Machine learning-optimized non-invasive brain stimulation and treatment response classification for major depression.

Background/objectives: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation intervention that shows promise as a potential treatment for depression. However, the clinical efficacy of tDCS varies, possibly due to individual differences in head anatomy affecting tDCS dosage. While functional changes in brain activity are more commonly reported in major depressive disorder (MDD), some studies suggest that subtle macroscopic structural differences, such as cortical thickness or brain volume reductions, may occur in MDD and could influence tDCS electric field (E-field) distributions.

Connecting memory and functional brain networks in older adults: a resting-state fMRI study.

Limited research exists on the association between resting-state functional network connectivity in the brain and learning and memory processes in advanced age. This study examined within-network connectivity of cingulo-opercular (CON), frontoparietal control (FPCN), and default mode (DMN) networks, and verbal and visuospatial learning and memory in older adults. Across domains, we hypothesized that greater CON and FPCN connectivity would associate with better learning, and greater DMN connectivity would associate with better memory.

Machine-learning defined precision tDCS for improving cognitive function.

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with cognitive training (CT) is widely investigated as a therapeutic tool to enhance cognitive function in older adults with and without neurodegenerative disease. Prior research demonstrates that the level of benefit from tDCS paired with CT varies from person to person, likely due to individual differences in neuroanatomical structure.

Objective: The current study aims to develop a method to objectively optimize and personalize current dosage to maximize the functional gains of non-invasive brain stimulation.

Musculoskeletal tuberculosis - imaging using low-end and advanced modalities for developing and developed countries.

Musculoskeletal involvement by TB is rare in comparison to other forms of the disease. It most commonly involves the spine but can also involve large weight-bearing joints, long bones, the skull and the soft tissues. Characteristic appearances of musculoskeletal TB are described for numerous imaging modalities in this paper but it is also highlighted that when based on imaging appearances alone, there is always a differential diagnosis, including other infections and malignancies.

Mismatched hemagglutinin and neuraminidase specificities in recent human H3N2 influenza viruses.

The hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses initiates infection by binding to sialic acid on the cell surface via alpha2,6 (human) or alpha2,3 (avian) linkage. The influenza neuraminidase (NA) can cleave both alpha2,3- and alpha2,6-linked sialic acids, but all influenza NAs have a marked preference for the non-human alpha2,3 linkage. Recent H3N2 influenza viruses have lost the ability to agglutinate chicken red blood cells.

Laboratory-acquired vaccinia infection.

Background: Complications following vaccination with vaccinia virus have been well described but are not commonly observed. The use of vaccinia as a tool in molecular biology, in the development of therapeutics, and the anticipated increase of vaccinations in the general population due to the threat of bioterrorism have created a renewed awareness of the post-vaccination complications and the consequent need for clinical and laboratory diagnosis.

Objectives: To report the clinical presentation and subsequent diagnosis of generalized vaccinia that resulted from a laboratory accident in an unvaccinated subject.

Sleep and 24 hour body temperatures: a comparison in young men, naturally cycling women and women taking hormonal contraceptives.

Body temperature has a circadian rhythm, and in women with ovulatory cycles, also a menstrual rhythm. Body temperature and sleep are believed to be closely coupled, but the influence on their relationship of gender, menstrual cycle phase and female reproductive hormones is unresolved. We investigated sleep and 24 h rectal temperatures in eight women with normal menstrual cycles in their mid-follicular and mid-luteal phases, and in eight young women taking a steady dose of oral progestin and ethinyl oestradiol (hormonal contraceptive), and compared their sleep and body temperatures with that of eight young men, sleeping in identical conditions.

Differential diagnoses of influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and respiratory syncytial virus infections by direct immunofluorescence using mixtures of monoclonal antibodies of different isotypes.

Differences between isotypes of monoclonal antibodies were employed to detect influenza A and B viruses and respiratory syncytial virus by direct immunofluorescence using fluorescein isothiocyanate or Texas Red conjugates. Examination of 56 specimens for influenza A and B viruses and 112 specimens for influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus showed the mixed-isotype test to be comparable to the conventional procedure.

Isolation and characterization of a naturally occurring parainfluenza 3 virus variant.

A parainfluenza 3 virus variant which failed to react with parainfluenza 3 virus-specific monoclonal anti-bodies from two commercial sources was isolated from a 14-month-old boy. Analysis of the coding region of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase gene identified 36 nucleotide changes and 4 amino acid changes compared with a consensus sequence derived from strains isolated from 1957 through 1983. Two unique amino acid changes occurred at positions 174 and 283, which are close to identified epitopes in the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein.

Comparison of rapid immunofluorescence procedure with TestPack RSV and Directigen FLU-A for diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A virus.

A rapid immunofluorescence format requiring 20 min for completion was as effective as conventional indirect and direct immunofluorescence procedures for detecting respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A virus antigens in clinical specimens. Rapid immunofluorescence was more sensitive than TestPack RSV and comparable to Directigen FLU-A immunosorbent assays, which require 20 min for completion.

Absence of association between cytomegalovirus infection and obliterative transplant arteriopathy in renal allograft rejection.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was recently identified, using in situ hybridization, in the coronary arteries of patients with cardiac transplant rejection, suggesting a role of CMV in the development of obliterative transplant arteriopathy in cardiac allografts. We sought to verify this observation by examining arteries in kidney transplants with intimal thickening due to chronic rejection. Eleven renal biopsies and 13 nephrectomies from 24 patients, all showing obliterative transplant arteriopathy, were collected for this study.

Mixed viral infections: detection and management.

An analysis was done of the incidence and nature of mixed virus infections diagnosed in the same clinical specimen from immunocompetent patients; respiratory viruses were emphasized. Few studies have addressed mixed viral infections in any systematic fashion. The relevant studies reviewed focused on clinical relationships or diagnostic methods.

A conformational epitope on the dimer of the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus detected in natural infections.

A murine monoclonal antibody (MAb), 2D8, was used in immunofluorescence reactions to detect respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen in clinical specimens. Nasopharyngeal epithelial cells from 63 of 66 children with RSV infections reacted with this MAb. The MAb was further characterized and was demonstrated to recognize a conformational epitope on the dimer of the fusion protein of RSV.

Interlaboratory agreement study of a double set of PCR plasmid primers for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in a variety of genitourinary specimens.

We conducted a tricenter interlaboratory agreement study to assess the agreement of PCR results obtained for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in genitourinary specimens. A total of 120 specimens (49 positive and 71 negative), including 20 first-void urine samples, 50 endocervical and 50 urethral swabs (40 males), were coded and sent from a reference laboratory (laboratory A) to two other laboratories. Laboratories B and C were provided with a standardized protocol and reagent package including two sets of plasmid PCR primers (KL1-KL2 and T1-T2) and were asked to test each specimen with the first set of primers (KL1-KL2) and to confirm positives with the second set of primers (T1-T2).

Effect of rimantadine on the immune response to influenza A infections.

The effects of rimantadine on lymphocyte responses to mitogens CON-A and PHA, natural killer cell activity, and the development of serum and local antibodies were studied during an epidemic outbreak of influenza A (H3N2). Twenty-three families consisting of 38 adults and 46 children had a member who developed a flu-like illness and were randomly assigned to receive placebo or rimantadine either as treatment or post exposure prophylaxis. Nasal washings for virus isolation and IgG and IgA determination were collected on days 1, 5, and 10 of illness.

Comparison of Directigen FLU-A with viral isolation and direct immunofluorescence for the rapid detection and identification of influenza A virus.

Directigen FLU-A, an enzyme immunoassay membrane test, was compared prospectively to isolation in cell culture and direct immunofluorescence (IF) for the detection of influenza A virus. One hundred ninety specimens were evaluated by Directigen FLU-A and cell culture; 184 of these specimens were also tested by direct IF. The sensitivity of Directigen FLU-A compared to isolation in cell culture and direct IF was 100%.

Absence of interferon in sera of patients with Kawasaki syndrome.

We measured serum interferon concentrations in 42 patients with Kawasaki syndrome. The children ranged in age from 7 months to 6 years. All acute sera were obtained within 12 days of the onset of fever.

Comparison of directigen RSV with viral isolation and direct immunofluorescence for the identification of respiratory syncytial virus.

An enzyme immunoassay membrane test (Directigen RSV) for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus in clinical specimens was compared prospectively with isolation in cell culture and direct immunofluorescence (IF). A total of 315 nasopharyngeal wash specimens from pediatric patients were examined. Directigen RSV was 86.

Detection of multiple viral agents in nasopharyngeal specimens yielding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). An assessment of diagnostic strategy and clinical significance.

A retrospective study of 6 years (1981-1987) experience with clinical specimens of pediatric patients submitted for identification of respiratory viruses was undertaken to determine the prevalence of multiple viral isolates and to assess the impact of dual infections on severity of clinical disease. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the most frequently identified agent, was detected in cell culture and/or by immunofluorescence (IF) in 666 of 2,415 specimens examined. A second virus was isolated in cell cultures from 51 of the 666 specimens (7.

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in adolescent females using direct immunofluorescence.

Direct immunofluorescent slide tests for the detection of genital Chlamydia trachomatis have attracted considerable attention because of their speed and economy, but most evaluation trials have concentrated on adult, high-risk populations. Using 152 paired specimens, we compared the Syva Micro Trak direct specimen test with culture in a population of adolescent females attending a general adolescent medicine clinic. The direct slide test was 90 percent sensitive and 95 percent specific overall, with positive and negative predictive values of 74 percent and 98 percent, respectively.

Comparison of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) kits with immunofluorescence and isolation in cell culture for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Rapid diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections is based upon detection of viral antigen in cells obtained from the respiratory tract and usually employs immunofluorescence (IF) reactions or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (EIA). The Pathfinder EIA kit (Kallestad Diagnostics) was compared with the Abbott EIA kit by evaluating each against isolation of RSV in cell culture and detection of antigen by IF. The Pathfinder kit identified 116 of 129 culture-positive and 72 of 90 culture-negative specimens; the sensitivity was 90 percent and the specificity was 80 percent.

Molecular epidemiology of live, attenuated varicella virus vaccine in children with leukemia and in normal adults.

Restriction endonuclease analysis of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA has been used in unraveling the complex epidemiology of VZV infections in individuals immunized with a live, attenuated varicella virus vaccine. Early rashes appearing within the first six weeks after vaccination are invariably due to vaccine virus. True breakthrough infections with wild-type VZV also occur in vaccinees.

Aerosolized ribavirin treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants hospitalized during an epidemic.

Thirty-three infants with predisposing conditions and/or severely symptomatic with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection were treated with aerosolized ribavirin during a 12-week period at Oklahoma Children's Memorial Hospital. These patients were compared with 97 untreated patients with RSV infection hospitalized during the same epidemic. Despite preconditions which selected for a more seriously ill treatment group, patients who received ribavirin showed prompter resolution of the illness than did untreated controls.

Effect of intravenous immune globulin on natural killer cell activity: possible association with autoimmune neutropenia and idiopathic thrombocytopenia.

Natural killer cell (NK) activity was assessed in patients before and after treatment with intravenously administered immune globulin (IVIG). In eight patients with hypogammaglobulinemia or agammaglobulinemia receiving 300 mg/kg/dose IVIG every 4 weeks, NK activity was significantly lower after therapy than before. In two patients, one with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and one with autoimmune neutropenia, receiving high doses (2 gm/kg) of IVIG, NK activity was unusually high before therapy.