Fast and accurate multi-bacterial identification using cleavable and FRET-based peptide nucleic acid probes.

Fast and accurate identification of pathogenic microbes in patient samples is crucial for the timely treatment of acute infectious diseases such as sepsis. The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique allows the rapid detection and identification of microbes based on their variation in genomic sequence without time-consuming culturing or sequencing. However, the recent explosion of microbial genomic data has made it challenging to design an appropriate set of probes for microbial mixtures.

On-Site Bioaerosol Sampling and Airborne Microorganism Detection Technologies.

Bioaerosols are small airborne particles composed of microbiological fragments, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, pollens, and/or by-products of cells, which may be viable or non-viable wherever applicable. Exposure to these agents can cause a variety of health issues, such as allergic and infectious diseases, neurological disorders, and cancer. Therefore, detecting and identifying bioaerosols is crucial, and bioaerosol sampling is a key step in any bioaerosol investigation.

Transcriptomes of the tumor-adjacent normal tissues are more informative than tumors in predicting recurrence in colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Previous investigations of transcriptomic signatures of cancer patient survival and post-therapy relapse have focused on tumor tissue. In contrast, here we show that in colorectal cancer (CRC) transcriptomes derived from normal tissues adjacent to tumors (NATs) are better predictors of relapse.

Results: Using the transcriptomes of paired tumor and NAT specimens from 80 Korean CRC patients retrospectively determined to be in recurrence or nonrecurrence states, we found that, when comparing recurrent with nonrecurrent samples, NATs exhibit a greater number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than tumors.

Human Cell-Camouflaged Nanomagnetic Scavengers Restore Immune Homeostasis in a Rodent Model with Bacteremia.

Bloodstream infection caused by antimicrobial resistance pathogens is a global concern because it is difficult to treat with conventional therapy. Here, scavenger magnetic nanoparticles enveloped by nanovesicles derived from blood cells (MNVs) are reported, which magnetically eradicate an extreme range of pathogens in an extracorporeal circuit. It is quantitatively revealed that glycophorin A and complement receptor (CR) 1 on red blood cell (RBC)-MNVs predominantly capture human fecal bacteria, carbapenem-resistant (CR) Escherichia  coli, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-positive (ESBL-positive) E.

Effect of pelvic floor muscle electrical stimulation on lumbopelvic control in women with stress urinary incontinence: randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) plays a role not only in lumbopelvic stabilization, but also in incontinence and sexual function.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of PFM training by electrical stimulation (ES) on urinary incontinence, PFM performance (i.e.

Quantitative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) of Magnetically Confined Bacteria Enables Early Detection of Human Bacteremia.

The current diagnosis of bacteremia mainly relies on blood culture, which is inadequate for the rapid and quantitative determination of most bacteria in blood. Here, a quantitative, multiplex, microfluidic fluorescence in situ hybridization method (μFISH) is developed, which enables early and rapid (3-h) diagnosis of bacteremia without the need for prior blood culture. This novel technology employs mannose-binding lectin-coated magnetic nanoparticles, which effectively opsonize a broad range of pathogens, magnetically sequestering them in a microfluidic device.

Pure Cortical Ependymoma With RELA-Fusion Positive in a Young Adult.

A 25-year-old female presented with a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. She had no previous history of seizures. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a solitary enhancing mass in the right fronto-parietal cortex.

Cosmetic outcome after electrocautery versus non-electrocautery dissection of the temporalis muscle for pterional craniotomy.

Objective: Despite the usefulness of pterional craniotomy (PC), its cosmetic outcome is questionable. Electrocautery (EC) causes injuries to adjacent structures, and it could be a factor that affects the cosmetic outcome. Evaluation of cosmetic outcome is difficult because it is often determined by patient's subjective criteria.

Analysis of Porcine Model of Fecal-Induced Peritonitis Reveals the Tropism of Blood Microbiome.

Recent studies have suggested the existence of a blood microbiome in the healthy host. However, changes in the blood microbiome upon bloodstream infection are not known. Here, we analyzed the dynamics of the blood microbiome in a porcine model of polymicrobial bacteremia induced by fecal peritonitis.

Retraction fibers produced by fibronectin-integrin α5β1 interaction promote motility of brain tumor cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a refractory disease that has a highly infiltrative characteristic. Over the past decade, GBM perivascular niche (PVN) has been described as a route of dissemination. Here, we investigated that trailed membrane structures, namely retraction fibers (RFs), are formed by perivascular extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.

Enhanced Diamagnetic Repulsion of Blood Cells Enables Versatile Plasma Separation for Biomarker Analysis in Blood.

A hemolysis-free and highly efficient plasma separation platform enabled by enhanced diamagnetic repulsion of blood cells in undiluted whole blood is reported. Complete removal of blood cells from blood plasma is achieved by supplementing blood with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), which turns the blood plasma into a paramagnetic condition, and thus, all blood cells are repelled by magnets. The blood plasma is successfully collected from 4 mL of blood at flow rates up to 100 µL min without losing plasma proteins, platelets, or exosomes with 83.

Effect of pelvic floor electrical stimulation on diaphragm excursion and rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing in women with stress urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) is associated with respiratory function. We investigated the effects of PFM training by pelvic floor electrical stimulation (PFES) on PFM strength, diaphragm excursion, and upper rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods: In total, 33 participants with SUI were divided into PFES and control groups.

An inflammatory vascular endothelium-mimicking microfluidic device to enable leukocyte rolling and adhesion for rapid infection diagnosis.

Recruitment of circulating leukocytes to sites of infection is of utmost importance in the development, propagation, and outcome of sepsis. These multi-step processes are mediated by interactions between adhesion receptors of leukocytes and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) of endothelial cells, such as P-selectin, E-selectin and ICAM-1. However, the potential utility of the CAMs-facilitated leukocyte capture has not been thoroughly investigated as an index of the host response to infection for diagnostic purposes.

Effects of surface electrical stimulation during sitting on pelvic floor muscle function and sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence.

Objective: Dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) is associated with sexual dysfunction in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The EasyK7 device was developed to stimulate the PFM by surface electrical stimulation during sitting (SESdS). We investigated the effects of SESdS on PFM function and sexual function in women with SUI.

Prior acquired resistance to paclitaxel relays diverse EGFR-targeted therapy persistence mechanisms.

Secondary drug resistance stems from dynamic clonal evolution during the development of a prior primary resistance. This collateral type of resistance is often a characteristic of cancer recurrence. Yet, mechanisms that drive this collateral resistance and their drug-specific trajectories are still poorly understood.

Which pelvic floor muscle functions are associated with improved subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of surface electrical stimulation in women with stress urinary incontinence?

Objective: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as involuntary urine loss during effort, sneezing, or coughing. We investigated which pelvic floor muscle (PFM) functions (muscle strength, power, and endurance) are associated with improvement in subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of surface electrical stimulation (SES) training. This study was performed to determine the effects of SES in the seated position on PFM functions and subjective and objective symptoms, and to identify predictors of improved subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of SES training via secondary analysis of females with SUI.

Robust chemical bonding of PMMA microfluidic devices to porous PETE membranes for reliable cytotoxicity testing of drugs.

Here, we report a simple yet reliable method for bonding poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) track-etched membranes using (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO), which enables reliable cytotoxicity tests in a microfluidic device impermeable to small molecules, such as anti-cancer drugs. The porous PETE membranes treated with 5% GLYMO were assembled with microfluidic channel-engraved PMMA substrates after air plasma treatment for 1 minute, followed by heating at 100 °C for 2 minutes, which permits irreversible and complete bonding to be achieved within 1 h. The bonding strength between the two substrates (1.

A Case of Recurrent Supratentorial Extraventricular Anaplastic Ependymoma in Adult.

Supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma (SEAE) in adults is a relatively rare intracranial tumor. Because of the very low prevalence, only a few cases have been reported. According to a recent study, SEAE is associated with a poor prognosis and there is no definite consensus on optimal treatment.

A Rare Case of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage caused by Ruptured Venous Varix Due to Dural Arteriovenous Fistula at the Foramen Magnum Fed Solely by the Ascending Pharyngeal Artery.

Dural arteriovenous fistula (D-AVF) at the foramen magnum is an extremely rare disease entity. It produces venous hypertension, and can lead to progressive cervical myelopathy thereafter. On the other hand, the venous hypertension may lead to formation of a venous varix, and it can rarely result in an abrupt onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) when the venous varix is ruptured.

Predictable Values of Decompressive Craniectomy in Patients with Acute Subdural Hematoma: Comparison between Decompressive Craniectomy after Craniotomy Group and Craniotomy Only Group.

Objective: Patients with traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) often require surgical treatment. Among patients who primarily underwent craniotomy for the removal of hematoma, some consequently developed aggressive intracranial hypertension and brain edema, and required secondary decompressive craniectomy (DC). To avoid reoperation, we investigated factors which predict the requirement of DC by comparing groups of ASDH patients who did and did not require DC after craniotomy.