Defect detection by multi-axis infrared process monitoring of laser beam directed energy deposition.

Laser beam directed energy deposition (DED-LB) is an attractive additive manufacturing technique to produce versatile and complex 3D structures on demand, apply a cladding, or repair local defects. However, the quality of manufactured parts is difficult to assess by inspection prior to completion, and parts must be extensively inspected post-production to ensure conformance. Consequently, critical defects occurring during the build go undetected. In this work, a new monitoring system combining three infrared cameras along different optical axes capable of monitoring melt pool geometry and vertical displacement throughout deposition is reported. By combining multiple sensor data, an automated algorithm is developed which is capable of identifying the formation of structural features and defects. An intersecting, thin-walled geometry is used to demonstrate the capability of the system to detect process-induced porosity in samples with narrow intersection angles, which is validated using micro-CT observations. The recorded results indicate the root cause of this process-induced porosity at the intersection, and it is shown that advanced toolpath planning can eliminate such defects. The presented methodology demonstrates the value of multi-axis monitoring for identifying both defects and structural features, providing an advancement towards automated detection and alert systems in DED-LB.

¿Se puede utilizar la determinación del pico flujo de tos para valorar la capacidad tusígena en enfermedades respiratorias obstructivas graves? / Can cough peak flow be used to assess cough capacity in severe obstructive respiratory diseases?

Introducción: La valoración de la capacidad tusígena se realiza con la medición del flujo espiratorio máximo durante la tos (peak-flow tos [PFT]). Sin embargo, esta valoración podría alterarse por enfermedades con obstrucción espiratoria de la vía aérea. El objetivo fue valorar la medición de la capacidad tusígena mediante PFT en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), así como las correlaciones con la función pulmonar, muscular respiratoria y orofaríngea. Métodos: Se seleccionaron los pacientes con EPOC y con enfermedad neuromuscular, así como los sujetos sanos a los que se había realizado una medición de la fuerza de los músculos respiratorios de forma asistencial. De esta población, se analizaron los valores de la función respiratoria, así como la fuerza muscular orofaríngea. En un subgrupo de pacientes con EPOC se realizó el estudio de deglución por videofluoroscopia. Resultados: Se incluyeron 307 sujetos (59,3% EPOC, 38,4% enfermedades neuromusculares y 2,3% sanos). En el grupo EPOC, el PFT se encontraba disminuido de forma estadísticamente significativa comparado tanto con el grupo de los sanos como con los enfermos neuromusculares. El 70% de los EPOC tenían una disminución patológica del PFT. Solamente, existía una correlación directa entre el PFT con el grado de obstrucción bronquial y la fuerza de los músculos espiratorios. No se encontró alteración de la función de los músculos inspiratorios ni orofaríngeos. Conclusiones: La utilización del PFT en los pacientes con EPOC no refleja la capacidad tusígena ya que se ve influenciada por el grado de obstrucción bronquial. Por tanto, se deberían valorar nuevas pruebas diagnósticas para la medición de la capacidad tusígena, fundamentalmente, en los pacientes que coexistan enfermedades neuromusculares y patología obstructiva bronquial grave.(AU)

Introduction: Cough capacity is assessed by measuring cough peak flow (CPF). However, this assessment could be altered by obstructive airway diseases. The aim was to assess measurement of cough capacity by CPF in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as correlations with pulmonary, respiratory muscle, and oropharyngeal function. Methods: Patients with COPD, and with neuromuscular disease, were selected as well as healthy subjects who had undergone respiratory muscle strength measurement in a healthcare setting. From this population, respiratory function values and lung and oropharyngeal muscle function were analysed. A subgroup of COPD patients underwent a videofluoroscopic swallow study. Results: Three hundred and seven subjects were included (59.3% COPD, 38.4% neuromuscular diseases, and 2.3% healthy). CPF was found to be statistically significantly decreased in the COPD group compared to both the healthy and neuromuscular disease groups. Of the COPD patients, 70% had a pathological decrease in CPF. There was only a direct correlation between CPF with the degree of bronchial obstruction and expiratory muscle strength. No alteration of inspiratory or oropharyngeal muscle function was found. Conclusions: The use of CPF in COPD patients does not reflect cough capacity as it is influenced by the degree of bronchial obstruction. Therefore, new diagnostic tests to measure cough capacity should be considered, especially in patients with coexisting neuromuscular diseases and severe bronchial obstructive disease.(AU)

A Highly Sensitive Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Based on a Monoclonal Antibody Specific to Thermal Stable-Soluble Protein in Pork Fat for the Rapid Detection of Pork Fat Adulterated in Heat-Processed Beef Meatballs.

Processed foods containing pork fat tissue to improve flavor and gain economic benefit may cause severe issues for Muslims, Jews, and vegetarians. This study aimed to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) based on a monoclonal antibody specific to thermal stable-soluble protein in pork fat tissue and apply it to detect pork fat tissue in heat-processed (autoclave, steam, roast, and fry) beef meatballs. To develop a sensitive iELISA, the optimal sample pre-cooking time, coating conditions, primary and secondary dilution time, and various buffer systems were tested. The change in the iELISA sensitivity with different 96-well microtiter microplates was confirmed. The detection limit of iELISA performed with an appropriate microplate was 0.015% (w/w) pork fat in raw and heat-treated beef. No cross-reactions to other meats or fats were shown. These results mean that the iELISA can be used as an analytical method to detect trace amounts of pork fat mixed in beef.

Detection of a Thermal Stable-Soluble Protein (TSSP) as a Marker of Peanut Adulteration Using a Highly Sensitive Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay based on Monoclonal Antibodies.

Food allergy represents a severe problem for many societies, including sensitive populations, academies, health authorities, and the food industry. Peanut allergy occupies a special place in the food allergy spectrum. To prevent consumption by consumers suffering from a peanut allergy, a rapid and sensitive detection method is essential to identify unintended peanut adulteration in processed foods. In this study, we produced four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs; RO 3A1-12, PB 4C12-10, PB 5F9-23, and PB 6G4-30) specific to thermo-stable and soluble proteins (TSSPs) of peanut and developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the MAbs. Among them, PB 5F9-23 MAb was firmly bound to Ara h 1, and other MAbs strongly reacted to Ara h 3 in the Western blot analysis. An antibody cocktail solution of the MAbs was used to enhance the sensitivity of an indirect ELISA, and the limit of detection of the indirect ELISA based on the antibody cocktail solution was 1 ng/ml and improved compared to the indirect ELISA based on the single MAb (11 ng/ml). The cross-reaction analysis revealed the high specificity of developed MAbs to peanut TSSPs without cross-reaction to other food allergens, including nuts. Subsequently, analyzing processed foods by indirect ELISA, all foods labeled as containing peanuts in the product description were confirmed to be positive. The results indicate that the developed antibodies exhibit high specificity and sensitivity to peanuts and can be used as bio-receptors in immunoassays or biosensors to detect intentional or unintentional adulteration of peanuts in processed foods, particularly heat-processed foods.

Rapid detection of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (cLAMP) assay using a molecular beacon paired with HRPzyme.

Contamination by Escherichia coli O157:H7 is considered a threat in the livestock and food industries. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods for the convenient and rapid detection of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7. This study aimed to develop a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (cLAMP) assay using a molecular beacon to rapidly detect E. coli O157:H7. Primers and a molecular beacon were designed for targeting the Shiga-toxin-producing virulence genes (stx1 and stx2) as molecular markers. Additionally, Bst polymerase concentration and amplification conditions for bacterial detection were optimized. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were also investigated and validated on artificially tainted (100-104 CFU/g) Korean beef samples. The cLAMP assay could detect 1 × 101 CFU/g at 65 °C for both genes, and the assay was confirmed to be specific for E. coli O157:H7. The cLAMP takes about an hour and does not require expensive devices (e.g., thermal cycler and detector). Hence, the cLAMP assay proposed herein can be used in the meat industry as a fast and simple way to detect E. coli O157:H7.

Ultrasensitive monoclonal antibodies specific to thermal stable-soluble proteins of buckwheat.

Buckwheat is considered a severe food allergen, and its adulteration and mislabeling cause serious health risks. For protecting consumers suffering from buckwheat allergy, a high-sensitivity detection method is necessary to accurately identify intentional or unintentional adulteration of buckwheat in processed foods. The study revealed that buckwheat contains a significant amount of thermally stable-soluble proteins (TSSPs), which keep antigenicity even after heat treatment. Therefore, we used TSSPs to produce three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to buckwheat. A MAbs cocktail solution was subjected to enhance the sensitivity of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA), and the LOD was 1 ng/mL. The MAbs cocktail solution based-iELISA can successfully detect buckwheat adulterated in processed foods. The results suggested that the TSSPs in buckwheat can be used as suitable immunogens, and MAbs produced can be used as bioreceptor to develop immunoassays and biosensors for detecting buckwheat in food facilities and processed foods.

«Red flags» en pacientes con polineuropatía amiloidótica familiar relacionada con transtiretina (hATTR) en el momento del diagnóstico en un área no endémica de España / Red flags in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis at diagnosis in a non-endemic area of Spain

Introducción: La polineuropatía relacionada con el depósito de amiloide por transtiretina (hATTR, por sus siglas en inglés) es una enfermedad poco común, multisistémica, de inicio en la edad adulta con un pronóstico ominoso sin tratamiento. Para reconocer la enfermedad en la etapa más temprana posible, se ha propuesto un grupo de signos y síntomas, comúnmente conocidos como «red flags», y su presencia puede indicar la presencia de una hATTR subyacente en pacientes con polineuropatía sensitivo-motora progresiva.Materiales y métodosSe analizó la frecuencia de «red flags» en el momento del diagnóstico en 30 pacientes con hATTR de un área no endémica de España, con una mayoría de pacientes de inicio tardío.ResultadosLas frecuencias de «red flags» fueron las siguientes: síndrome del túnel carpiano bilateral 15/30 (50%); disautonomía temprana en 17/30 (56%); síntomas gastrointestinales en 14/30 (46,6%); pérdida inexplicable de peso en 8/30 (26,6%); enfermedad cardiaca en 12/30 (40%); hallazgos cardiacos asintomáticos en 13/30 (43,3%); enfermedad renal en 1/30 (3,3%); opacidades vítreas en 0/30 (0%); neuropatía familiar en 21/30 (70%); cardiopatía familiar en 15/30 (50%) y antecedentes familiares gastrointestinales en 3/30 (10%). Todos los pacientes presentaron al menos una «red flag» en el momento del diagnóstico, con una mediana de 4 «red flags».ConclusiónLas «red flags», incluso en los pacientes de inicio tardío, fueron hallazgos comunes en el momento del diagnóstico y su presencia en un paciente con polineuropatía sensitivo-motora simétrica debería alertarnos y conducir el diagnóstico a lo largo de la hATTR hasta excluirlo, independientemente de la edad de inicio o de la región endémica. (AU)

Introduction: Hereditary transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis with polyneuropathy is a rare multisystemic disease characterised by onset during adulthood and associated with poor prognosis if untreated. A set of signs and symptoms, commonly known as “red flags,” have been proposed to assist in early detection of the disease; presence of red flags may suggest underlying hATTR amyloidosis in patients with progressive sensorimotor polyneuropathy.Material and methodsWe analysed the frequency of red flags at the time of diagnosis in 30 patients with hATTR amyloidosis in a non-endemic area of Spain; onset was late in the majority of patients.ResultsThe frequencies of the red flags were as follows: bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in 15 patients (50%), early autonomic dysfunction in 17 (56%), gastrointestinal problems in 14 (46.6%), unexplained weight loss in 8 (26.6%), heart disease in 12 (40%), asymptomatic cardiac findings in 13 (43.3%), kidney disease in one (3.3%), vitreous opacities in none, family history of neuropathy in 21 (70%), family history of heart disease in 15 (50%), and family history of gastrointestinal problems in 3 (10%). All patients presented at least one red flag at diagnosis, with a median of 4 red flags.ConclusionRed flags were common at the time of diagnosis, even in patients with late-onset hATTR amyloidosis. Presence of red flags in a patient with symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy should serve as a warning sign, and lead to targeted diagnosis to rule out hATTR amyloidosis, independently of age of onset. (AU)

[Can cough peak flow be used to assess cough capacity in severe obstructive respiratory diseases?] / ¿Se puede utilizar la determinación del pico flujo de tos para valorar la capacidad tusígena en enfermedades respiratorias obstructivas graves?

INTRODUCTION: Cough capacity is assessed by measuring cough peak flow (CPF). However, this assessment could be altered by obstructive airway diseases. The aim was to assess measurement of cough capacity by CPF in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as correlations with pulmonary, respiratory muscle, and oropharyngeal function. METHODS: Patients with COPD, and with neuromuscular disease, were selected as well as healthy subjects who had undergone respiratory muscle strength measurement in a healthcare setting. From this population, respiratory function values and lung and oropharyngeal muscle function were analysed. A subgroup of COPD patients underwent a videofluoroscopic swallow study. RESULTS: Three hundred and seven subjects were included (59.3% COPD, 38.4% neuromuscular diseases, and 2.3% healthy). CPF was found to be statistically significantly decreased in the COPD group compared to both the healthy and neuromuscular disease groups. Of the COPD patients, 70% had a pathological decrease in CPF. There was only a direct correlation between CPF with the degree of bronchial obstruction and expiratory muscle strength. No alteration of inspiratory or oropharyngeal muscle function was found. CONCLUSIONS: The use of CPF in COPD patients does not reflect cough capacity as it is influenced by the degree of bronchial obstruction. Therefore, new diagnostic tests to measure cough capacity should be considered, especially in patients with coexisting neuromuscular diseases and severe bronchial obstructive disease.

Red flags in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis at diagnosis in a non-endemic area of Spain.

INTRODUCTION: Hereditary transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis with polyneuropathy is a rare multisystemic disease characterised by onset during adulthood and associated with poor prognosis if untreated. A set of signs and symptoms, commonly known as "red flags," have been proposed to assist in early detection of the disease; presence of red flags may suggest underlying hATTR amyloidosis in patients with progressive sensorimotor polyneuropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed the frequency of red flags at the time of diagnosis in 30 patients with hATTR amyloidosis in a non-endemic area of Spain; onset was late in the majority of patients. RESULTS: The frequencies of the red flags were as follows: bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in 15 patients (50%), early autonomic dysfunction in 17 (56%), gastrointestinal problems in 14 (46.6%), unexplained weight loss in 8 (26.6%), heart disease in 12 (40%), asymptomatic cardiac findings in 13 (43.3%), kidney disease in one (3.3%), vitreous opacities in none, family history of neuropathy in 21 (70%), family history of heart disease in 15 (50%), and family history of gastrointestinal problems in 3 (10%). All patients presented at least one red flag at diagnosis, with a median of 4 red flags. CONCLUSION: Red flags were common at the time of diagnosis, even in patients with late-onset hATTR amyloidosis. Presence of red flags in a patient with symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy should serve as a warning sign, and lead to targeted diagnosis to rule out hATTR amyloidosis, independently of age of onset.

Investigating Activity Recognition for Hemiparetic Stroke Patients Using Wearable Sensors: A Deep Learning Approach with Data Augmentation.

Measuring the daily use of an affected limb after hospital discharge is crucial for hemiparetic stroke rehabilitation. Classifying movements using non-intrusive wearable sensors provides context for arm use and is essential for the development of a home rehabilitation system. However, the movement classification of stroke patients poses unique challenges, including variability and sparsity. To address these challenges, we collected movement data from 15 hemiparetic stroke patients (Stroke group) and 29 non-disabled individuals (ND group). The participants performed two different tasks, the range of motion (14 movements) task and the activities of daily living (56 movements) task, wearing five inertial measurement units in a home setting. We trained a 1D convolutional neural network and evaluated its performance for different training groups: ND-only, Stroke-only, and ND and Stroke jointly. We further compared the model performance with data augmentation from axis rotation and investigated how the performance varied based on the asymmetry of movements. The joint training of ND + Stroke yielded an increased F1-score by a margin of 31.6% and 10.6% compared to ND-only training and Stroke-only training, respectively. Data augmentation further enhanced F1-scores across all conditions by an average of 11.3%. Finally, asymmetric movements decreased the F1-score by 25.9% compared to symmetric movements in the Stroke group, indicating the importance of asymmetry in movement classification.

Colorimetric detection of norovirus by helicase-dependent amplification method based on specific primers integrated with HRPzyme.

Noroviruses (NoVs) are the most common causes of epidemic gastroenteritis, responsible for at least 50% of all gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide and significant causes of foodborne illness. In the USA, approximately 21 million illnesses attributable to NoVs have annually occurred. Therefore, there is a great demand to develop a rapid, low-cost, and accurate detection method for NoVs. This study first reported colorimetric helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) methods based on specific primers integrated with HRPzyme for the rapid and sensitive detection of NoV GI and GII. The colorimetric HDA methods exhibited a detection limit of 10 copies mL-1 of each NoV GI and GII and were confirmed to be specific to each NoV GI and GII. The period required to complete the HDA method was 2 h, including a step of RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis without expensive instruments such as a thermal cycler and detector. The cutoff value of the method for the oyster artificially inoculated with a known amount of NoV was all 102 copies g-1 for NoV GI and GII. Therefore, the HDA method developed in this study can be useful tool for the on-site detection of NoVs in food samples.

Estado cognitivo y funcional a largo plazo en supervivientes de una hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática: análisis de una cohorte retrospectiva / Long-term cognitive and functional status in survivors of an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Analysis of a retrospective cohort

Objetivo: Existe poca información sobre los resultados funcionales y cognitivos a largo plazo en pacientes con hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática (HSA). El objetivo principal fue evaluar la situación cognitiva, funcional, anímica y la calidad de vida en personas con HSA a largo plazo. Pacientes y método: Estudio de corte transversal de una cohorte de 40 pacientes (edad media 58,2 [DE 9,9] años) con HSA ingresados en la unidad de Rehabilitación neurológica entre enero del 2010 a julio del 2017. Variables de resultado: estado cognitivo (cuestionario de Pfeiffer), nivel funcional (índice de Barthel), depresión (escala de Hamilton) y calidad de vida (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions [EQ-5D]), así como las terapias de rehabilitación realizadas en un seguimiento mínimo de seis meses post-HSA. Resultados: De 35 pacientes con alteraciones cognitivas en fase aguda, solo 12 realizaron terapia cognitiva tras el alta hospitalaria. En el seguimiento a largo plazo, los déficits cognitivos persistían en 22 casos, y en comparación con el resto, presentaban peores puntuaciones en el índice de Barthel (15,5 [IC 95% 1,2 a 29,7]), la escala de Hamilton (-0,8 [IC 95% -1,27 a -0,37]), y la EQ-5D (27,6 [IC 95% 12,4 a 19]). Conclusión: La prevalencia de déficits cognitivos a largo plazo en supervivientes de una HSA es alta y su presencia se relaciona con un peor estado funcional, más depresión y peor calidad de vida. El bajo porcentaje de individuos que realizan terapia cognitiva en su proceso de rehabilitación junto con las repercusiones clínicas observadas apoyan la necesidad de incluir las terapias neurocognitivas en los programas de rehabilitación de las HSA.(AU)

Objective: Little data is available on long-term functional and cognitive outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASH). The main objective of this study was to assess cognition, functional state, mood disorders, and quality of life in patients with SAH at least six months following the ASH. Patients and methods: Cross-sectional study of 40 patients (aged 58.2 [SD 9.9] years) with ASH, discharged from a Neurologic Rehabilitation unit between January 2010 and July 2017. Main outcome variables: functional status (Barthel index), cognition (Pfeiffer questionnaire), depression (Hamilton scale), and health-related quality of life (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions [EQ-5D]), as well as type and duration of therapeutic rehabilitation procedures after discharge. Results: From 35 patients with cognitive disorders, only 12 received cognitive therapy at hospital discharge. In the long-term follow-up, cognitive impairment persisted in 22 patients. When compared with those without cognitive impairment, they presented significantly worse mean differences in the Barthel index (15.5 [95% CI: 1.2-29.7]), Hamilton scale (-0.8 [95% CI: -1.27 to -0.37]), and EQ-5D (27.6 [95% CI: 12.4-19]). Conclusion: The prevalence of long-term cognitive impairments in survivors of a SAH episode is high, and their presence is associated with worse functional status, more depression and worse quality of life. The low percentage of subjects who received cognitive therapies through their recovery process and the clinical implications observed, support the need of including neuropsychological therapies in the rehabilitation programs after an SAH event.(AU)

Determinants of Major Adverse Kidney Events in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survivors.

The majority of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients develop acute kidney injury, and 40-60% require renal replacement therapy. This study aimed to examine determinants of major adverse kidney events in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation survivors. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO. PATIENTS: Patients admitted at Barnes Jewish hospital between 2008 and 2017 and requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Patients 18 years old and older who survived to hospital discharge were considered for the study. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASURES AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients who were admitted to a single center between 2008 and 2017, were on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for more than 24 hours and survived hospital discharge were included. Major adverse kidney event was defined as either doubling serum creatinine, incident end-stage renal disease, or death. Acute kidney injury was defined as Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes stages 2-3. Complete acute kidney injury recovery was defined as a return to 50% of baseline serum creatinine and partial recovery as an improvement in acute kidney injury stage without a return to 50% of baseline serum creatinine. Survival analysis plots and Cox regression models were fitted to examine the associations of acute kidney injury status, acute kidney injury recovery, and other factors with major adverse kidney event. Among 188 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients who survived until hospital discharge, 63% had acute kidney injury and 41% required renal replacement therapy. The mean follow-up time was 3.4 years. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that patients with no/partial recovery from acute kidney injury had a higher rate of major adverse kidney event compared with those with no acute kidney injury. Multivariate analysis showed that acute kidney injury (adjusted hazard ratio =1.79 [95% CI = 1.00-3.21]), no/partial recovery from acute kidney injury (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.94 [95% CI = 1.46-5.92]), and initiation of renal replacement therapy on the day or after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (adjusted hazard ratio = 5.4 [95% CI = 1.14-25.6]) were significant determinants of major adverse kidney event after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Acute kidney injury, acute kidney injury recovery status, and timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy are determinants of major adverse kidney events in patients who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

An Ultrasensitive Silicon-Based Electrolyte-Gated Transistor for the Detection of Peanut Allergens.

The highly sensitive detection of peanut allergens (PAs) using silicon-based electrolyte-gated transistors (Si-EGTs) was demonstrated. The Si-EGT was made using a top-down technique. The fabricated Si-EGT showed excellent intrinsic electrical characteristics, including a low threshold voltage of 0.7 V, low subthreshold swing of <70 mV/dec, and low gate leakage of <10 pA. Surface functionalization and immobilization of antibodies were performed for the selective detection of PAs. The voltage-related sensitivity (SV) showed a constant behavior from the subthreshold regime to the linear regime. The current-related sensitivity (SI) was high in the subthreshold regime and then significantly decreased as the drain current increased. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be as low as 25 pg/mL based on SI characteristics, which is the lowest value reported to date in the literature for various sensor methodologies. The Si-EGT showed selective detection of PA through a non-specific control test. These results confirm that Si-EGT is a high-sensitivity and low-power biosensor for PA detection.

[Long-term cognitive and functional status in survivors of an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Analysis of a retrospective cohort]. / Estado cognitivo y funcional a largo plazo en supervivientes de una hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática: análisis de una cohorte retrospectiva.

OBJECTIVE: Little data is available on long-term functional and cognitive outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASH). The main objective of this study was to assess cognition, functional state, mood disorders, and quality of life in patients with SAH at least six months following the ASH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 40 patients (aged 58.2 [SD 9.9] years) with ASH, discharged from a Neurologic Rehabilitation unit between January 2010 and July 2017. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: functional status (Barthel index), cognition (Pfeiffer questionnaire), depression (Hamilton scale), and health-related quality of life (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions [EQ-5D]), as well as type and duration of therapeutic rehabilitation procedures after discharge. RESULTS: From 35 patients with cognitive disorders, only 12 received cognitive therapy at hospital discharge. In the long-term follow-up, cognitive impairment persisted in 22 patients. When compared with those without cognitive impairment, they presented significantly worse mean differences in the Barthel index (15.5 [95% CI: 1.2-29.7]), Hamilton scale (-0.8 [95% CI: -1.27 to -0.37]), and EQ-5D (27.6 [95% CI: 12.4-19]). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of long-term cognitive impairments in survivors of a SAH episode is high, and their presence is associated with worse functional status, more depression and worse quality of life. The low percentage of subjects who received cognitive therapies through their recovery process and the clinical implications observed, support the need of including neuropsychological therapies in the rehabilitation programs after an SAH event.

Colonization of Listeria monocytogenes in potting soils as affected by bacterial community composition, storage temperature, and natural amendment.

This study aimed to characterize the bacterial community of commercial potting soils with or without Listeria monocytogenes inoculation at 5-35 °C using 16S metagenomic sequencing and evaluate the effect of natural amendments on the reduction L. monocytogenes in non-sterile potting soils. An increase in the expected operational taxonomic units of each sample with or without L. monocytogenes was proportional to the increasing storage temperatures after 5 days. Biodiversity was distinct among all potting soils for Shannon and inverse Simpson indices, with the highest diversity being observed in a soil sample stored at 35 °C for 5 days with L. monocytogenes. An increase in richness and diversity of soil bacterial community structure positively correlated with less survival of the invading L. monocytogenes. Particularly, garlic extract was demonstrated as a promising soil-amendment substrate, reducing L. monocytogenes by ≥ 4.50 log CFU/g in potting soils stored at 35 °C. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-00925-9.

The Retornus-2 study: impact of respiratory muscle training in subacute stroke patients with dysphagia, study protocol of a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Stroke can lead to varying degrees of oropharyngeal dysphagia, respiratory muscle dysfunction and even increase medical complications such as aspiration, malnutrition and death. Recent studies suggest that inspiratory and expiratory respiratory muscle training (IEMT) can improve swallowing efficacy and may reduce aspiration events. The main purpose of this study is to examine whether an 8-week IEMT programme can improve respiratory muscle strength and swallow dysfunction severity in subacute stroke patients with dysphagia. METHODS: Retornus-2 is a two-arm, prospectively registered, randomized controlled study with blinded assessors and the participation of fifty individuals who have suffered a stroke. The intervention group undergoes IEMT training consisting of 5 sets of 10 repetitions, three times a day for 8 weeks. Training loads increase weekly. The control group undergoes a sham-IEMT protocol. The primary outcome examines the efficacy of the IEMT protocol to increase respiratory muscle strength and reduce dysphagia severity. The secondary outcome assesses the longitudinal impact of dysphagia on body composition and nutritional assessment over a 6-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: IEMT induces an improvement in respiratory muscle strength and might be associated with relevant benefits in dysphagia patterns, as well as a reduction in the number of aspiration events confirmed by videofluoroscopy or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. The description of the impact of swallowing impairment on nutritional status will help develop new strategies to face this known side-effect. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03021252. Registered on 10 January 2017. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=retornus+2&term=&cntry=ES&state=&city=&dist= WHO trial Registration data set: Due to heavy traffic generated by the COVID-19 outbreak, the ICTRP Search Portal does not respond. The portal recommends other registries such as clinicaltrials.gov. Protocol version: RETORNUS 2_ PROTOCOL_2.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma as long-term therapy in immunodeficient patients?

OBJECTIVES: The patients with hematological malignancies are a vulnerable group to COVID-19, due to the immunodeficiency resulting from the underlying disease and oncological treatment that significantly impair cellular and humoral immunity. Here we report on a beneficial impact of a passive immunotherapy with convalescent plasma to treat a prolonged, active COVID-19 infection in a patient with a history of nasopharyngeal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with the therapy inducing substantial impairment of particularly humoral arm of immune system. The specific aim was to quantify SARS-CoV2 neutralizing antibodies in a patient plasma during the course of therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Besides the standard of care treatment and monitoring, neutralizing antibody titers in patient's serum samples, calibrated according to the First WHO International Standard for anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (human), were quantified in a time-dependent manner. During the immunotherapy period peripheral blood flow cytometry immunophenotyping was conducted to characterize lymphocyte subpopulations. RESULTS: The waves of clinical improvements and worsening coincided with transfused neutralizing antibodies rises and drops in the patient's systemic circulation, proving their contribution in controlling the disease progress. Besides the patient's lack of own humoral immune system, immunophenotyping analysis revealed also the reduced level of helper T-lymphocytes and immune exhaustion of monocytes. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic approach based on convalescent plasma transfusion transformed a prolonged, active COVID-19 infection into a manageable chronic disease.

Nivolumab: «Tormenta inmune» en paciente con miastenia gravis previa / Nivolumab: An «Immune storm» in a patient with history of myasthenia gravis

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