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Virology 2022 May 30;570:123-133. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Department of Informatics, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA; Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA; Global Virus Network, Baltimore MD, 21201, USA. Electronic address:

The current outbreak of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 poses unparalleled challenges to global public health. SARS-CoV-2 is a Betacoronavirus, one of four genera belonging to the Coronaviridae subfamily Orthocoronavirinae. Coronaviridae, in turn, are members of the order Nidovirales, a group of enveloped, positive-stranded RNA viruses. Read More

Nature 2022 Mar 31. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.

The global emergence of many severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants jeopardizes the protective antiviral immunity induced following infection or vaccination. To address the public health threat caused by the increasing SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE) program. This effort was designed to provide a real-time risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 variants potentially impacting transmission, virulence, and resistance to convalescent and vaccine-induced immunity. Read More

Orthopade 2022 Apr 15;51(4):339-348. Epub 2022 Mar 15.

Klinik für Orthopädie (Friedrichsheim), Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Marienburgstr. 2, 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.

Scheuermann's disease represents the second most common deformity of the growing spine after the various forms of scoliosis. In cases of early diagnosis and mild kyphotic deformity conservative treatment with a brace and physiotherapy shows very good results; however, in cases of neurologic deficits, curve progression despite conservative treatment and increasing pain symptoms with a Stagnara angle of more than 70-75°, surgical treatment is meaningful. The surgical strategy can include posterior spondylodesis with prior anterior release or posterior instrumentation with posterior column osteotomy depending on the surgeon's experience. Read More

BMJ Open Qual 2022 03;11(1)

Grand Canyon University College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Background: Antibiotic overuse threatens global health, food security and human development through the development of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Studies suggest urgent cares exceed the national average for inappropriate antibiotic use associated with maintaining patient satisfaction. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2022 Jan 18;18(1):44. Epub 2022 Jan 18.

Norsvin SA, Storhamargata 44, 2317, Hamar, Norway.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is used to evaluate body composition and limb osteochondrosis in selection of breeding boars. Pigs also develop heritably predisposed abnormal curvature of the spine including juvenile kyphosis. It has been suggested that osteochondrosis-like changes cause vertebral wedging and kyphosis, both of which are identifiable by CT. Read More

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2022 Apr;44(3):e709-e712

Division of Oncology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Asparaginase, a critical component of current pediatric acute leukemia treatment protocols, is associated with a number of serious side effects, one of which is pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can result in significant morbidity and mortality from necrosis, pseudocyst formation, hemorrhage, systemic inflammation, intestinal perforation, and sepsis. Another rare complication of pancreatitis is posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, likely mediated by systemic inflammation secondary to pancreatic autodigestion and proinflammatory cytokine-mediated vascular endothelial damage. Read More

Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022 03;205(5):540-549

Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

The CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) modulator combination elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) was shown to improve clinical outcomes and sweat chloride concentration in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and one or two alleles. However, the effect of ELX/TEZ/IVA on CFTR function in the airways and intestine has not been studied. To assess the effect of ELX/TEZ/IVA on CFTR function in airway and intestinal epithelia in patients with CF and one or two alleles aged 12 years and older. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2021 12;78(24):2439-2453

Phymedexp INSERM, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, CHRU Montpellier, France. Electronic address:

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is associated with progressive deterioration in left ventricular (LV) function. The golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) dog model recapitulates the pathology and clinical manifestations of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Importantly, they develop progressive LV dysfunction starting at early age. Read More

Front Immunol 2021 29;12:690470. Epub 2021 Oct 29.

Department of Informatics, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States.

Vaccination to prevent infectious disease is one of the most successful public health interventions ever developed. And yet, variability in individual vaccine effectiveness suggests that a better mechanistic understanding of vaccine-induced immune responses could improve vaccine design and efficacy. We have previously shown that protective antibody levels could be elicited in a subset of recipients with only a single dose of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine and that a wide range of antibody levels were elicited after three doses. Read More

J Leukoc Biol 2021 12 3;110(6):1225-1239. Epub 2021 Nov 3.

Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory disease that varies in severity from mild to severe/fatal. Several risk factors for severe disease have been identified, notably age, male sex, and pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Several advancements in clinical care have been achieved over the past year, including the use of corticosteroids (e. Read More

Pain Res Manag 2021;2021:2142964. Epub 2021 Oct 23.

Fourth Department of Orthopedics, Handan Central Hospital of Hebei Province, Handan 056001, China.

Objectives: Scheuermann's kyphosis can cause severe back pain and cosmetic disorders to patients. Previous studies on surgical procedure selection for correction of Scheuermann's kyphosis have drawn controversial conclusions. Here, a meta-analysis was performed to figure out a better way between anterior-posterior (AP) combined procedures and posterior-only (PO) procedures. Read More

J Med Chem 2021 11 28;64(21):15799-15809. Epub 2021 Oct 28.

Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.

Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) is an abundant surface antigen in the malignancies of the female reproductive tract. Nevertheless, the discovery of PLAP-specific small organic ligands for targeting applications has been hindered by ligand cross-reactivity with the ubiquitous tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). In this study, we used DNA-encoded chemical libraries to discover a potent (IC = 32 nM) and selective PLAP inhibitor, with no detectable inhibition of TNAP activity. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 10 11;11(1):20138. Epub 2021 Oct 11.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of surgical correction of the thoracic deformity on the cardiorespiratory function of patients with moderate-severe Scheuermann's hyperkyphosis (SK). A series of 23 adolescents with SK who underwent surgery through an only posterior approach using all pedicle screw constructs were included in the study. Cardiorespiratory parameters were measured during a maximal exercise tolerance test before and 2 years after surgery. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2022 04;47(7):E290-E295

St. George's University Hospitals, London, UK.

Study Design: Multicenter retrospective review.

Objective: This study aims to address major postoperative complications associated with Scheuermann kyphosis (SK) when compared with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in a large population matched by demographic characteristics, levels fused and operative technique.

Summary Of Background Data: Prior studies have found that SK patients are 3. Read More

Spine Deform 2022 03 17;10(2):387-397. Epub 2021 Sep 17.

Park Hospital, Nottingham, UK.

Study Design: A retrospective observational cohort study with a minimum follow-up of 10 years of patients who underwent surgery for Scheurmann Kyphosis (SK).

Objective: Evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological outcome of patients with SK who either underwent combined anterior-posterior surgery or posterior instrumented fusion alone. There is paucity of literature for long-term outcome studies on SK. Read More

Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2021 Aug 30;56(4):446-452. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Unidade de Anatomia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal.

 To evaluate and correlate the pelvic parameters, the sagittal balance (SB), and the functional outcome of the patients submitted to surgical treatment for Scheuermann hyperkyphosis (SK).  Patients submitted to surgery between January 2005 and December 2016 were included. The following radiographic measurements were obtained: thoracic kyphosis (TK); lumbar lordosis (LL); SB; pelvic incidence (PI); pelvic tilt (PT); and sacral slope (SS). Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2021 Jul 30;35(4):486-494. Epub 2021 Jul 30.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate reversal of vertebral wedging and to evaluate the contribution of vertebral remodeling to correction maintenance in patients with adolescent Scheuermann's kyphosis (SK) after posterior-only instrumented correction.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with SK was performed. In total, 45 SK patients aged 10-20 years at surgery were included. Read More

Database (Oxford) 2021 07;2021

Department of Genetics and Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

The Ontology for Biomedical Investigations (OBI) underwent a focused review of assay term annotations, logic and hierarchy with a goal to improve and standardize these terms. As a result, inconsistencies in W3C Web Ontology Language (OWL) expressions were identified and corrected, and additionally, standardized design patterns and a formalized template to maintain them were developed. We describe here this informative and productive process to describe the specific benefits and obstacles for OBI and the universal lessons for similar projects. Read More

Cell Rep Med 2021 07 2;2(7):100355. Epub 2021 Jul 2.

Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with evidence of antibody escape highlight the importance of addressing whether the total CD4 and CD8 T cell recognition is also affected. Here, we compare SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells against the B.1. Read More

Spine Deform 2021 11 1;9(6):1633-1639. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

The Poynton SpineCare Institute, Mater Private Dublin, Eccles St Dublin 7, Dublin, D07 WKW8, Ireland.

Study Design: Long-term cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term effects of untreated Scheuermann's kyphosis on quality of life, and its relationship to radiographic parameters of spinal deformity. Previous studies reported reduced self-image, increased pain and impaired physical status. Read More

Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 2021 May;55(3):253-257

Department of Spine, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between Scheuermann disease (SD) and the pathophysiological factors of thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS), including ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and thoracic disc herniation (TDH) in patients with symptomatic TSS.

Methods: Demographic and radiological data from 66 consecutive patients diagnosed with symptomatic TSS from 2013 to 2018 were retrospectively collected and divided into 3 groups depending on the underlying pathomechanism of TSS: TDH group (18 patients; 6 women; mean age ± standard deviation [Sd] = 59.89 ± 11. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2021 Jun 7;22(1):525. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, P. R. China.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous connective tissue disorder characterized by increased bone fragility and a series of extraskeletal manifestations. Approximately 90 % of OI cases are caused by type I collagen variants encoded by the collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) or type I alpha 2 (COL1A2) gene. Lumbar Scheuermann's disease is an atypical type of Scheuermann's disease accompanied by Schmorl's nodes and irregular endplates but without pronounced kyphosis. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 May 10;22(9). Epub 2021 May 10.

PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, 34295 Montpellier, France.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating condition shortening the lifespan of young men. DMD patients suffer from age-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) that leads to heart failure. Several molecular mechanisms leading to cardiomyocyte death in DMD have been described. Read More

Nat Med 2021 05 25;27(5):892-903. Epub 2021 Mar 25.

Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Despite signs of infection-including taste loss, dry mouth and mucosal lesions such as ulcerations, enanthema and macules-the involvement of the oral cavity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is poorly understood. To address this, we generated and analyzed two single-cell RNA sequencing datasets of the human minor salivary glands and gingiva (9 samples, 13,824 cells), identifying 50 cell clusters. Using integrated cell normalization and annotation, we classified 34 unique cell subpopulations between glands and gingiva. Read More

Am J Transplant 2021 08 4;21(8):2895-2899. Epub 2021 May 4.

Section of Transplant Surgery, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Shortage of organs for liver transplantation (LT) and the availability of highly efficient pan-genotypic direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) have allowed the use of livers from HCV-positive antibody/negative nucleic acid test donors (dHCV Ab+/NAT-) into aviremic HCV recipients over the last few years. We report the case of a patient who received an LT from an HCV Ab+/NAT- donor and, after HCV viremic conversion, developed a nephrotic syndrome due to a focal proliferative glomerulonephritis early after LT. Patient's renal function and proteinuria resolved after successful treatment with DAAs. Read More

bioRxiv 2021 Mar 1. Epub 2021 Mar 1.

Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants highlighted the need to better understand adaptive immune responses to this virus. It is important to address whether also CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses are affected, because of the role they play in disease resolution and modulation of COVID-19 disease severity. Here we performed a comprehensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses from COVID-19 convalescent subjects recognizing the ancestral strain, compared to variant lineages B. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021 06 17;147(6):2191-2201.e2. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), associated partner site, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is one of the most common chronic disorders with limited therapeutic options. However, the pathogenesis of CRSwNP remains poorly understood.

Objective: We sought to determine the role of abnormalities in nasal epithelial ion transport in primary epithelial cultures and patients with CRSwNP. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2021 Feb 20;27:e929149. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND This retrospective study aimed to identify the factors associated with successful surgical correction of thoracic kyphosis (TK) in 43 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with Lenke type 1 curvature, in which the major curve with the largest Cobb angle was mainly in the thoracic region. MATERIAL AND METHODS We collected data from patients with Lenke 1 AIS. The following parameters were measured: Cobb angle, side-bending Cobb angle, cervical lordosis (CL), TK, lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), the center of a C7 plumb line to the center sacral vertical line (C7-CSVL), correction rate, Ponte osteotomy, flexibility, and screw density. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2021 Feb 10;22(1):165. Epub 2021 Feb 10.

Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH), Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan Hutong, Beijing, 100730, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: To analyze how pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) treatment of severe Scheuermann thoracolumbar kyphosis (STLK) using pedicle screw instrumentation affects sagittal spinopelvic parameters.

Background: The medical literature on the post-surgical effects of treatments such as Ponte osteotomy is limited, but suggests few effects on spinopelvic profiles. Currently, there is no research regarding changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment upon PSO treatment in STLK patients. Read More