Pediatric human nose organoids demonstrate greater susceptibility, epithelial responses, and cytotoxicity than adults during RSV infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory infections, causing significant morbidity and mortality, especially in young children. Why RSV infection in children is more severe as compared to healthy adults is not fully understood. In the present study, we infect both pediatric and adult human nose organoid-air liquid interface (HNO-ALIs) cell lines with two contemporary RSV isolates and demonstrate how they differ in virus replication, induction of the epithelial cytokine response, cell injury, and remodeling. Pediatric HNO-ALIs were more susceptible to early RSV replication, elicited a greater overall cytokine response, demonstrated enhanced mucous production, and manifested greater cellular damage compared to their adult counterparts. Adult HNO-ALIs displayed enhanced mucus production and robust cytokine response that was well controlled by superior regulatory cytokine response and possibly resulted in lower cellular damage than in pediatric lines. Taken together, our data suggest substantial differences in how pediatric and adult upper respiratory tract epithelium responds to RSV infection. These differences in epithelial cellular response can lead to poor mucociliary clearance and predispose infants to a worse respiratory outcome of RSV infection.

Cerebral Organoids Derived from a Parkinson's Patient Exhibit Unique Pathogenesis from Chikungunya Virus Infection When Compared to a Non-Parkinson's Patient.

(1) Background: Arboviruses of medical and veterinary significance have been identified on all seven continents, with every human and animal population at risk for exposure. Like arboviruses, chronic neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, are found wherever there are humans. Significant differences in baseline gene and protein expression have been determined between human-induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from non-Parkinson's disease individuals and from individuals with Parkinson's disease. It was hypothesized that these inherent differences could impact cerebral organoid responses to viral infection. (2) Methods: In this study, cerebral organoids from a non-Parkinson's and Parkinson's patient were infected with Chikungunya virus and observed for two weeks. (3) Results: Parkinson's organoids lost mass and exhibited a differential antiviral response different from non-Parkinson's organoids. Neurotransmission data from both infected non-Parkinson's and Parkinson's organoids had dysregulation of IL-1, IL-10, and IL-6. These cytokines are associated with mood and could be contributing to persistent depression seen in patients following CHIKV infection. Both organoid types had increased expression of CXCL10, which is linked to demyelination. (4) Conclusions: The differential antiviral response of Parkinson's organoids compared with non-Parkinson's organoids highlights the need for more research in neurotropic infections in a neurologically compromised host.

Post-Vaccination Yellow Fever Antiserum Reduces Zika Virus in Embryoid Bodies When Placental Cells are Present.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that originated in Africa but emerged in Latin America in 2015. In this region, other flaviviruses such as Dengue (DENV), West Nile, and Yellow Fever virus (YFV) also circulate, allowing for possible antigenic cross-reactivity to impact viral infections and immune responses. Studies have found antibody-mediated enhancement between DENV and ZIKV, but the impact of YFV antibodies on ZIKV infection has not been fully explored. ZIKV infections cause congenital syndromes, such as microcephaly, necessitating further research into ZIKV vertical transmission through the placental barrier. Recent advancements in biomedical engineering have generated co-culture methods that allow for the in vitro recapitulation of the maternal-fetal interface. This study utilized a transwell assay, which was a co-culture model utilizing human placental syncytiotrophoblasts, fetal umbilical cells, and a differentiating embryoid body, to replicate the maternal-fetal axis. To determine if cross-reactive YFV vaccine antibodies impacted the pathogenesis of ZIKV across the maternal-fetal axis, syncytiotrophoblasts were inoculated with ZIKV or ZIKV incubated with YFV vaccine antisera, and the viral load was measured 72 h post-inoculation. Here, we report that BeWo and HUVEC cells were permissive to ZIKV and that the impact of YFV post-vaccination antibodies on ZIKV replication was cell line-dependent. Embryoid bodies were also permissive to ZIKV, and the presence of YFV antibodies collected 4-14 months post-vaccination reduced ZIKV infection when placental cells were present. However, when directly infected with ZIKV, the embryoid bodies displayed significantly increased viral loads in the presence of YFV antiserum taken 30 days post-vaccination. The data show that each of the cell lines and EBs have a unique response to ZIKV complexed with post-vaccination serum, suggesting there may be cell-specific mechanisms that impact congenital ZIKV infections. Since ZIKV infections can cause severe congenital syndromes, it is crucial to understand any potential enhancement or protection offered from cross-reactive, post-vaccination antibodies.

Antibodies for Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Protect Embryoid Bodies from Chikungunya Virus.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus that causes febrile illness punctuated by severe polyarthralgia. After the emergence of CHIKV in the Western Hemisphere, multiple reports of congenital infections were published that documented neurological complications, cardiac defects, respiratory distress, and miscarriage. The Western Hemisphere is endemic to several alphaviruses, and whether antigenic cross-reactivity can impact the course of infection has not been explored. Recent advances in biomedical engineering have produced cell co-culture models that replicate the cellular interface at the maternal fetal axis. We employed a trans-well assay to determine if cross-reactive antibodies affected the movement and replication of CHIKV across placental cells and into an embryoid body. The data showed that antibodies to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus significantly reduced CHIKV viral load in embryoid bodies. The data highlighted the fact that viral pathogenesis can be cell-specific and that exploiting antigenic cross-reactivity could be an avenue for reducing the impact of congenital CHIKV infections.

The Efficacy of Medical Marijuana in the Treatment of Cancer-Related Pain.

Background: The opioid epidemic has spurred investigations for nonopioid options, yet limited research persists on medical marijuana's (MMJ) efficacy in managing cancer-related symptoms. Objective: We sought to characterize MMJ's role on symptomatic relief and opioid consumption in the oncologic population. Design: Retrospective chart review of MMJ-certified oncology patients was performed. Divided patients into MMJ use [MMJ(+)] versus no use [MMJ(-)], and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS)-reported pain cohorts: "mild-moderate" versus "severe." Measurements: Medical records were reviewed for ESAS, to measure physical and emotional symptoms, and opiate consumption, converted into morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Minimal clinically important differences were determined. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests determined statistical significance between MMJ-certification and most recent palliative care visit. Results: Identified 232 patients [95/232 MMJ(-); 137/232 MMJ(+)]. Pain, physical and total ESAS significantly improved for total MMJ(-) and MMJ(+); however, only MMJ(+) significantly improved emotional ESAS. MMJ(-) opioid consumption increased by 23% (97.5-120 mg/day MME, p = 0.004), while it remained constant (45-45 mg/day MME, p = 0.522) in MMJ(+). Physical and total ESAS improved in mild-moderate-MMJ(-) and MMJ(+). Pain and emotional symptoms worsened in MMJ(-); while MMJ(+)'s pain remained unchanged and emotional symptoms improved. MMJ(-) opioid consumption increased by 29% (90-126 mg/day MME, p = 0.012); while MMJ(+)'s decreased by 33% (45-30 mg/day MME, p = 0.935). Pain, physical, emotional, and total ESAS scores improved in severe-MMJ(-) and MMJ(+); opioid consumption reduced by 22% in MMJ(-) (135-106 mg/day MME, p = 0.124) and 33% in MMJ(+) (90-60 mg/day MME, p = 0.421). Conclusions: MMJ(+) improved oncology patients' ESAS scores despite opioid dose reductions and should be considered a viable adjuvant therapy for palliative management.

The Changing Nature of the Oncology Section of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination.

INTRODUCTION: The Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) assesses orthopaedic resident knowledge over 275 multiple-choice questions.Since the first publication examining the contents of the pathology section was published over ten years ago, the pathology content has been renamed (oncology) and revamped. As the overall extent of these alterations is currently unknown, the efficacy of current orthopaedic oncology educational practices for optimal OITE performance should be questioned. To determine how the oncology (pathology) material has changed, we compared the following characteristics from previous examinations (2002 to 2006) to current examinations (2012 to 2016): (1) What are the average number of oncology questions being asked? (2) What are the specific imaging modalities presented for examinee interpretation? (3) Which pathologic diagnoses are commonly examined? (4) What is the pattern of taxonomic question classifications? METHODS: The 2012 to 2016 OITE study guides were reviewed, and each oncology question was categorized into one of the following: benign or malignant, imaging modality grouping, common pathologic diagnosis, question type, and taxonomic classification. The aforementioned information was extrapolated from the previous pathology publication published in 2010 to create the previous examination cohort (2002 to 2006). The current examination characteristics were then compared with those of the previous examinations. RESULTS: The current number of oncology OITE questions significantly decreased from previous years (27.2 versus 21.2; P = 0.015). Current examinations displayed a significant increase in testing the interpretation of diagnostic imaging modalities compared with previous examinations (78.3% versus 55.8%; P < 0.001). The current examinations examined a wide spectrum of pathologic diagnoses, including previously untested pathologies. The number of taxonomy 1 questions on current examinations significantly decreased (36.8% versus 24.5%; P = 0.032), whereas the number of taxonomy 3 questions significantly increased from previous examinations (48.1% versus 32.4%; P = 0.032). DISCUSSION: This study demonstrated that the nature of the orthopaedic oncology (pathology) section has changed over the past 10 years. Although the overall number of pathology-related questions decreased, the difficulty level of these questions increased, demanding a higher level of knowledge and critical thinking. A formal orthopaedic oncology rotation may be the best method to educate and improve OITE oncology performance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level III.

Novel policing techniques decrease gun-violence and the cost to the healthcare system.

The objective was to investigate the effects of novel policing techniques on hospital-observed incidence, healthcare utilization, mortality and costs associated with gun violence, from the perspective of a level-1 trauma center. An eight-year retrospective review evaluating the clinical and financial effects of gunshot wound (GSW) encounters between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2017. Individuals who presented to the emergency department (Level-1 trauma center in Camden, NJ) between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017 with GSW (995 encounters) were included; however, patients with incomplete financial or medical record data were excluded (55 encounters). Patients were subdivided into two cohorts: before and after changes in policing tactics (May 1st, 2013). 940 total firearm-related encounters were included in the study. Following the policing changes, the hospital-observed quarterly incidence of GSW encounters decreased by 22% post-policing changes, 44.3 to 34.6 (p = 0.038). Average quarterly days spent in-house for GSW treatment decreased 220.7 to 151.3 (31%) days. Hospital observed mortality increased from 13.5% of presentations to 17.3% of presentations (p = 0.106). Total cost savings associated with the policing change was roughly $254,000 per quarter (p = 0.023). In areas susceptible to high rates of gun violence, similar novel policing tactics could significantly decrease hospital-observed incidence, costs and healthcare utilization demanded by firearm-related injury.