The IR Biotyper as a tool for typing organisms of significance for hospital epidemiology- A subject review.

The IR Biotyper is a novel real-time typing tool, based on a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy system. It has emerged as a promising method for the strain typing of various microorganisms and for the detection of their clonal spread within hospitals. In this review, we aim to present the applications and accuracy of the IR Biotyper in hospital epidemiology.

Mangiferin mitigates methotrexate-induced liver injury and suppresses hepatic stellate cells activation in rats: Imperative role of Nrf2/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling axis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Mangifera indica (family Anacardiaceae), often acknowledged as mango and renowned for being a plant of diverse ethnopharmacological background since ancient times, harbors the polyphenolic bioactive constituent, mangiferin (MNG). MNG is a major phytochemical of Mangifera indica and other plants with a wide range of reported pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and hepatoprotective effects. MNG has also been utilized in traditional medicine; it is reportedly a major bioactive element in over 40 polyherbal products in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and two prominent anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral Cuban formulations.

Bartonella quintana Endocarditis Associated With Head Lice in a Canadian Indigenous Youth.

Bartonella quintana is a rare but important cause of culture-negative endocarditis, classically associated with body lice infestation. We report the first known pediatric case of Bartonella quintana endocarditis associated with head lice. The importance of sending targeted testing for this organism in at-risk patients, ideally on tissue specimens, is emphasized.

Calorimetry probe for runaway electron heat load measurement at COMPASS.

Runaway electrons, accelerated in a tokamak discharge to high energies (tens of MeV), can cause serious damage to plasma facing components. Therefore, it is important to develop effective mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of tokamak damage. To study the effects of various mitigation strategies, a dedicated diagnostic, the calorimetry probe, was developed at the COMPASS tokamak.

The role of osteopathic manipulative treatment for dystonia: a literature review.

Context: Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions leading to abnormal movements and postures, such as twisting. Dystonia is the third most common movement disorder in the United States, with as many as 250,000 people affected. Because of its complexity, dystonia presents a significant challenge in terms of management and treatment.

Atypical Sensory Loss Pattern in an Isolated Thalamic Stroke: A Case Report.

This case report discusses a 51-year-old male who presented to the emergency department (ED) with left-sided hemiparesthesia and left leg incoordination. The initial brain computed tomography (CT) scan was negative, and the follow-up brain CT three days after the onset of symptoms was also negative. Although sensitivity and specificity are not 100%, CT remains the first-line diagnostic test for detecting a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

Efficacy of the cardiac glycoside digoxin as an adjunct to csDMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Inflammation and angiogenesis are two main mechanisms that act as mutual pathways in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This work aimed to study the efficacy of digoxin as an adjunct therapy to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) in active RA patients.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 60 adult patients with active RA received a placebo or digoxin (0.

Therapeutic Potential of Intravenous Ketamine in Early-Onset Dementia: A Case Report.

This case report discusses the use of intravenous (IV) ketamine as a potential therapeutic agent for early-onset dementia. A 56-year-old female with a diagnosis of early-onset dementia showed significant cognitive decline despite trying and failing several standard treatments such as memantine, donepezil, and rivastigmine. Given the promising results of ketamine in other neurological and psychiatric disorders, the patient underwent a series of IV ketamine infusions over a period of two months.

Point-of-Care Testing Biosafety Decisions: An Investigation Summary Illustrating Current Decision-Making Process in Ontario, Canada.

Background: Point-of-care testing (POCT) is increasingly being used in healthcare, including hospitals, and POCT-style tests are also used within some laboratories. The principles of biosafety, including risk assessment and containment of biohazardous agents, can be utilized as a foundation to establish policies and procedures guiding safe performance of POCT. However, specific biosafety guidelines for POCT are generally lacking, particularly for those performed outside laboratories by healthcare workers.

The influence of pre-heating the restoration and luting agent on the flexural strength of indirect ceramic and composite restorations.

Background: This study investigated the impact of luting procedure and restoration thicknesses on the flexural strength of CAD/CAM restorations. Traditional luting agents have been questioned in favor of pre-heated resin composites or flowable composites.

Materials And Methods: 400 disc-shaped restorations (lithium disilicate [IPS e.

Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia in university students delivered via videoconferencing groups: A pilot study.

Introduction: Sleep difficulties are common amongst university students and are associated with mental illness and reduced wellbeing. This paper reports a pilot study of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) tailored specifically for university students. It was hypothesized that the intervention would be feasible, acceptable, and improve sleep, anxiety, depression, and wellbeing.

Etanercept ameliorates chronic mild stress-induced depressive-like behavior in rats: Crosstalk between MAPK and STAT3 pathways and norepinephrine and serotonin transporters.

Depression is a serious medical illness characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest in daily activities. It can interfere with daily functioning and quality of life. Despite decades of research, the pathophysiology of depression remains incompletely understood.

Neonatal Chlamydia muridarum respiratory infection causes neuroinflammation within the brainstem during the early postnatal period.

Respiratory infections are one of the most common causes of illness and morbidity in neonates worldwide. In the acute phase infections are known to cause wide-spread peripheral inflammation. However, the inflammatory consequences to the critical neural control centres for respiration have not been explored.

Impact of vitamin D deficiency on iron status in children with type I diabetes.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and anemia are both public health nutrition concerns. An association between VDD and anemia has been suggested in various healthy and diseased populations. The current study aimed to elucidate the effect of VDD on iron status in children with type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

From Wheelchair Bound to Working: A Case Study of Intravenous Ketamine Infusions in Treating Stiff Person Syndrome.

Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune condition marked by extremely painful muscle spasms, stiffness, and rigidity throughout the body. Its rarity often translates to limited treatment options for patients and, occasionally, challenges in obtaining a definitive diagnosis. SPS also impacts patients' mental health, social and economic involvement, and overall quality of life.

The 2023 top 10 list of endoscopy topics in medical publishing: an annual review by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Editorial Board.

Using a systematic literature search of original articles published during 2023 in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE) and other high-impact medical and gastroenterology journals, the GIE Editorial Board of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy compiled a list of the top 10 most significant topic areas in general and advanced GI endoscopy during the year. Each GIE Editorial Board member was directed to consider 3 criteria in generating candidate topics-significance, novelty, and impact on global clinical practice-and subject matter consensus was facilitated by the Chair through electronic voting and a meeting of the entire GIE Editorial Board. The 10 identified areas collectively represent advances in the following endoscopic spheres: GI bleeding, endohepatology, endoscopic palliation, artificial intelligence and polyp detection, artificial intelligence beyond the colon, better polypectomy and EMR, how to make endoscopy units greener, high-quality upper endoscopy, endoscopic tissue apposition and closure devices, and endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Differential protective impact of peptide vaccine formulae targeting the lung- and liver-stage of challenge Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice.

The study aimed to elicit protective immune responses against murine schistosomiasis mansoni at the parasite lung- and liver stage. Two peptides showing amino acid sequence similarity to gut cysteine peptidases, which induce strong memory immune effectors in the liver, were combined with a peptide based on S. mansoni thioredoxin peroxidase (TPX), a prominent lung-stage schistosomula excretory-secretory product, and alum as adjuvant.

The medulla oblongata shows a sex-specific inflammatory response to systemic neonatal lipopolysaccharide.

Early life inflammation has been linked to long-term modulation of behavioural outcomes due to the central nervous system, but it is now becoming apparent it is also linked to dysfunction of visceral physiology. The medulla oblongata contains a number of nuclei critical for homeostasis, therefore we utilised the well-established model of neonatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure to examine the immediate and long-term impacts of systemic inflammation on the medulla oblongata. Wistar rats were injected with LPS or saline on postnatal days 3 and 5, with tissues collected on postnatal days 7 or 90 in order to assess expression of inflammatory mediators and microglial morphology in autonomic regions of the medulla oblongata.

Malnutrition in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I: Case Report of a Novel Nutritional Intervention With Improved Growth and Function While Receiving Parallel Gene Splicing Therapies.

Children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) frequently experience feeding intolerance and diminished growth. Although splicing modulators to prevent symptoms are available worldwide, adequate nutrition to support growth, development, and improved quality of life remains essential. We present a case study of a one-year-old malnourished male with SMA type I who achieved improved growth and feeding tolerance with a human milk (HM)-derived nutrition intervention.