Safe, Reduces Influenza Severity, and Prevents Development of Otitis Media in Mice.

Background: Despite vaccination, influenza and otitis media (OM) remain leading causes of illness. We previously found that the human respiratory commensal Haemophilus haemolyticus prevents bacterial infection in vitro and that the related murine commensal Muribacter muris delays OM development in mice. The observation that M muris pretreatment reduced lung influenza titer and inflammation suggests that these bacteria could be exploited for protection against influenza/OM.

Deriving and validating a protocol to determine the need for prophylactic peritoneal dialysis in neonates after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

Background: Prophylactic peritoneal dialysis (PD) in neonates undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is safe and improves outcomes. We sought to (1) derive the pre-operative characteristics of neonates who are most likely to benefit from PD after CPB and (2) validate a new prophylactic PD protocol based on our retrospective analysis.

Methods: First, we retrospectively evaluated neonates requiring cardiac surgery with CPB from October 2012 to June 2016.

Nasopharyngeal angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression as a risk-factor for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in concurrent hospital associated outbreaks.

Background: Widespread human-to-human transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus two (SARS-CoV-2) stems from a strong affinity for the cellular receptor angiotensin converting enzyme two (ACE2). We investigate the relationship between a patient's nasopharyngeal ACE2 transcription and secondary transmission within a series of concurrent hospital associated SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods: Epidemiological case data from the outbreak investigations was merged with public health laboratory records and viral lineage calls, from whole genome sequencing, to reconstruct the concurrent outbreaks using infection tracing transmission network analysis.

In situ single-cell profiling sheds light on IFI27 localisation during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The utilization of single-cell resolved spatial transcriptomics to delineate immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection was able to identify M1 macrophages to have elevated expression of IFI27 in areas of infection.

Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists Practice in the Outpatient Setting.

Purpose/objectives: With rapidly evolving oncology care, the role of the outpatient clinical nurse specialist is most valuable and essential. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of the clinical nurse specialist in the ambulatory oncology settings and highlight the clinical nurse specialists' unique influence across the spheres of impact.

Description Of The Project/program: This article shares several contributions of an outpatient clinical nurse specialist, which include ways this role impacts nursing practice, patient care, and standardizing organizational guidelines.