Publications by authors named "Tram Pham"

Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 infection induces interferon (IFN) response by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), but the underlying mechanisms are poorly defined. Here, we show that the bulk of the IFN-I release comes from pDC sensing of infected cells and not cell-free virions. Physical contact (or conjugates) between pDCs and infected cells is mediated through CD54-CD11a engagement, and such conjugate formation is required for efficient IFN-I production.

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Latent viral reservoirs (VRs) represent a main barrier to HIV cure. Thus, developing new approaches that can purge and eliminate VRs paves the path toward achieving an HIV-1 cure. APG-1387, a bivalent SMAC mimetic (SM), efficiently reactivates latent HIV expression in T cell line models and enhances active caspase 3 expression, a condition that typically leads to apoptosis.

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Purpose: Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases represent a rare and diverse group of conditions. Given that the pathogenesis of EoC is not well understood and is often linked to allergic conditions, this case underscores the necessity for further research into such unique presentations. The patient's prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms presented a significant diagnostic challenge, emphasizing the importance of ruling out various potential causes for elevated blood eosinophils.

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Article Synopsis
  • HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) can decrease the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs, and this study focused on assessing HIV-1 subtypes and drug resistance among key populations in Vietnam during 2018 and 2020.
  • The study recruited participants from hotspots for men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW) in various provinces, and 42.5% of HIV-positive samples had a viral load indicating the need for further testing for drug resistance.
  • The results showed that CRF01_AE was the most common subtype, and 16.7% of participants had drug resistance mutations, with the majority being associated with NNRTI and NRTI classes, suggesting
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Foreign body-related complications are rare but possibly fatal events in clinical practice. Liver abscess as a result of gastrointestinal perforation caused by foreign bodies is even more rare. We report a case of a 63-year-old man who was admitted with fever and left epigastric pain.

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Objective: To examine the risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events following an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study identified patients with COPD using administrative data from Alberta, Canada from 2014 to 2019. Exposure periods were 12 months following moderate or severe exacerbations; the reference period was time preceding a first exacerbation.

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Objectives: Profound dengue shock syndrome (DSS) complicated by severe respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation (MV) accounts for high case fatality rates among PICU-admitted patients. A major challenge to management is the assessment of intravascular volume, which can be hampered by severe plasma leakage and the use of MV.

Design: Retrospective cohort, from 2013 to 2021.

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Background: Migraine poses a significant burden worldwide; however, there is limited evidence as to the burden in Canada. This study examined the treatment patterns, healthcare resource use (HRU), and costs among newly diagnosed or recurrent patients with migraine in Alberta, Canada, from the time of diagnosis or recurrence.

Methods: This retrospective observational study utilized administrative health data from Alberta, Canada.

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Objective: To describe demographic and clinical characteristics, healthcare resource use, costs, and treatment patterns in three migraine cohorts.

Methods: This retrospective observational study using administrative data examined patients with episodic migraine (EM), chronic migraine (CM) (without medication overuse headache [MOH]), and medication overuse headache in Alberta, Canada. Migraine patients were identified between 2012 and 2018 based on ≥ 1 diagnostic codes or triptan prescription.

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The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic remains a major public health issue worldwide. In Vietnam, the HIV epidemic is essentially driven by people who inject drugs (PWID). This study aims to compare mortality and loss to follow-up (LTFU) between PWID and other patients.

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Introduction: Increasing access to viral load (VL) monitoring is essential to fight HIV epidemics. In remote settings in Vietnam, using dried blood spot (DBS) sampling for specimen collection could improve the situation. Here, people who inject drugs (PWID) represent many newly antiretroviral therapy (ART)-initiated patients.

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Humanization of mice with functional T cells currently relies on co-implantation of hematopoietic stem cells from fetal liver and autologous fetal thymic tissue (so-called BLT mouse model). Here, we show that NOD/SCID/IL2rγ mice humanized with cord blood- derived CD34 cells and implanted with allogeneic pediatric thymic tissues excised during cardiac surgeries (CCST) represent an alternative to BLT mice. CCST mice displayed a strong immune reconstitution, with functional T cells originating from CD34 progenitor cells.

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Activated-to-memory transitioning CD4 T cells display elevated expression of the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 and are more prone to HIV-1 latent infection. Here, we show that p53-regulated miRNA-103 downmodulates CCR5 levels in CD4 T lymphocytes. We reveal that miRNA-103 mimics, as well as Nutlin-3, an inhibitor of Mdm2-mediated p53 degradation, decrease CCR5-dependent HIV-1 infection.

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Background: Few studies have examined pediatric rheumatologists' approaches to treatment decision making for biologic therapy for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This study presents the qualitative research undertaken to support the development of a Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) survey for tapering in JIA. The study objectives were to (1) describe the treatment decision-making process of pediatric rheumatologists to initiate and taper biologics; and (2) select attributes for a BWS survey.

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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remodels the cell surface of infected cells to facilitate viral dissemination and promote immune evasion. The membrane-associated viral protein U (Vpu) accessory protein encoded by HIV-1 plays a key role in this process by altering cell surface levels of multiple host proteins. Using an unbiased quantitative plasma membrane profiling approach, we previously identified CD47 as a putative host target downregulated by Vpu.

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for one of the worst pandemics in modern history. Several prevention and treatment strategies have been designed and evaluated in recent months either through the repurposing of existing treatments or the development of new drugs and vaccines. In this study, we show that L-carnitine tartrate supplementation in humans and rodents led to significant decreases of key host dependency factors, notably angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), and Furin, which are responsible for viral attachment, viral spike S-protein cleavage, and priming for viral fusion and entry.

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Objectives: To understand the perspectives of patients and rheumatologists for tapering DMARDs in RA.

Methods: Using semi-structured interview guides, we conducted individual interviews and focus groups with RA patients and rheumatologists, which were audiotaped and transcribed. We conducted a pragmatic thematic analysis to identify major themes, comparing and contrasting different views on DMARD tapering between patients and rheumatologists.

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The lungs are relatively unexplored anatomical human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoirs in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era. Double negative (DN) T cells are a subset of T cells that lack expression of CD4 and CD8 (CD4 CD8) and may have both regulatory and effector functions during HIV infection. Notably, circulating DN T cells were previously described as cellular HIV reservoirs.

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Objective: The objective of the study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Alberta using administrative health data.

Methods: We identified RA cases in patients 16 years and older by applying a national case definition to linked administrative health data (ie, hospital discharge abstract records, physician claims, and health insurance registry records) using a unique personal identifier. Incidence and prevalence are reported for the 2015-2016 fiscal year and a trend analysis from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016.

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Objectives: Linezolid is one of the last resort antibiotics effectively used in the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Recent outbreaks of Linezolid resistance have been the great concern worldwide, while many countries have not experienced it. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the existence of linezolid resistance and further clarify potential resistance mechanism(s) in staphylococcal isolates obtained from the hospital in Vietnam, a country in which linezolid resistance had not been previously detected.

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Background: Access to HIV viral load is crucial to efficiently monitor patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and prevent HIV drug resistance acquisition. However, in some remote settings, access to viral load monitoring is still complex due to logistical and financial constraints. Use of dried blood spots (DBS) for blood collection could overcome these difficulties.

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Ultrahigh field Al{H} 2D correlation NMR experiments demonstrate that at least two framework Al(IV) sites with hydroxyl groups can exist in acidic zeolite catalysts in their dehydrated and catalytically active states. In addition to the known Al(IV) at the framework bridging acid site (BAS), a new site created by a second tetrahedral Al atom and its hydroxyl group protons in zeolite HZSM-5 is clearly resolved at 35.2 T field strengths, enabled by recently developed series-connected hybrid (SCH) magnet technology.

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