New Diagnostic Strategy for Onychomycosis: First-Line Utilization of DermaGenius PCR and Calcofluor Microscopy Combined with Selective Culturing.

Onychomycosis (OM) is a widespread infection requiring prolonged treatment with potential side effects. Diagnostic certainty is therefore essential before initiating antifungal therapy. Molecular biology has already shown benefits in reducing the time to diagnosis, providing technical ease, and increasing sensitivity for the respective species that molecular tests can detect.

Clinical and molecular epidemiological features of critically ill patients with invasive group A Streptococcus infections: a Belgian multicenter case-series.

Background: Recent alerts have highlighted an increase in group A streptococcal (GAS) infections since 2022 in Europe and the United States. Streptococcus pyogenes can cause limited skin or mucosal disease, but can also present as severe invasive disease necessitating critical care. We performed a multicenter retrospective study of patients with GAS infections recently admitted to Belgian intensive care units (ICUs) since January 2022.

[Persistent low hCG levels beyond pregnancy: report of two cases and review of the literature].

Unexpected finding or persistence of low human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels is not a rare situation. It requires a clinico-biological approach in order to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to inappropriate diagnostic or therapeutic attitudes. Beyond pregnancy, persistent low levels of hCG may be associated with various benign and malignant conditions, i.

Evolution of the content of THC and other major cannabinoids in drug-type cannabis cuttings and seedlings during growth of plants.

In Europe, authorities frequently ask forensic laboratories to analyze seized cannabis plants to prove that cultivation was illegal (drug type and not fiber type). This is generally done with mature and flowering plants. However, authorities are often confronted with very young specimens.

Differential effects of cocaine on dopamine neuron firing in awake and anesthetized rats.

Cocaine (benzoylmethylecgonine), a natural alkaloid, is a powerful psychostimulant and a highly addictive drug. Unfortunately, the relationships between its behavioral and electrophysiological effects are not clear. We investigated the effects of cocaine on the firing of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons, both in anesthetized and awake rats, using pre-implanted multielectrode arrays and a recently developed telemetric recording system.

Innovative development and validation of an HPLC/DAD method for the qualitative and quantitative determination of major cannabinoids in cannabis plant material.

GC is commonly used for the analysis of cannabis samples, e.g. in forensic chemistry.