Predictive values of immune indicators on respiratory failure in the early phase of COVID-19 due to Delta and precedent variants

BackgroundImmune response indicators in the early phase of COVID-19, including interferon and neutralizing responses against SARS-CoV-2, which predict hypoxemia remains unclear.MethodsThis prospective observational study recruited patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (before emergence of omicron variant). As the immune indicators, we assessed the serum levels of IFN-I/III, IL-6, CXCL10 and VEGF, using an ELISA at within 5 days after the onset of symptoms, and serum neutralizing responses using a pseudovirus assay. We also assessed SARS-CoV-2 viral load by qPCR using nasal-swab specimens and serum, to assess the association of indicators and viral distribution.ResultsThe study enrolled 117 patients with COVID-19, of which 28 patients developed hypoxemia. None received vaccine before admission. Serum IFN-I levels (IFN-α and IFN-β), IL-6, CXCL10, LDH and CRP were significantly higher in patients who developed hypoxemia. A significant association with nasopharyngeal viral load was observed only for IFN-I. The serum levels of IFN-α, IL-6, CXCL10 were significantly associated with the presence of RNAemia. Multivariable analysis showed higher odds ratio of IFN-α, with cut-off value of 107 pg/ml, in regard to hypoxemia (Odds ratio [OR]=17.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7-85; p<0.001), compared to those of IL-6, >17.9 pg/ml (OR=10.5; 95% CI, 2.9-46; p<0.001).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that serum IFN-α levels in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection strongly predict hypoxemic respiratory failure in a manner different from that of the other indicators including IL-6 or humoral immune response, and instead sensitively reflect innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2 invasion

Prominent radiative contributions from multiply-excited states in laser-produced tin plasma for nanolithography

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is currently entering high-volume manufacturing to enable the continued miniaturization of semiconductor devices. The required EUV light, at 13.5 nm wavelength, is produced in a hot and dense laser-driven tin plasma. The atomic origins of this light are demonstrably poorly understood. Here we calculate detailed tin opacity spectra using the Los Alamos atomic physics suite ATOMIC and validate these calculations with experimental comparisons. Our key finding is that EUV light largely originates from transitions between multiply-excited states, and not from the singly-excited states decaying to the ground state as is the current paradigm. Moreover, we find that transitions between these multiply-excited states also contribute in the same narrow window around 13.5 nm as those originating from singly-excited states, and this striking property holds over a wide range of charge states. We thus reveal the doubly magic behavior of tin and the origins of the EUV light

冠状動脈瘻の外科治療の検討

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Coronary artery fistula is one of the most common coronary malformations and is being diagnosed with increasing frequency with widespread use of selective coronary arteriography. Twenty-one patients with coronary artery fistulas underwent surgical treatment at our institute between 1973 and 1994. The left coronary artery was most commonly involved, and the fistula communicated primarily with the pulmonary artery. Associated cardiovascular disease include: mitral stenosis (1), mitral insufficiency (1), partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (1), ventricular tachycardia (1), atrial septal defect (1), aortitis syndrome (1), and coronary arteriosclerotic narrowing (1). In five patients, the coronary artery fistulas were selectively ligated without CPB. In sixteen patients, in addition to selective ligation, the fistula ostia were closed from inside using CPB. There were no operative or late deaths in the patients who underwent operations. Thus, the risks of surgical correction appear to be considerably less than the potential development of serious and possibly fatal complications, even in asymptomatic patients

冠状動脈バイパス術における微温体外循環の効果

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系The effect of systemic temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery was evaluated in 100 patients. The patients were divided into three groups, based on systemic temperature during CPB; 28 degrees C, 30 degrees C, or 32 degrees C (tepid). Multidose cold crystalloid cardioplegia was administered for myocardial protection. Pump flow was maintained at 75 ml/kg/min. Methoxamine hydrochloride and phenothiazine were used to maintain systemic perfusion pressures between 60 and 80 mmHg. Preoperatively, there were no differences between groups in left ventricular ejection fraction or extent of coronary artery disease. The time required for CPB and weaning from CPB were significantly shorter in the 32 degrees C group than in either the 28 degrees C or the 30 degrees C group. There were significant differences in the doses of methoxamine hydrochloride and phenothiazine required in each group. Postoperatively, there were no significant differences in the incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, or 30-day mortality between groups. In conclusion, tepid systemic perfusion shortens the length of CPB and does not differ significantly from cold perfusion with respect to mortality and morbidity

Clinical Efficacy of Thrombus Aspiration on 5-Year Clinical Outcomes in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Adjunctive thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was reported to promote better coronary and myocardial reperfusion. However, long‐term mortality benefit of TA remains controversial. The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical impact of TA on long‐term clinical outcomes in patients with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary PCI. Methods and Results: The CREDO‐Kyoto AMI Registry is a large‐scale cohort study of acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing coronary revascularization in 2005–2007 at 26 hospitals in Japan. Among 5429 patients enrolled in the registry, the current study population consisted of 3536 patients who arrived at the hospital within 12 hours after the symptom onset and underwent primary PCI. Clinical outcomes were compared between the 2 patient groups with or without TA. During primary PCI procedures, 2239 out of 3536 (63%) patients underwent TA (TA group). The cumulative 5‐year incidence of all‐cause death was significantly lower in the TA group than in the non‐TA group (18.5% versus 23.9%, log‐rank P<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, however, the risk for all‐cause death in the TA group was not significantly lower than that in the non‐TA group (hazard ratio: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.76 to 1.06, P=0.21). The adjusted risks for cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and target‐lesion revascularization were also not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Adjunctive TA during primary PCI was not associated with better 5‐year mortality in STEMI patients