One-step functionalization of paper and simplified antibody immobilization for on-the-spot immunocapture from dried serum in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry based targeted protein determination.

This work aimed to simplify and improve the process of binding monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) covalently to filter paper for use in dried blood spot sampling, enabling instant capture of protein biomarkers for targeted protein determination. Incorporating the necessary immunocapture sample preparation step in the initial sampling stage saves time and reduces the workload. The biomarker human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was used as the model analyte.

Comparison of Subcutaneous versus Intramuscular Dexmedetomidine-Midazolam-Ketamine-Morphine (DMKM) Mixture as Chemical Restraint for Endoscopic Sex Determination in Aldabra Giant Tortoises ().

Sex identification through coelioscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to determine the sex of chelonians by directly visualizing their internal reproductive organs. An adequate anaesthesiologic plan is essential to guarantee patient immobilization and proper analgesia during the entire surgical procedure. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a combination of dexmedetomidine (0.

Evaluating immunological and inflammatory changes of treatment-experienced people living with HIV switching from first-line triple cART regimens to DTG/3TC B/F/TAF: the DEBATE trial.

Background: The aim of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to compare immunological changes in virally suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH) switching from a three-drug regimen (3DR) to a two-drug regimen (2DR).

Methods: An open-label, prospective RCT enrolling PLWH receiving a 3DR who switched to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) or dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) was performed. Blood was taken at baseline and months 6 and 12.

The Hard Palate Sweep: a multiplanar 2-dimensional sonographic method for the prenatal detection of cleft palate.

Background: Prenatal diagnosis of cleft palate is challenging. Numerous 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional methods have been proposed to assess the integrity of the fetal palate, yet detection rates remain relatively low. We propose the "Hard Palate Sweep," a novel 2-dimensional method that enables clear demonstration of the entire fetal palate throughout pregnancy, in a single sweep, avoiding acoustic shadows cast by surrounding bones.

Sex identification in juvenile and adult Indonesian blue-tongued skinks (Tiliqua gigas) through cystoscopy and accuracy of contrast radiography.

Objective: To describe a nonsurgical endoscopic technique for sex identification in Indonesian blue-tongued skinks (Tiliqua gigas) and to assess accuracy of contrast radiography of the hemipenile/hemiclitoral pouches.

Animals: 42 clinically healthy Indonesian blue-tongued skinks between 6 months and 3 years old and weighing between 22 and 550 g.

Methods: Cystoscopy was performed under general anesthesia.

First case of systemic fatal mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium goodii in a pet Kenyan sand boa (Eryx colubrinus loveridgei).

Background: Environmental nontuberculous mycobacteria species that are not members of the M. tuberculosis complex, are ordinary inhabitants of a wide variety of environmental reservoirs and their role in human and animal diseases has been fully recognized. Even if spontaneous mycobacterial infections have been reported in a wide variety of reptiles, this is the first report of systemic fatal mycobacteriosis sustained by Mycobacterium goodii in a pet reptile.

Clinical, surgical, and pathological findings in client-owned rabbits with histologically confirmed appendicitis: 19 cases (2015-2019).

Objective: To report clinical, surgical, and pathological findings in client-owned rabbits with histologically confirmed appendicitis.

Animals: 19 rabbits.

Procedures: Medical records for client-owned rabbits that had a histologic diagnosis of appendicitis were reviewed.

The missing link in gravitational-wave astronomy: A summary of discoveries waiting in the decihertz range.

Since 2015 the gravitational-wave observations of LIGO and Virgo have transformed our understanding of compact-object binaries. In the years to come, ground-based gravitational-wave observatories such as LIGO, Virgo, and their successors will increase in sensitivity, discovering thousands of stellar-mass binaries. In the 2030s, the space-based will provide gravitational-wave observations of massive black holes binaries.

Treatment Algorithm for Hyaluronic Acid-Related Complication Based on a Systematic Review of Case Reports, Case Series, and Clinical Experience.

Study Design: Systematic review of hyaluronic acid (HA)-related complications.

Objective: To systematically review all available literature including case reports and case series to identify a pattern for the management of vascular compromise resulting in facial skin ischemia and ocular manifestations following HA injection.

Methods: This review was based on a systematic search of 3 electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus for all available literature including case series and case reports from database inception to July 2019.

Effects of atazanavir, darunavir, and raltegravir on fat and muscle among persons living with HIV.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with gain in of fat and muscle, but the impact on is less understood. The objective of this study was to compare fat and muscle density among people with HIV (PWH) on stable raltegravir (RAL), atazanavir with ritonavir (ATV/r), or darunavir with ritonavir (DRV/r), and explore implications on muscle function.

Methods: Participants from the Modena HIV Metabolic Clinic taking RAL, ATV/r, or DRV/r with at least 1 computed tomography (CT) scan were included.

Fluoride-based molecular imaging of coronary atherosclerosis in HIV infected patients.

Background And Aims: Molecular imaging with Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and F-sodium-fluoride (NaF) captures arterial inflammation and micro-calcification and can reveal potentially unstable atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods: We performed FDG and NaF PET/CT imaging in two clinically similar cohorts of patients living with HIV (PLWH) with no symptomatic cardiovascular disease. The prevalence and intensity of coronary artery uptake of each tracer, measured as target-to-background ratio (TBR), were assessed in patients at low and high cardiovascular risk.

Molecular Imaging of Vascular Calcification with F-Sodium-Fluoride in Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

F-Sodium Fluoride (NaF) accumulates in areas of active hydroxyapatite deposition and potentially unstable atherosclerotic plaques. We assessed the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in 50 adult patients with HIV (HIV+) who had undergone two cardiac computed tomography scans to measure coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression. CAC and its progression are predictive of an unfavorable prognosis.

The role of the vasculature niche on insulin-producing cells generated by transdifferentiation of adult human liver cells.

Background: Insulin-dependent diabetes is a multifactorial disorder that could be theoretically cured by functional pancreatic islets and insulin-producing cell (IPC) implantation. Regenerative medicine approaches include the potential for growing tissues and organs in the laboratory and transplanting them when the body cannot heal itself. However, several obstacles remain to be overcome in order to bring regenerative medicine approach for diabetes closer to its clinical implementation; the cells generated in vitro are typically of heterogenic and immature nature and the site of implantation should be readily vascularized for the implanted cells to survive in vivo.

Modeling Network-Controlled Device-to-Device Communications in SimuLTE.

In Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A), network-controlled device-to-device (D2D) communications allow User Equipments (UEs) to communicate directly, without involving the Evolved Node-B in data relaying, while the latter still retains control of resource allocation. The above paradigm allows reduced latencies for the UEs and increased resource efficiency for the network operator, and is therefore foreseen to support several services, from Machine-to-machine to vehicular communications. D2D communications introduce research challenges that might affect the performance of applications and upper-layer protocols, hence simulations represent a valuable tool for evaluating these aspects.

Evaluation of point-of-care analysers for blood gas and clinical chemistry in Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni).

Objective: To assess the agreement between point-of-care and laboratory analysers in measuring biochemical and blood gas analytes in venous samples from tortoises and to define preliminary reference intervals for venous blood gas analysis in Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni).

Materials And Methods: Jugular venous blood samples from 47 Hermann's tortoises underwent paired analysis with a portable gas analyser (i-STAT 1, Abaxis), a portable chemical analyser (VetScan VS2, Abaxis), and with the respective reference analysers. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to determine albumin concentrations on 12 specimens.

Treacher Collins Syndrome and Tracheostomy: Decannulation Using Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis.

Introduction: Treacher Collins syndrome (TC) and Pierre Robin sequence (RS) are associated with hypoplastic mandible, glossoptosis, and consequent airway obstruction. Although TC and RS are often grouped together, airway outcomes of bilateral mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) have not been specifically studied in TC. The purpose of this study is to report on the clinical outcomes of MDO in the TC patient population.

Cellular-V2X Communications for Platooning: Design and Evaluation.

Platooning is a cooperative driving application where autonomous/semi-autonomous vehicles move on the same lane in a train-like manner, keeping a small constant inter-vehicle distance, in order to reduce fuel consumption and gas emissions and to achieve safe and efficient transport. To this aim, they may exploit multiple on-board sensors (e.g.

Bounding the Speed of Gravity with Gravitational Wave Observations.

The time delay between gravitational wave signals arriving at widely separated detectors can be used to place upper and lower bounds on the speed of gravitational wave propagation. Using a Bayesian approach that combines the first three gravitational wave detections reported by the LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations we constrain the gravitational waves propagation speed c_{gw} to the 90% credible interval 0.55c View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Successful Pre- and Posttransplant Sofosbuvir-Based Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Treatment in Persons Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

This retrospective study reports the data of sofosbuvir-based anti-hepatitis C virus treatment in 24 candidates and 24 recipients of liver transplantation coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus. Sustained virologic response was cumulatively 85% (90% and 100% in those treated with optimal schedules pre- and posttransplant, respectively).

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF SPIROTOME® DEVICE FOR LIVER BIOPSY IN GREEN IGUANAS (IGUANA IGUANA): A PILOT STUDY.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a large-core manual biopsy device (Spirotome(®), Medinvents, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium) for liver sampling and histologic diagnosis in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). The study included eight green iguanas, and two ultrasound-guided biopsies were collected for each lizard, for 16 biopsies in total. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia induced by intravenous injection of propofol (10 mg/kg) maintained with a mixture of 2.