Evaluating therapeutic potential of NR2E3 doses in the rd7 mouse model of retinal degeneration.

Retinitis Pigmentosa is a leading cause of severe vision loss. Retinitis Pigmentosa can present with a broad range of phenotypes impacted by disease age of onset, severity, and progression. This variation is influenced both by different gene mutations as well as unique variants within the same gene.

Retinoic acid related orphan receptor α is a genetic modifier that rescues retinal degeneration in a mouse model of Stargardt disease and Dry AMD.

Degeneration of the macula is associated with several overlapping diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt Disease (STGD). Mutations in ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily A Member 4 (ABCA4) are associated with late-onset dry AMD and early-onset STGD. Additionally, both forms of macular degeneration exhibit deposition of subretinal material and photoreceptor degeneration.

Seeing the Future: A Review of Ocular Therapy.

Ocular diseases present a unique challenge and opportunity for therapeutic development. The eye has distinct advantages as a therapy target given its accessibility, compartmentalization, immune privilege, and size. Various methodologies for therapeutic delivery in ocular diseases are under investigation that impact long-term efficacy, toxicity, invasiveness, and delivery range.

Preclinical dose response study shows NR2E3 can attenuate retinal degeneration in the retinitis pigmentosa mouse model Rho.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous disease and the main cause of vision loss within the group of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). IRDs are a group of rare disorders caused by mutations in one or more of over 280 genes which ultimately result in blindness. Modifier genes play a key role in modulating disease phenotypes, and mutations in them can affect disease outcomes, rate of progression, and severity.

Alzheimer's Disease: Models and Molecular Mechanisms Informing Disease and Treatments.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease resulting in progressive loss of memory, language and motor abilities caused by cortical and hippocampal degeneration. This review captures the landscape of understanding of AD pathology, diagnostics, and current therapies. Two major mechanisms direct AD pathology: (1) accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) plaque and (2) tau-derived neurofibrillary tangles (NFT).

A novel patches-selection method for the classification of point-of-care biosensing lateral flow assays with cardiac biomarkers.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is amongst the leading cause of death globally, which calls for rapid detection and treatment. Biosensing devices are used for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease at the point-of-care (POC), with lateral flow assays (LFAs) being particularly useful. However, due to their low sensitivity, most LFAs have been shown to have difficulties detecting low analytic concentrations.

High-Sensitive Detection and Quantitative Analysis of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Using Gold-Nanoshell-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay Device.

Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used as signal reporters in colorimetric lateral flow immunoassays (LFAs) for decades. However, it remains a major challenge to significantly improve the detection sensitivity of traditional LFAs due to the low brightness of AuNPs. As an alternative approach, we overcome this problem by utilizing 150 nm gold nanoshells (AuNSs) that were engineered by coating low-density silica nanoparticles with a thin layer of gold.

A Novel Method for Quantitative Analysis of C-Reactive Protein Lateral Flow Immunoassays Images via CMOS Sensor and Recurrent Neural Networks.

To design and implement an easy-to-use, Point-of-Care (PoC) lateral flow immunoassays (LFA) reader and data analysis system, which provides a more in-depth quantitative analysis for LFA images than conventional approaches thereby supporting efficient decision making for potential early risk assessment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A novel end-to-end system was developed including a portable device with CMOS camera integrated with optimized illumination and optics to capture the LFA images produced using high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) (concentration level < 5 mg/L). The images were transmitted via WiFi to a back-end server system for image analysis and classification.

Evaluation of the IgG antibody response to SARS CoV-2 infection and performance of a lateral flow immunoassay: cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis over 11 months.

Objective: To evaluate the dynamics and longevity of the humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and assess the performance of professional use of the UK-RTC AbC-19 Rapid Test lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the target condition of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG antibodies.

Design: Nationwide serological study.

Setting: Northern Ireland, UK, May 2020-February 2021.

GaP nanowire betavoltaic device.

A betavoltaic device is reported that directly converts beta energy from a Ni radioisotope into electrical energy by impact ionization in a GaP nanowire array. The GaP nanowires are grown in a periodic array by molecular beam epitaxy on silicon using the self-assisted vapor-liquid-solid method. By growing GaP nanowires with large packing fraction and length on the order of the maximum beta range, the nanowires can efficiently capture the betas with high energy conversion efficiency while using inexpensive Si substrates.

Analysis of agriculture-related life-threatening injuries presenting to emergency departments of rural generalist hospitals in Southern Queensland.

Objective: Agricultural industries are among the most dangerous in Australia posing significant public health risks. This study analyses the nature and management of agriculture-related injuries presenting to EDs in selected hospitals in Southern Queensland.

Methods: Data on agricultural injury presentations over a 6 month period was collected at four rural hospitals by a dedicated onsite hospital data coordinator.

GaAs quantum dots in a GaP nanowire photodetector.

We report the structural, optical and electrical properties of GaAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded along GaP nanowires. The GaP nanowires contained p-i-n junctions with 15 consecutively grown GaAs QDs within the intrinsic region. The nanowires were grown by molecular beam epitaxy using the self-assisted vapor-liquid-solid process.

Pulsed light reduces the toxicity of the algal toxin okadaic acid to freshwater crustacean Daphnia pulex.

This constitutes the first study to report on the reduction in toxicity of the dinoflagellate algal toxin okadaic acid after novel pulsed light (PL) treatments where ecotoxicological assessment was performed using a miniaturised format of the conventional in vivo freshwater crustacean Daphnia sp. acute toxicity test. Bivalves accumulate this toxin, which can then enter the human food chain causing deleterious health effects such as diarrhetic shellfish poisoning.

Development of a nanoarray capable of the rapid and simultaneous detection of zearalenone, T2-toxin and fumonisin.

Fusarium mycotoxins such as trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins occur on a worldwide basis in cereal grains, animal feeds and forages. Practical solutions for multiple mycotoxin determination in samples are required by industry and regulators for cost effective screening purposes. The feasibility of developing a novel multiplex nanoarray for the simultaneous and semi-quantitative detection of three regulated mycotoxins: zearalenone (ZEA), T2-toxin (T2) and fumonisin B1 (FUM) was examined.

Feasibility of a novel multispot nanoarray for antibiotic screening in honey.

Practical solutions for multiple antibiotic determination in food are required by the food industry and regulators for cost-effective screening purposes. This study describes the feasibility in development and preliminary performance of a novel multispot nanoarray for antibiotic screening in honey. Using a multiplex approach, the metabolites of the four main nitrofuran antibiotics, including morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidone (AMOZ), 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), semicarbazide (SEM), 1-aminohydantoin (AHD) and chloramphenicol (CAP), were simultaneously detected.

A validated UPLC-MS/MS method for the surveillance of ten aquatic biotoxins in European brackish and freshwater systems.

Over the past few decades, there has been an increased frequency and duration of cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in freshwater systems globally. These can produce secondary metabolites called cyanotoxins, many of which are hepatotoxins, raising concerns about repeated exposure through ingestion of contaminated drinking water or food or through recreational activities such as bathing/swimming. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) multi-toxin method has been developed and validated for freshwater cyanotoxins; microcystins-LR, -YR, -RR, -LA, -LY and -LF, nodularin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a and the marine diatom toxin domoic acid.

Distribution, occurrence and biotoxin composition of the main shellfish toxin producing microalgae within European waters: A comparison of methods of analysis.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a natural global phenomena emerging in severity and extent. Incidents have many economic, ecological and human health impacts. Monitoring and providing early warning of toxic HABs are critical for protecting public health.

Transmission of Salmonella enteritidis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography because of inadequate endoscope decontamination.

We report a historic nosocomial outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis affecting 4 inpatients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The cause was attributed to inadequate decontamination of an on-loan endoscope used over a weekend. This report highlights the risks of using on-loan endoscopes, particularly regarding their commissioning and adherence to disinfection protocols.

Placebo-Controlled Trial of Familiar Auditory Sensory Training for Acute Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Report.

Background: Sensory stimulation is often provided to persons incurring severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), but therapeutic effects are unclear.

Objective: This preliminary study investigated neurobehavioral and neurophysiological effects related to sensory stimulation on global neurobehavioral functioning, arousal, and awareness.

Methods: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial where 15 participants in states of disordered consciousness (DOC), an average of 70 days after TBI, were provided either the Familiar Auditory Sensory Training (FAST) or Placebo of silence.

Elevated liver enzymes following polytraumatic injury.

This retrospective cohort study examined the prevalence and potential risk factors for elevated liver enzymes in patients following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The participants were servicemembers with TBI admitted to the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC) at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, from January 2008 through December 2011. The PRC had 207 patients during this time period, 121 of whom had a liver panel within 30 d of injury.

Feedback informed treatment: evidence-based practice meets social construction.

This article explores the challenges presented by the mandate for evidence-based practice for family therapists who identify with the philosophical stance of social construction. The history of psychotherapy outcome research is reviewed, as are current findings that provide empirical evidence for an engaged, dialogic practice. The authors suggest that the binary between empiricism and social construction may be unhinged by understanding empiricism as a particular discursive frame (i.

Development of a planar waveguide microarray for the monitoring and early detection of five harmful algal toxins in water and cultures.

A novel multiplex microarray has been developed for the detection of five groups of harmful algal and cyanobacterial toxins found in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments including domoic acid (DA), okadaic acid (OA, and analogues), saxitoxin (STX, and analogues), cylindrospermopsin (CYN) and microcystins (MC, and analogues). The sensitivity and specificity were determined and feasibility to be used as a screening tool investigated. Results for algal/cyanobacterial cultures (n = 12) and seawater samples (n = 33) were compared to conventional analytical methods, such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Evolving to the optoelectronic mouse for phycotoxin analysis in shellfish.

Despite ethical and technical concerns, the in vivo method, or more commonly referred to mouse bioassay (MBA), is employed globally as a reference method for phycotoxin analysis in shellfish. This is particularly the case for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and emerging toxin monitoring. A high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC-FLD) has been developed for PSP toxin analysis, but due to difficulties and limitations in the method, this procedure has not been fully implemented as a replacement.