Molecular analysis of Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis and holarctica.

Rapid methods are needed for public health and military applications to specifically identify Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia in humans. A comparative analysis of the capabilities of multiple technologies was performed using a well-defined set of organisms to determine which approach would provide the most information in the shortest time. High-resolution molecular techniques, including pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, amplified fragment length polymorphism, and ribotyping, provided subspecies level identification within approximately 24 hours after obtaining an isolate, whereas multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis with 8 or 25 targets provided strain level discrimination within about 12 hours.

Raman chemical imaging spectroscopy reagentless detection and identification of pathogens: signature development and evaluation.

An optical detection method, Raman chemical imaging spectroscopy (RCIS), is reported, which combines Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and digital imaging. Using this method, trace levels of biothreat organisms are detected in the presence of complex environmental backgrounds without the use of amplification or enhancement techniques. RCIS is reliant upon the use of Raman signatures and automated recognition algorithms to perform species-level identification.

Levels of 4-hydroxynonenal and malondialdehyde are increased in brain of human chronic users of methamphetamine.

Animal studies suggest that the widely used psychostimulant drug methamphetamine (MA) can harm brain dopamine neurones, possibly by causing oxidative damage. However, evidence of oxidative damage in brain of human MA users is lacking. We tested the hypothesis that levels of two "gold standard" products generated from lipid peroxidation, 4-hydroxynonenal (one of the most reactive lipid peroxidation aldehyde products) and malondialdehyde, would be elevated in post mortem brain of 16 dopamine-deficient chronic MA users compared with those in 21 matched control subjects.

Infrared and Raman microspectroscopy of foreign materials in tissue specimens.

Infrared and Raman spectra of materials found in tissue specimens submitted for histopathologic diagnosis have been recorded. These foreign materials range in size from approximately 5 to 50 microm, and the vibrational spectra have been used to identify them. Examples include cholesterol and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in an implant case, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in a pilonidal cyst, and carbenicillin in a skin biopsy.

Use of MDA (the "love drug") and methamphetamine in Toronto by unsuspecting users of ecstasy (MDMA).

It has recently been reported that purity of illicit tablets of ecstasy (MDMA) is now high. Our objective was to confirm whether hair of drug users, who request only ecstasy from their supplier, contains MDMA in the absence of other drugs. GC-MS analysis of scalp hair segments disclosed the presence of MDMA in 19 of 21 subjects and amphetamine/methamphetamine in eight subjects.