Testing for Antibodies to Four Parasites in Residual Blood Specimens from Trachoma Surveys in Kiribati, 2015-2019.

To assess the prevalence of several parasitic infections in Kiribati, dried blood spots collected during trachoma prevalence surveys in the two major population centers in 2015, 2016, and 2019 were tested using multiplex bead-based serologic assays to detect IgG antibodies against four pathogens of public health interest: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), Taenia solium (T. solium), Strongyloides stercoralis (S.

Development of diselenide-based fluorogenic system for the selective and sensitive detection of the Hg(II) in aqueous media.

Mercury(II) is highly toxic thus the selective and sensitive detection of Hg(II) is important. This research article deals with the synthesis and characterization of the fluorogenic system based on diselenide containing rhodamine by single crystal XRD. The probe has been used for selective detection of Hg(II) in aqueous media with detection limit of 62.

Systematic empirical evaluation of individual base editing targets: Validating therapeutic targets in USH2A and comparison of methods.

Base editing shows promise for the correction of human mutations at a higher efficiency than other repair methods and is especially attractive for mutations in large genes that are not amenable to gene augmentation therapy. Here, we demonstrate a comprehensive workflow for in vitro screening of potential therapeutic base editing targets for the USH2A gene and empirically validate the efficiency of adenine and cytosine base editor/guide combinations for correcting 35 USH2A mutations. Editing efficiency and bystander edits are compared between different target templates (plasmids vs.

New insights into the goals of transgender male versus non-binary individuals considering metoidioplasty and phalloplasty gender-affirming surgery.

Background: Understanding patient goals for metoidioplasty and phalloplasty gender-affirming surgery (MaPGAS) is paramount to achieving satisfactory, preference-sensitive outcomes, yet there is a lack of understanding of MaPGAS priorities and how these may vary between transgender men and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB).

Aim: To understand the surgical goals of transgender men and non-binary individuals AFAB considering MaPGAS.

Methods: An online survey was created following literature review and qualitative interviews and distributed via social media and a community health center to participants AFAB aged ≥18 years who had considered but not yet undergone MaPGAS.

Distribution and viability of ocular and non-ocular Chlamydia trachomatis in households in a trachoma-endemic community in Oromia, Ethiopia.

Background: We aimed to determine the household distribution and viability of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) from the eyes, face, and hands during the initial two visits of a year-long fortnightly cohort study in geographically defined adjacent households.

Methods/findings: We enrolled 298 individuals from 68 neighbouring households in Shashemene Woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia. All individuals above 2 years of age residing in these households were examined for signs of trachoma.