A Novel Giant Magnetoresistance-Enabled Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for the Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infection.

Background: Despite advances in clinical microbiology, the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections remains challenging. Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) is a novel technology that enables the detection of trace amounts of cell-free DNA (cfDNA). We evaluated a high-multiplex molecular diagnostic assay coupled with GMR-enabled lab-on-a-chip technology that can detect 18 different fungal species.

Daily Fungal Cell-Free DNA Testing to Assess Clinical Status during Fungemia.

We present a case of a man immunocompromised due to myelodysplastic syndrome with fungemia who had a rising cell-free DNA (cfDNA) giant magnetoresistance (GMR) signal when tested daily using plasma blood samples. With the rise in GMR signal paralleling the development of skin lesions in this patient, we conclude that cfDNA can be used to indicate uncontrolled infection and thus help monitor response to therapy. This index patient provides evidence that an invasive fungal infection requires both direct antifungal therapy and an intact immune system to control the infection.

Formation of Coelomic Cavities during Abbreviated Development of the Brittle Star .

AbstractIn brittle stars, the coelomic cavities that form during embryogenesis contribute to most of the internal organ systems of the juvenile. In the ancestral mode of development, the coelomic cavities begin with bilateral symmetry and play a minor role in the function of the ophiopluteus larva. However, the coelomic cavities undergo extensive changes during metamorphosis to set up the body systems of the juvenile brittle star.

A saliva urea test strip for use in feline and canine patients: a pilot study.

We evaluated a saliva urea test strip (Kidney-Chek; SN Biomedical), as a rapid, noninvasive method to screen for azotemia. The test is a semiquantitative method that assesses 7 levels of saliva urea concentration, and indirectly serum urea, from <3 to >17 mmol/L. Ninety-two dogs (14 azotemic) with serum urea of 1.

Sharing Notes With Adolescents and Young Adults Admitted to an Inpatient Psychiatry Unit.

Since its inception in 2012, the OpenNotes initiative has been broadly adopted by medical institutions across the nation, giving more than 40 million patients access to their medical documentation. The response to this access has been overwhelmingly positive, as providers and adult patients report increased trust, transparency, and collaboration. In contrast, the benefits of OpenNotes have yet to be realized among pediatric and adolescent patients.