Extreme γ' fibrinogen levels in COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 disease progression can be accompanied by a "cytokine storm" that leads to secondary sequelae such as acute respiratory distress syndrome. Several inflammatory cytokines have been associated with COVID-19 disease progression, but have high daily intra-individual variability. In contrast, we have shown that the inflammatory biomarker γ' fibrinogen (GPF) has a 6-fold lower coefficient of variability compared to other inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP.

Risk of motor vehicle collision associated with cannabis and alcohol use among patients presenting for emergency care.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between cannabis and alcohol use and occurrence of motor vehicle collision (MVC) among patients in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of visits to EDs in Denver, CO, Portland, OR, and Sacramento, CA by drivers who were involved in MVCs and presented with injuries (cases) and non-injured drivers (controls) who presented for medical care. We obtained blood samples and measured delta-9-THC and its metabolites.

Contralateral second dose improves antibody responses to a 2-dose mRNA vaccination regimen.

BACKGROUNDVaccination is typically administered without regard to site of prior vaccination, but this factor may substantially affect downstream immune responses.METHODSWe assessed serological responses to initial COVID-19 vaccination in baseline seronegative adults who received second-dose boosters in the ipsilateral or contralateral arm relative to initial vaccination. We measured serum SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific Ig, receptor-binding domain-specific (RBD-specific) IgG, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid-specific IgG, and neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2.

Cannabis presentations to the emergency department after MVC in the era of legalization for recreational use.

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to examine cannabis and alcohol use among injured patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) in cannabis-legal states to capture an expanded profile of cannabis use and evaluate differences in motor-vehicle collision (MVC) characteristics among those using cannabis alone and in combination with alcohol.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of ED visits by drivers in MVC who presented to one of three study sites. Event-related and usual drug and alcohol use information were obtained using a detailed interviewer-administered computerized questionnaire.

Evaluation of Preanalytical Point-of-Care Testing Errors and Their Impact on Productivity in the Emergency Department in the United States.

Background: Preanalytical errors due to poor sample quality or improper sample handling may occur with point-of-care testing (POCT).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using deidentified records for 15 479 i-STAT® cartridges run at the Oregon Health & Science University Emergency Department (ED) between December 2015 and August 2016. Data were collected from electronic health records and device middleware for CG4+, CHEM8+, and Troponin cartridges.

To Close, Observe, or Reconstruct: The Third Way of Managing Dialysis Fistula Aneurysms in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: The management of patent dialysis fistulas in patients after kidney transplantation (KTx) is controversial-the options that are usually considered are the fistula's closure or observation. Many complications of dialysis fistulas occur in patients after KTx, and immunosuppression increases the risk of fistula aneurysms and hyperkinetic flow. This study aimed to evaluate the results of dialysis fistula aneurysm treatment in patients after KTx and to compare them to procedures performed in an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) dialyzed population.

Rapid Point-of-Care Test for Determination of C-Peptide Levels.

C-peptide is co-secreted with insulin and is not subject to hepatic clearance and thus reflects functional β-cell mass. Assessment of C-peptide levels can identify individuals at risk for or with type 1 diabetes with residual β-cell function in whom β cell-sparing interventions can be evaluated, and can aid in distinguishing type 2 diabetes from Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults and late-onset type 1 diabetes. To facilitate C-peptide testing, we describe a quantitative point-of-care C-peptide test.

Establishment of Monoclonal Antibody Standards for Quantitative Serological Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in Low-Incidence Settings.

Background: Serological confirmation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical for understanding the dynamics of the pandemic and determining seroprevalence rates within afflicted communities. Common challenges with SARS-CoV-2 serological assays include poor analytical specificity and sensitivity and lack of a serological standard for quantitative assessment of antibody titers.

Methods: To overcome these obstacles, we developed a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on an optimized 2-dimensional screening assay that utilizes SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein and SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit.

Cannabis use and measurement of cannabinoids in plasma and breast milk of breastfeeding mothers.

Background: Information on cannabinoids in breast milk and maternal cannabis use is limited. We quantified cannabinoids in plasma and breast milk of breastfeeding mothers and assessed cannabis use patterns.

Methods: This is a prospective study at a university hospital in a state with legal medical and recreational cannabis.

Aneurysm Excision With Arteriovenous Anastomosis Proximalization for Dialysis Fistula Aneurysm Treatment.

Introduction: Dialysis fistula aneurysms are common complications, which require surgical revision in selective cases. The results of aneurysm excision with arteriovenous anastomosis proximalization for the treatment of dialysis fistula aneurysms have been described below.

Methods: Patients qualified for the reconstruction of a dialysis fistula aneurysm underwent a duplex ultrasound examination.

Hybrid procedures in the dialysis fistula aneurysm treatment.

Objectives: Dialysis fistula aneurysms are common complications which in selective cases require surgical revision. It is recommended to detect and treat outflow stenosis concurrent with a dialysis fistula aneurysm, but usually, the treatment is divided into two stages - the open and endovascular stages are performed separately. We describe the results of hybrid procedures composed of aneurysm resection and endovascular correction for outflow veins performed for a dialysis fistula aneurysm treatment.

The Impact of Undetected In Vitro Hemolysis or Sample Contamination on Patient Care and Outcomes in Point-of-Care Testing: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Point-of-care (POC) testing is an integral diagnostic component in clinical settings like the emergency department (ED). However, most POC testing devices are unable to detect endogenous interferents such as hemolysis, which typically occurs during sample collection and handling and can falsely increase measured potassium (pseudohyperkalemia), a phenomenon we hypothesized may significantly impact patient care.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated 100 unique admissions to the Oregon Health & Science University ED, presenting with elevated potassium measured at the POC.

Behaviour of domestic rabbits during 2 weeks after weaning.

Thirty three rabbits from five litters that were weaned at the age of 5 weeks were observed. The animals were kept in pens that were enriched with an elevation made of bricks. In total, 150 h of observations made at feeding time (07:30-10:00 and 18:00-20:30 LT, local time) were analysed.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose using extracts from insects.

The use of Zophobas morio extracts in the aspect of cellulose hydrolysis is presented for the first time. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of enzymes obtained from Z. morio on cellulose hydrolysis and to determine their influence on the structural properties of cellulose with use the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

Creation of Arteriovenous Fistulas and Grafts Concomitantly with Endovascular Correction of Outflow Veins: A Hybrid Procedure.

Background: Achieving well-functioning dialysis fistulas is a common problem in dialyzed patients, and it is mainly caused by the pathologies of vessels used for fistula creation. Hybrid therapies, combining surgical and endovascular procedures, potentially enable the creation of functional dialysis fistulas in patients with vessels that are otherwise unsuitable for vascular access.

Methods: Between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2018, we created dialysis fistulas simultaneously with endovascular correction of outflow pathologies in 15 patients.

Phoenixin-14 stimulates differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes via cAMP/Epac-dependent mechanism.

Phoenixin-14 (PNX) is a newly discovered peptide produced by proteolytic cleavage of the small integral membrane protein 20 (Smim20). Previous studies showed that PNX is involved in controlling reproduction, pain, anxiety and memory. Furthermore, in humans, PNX positively correlates with BMI suggesting a potential role of PNX in controlling fat accumulation in obesity.

Drug Repurposing Using Deep Embeddings of Gene Expression Profiles.

Computational drug repositioning requires assessment of the functional similarities among compounds. Here, we report a new method for measuring compound functional similarity based on gene expression data. This approach takes advantage of deep neural networks to learn an embedding that substantially denoises expression data, making replicates of the same compound more similar.

Assessing subsets of analytes in context of detecting laboratory errors.

Laboratory error detection is a hard task yet plays an important role in efficient care of the patients. Quality controls are inadequate in detecting pre-analytic errors and are not frequent enough. Hence population- and patient-based detectors are developed.

Portable nanoporous electrical biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of Troponin-T.

Aim: To demonstrate the design, fabrication and testing of a portable, label-free biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of the cardiac Troponin-T (cTnT) from patient blood.

Materials & Methods: The biosensor is comprised of a nanoporous membrane integrated on to a microelectrode sensor platform for nanoconfinement effects. Charge perturbations due to antigen binding are recorded as impedance changes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Systemic Inhibition of CREB is Well-tolerated in vivo.

cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) is a nuclear transcription factor activated by multiple extracellular signals including growth factors and hormones. These extracellular cues activate CREB through phosphorylation at Ser133 by various protein serine/threonine kinases. Once phosphorylated, it promotes its association with transcription coactivators CREB-binding protein (CBP) and its paralog p300 to activate CREB-dependent gene transcription.

Electrical nanowell diagnostics sensors for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of prostate-specific antigen.

Aim: Alumina nanowell based disposable diagnostic biosensor for detecting and quantifying levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from human serum has been designed, fabricated and tested.

Materials & Methods: The biosensors were designed by integrating nanoporous alumina membranes onto printed circuit board platforms, resulting in the generation of high-density nanowell arrays with gold base electrodes. The size and density of the nanowells were leveraged toward achieving sieving action for size-based exclusion of nonspecific molecules and size-based confinement of the target PSA molecules.

Novel Nanomonitor ultra-sensitive detection of troponin T.

Background: Troponin is the preferred biomarker for diagnosing myocardial infarction. Point of care devices have not matched the sensitivity of laboratory-based methods for measuring troponin. The Nanomonitor is a novel point-of-care device that uses the change in electrical impedance that occurs when a biomarker binds to its antibody, which is then correlated to the concentration of the target biomarker.