A microfluidic fully paper-based analytical device integrated with loop-mediated isothermal amplification and nano-biosensors for rapid, sensitive, and specific quantitative detection of infectious diseases.

Bacterial meningitis, an infection of the membranes (meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the brain and spinal cord, is one of the major causes of death and disability worldwide. Higher case-fatality rates and short survival times have been reported in developing countries. Hence, a quick, straightforward, and low-cost approach is in great demand for the diagnosis of meningitis.

Evidence of Calcium Signaling and Modulation of the LmrS Multidrug Resistant Efflux Pump Activity by Ca Ions in .

Calcium ions (Ca) play a pivotal role in eukaryote cell signaling and regulate many physiological functions. Although a similar role for Ca in prokaryotes has been difficult to demonstrate, there is increasing evidence for Ca as a cell regulator in bacteria. The purpose of this study was to investigate Ca signaling and the effect of Ca on the s multidrug resistant efflux pump LmrS.

A profile of the Simplexa™ Bordetella Direct assay for the detection and differentiation of and in nasopharyngeal swabs.

Introduction: Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by and to minor extent . Despite high vaccination coverage, epidemics persist worldwide. Laboratory testing with the capacity to support increasing demand and generate fast and accurate results is needed to promptly provide treatment to mitigate symptoms, prevent transmission, and thus impact infection control and disease surveillance.

Assessment of Antibiotic Levels, Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria and Genetic Biomarkers in the Waters of the Rio Grande River Between the United States-Mexico Border.

Background: The worldwide emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria has become a health crisis, as fewer or sometimes no antimicrobial agents are effective against these bacteria. The Rio Grande River is the natural boundary between the United States (US) and Mexico. It spans a border region between Texas, New Mexico and Mexico.

Rapid and Accurate Diagnosis of the Respiratory Disease Pertussis on a Point-of-Care Biochip.

Background: Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium (). The infection is difficult to diagnose especially in underserved or resource-limited areas. We developed a low-cost and instrument-free diagnostic method for rapid and accurate detection of on a point-of-care (POC) testing device.

Sports-Related Concussion: Neurometabolic Aspects.

Concussion is a transitory brain injury resulting from a blow to the head. Concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which is self-limited. Repetitive mTBI has been associated with chronic, progressive neurological damage.

FSE-Ag complex NS: preparation and evaluation of antibacterial activity.

Silver (Ag) complexes of drugs and their nanosystems have great potential as antibacterials. Recently, an Ag complex of furosemide (Ag-FSE) has shown to be a promising antimicrobial. However, poor solubility of Ag-FSE could hamper its introduction into clinics.

Multiplexed Instrument-Free Bar-Chart SpinChip Integrated with Nanoparticle-Mediated Magnetic Aptasensors for Visual Quantitative Detection of Multiple Pathogens.

A portable multiplexed bar-chart SpinChip (MB-SpinChip) integrated with nanoparticle-mediated magnetic aptasensors was developed for visual quantitative instrument-free detection of multiple pathogens. This versatile multiplexed SpinChip combines aptamer-specific recognition and nanoparticle-catalyzed pressure amplification to achieve a sample-to-answer output for sensitive point-of-care testing (POCT). This is the first report of pathogen detection using a volumetric bar-chart chip, and it is also the first bar-chart chip using a "spinning" mechanism to achieve multiplexed bar-chart detection.

A paper/polymer hybrid CD-like microfluidic SpinChip integrated with DNA-functionalized graphene oxide nanosensors for multiplex qLAMP detection.

A paper/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) hybrid CD-like microfluidic SpinChip integrated with DNA probe-functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanosensors was developed for multiplex quantitative LAMP detection (mqLAMP). This approach can simply and effectively address a major challenging problem of multiplexing in current LAMP methods.

Multiplexed instrument-free meningitis diagnosis on a polymer/paper hybrid microfluidic biochip.

Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis), Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) are three most common pathogens accounting for most bacterial meningitis, a serious global infectious disease with high fatality, especially in developing nations.

ESBL E coli and P. aeruginosa Resistance to Ceftolozane-Tazobactam in a Patient with a Liver Abscess. The Search for an Omnipotent Antibiotic Goes On!

Multi drug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Extended- Spectrum-lactamase (ESBL) Enterobacteriaceae are becoming an increasing difficult clinical problem. Immediate resistance to some of the new antimicrobials such as ceftolozane/tazobactam is unusual and is due to a variety of mechanisms such as hyper-production of inactivating enzymes and gene mutation. In addition, previous antimicrobial administration is a well-recognized risk factor to develop resistance.

Calcium binding proteins and calcium signaling in prokaryotes.

With the continued increase of genomic information and computational analyses during the recent years, the number of newly discovered calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) in prokaryotic organisms has increased dramatically. These proteins contain sequences that closely resemble a variety of eukaryotic calcium (Ca(2+)) binding motifs including the canonical and pseudo EF-hand motifs, Ca(2+)-binding β-roll, Greek key motif and a novel putative Ca(2+)-binding domain, called the Big domain. Prokaryotic CaBPs have been implicated in diverse cellular activities such as division, development, motility, homeostasis, stress response, secretion, transport, signaling and host-pathogen interactions.

Neurometabolic aspects of sports-related concussion.

Concussion is a transitory brain injury resulting from a blow to the head. Concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which is self-limited. Repetitive mTBI has been associated with chronic, progressive neurologic damage.

A versatile PDMS/paper hybrid microfluidic platform for sensitive infectious disease diagnosis.

Bacterial meningitis is a serious health concern worldwide. Given that meningitis can be fatal and many meningitis cases occurred in high-poverty areas, a simple, low-cost, highly sensitive method is in great need for immediate and early diagnosis of meningitis. Herein, we report a versatile and cost-effective polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/paper hybrid microfluidic device integrated with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the rapid, sensitive, and instrument-free detection of the main meningitis-causing bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis (N.

A PDMS/paper/glass hybrid microfluidic biochip integrated with aptamer-functionalized graphene oxide nano-biosensors for one-step multiplexed pathogen detection.

Infectious pathogens often cause serious public health concerns throughout the world. There is an increasing demand for simple, rapid and sensitive approaches for multiplexed pathogen detection. In this paper we have developed a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/paper/glass hybrid microfluidic system integrated with aptamer-functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nano-biosensors for simple, one-step, multiplexed pathogen detection.

Greater than 95% success with 14-day bismuth quadruple anti- Helicobacter pylori therapy: a pilot study in US Hispanics.

Background: A combination capsule of bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline plus omeprazole given as 10-day therapy has an overall effectiveness of 92-93% in per-protocol analysis (Grade B) with eradication of 86-91% of metronidazole-resistant Helicobacter pylori. This study aimed to explore whether extending the duration to 14 days would improve overall effectiveness per protocol to ≥95% (Grade A) in a population in which metronidazole resistance was anticipated to exist.

Methods: A one-arm, open-label pilot study of H.

Helicobacter pylori eradication and change in markers of iron stores among non-iron-deficient children in El Paso, Texas: an etiologic intervention study.

Objectives: We assessed whether Helicobacter pylori eradication was followed by changes in iron stores among non-iron-deficient children.

Materials And Methods: Double-blind randomized intervention trial on 110 asymptomatic 3- to 10-year-olds with H pylori infection assigned to any of the following 4 arms: both quadruple eradication and iron supplementation, either quadruple sequential eradication or iron supplementation, or placebo only. Hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin were measured at baseline and 8 months later to assess changes according to study arm, H pylori infection status at ≥45 days, and cytotoxin-associated gene product A status.

Double-blind randomized trial of quadruple sequential Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in asymptomatic infected children in El Paso, Texas.

Objectives: We assessed the efficacy of a novel quadruple sequential 10-day eradication therapy, its compliance, and reported adverse events in a sample of asymptomatically Helicobacter pylori-infected children in El Paso, Texas, as part of a study aiming to assess the influence of this infection on the levels of markers of iron stores.

Patients And Methods: Using a double-blind randomized trial design, 110 asymptomatic children ages 3 to 11 with H pylori infection were randomly assigned to receive either a 10-day course of sequential eradication therapy plus 6 weeks of iron supplementation, eradication therapy plus placebo, iron supplementation plus placebo, or placebo only. H pylori infection status was assessed ≥45 days after treatment using the urea breath test.

Study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on the U.S./Mexico border.

Background: El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico comprise the largest U.S./Mexico border population.

Evaluation of a novel stool native catalase antigen test for Helicobacter pylori infection in asymptomatic North American children.

Rapid immunochromatographic tests for Helicobacter pylori infection have been developed to allow "near-patient" testing. We therefore performed a pilot study to test a rapid immunochromatographic stool antigen test for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in asymptomatic children.

Proteomics: clinical applications.

The word proteomics was coined in 1997 to describe the changes in all proteins expressed by a genome. Several sophisticated techniques including two-dimensional electrophoresis, imaging, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics are used in proteomics to identify, quantify, and characterize proteins. Clinical proteomics is the application ofproteomics techniques to the medical field.

Proteomics technology.

Proteomics techniques are essential tools for protein detection and characterization. Besides several advances in the proteomics field, the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) technique is the most important method for protein separation. The combination of 2-DE technique, new advances in mass spectrometry and bioinformatics promises to unveil protein function and pathological mechanisms of disease.

Introduction to proteomics.

Technological advances in the field of genomics have given rise to the development of a new area called proteomics. Proteomics involves the analysis of all proteins expressed in a genome and uses a combination of sophisticated technologies such as two-dimensional electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and bioinformatics to identify and characterize proteins. This new area offers the potential to discover new biomarkers, improve diagnosis, and improve the prognosis of disease processes.

Calcium signalling in bacteria.

Whereas the importance of calcium as a cell regulator is well established in eukaryotes, the role of calcium in prokaryotes is still elusive. Over the past few years, there has been an increased interest in the role of calcium in bacteria. It has been demonstrated that as in eukaryotic organisms, the intracellular calcium concentration in prokaryotes is tightly regulated ranging from 100 to 300 nM.

Use of liposomal amphotericin B in the treatment of disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

Disseminated fungal infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Amphotericin B is an important part of the therapy and treatment of invasive and life-threatening mycoses. We present a case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis in a patient who was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) on steroid therapy.