Disseminated cerebral toxoplasmosis in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Infections are one of the most common causes of mortality in immunocompromised patients. In patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies, treatment with stem cell transplants (SCT) or T-cell suppressing chemotherapy increases the risk of central nervous system (CNS) infections, of which toxoplasmosis is the most common. We report the case of a 63 year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that presented with gait instability and visual changes.

Alpha-Emitters and Targeted Alpha Therapy in Oncology: from Basic Science to Clinical Investigations.

Alpha-emitters are radionuclides that decay through the emission of high linear energy transfer α-particles and possess favorable pharmacologic profiles for cancer treatment. When coupled with monoclonal antibodies, peptides, small molecules, or nanoparticles, the excellent cytotoxic capability of α-particle emissions has generated a strong interest in exploring targeted α-therapy in the pre-clinical setting and more recently in clinical trials in oncology. Multiple obstacles have been overcome by researchers and clinicians to accelerate the development of targeted α-therapies, especially with the recent improvement in isotope production and purification, but also with the development of innovative strategies for optimized targeting.

Characterization of a virulent ranavirus isolated from marine ornamental fish in India.

A viral agent implicated in the mortality of marine ornamental "Similar Damselfish" ( Allen, 1991) was isolated and characterized. The virus grew well in marine and freshwater fish cell lines from seabass and snakehead. The virus was sensitive to chloroform, acidic pH (3.

Separation of 103Ru from a proton irradiated thorium matrix: A potential source of Auger therapy radionuclide 103mRh.

Ruthenium-103 is the parent isotope of 103mRh (t1/2 56.1 min), an isotope of interest for Auger electron therapy. During the proton irradiation of thorium targets, large amounts of 103Ru are generated through proton induced fission.

Nanopore DNA Sequencing and Genome Assembly on the International Space Station.

We evaluated the performance of the MinION DNA sequencer in-flight on the International Space Station (ISS), and benchmarked its performance off-Earth against the MinION, Illumina MiSeq, and PacBio RS II sequencing platforms in terrestrial laboratories. Samples contained equimolar mixtures of genomic DNA from lambda bacteriophage, Escherichia coli (strain K12, MG1655) and Mus musculus (female BALB/c mouse). Nine sequencing runs were performed aboard the ISS over a 6-month period, yielding a total of 276,882 reads with no apparent decrease in performance over time.

Joking about cancer as an avoidance strategy among US adults.

Findings from years of research on fear appeals suggest that individuals with low efficacy utilize avoidance strategies when they perceive a significant threat-a process called fear control. Some research suggests that joking could be an avoidance strategy. The current study identifies conditions in which people are more likely to joke about colorectal cancer and explores how this behavior may be associated with screening avoidance.

Molecular classification of autofluorescence excision margins in oral potentially malignant disorders.

Objective: To define molecular differences between autofluorescence and white light defined excision margins in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) using transcriptome expression profiles.

Materials And Methods: Excisional biopsy specimens were taken from 11 patients at three different sites for each lesion: centre, white light margin and autofluorescence margin. The lesions were diagnosed histopathologically as oral epithelial dysplasia, oral lichenoid dysplasia, oral lichen planus or other.

Positive emotion communication: Fostering well-being at end of life.

Objective: Little is known about positive emotion communication (PEC) in end-of-life care. This study aims to identify types and patterns of PEC among hospice nurses, caregivers, and patients.

Methods: A coding system based on positive psychology theory was applied as a secondary analysis to audio recordings of hospice nurse home visits with cancer patients and family caregivers, collected as part of a prospective longitudinal study.

Chromatographic separation of the theranostic radionuclide Ag from a proton irradiated thorium matrix.

Column chromatographic methods have been developed to separate no-carrier-added Ag from proton irradiated thorium targets and associated fission products as an ancillary process to an existing Ac separation design. Herein we report the separation of Ag both prior and subsequent to Ac recovery using CL resin, a solvent impregnated resin (SIR) that carries an organic solution of alkyl phosphine sulfides (RP = S) and alkyl phosphine oxides (RP = O). The recovery yield of Ag was 93 ± 9% with a radiochemical purity of 99.

The Consensus from the (MAP) Conference 2017.

On March 24 and 25, 2017 researchers and clinicians from around the world met at Temple University in Philadelphia to discuss the current knowledge of ssp. (MAP) and its relationship to human disease. The conference was held because of shared concern that MAP is a zoonotic bacterium that poses a threat not only to animal health but also human health.

Continuous versus Arrested Spreading of Biofilms at Solid-Gas Interfaces: The Role of Surface Forces.

We introduce and analyze a model for osmotically spreading bacterial colonies at solid-air interfaces that includes wetting phenomena, i.e., surface forces.

Radiometric evaluation of diglycolamide resins for the chromatographic separation of actinium from fission product lanthanides.

Actinium-225 is a potential Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) isotope. It can be generated with high energy (≥ 100MeV) proton irradiation of thorium targets. The main challenge in the chemical recovery of Ac lies in the separation from thorium and many fission by-products most importantly radiolanthanides.

Simultaneous Separation of Actinium and Radium Isotopes from a Proton Irradiated Thorium Matrix.

A new method has been developed for the isolation of Ra, in high yield and purity, from a proton irradiated Th matrix. Herein we report an all-aqueous process using multiple solid-supported adsorption steps including a citrate chelation method developed to remove >99.9% of the barium contaminants by activity from the final radium product.

Changes in Consumer Attitudes toward Broad-Based and Environment-Specific Sodium Policies-SummerStyles 2012 and 2015.

We examined temporal changes in consumer attitudes toward broad-based actions and environment-specific policies to limit sodium in restaurants, manufactured foods, and school and workplace cafeterias from the 2012 and 2015 SummerStyle surveys. We used two online, national research panel surveys to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of 7845 U.S.

Portal Venous Thrombosis-Disseminated Tuberculosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Vascular thrombosis is one of the complications of tuberculosis. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thrombosis have been reported with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Splenic involvement in abdominal tuberculosis is among the rarest manifestations.

Do Pattern-Focused Visuals Improve Skin Self-Examination Performance? Explicating the Visual Skill Acquisition Model.

Skin self-examination (SSE) consists of routinely checking the body for atypical moles that might be cancerous. Identifying atypical moles is a visual task; thus, SSE training materials utilize pattern-focused visuals to cultivate this skill. Despite widespread use, researchers have yet to explicate how pattern-focused visuals cultivate visual skill.

Nanopore sequencing in microgravity.

Rapid DNA sequencing and analysis has been a long-sought goal in remote research and point-of-care medicine. In microgravity, DNA sequencing can facilitate novel astrobiological research and close monitoring of crew health, but spaceflight places stringent restrictions on the mass and volume of instruments, crew operation time, and instrument functionality. The recent emergence of portable, nanopore-based tools with streamlined sample preparation protocols finally enables DNA sequencing on missions in microgravity.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress and health risk assessment of heavy metal contaminated aquatic and terrestrial organisms by oil extraction industry in Ogale, Nigeria.

Ogale community in Rivers State, Nigeria is characterized by crude-oil contamination of its land resources. The present study aimed to evaluate the health risk and metal (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, and Ni) contamination level of the vegetable (Telfairia occidentalis), snail (Achatina achatina) and the catfish (Clarias gariepinus) collected from Ogale community. Samples collected from Elele Alimini community, a less polluted area was used as control.

Faecal microbiota of healthy adults in south India: Comparison of a tribal & a rural population.

Background & Objectives: The relevance of the gut microbiota to human health is increasingly appreciated. The objective of this study was to compare the gut microbiota of a group of adult tribals with that of healthy adult villagers in Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods: Faeces were collected from 10 healthy tribal adults (TAs) in the Jawadhi hills and from 10 healthy villagers [rural adults (RAs)] in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu.

Introduction of a Simple Second Tier Screening Test for C5 Isobars in Dried Blood Spots: Reducing the False Positive Rate for Isovaleric Acidaemia in Expanded Newborn Screening.

In 2015 the English Newborn Screening programme expanded to include Isovaleric Acidaemia (IVA). Screening is performed by flow injection analysis tandem mass spectrometry of isovalerylcarnitine. Isovalerylcarnitine is isobaric with pivaloylcarnitine which can be present in blood due to the use of pivalic ester pro-drugs or pivalic acid derivatives used as emollients in some nipple creams; the potential for false positives (FP) is well documented.