QuICSeedR: An R package for analyzing fluorophore-assisted seed amplification assay data.

Motivation: Fluorophore-assisted seed amplification assays (F-SAAs), such as real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) and fluorophore-assisted protein misfolding cyclic amplification (F-PMCA), have become indispensable tools for studying protein misfolding in neurodegenerative diseases. However, analyzing data generated by these techniques often requires complex and time-consuming manual processes. Additionally, the lack of standardization in F-SAA data analysis presents a significant challenge to the interpretation and reproducibility of F-SAA results across different laboratories and studies.

Nanoparticle-Enhanced RT-QuIC (Nano-QuIC) Diagnostic Assay for Misfolded Proteins.

Misfolded proteins associated with various neurodegenerative diseases often accumulate in tissues or circulate in biological fluids years before the clinical onset, thus representing ideal diagnostic targets. Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC), a protein-based seeded-amplification assay, holds great potential for early disease detection, yet challenges remain for routine diagnostic application. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), associated with misfolded prion proteins of cervids, serves as an ideal model for evaluating new RT-QuIC methodologies.

A field-deployable diagnostic assay for the visual detection of misfolded prions.

Diagnostic tools for the detection of protein-misfolding diseases (i.e., proteopathies) are limited.

Open-channel microfluidics via resonant wireless power transfer.

Open-channel microfluidics enables precise positioning and confinement of liquid volume to interface with tightly integrated optics, sensors, and circuit elements. Active actuation via electric fields can offer a reduced footprint compared to passive microfluidic ensembles and removes the burden of intricate mechanical assembly of enclosed systems. Typical systems actuate via manipulating surface wettability (i.

Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial of Povidone-Iodine 1.25% Solution Versus Topical Antibiotics for Treatment of Bacterial Keratitis.

Purpose: To compare povidone-iodine 1.25% ophthalmic solution with topical antibiotics for treatment of bacterial keratitis in areas of the world where use of effective topical antibiotics may not be an option.

Study Design: Randomized, controlled, investigator-masked clinical trial.

Impact of hospital variables on case mix index as a marker of disease severity.

Case mix index (CMI) has become a standard indicator of hospital disease severity in the United States and internationally. However, CMI was designed to calculate hospital payments, not to track disease severity, and is highly dependent on documentation and coding accuracy. The authors evaluated whether CMI varied by characteristics affecting hospitals' disease severity (eg, trauma center or not).

Use of intraoperative fluoroscopy during laparotomy to identify fragments of retained Essure microinserts: case report.

In previous case-reports of Essure microinsert perforation, the microinsert was successfully removed at laparoscopy. Herein is discussed the scenario of persistent pelvic pain over several years after an apparently successful laparoscopic retrieval of a perforating right-sided microinsert. In the interim, the patient underwent 2 unsuccessful exploratory laparotomy procedures in an attempt to retrieve additional microinsert fragments that had perforated the uterus.

Booze, drugs, and pop music: trends in substance portrayals in the billboard top 100-1968-2008.

This paper presents the results of a content analysis of alcohol and drug portrayals in the top 100 Billboard songs from each of the years 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, and 2008, thus allowing both a characterization of substance portrayals in music generally and an analysis of changes over time. Of the final sample of 496 songs, 10.3% contained a reference to alcohol and 5.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 seroprevalence and incidence in acute and chronic HIV-1 infection.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) HIV co-infection is common and associated with increased risk of HIV transmission. HSV-2 seroprevalence was assessed on stored samples from baseline and one year follow-up from 81 patients identified with acute HIV infection and 81 age-matched chronically infected men. HSV-2 seroprevalence at baseline was lower for those with acute rather than chronic HIV-infection, 51.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics of oral testosterone undecanoate with concomitant inhibition of 5α-reductase by finasteride.

Oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) is used to treat testosterone deficiency; however, oral TU treatment elevates dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which may be associated with an increased risk of acne, male pattern baldness and prostate hyperplasia. Co-administration of 5α-reductase inhibitors with other formulations of oral testosterone suppresses DHT production and increases serum testosterone. We hypothesized that finasteride would increase serum testosterone and lower DHT during treatment with oral TU.

Characterization of the anaemia associated with Graves' disease.

Background: Graves' disease (GD) is associated with hyperthyroidism. Thyrotoxicosis adversely affects multiple organ systems including haematopoiesis. Anaemia occurring specifically in GD has not been systematically studied previously.

Fill-tube-induced mass perturbations on x-ray-driven, ignition-scale, inertial-confinement-fusion capsule shells and the implications for ignition experiments.

On the first inertial-confinement-fusion ignition facility, the target capsule will be DT filled through a long, narrow tube inserted into the shell. microg-scale shell perturbations Delta m' arising from multiple, 10-50 microm-diameter, hollow SiO2 tubes on x-ray-driven, ignition-scale, 1-mg capsules have been measured on a subignition device. Simulations compare well with observation, whence it is corroborated that Delta m' arises from early x-ray shadowing by the tube rather than tube mass coupling to the shell, and inferred that 10-20 microm tubes will negligibly affect fusion yield on a full-ignition facility.

Emergency Department Allies: a Web-based multihospital pediatric asthma tracking system.

Objective: To describe the development of a Web-based multihospital pediatric asthma tracking system and present results from the initial 18-month implementation of patient tracking experience.

Design: The Emergency Department (ED) Allies tracking system is a secure, password-protected data repository. Use-case methodology served as the foundation for technical development, testing, and implementation.

Rate, extent, and modifiers of spermatogenic recovery after hormonal male contraception: an integrated analysis.

Background: Hormonal methods for safe, reliable, and reversible contraception based on the suppression of spermatogenesis could soon become available. We have investigated the rate, extent, and predictors of reversibility of hormonal male contraception.

Methods: We undertook an integrated multivariate time-to-event analysis of data from individual participants in 30 studies published in 1990-2005, in which sperm output was monitored every month until recovery.

Acute secondary adrenal insufficiency after traumatic brain injury: a prospective study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, time course, clinical characteristics, and effect of adrenal insufficiency (AI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Prospective intensive care unit-based cohort study.

Setting: Three level 1 trauma centers.

Serum fetuin-A in nondialyzed patients with diabetic nephropathy: relationship with coronary artery calcification.

Background: Fetuin-A is the most potent circulating inhibitor of calcium phosphorus precipitation and, possibly, an important mediator of insulin resistance.

Methods: In order to determine the role of fetuin-A in the high coronary artery calcification (CAC) burden seen in nondialyzed individuals with diabetic nephropathy (DN), post-hoc analyses of data collected from a cross-sectional study of 88 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was done [age, 40-65 years; normoalbuminuria, N= 30 (Latinos); DN, N= 58 (Latinos and African Americans)].

Results: The serum levels of fetuin-A were significantly higher among Latinos with DN when compared to either African Americans with DN or Latino diabetics with normoalbuminuria.

Influence of body mass index and gender on growth hormone (GH) responses to GH-releasing hormone plus arginine and insulin tolerance tests.

The aim of this study is to assess whether gender and body mass index (BMI) should be considered in developing thresholds to define GH deficiency, using GH responses to GHRH + arginine (ARG) stimulation and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Thirty-nine healthy subjects (19 males, 20 females; ages 21-50 yr) underwent GHRH + ARG, and another 27 subjects (19 males, 8 females; ages 20-49 yr) underwent ITT. Peak GH response was significantly higher (P = 0.

Corneal topography of neonates and infants.

Objective: To evaluate corneal curvature by direct topographic analysis during the first 6 months of life.

Methods: We evaluated corneal topography in 200 infants using a specialized handheld topographic instrument at a mean of 1.6 days after birth, and in some again at 3 and 6 months in the newborn nursery and ophthalmology clinic of a public hospital.

Non-linear cardiac output dynamics during ramp-incremental cycle ergometry.

Published literature asserts that cardiac output (Q(.) = V(.) >O(2)x1/C((a-v))O(2)) increases as a linear function of oxygen uptake with a slope of approximately 5-6 during constant work rate exercise.