Optimal DaTQUANT Thresholds for Diagnostic Accuracy of Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's Disease (PD).

Quantitative thresholds are helpful to define an abnormal DaT SPECT in patients with suspected nigrostriatal degenerative diseases (NSDD). The optimal DaTQUANT threshold for diagnostic accuracy of DaT SPECT across combined movement and cognitive disorder populations has been previously described. : We established optimal DaTQUANT thresholds that enhance the discrimination between dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and non-DLB dementia types, as well as between Parkinsonian syndromes (PS) and conditions not characterized by nigrostriatal degeneration (non-PS).

Phospholipase-catalyzed degradation drives domain morphology and rheology transitions in model lung surfactant monolayers.

Lung surfactant is inactivated in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) by a mechanism that remains unclear. Phospholipase (PLA) plays an essential role in the normal lipid recycling processes, but is present in elevated levels in ARDS, suggesting it plays a role in ARDS pathophysiology. PLA hydrolyzes lipids such as DPPC-the primary component of lung surfactant-into palmitic acid (PA) and lyso-PC (LPC).

Noninvasive vs invasive respiratory support for patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Background: Noninvasive respiratory support modalities are common alternatives to mechanical ventilation in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. However, studies historically compare noninvasive respiratory support to conventional oxygen rather than mechanical ventilation. In this study, we compared outcomes in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure treated initially with noninvasive respiratory support to patients treated initially with invasive mechanical ventilation.

Acute Respiratory Failure From Early Pandemic COVID-19: Noninvasive Respiratory Support vs Mechanical Ventilation.

Background: The optimal strategy for initial respiratory support in patients with respiratory failure associated with COVID-19 is unclear, and the initial strategy may affect outcomes.

Research Question: Which initial respiratory support strategy is associated with improved outcomes in patients with COVID-19 with acute respiratory failure?

Study Design And Methods: All patients with COVID-19 requiring respiratory support and admitted to a large health care network were eligible for inclusion. We compared patients treated initially with noninvasive respiratory support (NIRS; noninvasive positive pressure ventilation by facemask or high-flow nasal oxygen) with patients treated initially with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).

Noninvasive vs Invasive Respiratory Support for Patients with Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure.

Rationale: Noninvasive respiratory support modalities are common alternatives to mechanical ventilation for patients with early acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. These modalities include noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, using either continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure, and nasal high flow using a high flow nasal cannula system. However, outcomes data historically compare noninvasive respiratory support to conventional oxygen rather than to mechanical ventilation.

Serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations and longitudinal change in post-infection and post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous throughout the United States. Previous studies have shown PFAS exposure to be associated with a reduced immune response. However, the relationship between serum PFAS and antibody levels following SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination has not been examined.

Outcomes in Patients with Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Secondary to COVID-19 Treated with Noninvasive Respiratory Support versus Invasive Mechanical Ventilation.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to compare noninvasive respiratory support to invasive mechanical ventilation as the initial respiratory support in COVID-19 patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Methods: All patients admitted to a large healthcare network with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure associated with COVID-19 and requiring respiratory support were eligible for inclusion. We compared patients treated initially with noninvasive respiratory support (noninvasive positive pressure ventilation by facemask or high flow nasal oxygen) with patients treated initially with invasive mechanical ventilation.

Predicting Failure of Noninvasive Respiratory Support Using Deep Recurrent Learning.

Background: Noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) is increasingly used to support patients with acute respiratory failure. However, noninvasive support failure may worsen outcomes compared to primary support with invasive mechanical ventilation. Therefore, there is a need to identify patients where NRS is failing so that treatment can be reassessed and adjusted.

Serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in four municipal US fire departments.

Background: Firefighters have occupational and environmental exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The goal of this study was to compare serum PFAS concentrations across multiple United States fire departments to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants.

Methods: Nine serum PFAS were compared in 290 firefighters from four municipal fire departments (coded A-D) and three NHANES participants matched to each firefighter on sex, ethnicity, age, and PFAS collection year.

Validation of an Electronic Phenotyping Algorithm for Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure.

Unlabelled: Acute respiratory failure is a common reason for ICU admission and imposes significant strain on patients and the healthcare system. Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation and high-flow nasal oxygen are increasingly used as an alternative to invasive mechanical ventilation to treat acute respiratory failure. As such, there is a need to accurately cohort patients using large, routinely collected, clinical data to better understand utilization patterns and patient outcomes.

Practical Application of DaTQUANT with Optimal Threshold for Diagnostic Accuracy of Dopamine Transporter SPECT.

Evaluation of Parkinsonian Syndromes (PS) with Ioflupane iodine-123 dopamine transporter single photon emission computed tomography (DaT-SPECT), in conjunction with history and clinical examination, aids in diagnosis. FDA-approved, semi-quantitative software, DaTQUANT (GE Healthcare, Chicago, IL, USA) is available to assist in interpretation. This study aims to evaluate the optimal variables and thresholds of DaTQUANT to yield the optimal diagnostic accuracy.

Investigating the Role of Auditory Processing Abilities in Long-Term Self-Reported Hearing Aid Outcomes among Adults Age 60+ Years.

Background: Self-reported hearing aid outcomes among older adults are variable and important to improve. The extent of the role of auditory processing in long-term hearing aid outcomes is not well understood.

Purpose: To determine how auditory processing abilities are related to self-reported hearing aid satisfaction and benefit along with either aided audibility alone or exploratory factors suggested by previous literature.

A Target for Increased Mortality Risk in Critically Ill Patients: The Concept of Perpetuity.

Background: Emergency medicine is acuity-based and focuses on time-sensitive treatments for life-threatening diseases. Prolonged time in the emergency department, however, is associated with higher mortality in critically ill patients. Thus, we explored management after an acuity-based intervention, which we call perpetuity, as a potential mechanism for increased risk.

Virtual reality for pain management in advanced heart failure: A randomized controlled study.

Background: Hospitalized patients with advanced heart failure often experience acute and/or chronic pain. While virtual reality has been extensively studied across a wide range of clinical settings, no studies have yet evaluated potential impact on pain management on this patient population.

Aim: To investigate the impact of a virtual reality experience on self-reported pain, quality-of-life, general distress, and satisfaction compared to a two-dimensional guided imagery active control.

Influence of Polarity Change and Photophysical Effects on Photosurfactant-Driven Wetting.

Photosurfactants have shown considerable promise for enabling stimuli-responsive control of the properties and motion of fluid interfaces. Recently, a number of photoswitch chemistries have emerged to tailor the photoresponsive properties of photosurfactants. However, systematic studies investigating how photoresponsive surfactant behavior depends on the photochemical and photophysical properties of the switch remain scarce.

Hydrogen Bonding Strength Determines Water Diffusivity in Polymer Ionogels.

Polymeric ionogels, cross-linked gels swollen by ionic liquids (ILs), are useful vehicles for the release and storage of molecular solutes in separation, delivery, and other applications. Although rapid solute diffusion is often critical for performance, it remains challenging to predict diffusivities across multidimensional composition spaces. Recently, we showed that water (a neutral solute) diffuses through alkyl-methylimidazolium halide ILs by hopping between hydrogen bonding sites on relatively immobile cations.

Mutagenic Analysis of a DNA Translocating Tube's Interior Surface.

Bacteriophage ϕX174 uses a decamer of DNA piloting proteins to penetrate its host. These proteins oligomerize into a cell wall-spanning tube, wide enough for genome passage. While the inner surface of the tube is primarily lined with inward-facing amino acid side chains containing amide and guanidinium groups, there is a 28 Å-long section near the tube's C-terminus that does not exhibit this motif.

Clinical Outcomes Following the Use of Archived Proviral HIV-1 DNA Genotype to Guide Antiretroviral Therapy Adjustment.

Background: Evidence regarding the safety of using proviral HIV-1 DNA genotype (DNA GT) to guide antiretroviral therapy (ART) is limited. We hypothesized that HIV RNA would not increase following ART adjustment guided by DNA GT in a university HIV clinic.

Methods: Data were obtained from electronic medical records of adult persons living with HIV-1 (PWH) who underwent DNA GT testing and changed ART between October 2014 and November 2017.

PrEP Knowledge and Attitudes Among Adults Attending Public Health Clinics in Southern Arizona.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is underutilized among Hispanics, women, and low-income individuals. To better understand PrEP barriers in this population, questionnaires were administered to 500 patients attending public health clinics in southern Arizona which provide family planning and sexually transmitted infections care. Sixty-three percent believed that they had no risk of HIV infection.

Cycling: joint kinematics and muscle activity during differing intensities.

Full body kinematics and electromyographic (EMG) patterns may alter based on the workloads that are encountered during cycling. Understanding the effect of differing intensities on the cyclist can guide clinicians and bike fitters in improving specific muscle strength and cycling posture to optimise training and racing. We aimed to assess changes in lower limb EMG magnitudes and full body 3D kinematics of 17 well-trained cyclists at three different exercise intensities: 60%, 80% and 90% of maximum heart rate.

Impacts of nitrogen deposition on carbon and nitrogen cycling in alpine Racomitrium heath in the UK and prospects for recovery.

Deposition of reactive nitrogen (N) is a major threat to terrestrial ecosystems associated with impacts on ecosystem properties and functions including carbon (C) and nutrient stocks, soil water quality and nutrient retention. In the oceanic-alpine Racomitrium heath habitat, N deposition is associated with moss mat degradation and a shift from bryophyte to graminoid dominance. To investigate the effects of moss mat decline on C and N stocks and fluxes, we collected Racomitrium heath vegetation/soil cores from sites along a gradient of N deposition in the UK.

Inhibition of CorA-Dependent Magnesium Homeostasis Is Cidal in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mechanisms of magnesium homeostasis in are poorly understood. Here, we describe the characterization of a pyrimidinetrione amide scaffold that disrupts magnesium homeostasis in the pathogen by direct binding to the CorA Mg/Co transporter. Mutations in domains of CorA that are predicted to regulate the pore opening in response to Mg ions conferred resistance to this scaffold.