Publications by authors named "M D Kurz"

Ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the TPP1 gene, encoding lysosomal tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (TPP1). The classical late-infantile phenotype has an age of onset between 2 and 4 years and is characterized by psychomotor regression, myoclonus, ataxia, blindness, and shortened life expectancy. Vision loss occurs due to retinal degeneration, usually when severe neurological symptoms are already evident.

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We employed two compelling and distinct methods, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ramped Pyrolysis Oxidation (Ramped PyrOx), to examine the quality of organic matter (OM) stored in four peatlands located along a latitudinal gradient (Tropical (4˚N), Subtropical (27˚N), Boreal (48˚N), and Polar (68˚N)). FTIR was used to quantify the relative abundance of carbohydrates, a relatively labile compound class, and aromatics, which are more recalcitrant, in a sample set of four peat cores. These samples were then prepared using Ramped PyrOx, a second, independent method of determining OM quality that mimics the natural diagenetic maturation of OM that would take place over long timescales.

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  • Previous studies showed limited evidence on how buprenorphine versus methadone affects different groups of people using opioids, particularly with the rise of fentanyl use.
  • The study aimed to compare the risks of treatment discontinuation and mortality between individuals using buprenorphine/naloxone versus those using methadone for opioid use disorder in British Columbia from 2010 to 2020.
  • Findings revealed that users of buprenorphine/naloxone had a significantly higher likelihood of discontinuing treatment after 24 months compared to those on methadone, with 88.8% versus 81.5% discontinuing, indicating that methadone may be more effective in retaining users.
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  • - The study examines how sensorimotor cortical dynamics in youth with cerebral palsy are linked to their motor performance errors and mobility issues, highlighting the potential for these dynamics to serve as biomarkers for therapeutic outcomes.
  • - Researchers used magnetoencephalography to measure changes in brain oscillations in both youth with cerebral palsy and neurotypical controls during a knee extension task, revealing significant practice-dependent changes in cortical activity.
  • - Results indicated that improved motor performance in youth with cerebral palsy, such as faster reaction times and more accurate target matching, correlates with stronger beta and gamma oscillations in the sensorimotor cortex, suggesting enhanced certainty in motor planning and better neural activation patterns after practice.
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  • The study investigates the use of modified MRI mismatch criteria for administering intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) to wake-up stroke (WUPS) patients, focusing on those with partial mismatch.
  • Conducted at Stavanger University Hospital, it included 78 WUPS patients, assessing their clinical outcomes based on NIHSS and mRS scores after 3 months, alongside safety concerns like intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).
  • The findings revealed that patients with the best outcomes had a DWI/FLAIR mismatch and no instances of ICH were reported, supporting the modified criteria's effectiveness for selecting WUPS patients for IVT.
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