Probable vertical transmission of Alpha variant of concern (B.1.1.7) with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the syncytiotrophoblast, a case report.

Introduction: Definitive vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been rarely reported. We present a case of a third trimester pregnancy with fetal distress necessitating cesarean section that demonstrated maternal, placental, and infant infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant/B.1.

PEEK Versus Titanium Static Interbody Cages: A Comparison of 1-Year Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes for 1-Level TLIFs.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study evaluates the patient-reported Health Related Quality of Life outcomes and radiographic parameters of patients who underwent a single level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with either a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or titanium interbody cage.

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal stenosis with instability is a common diagnosis that is often treated with interbody fusion, in particular transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Static Versus Expandable Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) Interbody Cages: A Comparison of One-Year Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes for One-Level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Objective: To examine the effect of static versus expandable polyether ether ketone (PEEK) cages on both clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent one-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with either a static or expandable PEEK cage. Patient outcomes were obtained from chart review and radiographic outcomes were measured using standing, lateral radiographs.

5-Fluorouracil and Capecitabine: Assessment and Treatment of Uncommon Early-Onset Severe Toxicities Associated With Administration.

Background: Uncommon early-onset severe toxicities from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and capecitabine can be fatal if early warning signs are not recognized and treated promptly.

Objectives: This article delineates the differences between expected side effects and uncommon early-onset severe toxicities from 5-FU and capecitabine. It also provides background for understanding the reasons patients may develop these toxicities and reviews the efficacy of standard supportive care against a novel therapy (uridine triacetate).

Determination of secondary and tertiary amines as N-nitrosamine precursors in drinking water system using ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

N-Nitrosamines are potent mutagenic and carcinogenic emerging water disinfection by-products (DBPs). The most effective strategy to control the formation of these DBPs is minimizing their precursors from source water. Secondary and tertiary amines are dominating precursors of N-nitrosamines formation during drinking water disinfection process.

Microbial translocation and metabolic and body composition measures in treated and untreated HIV infection.

Circulating levels of microbial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are increased in HIV infection. Microbial translocation promotes obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia in other settings. We examined data from 178 subjects: an Indiana University (IU) cross-sectional study [N=49 on antiretroviral therapy (ART), N=47 not on ART], and a 24 week prospective study of ART initiation ACTG 5152s (N=82).

Hyperacute adrenal insufficiency after hemorrhagic shock exists and is associated with poor outcomes.

Background: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) has been extensively described in sepsis but not in acute hemorrhage. We sought to determine the incidence of hyperacute AI (HAI) immediately after hemorrhage and its association with mortality.

Methods: Patients with acute traumatic hemorrhagic shock presenting to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center prospectively had serum cortisol levels collected on admission.

Oxidative removal of selected endocrine-disruptors and pharmaceuticals in drinking water treatment systems, and identification of degradation products of triclosan.

The potential occurrences of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), as well as pharmaceuticals, are considered to be emerging environmental problems due to their persistence and continuous input into the aquatic ecosystem, even at only trace concentrations. This study systematically investigated the oxidative removal of eight specially selected ECDs and pharmaceuticals by comparing their relative reactivity as a function of different oxidative treatment processes (i.e.

Investigation of pharmaceuticals in Missouri natural and drinking water using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A comprehensive method has been developed and validated in two different water matrices for the analysis of 16 pharmaceutical compounds using solid phase extraction (SPE) of water samples, followed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. These 16 compounds include antibiotics, hormones, analgesics, stimulants, antiepileptics, and X-ray contrast media. Method detection limits (MDLs) that were determined in both reagent water and municipal tap water ranged from 0.

Simultaneous screening of herbicide degradation byproducts in water treatment plants using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Currently, herbicides are widely used in various combinations at many stages of cultivation and during postharvest storage. There are increasing concerns about the public health impact of herbicide degradation byproducts that may be present in water bodies used either as drinking water or for recreational purposes. This work investigated the sulfonic acid and oxanilic acid degradation products of metolachlor, alachlor, acetochlor, and propachlor in a variety of water bodies.

Effects of oxidative and physical treatments on inactivation of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and removal of cylindrospermopsin.

The presence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms (or blue-green algae) in water bodies used either as drinking water or for recreational purposes may present serious health risks for the human population. In this study, the removal of the chemical toxin, cylindrospermopsin, via free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, monochloramine, permanganate, ozone, and UV irradiation was studied. Ozone and free chlorine were found to be highly effective for cylindrospermopsion removal while the other disinfectants were ineffective.

Molecular analysis of a carbohydrate antigen involved in the structure and function of zona pellucida glycoproteins.

A lactosaminoglycan-associated antigen is associated with a carbohydrate moiety of all three zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins of pig and rabbit but is absent in the mouse and rat. A monoclonal antibody (PS1) recognizing this determinant was obtained by immunizing mice with a porcine ZP glycoprotein isoform purified by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Conditions known to remove O-linked or sialic acid carbohydrate moieties (alkaline reduction; O-glycanase or neuraminidase enzymatic cleavage) did not remove the carbohydrate epitope.

Adenovirus-mediated p53 gene transfer in sequence with cisplatin to tumors of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To determine the safety and tolerability of adenovirus-mediated p53 (Adp53) gene transfer in sequence with cisplatin when given by intratumor injection in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with advanced NSCLC and abnormal p53 function were enrolled onto cohorts receiving escalating dose levels of Adp53 (1 x 10(6) to 1 x 10(11) plaque-forming units [PFU]). Patients were administered intravenous cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) on day 1 and study vector on day 4 for a total of up to six courses (28 days per course).

Adenovirus-mediated p53 gene transfer in patients with advanced recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Standard therapies of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) often cause profound morbidity and have not significantly improved survival over the last 30 years. Preclinical studies showed that adenoviral vector delivery of the wild-type p53 gene reduced tumor growth in mouse xenograft models. Our purpose was to ascertain the safety and therapeutic potential of adenoviral (Ad)-p53 in advanced HNSCC.

Identification and structural characterization of the 75-kDa rabbit zona pellucida protein.

A cDNA (rc75) encoding a 75-kDa rabbit zona pellucida (ZP) glycoprotein (R75) has been cloned and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence consists of 676 amino acids including seven potential N-glycosylation sites. The cDNA hybridizes to a 2.

Characterization of equine zona pellucida glycoproteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunological techniques.

This study was designed to explore the composition of the equine zona pellucida (EZP) by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D- and 2D-PAGE), silver staining and immunoblotting techniques. Antral follicles palpable on frozen-thawed equine ovaries were aspirated with a needle and syringe, and the resultant follicular fluid, cellular material and oocytes were pooled. Oocytes were placed in Petri dishes, moved by narrow-bore pipette to droplets of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and mechanically cleaned of cumulus cells.

Isolation and characterization of a full-length cDNA encoding the 55-kDa rabbit zona pellucida protein.

A full-length cDNA (rc55) encoding the major rabbit zona pellucida (ZP) glycoprotein (55 kDa) has been cloned and sequenced. A lambda gt11 expression library was constructed using poly(A)+ mRNA isolated from sexually immature rabbit ovaries which contain large numbers of developing follicles. The rc55 cDNA was identified using affinity purified polyclonal antibodies specific to ZP antigens which are shared among mammalian species.

Effects of extracellular matrix on the expression of specific ovarian proteins.

A unique ovarian follicle cell culture system has been established to analyze the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) on early granulosa cell differentiation. Primary and early secondary follicles isolated from ovaries of sexually immature rabbits were grown on poly-D-lysine or Englebreth-Holm-Swarm basement membrane biomatrix substrata (EHS) in serum-free, hormonally defined medium. Granulosa cells from these follicles were examined for growth pattern characteristics and for secretory protein synthesis by two-dimensional (2D) PAGE.

Use of specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to define distinct antigens of the porcine zonae pellucidae.

Specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to solubilized porcine and rabbit zonae pellucidae (ZP) and to purified ZP glycoprotein components have been used to define distinct ZP antigens. These studies demonstrate that the individual ZP glycoproteins contain both unique and shared determinants. One monoclonal antibody (R5) has been used to demonstrate that the major porcine ZP glycoprotein, which has multiple charge species ranging in molecular weight from 42,000 to 120,000, is composed of two distinct polypeptide antigens unique to this glycoprotein class.

Thiol/disulfide redox equilibrium between glutathione and glycogen debranching enzyme (amylo-1,6-glucosidase/4-alpha-glucanotransferase) from rabbit muscle.

Rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen debranching enzyme is inactivated in a kinetically biphasic manner by GSSG at pH 8.0. The rapid phase results in the loss of 30% activity, while the slower phase leads to total enzyme inactivation.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and viral infection. Lack of association.

We tested the hypothesis that intracranial aneurysm develops because of viral infection that produces arterial damage, and that aneurysmal rupture is related to viral infection. The following viral agents were studied: influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial viral titers, by the indirect immunofluorescence method, in 29 patients and 29 controls; herpes simplex virus titers, by immunofluorescence, in 31 patients and 31 controls; rubella viral titers (Rubazyme test), in 34 patients and 34 controls; and influenza A and B viral titers, by the complement fixation method, in 54 patients and 54 controls. Patients were selected on the basis of documented aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.