Impact of automated nucleic acid extraction platforms on plasma Cytomegalovirus DNA loads quantitated by real-time PCR normalized to the 1st WHO international standard.

Introduction: The extent to which commercially available nucleic acid extraction platforms impact the magnitude of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA loads measured in plasma specimens by 1st WHO standard-normalized real-time PCR assays is uncertain.

Methods: This retrospective study compares the performance of Abbott m2000sp, Qiagen QIAsymphony SP, and KingFisher Flex platforms using plasma samples from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and plasma spiked with the CMV AD169 strain. The Abbott RealTime CMV PCR assay was used for CMV DNA quantitation.

Experimental and Computational Synthesis of TiO Sol-Gel Coatings.

During the experimental formation of sol-gel coatings, the colloid dispersions go through a drying process, and the structure of the coatings is formed as a result of complex chemical, colloidal, and capillary interactions. While computer simulations provide guidelines to tune and even design the nanomaterials synthesis, simulations of coating structure formation are hitherto unknown in the literature. Based on real experiments, we establish here a ReaxFF reactive force field-based molecular dynamics simulation protocol in order to investigate and determine the role of the experimental conditions on the pore structure formation in the coatings.

In-hospital outcomes following an acute coronary syndrome in patients with recent cannabis use.

Background: The prevalence and short-term cardiovascular consequences of recent cannabis use in patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit for acute coronary syndrome is not well established.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of recent cannabis use detected by prospective systematic screening, and its prognostic value in predicting the occurrence of in-hospital major adverse events in consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: From 07 to 22 April 2021, all consecutive patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit in 39 centres throughout France were studied prospectively.

Optimizing the composition of LaF:Yb,Tm upconverting nanoparticles synthesised by the co-precipitation method to improve the emission intensity.

LaF:1-6 mol%Yb,0.1 mol%Tm nanoparticles with upconversion properties were synthesised by the co-precipitation method. Particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis.