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Background Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to cause significant hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. Its continued burden and the impact of annually reformulated vaccines remain unclear. Here, we present projections of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in the United States for the next 2 years under 2 plausible assumptions about immune escape (20% per year and 50% per year) and 3 possible CDC recommendations for the use of annually reformulated vaccines (no recommendation, vaccination for those aged 65 years and over, vaccination for all eligible age groups based on FDA approval). Methods and findings The COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub solicited projections of COVID-19 hospitalization and deaths between April 15, 2023 and April 15, 2025 under 6 scenarios representing the intersection of considered levels of immune escape and vaccination. Annually reformulated vaccines are assumed to be 65% effective against symptomatic infection with strains circulating on June 15 of each year and to become available on September 1. Age- and state-specific coverage in recommended groups was assumed to match that seen for the first (fall 2021) COVID-19 booster. State and national projections from 8 modeling teams were ensembled to produce projections for each scenario and expected reductions in disease outcomes due to vaccination over the projection period. From April 15, 2023 to April 15, 2025, COVID-19 is projected to cause annual epidemics peaking November to January. In the most pessimistic scenario (high immune escape, no vaccination recommendation), we project 2.1 million (90% projection interval (PI) [1,438,000, 4,270,000]) hospitalizations and 209,000 (90% PI [139,000, 461,000]) deaths, exceeding pre-pandemic mortality of influenza and pneumonia. In high immune escape scenarios, vaccination of those aged 65+ results in 230,000 (95% confidence interval (CI) [104,000, 355,000]) fewer hospitalizations and 33,000 (95% CI [12,000, 54,000]) fewer deaths, while vaccination of all eligible individuals results in 431,000 (95% CI: 264,000-598,000) fewer hospitalizations and 49,000 (95% CI [29,000, 69,000]) fewer deaths. Conclusions COVID-19 is projected to be a significant public health threat over the coming 2 years. Broad vaccination has the potential to substantially reduce the burden of this disease, saving tens of thousands of lives each year., Author(s): Sung-mok Jung 1, Sara L. Loo 2, Emily Howerton 3, Lucie Contamin 4, Claire P. Smith 2, Erica C. Carcelén 2, Katie Yan 3, Samantha J. Bents 5, John [...]

Planning a response to an outbreak of a pandemic strain of influenza is a high public health priority. Three research groups using different individual-based, stochastic simulation models have examined the consequences of intervention strategies chosen in consultation with U.S. public health workers. The first goal is to simulate the effectiveness of a set of potentially feasible intervention strategies. Combinations called targeted layered containment (TLC) of influenza antiviral treatment and prophylaxis and nonpharmaceutical interventions of quarantine, isolation, school closure, community social distancing, and workplace social distancing are considered. The second goal is to examine the robustness of the results to model assumptions. The comparisons focus on a pandemic outbreak in a population similar to that of Chicago, with [approximately equal to] 8.6 million people. The simulations suggest that at the expected transmissibility of a pandemic strain, timely implementation of a combination of targeted household antiviral prophylaxis, and social distancing measures could substantially lower the illness attack rate before a highly efficacious vaccine could become available. Timely initiation of measures and school closure play important roles. Because of the current lack of data on which to base such models, further field research is recommended to learn more about the sources of transmission and the effectiveness of social distancing measures in reducing influenza transmission. influenza antiviral agents | mitigation | prophylaxis | social distancing | transmission

The magnitude, trends, geographic distribution, clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcome of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases are described. MDR-TB, an airborne disease with limited, costly treatment options, persists in 1% to 2% of all cases despite California's control efforts.

In plants, potassium serves an essential role as an osmoticum and charge carrier. Its uptake by roots occurs by poorly defined mechanisms. To determine the role of potassium channels in planta, we performed a reverse genetic screen and identified an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant in which the AKT1 channel gene was disrupted. Roots of this mutant lacked inward-rectifying potassium channels and displayed reduced potassium (rubidium-86) uptake. Compared with wild type, mutant plants grew poorly on media with a potassium concentration of 100 micromolar or less. These results and membrane potential measurements suggest that the AKT1 channel mediates potassium uptake from solutions that contain as little as 10 micromolar potassium., Potassium absorption by roots is essential for plant growth. Current models, which are elaborations of classic studies(1), state that [K.sup.+] absorption is mediated by cotransporters at micromolar [K.sup.+] concentrations and [...]

The relative and absolute chemistry of the potent antitumor antibiotic fostriecin have been determined. The results showed an absolute chemistry of 5R, 8R, 9R, 11R. A syn-diol stereochemical relationship between C8 and C9 and an anti-diol stereochemical relationship between C9 and C11 were established by 2D 1H-1H NMR NOE spectroscopy.

Isolation of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) from the initial segment of the IMCD (IMCDi) of a mouse helps establish a permanent cell line, mIMCD-K2, via clonal dilution. mIMCD-K2 cells are characterized by amiloride-sensitive electrogenic Na+ absorption and Cl- secretion by an electrogenic mechanism. Absorption or secretion of NaCl by IMCDi cells depends on NaCl homeostasis. The new cell line will help studies on cellular mechanisms crucial for electrogenic Na+ and Cl- transport in IMCDi.

The phase III clinical trial results for eribulin mesylate (E7389), a synthetic analogue of the marine natural product halichondrin B which could be used for cancer treatment is described. The obtained results revealed that suppression of dynamic instability is attributed to the binding of eribulin with high affinity to microtubule plus ends.

A study was conducted to analyze how the uptake mechanisms responsible for growth-sustaining K+ fluxes are influenced by NH4+ and Na+. Measurements of membrane potential in apical root cells were carried out using an intracellular microelectrode. Results indicated that AKT1 channel is a critical component of the K+ uptake apparatus supporting growth. During the absence of AKT1 channel activity, an NH4+-sensitive, Na+H+-stimulated mechanism can suffice.