Identification of CD8 T-cell dysfunction associated with symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID and treatment with a nebulized antioxidant/anti-pathogen agent in a retrospective case series.

Background: Patients with post-acute sequelae of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC, i.e., Long COVID) have a symptom complex highly analogous to many features of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), suggesting they may share some aspects of pathogenesis in these similar disorders.

Laboratory medicine: The exemplar for value-based healthcare.

Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) aims to improve the overall quality, safety, and sustainability of healthcare while reducing delivery costs of more effective care. Despite advantages associated with VBHC transformation, the road to its adoption has been lengthy. Laboratory Medicine (LM) is in a prime position to lead the transition to VBHC because of its key role in diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Comparison of Fetal Fibronectin and Phosphorylated Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-1 Testing to Predict Preterm Delivery in Symptomatic Women: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of fetal fibronectin (fFN) and cervical phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (phIGFBP-1) tests, individually and in combination, to predict preterm delivery within 48 hours, 7 days and 14 days in symptomatic women.

Method: We selected women in Victoria, British Columbia, who presented between January 2008 and December 2017 at <34 weeks gestation at intermediate risk for labour (intact membrane, cervical dilatation <3 cm, and >6 contractions per hour). We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) for independent and concurrent testing and conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to ensure appropriate test utilization.

Validation of a proteomic biomarker panel to diagnose minor-stroke and transient ischaemic attack: phase 2 of SpecTRA, a large scale translational study.

Objective: To validate our previously developed 16 plasma-protein biomarker panel to differentiate between transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and non-cerebrovascular emergency department (ED) patients.

Method: Two consecutive cohorts of ED patients prospectively enrolled at two urban medical centers into the second phase of SpecTRA study (training, cohort 2A, n = 575; test, cohort 2B, n = 528). Plasma samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography/multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry.

Effects of visible and UV light on the characteristics and properties of crude oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions.

The effects of visible and UV light on the characteristics and properties of Prudhoe Bay (PB) and South Louisiana (SL) emulsions were investigated to better understand the role of sunlight on the fate of spilled crude oils that form emulsions with a dispersant in the aquatic environment. Before irradiation, crude oil emulsions showed the presence of dispersed crude oil micelles in a continuous water phase and crude oil components floating on the surface. The crude oil micelles decreased in size with irradiation, but emulsions retained their high degree of polydispersity.