BCG-Induced DNA Methylation Changes Improve Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Immunity Without Decreasing the Risk for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection.

Background: The BCG vaccine induces trained immunity, an epigenetic-mediated increase in innate immune responsiveness. Therefore, this clinical trial evaluated if BCG-induced trained immunity could decrease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related frequency or severity.

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of healthcare workers randomized participants to vaccination with BCG TICE or placebo (saline).

The Effect of Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir on Short- and Long-term Adverse Outcomes From COVID-19 Among Patients With Kidney Disease: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Background: Patients with kidney disease are at high risk for adverse outcomes after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite vaccination. Because patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure were excluded from registrational trials, the impact of the protease inhibitor nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in patients with kidney disease is unknown.

Methods: This was a cohort study evaluating adverse outcomes in patients with kidney disease who developed COVID-19.

Learning From Full Characterization of HIV Proviruses in People Receiving Long-Acting Cabotegravir/Rilpivirine With a History of Replication on the Antiretroviral Classes.

Background: To better understand factors associated with virologic response, we retrospectively characterized the HIV proviruses of 7 people with HIV who received long-acting cabotegravir/rilpivirine (CAB/RPV-LA) and were selected according to the following criteria: virologic control achieved despite a history of viral replication on 1 or both corresponding antiretroviral classes (n = 6) and virologic failure (VF) after CAB/RPV-LA initiation (n = 1).

Methods: Last available blood samples before the initiation of CAB/RPV-LA were analyzed retrospectively. Near full-length HIV DNA genome haplotypes were inferred from Nanopore sequencing by the in vivo Genome Diversity Analyzer to search for archived drug resistance mutations (DRMs) and evaluate the frequency and intactness of proviruses harboring DRMs.

Utilizing FRET-based Biosensors to Measure Cellular Phosphate Levels in Mycorrhizal Roots of .

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi engage in symbiotic relationships with plants, influencing their phosphate (Pi) uptake pathways, metabolism, and root cell physiology. Despite the significant role of Pi, its distribution and response dynamics in mycorrhizal roots remain largely unexplored. While traditional techniques for Pi measurement have shed some light on this, real-time cellular-level monitoring has been a challenge.

Using Protein Painting Mass Spectrometry to Define Ligand Receptor Interaction Sites for Acetylcholine Binding Protein.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a family of ligand-gated ion channels expressed in nervous and non-nervous system tissue important for memory, movement, and sensory processes. The pharmacological targeting of nAChRs, using small molecules or peptides, is a promising approach for the development of compounds for the treatment of various human diseases including inflammatory and neurogenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Using the acetylcholine binding protein (Ac-AChBP) as an established structural surrogate for human homopentameric α7 nAChRs, we describe an innovative protein painting mass spectrometry (MS) method that can be used to identify interaction sites for various ligands at the extracellular nAChR site.

An Efficient Method for Immortalizing Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts by CRISPR-mediated Deletion of the Gene.

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from genetically modified mice are a valuable resource for studying gene function and regulation. The MEF system can also be combined with rescue studies to characterize the function of mutant genes/proteins, such as disease-causing variants. However, primary MEFs undergo senescence soon after isolation and passaging, making long-term genetic manipulations difficult.

An Optimized Protocol for Simultaneous Propagation of Patient-derived Organoids and Matching CAFs.

Recurrent hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Recurrence and resistance to targeted therapies have been difficult to study due to the long clinical course of the disease, the complex nature of resistance, and the lack of clinically relevant model systems. Existing models are limited to a few HR+ cell lines, organoid models, and patient-derived xenograft models, all lacking components of the human tumor microenvironment.

Flow-based In Vivo Method to Enumerate Translating Ribosomes and Translation Elongation Rate.

Protein synthesis is by far the most energetically costly cellular process in rapidly dividing cells. Quantifying translating ribosomes in individual cells and their average mRNA transit rate is arduous. Quantitating assembled ribosomes in individual cells requires electron microscopy and does not indicate ribosome translation status.

The tuna keel is a mechanosensory structure.

Tunas are high-performance pelagic fishes of considerable economic importance and have a suite of biological adaptations for high-speed locomotion. In contrast to our understanding of tuna body and muscle function, mechanosensory systems of tuna are poorly understood. Here we present the discovery of a remarkable sensory lateral line canal within the bilateral tuna keels with tubules that extend to the upper and lower keel surfaces.

Disseminated Chickenpox Following Live Varicella Vaccination in a Crohn's Disease Patient on Combination Immunosuppression.

Novel therapeutics used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease pose an increased risk of viral reactivation in patients. We present a case of a patient with refractory Crohn's disease (CD) who developed primary varicella (chickenpox) of a vaccine-viral strain after receiving combination immunosuppression with high-dose corticosteroids, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi), and a Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) in the hospital. While this patient recovered and did not experience long term adverse effects, her case provides an opportunity for improvement.

Unusual presentation of medication-induced atrial fibrillation: A case report.

This case highlights that atrial fibrillation can occur as an adverse effect of tamsulosin even in younger patients at lower doses, challenging the conventional understanding that this complication primarily affects older individuals on higher doses. Clinicians should remain vigilant for this potential side effect across all patient demographics to ensure prompt identification and management.

Analytical Validation of Wrist-Worn Accelerometer-Based Step-Count Methods during Structured and Free-Living Activities.

Introduction: Wrist-worn accelerometers can capture stepping behavior passively, continuously, and remotely. Methods utilizing peak detection, threshold crossing, and frequency analysis have been used to detect steps from wrist-worn accelerometer data, but it remains unclear how different approaches perform across a range of walking speeds and free-living activities. In this study, we evaluated the performance of four open-source methods for deriving step counts from wrist-worn accelerometry data, when applied to data from a range of structured locomotion and free-living activities.

Multiscale Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease Using Feature Fusion in Cognitive and Sensory Brain Regions.

Introduction: This research is focused on early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using a multiscale feature fusion framework, combining biomarkers from memory, vision, and speech regions extracted from magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography images.

Methods: Using 2D gray level co-occurrence matrix (2D-GLCM) texture features, volume, standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR), and obesity from different neuroimaging modalities, the study applies various classifiers, demonstrating a feature importance analysis in each region of interest. The research employs four classifiers, namely linear support vector machine, linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression (LR), and logistic regression with stochastic gradient descent (LRSGD) classifiers, to determine feature importance, leading to subsequent validation using a probabilistic neural network classifier.

Chronic Severe Neutropenia Associated With Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Multifocal Motor Neuropathy.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is an immunomodulatory therapy derived from pooled donor immunoglobulins and used for treatment of various autoimmune conditions. Here we report the diagnosis and management of IVIG-induced chronic severe neutropenia with absolute neutrophil count <0.5×10/µL in a patient with multifocal motor neuropathy.

Defining and responding to the contextual drivers for implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in 14 neonatal units in South Africa.

Background: Research on the contextual drivers of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme interventions in neonatal units is limited.

Methods: As part of a prospective mixed-methods multidisciplinary neonatal AMS (NeoAMS) interventional study in 14 South African hospitals, we applied a three-phased process to assess implementation barriers and contextual drivers experienced by participating health professionals. The study included: (Phase one; P1) a survey of pre-intervention barriers and enablers; (P2) written feedback during the study intervention phase; and (P3) semi-structured exit interviews.

Seminoma Diagnosed by Multicancer Detection Testing: A Case Report.

A 67-year-old male with positive signals for neuroendocrine and head/neck cancer on a commercially available multicancer detection test underwent an extensive negative diagnostic workup at a local hospital. Referred to our medical center for advanced imaging and endoscopic procedures ultimately led to the diagnosis of an early-stage seminoma with eventual orchiectomy. This case highlights challenges in evaluating positive multicancer detection results, emphasizing the need for a broader understanding of how to interpret these testing results to fully evaluate complex cases, as well as the need for protocolized follow-up approaches to a positive multicancer detection test.

Re-sheathing failure with Navitor during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case report.

Background: Self-expanding valves used in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are designed to allow recapture and repositioning, facilitating optimal placement and mitigating conduction disturbances and paravalvular leakage. Here, we present a rare case in which the Navitor (Abbott Structural Heart, Santa Clara, CA, USA) could not be recaptured.

Case Summary: An 81-year-old Japanese woman with very severe aortic stenosis and a massively calcified nodule at the non-coronary cusp (NCC) underwent TAVI with a 25 mm Navitor valve.

A Hybrid Rehabilitation Program for Adults with Peripheral Artery Disease (HY-PAD): A Pre-Post Intervention Study to Assess Its Feasibility.

Background: Supervised exercise programs improve walking impairment and quality of life (QoL) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, such programs are underutilized, due to their limited accessibility. A feasible and effective exercise program is needed.

Pharmaco-Invasive Strategy Vs Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Latin America: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the established treatment for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but often it is not readily available in low-resource settings. We assessed the safety and efficacy of the pharmaco-invasive strategy compared to primary PCI for STEMI in Latin America.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) were searched for the period from their inception to September 2023, for studies that compared a pharmaco-invasive strategy vs primary PCI in Latin America.

Ten tips in lupus nephritis management.

Lupus nephritis is an important cause of severe glomerulonephritis, and a leading cause of kidney failure in young adults. While the disease can lead to rapid destruction of nephrons if untreated, there are effective therapies to reverse the severe acute kidney injury and prevent the lifetime risk of kidney failure. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are therefore of critical importance.

What role does wealth play in the racial health gap in the United States? Examining differences among African Americans, Latinos, and non-Hispanic Whites.

Wealth resources has received little attention when studying how socioeconomic status shapes health outcomes. In the United States (USA), there is a growing body of evidence acknowledging a widening racial/ethnic wealth gap. However, little is known about wealth's role in shaping health inequity.

New Mediastinal and Hilar Lymphadenopathy After Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in a Patient With Stage III Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has transformed the management of advanced and high-risk renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the adjuvant setting, ICIs, such as pembrolizumab, aim to reduce the risk of recurrence following potentially curative nephrectomy. However, this therapeutic approach introduces unique challenges, particularly related to immune-related adverse events (irAEs).

Overcoming Anatomical Challenges: Epidural Blood Patch and Plica Mediana Dorsalis Case Report.

The efficacy of epidural blood patch (EBP) is highly variable, and often, clinicians are unable to identify the underlying reasons for treatment failure. A 36-year-old parturient underwent a "blind" epidural blood patch (EBP) without image guidance but failed to obtain relief from a postural headache related to the labor epidural. During the second EBP, an intact plica mediana dorsalis (PMD) was visualized in the anterior-posterior fluoroscopic view after injection of contrast, and autologous blood was injected on both sides of the PMD, leading to the complete resolution of headache symptoms.