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Abstract Background Rapid and accurate diagnosis of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection is an effective way to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. Although the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 viral RNA by RT‐qPCR is the gold standard for COVID-19 testing, the use of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) is emerging as a complementary surveillance tool as Omicron case numbers skyrocket worldwide. However, the results from Ag-RDTs are less accurate in individuals with low viral loads. Results To develop a highly sensitive and accurate Ag-RDT, 90 monoclonal antibodies were raised from guinea pigs immunized with SARS CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (CoV-2-NP). By applying a capture antibody recognizing the structural epitope of the N-terminal domain of CoV-2-NP and a detection antibody recognizing the C-terminal tail of CoV-2-NP to an automated chemiluminescence flow-through membrane immunoassay device, we developed a novel Ag-RDT, CoV-2-POCube. The CoV-2-POCube exclusively recognizes CoV-2-NP variants but not the nucleocapsid proteins of other human coronaviruses. The CoV-2-POCube achieved a limit of detection sensitivity of 0.20 ~ 0.66 pg/mL of CoV-2-NPs, demonstrating more than 100 times greater sensitivity than commercially available SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDTs. Conclusions CoV-2-POCube has high analytical sensitivity and can detect SARS-CoV-2 variants in 15 min without observing the high-dose hook effect, thus meeting the need for early SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis with lower viral load. CoV-2-POCube is a promising alternative to currently available diagnostic devices for faster clinical decision making in individuals with suspected COVID-19 in resource-limited settings.

IntroductionIntraprocedural rupture (IPR) is a serious complication of endovascular coil embolization of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). Although outcomes after IPR are poor, methods to prevent subsequent neurological deterioration have not yet been investigated. We evaluated the risk factors and management strategies for IPR, particularly the role of balloon guiding catheters (BGCs) in rapid hemostasis.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed all UIA cases treated with coil embolization at three institutions between 2003 and 2021, focusing on preoperative radiological data, operative details, and outcomes.ResultsIn total, 2,172 aneurysms were treated in 2026 patients. Of these, 19 aneurysms in 19 patients (0.8%) ruptured during the procedure. Multivariate analysis revealed that aneurysms with a bleb (OR: 3.03, 95% CI: 1.21 to 7.57, p = 0.017), small neck size (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.85, p = 0.007), and aneurysms in the posterior communicating artery (PcomA) (OR: 4.92, 95% CI: 1.19 to 20.18, p = 0.027) and anterior communicating artery (AcomA) (OR: 12.08, 95% CI: 2.99 to 48.79, p

There is an urgent need for a rapid diagnostic system to detect the H5 subtype of the influenza A virus. We previously developed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the H5 hemagglutinin (HA) for use in a rapid diagnostic kit. In this study, we determined the epitopes of the anti-H5 HA murine mAbs OM-b, AY-2C2, and YH-1A1. Binding assays of the mAbs to different strains of H5 HAs indicated that OM-b and AY-2C2 cross-reacted with HAs from clades 1, 2.1.3.2, 2.2, and 2.3.4, whereas YH-1A1 failed to bind to those of clades 2.1.3.2 and 2.3.4. HA chimeras revealed that the epitopes for each of the mAbs were in the HA1 region. Analysis of escape mutants revealed that OM-b and AY-2C2 mAbs interacted mainly with amino acid residues D43 and G46, and the YH-1A1 mAb interacted with G139 and K or R140 of H5 HA. Multiple alignments of H5 HA protein sequences showed that D43 and G46 were very conserved among H5N1 HAs, except those in clade 2.2.1 and clade 7 (88.7%). The epitope for YH-1A1 mAb was highly variable in the HAs of H5N1, although it was well conserved in those of H5N2-N9. The OM-b and AY-2C2 mAbs could bind to the HAs of clades 1.1 and 2.3.2.1 that are currently epidemic in Asia, and we conclude that these would be effective for the detection of H5N1 infections in this region.

Isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD) is a rare cause of acute abdominal conditions. Most cases of ISMAD have a favorable prognosis, and only a few cases of ISMAD-associated intestinal necrosis have been reported. A 75-year-old male was referred to our department because of abdominal pain and portal venous gas detected on imaging. Computed tomography suggested ileal necrosis, necessitating emergency surgery. Indocyanine green was used for blood flow assessment; however, no fluorescence was observed in the ileum proximal to the Bauhin valve, leading to the decision for ileocecal resection. On postoperative day 6, abdominal pain recurred when meals were resumed. As a surgical intervention for ISMAD, a bypass was created using the left great saphenous vein as a graft between the superior mesenteric artery and the right external iliac artery. This case highlights a rare occurrence where intestinal necrosis recurred due to ISMAD. We propose that in cases of ISMAD with concomitant intestinal necrosis, a more aggressive revascularization strategy for the dissected segment of the superior mesenteric artery may be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We used an imaging technique based on 3-dimensional (3D) C-arm CT to assess the apposition of three types of stents after coiling of intracranial aneurysms. Methods All patients with intracranial aneurysms were considered who received stent-assisted coiling with Enterprise2, Neuroform EZ, or Neuroform Atlas stents confirmed by C-arm CT imaging at our institution between June 2015 and November 2017. A 3D digital subtraction angiography (DSA) scan for vessel imaging followed by a high-resolution cone beam CT (HR-CBCT) scan for coil and stent imaging was performed. The images were fused to obtain dual volume 3D fusion images. We investigated malapposition of the stent trunk (crescent sign) and of the stent edges (edge malapposition) and used the χ²statistic to test for an association with stent types. inter-rater agreement between two raters was estimated using Cohen's kappa statistics. results We evaluated 75 consecutive cases. Enterprise2 stents were used in 22 cases, Neuroform EZ in 26, and Neuroform Atlas in 27 cases. By stent type, crescent sign was detected in 27% of Enterprise2, 8% of Neuroform EZ, and none of Neuroform Atlas stents (p=0.007), while edge malapposition was detected in 27% of Enterprise2, 58% of Neuroform EZ, and 30% of Neuroform Atlas stents (p=0.05). Excellent (κ=0.81) and good (κ=0.78) agreement between the raters was found for the detection of edge apposition and crescent sign, respectively. Conclusion Stent malapposition was clearly visualized by dual volume 3D imaging. The Neuroform Atlas stents showed good apposition even in vessels with strong curvature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a new imaging technique to improve visualisation of stent apposition after endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms employing high-resolution cone beam CT and three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography. After performing a stent-assisted coil embolisation of brain aneurysm, the image datasets were processed with a metal artefact reduction software followed by the automated image fusion programmes. Two patients who underwent aneurysm coiling using a Neuroform stent were evaluated. The reconstructed 3D images showed a detailed structure of the stent struts and identified malappositions of the deployed stents. Case 1 showed good apposition on the outer curvature side of the carotid siphon, while the inner curvature side showed prominent malapposition. Case 2, with multiple aneurysms, showed good apposition on both outer and inner curvature sides, although inward prolapse of the struts was observed. This new imaging technique may help evaluate stent apposition after the endovascular aneurysm treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeSn is an antiferromagnet with the Néel temperature TN = 370 K, while CoSn is a Pauli paramagnet. We grew highquality single crystals of FeSn and CoSn with the hexagonal structure and mainly studied the electronic state of FeSn by measuring the electrical resistivity, specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect. The Fermi surface properties of FeSn in the antiferromagnetic state were clarified by the dHvA experiment and energy band calculation. The main Fermi surface is found to be cylindrical along the hexagonal [0001] direction, possessing a moderately large cyclotron mass m*c = 5:1m0 (m0: rest mass of an electron). The roomtemperature resistivity ρRT of FeSn is anisotropic against the current direction, with ρRT = 75-175 μΩ·cm, revealing a usual magnitude, while the corresponding resistivity of CoSn is very small, ρRT = 4.5 μΩ·cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemodynamic factors play important roles in aneurysm recurrence after endovascular treatment.Objective: Predicting the risk of recurrence by hemodynamic analysis using an untreated aneurysm model is important because such prediction is required before treatment.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed hemodynamic factors associated with aneurysm recurrence from pretreatment models of five recurrent and five stable posterior communicating artery (Pcom) aneurysms with no significant differences in aneurysm volume, coil packing density, or sizes of the dome, neck, or Pcom. Hemodynamic factors of velocity ratio, flow rate, pressure ratio, and wall shear stress were investigated.Results: Among the hemodynamic factors investigated, velocity ratio and flow rate of the Pcom showed significant differences between the recurrence group and stable group (0.630 ± 0.062 and 0.926 ± 0.051, P= 0.016; 56.4 ± 8.9 and 121.6 ± 6.7, P= 0.008, respectively).Conclusions: Our results suggest that hemodynamic factors may be associated with aneurysm recurrence among Pcom aneurysms. Velocity and flow rate in the Pcom may be a pretreatment prognostic factor for aneurysm recurrence after endovascular treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We grew single crystals of ullmannite NiSbS and PbBiSe with the cubic chiral structure and carried out electrical resistivity, specific heat, and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) experiments to clarify their Fermi surface properties. The Fermi surfaces were found to split into two, reflecting the non-centrosymmetric crystal structure. The splitting energies between the two nearly spherical electron Fermi surfaces named a and aA were determined as 220K in NiSbS and 1050K in PdBiSe for H || [100] or [001]. This difference in splitting energies between the two compounds originates mainly from the fact that the spin-orbit interactions of Ni-3d, Sb-5p, and S-3p electrons in NiSbS are smaller in magnitude than those of Pd-4d, Bi-6p, and Se-4p electrons in PdBiSe, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sporadic emergence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus infection in humans is a serious concern because of the potential for a pandemic. Conventional or quantitative RT-PCR is the standard laboratory test to detect viral influenza infections. However, this technology requires well-equipped laboratories and highly trained personnel. A rapid, sensitive, and specific alternative screening method is needed. Methods: By a luminescence-linked enzyme immunoassay, we have developed a H5N1 HPAI virus detection kit using anti-H5 hemagglutinin monoclonal antibodies in combination with the detection of a universal NP antigen of the type A influenza virus. The process takes 15 minutes by use of the fully automated luminescence analyzer, POCube. Resutls: We tested this H5/A kit using 19 clinical specimens from 13 patients stored in Vietnam who were infected with clade 1.1 or clade 2.3.4 H5N1 HPAI virus. Approximately 80% of clinical specimens were H5-positive using the POCube system, whereas only 10% of the H5-positive samples were detected as influenza A-positive by an immunochromatography-based rapid diagnostic kit. Conclusions: This novel H5/A kit using POCube is served as a rapid and sensitive screening test for H5N1 HPAI virus infection in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  We experienced the case of a left ventricular-free wall rupture (LVFWR) following successful coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A 73-year-old woman was hospitalized because of chest oppression that had been continuing for 8 days. She was diagnosed to have AMI, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed. PCI was successful. However, immediately following PCI, she developed electromechanical dissociation secondary to tamponade because of blow-out-type LVFWR. The perforation tear was initially closed by a direct suture, followed by reinforcement using bovine pericardium patches sealed with GRF glue. The patient died of irreversible brain damage on postoperative day 3, but no re-bleeding or aneurysmal dilatation was detected at autopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of mycotic abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm caused by a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU). An 81-year-old woman was admitted to a local hospital with fever and abdominal pain, and when her symptoms were not improved by antibiotics, she was referred to our department. Computed tomography (CT) and angiography showed a saccular aneurysm below the renal arteries, and an emergency laparotomy was performed because we suspected a mycotic abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm. An abscess was found on the proximal side of the jejunum, caused by an aneurysm penetrating the serosa. We diagnosed a mycotic pseudoaneurysm after finding the anterior wall of the aorta penetrated by intense calcification. The pseudoaneurysm was resected with the abscess and the area was covered with a pedicled omental flap to prevent infection. An axillofemoral bypass was also done. The patient recovered well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]