Search

We developed a technology for detecting and quantifying trace nucleic acids using a bracketing protocol designed to yield a copy number with approximately ± 20% accuracy across all concentrations. The microRNAs (miRNAs) let-7b, miR-15b, miR-21, miR-375 and miR-141 were measured in serum and urine samples from healthy subjects and patients with breast, prostate or pancreatic cancer. Detection and quantification were amplification-free and enabled using osmium-tagged probes and MinION, a nanopore array detection device. Combined serum from healthy men (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA #H6914) was used as a reference. Total RNA isolated from biospecimens using commercial kits was used as the miRNA source. The unprecedented ± 20% accuracy led to the conclusion that miRNA copy numbers must be normalized to the same RNA content, which in turn illustrates (i) independence from age, sex and ethnicity, as well as (ii) equivalence between serum and urine. miR-21, miR-375 and miR-141 copies in cancers were 1.8-fold overexpressed, exhibited zero overlap with healthy samples and had a p-value of 1.6 × 10−22, tentatively validating each miRNA as a multi-cancer biomarker. miR-15b was confirmed to be cancer-independent, whereas let-7b appeared to be a cancer biomarker for prostate and breast cancer, but not for pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify workplace accommodations that can contribute to obtaining or maintaining employment for adults with autism spectrum disorder in the peer- reviewed literature. Method: A scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published between January 1987 and March 2018 was performed. Three independent reviewers searched seven databases. Inclusion criteria for selected studies included adult with autism participants (≥18 years), intervention studies that described support for securing or maintaining employment/skills training, and education for employee/employers to support adults with autism. Results were organized based on environmental domains within the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health: (1) natural environment; (2) products and technology; (3) support and relationships; (4) attitudes; (5) services, systems, and policies. Results: The initial search identified 829 articles, of which 25 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the selected studies described accommodations under more than one environmental domain. Most studies categorized in the Support and Relationships domain were also categorized under another domain. Conclusion: The majority of studies (21) were categorized as providing interventions related to employment support and relationships. One of the most common examples of support involved job coaching using different strategies. Technology is another area that is emerging and requires further exploration. Successful workplace strategies for individuals with autism spectrum disorder were: minimizing distractions, reducing noise, and predictable job duties. Environmental considerations related to using technology could play an important role in improving performance and work experience. Employers and co-workers support is an important aspect that contributes to a positive work environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate Pro-Calcitonin (PCT) and C reactive protein (CRP) as predictor of infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in patients with normal and impaired renal function. Methods: In this cross sectional study >18 year old patients with features suggestive of SIRS were included.PCT and CRP were done on first day of admission. Based on clinical features and results of cultures, patients were divided into non-infection and infection (sepsis) groups. Based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) patients were further divided to Group A (GFR ≥60ml/min) and Group B (GFR <60ml/min).Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 740 patients, 48.3% were diagnosed to be suffering from infection (sepsis). GFR of 50.8% patients was ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73m2 (Group A), and GFR of 364 (49.2%) patients was < 60 ml/min/1.73m2(Group B).For prediction of infection in SIRS patients, ROC curve based AUC for PCT in all, Group A, and Group B patients was 0.84, 0.86, and 0.71 respectively. Similarly for CRP AUC was 0.81, 0.78, and 0.83 respectively. Best cut off value of PCT predicting infectious cause of SIRS in all, Group A, and Group B patients was 0.24, 0.13, and0.93 ng/mL respectively. Similar best cut off value of PCT for all, Group A and B patients were 13.10 and 11.10 mg/L respectively. Conclusion: Initial PCT≥ 0.24ng/mL and CRP ≥ 13.10 mg/L are predictors of sepsis in SIRS patients. PCT is better predictor for patients with normal and CRP better predictor for patients with deranged renal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]