Ultrasensitive detection of intact SARS-CoV-2 particles in complex biofluids using microfluidic affinity capture.

Measuring virus in biofluids is complicated by confounding biomolecules coisolated with viral nucleic acids. To address this, we developed an affinity-based microfluidic device for specific capture of intact severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Our approach used an engineered angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 to capture intact virus from plasma and other complex biofluids.

Unburied polytetrafluoroethylene scleral suture erosions and failure of pericardial graft revision.

Purpose: The purpose of this case series is to report three cases of exposed, unburied polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-tex) sutures used for scleral fixated intraocular lenses and their management, including failure of pericardial patch and success of irradiated corneal patch. This series aims to inform management options for this uncommon adverse event.

Observations: A retrospective case series was conducted of three patients who presented at a tertiary care center with exposure of unburied Gore-tex sutures used for fixation of intraocular lens.

Dysphagia in progressive supranuclear palsy: A scoping review.

Introduction: One of the most prevalent types of atypical parkinsonian syndrome is progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). PSP is associated with early onset of dysphagia which can result in malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia, affecting quality of life and increasing mortality rate. To date, research describing dysphagia in PSP and its impact is scant.

Evaluation of Educational Activity with Guatemalan Birth Attendants About Helping Babies Breathe.

Guatemala's Infant Mortality Rate was 20th highest in the world at 18 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022. Part of the problem is lay midwives (LMs) who attend most births at home lack training in helping babies breathe (HBB). LMs transfer babies struggling to breathe to firefighters (FF).

Implementation and Evaluation of a Pediatric Palliative Care Curriculum for Adult-Track HPM Fellows.

Introduction: Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) fellowship training provides education on caring for patients from early childhood through adulthood. Yet, there are few guidelines about how to teach these key components, and more specifically the components of Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC), to fellows who have a variety of backgrounds prior to entering HPM fellowship.

Methods: We created a curriculum in PPC that could be used with adult-track HPM fellows.

Macular Outer Retinal Atrophy Following Vitrectomy and Hypotony: Two Cases.

Purpose: To characterize two cases of focal outer retinal atrophy and hypotony after vitrectomy.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of two patients' records between 2019 and 2023.

Results: Patient 1 underwent vitrectomy, epiretinal membrane peel, and cataract extraction for visually significant macular pucker.

A positive ReceptivaDx result for BCL6 does not correlate with abnormal ERA results or decreased expression of receptivity-associated markers: two sides of the endometrial receptivity coin in fertility evaluation and treatment.

Objective: To investigate if a positive result on ReceptivaDx for evaluation of B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6), a proposed marker of progesterone resistance associated with impaired uterine receptivity, correlates with a suboptimal profile of receptivity-associated markers in the window of implantation using the endometrial receptivity array and single-nucleus transcriptomic analysis.

Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study; pilot study of single-nucleus RNA sequencing of prospectively collected window of implantation endometrium undergoing ReceptivaDx BCL6 evaluation.

Setting: Academic center.

Truncated Complement Factor H Y402 Gene Therapy Cures C3 Glomerulonephritis.

Patients with both age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and C3 glomerulonephritis (C3G) are challenged by the absence of effective therapies to reverse and eliminate their disease burden. Capitalizing on complement dysregulation as both a significant risk factor for AMD and the known pathophysiology of C3G, we investigated the potential for adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery of complement factor H (CFH) to rescue C3G in a -/- mouse model of C3G. While past efforts to treat C3G using exogenous human CFH resulted in limited success before immune rejection led to a foreign protein response, our findings demonstrate the capacity for long-term AAV-mediated delivery of truncated CFH (tCFH) to restore inhibition of the alternative pathway of complement and ultimately reverse C3G without immune rejection.

Ethics of residency candidates using application consulting services.

Although the prevalence is still being determined, more medical students are using application consulting companies when applying to competitive residencies such as dermatology. We outline the structure of these companies, the scope of services provided, and the associated costs. We also discuss the ethical implications of using such firms in the residency application process and the impact of these practices on the candidate selection process.

Managing the heat: In-Vessel Components.

The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme aims to deliver a first-of-a-kind fusion prototype powerplant (SPP). The SPP plasma places extreme heat, particle and structural loads onto the plasma-facing components (PFCs) of the divertor, limiters and inboard and outboard sections of the first wall. The PFCs must manage the heat and particle loads and wider powerplant requirements relating to safety, net power generation, tritium breeding and plant availability.

Pretest-post-test evaluation with lay midwives in remote Guatemala after educational activities about COVID-19.

Introduction: Guatemalan lay midwives are well-respected community leaders in a country that lacks the institutional capacity to meet healthcare needs related to pregnancy, newborns, and COVID-19. Thus, Guatemalan lay midwives, who attend the majority of births in their country and who attend most births at home, are in an optimal position to offer frontline support to pregnant women and newborns regarding the global pandemic. The primary objective of this program of study was to dispel myths about COVID-19 and to provide culturally relevant educational activities to low-literacy Guatemalan lay midwives about issues related to the virus, such as signs and symptoms, risks to the mother and fetus, which patients are most vulnerable, appropriate responses, benefits and side-effects of the vaccine, timing of the vaccine, how the virus interacts with breastfeeding, and breastfeeding recommendations.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus exposure and infection among Indigenous and tribal populations: a global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) exposure and infection among Indigenous and tribal populations globally.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We systematically searched bibliographic databases and grey literature (1/01/2000-16/06/2022).

Screening and treatment of anxiety symptoms within an interdisciplinary comprehensive epilepsy center.

Youth with epilepsy (YWE) are at elevated risk for anxiety, yet anxiety is often undetected and understudied in this population. Most research on anxiety in YWE is based on parent proxy-report and broad-band measures with limited sensitivity. The aim of the current study was to: 1) examine rates of anxiety symptoms in YWE using a diagnosis-specific, self-report measure of anxiety symptoms, 2) assess differences in anxiety symptoms by sociodemographic and medical variables, and 3) evaluate changes in anxiety symptoms following a brief behavioral health intervention delivered within an interdisciplinary epilepsy clinic visit.

The development and validation of the One Health Community Assessment.

Interdisciplinary collaborations to address human, animal, and environmental health have been emphasized since the inception of the One Health framework. A quantitative survey instrument was developed to measure perceptions of the impacts of pets on One Health. Using the exploratory sequential mixed methods approach, 20 interviews were conducted with individuals from a racially diverse and low-socioeconomic status community in the U.

Dysphagia Prevalence in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The objective of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of dysphagia and aspiration in people with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). A search of six electronic databases was performed from inception to April 2022. No context restrictions were set.

Paying attention to attention: a program evaluation of faculty-delivered mindfulness-based attention training to optimize wellness and professionalism in medical students.

Background: As physician distress rises, medical schools must provide programs to counter such distress at the earliest stages of training. Mindfulness training (MT) is one intervention that can alleviate stress during medical school. However, framing MT around wellness alone misses the opportunity to connect core cognitive and psychological capacities strengthened by MT to professional goals and skill acquisition inherent to successful medical training.

Single-cell and spatial multi-omics highlight effects of anti-integrin therapy across cellular compartments in ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is driven by immune and stromal subsets, culminating in epithelial injury. Vedolizumab (VDZ) is an anti-integrin antibody that is effective for treating UC. VDZ is known to inhibit lymphocyte trafficking to the intestine, but its broader effects on other cell subsets are less defined.

Patient and healthcare provider perceptions of acceptability of fingerstick point-of-care hepatitis C testing at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in Australia.

Background: Hepatitis C (HCV) is highly prevalent in First Nations communities globally. Barriers in the uptake of testing and treatment create challenges to realise elimination of HCV in these communities. In efforts to reduce barriers to testing and treatment, the SCALE-C study implemented an HCV test-and-treat intervention integrating point-of-care HCV testing and FibroScan®.

Aryl-diazonium salts offer a rapid and cost-efficient method to functionalize plastic microfluidic devices for increased immunoaffinity capture.

Microfluidic devices have been used for decades to isolate cells, viruses, and proteins using on-chip immunoaffinity capture using biotinylated antibodies, proteins, or aptamers. To accomplish this, the inner surface is modified to present binding moieties for the desired analyte. While this approach has been successful in research settings, it is challenging to scale many surface modification strategies.

Pudgy mouse rib deformities emanate from abnormal paravertebral longitudinal cartilage/bone accumulations.

The pudgy (pu/pu) mouse, caused by a recessive mutation in the Notch family Delta like-3 gene (Dll3), has severe rib, vertebral body and intervertebral disc abnormalities. Using whole-mount preparations and serial histologic sections we demonstrate: 1) localized paravertebral longitudinal cartilage/bone accumulations (PVLC/BAs) invariably associated with branched, fused and asymmetrically spaced ribs that emanate from it laterally; 2) abnormal rib formation immediately adjacent to abnormal vertebral body and intervertebral disc formation in asymmetric right/left fashion; and 3) patterns of rib deformation that differ in each mouse. Normal BALB/c embryo and age-matched non-affected pu/+ mice assessments allow for pu/pu comparisons.