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    As such, we found that intra-epidermal stimulation with a multisine frequency modulated pulse sequence can generate nociceptive SSEPs. The possibility to stimulate the nociceptive system using multisine frequency modulated pulses offers novel opportunities to study the temporal dynamics of nociceptive processing.

    SARS-CoV-2 quick testing is relevant for the containment of new pandemic waves. Antigen testing in self-collected saliva might be useful. We compared salivary and naso-pharyngeal swab (NPS) SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection by a rapid chemiluminescent assay (CLEIA) and two different point-of-care (POC) immunochromatographic assays, with results of molecular testing.

    234 patients were prospectively enrolled. Paired self-collected saliva (Salivette) and NPS were obtained to perform rRT-PCR, chemiluminescent (Lumipulse G) and POC (NPS Fujirebio and Abbott; saliva Fujirebio) for SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection.

    The overall agreement between NPS and saliva rRT-PCR was 78.7%, reaching 91.7% at the first week from symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 CLEIA antigen was highly accurate in distinguishing positive and negative NPS (ROC-AUC=0.939, 95%CI0.903-0.977), with 81.6% sensitivity and 93.8% specificity. This assay on saliva reached the optimal value within 7days from symptoms onset (Sensitivity 72%; Specificity 97%). Saliva POC antigen was limited in sensitivity (13%), performing better in NPS (Sensitivity 48% and 66%; Specificity 100% and 99% for Espline and Abbott respectively), depending on viral loads.

    Self-collected saliva is a valid alternative to NPS for SARS-CoV-2 detection by molecular, but also by CLEIA antigen testing, which is therefore potentially useful for large scale screening.

    Self-collected saliva is a valid alternative to NPS for SARS-CoV-2 detection by molecular, but also by CLEIA antigen testing, which is therefore potentially useful for large scale screening.Metabolic inflexibility is a condition that occurs following a nutritional stress which causes blunted fuel switching at the mitochondrial level in response to hormonal and cellular signalling. Linked to obesity and obesity related disorders, chronic exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) in animal models has been extensively used to induce metabolic inflexibility and investigate the development of various metabolic diseases. However, many questions concerning the systemic and mitochondrial responses to metabolic inflexibility remain. In this study, we investigated the global and mitochondrial variations following a 10-day exposure to a HFD in adult Drosophila melanogaster. Our results show that following 10-day exposure to the HFD, mitochondrial respiration rates measured in isolated mitochondria at the level of complex I were decreased. This was associated with increased contributions of non-classical providers of electrons to the electron transport system (ETS) such as the proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) and the mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mtG3PDH) alleviating complex I dysfunctions, as well as with increased ROS production per molecule of oxygen consumed. Our results also show an accumulation of metabolites from multiple different metabolic pathways in whole adult Drosophila and a drastic shift in the lipid profile which translated into decreased proportion of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids combined with an increased proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thus, our results demonstrate the various responses to the HFD treatment in adult Drosophila melanogaster that are hallmarks of the development of metabolic inflexibility and reinforce this organism as a suitable model for the study of metabolic disorders.

    This study aimed to identify patient and appointment characteristics associated with no-shows to new patient appointments at a US academic ophthalmology department.

    Cross-sectional study.

    This was a study of all adult patients with new patient appointments scheduled with an attending ophthalmologist at Penn State Eye Center between January 1

    and December 31

    of 2019. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the association between characteristics and no-show status.

    Of 4,628 patients, 759 (16.4%) were no-shows. From the multiple logistic regression model, characteristics associated with no-shows were age (Odds Ratio (OR) for 18-40 years vs. >60 years 3.41, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.57, 4.51, p <0.001 and OR for 41-60 years vs. >60 years 2.14, 95% CI 1.67, 2.74, p<0.001), median household income (OR for <$35,667 vs. >$59,445 1.59, 95% CI 1.08, 2.34, p<0.001), insurance (OR for None vs. Medicare 6.92, 95% CI 4.41, 10.86, p<0.001 and OR for Medicaid vs. Medicare 1.54, 95% CI 1.18, 2.01, p=0.002), race (OR for Black vs. White 2.62, 95% CI 2.00, 3.43, p<0.001 and OR for Other vs. White 2.02, 95% CI 1.58, 2.59, p<0.001), and commute distance (OR for 5-10 mi vs. ≤5 mi 1.73, 95% CI 1.17, 2.55, p=0.006). Appointments with longer lead times and scheduled with glaucoma or retina specialists were also significantly associated with greater no-shows.

    Certain patient and appointment characteristics were associated with no-show status. These findings may assist in the development of targeted interventions at the patient, practice, and health system levels to improve appointment attendance.

    Certain patient and appointment characteristics were associated with no-show status. These findings may assist in the development of targeted interventions at the patient, practice, and health system levels to improve appointment attendance.

    Flanged intrascleral haptic fixation (FISHF) is a useful method for securing intraocular lenses (IOLs) in eyes without capsular support. Biomechanical studies were conducted to support the use of this technique.

    Laboratory investigation.

    Haptics of 3-piece IOLs were passed through cadaveric human sclera using 30- and 27-gauge needles. Flanges were created by melting 1.0 mm from the haptic ends using cautery. learn more The forces required to remove the flanged haptic from the sclera and disinsert the haptic from the optic were measured using a mechanical tester and a custom-fabricated mount.

    The mean FISHF dislocation force using 30-gauge needles was greatest with the CT Lucia 602 (2.04 ± 0.24 newtons [N]) compared to the LI61AO (0.93 ± 0.41 N; P=.001), ZA9003 (0.70 ± 0.34 N; P=<.001), and MA60AC (0.27 ± 0.19 N; P <.001). Using 27-gauge needles with the CT Lucia resulted in a lower dislocation force (0.56 ± 0.36 N; P <.001). The FISHF dislocation force was correlated with the flange-to-needle diameter ratio (r=0.