Impact of Antenatal SARS-CoV-2 Exposure on SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Potency

A pregnancy booster dose significantly reduces the risk and severity of COVID-19, and it is widely recommended. A prospective cohort study was conducted to compare the transplacental passage of maternal antibodies from vaccination or infection during three trimesters against both the vaccine-targeted Wuhan strain and the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2. Maternal-infant dyads from vaccinated mothers were collected between 6 June 2022 and 20 September 2022. We analyzed 38 maternal-infant dyads from mothers who had been infected with COVID-19 and 37 from mothers without any previous infection. Pregnant women who received their last COVID-19 vaccine dose in the third trimester exhibited the highest anti-spike protein antibody levels and neutralizing potency against both the Wuhan strain and Omicron BA.2 variant in their maternal and cord plasma. Both second- and third-trimester vaccination could lead to a higher level of neutralization against the Wuhan and Omicron strains. COVID-19 infection had a negative effect on the transplacental transfer ratio of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A booster dose during the second or third trimester is encouraged for the maximum transplacental transfer of humoral protection against COVID-19 for infants.

Global survival trends for brain tumors, by histology: analysis of individual records for 556,237 adults diagnosed in 59 countries during 2000-2014 (CONCORD-3)

BACKGROUND

Survival is a key metric of the effectiveness of a health system in managing cancer. We set out to provide a comprehensive examination of worldwide variation and trends in survival from brain tumors in adults, by histology.

METHODS

We analyzed individual data for adults (15-99 years) diagnosed with a brain tumor (ICD-O-3 topography code C71) during 2000-2014, regardless of tumor behavior. Data underwent a 3-phase quality control as part of CONCORD-3. We estimated net survival for 11 histology groups, using the unbiased nonparametric Pohar Perme estimator.

RESULTS

The study included 556,237 adults. In 2010-2014, the global range in age-standardized 5-year net survival for the most common sub-types was broad: in the range 20%-38% for diffuse and anaplastic astrocytoma, from 4% to 17% for glioblastoma, and between 32% and 69% for oligodendroglioma. For patients with glioblastoma, the largest gains in survival occurred between 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. These improvements were more noticeable among adults diagnosed aged 40-70 years than among younger adults.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the largest account to date of global trends in population-based survival for brain tumors by histology in adults. We have highlighted remarkable gains in 5-year survival from glioblastoma since 2005, providing large-scale empirical evidence on the uptake of chemoradiation at population level. Worldwide, survival improvements have been extensive, but some countries still lag behind. Our findings may help clinicians involved in national and international tumor pathway boards to promote initiatives aimed at more extensive implementation of clinical guidelines.

Development of cool and hot executive function deficit in children born very low birth weight with normal early development: A longitudinal cohort from aged 6 to 10

BACKGROUND

Studies showed preterm children born with very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) are at risk for poorer executive functions (EFs). However, very little research has been reported longitudinally on the development of both cool and hot EFs deficits in preschool to school-age VLBW preterm children with normal early development.

AIMS

Present study aimed to investigate the development of cool and hot EFs in VLWB preterm children longitudinally.

METHODS

Forty preterm children born VLBW were followed up at ages 6, 8, and 10. Fifty term-born controls were recruited at each age stage. Cool EFs was assessed using backward digit span subtest of WISC-IV, Knox's Cube Test, Comprehensive Non-verbal Attention Test Battery (CNAT), Tower of London (ToL), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and hot EFs was assessed using Theory of Mind (ToM) and Delay of Gratification (GIFT) tasks.

RESULTS

The six-year-old VLBW preterm group showed significantly lower scores of planning in ToL, inhibition control in CNAT, and in both ToM and GIFT tasks. There is no significant difference in average cool and hot EFs between the eight and ten-year-old preterm group and the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

At six, VLBW preterm infants with normal early development have delayed cool and hot EFs development. Although the average performance of EFs can reach the level of the control group with age increasing to eight and ten years, there are still individual differences. It is recommended that more complete development indicators be established in the future, and early intervention should be made for VLBW premature children with delayed EFs.

Recurrent Fetal Anophthalmia Caused by retinoids acid gene 6 mutations: Correlation between prenatal ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and pathology

OBJECTIVE

Anophthalmia is an extreme form on the spectrum of anophthalmia-microphthalmia (A/M) syndrome. Most articles define fetal microphthalmia by an ocular diameter (OD) less than fifth percentile. Diagnosis of fetal microphthalmia using only orbital measurements such as interocular distance (IOD), and OD may neglect the presence or morphology of the fetal lens, hence failing to identify abnormalities of the fetal globe.

CASE REPORT

We hereby present a case of isolated fetal anophthalmia in two consecutive pregnancies from the same mother. Both fetuses presented as full-sized globes with absence or small size of lens under fetal ultrasound examination. Magnetic resonance imaging and pathology of the second fetus further revealed a thorough view of the underdeveloped globes. Whole exon sequencing (WES) analysis for the parents-fetus trio revealed compound heterozygous mutations of the retinoids acid gene 6 (STRA6).

CONCLUSION

Detailed examination for intraocular structures including fetal lens, in addition to orbital measurements by ultrasound is crucial for diagnosis of diseases in the A/M spectrum.

Cardiac arrest in patients hospitalized for COVID-19: a tertiary medical center retrospective cohort study

Background/Introduction

Patients with COVID-19 are at increased risk for mortality during hospitalization. Better definition of the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of cardiac arrest during hospitalization for COVID-19 may support early identification and intervention.

Purpose

To estimate the incidence of in-hospital cardiac arrest in patients with COVID-19, describe the temporal trends in incidence of and survival after cardiac arrest, summarise characteristics of those who experienced a cardiac arrest, and compare the characteristics of survivors versus non-survivors of cardiac arrest.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted for COVID-19 to a tertiary medical center comprising three hospitals between March and November 2020. Data entry is ongoing for more than 2000 patients admitted through 2021. Clinical variables extracted via review of electronic medical records included age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, history of cardiovascular disease (ie., coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or cerebrovascular event), other comorbidities included in the Charlson comorbidity index, date of admission, duration of hospitalization, all cardiac arrest events during hospitalization, presenting rhythm during first cardiac arrest, and death. Data were described using summary statistics. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations.

Results

Among 1666 patients, 107 (6.4%) experienced at least one in-hospital cardiac arrest event during hospitalization for COVID-19, of which 25 (23%) survived to hospital discharge. From March to October 2020, there was a decrease in estimated cardiac arrest incidence in-hospital from 8.2% to 3%, whereas estimated survival to hospital discharge after an arrest remained similar at approximately 20% (Figure). Compared to those who did not, patients who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest were older and more likely to have existing cardiovascular disease, as well as other comorbidities. Similar factors were associated with lower chance of survival after cardiac arrest (Table). Patients with pulseless ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) as presenting rhythm in cardiac arrest had better survival to hospital discharge compared to those with other rhythms (OR 3.3, p=0.02). Younger age (per 10 years, OR=0.7, p=0.03) and fewer comorbidities (per one fewer comorbidity, OR=1.5, p=0.05) were associated with better survival after cardiac arrest in multivariable logistic regression.

Conclusion

There was a decline in estimated incidence of cardiac arrest during hospitalization for COVID-19 since beginning of pandemic, with survival to hospital discharge after cardiac arrest estimated to be stable at around 20%. Younger age and fewer comorbidities especially cardiovascular disease were associated with better survival after an in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Rush University Medical Center Figure 1Table 1

Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle inhibits IL-6 and MAPK-mediated cardiac hypertrophy during STZ-induced diabetes in rats

Escherichia coli Nissle (EcN), a probiotic bacterium protects against several disorders. Multiple reports have studied the pathways involved in cardiac hypertrophy. However, the effects of probiotic EcN against diabetes-induced cardiac hypertrophy remain to be understood. We administered five weeks old Wistar male (271±19.4 g body weight) streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with 10⁹ cfu of EcN via oral gavage every day for 24 days followed by subjecting the rats to echocardiography to analyse the cardiac parameters. Overexpressed interleukin (IL)-6 induced the MEK5/ERK5, JAK2/STAT3, and MAPK signalling cascades in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Further, the upregulation of calcineurin, NFATc3, and p-GATA4 led to the elevation of hypertrophy markers, such as atrial and B-type natriuretic peptides. In contrast, diabetic rats supplemented with probiotic EcN exhibited significant downregulated IL-6. Moreover, the MEK5/ERK5 and JAK2/STAT3 cascades involved during eccentric hypertrophy and MAPK signalling, including phosphorylated MEK, ERK, JNK, and p-38, were significantly attenuated in diabetic rats after supplementation of EcN. Western blotting and immunofluorescence revealed the significant downregulation of NFATc3 and downstream mediators, thereby resulting in the impairment of cardiac hypertrophy. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that supplementing probiotic EcN has the potential to show cardioprotective effects by inhibiting diabetes-induced cardiomyopathies.

Calibrated nanoscale capacitance measurements using a scanning microwave microscope

A scanning microwave microscope (SMM) for spatially resolved capacitance measurements in the attofarad-to-femtofarad regime is presented. The system is based on the combination of an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a performance network analyzer (PNA). For the determination of absolute capacitance values from PNA reflection amplitudes, a calibration sample of conductive gold pads of various sizes on a SiO(2) staircase structure was used. The thickness of the dielectric SiO(2) staircase ranged from 10 to 200 nm. The quantitative capacitance values determined from the PNA reflection amplitude were compared to control measurements using an external capacitance bridge. Depending on the area of the gold top electrode and the SiO(2) step height, the corresponding capacitance values, as measured with the SMM, ranged from 0.1 to 22 fF at a noise level of ~2 aF and a relative accuracy of 20%. The sample capacitance could be modeled to a good degree as idealized parallel plates with the SiO(2) dielectric sandwiched in between. The cantilever/sample stray capacitance was measured by lifting the tip away from the surface. By bringing the AFM tip into direct contact with the SiO(2) staircase structure, the electrical footprint of the tip was determined, resulting in an effective tip radius of ~60 nm and a tip-sample capacitance of ~20 aF at the smallest dielectric thickness.

Antimicrobial resistance and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in Kaohsiung from 1996 through 1999

A total of 89 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were obtained from 86 patients during the period from November 1996 through September 1999 at the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. The purpose of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities and the distribution of serotypes of these isolates, and to correlate these findings with the clinical characteristics of patients. Twenty-one (23.6%) isolates were obtained from patients aged below 5 years, and 38 (42.7%) from patients aged over 65 years. These 86 patients included 53 pneumonia, 13 bacteremia (including 6 with septic shock), 8 urinary tract infection, 8 soft tissue infections, 7 acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, 2 ophthalmic infection, and 2 cholecystitis cases. The most frequent serotypes were types 20 (10.1%), 6 (9%), 10 (9%), 11 (9%), and 23 (9%). All isolates were included in the serotypes represented in the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Thirty-four (38.2%) isolates showed reduced penicillin susceptibility by the E-test. The predominant serotypes of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae were types 11 (17.6%), 7 (14.7%), 6 (8.8%), 8 (8.8%), and 23 (8.8%). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Resistance rate to erythromycin was 49.4%, chloramphenicol, 20.2%; and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 61.8%. Multiple resistance (> or = 3 classes of antibiotics) was found in 28 (31.5%) isolates, of which the majority were serotypes 11 (14.3%), 7 (14.3%), 6 (10.7%), 8 (10.7%), and 23 (10.7%).

Overproduction of D-hydantoinase and carbamoylase in a soluble form in Escherichia coli

The production of D-hydantoinase and carbamoylase from Agrobacterium radiobacter NRRL B11291 using T7 and trc promoters, respectively, was found to cause protein aggregates in Escherichia coli. We initiated a systematic study aimed at overproducting these two proteins in a soluble form. As a result, the protein aggregate from carbamoylase overproduction could be alleviated with the aid of GroEL/GroES. In contrast, the production of a high level of D-hydantoinase in an active form can be achieved at low temperature (25 degrees C) or by the coproduction of DnaJ/DnaK. Overall, with such approaches both recombinant proteins gain more than a four-fold increase in enzyme activity. In addition, by fusion with thioredoxin, D-hydantoinase activity can be increased 25% more than the unfused counterpart in the presence of DnaJ/DnaK. These results indicate the success of our approaches to overproducing D-hydantoinase and carbamoylase in a soluble form in E. coli.

Immobilization of beta-fructofuranosidases from Aspergillus on methacrylamide-based polymeric beads for production of fructooligosaccharides

beta-Fructofuranosidases from Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611 and Aspergillus japonicus TIT-KJ1 were purified and immobilized covalently onto methacrylamide-based polymeric beads. The porous, oxriane-containing support was reactive and could bind enzymes in a buffered solution at room temperature with a density up to 0.4 mg of protein g-1 of support with 100% immobilized yield. Neither the optimum temperature for the highest enzymatic activities nor the batch reaction pattern for fructooligosaccharides formation catalyzed by beta-fructofuranosidases was changed by immobilization. The amount of fructooligosaccharides produced from 50% (w/w) sucrose solution using the prepared immobilized enzymes was determined to be approximately 60% of the total sugars in the reaction mixtures. This level of fructooligosaccharides produced by the immobilized enzymes was comparable to that resulting from processes employing other immobilized biocatalysts as shown in the literature. The fraction of total fructooligosaccharides presented in the final mixture increased with the initial sucrose concentration, while fractions of glucose and fructose decreased with an increase sucrose concentration.