A Child with X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia and Enthesitis-Related Arthritis

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a primary immune deficiency characterized by recurrent bacterial infections and profoundly depressed serum immunoglobulin levels and circulating mature B cells. We describe a 12-year-old boy with XLA and enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA). To date, there has been a paucity of reports of noninfectious inflammatory arthritis in children with XLA. This case illustrates that functional B cells and/or immunoglobulin are not required for ERA pathogenesis. In addition, this case suggests a possible link between immune deficiency, immune dysregulation, and rheumatic illness

Spectrometer Scan Mechanism for Encountering Jovian Orbit Trojan Asteroids

This paper describes the design, testing, and lessons learned during the development of the Lucy Ralph (L'Ralph) Scan Mirror System (SMS), composed of the Scan Mirror Mechanism (SMM), Differential Position Sensor System (DPSS) and Mechanism Control Electronics (MCE). The L'Ralph SMS evolved from the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) Beam Steering Mechanism (BSM), so design comparisons will be made. Lucy is scheduled to launch in October 2021, embarking upon a 12-year mission to make close range encounters in 2025 and 2033 with seven Trojan asteroids and one main belt asteroid that are within the Jovian orbit. The L'Ralph instrument is based upon the New Horizons Ralph instrument, which is a panchromatic and color visible imager and infrared spectroscopic mapper that slewed the spacecraft for imaging. The L'Ralph SMM is to provide scanning for imaging to eliminate the need to slew the spacecraft. One purpose of this paper is to gain understanding of the reasoning behind some of the design features as compared with the ATLAS BSM. We will identify similarities and differences between the ATLAS BSM and the L'Ralph SMM that resulted from the latter's unique requirements. Another purpose of this paper is to focus upon "Lessons Learned" that came about during the development of the L'Ralph SMM and its MCE, both mechanism engineering issues and solutions as well as Ground Support Equipment (GSE) issues and solutions that came about during the validation of requirements process. At the time of this writing, the L'Ralph SMM has been flight qualified and delivered to the project

A Pediatric Genetic Disorder Diagnosed in Adulthood

Church's case report is a reminder that "pediatric" genetic diseases are not limited to children

BT595, a 10% Human Normal Immunoglobulin, for Replacement Therapy of Primary Immunodeficiency Disease: Results of a Subcohort Analysis in Children

Children; Pharmacokinetics; Serious bacterial infectionsNiños; Farmacocinética; Infecciones bacterianas gravesNens; Farmacocinètica; Infeccions bacterianes greusPurpose To assess the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of a new, highly purified 10% IVIg (BT595, Yimmugo®) administered in children with PID. Methods This was an open-label, prospective, uncontrolled, multicenter Phase III pivotal trial. Among the 67 subjects in the trial were 18 pediatric patients aged 2 to 17 years with diagnosis of PID included in this analysis. They received doses between 0.2 and 0.8 g/kg body weight for approximately 12 months at intervals of either 3 or 4 weeks. Dosage and dosing interval were based on each patient’s pre-trial infusion schedule. The rates of acute serious bacterial infections (SBI), secondary efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic outcomes were evaluated. Results No SBI occurred in the pediatric population. Two hundred sixty infusions were administered to the 18 pediatric patients. The mean (SD) IgG trough level was 8.55 (1.67) g/L at baseline and 8.84 (2.17) g/L at the follow-up visit after the last BT595 infusion. At the single infusions respectively, the average mean IgG trough levels ranged between 8.52 and 10.58 g/L. More than 85% of all infusions administered were not associated with any infusional AE (start during or within 72 h post-infusion). None of the severe or serious AEs were related to the investigational medicinal product (IMP). No premedication was used. Thirteen children reached a maximum infusion rate between > 2.0 and 8 mL/kg/h; no AE with an onset during the infusion occurred at these infusion rates. Conclusion BT595 is effective, convenient, well tolerated, and safe for the treatment of children with PID.This trial was funded by Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany

Senate called to order at 11:11 a.m. President Krolicki presiding.

Let us pray. Almighty God, Benevolent Creator, in Your loving plan, You created the world and all in it. With your care, You protect and guide all life in its journey through history and to its fullness. We graciously pray that those who have the responsibility in governing and protecting with just and prudent laws, foster a sense of well-being among the people in Nevada. May this Body legislate with sensitivity for the welfare and true needs of our people. Always influenced by a keen thirst for justice and rightness, may they appreciate the dignity and uniqueness of every person. May they have confidence in what is good and fitting, an eagerness and ability to work together in harmony even through honest disagreement. Strengthened by their collaboration and bonded by their camaraderie, may they support one another in the arduous and challenging moments of decision. Through Your gift of love, may they gain personal peace in their lives and joy in their tasks. We ask this in His Name. AMEN. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Bishop Randolph R. Calvo, Roma

Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia and Immunodeficiency with Coincident NEMO and EDA Mutations

Ectodermal dysplasias (ED) are uncommon genetic disorders resulting in abnormalities in ectodermally derived structures. Many ED-associated genes have been described, of which ectodysplasin-A (EDA) is one of the more common. The NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO encoded by the IKBKG gene) is unique in that mutations result in severe humoral and cellular immunologic defects in addition to ED. We describe three unrelated kindreds with defects in both EDA and IKBKG resulting from X-chromosome crossover. This demonstrates the importance of thorough immunologic consideration of patients with ED even when an EDA etiology is confirmed, and raises the possibility of a specific phenotype arising from coincident mutations in EDA and IKBKG

Factors Associated With Shorter Colonoscopy Surveillance Intervals for Patients With Low-Risk Colorectal Adenomas and Effects on Outcome

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Endoscopists do not routinely follow guidelines to survey individuals with low-risk adenomas (LRAs; 1-2 small tubular adenomas, < 1 cm) every 5-10 years for colorectal cancer; many recommend shorter surveillance intervals for these individuals. We aimed to identify the reasons that endoscopists recommend shorter surveillance intervals for some individuals with LRAs and determine whether timing affects outcomes at follow-up examinations. METHODS: We collected data from 1560 individuals (45-75 years old) who participated in a prospective chemoprevention trial (of vitamin D and calcium) from 2004 through 2008. Participants in the trial had at least 1 adenoma, detected at their index colonoscopy, and were recommended to receive follow-up colonoscopy examinations at 3 or 5 years after adenoma identification, as recommended by the endoscopist. For this analysis we collected data from only participants with LRAs. These data included characteristics of participants and endoscopists and findings from index and follow-up colonoscopies. Primary endpoints were frequency of recommending shorter (3-year) vs longer (5-year) surveillance intervals, factors associated with these recommendations, and effect on outcome, determined at the follow-up colonoscopy. RESULTS: A 3-year surveillance interval was recommended for 594 of the subjects (38.1%). Factors most significantly associated with recommendation of 3-year vs a 5-year surveillance interval included African American race (relative risk [RR] to white, 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.75), Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity (RR to white, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.22-2.43), detection of 2 adenomas at the index examination (RR vs 1 adenoma, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.27-1.71), more than 3 serrated polyps at the index examination (RR=2.16, 95% CI, 1.59-2.93), or index examination with fair or poor quality bowel preparation (RR vs excellent quality, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.66-2.83). Other factors that had a significant association with recommendation for a 3-year surveillance interval included family history of colorectal cancer and detection of 1-2 serrated polyps at the index examination. In comparisons of outcomes, we found no significant differences between the 3-year vs 5-year recommendation groups in proportions of subjects found to have 1 or more adenomas (38.8% vs 41.7% respectively; P = .27), advanced adenomas (7.7% vs 8.2%; P = .73) or clinically significant serrated polyps (10.0% vs 10.3%; P = .82) at the follow-up colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Possibly influenced by patients' family history, race, quality of bowel preparation, or number or size of polyps, endoscopists frequently recommend 3-year surveillance intervals instead of guideline-recommended intervals of 5 years or longer for individuals with LRAs. However, at the follow-up colonoscopy, similar proportions of participants have 1 or more adenomas, advanced adenomas, or serrated polyps. These findings support the current guideline recommendations of performing follow-up examinations of individuals with LRAs at least 5 years after the index colonoscopy

Simulating Serial-Target Antibacterial Drug Synergies Using Flux Balance Analysis

Flux balance analysis (FBA) is an increasingly useful approach for modeling the behavior of metabolic systems. However, standard FBA modeling of genetic knockouts cannot predict drug combination synergies observed between serial metabolic targets, even though such synergies give rise to some of the most widely used antibiotic treatments. Here we extend FBA modeling to simulate responses to chemical inhibitors at varying concentrations, by diverting enzymatic flux to a waste reaction. This flux diversion yields very similar qualitative predictions to prior methods for single target activity. However, we find very different predictions for combinations, where flux diversion, which mimics the kinetics of competitive metabolic inhibitors, can explain serial target synergies between metabolic enzyme inhibitors that we confirmed in Escherichia coli cultures. FBA flux diversion opens the possibility for more accurate genome-scale predictions of drug synergies, which can be used to suggest treatments for infections and other diseases

Enhanced multiplex genome engineering through co-operative oligonucleotide co-selection

Genome-scale engineering of living organisms requires precise and economical methods to efficiently modify many loci within chromosomes. One such example is the directed integration of chemically synthesized single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (oligonucleotides) into the chromosome of Escherichia coli during replication. Herein, we present a general co-selection strategy in multiplex genome engineering that yields highly modified cells. We demonstrate that disparate sites throughout the genome can be easily modified simultaneously by leveraging selectable markers within 500 kb of the target sites. We apply this technique to the modification of 80 sites in the E. coli genome.United States. Dept. of Energy. Genomes To Life (DE-FG02-03ER6344)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Genes and Genomes Systems Cluster (0719344)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Center for Bits and Atoms (0122419)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (0540879