Albumin orchestrates a natural host defense mechanism against mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is an emerging, life-threatening human infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Metabolic disorders uniquely predispose an ever-expanding group of patients to mucormycosis via poorly understood mechanisms. Therefore, it is highly likely that uncharacterized host metabolic effectors confer protective immunity against mucormycosis.

ACTIV trials: cross-trial lessons learned for master protocol implementation.

The United States Government (USG) public-private partnership "Accelerating COVID-19 Treatment Interventions and Vaccines" (ACTIV) was launched to identify safe, effective therapeutics to treat patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and prevent hospitalization, progression of disease, and death. Eleven original master protocols were developed by ACTIV, and thirty-seven therapeutic agents entered evaluation for treatment benefit. Challenges encountered during trial implementation led to innovations enabling initiation and enrollment of over 26,000 participants in the trials.

ACTIV trials: Lessons learned in trial design in the setting of an emergent pandemic.

Accelerating COVID-19 Treatment Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) was initiated by the US government to rapidly develop and test vaccines and therapeutics against COVID-19 in 2020. The ACTIV Therapeutics-Clinical Working Group selected ACTIV trial teams and clinical networks to expeditiously develop and launch master protocols based on therapeutic targets and patient populations. The suite of clinical trials was designed to collectively inform therapeutic care for COVID-19 outpatient, inpatient, and intensive care populations globally.

A phylogenetic approach to explore the conidial surface-associated proteome and its role in pathogenesis.

, an important pulmonary fungal pathogen causing several diseases collectively called aspergillosis, relies on asexual spores (conidia) for initiating host infection. Here, we used a phylogenomic approach to compare proteins in the conidial surface of , two closely related non-pathogenic species, and , and the cryptic pathogen . After identifying 62 proteins uniquely expressed on the conidial surface, we assessed null mutants for 42 genes encoding conidial proteins.

Stroke in mitral valve prolapse: risk factors and left atrial function in cryptogenic versus non-cryptogenic ischemic subtypes.

Background And Purpose: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has been associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Older age, thicker mitral leaflets, and significant mitral regurgitation (MR) leading to atrial fibrillation have been traditionally considered risk factors for ischemic stroke in MVP. However, specific risk factors for MVP-stroke subtypes are not well defined.

Antiretroviral Therapy Intensification for Neurocognitive Impairment in Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is common and may result from persistent HIV replication in the central nervous system.

Methods: A5324 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 96-week trial of ART intensification with dolutegravir (DTG) + MVC, DTG + Placebo, or Dual - Placebo in PWH with plasma HIV RNA <50 copies/mL on ART and NCI. The primary outcome was the change on the normalized total z score (ie, the mean of individual NC test z scores) at week 48.

Association of HIV Serostatus and Inflammation With Ascending Aortic Size.

Background The prevalence and extent of subclinical large vessel vasculopathy is not well defined among people living with HIV. We aimed to evaluate associations between aortic root and ascending aortic sizes measured by 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and HIV serostatus, and to identify risk factors for larger aortic sizes among men with HIV, including levels of circulating inflammatory markers. Methods and Results Using clinical and echocardiographic data from the MACS (Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study), adjusted multivariable linear and logistic regression was performed.

Pericardial Fat and the Risk of Heart Failure.

Background: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for heart failure (HF). However, implications of pericardial fat on incident HF is unclear.

Objectives: This study sought to examine the association between pericardial fat volume (PFV) and newly diagnosed HF.

Association of Carotid Artery Plaque With Cardiovascular Events and Incident Coronary Artery Calcium in Individuals With Absent Coronary Calcification: The MESA.

Background: Absence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) identifies asymptomatic individuals at low cardiovascular disease risk. Carotid artery plaque is a marker of increased risk, but its association with cardiovascular risk and incident CAC in people without CAC is unclear.

Methods: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants with CAC score of 0 at enrollment who also underwent carotid plaque measurement using B-mode ultrasonography were prospectively followed for incident coronary heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease events, and CAC (score >0 on up to 3 serial computed tomography scans).

Novel Criteria for Diagnosing Acute and Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in a Multinational Study of Early Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation during acute and early human immunodeficiency virus infection (AEHI) limits HIV reservoir formation and may facilitate post-ART control but is logistically challenging. We evaluated the performance of AEHI diagnostic criteria from a prospective study of early ART initiation.

Methods: AIDS Clinical Trials Group A 5354 enrolled adults at 30 sites in the Americas, Africa, and Asia who met any 1 of 6 criteria based on combinations of results of HIV RNA, HIV antibody, Western blot or Geenius assay, and/or the signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratio of the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo or GS HIV Combo Ag/Ab EIA.

Predictive Value of Coronary Artery Calcium Score Categories for Coronary Events Versus Strokes: Impact of Sex and Race: MESA and DHS.

Background: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) predicts atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events, inclusive of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, and is a decision-making aid for primary prevention. The predictive value of CAC categories for CHD and stroke separately and across sex and race groups of an asymptomatic population is unclear.

Methods: White, Black, and Hispanic participants of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) and DHS (Dallas Heart Study) underwent CAC measurement at enrollment and were followed for incident ASCVD events.

Establishing core outcome domains in pediatric kidney disease: report of the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Children and Adolescents (SONG-KIDS) consensus workshops.

Trials in children with chronic kidney disease do not consistently report outcomes that are critically important to patients and caregivers. This can diminish the relevance and reliability of evidence for decision making, limiting the implementation of results into practice and policy. As part of the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Children and Adolescents (SONG-Kids) initiative, we convened 2 consensus workshops in San Diego, California (7 patients, 24 caregivers, 43 health professionals) and Melbourne, Australia (7 patients, 23 caregivers, 49 health professionals).

Detection of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriace from fomite surfaces.

Accurately identifying carbapenem resistant enterobacteriace (CRE) from fomites is critical for infection control practices, research, and assessing patient risk. We compared a commercial CRE agar intended for patient use with a modified MacConkey agar. We found that our modified MacConkey agar was more selective at identifying CRE from environmental sources.

Correction to: Racial Differences in the Utilization of Guideline-Recommended and Life-Sustaining Procedures During Hospitalizations for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

There was an error in Fig. 1 as published in this article, and the Hemodialysis and Palliative Care titles in the figure are reversed.