Comparative Evaluation of Tubex TF (Inhibition Magnetic Binding Immunoassay) for Typhoid Fever in Endemic Area.

Background: Typhoid fever remains a significant health problem in endemic countries like India. Various serological tests for the diagnosis of typhoid fever are available commercially. We assessed the usefulness of rapid test based on magnetic particle separation to detect Immunoglobulin against Salmonella typhi O9 lipopolysaccharide.

Male veterans with PTSD exhibit aberrant neural dynamics during working memory processing: an MEG study.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with executive functioning deficits, including disruptions in working memory. In this study, we examined the neural dynamics of working memory processing in veterans with PTSD and a matched healthy control sample using magnetoencephalography (MEG).

Methods: Our sample of recent combat veterans with PTSD and demographically matched participants without PTSD completed a working memory task during a 306-sensor MEG recording.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Drosophila Mushroom Body Neurons Lacking Amyloid-β Precursor-Like Protein Activity.

The amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) is subjected to sequential intramembrane proteolysis by α-, β-, andγ-secretases, producing secreted amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and a cytoplasmically released AβPP Intracellular Domain (AICD). AICD complexes with transcription factors in the nucleus, suggesting that this AβPP fragment serves as an active signaling effector that regulates downstream genes, although its nuclear targets are poorly defined. To further understand this potential signaling mechanism mediated by AβPP, we performed a transcriptomic identification of the Drosophila genome that is regulated by the fly AβPP orthologue in fly mushroom body neurons, which control learning- and memory-based behaviors.

Diagnostic Potential of Recombinant scFv Antibodies Generated Against Hemagglutinin Protein of Influenza A Virus.

Human influenza A viruses have been the cause of enormous socio-economic losses worldwide. In order to combat such a notorious pathogen, hemagglutinin protein (HA) has been a preferred target for generation of neutralizing-antibodies as potent therapeutic/diagnostic agents. In the present study, recombinant anti-HA single chain variable fragment antibodies were constructed using the phage-display technology to aid in diagnosis and treatment of human influenza A virus infections.

Managing Multiple Mandates: A System of Systems Model to Analyze Strategies for Producing Cellulosic Ethanol and Reducing Riverine Nitrate Loads in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

Implementing public policies often involves navigating an array of choices that have economic and environmental consequences that are difficult to quantify due to the complexity of multiple system interactions. Implementing the mandate for cellulosic biofuel production in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and reducing hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico by reducing riverine nitrate-N loads represent two such cases that overlap in the Mississippi River Basin. To quantify the consequences of these interactions, a system of systems (SoS) model was developed that incorporates interdependencies among the various subsystems, including biofuel refineries, transportation, agriculture, water resources and crop/ethanol markets.

Attention training normalises combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder effects on emotional Stroop performance using lexically matched word lists.

We examined two groups of combat veterans, one with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n = 27) and another without PTSD (n = 16), using an emotional Stroop task (EST) with word lists matched across a series of lexical variables (e.g. length, frequency, neighbourhood size, etc.

Evaluation extracellular matrix-chitosan composite films for wound healing application.

The present study describes the preparation of extracellular matrix (ECM; from porcine omentum) based chitosan composite films for wound dressing applications. The films were prepared by varying the ECM content, whereas, the amount of chitosan was kept constant. The interactions amongst the components of the films were analyzed by FTIR and XRD studies.

Supportive care needs and distress in patients with non-melanoma skin cancer: Nothing to worry about?

Purpose: There is a paucity of psychosocial research on non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) despite the fact that these malignancies mainly develop on the head and neck, frequently recur, and are associated with an increased risk for other cancers. The current study aims to respond to this gap in the scholarship by determining the prevalence of supportive care needs and examining the relationship between patients' needs and distress.

Method: A cross-sectional research protocol included a consecutive sample of 60 patients with squamous and/or basal cell carcinomas who completed a survey comprised of the Skin Cancer Index (SCI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Supportive Care Needs (SCNS) Survey, an inquiry about informational needs regarding skin cancer prevention, and a socio-demographic questionnaire.

Effect of Attention Training on Attention Bias Variability and PTSD Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trials in Israeli and U.S. Combat Veterans.

Objective: Attention allocation to threat is perturbed in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with some studies indicating excess attention to threat and others indicating fluctuations between threat vigilance and threat avoidance. The authors tested the efficacy of two alternative computerized protocols, attention bias modification and attention control training, for rectifying threat attendance patterns and reducing PTSD symptoms.

Method: Two randomized controlled trials compared the efficacy of attention bias modification and attention control training for PTSD: one in Israel Defense Forces veterans and one in U.

Potent Intracellular Knock-Down of Influenza A Virus M2 Gene Transcript by DNAzymes Considerably Reduces Viral Replication in Host Cells.

Influenza A virus has been known to be an important respiratory pathogen and cause of several epidemics and devastating pandemics leading to loss of life and resources across the globe. The M2 ion channel protein is highly conserved and essentially required during the trafficking, assembly, and budding processes of virus, thus an attractive target for designing antiviral drugs. We designed several 10-23 DNAzymes (Dz) targeting different regions of the M2 gene and analyzed their ability to specifically cleave the target RNA in both cell-free system as well as in cell culture using transient transfections.

Ambulation following spinal cord injury and its correlates.

Objectives: To assess walking ability of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and observe its correlation with functional and neurological outcomes.

Patients And Methods: The present prospective, observational study was conducted in a tertiary research hospital in India with 66 patients (46 males) between January 2012 and December 2013. Mean age was 32.

False positive and false negative diagnoses of prostate cancer at multi-parametric prostate MRI in active surveillance.

Unlabelled: MP-MRI is a critical component in active surveillance (AS) of prostate cancer (PCa) because of a high negative predictive value for clinically significant tumours. This review illustrates pitfalls of MP-MRI and how to recognise and avoid them. The anterior fibromuscular stroma and central zone are low signal on T2W-MRI/apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), resembling PCa.

(S)-Lacosamide Binding to Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 2 (CRMP2) Regulates CaV2.2 Activity by Subverting Its Phosphorylation by Cdk5.

The neuronal circuit remodels during development as well as in human neuropathologies such as epilepsy. Neurite outgrowth is an obligatory step in these events. We recently reported that alterations in the phosphorylation state of an axon specification/guidance protein, the collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2), play a major role in the activity-dependent regulation of neurite outgrowth.

Current updates on the molecular genetics and magnetic resonance imaging of focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma.

Unlabelled: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) constitute benign hepatic neoplasms in adults. HCAs are monoclonal neoplasms characterised by an increased predilection to haemorrhage and also malignant transformation. On the other hand, FNH is a polyclonal tumour-like lesion that occurs in response to increased perfusion and has an uneventful clinical course.

A membrane-delimited N-myristoylated CRMP2 peptide aptamer inhibits CaV2.2 trafficking and reverses inflammatory and postoperative pain behaviors.

Targeting proteins within the N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV2.2) complex has proven to be an effective strategy for developing novel pain therapeutics. We describe a novel peptide aptamer derived from the collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2), a CaV2.

Differential neuroprotective potential of CRMP2 peptide aptamers conjugated to cationic, hydrophobic, and amphipathic cell penetrating peptides.

The microtubule-associated axonal specification collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is a novel target for neuroprotection. A CRMP2 peptide (TAT-CBD3) conjugated to the HIV transactivator of transcription (TAT) protein's cationic cell penetrating peptide (CPP) motif protected neurons in the face of toxic levels of Ca(2+) influx leaked in via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hyperactivation. Here we tested whether replacing the hydrophilic TAT motif with alternative cationic (nona-arginine (R9)), hydrophobic (membrane transport sequence (MTS) of k-fibroblast growth factor) or amphipathic (model amphipathic peptide (MAP)) CPPs could be superior to the neuroprotection bestowed by TAT-CBD3.

Boys, not girls, are negatively affected on cognitive tasks by lead exposure: a pilot study.

The study described in this article provides behavioral evidence that boys experience the deleterious cognitive effects of lead more than girls do. In fact, girls with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs - 10 μg/dL) performed as well as girls without elevated BLLs on behavioral measures of cognition. This was shown by testing executive function and reading readiness skills of 40 young children (aged three to six years; 23 with elevated blood lead levels, 17 without) residing within a U.

Gene silencing: a therapeutic approach to combat influenza virus infections.

Selective gene silencing technologies such as RNA interference (RNAi) and nucleic acid enzymes have shown therapeutic potential for treating viral infections. Influenza virus is one of the major public health concerns around the world and its management is challenging due to a rapid increase in antiviral resistance. Influenza vaccine also has its limitations due to the emergence of new strains that may escape the immunity developed by the previous year's vaccine.

Cost of abating greenhouse gas emissions with cellulosic ethanol.

We develop an integrated framework to determine and compare greenhouse gas (GHG) intensities and production costs of cellulosic ethanol derived from corn stover, switchgrass, and miscanthus grown on high and low quality soils for three representative counties in the Eastern United States. This information is critical for assessing the cost-effectiveness of utilizing cellulosic ethanol for mitigating GHG emissions and designing appropriate policy incentives to support cellulosic ethanol production nationwide. We find considerable variations in the GHG intensities and production costs of ethanol across feedstocks and locations mostly due to differences in yields and soil characteristics.

Prevalence of depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances in patients with myelopathy: Their relation with functional and neurological recovery.

Objectives: To observe the prevalence of fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbance in patients with myelopathy and their correlation with neurological and functional recovery.

Patients And Methods: Study conducted in a university tertiary research hospital with 127 patients with myelopathy (92 males) admitted to neurorehabilitation unit between January 2010 and December 2013. Mean age was 32.

Production and Characterization of Human Monoclonal Antibodies from the Cells of A(H1N1)pdm2009 Influenza Virus Infected Indian Donors.

Analysis of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) developed from influenza infected donors have enormously contributed to the identification of neutralization sensitive epitopes of influenza virus. The HA protein is a crucial target of neutralizing antibodies and at monoclonal level only Abs binding to HA have been able to neutralize the virus. In this study, eight A (H1N1)pdm 2009 seropositive patients within the age range of 20-50 years (median = 36 years) were recruited.

Neurogenic bladder following myelopathies: Has it any correlation with neurological and functional recovery?

Objectives: To observe neurogenic bladder pattern in patients with myelopathy by performing urodynamic study (UDS) and to observe whether it has any correlation with functional and neurological recovery.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study was conducted with 90 patients with myelopathy, both traumatic and non-traumatic (males = 65) in a university tertiary research hospital in India between January 2011 and December 2013. Mean age was 33.

Sleep disorders in children with cerebral palsy and its correlation with sleep disturbance in primary caregivers and other associated factors.

Aims: To observe prevalence of sleep disturbance (SD) in cerebral palsy (CP) children in a specific age-group and its correlation with SD in primary caregivers and other associated factors.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. SD assessed using Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) in CP children and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in caregivers.

Tic-related obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): phenomenology and treatment outcome in the Pediatric OCD Treatment Study II.

Objective: Prior research has shown that youth with co-occurring tic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may differ from those with non-tic-related OCD in terms of clinical characteristics and treatment responsiveness. A broad definition of "tic-related" was used to examine whether children with tics in the Pediatric OCD Treatment Study II differed from those without tics in terms of demographic and phenomenological characteristics and acute treatment outcomes.

Method: Participants were 124 youth aged 7 to 17 years, inclusive, with a primary diagnosis of OCD who were partial responders to an adequate serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) trial.