O-ARM navigation in tubular retractor-assisted minimal invasive parafascicular approach: technical note.

Trans-sulcal minimally invasive parafascicular surgery is an emerging technique to approach deep lesions with minimal brain retraction. Localization of the tubular retractor during surgery is critical, and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging and neuronavigation present limitations. We describe the intraoperative use of O-Arm® coupled with pre-operative tractography to precisely localize the tubular retractor.

Robotically facilitated parafasicular microsurgery to a brain arteriovenous malformation in a paediatric patient.

Purpose: We report what we believe is the first application of robotically constrained image-guided surgery to approach a fistulous micro-arteriovenous malformation in a highly eloquent location. Drawing on institutional experience with a supervisory-control robotic system, a series of steps were devised to deliver a tubular retractor system to a deeply situated micro-arteriovenous malformation. The surgical footprint of this procedure was minimised along with the neurological morbidity.

Machine-learning algorithm in acute stroke: real-world experience.

Aim: To assess the clinical performance of a commercially available machine learning (ML) algorithm in acute stroke.

Materials And Methods: CT and CT angiography (CTA) studies of 104 consecutive patients (43 females, age range 19-93, median age 62) performed for suspected acute stroke at a single tertiary institution with real-time ML software analysis (RAPID™ ASPECTS and CTA) were included. Studies were retrospectively reviewed independently by two neuroradiologists in a blinded manner.

Implications of Dengue Virus Maturation on Vaccine Induced Humoral Immunity in Mice.

The use of dengue virus (DENV) vaccines has been hindered by the complexities of antibody dependent enhancement (ADE). Current late-stage vaccine candidates utilize attenuated and chimeric DENVs that produce particles of varying maturities. Antibodies that are elicited by preferentially exposed epitopes on immature virions have been linked to increased ADE.

The structure of an infectious immature flavivirus redefines viral architecture and maturation.

Flaviviruses are the cause of severe human diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks. These viruses use a potent fusion machinery to enter target cells that needs to be restrained during viral assembly and egress. A molecular chaperone, premembrane (prM) maintains the virus particles in an immature, fusion-incompetent state until they exit the cell.

A broadly protective antibody that targets the flavivirus NS1 protein.

There are no approved flaviviral therapies and the development of vaccines against flaviruses has the potential of being undermined by antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). The flavivirus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a promising vaccine antigen with low ADE risk but has yet to be explored as a broad-spectrum therapeutic antibody target. Here, we provide the structural basis of NS1 antibody cross-reactivity through cocrystallization of the antibody 1G5.

The effect of 50% oxygen on PtCO in patients with stable COPD, bronchiectasis, and neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis: randomised cross-over trials.

Background: High-concentration oxygen therapy causes increased arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO) in patients with COPD, asthma, pneumonia, obesity and acute lung injury. The objective of these studies was to investigate whether this physiological response to oxygen therapy occurs in stable patients with neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis, and bronchiectasis.

Methods: Three randomised cross-over trials recruited stable patients with neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis (n = 20), bronchiectasis (n = 24), and COPD (n = 24).

Gonadal and Endocrine Analysis of a Gynandromorphic Chicken.

Birds have a ZZ male and ZW female sex chromosome system. The relative roles of genetics and hormones in regulating avian sexual development have been revealed by studies on gynandromorphs. Gynandromorphs are rare bilateral sex chimeras, male on one side of the body and female on the other.

Physiological effects of titrated oxygen via nasal high-flow cannulae in COPD exacerbations: A randomized controlled cross-over trial.

Background And Objective: Increased arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO ) is an important complication of acute exacerbations of COPD. The effects of nasal high-flow cannulae (NHF) on PaCO in patients with COPD exacerbations, and whether this therapy should be used in this clinical situation, are less certain. We aimed to investigate the effect of NHF on PaCO in patients admitted to hospital with a COPD exacerbation.

Tolerability of Nasal Delivery of Humidified and Warmed Air at Different Temperatures: A Randomised Double-Blind Pilot Study.

Objectives: Delivery of warmed, humidified air via nasal high flow therapy could potentially reduce replication of temperature-sensitive viruses in the upper respiratory tract. This study investigates whether nasal high flow therapy is well tolerated by healthy adults at 37°C and 41°C.

Methods: In this randomised, double-blind, controlled crossover pilot trial, nasal high flow therapy was used to deliver humidified air at 35 L/min, at either 37°C or 41°C, for three one-hour sessions of use over one day.

Hospital admissions for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in New Zealand.

Aim: To investigate hospital admissions for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis during July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2013; and to describe their distribution and annual cost in New Zealand.

Methods: Admissions with a principal diagnosis of bronchiectasis (ICD10 J47), excluding cystic fibrosis, and length of stay <90 days were analysed by age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation, DHB, re-admissions and seasonality.

Results: There were 5,494 admissions with a mean annual rate of 25.

Mycotic keratitis due to Scedosporium apiospermum in layer pullets.

Investigation of ocular disease in a flock of layer pullets identified corneal infection with Scedosporium apiospermum, a fungus of emerging significance in medicine and veterinary medicine.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies and myeloperoxidase autoantibodies in clinical expression of Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Background: The clinical significance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) in the phenotypic expression of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is uncertain.

Objective: We sought to investigate the relationship between ANCA status and the clinical expression of CSS in a case series derived from the US Food and Drug Administration's adverse events database.

Methods: All cases of CSS reported to the US Food and Drug Administration from 1997 to April 2003 were reviewed.

Randomised controlled trial of high concentration versus titrated oxygen therapy in severe exacerbations of asthma.

Background: The effect on Paco2 of high concentration oxygen therapy when administered to patients with severe exacerbations of asthma is uncertain.

Methods: 106 patients with severe exacerbations of asthma presenting to the Emergency Department were randomised to high concentration oxygen (8 l/min via medium concentration mask) or titrated oxygen (to achieve oxygen saturations between 93% and 95%) for 60 min. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or disorders associated with hypercapnic respiratory failure were excluded.

Identification of Chlamydial species in crocodiles and chickens by PCR-HRM curve analysis.

Recently, a PCR protocol (16SG), targeting 16S rRNA gene coupled with high resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis was developed in our laboratory and shown to reliably detect and identify the seven different Chlamydiaceae spp. In this study, the potential of this method was assessed for detection and differentiation of Chlamydiosis in clinical specimens. Of the total number of 733 specimens from a range of animal species, 219 (30%) were found positive by 16SG PCR.

Association between leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy and Churg-Strauss syndrome: an analysis of the FDA AERS database.

Background: The possible role of leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) therapy in the pathogenesis of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is uncertain. The aim was to examine the association between LTRA therapy and CSS in cases registered in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database.

Methods: All cases of suspected drug-induced CSS reported to the AERS database between November 1997 and April 2003 were reviewed.

Characterization of Chlamydiaceae species using PCR and high resolution melt curve analysis of the 16S rRNA gene.

Aim: To design a rapid diagnostic test to differentiate species belonging to the family Chlamydiaceae.

Methods And Results: Five oligonucleotide sets each targeting various conserved regions of the genome of six species (Chlamydia muridarum, C. suis, C.

Vision and self-reported mobility performance in patients with low vision.

Background: As vision plays a significant role in mobility performance, it is usual to refer low vision patients, particularly those who complain of mobility difficulties, for orientation and mobility (O&M) training to help them maintain safe independent travel. Our study aimed to determine whether there was a relationship between measures of vision and self-reported mobility, and the applicability of a patient-based mobility assessment in patients with heterogeneous causes of visual loss.

Method: We assessed the high and low contrast visual acuity, visual field and scanning ability of 30 patients with low vision.

Follow-up on metabolic markers in children treated for obstructive sleep apnea.

Rationale: In adults, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with metabolic dysfunction that improves with treatment of OSA. No equivalent studies exist in children.

Objective: To examine the relationship between metabolic markers and OSA with time and treatment in children.

Communication and health protection issues arising from a flooding emergency.

Objective: To identify and describe the key communication and health protection issues surrounding a flooding emergency.

Methods: A telephone questionnaire was used to assess health and safety information sources, information recalled, and behavioral responses among residents of the town of Feilding, New Zealand following a major flood in February 2004. This was supplemented by key informant interviews and a newspaper content analysis.

Metabolism of the intervertebral disc: effects of low levels of oxygen, glucose, and pH on rates of energy metabolism of bovine nucleus pulposus cells.

Study Design: In vitro measurements of metabolic rates of isolated bovine nucleus pulposus cells at varying levels of oxygen, glucose, and pH.

Objectives: To obtain quantitative information on the interactions between oxygen and glucose concentrations and pH, and the rates of oxygen and glucose consumption and lactic acid production, for disc nucleus cells.

Summary Of Background Data: Disc cells depend on diffusion from blood vessels at the disc margins for supply of nutrients.

Isolation of Ross River virus from mosquitoes and from horses with signs of musculo-skeletal disease.

Objective: To report clinical and clinicopathological findings in horses naturally infected with Ross River virus (RRV) and identify likely mosquito arbovirus vector species.

Procedures: Veterinarians submitted serum samples from 750 horses because they suspected Ross River virus (RRV) infection. The samples were tested for the presence of IgM and IgG antibody to RRV and for the presence of virus.