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Purpose This paper aims to determine whether performing an emotional intelligence (EI) intervention improves employees’ self-perceived emotional–social competencies (ESC) to achieve relational outcomes in firms based in China. Design/methodology/approach Based on a qualitative, interpretive approach through purposive sampling, this paper explored the impacts the Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI) 2.0 intervention might have upon Chinese employees regarding ESC and relational outcomes. Data was collected from 18 semi-structured interviews with Chinese executives and individual contributors. Findings The findings suggested that ESC could be developed and improved in Chinese employees. The SDI 2.0 intervention may effectively bring about positive EI shifts and relevant attitudinal and behavioral changes related to work relationships. Practical implications The developed ESC and relational outcomes provide practitioners with insight to better understand the role training plays in organizational effectiveness, as well as to implement the SDI 2.0 program in human resource practices of Chinese organizations to develop personnel and promote high-quality work relationships. Originality/value This study gains significance by highlighting the effectiveness of the SDI 2.0 intervention in enhancing respondents’ ESC with relational outcomes from the perspectives of Chinese firms. Thus, supporting the effectiveness of EI training in the Chinese workplace and introducing the EI training literature the SDI 2.0 tool.

Background: Older adults with cancer are a growing population requiring tailored care to achieve optimum treatment outcomes. Their care is complicated by under-recognised and under-treated wasting disorders: malnutrition, sarcopenia, and cachexia. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, overlap, and patients’ views and experiences of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and cachexia, in older adults with cancer. Methods: Mixed-methods study with cross-sectional study and qualitative interviews. Interviews were thematically analysed through a phenomenological lens, with feedback loop analysis investigating relationships between themes and findings synthesised using modified critical interpretative synthesis. Findings: n=30 were screened for malnutrition, sarcopenia, and cachexia, n=8 completed semi-structured interviews. 18 (60.0%) were malnourished, 16 (53.3%) sarcopenic, and 17 (56.7%) cachexic. One or more condition was seen in 80%, and all three in 30%. In univariate analysis, Rockwood clinical frailty score (OR 2.94 [95% CI:1.26–6.89, p=0.013]) was associated with sarcopenia, reported percentage meal consumption (OR 2.28 [95% CI:1.24–4.19, p=0.008]), and visible wasting (OR 8.43 [95% CI:1.9–37.3]) with malnutrition, and percentage monthly weight loss (OR 8.71 [95% CI:1.87–40.60]) with cachexia. Screening tools identified established conditions rather than ‘risk’. Nutritional and functional problems were often overlooked, overshadowed, and misunderstood by both patients and (in patients’ perceptions) by clinicians; misattributed to ageing, cancer, or comorbidities. Patients viewed these conditions as both personal impossibilities, yet accepted inevitabilities. Conclusion: Perceptions, identification, and management of these conditions needs to improve and their importance recognised by clinicians and patients so those truly ‘at risk’ are identified whilst conditions are more remediable to interventions.

Purpose: Weight gain in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer is associated with a higher risk of recurrence but its mechanisms are poorly understood.Experimental Design: To investigate this, we assessed the metabolic, cytokine, and appetite-related peptide alterations during adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer in postmenopausal women, and correlated these with body mass measurements. Specifically, we performed global metabolic profiling using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of sequential sera, examined ghrelin immunoreactivity, RIAs for GLP-1 and peptide YY, and electrochemiluminescent cytokine analyses (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) on sequential samples.Results: In those who gained >1.5 kg, several metabolite levels were positively associated with weight gain, specifically lactate, which was 63.5% greater in patients with increased body weight during chemotherapy compared with those with no weight gain (P < 0.01; the prespecified primary end point). A strong correlation (r = 0.7, P < 0.001) was detected between the rate of weight change and serum lactate levels, and on average, lactate levels exhibited the greatest metabolic response to chemotherapy, increasing by up to 75%. Normalized levels of peptide YY were also observed to be elevated in patients not gaining weight posttreatment (+30% compared with −7% for the weight gain group; P < 10−4). Baseline lactate, alanine, and body fat were all prognostic for weight gain (area under the receiver operator characteristic curves, >0.77; P < 0.05). No associations were observed between any other parameter and weight gain, including cytokine levels.Conclusions: Metabonomics identifies excess energy expenditure pathways perturbed during chemotherapy for breast cancer, and establishes a significant association between serum lactate, body fat, and substantive weight gain during chemotherapy. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(21):6716–23)

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Tornado occurrence rates computed from the available reports are biased low relative to the unknown true rates. To correct for this low bias, the authors demonstrate a method to estimate the annual probability of being struck by a tornado that uses the average report density estimated as a function of distance from nearest city/town center. The method is demonstrated on Kansas and then applied to 15 other tornado-prone states from Nebraska to Tennessee. States are ranked according to their adjusted tornado rate and comparisons are made with raw rates published elsewhere. The adjusted rates, expressed as return periods, are

BACKGROUND Patients who were incarcerated were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 compared to the general public. Further, the impact of multidisciplinary rehabilitation assessments and interventions on the outcomes of patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 is limited. OBJECTIVE To compare functional outcomes of oral intake, mobility, and activity between inmates and non-inmates who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and examine the relationships among these functional measures and discharge destination. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 at a large academic medical center. Scores on functional measures including Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) were collected and compared between inmates and non-inmates. Binary logistic regression models were used to evaluate the odds of 1) whether patients were discharged to the same place they were admitted and 2) patients being discharged with a total oral diet with no restrictions. Independent variables were considered significant if the 95% CIs of the odds ratios (ORs) did not include 1.0. RESULTS A total of 83 patients (inmates, n=38; non-inmates, n=45) were included in the final analysis. There were no differences between inmates and non-inmates on initial (P=.39) and final FOIS scores (P=.35) or on initial, final, or change scores (P>.05) on the AM-PAC. When examining separate regression models using AM-PAC mobility or AM-PAC activity scores as independent variables, greater age upon admission decreased the odds (OR=0.922; 95%CI=0.875 to 0.972 and OR=0.918; 95%CI=0.871 to 0.968) of patients being discharged with a total oral diet with no restrictions. The following factors increased the odds of patients being discharged to the same place they were admitted from: being an inmate (OR=5.285; 95%CI= 1.334 to 20.931) and (OR=6.083; 95%CI=1.548 to 23.912); “Other” race (OR=7.596; 95%CI=1.203 to 47.968) and (OR=8.515; 95%CI=1.311 to 55.291); and female sex (OR=4.671; 95%CI=1.086 to 20.092) and (OR=4.977; 95%CI=1.146 to 21.615). CONCLUSIONS Results from this study provide an opportunity to learn how functional measures may be used to better understand discharge outcomes in both inmate and non-inmate patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 during the initial period of the pandemic. CLINICALTRIAL

Purpose To examine the evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of online supportive care interventions for people living with and beyond lung cancer (LWBLC). Methods Studies were identified through searches of Medline, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and CINAHL databases using a structured search strategy. The inclusion criteria (1) examined the feasibility, acceptability, and/or efficacy of an online intervention aiming to provide supportive care for people living with and beyond lung cancer; (2) delivered an intervention in a single arm or RCT study pre/post design; (3) if a mixed sample, presented independent lung cancer data. Results Eight studies were included; two randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Included studies reported on the following outcomes: feasibility and acceptability of an online, supportive care intervention, and/or changes in quality of life, emotional functioning, physical functioning, and/or symptom distress. Conclusion Preliminary evidence suggests that online supportive care among individuals LWBLC is feasible and acceptable, although there is little high-level evidence. Most were small pilot and feasibility studies, suggesting that online supportive care in this group is in its infancy. The integration of online supportive care into the cancer pathway may improve quality of life, physical and emotional functioning, and reduce symptom distress. Online modalities of supportive care can increase reach and accessibility of supportive care platforms, which could provide tailored support. People LWBLC display high symptom burden and unmet supportive care needs. More research is needed to address the dearth of literature in online supportive care for people LWBLC.

The ability to perform sophisticated, high-throughput optogenetic experiments has been greatly enhanced by recent open-source illumination devices that allow independent programming of light patterns in single wells of microwell plates. However, there is currently a lack of instrumentation to monitor such experiments in real time, necessitating repeated transfers of the samples to stand-alone instruments and limiting the types of experiments that could be performed. Here we address this gap with the development of the optoPlateReader (oPR), an open-source, solid-state, compact device that allows automated optogenetic stimulation and spectroscopy in each well of a 96-well plate. The oPR integrates an optoPlate optical stimulation module with a module called the optoReader, an array of 96 photodiodes and LEDs that allows 96 parallel light measurements. The oPR was optimized for stimulation with blue light and for measurements of optical density and fluorescence. After calibration of all device components, we used the oPR to measure growth and to induce and measure fluorescent protein expression in E. coli. We further demonstrated how the optical read/write capabilities of the oPR permit computer-in-the-loop feedback control, where the current state of the sample can be used to adjust the optical stimulation parameters of the sample according to pre-defined feedback algorithms. The oPR will thus help realize an untapped potential for optogenetic experiments by enabling automated reading, writing, and feedback in microwell plates through open-source hardware that is accessible, customizable, and inexpensive.

Several highly pathogenic mammarenaviruses cause severe hemorrhagic and neurologic disease in humans for which vaccines and antivirals are limited or unavailable. New World (NW) mammarenavirus Machupo virus (MACV) infection causes Bolivian hemorrhagic fever in humans. We previously reported that the disruption of specific N-linked glycan sites on the glycoprotein (GPC) partially attenuates MACV in an interferon alpha/beta and gamma (IFN-α/β and -γ) receptor knockout (R(−/−)) mouse model. However, some capability to induce neurological pathology still remained. The highly pathogenic Junin virus (JUNV) is another NW arenavirus closely related to MACV. An F427I substitution in the GPC transmembrane domain (TMD) rendered JUNV attenuated in a lethal mouse model after intracranial inoculation. In this study, we rationally designed and rescued a MACV containing mutations at two glycosylation sites and the corresponding F438I substitution in the GPC TMD. The MACV mutant is fully attenuated in IFN-α/β and -γ R(−/−) mice and outbred guinea pigs. Furthermore, inoculation with this mutant MACV completely protected guinea pigs from wild-type MACV lethal challenge. Last, we found the GPC TMD F438I substitution greatly impaired MACV growth in neuronal cell lines of mouse and human origins. Our results highlight the critical roles of the glycans and the TMD on the GPC in arenavirus virulence, which provide insight into the rational design of potential vaccine candidates for highly pathogenic arenaviruses. IMPORTANCE For arenaviruses, the only vaccine available is the live attenuated Candid#1 vaccine, a JUNV vaccine approved in Argentina. We and others have found that the glycans on GPC and the F427 residue in the GPC TMD are important for virulence of JUNV. Nevertheless, mutating either of them is not sufficient for full and stable attenuation of JUNV. Using reverse genetics, we disrupted specific glycosylation sites on MACV GPC and also introduced the corresponding F438I substitution in the GPC TMD. This MACV mutant is fully attenuated in two animal models and protects animals from lethal infection. Thus, our studies highlight the feasibility of rational attenuation of highly pathogenic arenaviruses for vaccine development. Another important finding from this study is that the F438I substitution in GPC TMD could substantially affect MACV replication in neurons. Future studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanism and the implication of this mutation in arenavirus neural tropism.

Concussion screening among collegiate lacrosse athletes is a major safety priority. Although attention has been directed at concussion management following injury, less is known about the association between cognition and balance during preseason screening. The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between balance and neurocognition among collegiate male lacrosse players and to examine predictive determinants of postural stability. Participants included a convenience sample of 49 male collegiate Division 3 lacrosse players who completed a demographic survey and performed the immediate postconcussion test (ImPACT) and instrumented Sensory Organization Test (SOT). There was a significant association between balance SOT performance and both verbal memory (r = .59, p r = .43, p p p

Additive manufacturing, aka three dimensional (3D) printing, is increasingly being used for personalized orthopedic implants. Additively manufactured components normally undergo further processing, in particular 3D printed locking osteosynthesis plates require post-printing screw thread creation. The aim of this study was to compare 3D printed threads with machined and hand-tapped threads for a locking plate application. Pushout tests were performed on 115 additively manufactured specimens with tapered screw holes; additive manufacture was performed at 0°, 20°, 45°, or 90° build orientations. The screw holes were either machined, hand-tapped or 3D printed. The 3D printed screw holes were left as printed, or run through with a tap lubricated with water or with thread cutting oil. Printed threads run through using oil, with a build orientation of 90°, had comparable pushout force (median: 6377 N 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5616-7739 N) to machined (median: 6757 N; 95% CI: 6682-7303 N) and hand-tapped (median: 7805 N; 95% CI: 7154-7850 N) threads. As printed threads and those run through using water had significantly lower pushout forces. This study shows for the first time that 3D printed screw threads for a locking osteosynthesis plate application have comparable strength to traditionally produced screw threads.

Background In the last decade, tuberculosis (TB) incidence among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic has been rising. Our aim was to better understand the transmission dynamics of TB in this remote region of Canada using whole-genome sequencing. Methods Isolates from patients who had culture-positive pulmonary TB in Iqaluit, Nunavut, between 2009 and 2015 underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The number of transmission events between cases within clusters was calculated using a threshold of a ≤3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference between isolates and then combined with detailed epidemiological data using a reproducible novel algorithm. Social network analysis of epidemiological data was used to support the WGS data analysis. Results During the study period, 140 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from 135 cases were sequenced. Four clusters were identified, all from Euro-American lineage. One cluster represented 62% of all cases that were sequenced over the entire study period. In this cluster, 2 large chains of transmission were associated with 3 superspreading events in a homeless shelter. One of the superspreading events was linked to a nonsanctioned gambling house that resulted in further transmission. Shelter to nonshelter transmission was also confirmed. An algorithm developed for the determination of transmission events demonstrated very good reproducibility (κ score .98, 95% confidence interval, .97–1.0). Conclusions Our study suggests that socioeconomic factors, namely residing in a homeless shelter and spending time in a gambling house, combined with the superspreading event effect may have been significant factors explaining the rise in cases in this predominantly Inuit Arctic community.

This study examined the phylogenetic structure of serotype a Haemophilus influenzae (Hia) isolates recovered from patients in Canada. Hia isolates from 490 separate patients and an American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strain were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), with 18 different sequence types (STs) identified. Most (85.7%) Hia patient isolates were typed as ST-23 and another 12.7% belonged to 14 different STs with 6, 5, or 4 MLST gene loci related to ST-23 (ST-23 complex). Core genome single-nucleotide variation phylogeny (SNVPhyl) on whole genome sequence (WGS) data of 121 Hia patient isolates representing all identified STs and the ATCC strain revealed 2 phylogenetic populations, with all the ST-23 complex isolates within 1 population. The other phylogenetic population contained only the ATCC strain and 3 patient isolates. Concatenated hitABC sequences retrieved from WGS data and analyzed by MEGA (Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis) alignment confirmed the phylogeny obtained by SNVPhyl. The sodC gene was found only in isolates in the minor phylogenetic population. The 2 phylogenetic populations of the Canadian Hia isolates are similar to the 2 clonal divisions described for serotype b H. influenzae. Combining MLST, core SNVPhyl, and hitABC gene sequence alignment showed that most (99.4%) Canadian Hia patient isolates belonged to 1 major phylogenetic population.

Several highly pathogenic mammarenaviruses cause severe hemorrhagic and neurologic disease in humans, for which vaccines and antivirals are limited or unavailable. New World (NW) mammarenavirus Machupo virus (MACV) infection causes Bolivian hemorrhagic fever in humans. We previously reported that the disruption of specific N-linked glycan sites on the glycoprotein (GPC) partially attenuate MACV in an IFN-αβ/γ receptor knockout mouse model. However, some capability to induce neurological pathology still remained. Highly pathogenic Junin virus (JUNV) is another NW arenavirus closely related to MACV. A F427I substitution in the GPC transmembrane domain (TMD) rendered JUNV attenuated in a lethal mouse model after intracranial inoculation. In this study, we rationally designed and rescued a MACV containing mutations at two glycosylation sites and the corresponding F438I substitution in GPC TMD. The MACV mutant is fully attenuated in IFN-αβ/γ receptor knockout mice and outbred guinea pigs. Furthermore, inoculation with this mutant MACV fully protected guinea pigs from wild-type MACV lethal challenge. Lastly, we found the GPC TMD F438I substitution greatly impaired MACV growth in neuronal cell lines of mouse and human origins. Our results highlight the critical roles of the glycans and the TMD on the GPC in arenavirus virulence, which informs the rational design of potential vaccine candidates for highly pathogenic arenaviruses.ImportanceFor arenaviruses, the only vaccine available is the live-attenuated Candid#1 vaccine, a JUNV vaccine approved in Argentina. We and others have found that the glycans on GPC and the F427 residue in the GPC TMD are important for virulence of JUNV. Nevertheless, mutating either of them is not sufficient for full and stable attenuation of JUNV. Using reverse genetics, we disrupted specific glycosylation sites on MACV GPC, and also introduced the corresponding F438I substitution in the GPC TMD. This MACV mutant is fully attenuated in two animal models and protects animals from lethal infection. Thus, our studies highlight the feasibility of rational attenuation of highly pathogenic arenaviruses for vaccine development. Another important finding from this study is that the F438I substitution in GPC TMD could substantially affect MACV replication in neurons. Future studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanism and the implication of this mutation in arenavirus neural tropism.

For scleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation, suture-loaded IOLs have traditionally been folded in half with a forceps and delivered intraocularly through 3.5 to 4.0 mm corneal wounds. We describe a technique in which a suture-loaded scleral IOL is inserted through a small-incision corneal wound using 2 widely available ocular surgery tools; that is, a C or D cartridge and a Bowman nasolacrimal duct probe. This technique is easy to replicate and can be performed without an assisting surgeon.

BackgroundParenteral nutrition (PN) and palliative venting gastrostomies (PVG) are two interventions used clinically to manage inoperable malignant bowel obstruction (MBO); however, little is known about their role in clinical and quality-of-life outcomes to inform clinical decision making.AimTo examine the impact of PN and PVG on clinical and quality-of-life outcomes in inoperable MBO.DesignA mixed-methods systematic review and narrative synthesis.Data sourcesThe following databases were searched (from inception to 29 April 2021): MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, CINAHL, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, Health Technology Assessment and CareSearch for qualitative or quantitative studies of MBO, and PN or PVG. Titles, abstracts and papers were independently screened and quality appraised.ResultsA total of 47 studies representing 3538 participants were included. Current evidence cannot tell us whether these interventions improve MBO survival, but this was a firm belief by patients and clinicians informing their decision. Both interventions appear to allow patients valuable time at home. PVG provides relief from nausea and vomiting. Both interventions improve quality of life but not without significant burdens. Nutritional and performance status may be maintained or improved with PN.ConclusionPN and PVG seem to allow valuable time at home. We found no conclusive evidence to show either intervention prolonged survival, due to the lack of randomised controlled trials that have to date not been performed due to concerns about equipoise. Well-designed studies regarding survival for both interventions are needed.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020164170.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the 4th leading cause of cancer related deaths and has a dismal 5-year survival rate of 10 percent. PDA lethality is attributed to late diagnosis, early metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Metastasis can occur before the development of histologically detectable tumors and is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. We identified that pancreatic tumor cells derived from mice that resist immunotherapy (e.g., tumor escape variants, TEV) and re-implanted into the pancreas of syngeneic and immunocompetent mice rapidly metastasize, reflecting the pathogenesis of human PDA. We show that TEVs retain the targeted tumor antigen, and despite a defect in IFNgamma-inducible MHC class I upregulation, TEVs remain sensitive to tumor antigen specific T cell-mediated lysis in vitro, suggesting TEVs may confer unique qualities in vivo to resist T cell killing. Using a peptide:MHC tetramer to identify the tumor-specific CD8 T cells, we identified that intratumoral T cells in EV tumors have increased Granzyme B production and a reduction in prototypical exhaustion markers PD1, Lag3, and Tox, perhaps due to reduced MHC class I signaling. Notably, primary tumors from TEVs were significantly enriched for Foxp3+ Tregs as compared to parental tumors. Using a genetic model, we identified that Treg depletion resulted in a drastic reduction in tumor burden and metastasis and improved tumor-specific T cell function in TEV tumors. Tumor-cell intrinsic changes driving Treg accumulation in TEVs will be discussed. In summary, Tregs are key drivers of both T cell exhaustion and immunosuppression in pancreatic cancer and may prove a valuable clinical target for tumors that evade immune checkpoint blockade. Supported by grants from NIH (R01 CA249393)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) contains numerous protumor myeloid cells at the expense of antitumor dendritic cells (cDC1s). We identify that tumor antigenicity is a major determinant of myeloid composition and functionality. Neoantigen-tumors contained pro-tumor macrophages and a paucity of cDC1s whereas neoantigen+ tumors accumulate cDC1s via Xcr1 signaling and macrophages exhibit a diminished role. Effective immunotherapies increased splenic cDC1s, which were required for endogenous T cell expansion following α-PD-L1 and transferred effector and memory T cells. Batf3−/− mice, which lack cDC1s, failed to spontaneously generate tumor-specific CD8 T cells and were resistant to T cell therapy and α-PD-L1. In contrast, agonistic α-CD40 exhibited partial benefit in Batf3−/− mice and expanded atypical tumor-specific CD8 T cells. Monocyte depletion abrogated atypical tumor-specific CD8 T cell priming yet enhanced α-CD40-mediated antitumor activity in Batf3−/− mice. In contrast, α-Gr1 abrogated the therapeutic benefit of CD40 agonist in Batf3−/− mice. In sum, our study supports that CD40 agonist promotes a cDC1-dependent antitumor immunity and a monocyte-dependent protumor arm of immune system. These results further underscore an essential antigen presenting role for cDC1s in the expansion and differentiation of naïve, effector, and memory T cells into Klrg1+ potent cytotoxic effector T cells capable of targeting pancreatic cancer. M.R. is supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32 AI 007313 E.J.S. is supported by NIH T35 AI118620 I.M.S. is supported by NIH R01 CA249393, R01 CA255039, Department of Defense #PA200286, an American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Career Development Award (17-20-25-STRO), an AACR Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Catalyst Award (19-35-STRO), American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (124166-IRG-58-001-55-IRG65).

Microplate readers are foundational instruments in experimental biology and bioengineering that enable multiplexed spectrophotometric measurements. To enhance their accessibility, we here report the design, construction, validation, and benchmarking of an open-source microplate reader. The system features full-spectrum absorbance and fluorescence emission detection, in situ optogenetic stimulation, and stand-alone touch screen programming of automated assay protocols. The total system costs Table of Contents Graphic

Several arenaviruses cause hemorrhagic fevers in humans with high case fatality rates. A vaccine named Candid#1 is available only against Junin virus (JUNV) in Argentina. Specific N-linked glycans on the arenavirus surface glycoprotein (GP) mask important epitopes and help the virus evade antibody responses. However the role of GPC glycans in arenavirus pathogenicity is largely unclear. In a lethal animal model of hemorrhagic fever-causing Machupo virus (MACV) infection, we found that a chimeric MACV with the ectodomain of GPC from Candid#1 vaccine was partially attenuated. Interestingly, mutations resulting in acquisition of N-linked glycans at GPC N83 and N166 frequently occurred in late stages of the infection. These glycosylation sites are conserved in the GPC of wild-type MACV, indicating that this is a phenotypic reversion for the chimeric MACV to gain those glycans crucial for infection in vivo. Further studies indicated that the GPC mutant viruses with additional glycans became more resistant to neutralizing antibodies and more virulent in animals. On the other hand, disruption of these glycosylation sites on wild-type MACV GPC rendered the virus substantially attenuated in vivo and also more susceptible to antibody neutralization, while loss of these glycans did not affect virus growth in cultured cells. We also found that MACV lacking specific GPC glycans elicited higher levels of neutralizing antibodies against wild-type MACV. Our findings revealed the critical role of specific glycans on GPC in arenavirus pathogenicity and have important implications for rational design of vaccines against this group of hemorrhagic fever-causing viruses., Author summary Several arenaviruses cause severe hemorrhagic fevers in humans. The only vaccine against arenavirus infections is Candid#1, a live attenuated vaccine against Argentine hemorrhagic fever. So far, we have successfully attenuated additional one of the arenaviruses, Machupo virus, the causative agent of Bolivian hemorrhagic fever. Unraveling this attenuation mechanism might help the development of live-attenuated vaccines for other arenaviruses. In this study, we revealed that the specific glycans of the viral glycoproteins play an important role in pathogenicity in vivo. The glycans facilitate the virus to evade neutralizing antibodies. This study would contribute to the development of arenavirus vaccine candidates.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global public health problem affecting nearly 25.9% of the world population characterised by a cluster of disorders dominated by abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, hypertriacylglycerolaemia and low HDL-cholesterol. In recent years, marine organisms, especially seaweeds, have been highlighted as potential natural sources of bioactive compounds and useful metabolites, with many biological and physiological activities to be used in functional foods or in human nutraceuticals for the management of MetS and related disorders. Of the three groups of seaweeds, brown seaweeds are known to contain more bioactive components than either red and green seaweeds. Among the different brown seaweed species, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus have the highest antioxidant values and highest total phenolic content. However, the evidence base relies mainly on cell line and small animal models, with few studies to date involving humans. This review intends to provide an overview of the potential of brown seaweed extracts Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus for the management and prevention of MetS and related conditions, based on the available evidence obtained from clinical trials.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated many novel responses in healthcare including sport and exercise medicine. The cessation of elite sport almost globally has had significant economic implications and resulted in pressure to resume sport in very controlled conditions. This includes protecting pitch-side medical staff and players from infection. The ongoing prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and the desire to resume professional sport required urgent best practice guidelines to be developed so that sport could be resumed as safely as possible. This set of best practice recommendations assembles early evidence for managing SARS-CoV-2 and integrates expert opinion to provide a uniform and pragmatic approach to enhance on-field and pitch-side safety for the clinician and player. The nature of SARS-CoV-2 transmission creates new hazards during resuscitation and emergency care and procedures. Recommendations for the use and type of personal protective equipment during on-field or pitch-side emergency medical care is provided based on the clinical scenario and projected risk of viral transmission.

Aims/Objectives/BackgroundNebulised bronchodilators provide effective therapy for patients with Asthma. We sought to investigate the effectiveness of vibrating mesh nebuliser(VMN) when compared to a standard jet nebuliser(JN) in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). we compared time to discharge from ED, drug delivery, and rate admission when using VMN technology compared to the JN.Methods/DesignA prospective, single-centre, non-blinded study comparing the efficacy of the VMN (Aerogen Solo) against the current standard jet nebuliser (JN)(Cirrus2 Nebuliser) to deliver nebulised Salbutamol (2.5 mg) in moderate to severe adult asthma within the ED. Patients requiring bronchodilator therapy were allocated for each arm to receive medications via the VMN, or by standard JN. Patients were managed by emergency physicians according to the joint BTS guidance. The primary endpoint was time to discharge from ED (mins) after initial physician assessment, while among the secondary endpoints examined were Salbutamol dose (mg), and rate of discharge from ED (binary). Time to discharge & salbutamol dose were summarized via the Median (IQR), and a nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was applied to derive a p-value for the comparison. The mean (SD) was also tabulated. The rate of admission for each arm was calculated, and compared using a chi-squared test.Results/Conclusions124 patients completed the study. Time to discharge and salbutamol dose, were significantly lower in those patients treated with VMN showing a statistical significance (p=0.003 and p=0.023 respectively).VMN time to discharge: Mean (SD) 136.44 mins (89.50). VMN salbutamol dose 7.58 mg; In comparison to those treated in the JN arm. JN time to discharge: Mean (SD) 175.31 mins (97.15) JN salbutamol: 9.69 mg. No Statistical Significance for the rate of admission.Treatment with a VMN led to a significant reduction in both the median length of stay and the requirement for bronchodilators in the ED.