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Since 2013, a total of 167 human infections with swine-origin (variant) influenza A viruses of A(H1N1)v, A(H1N2)v, and A(H3N2)v subtypes have been reported in the United States. Analysis of 147 genome sequences revealed that nearly all had S31N substitution, an M2 channel blocker-resistance marker, whereas neuraminidase inhibitor–resistance markers were not found. Two viruses had a polymerase acidic substitution (I38M or E199G) associated with decreased susceptibility to baloxavir, an inhibitor of viral cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN). Using phenotypic assays, we established subtype-specific susceptibility baselines for neuraminidase and CEN inhibitors. When compared with either baseline or CEN-sequence–matched controls, only the I38M substitution decreased baloxavir susceptibility, by 27-fold. Human monoclonal antibodies FI6v3 and CR9114 targeting the hemagglutinin’s stem showed variable (0.03 to >10 µg/mL) neutralizing activity toward variant viruses, even within the same clade. Methodology and interpretation of laboratory data described in this study provide information for risk assessment and decision-making on therapeutic control measures.

Background: Receiving hemodialysis treatment makes end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients highly vulnerable amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, their kidney disease quality of life (KDQOL) is affected. We aimed to examine the association between fear of COVID-19 (FCoV-19) and KDQOL, and the effect modification of Health literacy (HL) on this association.Material and Methods: A survey was conducted at 8 hospitals from July 2020 to March 2021 on 972 patients. Data collection includes socio-demographic factors, clinical parameters, HL, digital healthy diet literacy (DDL), hemodialysis diet knowledge (HDK), FCoV-19, suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S), and KDQOL.Results: Higher HL scores B = 0.13 (95% CI = 0.06–0.21, p = 0.001) and HDK scores B = 0.58 (95% CI = 0.31–0.85, p = 0.001) were associated with higher KDQOL scores. Whereas, S-COVID-19-S B = −6.12 (95% CI = −7.66 to – 4.58, p = 0.001) and FCoV-19 B = −0.91 (95% CI = −1.03 to – 0.80, p = 0.001) were associated with lower KDQOL scores. Notably, higher HL scores significantly attenuate the negative impact of FCoV-19 on overall KDQOL and the kidney disease component summary.Conclusions: In hemodialysis patients, FCoV-19 and S-COVID-19-S were associated with a lower KDQOL. Health literacy significantly mitigates the negative impact of FCoV-19 on KDQOL. Strategic public health interventions to improve HL are suggested to protect patient’s KDQOL during the pandemic.

Abstract Youth screen media activity is a growing concern, though few studies include objective usage data. Through the longitudinal, U.S.-based Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, youth (mage = 14; n = 1415) self-reported their typical smartphone use and passively recorded three weeks of smartphone use via the ABCD-specific Effortless Assessment Research System (EARS) application. Here we describe and validate passively-sensed smartphone keyboard and app use measures, provide code to harmonize measures across operating systems, and describe trends in adolescent smartphone use. Keyboard and app-use measures were reliable and positively correlated with one another (r = 0.33) and with self-reported use (rs = 0.21–0.35). Participants recorded a mean of 5 h of daily smartphone use, which is two more hours than they self-reported. Further, females logged more smartphone use than males. Smartphone use was recorded at all hours, peaking on average from 8 to 10 PM and lowest from 3 to 5 AM. Social media and texting apps comprised nearly half of all use. Data are openly available to approved investigators ( https://nda.nih.gov/abcd/ ). Information herein can inform use of the ABCD dataset to longitudinally study health and neurodevelopmental correlates of adolescent smartphone use.

Abstract Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) might manifest in a broad spectrum of clinical scenarios, ranging from mild features to multi-organ dysfunction and mortality. However, this novel entity has a heterogenicity of data regarding prognostic factors associated with severe outcomes. The present study aimed to identify independent predictors for severity by using multivariate regression models. A total of 391 patients (255 boys and 136 girls) were admitted to Vietnam National Children’s Hospital from January 2022 to June 2023. The median age was 85 (range: 2–188) months, and only 12 (3.1%) patients had comorbidities. 161 (41.2%) patients required PICU admission, and the median PICU LOS was 4 (2–7) days. We observed independent factors related to PICU admission, including CRP $$\ge $$ ≥ 50 (mg/L) (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.39–4.56, p = 0.002), albumin $$\le $$ ≤ 30 (g/L) (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.63–6.02, p = 0.001), absolute lymphocyte count $$\le $$ ≤ 2 (× 109/L) (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.29–3.71, p = 0.004), ferritin ≥ 300 (ng/mL) (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.38–4.01), p = 0.002), and LVEF

Background Adolescents’ risk-taking behaviors can have profound impacts on their future health. Few studies have established a relationship between multiple social environmental factors and adolescent risk behaviors. We used structural equation modeling to examine the role of parental monitoring and environmental risks on adolescents’ behavioral intentions and risk behaviors.Methods Data were collected through the baseline survey of a national implementation project among 2205 Grade 6 students in 24 government schools in The Bahamas in 2019. Structural equation modeling examined relations among parental monitoring, environmental risk factors, behavioral intentions, and risk behaviors.Results Students had engaged in various delinquent, substance use, and sexual risks. In the structural equation model, parental monitoring demonstrated direct negative (protective) effects on behavioral intentions and risk behaviors, whereas environmental risk factors had a direct positive effect on adolescent behavioral intentions and risk behaviors. The model had an R2 value of 0.57 for adolescent risk behaviors.Conclusion Parental monitoring and environmental risk factors had strong influences on risk-taking behaviors of early adolescents. Future adolescent health behavior interventions should consider offering additional prevention resources to early adolescents who are exposed to multiple environmental risk factors.

Summary: Background: Intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) can improve birth outcomes, but whether it confers benefits to postnatal growth is unclear. We investigated the effect of IPTp on infant growth in Uganda and its pathways of effects using causal mediation analyses. Methods: We analysed data from 633 infants born to mothers enrolled in a randomised trial of monthly IPTp with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) vs. sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) (NCT02793622). Weight and length were measured from 0 to 12 months of age. Using generalised linear models, we estimated effects of DP vs. SP on gravidity-stratified mean length-for-age (LAZ) and weight-for-length Z-scores (WLZ). We investigated mediation by placental malaria, gestational weight change, maternal anaemia, maternal inflammation-related proteins, preterm birth, birth length, and birth weight. Mediation models adjusted for infant sex, gravidity, gestational age at enrolment, maternal age, maternal parasitaemia at enrolment, education, and wealth. Findings: SP increased mean LAZ by 0.18–0.28 Z from birth through age 4 months compared to DP, while DP increased mean WLZ by 0.11–0.28 Z from 2 to 8 months compared to SP among infants of multigravidae; at these ages, confidence intervals for mean differences excluded 0. We did not observe differences among primigravida. Mediators of SP included birth weight, birth length, maternal stem cell factor, and DNER. Mediators of DP included placental malaria and birth length, maternal IL-18, CDCP1, and CD6 at delivery. Interpretation: In high malaria transmission settings, this exploratory study suggests different IPTp regimens may influence infant growth among multigravidae, potentially through distinct pathways, in the exclusive breastfeeding period, when few other interventions are available. Funding: Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Since May 2023, a novel combination of neuraminidase mutations, I223V + S247N, has been detected in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses collected in countries spanning 5 continents, mostly in Europe (67/101). The viruses belong to 2 phylogenetically distinct groups and display ≈13-fold reduced inhibition by oseltamivir while retaining normal susceptibility to other antiviral drugs.

Abstract It has been proposed that, when processing a stream of events, humans divide their experiences in terms of inferred latent causes (LCs) to support context-dependent learning. However, when shared structure is present across contexts, it is still unclear how the “splitting” of LCs and learning of shared structure can be simultaneously achieved. Here, we present the Latent Cause Network (LCNet), a neural network model of LC inference. Through learning, it naturally stores structure that is shared across tasks in the network weights. Additionally, it represents context-specific structure using a context module, controlled by a Bayesian nonparametric inference algorithm, which assigns a unique context vector for each inferred LC. Across three simulations, we found that LCNet could (1) extract shared structure across LCs in a function learning task while avoiding catastrophic interference, (2) capture human data on curriculum effects in schema learning, and (3) infer the underlying event structure when processing naturalistic videos of daily events. Overall, these results demonstrate a computationally feasible approach to reconciling shared structure and context-specific structure in a model of LCs that is scalable from laboratory experiment settings to naturalistic settings.

Objectives: This study was conducted to measure financial toxicity (FT) among patients with cancer in Vietnam using the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) and to describe the cost management strategies employed by these patients. Methods: This comprehensive cross-sectional study enrolled 634 patients from 2 specialized oncology hospitals in Vietnam. Using COST cut-off scores, FT was classified as none/mild (≥26), moderate (14-25), or severe (≤13). Cost management strategies, or coping mechanisms, were classified into 4 groups: lifestyle changes, financial resource strategies, treatment modifications, and support seeking. Results: The prevalence of FT was 91.8%, with 51.7% of participants demonstrating severe and 40.1% exhibiting moderate FT. Severe FT was significantly associated with female, low education level, unstable employment, low household economic status, and advanced cancer stage. The most common coping strategies were as follows: among lifestyle changes, reducing spending on basic items and leisure activities (78.7%) and cutting back on essential household expenses (66.4%); among financial resource strategies, borrowing money from relatives or friends (49.1%) and withdrawing funds from retirement or savings accounts (34.1%); within treatment modifications, switching treatment facilities or doctors due to cost concerns (9.3%); and within support seeking, obtaining help from welfare or community organizations (18.8%). All strategies were significantly more likely to be used by patients with severe FT. Conclusions: FT was highly prevalent among patients with cancer. Most patients relied on lifestyle adjustments and coping strategies, underscoring the need for improved financial support systems to alleviate the economic burden associated with cancer care.

Objective To characterise telehealth use, reasons for using or not using telehealth and the factors associated with telehealth use among US adults with diabetes.Design A cross-sectional study.Setting Data were sourced from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey.Participants US adults aged 18 years or older with self-reported diagnosis of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2).Primary and secondary outcomes Past 12-month utilisation of telehealth services, modality (eg, video, voice only), overall perception of quality of care, perceived trust in healthcare system and patient-centred communication score.Results In an analysis of 1116 US adults with diabetes, representing 33.6 million individuals, 48.1% reported telehealth use in the past year. Telehealth users were likely to be younger, women, with higher income, and urban dwellers. Older adults (≥65 years) were less likely to use telehealth compared with those aged 18–49 years (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.90). Higher income and more frequent healthcare visits were predictors of telehealth usage, with no significant differences across race, education or location. Across respondents with telehealth usage, 39.3% reported having video-only, 35.0% having phone (voice)-only and 25.7% having both modalities. The main motivations included provider recommendation, convenience, COVID-19 avoidance and guidance on in-person care needs. Non-users cited preferences for in-person visits, privacy concerns and technology challenges. Patient-reported quality-of-care outcomes were comparable between telehealth users and non-users, with no significant differences observed by telehealth modality or area of residence (metro status).Conclusions Around half of US adults with diabetes used telehealth services in the past year. Patient-reported care quality was similar for telehealth and in-person visits. However, further efforts are needed to address key barriers to telehealth adoption, including privacy concern, technology difficulties, and care coordination issues.

Abstract The epidemiology of vertebral fractures (VF) in underrepresented populations is not well-documented. This cohort study was part of a longitudinal osteoporosis research project with the aim of determining the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for VF. 401 individuals (155 men) aged 50 years and older without a clinical diagnosis of VF were took radiographs at baseline and 2 years later. VF were ascertained using the Genant's semi-quantitative method. Bone mineral density (BMD) of femoral neck and lumbar spine were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic Inc). The association between VF and risk factors was analyzed by the multiple logistic regression. The 95% confidence interval for prevalence and incidence was estimated by exact Poisson test. At baseline, the prevalence of VF was 12.2% (n = 49, 95% CI 9.0–16.2%) and increased with advancing age with one-fifth of those aged 70 and older having a VF. During the follow-up period, we observed 6 new VF, making the incidence of 6.6/1000 person-years (n = 6, 95% CI 2.4–14.3). The risk of prevalent VF was associated with male gender (OR: 2.67; 95% CI 1.28–5.87) and T-score at the femoral neck (OR per one SD decrease: 1.1; 1.03–1.17). These data indicate that VF is common among adults, and that lower femoral neck BMD was a risk factor for VF.

Abstract Among the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is highly diverse showing a broad phenotypic spectrum. ASD also couples with a broad range of mutations, both de novo and inherited. In this study, we used a proprietary SNP genotyping chip to analyze the genomic DNA of 250 Vietnamese children diagnosed with ASD. Our Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping chip directly targets more than 800 thousand SNPs in the genome. Our primary focus was to identify pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations that are potentially linked to more severe symptoms of autism. We identified and validated 23 pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations in this initial study. The data shows that these mutations were detected in several cases spanning multiple biological pathways. Among the confirmed SNPs, mutations were identified in genes previously known to be strongly associated with ASD such as SLCO1B1, ACADSB, TCF4, HCP5, MOCOS, SRD5A2, MCCC2, DCC, and PRKN while several other mutations are known to associate with autistic traits or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Some mutations were found in multiple patients and some patients carried multiple pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations. These findings contribute to the identification of potential targets for therapeutic solutions in what is considered a genetically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder.

Abstract Peripheral blood RNA profiling, which can reveal systemic changes in gene expression and immune responses to disease onset and progression, is a powerful tool for diagnosis and biomarker discovery. This technique usually requires high quality RNA, which is only obtainable from fresh blood, or frozen blood that has been collected in special RNA-stabilisation systems. The current study aimed to develop a novel protocol to extract high quality RNA from frozen blood that had been collected in the conventional EDTA tubes. We determined that thawing EDTA blood in the presence of cell lysis/RNA stabilisation buffers (Paxgene or Nucleospin) significantly improved RNA quality (RIN) from below 5 to above 7, which to date has not been shown possible. The EDTA-Nucleospin protocol resulted in 5 times higher yield than the EDTA-Paxgene-PreAnalytix method. The average RIN and mRNA expression levels of five different genes including 18 s, ACTB, MCP1, TNFa and TXNIP using this protocol were also indifferent to those from Paxgene blood, suggesting similar RNA quality and blood transcriptome. Moreover, the protocol allows DNA to be extracted simultaneously. In conclusion, we have developed a practical and efficient protocol to extract high quality, high yield RNA from frozen EDTA blood.

Abstract Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome (sHLH/MAS) is a life-threatening immune disorder triggered by rheumatic disease, infections, malignancies, or medications. Characterized by the presence of hemophagocytic macrophages and a fulminant cytokine storm, sHLH/MAS leads to hyperferritinemia and multiorgan failure and rapidly progresses to death. The high mortality rate and the lack of specific treatments necessitate the development of a new drug. However, the complex and largely unknown immunopathologic mechanisms of sHLH/MAS, which involve dysfunction of various immune cells, diverse etiologies, and different clinical contexts make this effort challenging. This review introduces the terminology, diagnosis, and clinical features of sHLH/MAS. From a translational perspective, this review focuses on the immunopathological mechanisms linked to various etiologies, emphasizing potential drug targets, including key molecules and signaling pathways. We also discuss immunomodulatory biologics, existing drugs under clinical evaluation, and novel therapies in clinical trials. This systematic review aims to provide insights and highlight opportunities for the development of novel sHLH/MAS therapeutics.

Abstract Many nocturnally active fireflies use precisely timed bioluminescent patterns to identify mates, making them especially vulnerable to light pollution. As urbanization continues to brighten the night sky, firefly populations are under constant stress, and close to half of the species are now threatened. Ensuring the survival of firefly biodiversity depends on a large-scale conservation effort to monitor and protect thousands of populations. While species can be identified by their flash patterns, current methods require expert measurement and manual classification and are infeasible given the number and geographic distribution of fireflies. Here we present the application of a recurrent neural network (RNN) for accurate automated firefly flash pattern classification. Using recordings from commodity cameras, we can extract flash trajectories of individuals within a swarm and classify their species with an accuracy of approximately seventy percent. In addition to its potential in population monitoring, automated classification provides the means to study firefly behavior at the population level. We employ the classifier to measure and characterize the variability within and between swarms, unlocking a new dimension of their behavior. Our method is open source, and deployment in community science applications could revolutionize our ability to monitor and understand firefly populations.

Abstract Development of high yielding cowpea varieties coupled with good taste and rich in essential minerals can promote consumption and thus nutrition and profitability. The sweet taste of cowpea grain is determined by its sugar content, which comprises mainly sucrose and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) including raffinose and stachyose. However, GOS are indigestible and their fermentation in the colon can produce excess intestinal gas, causing undesirable bloating and flatulence. In this study, we aimed to examine variation in grain sugar and mineral concentrations, then map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and estimate genomic-prediction (GP) accuracies for possible application in breeding. Grain samples were collected from a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population grown in California during 2016–2017. Grain sugars were assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Grain minerals were determined by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry and combustion. Considerable variation was observed for sucrose (0.6–6.9%) and stachyose (2.3–8.4%). Major QTLs for sucrose (QSuc.vu-1.1), stachyose (QSta.vu-7.1), copper (QCu.vu-1.1) and manganese (QMn.vu-5.1) were identified. Allelic effects of major sugar QTLs were validated using the MAGIC grain samples grown in West Africa in 2017. GP accuracies for minerals were moderate (0.4–0.58). These findings help guide future breeding efforts to develop mineral-rich cowpea varieties with desirable sugar content.

BackgroundPhysical inactivity is associated with adverse health outcomes among Asian Americans, who exhibit the least adherence to physical activity guidelines compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Mobile app–based interventions are a promising approach to promote healthy behaviors. However, there is a lack of app-based interventions focused on improving physical activity among Asian Americans whose primary language is not English. ObjectiveThis pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 5-week intervention using a culturally and linguistically adapted, evidence-based mobile phone app with an accelerometer program, to promote physical activity among Chinese-, Tagalog-, or Vietnamese-speaking Americans. MethodsParticipants were recruited through collaborations with community-based organizations. The intervention was adapted from a 12-month physical activity randomized controlled trial involving the app and accelerometer for English-speaking adults. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and physical measurements were collected at the baseline visit. A 7-day run-in period was conducted to screen for the participants who could wear a Fitbit One (Fitbit LLC) accelerometer and complete the app’s daily step diary. During the 4-week intervention period, participants wore the accelerometer and reported their daily steps in the app. Participants also received daily messages to reinforce key contents taught during an in-person educational session, remind them to input steps, and provide tailored feedback. Feasibility measures were the percentage of eligible participants completing the run-in period and the percentage of participants who used the app diary for at least 5 out of 7 days during the intervention period. We conducted poststudy participant interviews to explore overall intervention acceptability. ResultsA total of 19 participants were enrolled at the beginning of the study with a mean age of 47 (SD 13.3; range 29-70) years, and 58% (n=11) of them were female. Of the participants, 26% (n=5) were Chinese, 32% (n=6) were Vietnamese, and 42% (n=8) were Filipino. All participants met the run-in criteria to proceed with the intervention. Adherence to the app diary ranged from 74% (n=14) in week 2 to 95% (n=18) in week 4. The daily average steps per week from accelerometers increased each week from 8451 (SD 3378) steps during the run-in period to 10,930 (SD 4213) steps in week 4. Participants reported positive experiences including an increased motivation to walk and the enjoyment of being able to monitor their physical activity. ConclusionsThis is the first pilot study of a multicomponent intervention and evidence-based mobile phone app to promote physical activity among Asian Americans who use apps in traditional Chinese, Tagalog, or Vietnamese, which demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability. Future work focused on multilingual mobile apps to address disparities in physical inactivity among Asian Americans should be considered.

Abstract The fate and aggregation of nanoparticles (NPs) in the subsurface are important due to potentially harmful impacts on the environment and human health. This study aims to investigate the effects of flow velocity, particle size, and particle concentration on the aggregation rate of NPs in a diffusion-limited regime and build an equation to predict the aggregation rate when NPs move in the pore space between randomly packed spheres (including mono-disperse, bi-disperse, and tri-disperse spheres). The flow of 0.2 M potassium chloride (KCl) through the random sphere packings was simulated by the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The movement and aggregation of cerium oxide (CeO2) particles were then examined by using a Lagrangian particle tracking method based on a force balance approach. This method relied on Newton's second law of motion and took the interaction forces among particles into account. The aggregation rate of NPs was found to depend linearly on time, and the slope of the line was a power function of the particle concentration, the Reynolds (Re) and Schmidt (Sc) numbers. The exponent for the Sc number was triple that of the Re number, which was evidence that the random movement of NPs has a much stronger effect on the rate of diffusion-controlled aggregation than the convection.

Laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion (L-ALIF), which employs laparoscopic cameras to facilitate a less invasive approach, originally gained traction during the 1990s but has subsequently fallen out of favor. As the envelope for endoscopic approaches continues to be pushed, a recurrence of interest in laparoscopic and/or endoscopic anterior approaches seems possible. Therefore, evaluating the current evidence base in regard to this approach is of much clinical relevance. To this end, a systematic literature search was performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using the following keywords: “(laparoscopic OR endoscopic) AND (anterior AND lumbar).” Out of the 441 articles retrieved, 22 were selected for quantitative analysis. The primary outcome of interest was the radiographic fusion rate. The secondary outcome was the incidence of perioperative complications. Meta-analysis was performed using RStudio’s “metafor” package. Of the 1,079 included patients (mean age, 41.8±2.9 years), 481 were males (44.6%). The most common indication for L-ALIF surgery was degenerative disk disease (reported by 18 studies, 81.8%). The mean follow-up duration was 18.8±11.2 months (range, 6–43 months). The pooled fusion rate was 78.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 68.9–90.4). Complications occurred in 19.2% (95% CI, 13.4–27.4) of L-ALIF cases. Additionally, 7.2% (95% CI, 4.6–11.4) of patients required conversion from L-ALIF to open surgery. Although L-ALIF does not appear to be supported by studies available in the literature, it is important to consider the context from which these results have been obtained. Even if these results are taken at face value, the failure of endoscopy to have a role in the ALIF approach does not mean that it should not be incorporated in posterior approaches.

Live coccidiosis vaccines have mainly been used to reduce Eimeria species infection, which is considered the most economically important disease in the poultry industry. Evaluation data on vaccine effectiveness through large-scale field experiments are lacking, especially in broilers. Thus, the effectiveness of a commercial coccidiosis vaccine was evaluated in approximately 900,000 chicks reared on three open-broiler farms where coccidiosis is prevalent. The vaccine’s effectiveness after vaccination of 1-day-old chicks was monitored using three parameters (lesion score, fecal oocyst shedding, and production index, PI) in nine trials performed three times on each farm. Lesion scores were confirmed in three different areas of the intestine because the vaccine contained four Eimeria species. The average lesion scores were 0.36 to 0.64 in the duodenal region, 0.30 to 0.39 in the jejuno-ileal region, and 0.18 to 0.39 in the cecal region. The average fecal oocyst shedding rate ranged from 19,766 to 100,100 oocysts per gram, showing large variations depending on farms and buildings within the farm. Compared with the PI of the previous 9–10 trials on each farm, the PI increased by 2.45 to 23.55. Because of the potential for perturbation of the fecal microbiota by live coccidiosis vaccines, the fecal microbiota was investigated using 16S rRNA microbial profiling. Although the β-diversity was significantly different in distribution and relative abundance among farms (PERMANOVA, pseudo-F = 4.863, p = 0.009), a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis found no significant bacterial invasion of the epithelial cell pathway across farms. This large-scale field trial of a live Eimeria vaccine indicates that coccidiosis vaccines can have meaningful effects on the poultry industry and could be used as an alternative to the prophylactic use of anticoccidial drugs under field conditions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296842.].

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is circulating in many swine-producing countries, causing significant economic losses. It is observed that pigs experimentally vaccinated with a live-attenuated virus (LAV) but not a killed virus (KV) vaccine develop solid homologous protective immunity. The objective of this study was to comparatively analyze antibody profiles between pigs vaccinated with an LAV vaccine and those vaccinated with a KV vaccine to identify potential markers of vaccine-induced protection. Thirty ASFV seronegative pigs were divided into three groups: Group 1 received a single dose of an experimental LAV, Group 2 received two doses of an experimental KV vaccine, and Group 3 was kept as a non-vaccinated (NV) control. At 42 days post-vaccination, all pigs were challenged with the parental virulent ASFV strain and monitored for 21 days. All pigs vaccinated with the LAV vaccine survived the challenge. In contrast, eight pigs from the KV group and seven pigs from the NV group died within 14 days post-challenge. Serum samples collected on 41 days post-vaccination were analyzed for their reactivity against a panel of 29 viral structural proteins. The sera of pigs from the LAV group exhibited a strong antibody reactivity against various viral structural proteins, while the sera of pigs in the KV group only displayed weak antibody reactivity against the inner envelope (p32, p54, p12). There was a negative correlation between the intensity of antibody reactivity against five ASFV antigens, namely p12, p14, p15, p32, and pD205R, and the viral DNA titers in the blood of animals after the challenge infection. Thus, antibody reactivities against these five antigens warrant further evaluation as potential indicators of vaccine-induced protection.

Purpose: Pregnant individuals are routinely advised to undergo genetic carrier screening, followed by carrier screening in the reproductive partner if the patient’s screen is positive. The objective of our study was to identify completion rates of and barriers to partner carrier screening or genetic testing. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study examining the completion of indicated partner genetic screening or testing at the Los Angeles General Medical Center Genetics clinic from January 1, 2017, to October 31, 2022. We examined factors linked to completing partner genetic screening or testing, including sociodemographic factors for patients and their partners, testing indications, and pregnancy characteristics via bivariate analyses (eg, t test, χ2, and Fisher’s exact tests). Results: In this primarily low-income, publicly insured, Spanish-speaking population, we identified 98 pregnancies for which partner genetic screening or testing was indicated. Only 26.5% (n = 26) completed testing, which did not vary by indication, parental age, parental race, parity, or primary language. Completion of partner genetic screening or testing was significantly linked to earlier gestational age at referral for genetic counseling (19.1 versus 21.5 weeks, P = .006). In 4 cases, being unable to obtain partner test results led to invasive diagnostic testing of the pregnant patient. Conclusion: Less than one-third of pregnancies received indicated partner genetic screening or testing. Early referral to genetic counseling may improve partner testing completion rates, which could avoid invasive and unnecessary diagnostic testing in the pregnant patient.

Riemerella (R.) anatipestifer poses a significant threat to ducks, resulting in mortality rates ranging from 5-75%. This disease is highly infectious and economically consequential for domestic ducks. Although other avian species, such as chickens, also display susceptibility, the impact is comparatively less severe than in ducks. IL-17A has a pronounced correlation with R. anatipestifer infection in ducks, which is less in chickens. This study performed an in vitro transcriptome analysis using chicken splenic lymphocytes collected at 4-, 8-, and 24-hour intervals following R. anatipestifer stimulation. The primary objective was to discern the differentially expressed genes, with a specific focus on IL-17A and IL-17F expression. Moreover, an association between specific miRNAs with NOS2 and CCL5 was identified. The manifestation of riemerellosis in chickens was linked to heightened expression of Th1- and Th2-associated cells, while Th17 cells exhibited minimal involvement. This study elucidated the mechanism behind the absence of a Th17 immune response, shedding light on its role throughout disease progression. Additionally, through small RNA sequencing, we identified a connection between miRNAs, specifically miR-456-3p and miR-16-5p, and their respective target genes NOS2 and CCL5. These miRNAs are potential regulators of the inflammatory process during riemerellosis in chickens.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of three scores, the Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 (PIM-3), the Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction 2 (PELOD-2), and the modified PELOD-2 scores, in predicting mortality in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) children in Vietnam. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study of MODS children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a central children’s hospital in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, was undertaken from April 2019 to June 2021. All three scores were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for discrimination and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test for calibration. Results: Of eighty-four subjects, the median age was 24.5 months and the overall mortality rate was 63.1%. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of PIM-3, PELOD-2, and modified PELOD-2 for predicting the death of MODS children were 0.77, 0.89, and 0.89, respectively. With individual cut-offs, the PIM-3, PELOD-2, and modified PELOD-2 scores had sensitivities for predicting mortality of 81.1%, 79.2%, and 81.1%, respectively, and specificities of 61.3%, 87.1%, and 80.6%, respectively. All three scores performed well in the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, indicating high calibration between predicted and observed mortalities (PIM-3: χ²=4.36, p-value=0.823; PELOD-2: χ²=4.837, p-value=0.775; modified PELOD-2: χ²=6.082, p-value=0.638). Conclusion: The PELOD-2 and modified PELOD-2 scores showed a better mortality prognosis than the PIM-3 score. Compared to the PELOD-2, the modified PELOD-2 with fewer parameters can still predict mortality well in Vietnamese children with MODS when using a cut-off score ≥9.

Tubulin-targeting agents attract undiminished attention as promising compounds for the design of anti-cancer drugs. Verubulin is a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor, binding to colchicine-binding sites. In the present work, a series of verubulin analogues containing a cyclohexane or cycloheptane ring 1,2-annulated with pyrimidine moiety and various substituents in positions 2 and 4 of pyrimidine were obtained and their cytotoxicity towards cancer and non-cancerous cell lines was estimated. The investigated compounds revealed activity against various cancer cell lines with IC50 down to 1–4 nM. According to fluorescent microscopy data, compounds that showed cytotoxicity in the MTT test disrupt the normal cytoskeleton of the cell in a pattern similar to that for combretastatin A-4. The hit compound (N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N,2-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolin-4-amine) was encapsulated in biocompatible nanocontainers based on Ca2+ or Mg2+ cross-linked alginate and it was demonstrated that its cytotoxic activity was preserved after encapsulation.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy remains a societal problem, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Jersey (NJ) Safe Schools Program provides work-based learning training to supervisory-level career–technical–vocational education teachers and administrators who have to consider varied state and local mandates concerning COVID-19 vaccination and exemptions. Methods: In early 2022, we distributed an online survey via PsychData to individuals trained between 2014 and 2022 to understand NJ teachers’ practices and concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Overall, 269 completed the survey. We stratified data by vaccination status, number of doses, booster status, age, teaching experience, gender, race, county of work, and COVID-19 diagnosis status. Results: Overall, results suggested differences in COVID-19-related concerns, including access to, perceptions of, and confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19-related practices. About 90.7% received the initial vaccine; 77.7% received the booster. About half the participants had received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis by the time of the survey; they were less likely to get the vaccine or booster if they had received the initial vaccine. Conclusions: Data suggested differences in levels of COVID-19-related concerns and confidence in, or importance of, vaccines when comparing different demographic factors and vaccination practices. The data informs efforts to understand factors affecting vaccine hesitancy among educational professionals.

The rapid growth of point-of-care polysomnographic alternatives has necessitated standardized evaluation and validation frameworks. The current average across participant validation methods may overestimate the agreement between wearable sleep tracker devices and polysomnography (PSG) systems because of the high base rate of sleep during the night and the interindividual difference across the sampling population. This study proposes an evaluation framework to assess the aggregating differences of the sleep architecture features and the chronologically epoch-by-epoch mismatch of the wearable sleep tracker devices and the PSG ground truth. An AASM-based sleep stage categorizing method was proposed to standardize the sleep stages scored by different types of wearable trackers. Sleep features and sleep stage architecture were extracted from the PSG and the wearable device’s hypnograms. Therefrom, a localized quantifier index was developed to characterize the local mismatch of sleep scoring. We evaluated different commonly used wearable sleep tracking devices with the data collected from 22 different subjects over 30 nights of 8-h sleeping. The proposed localization quantifiers can characterize the chronologically localized mismatches over the sleeping time. The outperformance of the proposed method over existing evaluation methods was reported. The proposed evaluation method can be utilized for the improvement of the sensor design and scoring algorithm.

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) associated with textured-surface silicone breast implants. Since first being described in 1997, over 1100 cases have been currently reported worldwide. A causal relationship between BIA-ALCL and textured implants has been established in epidemiological studies, but a multifactorial process is likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of BIA-ALCL. However, pathophysiologic mechanisms remain unclear. One of the hypotheses that could explain the link between textured implants and BIA-ALCL consists in the greater tendency of bacterial biofilm in colonizing the surface of textured implants compared to smooth implants, and the resulting chronic inflammation which, in predisposed individuals, may lead to tumorigenesis. This review summarizes the existing evidence on the role of micro-organisms and rough surface implants in the development of BIA-ALCL. It also provides insights into the most updated clinical practice knowledge about BIA-ALCL, from clinical presentation and investigation to treatment and outcomes.

Vaccine hesitancy continues to be prevalent in the United States, especially in relation to the COVID-19 vaccines and its boosters, which have been made increasingly available for public use as the pandemic has progressed. There continues to be concern surrounding the safety and health of secondary or high school education professionals as they transition back to in-person learning and working opportunities. The present study highlights how information dissemination regarding the COVID-19 vaccine has varied among New Jersey secondary or high school teachers throughout the pandemic. The survey was completed online through the PsychData platform by 269 participants between March and July 2022. Participants received the opportunity to complete the survey via email. Afterwards, data were exported and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SAS 9.4 Analytics Software and stratified by various clinical and demographic-based variables. While trusted agencies and media outlets identified by participants varied, most participants identified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (65.4%), primary care providers (37.5%), and state health departments (28.6%) as their top trusted sources for information related to COVID-19 vaccines. Overall, COVID-19 vaccination advocacy and educational efforts should continue across the state of New Jersey and elsewhere, especially as more variants emerge and boosters become available.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is a billion-dollar crop in regional New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, Australia. Fusarium wilt (FW) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Fov) is an economically important disease. Initial disease losses of up to 90% when the disease was first detected resulted in fields being taken out of cotton production. The disease is now well-managed due to the adoption of highly resistant varieties. However, annual disease surveys recently revealed that the disease dynamic has changed in the past few seasons. With relatively mild and wet weather conditions during the 2021/22 growing season, FW was detected in eight surveyed valleys in NSW and Queensland, with the disease incidence as high as 44.5% and 98.5% in individual fields in early and late seasons, respectively. Fov is genetically distinct and evolved from local Fusarium oxysporum strains. Additionally, the pathogen was reported to evolve rapidly under continuous cotton cropping pressure. However, our knowledge of the genetic composition of the prevailing population is limited. Sequences of the translation elongation factor alpha 1 (TEF1) revealed that 94% of Fusarium isolates recovered from FW-infected cotton were clustered together with known Australian Fov and relatively distant related to overseas Fov races. All these isolates, except for nine, were further confirmed positive with a specific marker based on the Secreted in Xylem 6 (SIX6) effector gene. Vegetative compatibility group (VCG) analyses of 166 arbitrarily selected isolates revealed a predominance of VCG01111. There was only one detection of VCG01112 in the Border Rivers valley where it was first described. In this study, the exotic Californian Fov race 4 strain was not detected using a specific marker based on the unique Tfo1 insertion in the phosphate (PHO) gene. This study indicated that the prevalence and abundance of Fov across NSW and Queensland in the past five seasons was probably independent of its genetic diversity.

Objectives Vietnam is an endemic area for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection (HBV-HCV), yet its largest city, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), has no comprehensive policy to educate, screen, treat and protect healthcare workers (HCWs) from viral hepatitis. We conducted a mixed-methods study to document HBV-HCV infection rates, risk factors, local barriers and opportunities for providing education, screening and medical care for HCWs.Design This mixed-methods study involved an HBV and HCV serological evaluation, knowledge, attitude and practice survey about viral hepatitis and many in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis using inductive and deductive approaches were used.Setting HCMC, Vietnam.Participants HCWs at risk of viral hepatitis exposure at three hospitals in HCMC.Results Of the 210 invited HCWs, 203 were enrolled. Of the 203 HCWs enrolled, 20 were hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, 1 was anti-hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV Ab)-positive, 57 were anti-hepatitis B core Ab-positive and 152 had adequate anti-hepatitis B surface Ab (anti-HBs Ab) titre (≥10IU/mL). Only 50% of the infected HCWs reported always using gloves during a clinical activity involving handling of blood or bodily fluid. Approximately 50% of HCWs were still not vaccinated against HBV following 1 year of employment. In-depth interviews revealed two major concerns for most interviewees: the need for financial support for HBV-HCV screening and treatment in HCWs and the need for specific HBV-HCV guidelines to be independently developed.Conclusions The high HBV infection rate in HCWs coupled with inadequate preventive occupational practices among the population in HCMC highlight the urgent needs to establish formal policy and rigorous education, screening, vaccination and treatment programmes to protect HCWs from HBV acquisition or to manage those living with chronic HBV in Vietnam.

Objective To investigate maternal immunoglobulins’ (IgM, IgG) response to SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and IgG transplacental transfer, to characterise neonatal antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to longitudinally follow actively and passively acquired antibodies in infants.Design A prospective observational study.Setting Public healthcare system in Santa Clara County (California, USA).Participants Women with symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and their infants were enrolled between 15 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.Outcomes SARS-CoV-2 serology analyses in the cord and maternal blood at delivery and longitudinally in infant blood between birth and 28 weeks of life.Results Of 145 mothers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy, 86 had symptomatic infections: 78 with mild-moderate symptoms, and 8 with severe-critical symptoms. The seropositivity rates of the mothers at delivery was 65% (95% CI 0.56% to 0.73%) and the cord blood was 58% (95% CI 0.49% to 0.66%). IgG levels significantly correlated between the maternal and cord blood (Rs=0.93, p

Introduction The global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing, and it has become a major public health burden worldwide, including in Vietnam. A large body of preclinical and clinical studies supports the safety of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) in the treatment of lung injury, including COPD. The aim of this trial is to investigate the safety and potential therapeutic efficacy of allogeneic administration of umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) as a supplementary intervention in combination with standard COPD medication treatments in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2019 and Vietnam Ministry of Health’s guidelines.Methods and analysis This matched case–control phase I/II trial is conducted at Vinmec Times City International Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam between June 2020 and December 2021. In this study, 40 patients will be enrolled and assigned into two age-matched, gender-matched and COPD condition-matched groups, including a UC-MSC group and a control group. Both groups will receive standard COPD medication treatment based on the GOLD 2019 guidelines and the Vietnam Ministry of Health protocol. The UC-MSC group will receive two doses of thawed UC-MSC product with an intervention interval of 3 months. The primary outcome measures will include the incidence of prespecified administration-associated adverse events and serious adverse events. The efficacy will be evaluated based on the absolute changes in the number of admissions, arterial blood gas analysis, lung function and lung fibrosis via CT scan and chest X-ray. The clinical evaluation will be conducted at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months postintervention.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was secured from the Ethical Committee of Vinmec International Hospital (number:166/2019/QĐ-VMEC) and Vietnam Ministry of Health (number:2002/QĐ-BYT). The results will be reported to trial collaborators, publication in peer-reviewed academic journals.Trial registration number NCT04433104.

The effects of Cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl2) in the context of Brucella abortus (B. abortus) infection have not been evaluated so far. Firstly, we found that CoCl2 treatment inhibited the phagocytosis of B. abortus into RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibition of bacterial invasion was regulated by F-actin formation and associated with a reduction in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and HIF-1α expression. Secondly, the activation of trafficking regulators LAMP1, LAMP2, and lysosomal enzyme GLA at the transcriptional level activated immune responses, weakening the B. abortus growth at 4 h post-infection (pi). The silencing of HIF-1α increased bacterial survival at 24 h pi. At the same time, CoCl2 treatment showed a significant increase in the transcripts of lysosomal enzyme HEXB and cytokine TNF-α and an attenuation of the bacterial survival. Moreover, the enhancement at the protein level of HIF-1α was induced in the CoCl2 treatment at both 4 and 24 h pi. Finally, our results demonstrated that CoCl2 administration induced the production of serum cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6, which is accompanied by dampened Brucella proliferation in the spleen and liver of treated mice, and reduced the splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. Altogether, CoCl2 treatment contributed to host resistance against B. abortus infection with immunomodulatory effects.

Objectives We examined impacts and interactions of COVID-19 response involvement, health-related behaviours and health literacy (HL) on anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among healthcare workers (HCWs).Design A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected 6 April to 19 April 2020 using online-based, self-administered questionnaires.Setting 19 hospitals and health centres in Vietnam.Participants 7 124 HCWs aged 21–60 years.Results The COVID-19 response-involved HCWs had higher anxiety likelihood (OR (95% CI)=4.41 (3.53 to 5.51)), higher depression likelihood (OR(95% CI)=3.31 (2.71 to 4.05)) and lower HRQoL score (coefficient, b(95% CI)=−2.14 (−2.89 to −1.38)), compared with uninvolved HCWs. Overall, HCWs who smoked or drank at unchanged/increased levels had higher likelihood of anxiety, depression and lower HRQoL scores; those with unchanged/healthier eating, unchanged/more physical activity and higher HL scores had lower likelihood of anxiety, depression and higher HRQoL scores. In comparison to uninvolved HCWs who smoked or drank at never/stopped/reduced levels, involved HCWs with unchanged/increased smoking or drinking had lower anxiety likelihood (OR(95% CI)=0.34 (0.14 to 0.83)) or (OR(95% CI)=0.26 (0.11 to 0.60)), and lower depression likelihood (OR(95% CI)=0.33 (0.15 to 0.74)) or (OR(95% CI)=0.24 (0.11 to 0.53)), respectively. In comparison with uninvolved HCWs who exercised at never/stopped/reduced levels, or with those in the lowest HL quartile, involved HCWs with unchanged/increased exercise or with one-quartile HL increment reported lower anxiety likelihood (OR(95% CI)=0.50 (0.31 to 0.81)) or (OR(95% CI)=0.57 (0.45 to 0.71)), lower depression likelihood (OR(95% CI)=0.40 (0.27 to 0.61)) or (OR(95% CI)=0.63 (0.52 to 0.76)), and higher HRQoL scores (b(95% CI)=2.08 (0.58 to 3.58)), or (b(95% CI)=1.10 (0.42 to 1.78)), respectively.Conclusions Physical activity and higher HL were found to protect against anxiety and depression and were associated with higher HRQoL. Unexpectedly, smoking and drinking were also found to be coping behaviours. It is important to have strategic approaches that protect HCWs’ mental health and HRQoL.