Author Correction: Human antibodies to the dengue virus E-dimer epitope have therapeutic activity against Zika virus infection.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Vaccine Mediated Protection Against Zika Virus-Induced Congenital Disease.

The emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its association with congenital malformations has prompted the rapid development of vaccines. Although efficacy with multiple viral vaccine platforms has been established in animals, no study has addressed protection during pregnancy. We tested in mice two vaccine platforms, a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated modified mRNA vaccine encoding ZIKV prM and E genes and a live-attenuated ZIKV strain encoding an NS1 protein without glycosylation, for their ability to protect against transmission to the fetus. Vaccinated dams challenged with a heterologous ZIKV strain at embryo day 6 (E6) and evaluated at E13 showed markedly diminished levels of viral RNA in maternal, placental, and fetal tissues, which resulted in protection against placental damage and fetal demise. As modified mRNA and live-attenuated vaccine platforms can restrict in utero transmission of ZIKV in mice, their further development in humans to prevent congenital ZIKV syndrome is warranted.

Zika Virus Infection during Pregnancy in Mice Causes Placental Damage and Fetal Demise.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in pregnant women causes intrauterine growth restriction, spontaneous abortion, and microcephaly. Here, we describe two mouse models of placental and fetal disease associated with in utero transmission of ZIKV. Female mice lacking type I interferon signaling (Ifnar1(-/-)) crossed to wild-type (WT) males produced heterozygous fetuses resembling the immune status of human fetuses. Maternal inoculation at embryonic day 6.5 (E6.5) or E7.5 resulted in fetal demise that was associated with ZIKV infection of the placenta and fetal brain. We identified ZIKV within trophoblasts of the maternal and fetal placenta, consistent with a trans-placental infection route. Antibody blockade of Ifnar1 signaling in WT pregnant mice enhanced ZIKV trans-placental infection although it did not result in fetal death. These models will facilitate the study of ZIKV pathogenesis, in utero transmission, and testing of therapies and vaccines to prevent congenital malformations.

Human antibodies to the dengue virus E-dimer epitope have therapeutic activity against Zika virus infection.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic has resulted in congenital abnormalities in fetuses and neonates. Although some cross-reactive dengue virus (DENV)-specific antibodies can enhance ZIKV infection in mice, those recognizing the DENV E-dimer epitope (EDE) can neutralize ZIKV infection in cell culture. We evaluated the therapeutic activity of human monoclonal antibodies to DENV EDE for their ability to control ZIKV infection in the brains, testes, placentas, and fetuses of mice. A single dose of the EDE1-B10 antibody given 3 d after ZIKV infection protected against lethality, reduced ZIKV levels in brains and testes, and preserved sperm counts. In pregnant mice, wild-type or engineered LALA variants of EDE1-B10, which cannot engage Fcg receptors, diminished ZIKV burden in maternal and fetal tissues, and protected against fetal demise. Because neutralizing antibodies to EDE have therapeutic potential against ZIKV, in addition to their established inhibitory effects against DENV, it may be possible to develop therapies that control disease caused by both viruses.

Oral Simnotrelvir for Adult Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Covid-19.

BACKGROUND: Simnotrelvir is an oral 3-chymotrypsin-like protease inhibitor that has been found to have in vitro activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and potential efficacy in a phase 1B trial. METHODS: In this phase 2-3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we assigned patients who had mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and onset of symptoms within the past 3 days in a 1:1 ratio to receive 750 mg of simnotrelvir plus 100 mg of ritonavir or placebo twice daily for 5 days. The primary efficacy end point was the time to sustained resolution of symptoms, defined as the absence of 11 Covid-19-related symptoms for 2 consecutive days. Safety and changes in viral load were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 1208 patients were enrolled at 35 sites in China; 603 were assigned to receive simnotrelvir and 605 to receive placebo. Among patients in the modified intention-to-treat population who received the first dose of trial drug or placebo within 72 hours after symptom onset, the time to sustained resolution of Covid-19 symptoms was significantly shorter in the simnotrelvir group than in the placebo group (180.1 hours [95% confidence interval {CI}, 162.1 to 201.6] vs. 216.0 hours [95% CI, 203.4 to 228.1]; median difference, -35.8 hours [95% CI, -60.1 to -12.4]; P = 0.006 by Peto-Prentice test). On day 5, the decrease in viral load from baseline was greater in the simnotrelvir group than in the placebo group (mean difference [±SE], -1.51±0.14 log10 copies per milliliter; 95% CI, -1.79 to -1.24). The incidence of adverse events during treatment was higher in the simnotrelvir group than in the placebo group (29.0% vs. 21.6%). Most adverse events were mild or moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of simnotrelvir plus ritonavir shortened the time to the resolution of symptoms among adult patients with Covid-19, without evident safety concerns. (Funded by Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05506176.).

TFEB safeguards trophoblast syncytialization in humans and mice.

Nutrient sensing and adaptation in the placenta are essential for pregnancy viability and proper fetal growth. Our recent study demonstrated that the placenta adapts to nutrient insufficiency through mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition-mediated trophoblast differentiation toward syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), a highly specialized multinucleated trophoblast subtype mediating extensive maternal-fetal interactions. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we unravel the indispensable role of the mTORC1 downstream transcriptional factor TFEB in STB formation both in vitro and in vivo. TFEB deficiency significantly impaired STB differentiation in human trophoblasts and placenta organoids. Consistently, systemic or trophoblast-specific deletion of Tfeb compromised STB formation and placental vascular construction, leading to severe embryonic lethality. Mechanistically, TFEB conferred direct transcriptional activation of the fusogen ERVFRD-1 in human trophoblasts and thereby promoted STB formation, independent of its canonical function as a master regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that TFEB directed the trophoblast syncytialization response driven by mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. TFEB expression positively correlated with the reinforced trophoblast syncytialization in human fetal growth-restricted placentas exhibiting suppressed mTORC1 activity. Our findings substantiate that the TFEB-fusogen axis ensures proper STB formation during placenta development and under nutrient stress, shedding light on TFEB as a mechanistic link between nutrient-sensing machinery and trophoblast differentiation.

Regulation of endogenous retrovirus-derived regulatory elements by GATA2/3 and MSX2 in human trophoblast stem cells.

The placenta is an organ with extraordinary phenotypic diversity in eutherian mammals. Recent evidence suggests that numerous human placental enhancers are evolved from lineage-specific insertions of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), yet the transcription factors (TFs) underlying their regulation remain largely elusive. Here, by first focusing on MER41, a primate-specific ERV family previously linked to placenta and innate immunity, we uncover the binding motifs of multiple crucial trophoblast TFs (GATA2/3, MSX2, GRHL2) in addition to innate immunity TFs STAT1 and IRF1. Integration of ChIP-seq data confirms the binding of GATA2/3, MSX2, and their related factors on the majority of MER41-derived enhancers in human trophoblast stem cells (TSCs). MER41-derived enhancers that are constitutively active in human TSCs are distinct from those activated upon interferon stimulation, which is determined by the binding of relevant TFs and their subfamily compositions. We further demonstrate that GATA2/3 and MSX2 have prevalent binding to numerous other ERV families - indicating their broad impact on ERV-derived enhancers. Functionally, the derepression of many syncytiotrophoblast genes after MSX2 knockdown is likely to be mediated by regulatory elements derived from ERVs - suggesting ERVs are also important for mediating transcriptional repression. Overall, this study characterizes the regulation of ERV-derived regulatory elements by GATA2/3, MSX2, and their cofactors in human TSCs, and provides mechanistic insights into the importance of ERVs in human trophoblast regulatory network.

Trophoblast PR-SET7 dysfunction induces viral mimicry response and necroptosis associated with recurrent miscarriage.

Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is a distressing pregnancy complication. While the etiology of RM remains unclear, growing evidence has indicated the relevance of trophoblast impairment to the pathogenesis of RM. PR-SET7 is the sole enzyme catalyzing monomethylation of H4K20 (H4K20me1) and has been implicated in many pathophysiological processes. However, how PR-SET7 functions in trophoblasts and its relevance to RM remain unknown. Here, we found that trophoblast-specific loss of Pr-set7 in mice led to defective trophoblasts, resulting in early embryonic loss. Mechanistic analysis revealed that PR-SET7 deficiency in trophoblasts derepressed endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), leading to double-stranded RNA stress and subsequent viral mimicry, which drove overwhelming interferon response and necroptosis. Further examination discovered that H4K20me1 and H4K20me3 mediated the inhibition of cell-intrinsic expression of ERVs. Importantly, dysregulation of PR-SET7 expression and the corresponding aberrant epigenetic modifications were observed in the placentas of RM. Collectively, our results demonstrate that PR-SET7 acts as an epigenetic transcriptional modulator essential for repressing ERVs in trophoblasts, ensuring normal pregnancy and fetal survival, which sheds new light on potential epigenetic causes contributing to RM.

Endogenous retrovirus-derived enhancers confer the transcriptional regulation of human trophoblast syncytialization.

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have been proposed as a driving force for the evolution of the mammalian placenta, however, the contribution of ERVs to placental development and the underlying regulatory mechanism remain largely elusive. A key process of placental development is the formation of multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs) in direct contact with maternal blood, through which constitutes the maternal-fetal interface critical for nutrient allocation, hormone production and immunological modulation during pregnancy. We delineate that ERVs profoundly rewire the transcriptional program of trophoblast syncytialization. Here, we first determined the dynamic landscape of bivalent ERV-derived enhancers with dual occupancy of H3K27ac and H3K9me3 in human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs). We further demonstrated that enhancers overlapping several ERV families tend to exhibit increased H3K27ac and reduced H3K9me3 occupancy in STBs relative to hTSCs. Particularly, bivalent enhancers derived from the Simiiformes-specific MER50 transposons were linked to a cluster of genes important for STB formation. Importantly, deletions of MER50 elements adjacent to several STB genes, including MFSD2A and TNFAIP2, significantly attenuated their expression concomitant to compromised syncytium formation. Together, we propose that ERV-derived enhancers, MER50 specifically, fine-tune the transcriptional networks accounting for human trophoblast syncytialization, which sheds light on a novel ERV-mediated regulatory mechanism underlying placental development.

An increased prevalence of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a common community-acquired and nosocomial pathogen. Carbapenem-resistant and hypervirulent (CR-hvKp) variants can emerge rapidly within healthcare facilities and impacted by other infectious agents such as COVID-19 virus. METHODS: To understand the impact of COVID-19 virus on the prevalence of CR-hvKp, we accessed Kp genomes with corresponding metadata from GenBank. Sequence types (STs), antimicrobial resistance genes, and virulence genes, and those scores and CR-hvKp were identified. We analyzed population diversity and phylogenetic characteristics of five most common STs, measured the prevalence of CR-hvKp, identified CR-hvKp subtypes, and determined associations between carbapenem resistance gene subtypes with STs and plasmid types. These variables were compared pre- and during the COVID-19 pandemic. FINDINGS: The proportion of CR-hvKp isolates increased within multiple STs in different continents during the COVID-19 pandemic and persistent CR-hvKp subtypes were found in common STs. blaKPC was dominant in CG258, blaKPC-2 was detected in 97 % of the ST11 CR-hvKp, blaNDM subtypes were prominent in ST147 (87.4 %) and ST307 (70.8 %); blaOXA-48 and its subtypes were prevalent in ST15 (80.5 %). The possession of carbapenemase genes was different among subclades from different origins in different periods of time within each ST. IncFIB/IncHI1B hybrid plasmids contained virulence genes and carbapenemase genes and were predominant in ST147 (67.37 %) and ST307 (56.25 %). INTERPRETATION: The prevalence of CR-hvKp increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was evident by an increase in local endemic clones. This process was facilitated by the convergence of plasmids containing carbapenemase genes and virulence genes. These findings have implications for the appropriate use of antimicrobials and infection prevention and control during outbreaks of respiratory viruses and pandemic management.

Impact of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Patients With Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) on antimicrobial stewardship in patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) is still unknown. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients who had LRTIs diagnosed and underwent bronchoalveolar lavage between September 2019 and December 2020. Patients who underwent both mNGS and conventional microbiologic tests were classified as the mNGS group, while those with conventional tests only were included as a control group. A 1:1 propensity score match for baseline variables was conducted, after which changes in antimicrobial stewardship between the 2 groups were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 681 patients who had an initial diagnosis of LRTIs and underwent bronchoalveolar lavage were evaluated; 306 patients were finally included, with 153 in each group. mNGS was associated with lower rates of antibiotic escalation than in the control group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.466 [95% confidence interval, .237-.919]; P = .02), but there was no association with antibiotic de-escalation. Compared with the control group, more patients discontinued the use of antivirals in the mNGS group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mNGS was associated with lower rates of antibiotic escalation and may facilitate the cessation of antivirals, but not contribute to antibiotic de-escalation in patients with LRTIs.

6-month consequences of COVID-19 in patients discharged from hospital: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The long-term health consequences of COVID-19 remain largely unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the long-term health consequences of patients with COVID-19 who have been discharged from hospital and investigate the associated risk factors, in particular disease severity. METHODS: We did an ambidirectional cohort study of patients with confirmed COVID-19 who had been discharged from Jin Yin-tan Hospital (Wuhan, China) between Jan 7 and May 29, 2020. Patients who died before follow-up; patients for whom follow-up would be difficult because of psychotic disorders, dementia, or readmission to hospital; those who were unable to move freely due to concomitant osteoarthropathy or immobile before or after discharge due to diseases such as stroke or pulmonary embolism; those who declined to participate; those who could not be contacted; and those living outside of Wuhan or in nursing or welfare homes were all excluded. All patients were interviewed with a series of questionnaires for evaluation of symptoms and health-related quality of life, underwent physical examinations and a 6-min walking test, and received blood tests. A stratified sampling procedure was used to sample patients according to their highest seven-category scale during their hospital stay as 3, 4, and 5-6, to receive pulmonary function test, high resolution CT of the chest, and ultrasonography. Enrolled patients who had participated in the Lopinavir Trial for Suppression of SARS-CoV-2 in China received SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests. Multivariable adjusted linear or logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between disease severity and long-term health consequences. FINDINGS: In total, 1733 of 2469 discharged patients with COVID-19 were enrolled after 736 were excluded. Patients had a median age of 57·0 years (IQR 47·0-65·0) and 897 (52%) were male and 836 (48%) were female. The follow-up study was done from June 16 to Sept 3, 2020, and the median follow-up time after symptom onset was 186·0 days (175·0-199·0). Fatigue or muscle weakness (52%, 855 of 1654) and sleep difficulties (26%, 437 of 1655) were the most common symptoms. Anxiety or depression was reported among 23% (367 of 1616) of patients. The proportions of 6-min walking distance less than the lower limit of the normal range were 17% for those at severity scale 3, 13% for severity scale 4, and 28% for severity scale 5-6. The corresponding proportions of patients with diffusion impairment were 22% for severity scale 3, 29% for scale 4, and 56% for scale 5-6, and median CT scores were 3·0 (IQR 2·0-5·0) for severity scale 3, 4·0 (3·0-5·0) for scale 4, and 5·0 (4·0-6·0) for scale 5-6. After multivariable adjustment, patients showed an odds ratio (OR) of 1·61 (95% CI 0·80-3·25) for scale 4 versus scale 3 and 4·60 (1·85-11·48) for scale 5-6 versus scale 3 for diffusion impairment; OR 0·88 (0·66-1·17) for scale 4 versus scale 3 and OR 1·76 (1·05-2·96) for scale 5-6 versus scale 3 for anxiety or depression, and OR 0·87 (0·68-1·11) for scale 4 versus scale 3 and 2·75 (1·61-4·69) for scale 5-6 versus scale 3 for fatigue or muscle weakness. Of 94 patients with blood antibodies tested at follow-up, the seropositivity (96·2% vs 58·5%) and median titres (19·0 vs 10·0) of the neutralising antibodies were significantly lower compared with at the acute phase. 107 of 822 participants without acute kidney injury and with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or more at acute phase had eGFR less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 at follow-up. INTERPRETATION: At 6 months after acute infection, COVID-19 survivors were mainly troubled with fatigue or muscle weakness, sleep difficulties, and anxiety or depression. Patients who were more severely ill during their hospital stay had more severe impaired pulmonary diffusion capacities and abnormal chest imaging manifestations, and are the main target population for intervention of long-term recovery. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Major Projects of National Science and Technology on New Drug Creation and Development of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and Peking Union Medical College Foundation.

Suppression of frequency-mixing effect for pm-level heterodyne interferometers based on "zero coupling" optical path length control.

Optical path length (OPL) noise resulting from stray light significantly constrains interferometry displacement measurements in the low-frequency band. This paper presents an analytical model considering the presence of stray light in heterodyne laser interferometers. Due to the cyclic nonlinear coupling effect, there will be some special OPLs of stray light, minimizing the frequency-mixing impact to zero. Consequently, we propose a noise suppression scheme that locks the OPL of stray light at the zero coupling point. Therefore, we significantly enhanced the interference displacement measurement noise within the low-frequency band. Experimental results show that the interferometer achieves a displacement noise level lower than 6 pm/Hz1/2 covering 1 mHz.

Understanding Water Diffusion Behaviors in Epoxy Resin through Molecular Simulations and Experiments.

The unclear understanding of the water diffusion behavior posts a big challenge to the manipulation of water absorption properties in epoxy resins. Herein, we investigated the water diffusion behavior and its relationship with molecule structures inside an epoxy resin mainly by the nonequilibrium molecular dynamics and experiments. It is found that at the initial rapid water absorption stage, bound water and free water both contribute, while at the later slow water absorption stage, free water plays a dominant role. The observed evolution of free water and bound water cannot be explained by the traditional Langmuir model. In addition, molecule polarity, free volume, and segment mobility can all influence the water diffusion process. Hence, the epoxy resin with low polarity and high molecular segment mobility is endowed with higher diffusion coefficients. The saturated water absorption content is almost dependent on the polarity. The understanding of how water diffuses and what decides the diffusion process is critical to the rational design of molecule structures for improving the water resistance in epoxy resin.

Ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography for mapping lower-extremity venous networks and evaluating varicose veins in patients with diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Comprehensive evaluation of lower-extremity varicose veins (VVs) in patients with diabetes is crucial for treatment strategizing. The study aims to assess the feasibility of using ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography (FE-MRV) for lower-extremity venous mapping and the detection of VVs in patients with diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of a phase II clinical trial of a generic brand of ferumoxytol, documented patients with diabetes were enrolled and underwent FE-MRV on a 3-Τ MRI system. Two observers assessed FE-MRV images for image quality, signal intensity ratio (SIR), perforator (PV) diameter, and luminal signal uniformity in deep-to-superficial venous networks with the assessment of intra- and inter-rater reliability. FE-MRV was used to detect lower-extremity VVs. RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent FE-MRV without adverse events. The average image quality, as scored by the two observers who assessed 275 venous segments, was 3.4 ± 0.6. Two observers strongly agreed on image quality (κ = 0.90) and SIR measurements (interclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.72) and had good agreement on PV diameter (ICC: 0.64). FE-MRV revealed uniform luminal signals in deep and saphenous venous networks (0.13 ± 0.05 vs 0.08 ± 0.03). Below-knee segments exhibited a significantly higher heterogeneity index than above-knee (p = 0.039) segments. Superficial VVs were observed in 55% (12/22) of legs in 64% (7/11) of patients. Calf muscle VVs were present in 64% (14/22) of legs in 9 patients. CONCLUSION: FE-MRV safely and robustly mapped entire lower-extremity venous networks, enabling the detection and pre-treatment evaluation of both superficial, and deep VVs in patients with diabetes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance venography offers a "one-stop" imaging strategy for the detection and pre-operative evaluation of both superficial and deep VVs in diabetic patients. KEY POINTS: Diabetic patients with VVs are at a higher risk of ulcer-related complications. FE-MRV allowed rapid and comprehensive visualization of the lower-limb venous networks and abdominopelvic veins in diabetic patients. This technique allowed for the detection of superficial and deep VVs in diabetic patients before the development of severe peripheral artery disease.

Comparison of influenza- and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in China.

PURPOSE: We conducted a monocentric retrospective study using the latest definitions to compare the demographic, clinical, and biological characteristics of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). METHODS: The study retrospectively enrolled 180 patients, including 70 influenza/IPA patients (with positive influenza A/B and Aspergillus) and 110 COVID-19/IPA patients (with positive SARS-CoV-2 and Aspergillus). Among them, 42 (60%) and 30 (27.3%) patients fulfilled the definitions of IAPA and CAPA, respectively. RESULTS: The CAPA patients had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (13/31, 41.9%) than IAPA patients (8/42, 19%) with a P-value of 0.033. Kaplan-Meier survival curve also showed significantly higher 30-day mortality for CAPA patients (P = 0.025). Additionally, the CAPA patients were older, though insignificantly, than IAPA patients (70 (60-80) vs. 62 (52-72), P = 0.075). A lower percentage of chronic pulmonary disease (12.9 vs. 40.5%, P = 0.01) but higher corticosteroids use 7 days before and after ICU admission (22.6% vs. 0%, P = 0.002) were found in CAPA patients. Notably, there were no significant differences in the percentage of ICU admission or ICU mortality between the two groups. In addition, the time from observation to Aspergillus diagnosis was significantly longer in CAPA patients than in IAPA patients (7 (2-13) vs. 0 (0-4.5), P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and Aspergillus during the concentrated outbreak of COVID-19 in China had generally higher in-hospital mortality but a lower percentage of chronic pulmonary disease than those infected with influenza and Aspergillus. For influenza-infected patients who require hospitalization, close attention should be paid to the risk of invasive aspergillosis upfront.

Function and regulation of Rab GTPases in cancers.

The Rab small GTPases are characterized by the distinct intracellular localization and modulate various endocytic, transcytic and exocytic transport pathways. Rab proteins function as scaffolds that connect signaling pathways and intracellular membrane trafficking processes through the recruitment of effectors, such as tethering factors, phosphatases, motors and kinases. In different cancers, Rabs play as either an onco-protein or a tumor suppressor role, highly dependending on the context. The molecular mechanistic research has revealed that Rab proteins are involved in cancer progression through influences on migration, invasion, metabolism, exosome secretion, autophagy, and drug resistance of cancer cells. Therefore, targeting Rab GTPases to recover the dysregulated vesicle transport systems may provide potential strategy to restrain cancer progression. In this review, we discuss the regulation of Rab protein level and activity in modulating pathways involved in tumor progression, and propose that Rab proteins may serve as a prognostic factor in different cancers.

Pneumonia Severity and Phase Linked to Virus-Specific T Cell Responses with Distinct Immune Checkpoints during pH1N1 Infection.

The detailed features and the longitudinal variation of influenza-specific T cell responses within naturally infected patients and the relationship with disease severity remain uncertain. In this study, we characterized the longitudinal influenza-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, T cell activation, and migration-related cytokine/chemokine secretion in pH1N1-infected patients with or without viral pneumonia with human PBMCs. Both the influenza-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells presented higher responses in patients with severe infection than in mild ones, but with distinct longitudinal variations, phenotypes of memory markers, and immune checkpoints. At 7 ± 3 d after onset of illness, effector CD8+ T cells (CD45RA+CCR7-) with high expression of inhibitory immune receptor CD200R dominated the specific T cell responses. However, at 21 ± 3 d after onset of illness, effector memory CD4+ T cells (CD45RA-CCR7-) with high expression of PD1, CTLA4, and LAG3 were higher among the patients with severe disease. The specific T cell magnitude, T cell activation, and migration-related cytokines/chemokines possessed a strong connection with disease severity. Our findings illuminate the distinct characteristics of immune system activation during dynamic disease phases and its correlation with lung injury of pH1N1 patients.

Placental trophoblast syncytialization potentiates macropinocytosis via mTOR signaling to adapt to reduced amino acid supply.

During pregnancy, the appropriate allocation of nutrients between the mother and the fetus is dominated by maternal-fetal interactions, which is primarily governed by the placenta. The syncytiotrophoblast (STB) lining at the outer surface of the placental villi is directly bathed in maternal blood and controls feto-maternal exchange. The STB is the largest multinucleated cell type in the human body, and is formed through syncytialization of the mononucleated cytotrophoblast. However, the physiological advantage of forming such an extensively multinucleated cellular structure remains poorly understood. Here, we discover that the STB uniquely adapts to nutrient stress by inducing the macropinocytosis machinery through repression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. In primary human trophoblasts and in trophoblast cell lines, differentiation toward a syncytium triggers macropinocytosis, which is greatly enhanced during amino acid shortage, induced by inhibiting mTOR signaling. Moreover, inhibiting mTOR in pregnant mice markedly stimulates macropinocytosis in the syncytium. Blocking macropinocytosis worsens the phenotypes of fetal growth restriction caused by mTOR-inhibition. Consistently, placentas derived from fetal growth restriction patients display: 1) Repressed mTOR signaling, 2) increased syncytialization, and 3) enhanced macropinocytosis. Together, our findings suggest that the unique ability of STB to undergo macropinocytosis serves as an essential adaptation to the cellular nutrient status, and support fetal survival and growth under nutrient deprivation.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Remimazolam and Midazolam in Goal-Guided Sedation in ICU.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the direct medication costs and clinical effectiveness of using remimazolam versus midazolam for goal-guided sedation therapy in the ICU patients. Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted in the ICU of People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University. Eighty adult patients admitted to the ICU and requiring sedation were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either remimazolam-based sedation (study group, n=40) or midazolam-based sedation (control group, n=40). The inclusion criteria for patient selection were age 18-80 years, requirement for mechanical ventilation, and an expected ICU stay of at least 24 hours. Patients with significant liver or kidney dysfunction, neurological disorders, or contraindications to the study drugs were excluded. The target sedation depth for both groups was a Ramsay Sedation Scale score of 3-4, which was maintained by titrating the infusion rates of remimazolam or midazolam as needed. Vital signs, sedation scores, and respiratory parameters were closely monitored throughout the sedation period. Results: The time to onset of sedation, time to reach the target sedation depth, time to awakening, and length of ICU stay were all significantly shorter in the remimazolam group compared to the midazolam group (P < .05 for all). The remimazolam group had a mean time to onset of 5.2 ± 1.8 minutes versus 8.9 ± 2.4 minutes in the midazolam group. The mean time to reach the target Ramsay Sedation Scale score of 3-4 was 12.6 ± 3.1 minutes in the remimazolam group compared to 18.4 ± 4.2 minutes in the midazolam group. The mean time to awakening was 10.2 ± 2.7 minutes in the remimazolam group versus 16.5 ± 3.9 minutes in the midazolam group. The remimazolam group also had a significantly shorter mean ICU length of stay of 5.1 ± 1.3 days compared to 7.8 ± 2.1 days in the midazolam group (P < .01). The remimazolam group had a significantly higher metabolic clearance rate compared to the midazolam group (P < .001). The Ramsay sedation scores and Wong-Baker FACES pain scores were also significantly lower in the remimazolam group throughout the sedation period (P < .01). There were no significant differences in heart rate between the two groups at any timepoint. However, the overall incidence of adverse events was significantly lower in the remimazolam group compared to the midazolam group (P < .05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the use of remimazolam-based goal-directed sedation in the ICU setting resulted in significantly faster onset of action, quicker achievement of the target sedation depth, shorter time to awakening, and shorter ICU length of stay compared to midazolam-based sedation. The remimazolam group also had a higher metabolic clearance rate, lower sedation and pain scores, and a lower incidence of adverse events.These findings suggest that remimazolam may provide advantages over midazolam for ICU sedation, potentially leading to improved patient comfort, more efficient utilization of ICU resources, and potentially better clinical outcomes. The rapid onset, titratability, and favorable safety profile of remimazolam make it a promising sedative agent that could help optimize sedation practices in the critical care setting. Further research is warranted to fully evaluate the impact of remimazolam on long-term patient-centered outcomes and overall healthcare costs in the ICU.