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Article
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Perinatal outcomes after admission with COVID-19 in pregnancy: a UK national cohort study
The impacts of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on newborns are not well understood. Here, the authors perform a national cohort study using data on births in the UK from March 2020—March 2022 and find that moderate to severe maternal COVID-19 was associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.
- Hilde Marie Engjom
- , Rema Ramakrishnan
- & Marian Knight
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Article
| Open Access
Donor regulatory T cells rapidly adapt to recipient tissues to control murine acute graft-versus-host disease
Graft-versus-Host disease is a major complication after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and is ameliorated by adoptively transferred donor regulatory T cells. Here, the authors apply transcriptomic and TCR profiling to assess regulatory T cell organ-specific adaptation in murine bone marrow transplantation models.
- David J. Dittmar
- , Franziska Pielmeier
- & Michael Rehli
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Article
| Open Access
Influenza antibody breadth and effector functions are immune correlates from acquisition of pandemic infection of children
In this study, the authors assessed influenza-specific antibody responses in a cohort of seasonally vaccinated children and report that seasonal vaccination is beneficial by enhancing pandemic influenza virus-specific antibodies and cross-reactive effector functions.
- Janice Z. Jia
- , Carolyn A. Cohen
- & Sophie A. Valkenburg
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Article
| Open Access
Epidemiological, clinical, and genomic landscape of coccidioidomycosis in northeastern Brazil
Coccidioidomycosis, a WHO-listed mycosis, is neglected in South America. Analysis of 292 cases in Brazil, often tied to armadillo hunting, unveils unique disease patterns, environmental factors and pathogen genetics causing the disease.
- Kelsen Dantas Eulálio
- , Daniel R. Kollath
- & Marcus de Melo Teixeira
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Article
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Spatiotemporal immune atlas of a clinical-grade gene-edited pig-to-human kidney xenotransplant
Xenotransplantation in humans using pig organs could improve the transplant organ supply. Here the authors transplant pig kidneys into a brain-dead recipient and monitor the human immune cell response early after transplantation using spatial and single cell transcriptomics and show early myeloid cell infiltration.
- Matthew D. Cheung
- , Rebecca Asiimwe
- & Paige M. Porrett
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Article
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Early-life exercise induces immunometabolic epigenetic modification enhancing anti-inflammatory immunity in middle-aged male mice
Exercise could affect the immune system, but whether early-life exercise could benefit immune health in adulthood is not fully understood. Here the authors show that early-life exercise promotes epi-metabolic changes in the liver to potentially benefit immunity in older age and characterise the involvement of pipecolic acid in this process.
- Nini Zhang
- , Xinpei Wang
- & Feng Gao
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Comment
| Open Access
Reporting outcome comparisons by sex in oncology clinical trials
Many aspects of human health and disease are influenced by sex as a biological variable and gender as a social construct. A recent study from Nature Communications reported the landscape of outcome comparisions by sex in oncology clinical trials, highlighting the need for a more thorough reporting of sex differences.
- Guo Zhao
- , Yuning Wang
- & Ning Li
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Article
| Open Access
Comparative characterization of the infant gut microbiome and their maternal lineage by a multi-omics approach
Here, the authors employ multi-omics on a cohort comprising three generations of family members, showing that fecal microbiota populations, functions, and metabolome of infants vary greatly from their maternal lineage, exhibiting a less diverse microbiota and differences in various metabolite classes including short- and branched-chain fatty acids.
- Tomás Clive Barker-Tejeda
- , Elisa Zubeldia-Varela
- & Alma Villaseñor
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Article
| Open Access
Dermal injury drives a skin to gut axis that disrupts the intestinal microbiome and intestinal immune homeostasis in mice
The microbial community in the intestine can affect other organs such as the skin but it is not clear if the opposite can occur. Here the authors show that skin wounding affects the microbial composition of the intestinal flora which then enhances DSS induced colitis and intestinal inflammation.
- Tatsuya Dokoshi
- , Yang Chen
- & Richard L. Gallo
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Article
| Open Access
Immunoregulatory role of the gut microbiota in inflammatory depression
Inflammatory depression is a treatment-resistant subtype of depression. Here, the authors show that patients with inflammatory depression exhibit a disrupted microbiota, which upon FMT in mice leads to increased peripheral and central inflammatory factors, intestinal mucosal permeability, and depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. Probiotic administration ameliorates the disease phenotype.
- Penghong Liu
- , Zhifen Liu
- & Kerang Zhang
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Article
| Open Access
The recent rapid expansion of multidrug resistant Ural lineage Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Moldova
Chitwood et al. report on the rapid expansion of a Ural-lineage multidrug resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Moldova. This strain has an estimated reproduction number more than two times greater than otherwise similar drug susceptible strains.
- Melanie H. Chitwood
- , Caroline Colijn
- & Benjamin Sobkowiak
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Article
| Open Access
Concomitant medication, comorbidity and survival in patients with breast cancer
Preliminary epidemiological evidence suggests that some non-cancer medications may affect breast cancer risk, recurrence, and survival. In this study, the authors utilized a nationwide database of breast cancer patients to estimate the association between frequently used drugs taken prior to diagnosis and breast cancer prognosis. And they identified 16 drugs associated with breast cancer outcomes.
- Elise Dumas
- , Beatriz Grandal Rejo
- & Anne-Sophie Hamy
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Article
| Open Access
VISTA checkpoint inhibition by pH-selective antibody SNS-101 with optimized safety and pharmacokinetic profiles enhances PD-1 response
VISTA is a pH-dependent inhibitory checkpoint for T-cells that is abundant on myeloid lineage cells and antagonists of VISTA may successfully reinvigorate anti-tumour immunity. Here, the authors show that the antibody SNS-101, which is currently being investigated in humans in a clinical trial, is characterized by pH-sensitivity that endows it with favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles, and enhanced therapeutic effect when combined with PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors.
- Thomas Thisted
- , F. Donelson Smith
- & Edward H. van der Horst
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Article
| Open Access
Dupilumab-associated head and neck dermatitis shows a pronounced type 22 immune signature mediated by oligoclonally expanded T cells
Dupilumab-associated head and neck dermatitis has been described in a subset of patients treated with the IL4R-blocker dupilumab. Here the authors characterise the immune cell composition and single-cell transcriptome in comparison with untreated forms of atopic dermatitis in a small cohort showing increases in IL-22-associated genes.
- Christine Bangert
- , Natalia Alkon
- & Patrick M. Brunner
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Article
| Open Access
Incident allergic diseases in post-COVID-19 condition: multinational cohort studies from South Korea, Japan and the UK
SARS-CoV-2 infection has been linked to various persistent or new-onset health consequences, including disruption of the immune system. Here, the authors investigate the risk of new-onset allergic diseases following SARS-CoV-2 infection using data from South Korea, Japan, and the UK.
- Jiyeon Oh
- , Myeongcheol Lee
- & Dong Keon Yon
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Article
| Open Access
Enzymatic conversion of human blood group A kidneys to universal blood group O
ABO blood group compatibility restrictions limit the availability of organs for patients awaiting transplantation. Here, the authors show the rapid enzymatic removal of blood group A antigens from the vasculature of human kidneys using normothermic and hypothermic machine perfusion technologies to make universal blood group O organs for transplantation.
- Serena MacMillan
- , Sarah A. Hosgood
- & Michael L. Nicholson
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Article
| Open Access
Clinically used broad-spectrum antibiotics compromise inflammatory monocyte-dependent antibacterial defense in the lung
Authors utilise a murine model of infection to provide mechanistic insight into how antimicrobial therapy may be a predisposing risk factor for hospital-acquired pneumonia. They show that antibiotic-induced microbiota perturbations compromise inflammatory monocytes and thereby impair antibacterial defence.
- Patrick J. Dörner
- , Harithaa Anandakumar
- & Bastian Opitz
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Article
| Open Access
The CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib in BRCA wild-type platinum-resistant recurrent high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma: a phase 2 trial
ATR/CHK1 pathway inhibitors represent a therapeutic option for platinum-resistant high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). Here the authors report the results of a phase 2 clinical study of the CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib in patients with BRCA wild-type platinum-resistant HGSOC with or without biopsiable disease.
- Elena Giudice
- , Tzu-Ting Huang
- & Jung-Min Lee
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Article
| Open Access
Adjuvant nivolumab, capecitabine or the combination in patients with residual triple-negative breast cancer: the OXEL randomized phase II study
Post-neoadjuvant treatment options for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) include the chemo-drug capecitabine but also immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here the authors report the results of a phase II study of adjuvant nivolumab, capecitabine or the combination in patients with residual TNBC.
- Filipa Lynce
- , Candace Mainor
- & Claudine Isaacs
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Article
| Open Access
The effects of genetic and modifiable risk factors on brain regions vulnerable to ageing and disease
A network of brain regions degenerates earlier in aging. Here the authors show that, this network is most vulnerable to diabetes, traffic-related pollution and alcohol consumption in terms of risk factors for dementia, and associated with the XG blood group genes.
- Jordi Manuello
- , Joosung Min
- & Gwenaëlle Douaud
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Article
| Open Access
S100A8/A9 as a prognostic biomarker with causal effects for post-acute myocardial infarction heart failure
Heart failure is the most prevalent complication of acute myocardial infarction. Here, the authors show that circulating S100A8/A9 is a robust predictor and potentially causal medicator for heart failure post-acute myocardial infarction, as such could serve as a promising drug target for cardioprotection.
- Jie Ma
- , Yang Li
- & Yulin Li
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Article
| Open Access
Polygenic risk score for ulcerative colitis predicts immune checkpoint inhibitor-mediated colitis
Colitis is one of the most common immune-related adverse events in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here the authors show that a polygenic risk score for ulcerative colitis can predict immune checkpoint inhibitor-mediated colitis in patients with cancer.
- Pooja Middha
- , Rohit Thummalapalli
- & Elad Ziv
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Article
| Open Access
The genetic architecture of multimodal human brain age
The biological basis of brain aging is not well understood, but it has implications for human health. Here, the authors explore the genetic basis of human brain aging, finding genetic variants, genes and potential causal relationships with disease.
- Junhao Wen
- , Bingxin Zhao
- & Christos Davatzikos
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Article
| Open Access
Outcome differences by sex in oncology clinical trials
The role of sex differences in response to cancer therapy remains unclear but this could be improved by reporting sex comparisons of outcomes in clinical trials. Here, the authors characterise the sex outcome comparisons in 89,221 interventional trials, finding that while comparisons were rare, important insights could be obtained.
- Ashwin V. Kammula
- , Alejandro A. Schäffer
- & Eytan Ruppin
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Article
| Open Access
Long-term effects of Omicron BA.2 breakthrough infection on immunity-metabolism balance: a 6-month prospective study
Here the authors study recovery from mild to moderate Omicron breakthrough infection at six months post infection. Serum proteomics, PBMC single-cell transcriptomics and clinical parameters indicate slow recovery with coagulation abnormalities and an imbalance of the immune response and metabolism remaining.
- Yanhua Li
- , Shijie Qin
- & George Fu Gao
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Article
| Open Access
Elevated blood remnant cholesterol and triglycerides are causally related to the risks of cardiometabolic multimorbidity
Dysmetabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins is considered a shared risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases, but their associations with cardiometabolic multimorbidity have not been fully understood. Here, the authors show that elevated levels of remnant cholesterol and triglycerides were observationally and genetically associated with a higher risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity.
- Yimin Zhao
- , Zhenhuang Zhuang
- & Tao Huang
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Article
| Open Access
Genomic malaria surveillance of antenatal care users detects reduced transmission following elimination interventions in Mozambique
Routine sampling of pregnant women at first antenatal care (ANC) visits could be used for malaria surveillance. Here, the authors compare the genetic structure of Plasmodium falciparum parasite populations between samples from first ANC users and children from the community in Mozambique, and show that it can inform about changes in transmission beyond epidemiological data.
- Nanna Brokhattingen
- , Glória Matambisso
- & Alfredo Mayor
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Article
| Open Access
Proinflammatory polarization of engineered heat-inducible macrophages reprogram the tumor immune microenvironment during cancer immunotherapy
Alternatively activated macrophages have a pivotal role in resolving inflammation but in the tumour microenvironment they are immunosuppressive. Here author show that adoptively transferred engineered macrophages harbouring a heat-inducible genetic switch can resist the polarizing effect of the tumour microenvironment, and do not only remain pro-inflammatory themselves but also re-polarise the endogenous macrophages upon controlled warming with a purpose-made device.
- Yanan Xue
- , Xiaojie Yan
- & Yuan Ping
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Article
| Open Access
Inhalation of ACE2-expressing lung exosomes provides prophylactic protection against SARS-CoV-2
Inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 interaction with ACE2 is a promising antiviral strategy. Here, the authors show that exosomes derived from human lung spheroid cells expressing hACE2 accumulate in the lung following prophylactic inhalation to bind and neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and protect mice from SARS-CoV-2-induced disease.
- Zhenzhen Wang
- , Shiqi Hu
- & Ke Cheng
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Article
| Open Access
Neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy with camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin in resectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a pilot phase II trial
Neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy represents a therapeutic option for resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here the authors report the results of a phase II trial of neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin in resectable locally advanced HNSCC.
- Di Wu
- , Yong Li
- & Xuekui Liu
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Article
| Open Access
Impact of vaccination on the association of COVID-19 with cardiovascular diseases: An OpenSAFELY cohort study
SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of arterial and venous thrombotic events. Here, the authors investigate the degree to which this association is modified by virus variant and vaccination using electronic health record data for ~18 million adults in England.
- Genevieve I. Cezard
- , Rachel E. Denholm
- & Venexia Walker
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Article
| Open Access
Tissue engineered vascular grafts are resistant to the formation of dystrophic calcification
Advancements in congenital heart surgery stress the need for durable biomaterials. Here, the authors compare tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) with traditional polytetrafluoroethylene grafts, revealing TEVGs’ superior durability and reduced calcification, promising improved long-term success for surgeries.
- Mackenzie E. Turner
- , Kevin M. Blum
- & Christopher K. Breuer
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Article
| Open Access
Drivers and impact of the early silent invasion of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha
The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant of concern emerged in the UK in late 2020 but spread internationally before it was detected. Here, the authors reconstruct the dynamics of dissemination of this variant out of the UK by combining extent of genomic sequencing, travel volume, and local epidemic dynamics in a Bayesian model.
- Benjamin Faucher
- , Chiara E. Sabbatini
- & Chiara Poletto
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Article
| Open Access
Targeting P2Y14R protects against necroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells through PKA/CREB/RIPK1 axis in ulcerative colitis
P2Y14R regulates necroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells though PKA/CREB/RIPK1 axis in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Targeting P2Y14R with a small molecule inhibitor improves dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC in mice, suggesting P2Y14R as a promising target for treatment of UC.
- Chunxiao Liu
- , Hui Wang
- & Qinghua Hu
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Article
| Open Access
A phase I/IIa safety and efficacy trial of intratympanic gamma-secretase inhibitor as a regenerative drug treatment for sensorineural hearing loss
Pharmacological inhibition of gamma-secretase induced partial recovery of hearing in animal models. Here, the authors present the safety and efficacy results and key learnings of the First in Human Phase I/IIa study of a gamma-secretase inhibitor in patients with acquired Hearing Loss.
- Anne G. M. Schilder
- , Stephan Wolpert
- & Athanasios G. Bibas
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Article
| Open Access
Effect of gut microbiome modulation on muscle function and cognition: the PROMOTe randomised controlled trial
Here, the authors present the results of the PROMOTe trial, reporting improved cognition with prebiotic vs placebo in twins over 60 years old, probing that remote trials are feasible in older adults, and suggesting that the gut microbiota may represent a therapeutic target for age-associated morbidity.
- Mary Ni Lochlainn
- , Ruth C. E. Bowyer
- & Claire J. Steves
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Article
| Open Access
Applying a genetic risk score model to enhance prediction of future multiple sclerosis diagnosis at first presentation with optic neuritis
People who experience optic neuritis, a cause of potentially serious sudden vision loss, have up to a 50% chance of ultimately being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Here, the authors find that genetic information combined with age and sex helps predict risk of future diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
- Pavel Loginovic
- , Feiyi Wang
- & Tasanee Braithwaite
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Article
| Open Access
A framework for evaluating clinical artificial intelligence systems without ground-truth annotations
Estimating the performance of clinical AI systems on data in the wild is complicated by distribution shift and the absence of ground-truth annotations. Here, we introduce SUDO, a framework for more reliably evaluating AI systems on data in the wild.
- Dani Kiyasseh
- , Aaron Cohen
- & Nicholas Altieri
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Article
| Open Access
Metabolomic profiles of sleep-disordered breathing are associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus development
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a prevalent disorder linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk. Here, the authors show that summary scores reflecting SDB metabolite signatures are associated with increased risks for incident hypertension and diabetes, potentially useful in guiding risk stratification.
- Ying Zhang
- , Bing Yu
- & Tamar Sofer
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Article
| Open Access
Multi-night cortico-basal recordings reveal mechanisms of NREM slow-wave suppression and spontaneous awakenings in Parkinson’s disease
Using at-home intracranial DBS recordings in PD participants, the authors found subcortical beta has an inverse effect on cortical slow-wave in NREM sleep, rises before awakenings and found >88% accuracy in NREM vs Wake classification in brief 5 s epochs.
- Md Fahim Anjum
- , Clay Smyth
- & Simon Little
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Article
| Open Access
Persistence in risk and effect of COVID-19 vaccination on long-term health consequences after SARS-CoV-2 infection
The long-term health consequences of COVID-19 infection are not fully understood. In this retrospective cohort study from Hong Kong, the authors describe changes in the risk of various clinical outcomes including all-cause mortality for one year following COVID-19 infection and how they vary by vaccination status.
- Ivan Chun Hang Lam
- , Ran Zhang
- & Eric Yuk Fai Wan
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Article
| Open Access
NAAA-regulated lipid signaling in monocytes controls the induction of hyperalgesic priming in mice
Circulating monocytes contribute to the transition to pain chronicity but the molecular events that cause their deployment are still unclear. Using a mouse model of hyperalgesic priming, here the authors show that blood monocytes contribute to the emergence of chronic pain via a mechanism that requires a transient disruption of NAAA-regulated lipid signaling.
- Yannick Fotio
- , Alex Mabou Tagne
- & Daniele Piomelli
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Article
| Open Access
Prior flavivirus immunity skews the yellow fever vaccine response to cross-reactive antibodies with potential to enhance dengue virus infection
Flavivirus infection or vaccination can induce cross-reactive immune responses. Here, the authors show how previous immunization with the tick-borne encephalitis virus vaccine affects the immune response to the yellow fever vaccine, suggesting that the yellow fever vaccine virus conceals epitopes shared with other flaviviruses in flavivirus-naive but not flavivirus-pre-exposed individuals.
- Antonio Santos-Peral
- , Fabian Luppa
- & Simon Rothenfusser
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Article
| Open Access
Randomized controlled trial of molnupiravir SARS-CoV-2 viral and antibody response in at-risk adult outpatients
In this clinical trial, the authors show that a 5-day molnupiravir treatment reduces SARS-CoV-2 viral load in at-risk outpatients by day 5 but mostly fails to clear virus, leads to lower spike antibody response by day 14 and higher virus mutation rates.
- Joseph F. Standing
- , Laura Buggiotti
- & Francis Yongblah
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Article
| Open Access
Adjuvant dendritic cell therapy in stage IIIB/C melanoma: the MIND-DC randomized phase III trial
Immunotherapy using dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination has been exploited in the clinic for cancer treatment. Here the authors report the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of adjuvant blood-derived DC cell-based therapy in patients with stage IIIB and IIIC melanoma.
- Kalijn F. Bol
- , Gerty Schreibelt
- & I. Jolanda M. de Vries
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Article
| Open Access
Immune signature of Chlamydia vaccine CTH522/CAF®01 translates from mouse-to-human and induces durable protection in mice
Authors present a comparative immunological characterisation of Chlamydia vaccine, CTH522/CAF®01, in mice and humans. Findings suggest the mouse to be a good predictor of human immunity to the Chlamydia vaccine CTH522/CAF®01, and long-lasting protection in the mouse further supports the development of this promising vaccine candidate.
- Anja W. Olsen
- , Ida Rosenkrands
- & Frank Follmann
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Article
| Open Access
Concordance of randomised controlled trials for artificial intelligence interventions with the CONSORT-AI reporting guidelines
The CONSORT-AI extension was developed to provide specific guidance for randomised controlled trials involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) interventions. Here, the authors show that since publication of CONSORT-AI, several AI-specific considerations remain systematically underreported.
- Alexander P. L. Martindale
- , Benjamin Ng
- & Xiaoxuan Liu
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessDaylight saving time and mortality—proceed with caution
- Elizabeth B. Klerman
- , Matthew D. Weaver
- & Karin G. Johnson
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Article
| Open Access
Data encoding for healthcare data democratization and information leakage prevention
Healthcare data democratization is often hampered by privacy constraints governing the sensitive healthcare data. Here, the authors show that encoding healthcare data could be a potential solution for achieving healthcare democratization within the context of deep learning.
- Anshul Thakur
- , Tingting Zhu
- & David A. Clifton
Malnutrition enteropathy in Zambian and Zimbabwean children with severe acute malnutrition: A multi-arm randomized phase II trial