Assessment of Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and Risk Factors Associated With COVID-19 Infection Among Outpatients in Virginia.

Importance: Data from seroepidemiologic surveys measuring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure in diverse communities and ascertaining risk factors associated with infection are important to guide future prevention strategies.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection across Virginia and the risk factors associated with infection after the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections in the US.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this statewide cross-sectional surveillance study, 4675 adult outpatients presenting for health care not associated with COVID-19 in Virginia between June 1 and August 14, 2020, were recruited to participate in a questionnaire and receive venipuncture to assess SARS-CoV-2 serology.

Amantadine Effect on Perceptions of Irritability after Traumatic Brain Injury: Results of the Amantadine Irritability Multisite Study.

This study examines the effect of amantadine on irritability in persons in the post-acute period after traumatic brain injury (TBI). There were 168 persons ≥6 months post-TBI with irritability who were enrolled in a parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial receiving either amantadine 100 mg twice daily or equivalent placebo for 60 days. Subjects were assessed at baseline and days 28 (primary end-point) and 60 of treatment using observer-rated and participant-rated Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-I) Most Problematic item (primary outcome), NPI Most Aberrant item, and NPI-I Distress Scores, as well as physician-rated Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale.

Measures of injury severity and prediction of acute traumatic brain injury outcomes.

Objective: To examine the comparative efficacy of 3 common measures of traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity for predicting inpatient outcomes upon hospital discharge.

Setting: Acute brain injury rehabilitation unit at level 1 trauma center.

Participants: 100 patients with TBI.

Effectiveness of amantadine hydrochloride in the reduction of chronic traumatic brain injury irritability and aggression.

Background: Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), individuals may experience chronic problems with irritability or aggression, which may need treatment to minimize the negative impact on their relationships, home life, social interactions, community participation, and employment

Objective: : To test the a priori hypothesis that amantadine reduces irritability (primary hypothesis) and aggression (secondary hypothesis) among individuals greater than 6 months post-TBI METHODS:: A total of 76 individuals greater than 6 months post-TBI referred for irritability management were enrolled in a parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of amantadine (n = 38) versus placebo (n = 38). Study participants were randomly assigned to receive amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg twice daily versus equivalent placebo for 28 days. Symptoms of irritability and aggression were measured before and after treatment using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Irritability (NPI-I) and Aggression (NPI-A) domains, as well as the NPI-Distress for these domains

Results: : In the amantadine group, 80.

Evaluation of methods for sequence analysis of highly repetitive DNA templates.

The DNA Sequencing Research Group (DSRG) of the ABRF conducted a study to assess the ability of DNA sequencing core facilities to successfully sequence a set of well-defined templates containing difficult repeats. The aim of this study was to determine whether repetitive templates could be sequenced accurately by using equipment and chemistries currently utilized in participating sequencing laboratories. The effects of primer and template concentrations, sequencing chemistries, additives, and instrument formats on the ability to successfully sequence repeat elements were examined.

Discrete gene sets depend on POU domain transcription factor Brn3b/Brn-3.2/POU4f2 for their expression in the mouse embryonic retina.

Brn3b/Brn-3.2/POU4f2 is a POU domain transcription factor that is essential for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) differentiation, axonal outgrowth and survival. Our goal was to establish a link between Brn3b and the downstream events leading to RGC differentiation.