Implementing the COVID-19 Rapid Community Assessment on Vaccine Confidence: Lessons Learned From Alabama and Georgia.

Engaging communities is a key strategy to increase COVID-19 vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Rapid Community Assessment Guide was developed for community partners to obtain insights about barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and to engage community partners in designing interventions to build vaccine confidence. In spring 2021, 3 CDC teams were deployed to Alabama and Georgia to conduct a rapid community assessment in selected jurisdictions. Data collection included interviews, listening sessions, observations, and street intercept surveys. We identified 3 facilitators and barriers to vaccine uptake: (1) planning and coordination, (2) capacity and implementation, and (3) attitudes and beliefs. We found that the use of the rapid community assessment in Alabama and Georgia was feasible to implement, useful in eliciting unique community concerns and dispelling assumptions, and useful in informing intervention strategies. Our results underscore the importance of community engagement in COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

Cell therapy in the treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans in a murine model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the importance of stem cells derived from adipose tissue in reducing graft inflammation in a murine model of allogeneic heterotopic tracheal transplant. METHODS: We performed a heterotopic tracheal allografting in dorsal subcutaneous pouch and systemically injected 5x105 mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue. The animals were divided into two groups according to the time of sacrifice: T7 and T21. We also carried out histological analysis and digital morphometry. RESULTS: The T7 animals treated with cell therapy had median obstructed graft area of 0 versus 0.54 of controls (p = 0.635). The treated T21 subjects had median obstructed graft area of 0.25 versus 0 in controls (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: The systemically injected cell therapy in experimental murine model of bronchiolitis obliterans did not reduce the severity of the allograft inflammation in a statistically significant way in seven days; Conversely, in 21 days, it increased the allograft inflammatory process.

Cell therapy in the treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans in a murine model / Terapia celular no tratamento da bronquiolite obliterante em modelo murino

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the importance of stem cells derived from adipose tissue in reducing graft inflammation in a murine model of allogeneic heterotopic tracheal transplant. METHODS:We performed a heterotopic tracheal allografting in dorsal subcutaneous pouch and systemically injected 5x105 mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue. The animals were divided into two groups according to the time of sacrifice: T7 and T21. We also carried out histological analysis and digital morphometry. RESULTS:The T7 animals treated with cell therapy had median obstructed graft area of 0 versus 0.54 of controls (p = 0.635). The treated T21 subjects had median obstructed graft area of 0.25 versus 0 in controls (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION:The systemically injected cell therapy in experimental murine model of bronchiolitis obliterans did not reduce the severity of the allograft inflammation in a statistically significant way in seven days; Conversely, in 21 days, it increased the allograft inflammatory process.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a importância das células-tronco derivadas de tecido adiposo na redução do processo inflamatório no enxerto em modelo murino de transplante traqueal heterotópico alogênico. MÉTODOS:Foi realizado alotransplante traqueal heterotópico em bolsa dorsal subcutânea e injetado 5x105 células-tronco mesenquimais, derivadas de tecido adiposo, sistemicamente. Os animais foram distribuídos em dois grupos, conforme o tempo de sacrifício: T7 e T21. Procedida a análise em HE e morfometria digital. RESULTADOS:Os T7 tratados com terapia celular apresentaram mediana de área obstruída do enxerto de 0 contra 0,54 dos controles (p=0,635). Os T21 tratados apresentaram mediana de área obstruída da luz do enxerto de 0,25 nos tratados e 0 nos controles (p=0,041). CONCLUSÃO: A terapia celular injetada sistemicamente em modelo experimental murino de bronquiolite obliterante não reduziu a gravidade do processo inflamatório no aloenxerto de forma estatisticamente significativa em sete dias; de modo contrário, em 21 dias, aumentou o processo inflamatório no aloenxerto.

Angiopoietin 1 and angiopoietin 2 are associated with medial thickening of hepatic arterial branches in biliary atresia.

BACKGROUND: Biliary atresia (BA) is an infantile disorder characterized by progressive sclerosing cholangiopathy leading to biliary obstruction. First-line treatment of BA is hepatoportoenterostomy, the prognosis of which is related to age at surgery and to histological variables such as extent of fibrosis and ductular reaction. Hepatic arterial medial thickening (MT) suggests an arteriopathy in BA pathogenesis. We evaluated the expression of angiopoietin (ANGPT)/tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and epidermal growth factor-like domains 2 (TIE2) system in liver samples obtained from patients with BA, correlating it with MT, variables associated with disease severity, and postoperative prognosis. METHODS: ANGPT1, ANGPT2, and TIE2 expression levels were assessed by quantitative PCR in liver samples obtained from BA patients (n = 23) at portoenterostomy and age-matched infants with intrahepatic cholestasis (IHC; n = 7). Histological variables were morphometrically assessed. RESULTS: ANGPT1 and ANGPT2 were overexpressed in BA in comparison with IHC (P = 0.024 and P = 0.029, respectively). In BA, ANGPTs expression was positively correlated with MT (ANGPT1: rs = 0.59, P = 0.013; ANGPT2: rs = 0.52, P = 0.032), not with the variables associated with disease severity. TIE2 and ANGPTs expression levels were negatively correlated (ANGPT1: rs = -0.73, P < 0.001; ANGPT2: rs = -0.54, P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: In BA, there is overexpression of both ANGPT1 and ANGPT2, which is correlated with MT but not with age at portoenterostomy or with the histological variables associated with disease severity at the time of procedure.

Absceso tiroideo. Serie de casos y revisión de la literatura / Thyroid abscess. A case series and literature review

La formación de absceso tiroideo es una patología rara en niños; sin embargo, la enfermedad de tiroides previa, remanentes congénitos como fístula de seno piriforme son factores predisponentes. La presentación clásica consiste en fiebre, dolor cervical y sensación de masa dolorosa (frecuentemente izquierda) del lóbulo tiroideo. El diagnóstico se confirma por hallazgos clínicos, ecográficos, tomografía computarizada (TC). Se debe realizar un esofagograma para descartar la presencia de fístula y considerar el drenaje quirúrgico en los casos que lo ameriten. Se presentan los casos de absceso tiroideo en 5 pacientes que ingresaron en cuatro centros médicos (Fundación Cardioinfantil, al Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, a la Clínica infantil de Colsubsidio y al Hospital de la Misericordia) de Bogotá, Colombia, entre los años 2000 y 2010 (AU)

Thyroid abscess is rare in children but the presence of previous thyroid disease, and congenital remanants such as a pyriform sinus fistula, are predisposing factors. The classical presentation consists of fever, cervical pain and a painful mass. The diagnosis is confirmed through clinical findings, and by diagnostic imaging (ultrasound and computerized axial tomography). A barium swallow must be performed in order to detect a fistula and to consider surgical drain. We present the cases of thyroid abscess in five patients who were admitted in four medical centers (Fundación Cardioinfantil, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Clínica infantil de Colsubsidio and Hospital de la Misericordia) in Bogotá, Colombia between 2000 and 2010 (AU)

Thyroid abscess. A case series and literature review.

Thyroid abscess is rare in children but the presence of previous thyroid disease, and congenital remnants such as a pyriform sinus fistula, are predisposing factors. The classical presentation consists of fever, cervical pain and a painful mass. The diagnosis is confirmed through clinical findings, and by diagnostic imaging (ultrasound and computerized axial tomography). A barium swallow must be performed in order to detect a fistula and to consider surgical drain. We present the cases of thyroid abscess in five patients who were admitted in four medical centers (Fundación Cardioinfantil, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Clínica infantil de Colsubsidio and Hospital de la Misericordia) in Bogotá, Colombia between 2000 and 2010.

Bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation improves survival and induces hepatocyte proliferation in rats after CCl(4) acute liver damage.

AIM: The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMC) transplantation in rats with toxic acute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). METHODS: Cells from male Wistar rats were obtained using Ficoll density gradient and 0.2 ml (1 × 10(6) cells) were injected into the portal vein of female rats (n = 15) 24 h after damage. Sham group (n = 15) was performed injecting only vehicle in CCl(4)-treated animals. Survival, liver histology, number of mitosis and apoptosis, and identification of stained donor cells were observed 72 h after damage. ALT levels were measured at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after injury. RESULTS: Donor cells could be detected in recipient rats' livers by fluorescence staining and Sry PCR. The treated group revealed a significant improvement in survival rate after 72 h (p = 0.003). There was also a significant increase in the number of mitotic events in treated livers (p = 0.029). This result was confirmed using an in vitro cell proliferation assay in isolated hepatocytes treated with conditioned medium from BMC. ALT was reduced in the treated group after 72 h (p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that BMC transplantation has potential as a new therapeutic option for acute liver disease and suggest that these cells may contribute to hepatic recovery through release of mitotic cytokines.