Detection of mpox virus in wastewater provides forewarning of clinical cases in Canadian cities.

Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has shown to be an effective tool in monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and has helped guide public health actions. Consequently, WBS has expanded to now include the monitoring of mpox virus (MPXV) to contribute to its mitigation efforts. In this study, we demonstrate a unique sample processing and a molecular diagnostic strategy for MPXV detection that can inform on the epidemiological situation of mpox outbreaks through WBS.

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction detection of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Canadian wastewater.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern are associated with increased infectivity, severity, and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have been increasingly detected in clinical and wastewater surveillance in Canada and internationally. In this study, we present a real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay for detection of the N gene D377Y mutation associated with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in wastewater.

Methods: Wastewater samples (n=980) were collected from six cities and 17 rural communities across Canada from July to November 2021 and screened for the D377Y mutation.

Chest Pain Evaluation: Diagnostic Testing.

Chest pain/discomfort (CP) is a common symptom and can be a diagnostic dilemma for many clinicians. The misdiagnosis of an acute or progressive chronic cardiac etiology may carry a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. This review summarizes the different options and modalities for establishing the diagnosis and severity of coronary artery disease.

Characteristics of new users of recent antidiabetic drugs in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Background: Characteristics of patients using newer 2 and 3 line antidiabetic drugs in a real-world setting are poorly understood. We described the characteristics of new users of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) between 2016 and 2018.

Methods: We conducted a multi-database cohort study using administrative health databases from 7 Canadian provinces and the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Damage thresholds of silicon-based cameras for in-band and out-of-band laser expositions.

The damage threshold of silicon-based cameras to laser irradiation is measured for continuous wave lasers at both in-band and out-of-band wavelengths. Clarifications about the various kinds of damage reported in the literature are also presented and explained through various tests. For increasing laser intensities, the sequence of laser effects on cameras usually starts from dazzling, to a decrease of the pixel response up to the complete neutralization of its pixel matrix.

A wastewater-based epidemic model for SARS-CoV-2 with application to three Canadian cities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated wastewater-based surveillance, allowing public health to track the epidemic by monitoring the concentration of the genetic fingerprints of SARS-CoV-2 shed in wastewater by infected individuals. Wastewater-based surveillance for COVID-19 is still in its infancy. In particular, the quantitative link between clinical cases observed through traditional surveillance and the signals from viral concentrations in wastewater is still developing and hampers interpretation of the data and actionable public-health decisions.

A Sensitive and Rapid Wastewater Test for SARS-COV-2 and Its Use for the Early Detection of a Cluster of Cases in a Remote Community.

Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wastewater surveillance has been used to monitor trends in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) prevalence in the community. A major challenge in establishing wastewater surveillance programs, especially in remote areas, is the need for a well-equipped laboratory for sample analysis. Currently, no options exist for rapid, sensitive, mobile, and easy-to-use wastewater tests for SARS-CoV-2.

RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 mutations S 69-70 del, S N501Y and N D3L associated with variants of concern in Canadian wastewater samples.

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC) have been increasingly detected in clinical surveillance in Canada and internationally. These VoC are associated with higher transmissibility rates and in some cases, increased mortality. In this work we present a national wastewater survey of the distribution of three SARS-CoV-2 mutations found in the B.

An integrated multi-omic analysis of iPSC-derived motor neurons from C9ORF72 ALS patients.

Neurodegenerative diseases are challenging for systems biology because of the lack of reliable animal models or patient samples at early disease stages. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could address these challenges. We investigated DNA, RNA, epigenetics, and proteins in iPSC-derived motor neurons from patients with ALS carrying hexanucleotide expansions in .

The Unusual Conductivity of Na in PEO-Based Statistical Copolymer Solid Electrolytes: When Less Means More.

The low conductivity of Na electrolytes in solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) curtails the development of Na polymer batteries. In this study, NaClO (3-24 wt %, 90-9:1 O:Na) is dissolved in statistical copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) (0-20 mol %). Remarkably, the conductivity of these SPEs increases as the concentration of Na decreases, thus departing from the usual Nernstian behavior.

Validity of an algorithm to identify cardiovascular deaths from administrative health records: a multi-database population-based cohort study.

Background: Cardiovascular death is a common outcome in population-based studies about new healthcare interventions or treatments, such as new prescription medications. Vital statistics registration systems are often the preferred source of information about cause-specific mortality because they capture verified information about the deceased, but they may not always be accessible for linkage with other sources of population-based data. We assessed the validity of an algorithm applied to administrative health records for identifying cardiovascular deaths in population-based data.

Home versus indoor trampoline park injuries: A four-year review of hospital admissions, associated costs, and impact on patients.

Hospital admissions for trampoline-related injuries are a metric of injury severity. The literature shows hospital admissions are more likely to occur from trampoline park injuries rather than home trampoline injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographics, injury characteristics, patient experiences, and economic impact of home versus trampoline park injuries requiring admission to hospital before and after two indoor trampoline parks opened in the catchment area of a Level II trauma centre.

Potential caveats of putative microglia-specific markers for assessment of age-related cerebrovascular neuroinflammation.

Background: The ability to distinguish resident microglia from infiltrating myeloid cells by flow cytometry-based surface phenotyping is an important technique for examining age-related neuroinflammation. The most commonly used surface markers for the identification of microglia include CD45 (low-intermediate expression), CD11b, Tmem119, and P2RY12.

Methods: In this study, we examined changes in expression levels of these putative microglia markers in in vivo animal models of stroke, cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and aging as well as in an ex vivo LPS-induced inflammation model.

Peripherally-sourced myeloid antigen presenting cells increase with advanced aging.

Aging is associated with dysfunction of the gut microbiota-immune-brain axis, a major regulatory axis in both brain health and in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Antigen presenting cells (APCs) play a major role in sensing changes in the gut microbiota and regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. APCs have also been implicated in various chronic inflammatory conditions, including age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Rapid and highly sensitive portable detection of African swine fever virus.

African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread across Asia, devastating pig populations. The disease is nearly 100% fatal in pigs, and currently, there is no effective vaccine available. Therefore, early detection of ASF is critical for effective disease control.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and the Risk of Below-Knee Amputation: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Objective: Reports of amputations associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been inconsistent. We aimed to compare the risk of below-knee amputation with SGLT2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: This multicenter observational study used administrative health care databases from seven Canadian provinces and the U.

Atypical Spindle Cell Lipomatous Lesion Resected From Patient With History of CLL.

Atypical spindle cell lipomatous neoplasm, also known as well-differentiated spindle cell liposarcoma, represents a newly discovered entity of adipocytic tumors. Recent research has shown this tumor variant to be more related to spindle cell lipoma, rather than the originally hypothesized atypical lipomatous tumor spectrum. Here we present a case of a 58-year-old man with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with an enlarging mass on the posterior left shoulder, initially hypothesized to be a benign lipoma.

Novel polymer coating for chemically absorbing CO for safe Li-ion battery.

Gas evolution in Li-ion batteries remains a barrier for the implementation of high voltage materials in a pouch cell format; the inflation of the pouch cell is a safety issue that can cause battery failure. In particular, for manganese-based materials employed for fabricating cathodes, the dissolution of Mn in the electrolyte can accelerate cell degradation, and subsequently gas evolution, of which carbon dioxide (CO) is a major component. We report on the utilization of a mixture of polymers that can chemically absorb the CO, including the coating of aluminum foils, which serve as trapping sheets, introduced into two Ah pouch cells-based on a LiMnFePO (cathode) and a LiTiO (anode).

Comprehensive Review of Polymer Architecture for All-Solid-State Lithium Rechargeable Batteries.

Solid-state batteries are an emerging option for next-generation traction batteries because they are safe and have a high energy density. Accordingly, in polymer research, one of the main goals is to achieve solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) that could be facilely fabricated into any preferred size of thin films with high ionic conductivity as well as favorable mechanical properties. In particular, in the past two decades, many polymer materials of various structures have been applied to improve the performance of SPEs.

Age-dependent involvement of gut mast cells and histamine in post-stroke inflammation.

Background: Risk of stroke-related morbidity and mortality increases significantly with age. Aging is associated with chronic, low-grade inflammation, which is thought to contribute to the poorer outcomes after stroke seen in the elderly. Histamine (HA) is a major molecular mediator of inflammation, and mast cells residing in the gut are a primary source of histamine.

Lactoferrin reduces mycobacterial M1-type inflammation induced with trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate and facilitates the entry of fluoroquinolone into granulomas.

Primary infection with () results in the formation of a densely packed granulomatous response that essentially limits the entry and efficacy of immune effector cells. Furthermore, the physical nature of the granuloma does not readily permit the entry of therapeutic agents to sites where organisms reside. The cell wall mycolic acid, trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM), is a physiologically relevant molecule for modelling macrophage-mediated events during the establishment of the tuberculosis-induced granuloma pathogenesis.

Gut Microbiota-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Poststroke Recovery in Aged Mice.

Rationale: The elderly experience profound systemic responses after stroke, which contribute to higher mortality and more severe long-term disability. Recent studies have revealed that stroke outcomes can be influenced by the composition of gut microbiome. However, the potential benefits of manipulating the gut microbiome after injury is unknown.