Publications by authors named "Levin L"

Botulinum neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E), the fastest acting toxin of all BoNTs, cleaves the 25 kDa synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP-25) in motor neurons, leading to flaccid paralysis. The specific detection and quantification of the BoNT/E-cleaved SNAP-25 neoepitope can facilitate the development of cell-based assays for the characterization of anti-BoNT/E antibody preparations. In order to isolate highly specific monoclonal antibodies suitable for the in vitro immuno-detection of the exposed neoepitope, mice and rabbits were immunized with an eight amino acid peptide composed of the C-terminus of the cleaved SNAP-25.

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To face the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, our institute has developed the rVSV-ΔG-spike vaccine, in which the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was replaced by the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Many process parameters can influence production yield. To maximize virus vaccine yield, each parameter should be tested independently and in combination with others.

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Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) clinically resemble epileptic seizures (ES) but lack epileptic activity at the time of the seizure and are also not due to any other pathophysiological disorder. The integrative cognitive model (ICM) suggests that PNES is an automatic reaction generated from distorted memory and is perceived as uncontrollable and unwanted. Furthermore, the ICM model implies that a PNES event occurs due to an external or internal cue.

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Background: Screening for colorectal cancer is done with lower gastrointestinal endoscopy or stool-based tests. There is little evidence from randomised trials to show primary colonoscopy reduces mortality in colorectal cancer. We aimed to investigate the effect of screening with once-only colonoscopy or two rounds of faecal immunochemical test screening on colorectal cancer mortality and incidence.

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Background: Psoriasis contributes to unemployment, work impairment, missed workdays and substantial indirect costs due to lost productivity. Combination Cal/BD foam is the only topical that is approved for long-term maintenance treatment of plaque psoriasis for 52 weeks. This is the first known investigation of the effect of topical psoriasis therapy on productivity.

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Background: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of clinical and radiographic measurements of infrabony periodontal defects.

Methods: The MEDLINE-Pubmed and Cochrane-CENTRAL electronic databases were searched from initiation to May 2020. The inclusion criteria were clinical trials, human subjects with at least one infrabony defect, measurements of clinical attachment level (CAL), radiographic bone level (rBL), and intraoperative bone level (iBL) used as the reference standard.

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Historically, the traditional pathways into plastic surgery required board eligibility in a surgical specialty such as general surgery, orthopedics, urology, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, or ophthalmology. This requirement resulted in plastic surgery residents who had served as chief residents before plastic surgery training. Their maturity emotionally and surgically allowed them to immediately concentrate on the new language and principles of plastic surgery.

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Background: The diagnostic value of delayed nephrograms on contrast-enhanced computed tomography has not been studied rigorously.

Objective: To develop a method for quantitatively assessing delayed and diminished nephrograms (DDNs) easily at the point of care and to assess the association of DDNs with renal obstruction and renal function.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Data were reviewed from 76 patients who underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan within 30 days of a technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine diuretic renal scintigraphy (MAG3-DRS) which showed at least one kidney to have normal drainage (T1/2 <10 min) between 2010 and 2021 at a tertiary academic center.

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Background: Young children living with a depressed parent are at risk for developing social, behavioral, and emotional problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an increase in subclinical caregiver depression scores was associated with increases in internalizing and externalizing behavior in children who are at high risk for maltreatment.

Methods: The 1019 U.

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The two most urgent and interlinked environmental challenges humanity faces are climate change and biodiversity loss. We are entering a pivotal decade for both the international biodiversity and climate change agendas with the sharpening of ambitious strategies and targets by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Within their respective Conventions, the biodiversity and climate interlinked challenges have largely been addressed separately.

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Objectives: To evaluate systematically the influence of sex of dental professionals on their capability for visual color matching.

Materials And Methods: The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020205393). PICOS question was develop based on the population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study design (PICOS).

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Periodontitis is a common disorder affecting >40% of adults in the United States. Globally, the severe form of the disease has a prevalence of 11%. In advanced cases, periodontitis leads to tooth loss and reduced quality of life.

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Bedside ultrasound has been shown to change and direct patient management in the emergent setting. Demand, use, and diagnostic potential of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has continually increased throughout the years. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing have necessitated further POCUS innovation.

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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic promoted hitherto unseen uptake of telemedicine by ophthalmologists. We performed a mixed methods study to explore patters of utilization during the pandemic and perceived future utility.

Methods: Ophthalmologists practicing in Canada between March and July 2020 were invited to complete an online questionnaire assessing demographics, clinical practice characteristics and telemedicine utilization prior to and during the pandemic.

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Background: We reviewed the individual participant data of patients who sustained isolated common peroneal nerve (CPN) injuries resulting in foot drop. Functional results were compared between eight interventions for CPN palsies to determine step-wise treatment approaches for the underlying mechanisms of nerve injury.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched.

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The pharmacopeia mouse neutralization assay (PMNA) is the standard method for determining the potency of phar­maceutical botulinum antitoxins. However, a PMNA requires a large number of mice, and, thus, an alternative in vitro method to replace it is needed. Herein, we developed an in vitro SiMa cell line-based neutralization assay (SBNA), compatible with a PMNA design, for therapeutic antitoxins against type E botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT/E).

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