Experiences of persons with multiple sclerosis with the Covid-19 vaccination: A cross-sectional study of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry

BACKGROUND Despite strong recommendations for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination by multiple sclerosis (MS) organizations, some persons with MS (pwMS) remain vaccine hesitant. The Swiss MS Registry conducted a survey to explore Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, self-reported side effects and changes in MS symptoms following vaccination in adult pwMS. METHODS Self-reported data were analyzed cross-sectionally. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore participant characteristics associated with Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS Of 849 respondents, 73 (8.6%) were unvaccinated. Hesitation to vaccinate was most often a personal preference (N = 42, 57.53%). Factors negatively associated with vaccine hesitancy included older age (OR = 0.97 per year, 95% CI [0.94, 0.99]) and regularly seeing healthcare professionals (OR = 0.25, 95% CI [0.07, 0.85]). A history of confirmed Covid-19 infection (OR = 3.38, 95% CI [1.69, 6.77]) and being underweight (OR = 4.50, 95% CI [1.52, 13.36]) were positively associated with vaccine hesitancy. Of 768 participants who provided information, 320 (41.2%) and 351 (45.2%) reported vaccination side effects after the first and second vaccinations, respectively. Changes in MS symptoms were reported by 49 (6.3%) participants after the first and 67 (9.0%) participants after the second vaccination, and were most often described as increased or new-onset fatigue (N = 17/49 (34.7%) after the first and N = 21/67 (31.3%) after the second dose). CONCLUSIONS Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy was low among surveyed pwMS. The risk of vaccine hesitancy was higher among younger pwMS, those with a history of Covid-19 infection, and those without regular contact with healthcare professionals

Experiences of persons with multiple sclerosis with the Covid-19 vaccination: A cross-sectional study of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry.

BACKGROUND Despite strong recommendations for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination by multiple sclerosis (MS) organizations, some persons with MS (pwMS) remain vaccine hesitant. The Swiss MS Registry conducted a survey to explore Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, self-reported side effects and changes in MS symptoms following vaccination in adult pwMS. METHODS Self-reported data were analyzed cross-sectionally. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore participant characteristics associated with Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS Of 849 respondents, 73 (8.6%) were unvaccinated. Hesitation to vaccinate was most often a personal preference (N = 42, 57.53%). Factors negatively associated with vaccine hesitancy included older age (OR = 0.97 per year, 95% CI [0.94, 0.99]) and regularly seeing healthcare professionals (OR = 0.25, 95% CI [0.07, 0.85]). A history of confirmed Covid-19 infection (OR = 3.38, 95% CI [1.69, 6.77]) and being underweight (OR = 4.50, 95% CI [1.52, 13.36]) were positively associated with vaccine hesitancy. Of 768 participants who provided information, 320 (41.2%) and 351 (45.2%) reported vaccination side effects after the first and second vaccinations, respectively. Changes in MS symptoms were reported by 49 (6.3%) participants after the first and 67 (9.0%) participants after the second vaccination, and were most often described as increased or new-onset fatigue (N = 17/49 (34.7%) after the first and N = 21/67 (31.3%) after the second dose). CONCLUSIONS Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy was low among surveyed pwMS. The risk of vaccine hesitancy was higher among younger pwMS, those with a history of Covid-19 infection, and those without regular contact with healthcare professionals

Nanoenabling electrochemical sensors for life sciences applications

Electrochemical sensing systems are advancing into a wide range of new applications, moving from the traditional lab environment into disposable devices and systems, enabling real-time continuous monitoring of complex media. This transition presents numerous challenges ranging from issues such as sensitivity and dynamic range, to autocalibration and antifouling, to enabling multiparameter analyte and biomarker detection from an array of nanosensors within a miniaturized form factor. New materials are required not only to address these challenges, but also to facilitate new manufacturing processes for integrated electrochemical systems. This paper examines the recent advances in the instrumentation, sensor architectures, and sensor materials in the context of developing the next generation of nanoenabled electrochemical sensors for life sciences applications, and identifies the most promising solutions based on selected well established application exemplars

Characterizing the cancer genome in lung adenocarcinoma

Somatic alterations in cellular DNA underlie almost all human cancers(1). The prospect of targeted therapies(2) and the development of high-resolution, genome-wide approaches(3-8) are now spurring systematic efforts to characterize cancer genomes. Here we report a large-scale project to characterize copy-number alterations in primary lung adenocarcinomas. By analysis of a large collection of tumours ( n = 371) using dense single nucleotide polymorphism arrays, we identify a total of 57 significantly recurrent events. We find that 26 of 39 autosomal chromosome arms show consistent large-scale copy-number gain or loss, of which only a handful have been linked to a specific gene. We also identify 31 recurrent focal events, including 24 amplifications and 7 homozygous deletions. Only six of these focal events are currently associated with known mutations in lung carcinomas. The most common event, amplification of chromosome 14q13.3, is found in similar to 12% of samples. On the basis of genomic and functional analyses, we identify NKX2-1 ( NK2 homeobox 1, also called TITF1), which lies in the minimal 14q13.3 amplification interval and encodes a lineage-specific transcription factor, as a novel candidate proto-oncogene involved in a significant fraction of lung adenocarcinomas. More generally, our results indicate that many of the genes that are involved in lung adenocarcinoma remain to be discovered.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62944/1/nature06358.pd

Role of the glucocorticoid receptor in the development of ulcerative colitis and colorectal carcinoma in a murine model

For many decades, glucocorticoids (GCs) have been an essential pillar of the therapy of many inflammatory diseases. The beneficial effects of this class of hormones occur quickly and reliably after administration, although they are accompanied by the risk of various side effects. GCs have also been used successfully in the therapy of ulcerative colitis for many years. Nevertheless, the exact mode of action of their effect on the inflammatory processes in the bowel is still largely unknown. Since GCs trigger most of their effects through binding to the GC receptor (GR), we aimed to elucidate the role of the GR in the gut, especially in intestinal epithelial cells. To reach this objective, we triggered colitis in a mouse model expressing a modified GR whose function was restricted to DNA-binding independent activities, or in mice in which the GR in intestinal epithelial cells was switched off. We hypothesized that under these conditions the disease course was altered. A special focus was laid on the activity of macrophages being a switch point of inflammatory processes. We used clinical parameters to assess the disease course and characterized the molecular processes by investigating cytokine production and gene expression. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to identify and quantify infiltrating cells. Most importantly, we could show that switching off GR expression in enterocytes worsened the disease course. Both clinically and biochemically, aggravated episodes were observed. Increased gene expression of CCL2 in intestinal epithelial cells could at least be partially accountable for this observation. In the end, we assumed that deletion of the GR also affected colitis-associated colorectal carcinoma in mice. Using the mouse model with a deletion of the GR in intestinal epithelial cells, we could show that more and larger tumors developed under these conditions. In summary, our work demonstrates that the GR expressed in cell of the intestinal tract plays an essential role as an immunoregulatory entity. Hereby, it represents a major factor in the development of both ulcerative colitis and colitis-associated colorectal carcinoma, and thus could serve as a potential target of further therapeutic regimens.2022-09-0

Of Bombs and Bureaucrats: Internal Drivers of Nuclear Force Building in China and the United States

The article of record as published may be found at https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2018.1557945This article examines the domestic influences on US and Chinese nuclear forces. While strategic factors largely drive each side’s, underappreciated domestic and organizational factors also influence outcomes. Partisan politics shape US policies regarding arms control, missile defense, and the roles of nuclear forces. China has its own— more opaque—politics. Organizational factors have affected the status and role of the Chinese Rocket Forces. Constituencies for nuclear weapons have gained ground, and the military services appear to be competing for nuclear missions. The absence of organizational firewalls within the Rocket Forces suggests that assertive operational practices might bleed across different parts of the organization. These domestic influences on US and Chinese nuclear policy- making are likely to have interactive and accelerating effects. Both sides will assume measures taken by the other are driven by strategic intent, when the actual drivers may be mixed. To the extent that domestic factors are responsible, the resulting spirals of suspicion and conflict will be inadvertent—but may nevertheless take on a life of their own. While strategic nuclear interactions are not currently at the center of the bilateral relationship, they may come to be so in the future for all the wrong reasons

Domestic Factors Could Accelerate the Evolution of China's Nuclear Posture

This research brief describes work done for RAND Project AIR FORCE documented in China’s Evolving Nuclear Deterrent: Major Drivers and Issues for the United States, by Eric Heginbotham, Michael S. Chase, Jacob L. Heim, Bonny Lin, Mark R. Cozad, Lyle J. Morris, Christopher P. Twomey, Forrest E. Morgan, Michael Nixon, Cristina L. Garafola, and Samuel K. Berkowitz, RR-1628-AF, 2017The article of record as published may be found at https://www.rand.org/t/RB995

China's Evolving Nuclear Deterrent: Major Drivers and Issues for the United States

The article of record as published may be found at https://www.rand.org/RR162

Nanoenabling electrochemical sensors for life sciences applications

Electrochemical sensing systems are advancing into a wide range of new applications, moving from the traditional lab environment into disposable devices and systems, enabling real-time continuous monitoring of complex media. This transition presents numerous challenges ranging from issues such as sensitivity and dynamic range, to autocalibration and antifouling, to enabling multiparameter analyte and biomarker detection from an array of nanosensors within a miniaturized form factor. New materials are required not only to address these challenges, but also to facilitate new manufacturing processes for integrated electrochemical systems. This paper examines the recent advances in the instrumentation, sensor architectures, and sensor materials in the context of developing the next generation of nanoenabled electrochemical sensors for life sciences applications, and identifies the most promising solutions based on selected well established application exemplars