Daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory myeloma: a cytogenetic subgroup analysis of POLLUX.

High cytogenetic risk abnormalities confer poor outcomes in multiple myeloma patients. In POLLUX, daratumumab/lenalidomide/dexamethasone (D-Rd) demonstrated significant clinical benefit versus lenalidomide/dexamethasone (Rd) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. We report an updated subgroup analysis of POLLUX based on cytogenetic risk.

Expanding global and national influenza vaccine systems to match the COVID-19 pandemic response.

• Approximately 40% of the global influenza deaths now occur in Africa and Southeast Asia. • Opportunities exist to explore synergies in preventing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. • Co-vaccination against both COVID19 and influenza offers promise.

Disparities in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastric Cancer in Relation to Disabilities.

Introduction: We investigated potential disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of gastric cancer (GC) patients with and without disabilities.

Methods: We linked Korean National Disability Registry data with the Korean National Health Insurance database and Korean Central Cancer Registry data. This study included a total of 16,849 people with disabilities and 58,872 age- and sex-matched control subjects in whom GC had been diagnosed.

Chronic stress and antidepressant treatment alter purine metabolism and beta oxidation within mouse brain and serum.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex condition with unclear pathophysiology. Molecular disruptions within limbic brain regions and the periphery contribute to depression symptomatology and a more complete understanding the diversity of molecular changes that occur in these tissues may guide the development of more efficacious antidepressant treatments. Here, we utilized a mouse chronic social stress model for the study of MDD and performed metabolomic, lipidomic, and proteomic profiling on serum plus several brain regions (ventral hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and medial prefrontal cortex) of susceptible, resilient, and unstressed control mice.

Flexible RSV Prefusogenic Fusion Glycoprotein Exposes Multiple Neutralizing Epitopes that May Collectively Contribute to Protective Immunity.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants, young children, and older adults. There is no licensed vaccine and prophylactic treatment options are limited. The RSV fusion (F) glycoprotein is a target of host immunity and thus a focus for vaccine development.

Exploring metal availability in the natural niche of to discover potential vaccine antigens.

Nasopharyngeal colonization by is a prerequisite for pneumococcal transmission and disease. Current vaccines protect only against disease and colonization caused by a limited number of serotypes, consequently allowing serotype replacement and transmission. Therefore, the development of a broadly protective vaccine against colonization, transmission and disease is desired but requires a better understanding of pneumococcal adaptation to its natural niche.

A Randomized Trial Comparing Antibiotics with Appendectomy for Appendicitis.

Background: Antibiotic therapy has been proposed as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of appendicitis.

Methods: We conducted a pragmatic, nonblinded, noninferiority, randomized trial comparing antibiotic therapy (10-day course) with appendectomy in patients with appendicitis at 25 U.S.

Management of Acute Pain From Non-Low Back, Musculoskeletal Injuries : A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials.

Background: Patients and clinicians can choose from several treatment options to address acute pain from non-low back, musculoskeletal injuries.

Purpose: To assess the comparative effectiveness of outpatient treatments for acute pain from non-low back, musculoskeletal injuries by performing a network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to 2 January 2020.

Safe Coated Microneedles with Reduced Puncture Occurrence after Administration.

The goal of this study is the preparation of safer coated microneedles so that tips remaining after the initial use are less likely to be reinserted on a second use. Twelve groups of uncoated microneedles (u-MNs) were prepared from the combination of three different aspect ratios (height to base width) and four kinds of polymer (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), nylon and polylactic acid (PLA)). After coating the u-MNs with polyvinyl alcohol formulation to make coated MNs (c-MNs), the force displacement of the u-MNs and the c-MNs was measured.

Complement inhibition does not impair the clinical antiviral capabilities of virus-specific T-cell therapy.

The use of terminal complement blockade is compatible with virus-specific T-cell (VST) expansion and clinical effectiveness. VST and complement-blocking agent concurrent therapy may be safely used in patients with thrombotic microangiopathy and viral infections.

Association between Serum Uric Acid Level and ESRD or Death in a Korean Population.

Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) is recognized as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mortality. However, there is controversy as to whether a high or low level of SUA is related to the risk of CKD progression or death, and whether it differs between males and females.

Methods: We included 143,762 adults who underwent voluntary health screening between 1995 and 2009 in Korea.

Identification of factors associated with morbidity and postoperative length of stay in surgically managed chronic subdural haematoma using electronic health records: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Chronic subdural haematoma (cSDH) tends to occur in older patients, often with significant comorbidity. The incidence and effect of medical complications as well as the impact of intraoperative management strategies are now attracting increasing interest.

Objectives: We used electronic health record data to study the profile of in-hospital morbidity and examine associations between various intraoperative events and postoperative stay.

Pituitary Dysfunction After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The prevalence of pituitary dysfunction after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains incompletely elucidated. Furthermore, it is not clear whether these abnormalities impact patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pituitary dysfunction after aSAH and its effect on outcomes.

Virome Sequencing in Patients With Myocarditis.

Background: Polymerase chain reaction analyses of cardiac tissues have detected viral sequences in up to 67% of cases of myocarditis. However, viruses have not been implicated in giant cell myocarditis (GCM). Furthermore, efforts to detect viruses implicated in myocarditis have been unsuccessful in more accessible samples such as peripheral blood.

Mining Sudanese Medicinal Plants for Antiprotozoal Agents.

Neglected tropical diseases are major health hazards in developing countries. Annually, up to 30 million people are affected by either Chagas disease, African trypansomiasis or leishmaniasis, and more than 200 million by malaria. Most of the currently available drugs have drawbacks in terms of toxicity, limited oral availability, development of resistance, or non-affordability.

MHC class II invariant chain-adjuvanted viral vectored vaccines enhances T cell responses in humans.

Strategies to enhance the induction of high magnitude T cell responses through vaccination are urgently needed. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-associated invariant chain (Ii) plays a critical role in antigen presentation, forming MHC class II peptide complexes for the generation of CD4 T cell responses. Preclinical studies evaluating the fusion of Ii to antigens encoded in vector delivery systems have shown that this strategy may enhance T cell immune responses to the encoded antigen.

Patchless administration of canine influenza vaccine on dog's ear using insertion-responsive microneedles (IRMN) without removal of hair and its in vivo efficacy evaluation.

Microneedles provide the advantages of convenience and compliance by avoiding the pain and fear of needles that animals often experience. Insertion-responsive microneedles (IRMN) were used for administration to a hairy dog without removing the dog's hair. Canine H3N2 vaccine was administered with IRMN attached to the dog's ears ex vivo and the conventional microneedle system (MN) was administered for 15 min to compare puncture performance and delivery efficiency.

COVID-19 vaccines: neutralizing antibodies and the alum advantage.

Achieving high levels of neutralizing antibodies to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in a safe manner is likely to be crucial for an effective vaccine. Here, we propose that aluminium-based adjuvants might hold the key to this.

Preclinical study of influenza bivalent vaccine delivered with a two compartmental microneedle array.

Multiple vaccines can be mixed into a single combination to be a single product. However, combination vaccines have problems of complexity. In this study, microneedles were utilized in a compartmental microneedle array (CMA) to deliver two influenza vaccine strains without mixing.

COVID-19 vaccine design: the Janus face of immune enhancement.

Previous work on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) vaccines identified cellular immunopathology and antibody-dependent enhancement as potential safety issues. We discuss the implications of these findings for COVID-19 vaccine development and our approach to optimizing for safety and efficacy.

The potential role of Th17 immune responses in coronavirus immunopathology and vaccine-induced immune enhancement.

Increasing evidence points to host Th17 inflammatory responses as contributing to the severe lung pathology and mortality of lower respiratory tract infections from coronaviruses. This includes host inflammatory and cytokine responses to COVID-19 caused by the SARS-2 coronavirus (SARS CoV2). From studies conducted in laboratory animals, there are additional concerns about immune enhancement and the role of potential host immunopathology resulting from experimental human COVID-19 vaccines.

A Phase 3 Trial of Luspatercept in Patients with Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia.

Background: Patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia need regular red-cell transfusions. Luspatercept, a recombinant fusion protein that binds to select transforming growth factor β superfamily ligands, may enhance erythroid maturation and reduce the transfusion burden (the total number of red-cell units transfused) in such patients.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial, we assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, adults with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia to receive best supportive care plus luspatercept (at a dose of 1.