A Novel Computer Vision Approach to Kinematic Analysis of Handwriting with Implications for Assessing Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Fine motor movement is a demonstrated biomarker for many health conditions that are especially difficult to diagnose early and require sensitivity to change in order to monitor over time. This is particularly relevant for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), which are associated with early changes in handwriting and fine motor skills. Kinematic analysis of handwriting is an emerging method for assessing fine motor movement ability, with data typically collected by digitizing tablets; however, these are often expensive, unfamiliar to patients, and are limited in the scope of collectible data.

EFFECT OF REOPENING ORDERS ON COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE US.

Shelter in place (SIP) orders were instituted by states to alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, states proceeded to reopen as SIPs were noted to be hurting the economy. We evaluated whether these reopenings affected COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococcal colonization in nonhospitalized HIV-infected patients.

We studied fecal colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in 89 HIV-infected nonhospitalized patients ages 24 to 62 years, including 70 (79%) men (including 41 homosexual and 5 bisexual men) and 19 (21%) women. Of the 89 patients, 61 (69%) were black, 25 (28%) Hispanic, and 3 (3%) white; 53 (60%) had history of ongoing or recent antibacterial therapy with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (29), clarithromycin (18), amoxicillin (7), ofloxacin (3), and metronidazole, doxycycline, dicloxacillin, and cephalexin (1 each). VRE were not isolated from any of the patients studied.

Chronic Q fever of pregnancy presenting as Coxiella burnetii placentitis: successful outcome following therapy with erythromycin and rifampin.

Chronic Q fever has been associated with endocarditis, granulomatous hepatitis, and osteomyelitis but only rarely with pregnancy. The apparent predilection of Coxiella burnetii, the organism causing Q fever, for the human placenta suggests that chronic Q fever of pregnancy is due to placentitis. We describe a patient with chronic, clinically apparent Q fever in pregnancy and a successful outcome.

Usefulness of LAL assay for rapid detection of gram-negative bacteriuria.

LAL assay is a rapid and reliable and easy to perform and interpret urine screen for clinically significant gram-negative bacteriuria. Chromogenic assays are rapid (5 min) and obviate problems associated with gel endpoints, such as inadvertant dissolution of the gel, either during incubation or reading. LAL urine screening is characterized by both high positive and negative predictive values.