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Predicting outcomes in pulmonary tuberculosis is challenging despite effective treatments. This study aimed to identify factors influencing treatment success and culture conversion, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI)-based chest X-ray analysis and Xpert MTB/RIF assay cycle threshold (Ct) values. In this retrospective study across six South Korean referral centers (January 1 to December 31, 2019), we included adults with rifampicin-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis confirmed by Xpert assay from sputum samples. We analyzed patient characteristics, AI-based tuberculosis extent scores from chest X-rays, and Xpert Ct values. Of 230 patients, 206 (89.6%) achieved treatment success. The median age was 61 years, predominantly male (76.1%). AI-based radiographic tuberculosis extent scores (median 7.5) significantly correlated with treatment success (odds ratio [OR] 0.938, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.895–0.983) and culture conversion at 8 weeks (liquid medium: OR 0.911, 95% CI 0.853–0.973; solid medium: OR 0.910, 95% CI 0.850–0.973). Sputum smear positivity was 49.6%, with a median Ct of 26.2. However, Ct values did not significantly correlate with major treatment outcomes. AI-based radiographic scoring at diagnosis is a significant predictor of treatment success and culture conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis, underscoring its potential in personalized patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the factors associated with mortality and progressive disease in NTM-LD patients. We conducted a literature search to identify the eligible studies, dated between January 1, 2007, and April 12, 2021. Forty-one studies with total 10,452 patients were included. The overall all-cause mortality rate was 20% (95% CI 17–24%). The overall rates of clinical and radiographic progressive disease were 46% (95% CI 39–53%) and 43% (95% CI 31–55%), respectively. Older age, male sex, history of TB, diabetes, chronic heart disease, malignancy, systemic immunosuppression, chronic liver disease, presence of cavity, consolidative radiologic features, acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear positivity, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, increasing platelet count, high CRP, and high ESR were significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality, whereas increasing body mass index (BMI), hemoptysis, and treatment with rifamycin regimen (in M. xenopi) were significantly associated with decreased all-cause mortality in multivariable analysis. History of TB, Aspergillus co-infection, cough, increased sputum, weight loss, presence of cavity, and AFB smear positivity were significantly associated with increased clinical progression with treatment, while older age and low BMI were significantly associated with decreased clinical progression in multivariable analysis. Older age, interstitial lung disease, presence of cavity, consolidative radiologic feature, anemia, high CRP, and leukocytosis were significantly associated with increased radiographic progression after adjusting for covariates. Older age, history of tuberculosis, presence of cavity, consolidative radiologic features, AFB smear positivity, anemia, and high C-reactive protein were common significant factors associated with the all-cause mortality and clinical or radiographic progressive disease of NTM-LD. These factors are thought to directly affect NTM-LD related mortality. The future prediction models for the prognosis of NTM-LD should be established considering these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degree of expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is related with Immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) response but it needs sufficient tumor tissue. There is unmet need for easily accessible and prognostic peripheral blood (PB) biomarkers. We investigated the application of serum peripheral lymphocyte count (PLC) as a predictive PB biomarker for ICI response in patients with NSCLC. We conducted a retrospective study and reviewed the patients with NSCLC who were treated with ICIs from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2019. The PLC before and after 1 month of immunotherapy was collected. We evaluated the association between PLC and progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events. A total of 231 patients were treated with ICIs for NSCLC. The median follow-up period was 4.7 months and the disease progressed in 138 patients (59.7%). Compared with the lowest quartile (Q1: the lowest 25%), the highest quartile (Q4: the highest 25%) of post-treatment PLC showed a significantly higher PFS (HR 0.28, 95% CI 0.16–0.52) and OS (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19–0.65) in the adjusted model. An association between adverse events and PLC was not observed. We revealed that an increased pre- and post-treatment PLC was associated with favorable PFS and OS with NSCLC patients treated with ICIs. PLC could be a helpful for ICI responses in NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A protein chip assay system based on a specific carbohydrate-protein interaction has been constructed for the identification of chemical inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase. The devised chip is composed of three layered proteins, that is, a matrix, a probe, and a neuraminidase protein. Transferrin, the matrix protein, was immobilized onto a chip panel to provide biological glycan chains. Fluorescence-labeled lectin or hemagglutinin was added as a glycan-interacting protein probe. Finally specific sialic acid moiety on the transferrin was then cleaved by an avian or human influenza neuraminidase. Each lectin or hemagglutinin showed different glycan specificity as a result of catalytic action of different influenza neuraminidase. Using this principle, we finally tested the neuraminidase of strain H1N1 as a model system to verify the screening capability of this protein chip approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the interaction between Polo-Box Domain (PBD) of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) and Bora peptide based on protein-protein interactions using the Proteochip (Proteogen, Korea) technology. Plk-1 protein conjugated with GST was bound to anti-GST antibody immobilized on the surface of the Proteochip, after which a Bora peptide labeled with a fluorescent dye, Cy5, was interacted with the Plk-1 protein on the chip in a dose-dependent manner. A chemical compound E8 was screened as a novel inhibitor against the Plk1-Bora interaction using the Proteochip. The compound significantly inhibited NCI-H460 (lung cancer) cell proliferation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The protein chip-based Plk1-Bora binding system will serve a novel promising tool which is applicable for screening of novel inhibitors against Plk1, regardless of the enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a cationic protein and a member of the innate immunity-associated protein family. The main function of SLPI is to protect local tissue against the detrimental consequences of inflammation. We undertook this study to investigate the expression of SLPI in human middle ear cholesteatoma tissue as compared with normal external auditory canal skin. Cholesteatoma tissues and external auditory canal skin samples were obtained from eight patients during middle ear surgery. The expression levels of SLPI mRNA and protein were evaluated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in both tissue groups using anti-SLPI antibody. Real-time RT-PCR showed that SLPI mRNA levels in cholesteatoma tissues were increased 7.8-fold on average as compared with normal auditory canal skin. Western blotting analysis showed that SLPI protein expression in cholesteatoma epithelium is up-regulated versus external auditory canal skin epithelium. Immunohistochemical staining for SLPI showed that SLPI is expressed mainly in the stratum granulosum and in subepithelial inflammatory cells. These findings imply that SLPI contributes to host protection against inflammatory cell and destructive enzymes in the chronic inflammatory state of cholesteatoma by affecting the innate immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a paucity of research on the outcomes associated with involving parents of children with emotional and behavioral problems as partners with professionals in designing and implementing a system of care. This study examines the systems, child, and family outcomes associated with providing flexible funds to two counties, one engaged in strengthening its provider-designed system and the other in developing and implementing a parent-designed system. This article describes the qualitative, network, and treatment outcome studies comprising the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]