Objectives To establish the optimal parameters for group testing of pooled specimens for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Methods The most efficient pool size was determined to be five specimens using a web-based application. From this analysis, 25 experimental pools were created using 50 µL from one SARS-CoV-2 positive nasopharyngeal specimen mixed with 4 negative patient specimens (50 µL each) for a total volume of 250 µL. Viral RNA was subsequently extracted from each pool and tested using the CDC SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay. Positive pools were consequently split into individual specimens and tested by extraction and PCR. This method was also tested on an unselected group of 60 nasopharyngeal specimens grouped into 12 pools. Results All 25 pools were positive with cycle threshold (Ct) values within 0 and 5.03 Ct of the original individual specimens. The analysis of 60 specimens determined that 2 pools were positive followed by identification of 2 individual specimens among the 60 tested. This testing was accomplished while using 22 extractions/PCR tests, a savings of 38 reactions. Conclusions When the incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection is 10% or less, group testing will result in the saving of reagents and personnel time with an overall increase in testing capability of at least 69%.

Vaccine composition• Recombinant, replication-incompetent adenovirus type 26 (Ad26) vectored • Encodes SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein • Produced in PER.C6 cells Dosing regimenIntramuscular, single-dose regimen 5x10 10 vp Proposed indication and usage under EUA For active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 18 years of age and older 18 to <60 years without comorbidities 18 to <60 years with and without comorbidities ≥60 years without comorbidities ≥60 years with and without comorbidities Goal of 30% of total study population • Planned study duration: 2 years Study 3001 Scheduled Visits and Assessments Day 1 Vaccination Blood Sample Nasal Sample Day 29 Blood Sample Day 71 Blood Sample Months 6 and 12 Blood Sample Months 18 and 24 Blood Sample Primary analysis: January 22, 2021 Median follow-up: 58 Days Subgroup Ad26.COV2.S Placebo All Subjects Ethnicity Hispanic or Latino 8793 (44.8%) 8936 (45.4%) 17729 (45.1%) Not Hispanic or Latino 10344 (52.7%) 10259 (52.1%) 20603 (52.4%) Unknown 493 (2.5%) 496 (2.5%) 989 (2.5%) Country Brazil 3399 (17.3%) 3390 (17.2%) 6789 (17.3%) Chile 531 (2.7%) 540 (2.7%) 1071 (2.7%) Argentina 1402 (7.1%) 1414 (7.2%) 2816 (7.2%) Colombia 1858 (9.5%) 1869 (9.5%) 3727 (9.5%) Peru 571 (2.9%) 581 (3.0%) 1152 (2.9%) Mexico 206 (1.0%) 220 (1.1%) 426 (1.1%) United States 9185 (46.8%) 9171 (46.6%) 18356 (46.7%) South Africa 2478 (12.6%) 2506 (12.7%) 4984 (12.7%) Presence of baseline comorbidity One or more 7830 (39.9%) 7867 (40.0%) 15697 (39.9%) None 11800 (60.1%) 11824 (60.0%) 23624 (60.1%)

It is unclear what role the experimental drug and convalescent plasma had in the recovery of these patients. Prospective clinical trials are needed to delineate the role of investigational therapies in the care of patients with EVD.

Objectives To establish the optimal parameters for group testing of pooled specimens for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Methods The most efficient pool size was determined to be 5 specimens using a web-based application. From this analysis, 25 experimental pools were created using 50 microliter from one SARS-CoV-2 positive nasopharyngeal specimen mixed with 4 negative patient specimens (50 microliter each) for a total volume of 250 microliter l. Viral RNA was subsequently extracted from each pool and tested using the CDC SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay. Positive pools were consequently split into individual specimens and tested by extraction and PCR. This method was also tested on an unselected group of 60 nasopharyngeal specimens grouped into 12-pools. Results All 25 pools were positive with Cycle threshold (Ct) values within 0 and 5.03 Ct of the original individual specimens. The analysis of 60 specimens determined that two pools were positive followed by identification of two individual specimens among the 60 tested. This testing was accomplished while using 22 extractions/PCR tests, a savings of 38 reactions. Conclusions When the incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection is 10% or less, group testing will result in the saving of reagents and personnel time with an overall increase in testing capability of at least 69%.

BRAF inhibitor therapy may provide profound initial tumor regression in metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600 mutations, but treatment resistance often leads to disease progression. A multi-center analysis of BRAF inhibitor resistant patient tissue samples detected genomic changes after disease progression including multiple secondary mutations in the MAPK/Erk signaling pathway, mutant BRAF copy number gains, and BRAF alternative splicing as the predominant putative mechanisms of resistance, but 41.7% of samples had no known resistance drivers. In vitro models of BRAF inhibitor resistance have been developed under a wide variety of experimental conditions to investigate unknown drivers of resistance. Several in vitro models developed genetic alterations observed in patient tissue, but others modulate the response to BRAF inhibitors through increased expression of receptor tyrosine kinases. Both secondary genetic alterations and expression changes in receptor tyrosine kinases may increase activation of MAPK/Erk signaling in the presence of BRAF inhibitors as well as activate PI3K/Akt signaling to support continued growth. Melanoma cells that develop resistance in vitro may have increased dependence on serine or glutamine metabolism and have increased cell motility and metastatic capacity. Future studies of BRAF inhibitor resistance in vitro would benefit from adhering to experimental parameters that reflect development of BRAF inhibitor resistance in patients through using multiple cell lines, fully characterizing the dosing strategy, and reporting the fold change in drug sensitivity.

The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is a laboratory test that detects immunoglobulin and/or complement on the surface of red blood cells. The utility of the DAT is to sort hemolysis into an immune or nonimmune etiology. As with all tests, DAT results must be viewed in light of clinical and other laboratory data. This review highlights the most common clinical situations where the DAT can help classify causes of hemolysis, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia, transfusion-related hemolysis, hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn, drug-induced hemolytic anemia, passenger lymphocyte syndrome, and DAT-negative hemolytic anemia. In addition, the pitfalls and limitations of the test are addressed. False reactions may occur with improper technique, including improper washing, centrifugation, and specimen agitation at the time of result interpretation. Patient factors, such as spontaneous red blood cell agglutination, may also contribute to false results. Am. J. Hematol. 87:707-709, 2012. V

Many preclinical studies have been published that demonstrate potential for utilizing NK cells as an effective immunotherapy for various cancers (reviewed in Sutlu and Alici 14 ). Several of the preclinical NK-cell studies have ABBREVIATIONS: AML = acute myelogenous leukemia; cGMP = current good manufacturing processes; KIR(s) = killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor(s); NK = natural killer; UCB = umbilical cord blood.

The increased IOP in ocular hypertensive patients is caused by a reduction in trabecular outflow facility and uveoscleral outflow. Aqueous flow remains normal. When both ocular normotensive and hypertensive groups are combined, aqueous flow and anterior chamber volume decrease slightly with age.