Diagnostic accuracy of computer aided electrocardiogram analysis in dogs.

Objectives: Evaluation of a computerised electrocardiogram algorithm compared to the interpretation of a team of board-certified veterinary cardiologists.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional retrospective cohort study. A total of 399 electronic canine electrocardiogram recordings screened from 1391 electrocardiograms were enrolled in the study.

Topological defects due to twist-bend nematic drops mimicking colloidal particles in a nematic medium.

Colloids formed of solid/fluid particle dispersions in oriented nematic liquid crystals are known to be an ideal means of realizing fundamentally significant topological defect geometries. We find, experimentally, that twist-bend nematic (NTB) droplets formed in the N-NTB biphasic regime, either of pure compounds or mesogenic mixtures, completely mimic colloidal particles in their ability to generate a rich variety of defects. In the biphasic regime, the topological features of both liquid crystal colloids and chiral nematic droplets are revealed by (i) topological dipoles, quadrupoles and their patterned clusters formed in planar nematic liquid crystals orientationally perturbed by coexisting NTB drops, (ii) the transformation of hyperbolic hedgehogs into knotted Saturn rings encircling the NTB drops dispersed in a 90°-twisted nematic matrix and (iii) the Frank-Pryce defect texture evident in smaller (relative to sample thickness) NTB drops.

Transvenous pacing implantation: techniques, tips, and lessons learned along the way.

The right ventricular apex has been the traditional site for lead placement in veterinary patients who require permanent cardiac pacing therapy for atrioventricular block and sick sinus syndrome. Implantation of leads in this location is a straightforward procedure that most veterinary cardiologists perform routinely. Pacing at the right ventricular apex, however, has been demonstrated to have long-term deleterious effects on the left ventricular function in numerous patient populations and animal models.

Instabilities in the electric Freedericksz state of the twist-bend nematic liquid crystal CB7CB.

We report on the instabilities in the Freedericksz state of the twist-bend nematic (NTB) liquid crystal 1'',7''-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yl)heptane (CB7CB). The quasi homeotropic NTB state, into which a planar (untwisted or 90°-twisted) nematic CB7CB layer transits under a strong electric field, is found to be unstable despite the material being dielectrically positive. Close to the NTB melting point, destabilization occurs through the formation of metastable toric focal conic domains (TFCDs) that, in time, transform into parabolic focal conic domains (PFCDs) with the confocal parabolae in vertical planes through the layer normal.

Evaluation of the Xpert HCV Viral Load Finger-Stick Point-of-Care Assay.

Point-of-care hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA testing is advantageous, enabling diagnosis of active infection in a single visit. This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the Xpert HCV Viral Load Finger-Stick assay (Xpert HCV VL FS) for HCV RNA detection (finger-stick) and the Xpert HCV Viral Load assay (plasma) compared with the Abbott RealTime HCV Viral Load assay by venepuncture. Plasma and finger-stick capillary whole-blood samples were collected from participants in an observational cohort in Australia.

Evaluation of the Xpert HCV Viral Load point-of-care assay from venepuncture-collected and finger-stick capillary whole-blood samples: a cohort study.

Background: Point-of-care hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA testing offers an advantage over antibody testing (which only indicates previous exposure), enabling diagnosis of active infection in a single visit. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the Xpert HCV Viral Load assay with venepuncture and finger-stick capillary whole-blood samples.

Methods: Plasma and finger-stick capillary whole-blood samples were collected from participants in an observational cohort enrolled at five sites in Australia (three drug and alcohol clinics, one homelessness service, and one needle and syringe programme).

Analytical Performance Characteristics of the Cepheid GeneXpert Ebola Assay for the Detection of Ebola Virus.

Background: The recently developed Xpert® Ebola Assay is a novel nucleic acid amplification test for simplified detection of Ebola virus (EBOV) in whole blood and buccal swab samples. The assay targets sequences in two EBOV genes, lowering the risk for new variants to escape detection in the test. The objective of this report is to present analytical characteristics of the Xpert® Ebola Assay on whole blood samples.

Chemokine-mediated robust augmentation of liver engraftment: a novel approach.

Effective repopulation of the liver is essential for successful clinical hepatocyte transplantation. The objective was to improve repopulation of the liver with human hepatocytes using chemokines. We used flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry assays to identify commonly expressed chemokine receptors on human fetal and adult hepatocytes.

Simulation and comparison of progression-free survival among patients with non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer receiving sequential therapy.

Objectives: In recent years, the treatment landscape in advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (nsNSCLC) has changed. New therapies (e.g.

Phenotypic and in vivo functional characterization of immortalized human fetal liver cells.

We report the establishment and characterization of immortalized human fetal liver progenitor cells by expression of the Simian virus 40 large T (SV40 LT) antigen. Well-characterized cells at various passages were transplanted into nude mice with acute liver injury and tested for functional capacity. The SV40LT antigen-immortalized fetal liver cells showed a morphology similar to primary cells.

Prevalence and characteristics of pseudohypertension in patients with "resistant hypertension".

Pseudohypertension has been described as a cause of resistant hypertension, due to medial hypertrophy of the artery from atherosclerosis. This phenomenon results in an elevated cuff pressure compared with intra-arterial measurements and is found primarily in populations with advanced age and atherosclerotic disease. The purpose of this review was to investigate the clinical picture and medical outcomes of patients with this phenomenon.

Helical defects in smectic-A and smectic-A∗ phases.

There are two categories of helical line defects in Sm-A phases: screw dislocations of small Burgers vectors and double helices (DHs), whose macroscopic configuration constitutes a mode of splitting of screw dislocations of giant Burgers vectors. Their counterparts in Sm-A∗'s (Sm-A's with chiral molecules) show a number of differences with the former and are investigated theoretically on the basis of recent observations [C. Meyer, Liq.

Cost-effectiveness of bazedoxifene incorporating the FRAX® algorithm in a European perspective.

Unlabelled: The cost-effectiveness of bazedoxifene was compared to placebo in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK from a healthcare perspective using FRAX® for both fracture risks and for treatment efficacy. Cost/QALY differences were explained to a large extent by differences in fracture risk.

Introduction: In cost-effectiveness modelling of osteoporosis treatments, the fracture risk has traditionally been calculated with risk adjustments based on age, bone mineral density and prior fracture.

FRAX and its applications in health economics--cost-effectiveness and intervention thresholds using bazedoxifene in a Swedish setting as an example.

Background: An important aspect of cost-effectiveness analysis of osteoporosis is to accurately model the fracture risk and mortality related to the patient groups in the analysis. The estimation of fracture risk is based on a number of factors, such as the level of general risk of the normal population, the effect of treatment and the prevalence of clinical risk factors (CRFs) for fracture. Fracture risk has traditionally been calculated with risk adjustments based on age, bone mineral density and prior vertebral fracture.

Characterization and engraftment of long-term serum-free human fetal liver cell cultures.

Background Aims: Cultured human hepatocytes have extensive diagnostic and clinical applications. However, the setting-up of new in vitro culture techniques allowing the long-term survival and functional maintenance of adult human hepatocytes represents a formidable challenge. Fetal liver cells (FLC) are attractive candidate donor cells because of their high proliferative capacity.

Optimal conditions for freezing CHO-S and HEK293-EBNA cell lines: influence of Me2SO, freeze density, and PEI-mediated transfection on revitalization and growth of cells, and expression of recombinant protein.

To avoid the time consuming, labor intensive seed-train expansion and to improve production reliability and consistency, portions of bulk cryopreserved cells from the same cultivation can be utilized as inocula or alternatively may be used to undertake transient transfections for large-scale bioreactor production. In this study, the conditions for large-scale freezing in cryobags were optimized utilizing a design of experiment approach. We showed that relatively high density of 30-40 x 10(6) cells/mL and relatively low Me(2)SO concentrations of 5-6% in the freezing media are optimal to freeze HEK293-EBNA and CHO-S cells in a controlled manner in order to achieve high viable cell recovery and growth post-thawing.

Targeted expression of GLI1 in the mammary gland disrupts pregnancy-induced maturation and causes lactation failure.

The Hedgehog signaling pathway regulates the development and function of numerous tissues and when mis-regulated causes tumorigenesis. To assess the role of a deregulated Hedgehog signaling pathway in the mammary gland we targeted the expression of the Hedgehog effector protein, GLI1, to mammary epithelial cells using a bigenic inducible system. A constitutively active Hedgehog signaling pathway resulted with 100% penetrance in an undifferentiated mammary lobuloalveolar network during pregnancy.

Neurological signs and cognitive performance distinguish between adolescents with and without psychosis.

Neurological and cognitive aspects of adolescent psychotic disorders are understudied. The authors assessed 19 adolescents with psychosis and 16 healthy comparison subjects using the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES) and age-appropriate Wechsler intelligence quotient (IQ) scales. NES scores were highest and IQ scores were lowest among subjects with psychosis.

Optical and confocal microscopy observations of screw dislocations in smectic-A liquid crystals.

We present experimental evidence of the presence of isolated screw dislocations in smectic-A liquid crystals observed by polarizing microscopy. In a wedge-shaped homeotropic cell, the edge and screw dislocations interaction gives rise to a strong-enough optical contrast and makes visible their mutual intersections at temperatures close to the smectic-A to smectic-C phase transition temperature. The nature of the defects is confirmed by confocal microscopy observations.

Development of the 40Hz steady state auditory evoked magnetic field from ages 5 to 52.

Objective: Adults exhibit strong auditory 40 Hz magnetic steady state responses (SSR). Although EEG measured SSR has been studied in children, the developmental course of the magnetic SSR is unknown.

Methods: Sixty-nine healthy subjects ranging in age from 5 to 52 years participated in a magnetoencephalographic (MEG) study.

Liquid crystal helical ribbons as isometric textures.

Deformations that conserve the parallelism and the distances--between layers, in smectic phases; between columns, in columnar phases--are commonplace in liquid crystals. The resulting isometric deformed textures display specific geometric features. The corresponding order parameter singularities extend over rather large, macroscopic, distances, e.

Expression of the PTCH1 tumor suppressor gene is regulated by alternative promoters and a single functional Gli-binding site.

The PTCH1 tumor suppressor gene encodes a receptor for secreted hedgehog (HH) ligands and is important for proper proliferation, differentiation and patterning in almost every tissue and organ during embryogenesis. The PTCH1 protein works as a negative regulator of the HH-signaling pathway by repressing downstream signaling by the coreceptor smoothened (SMOH). Mutations in PTCH1 lead to constitutive expression of HH target genes and a relationship between mutated PTCH1 and the most common tumor form in the Western world, Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) has been clearly established.