Brucellosis

Designing infectious disease panels isn't as easy as picking a few targets off a list and sticking them into one test. Clinical laboratories must factor in many different considerations, from the pathogens physicians are already testing for, to available laboratory equipment, to inpatient versus outpatient status. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians are also more aware of the power of molecular testing. So how should clinical laboratories approach creating and evaluating infectious disease panels? We spoke to Stella Antonara, PhD, D(ABMM), medical director of microbiology at OhioHealth Laboratory Services, about this, and about how the changing role of point-of-care testing could affect infectious disease testing in the future. When you build a molecular panel for infectious disease testing, what are the top considerations you have to weigh? The first thing we do is review the list of the tests our providers send out the most. What are their needs? Do they test for a spec

The cost of gasoline is falling so fast that it is beginning to put real money back in the pockets of drivers, defying earlier projections and offering an unexpected gift for the holidays. Filling up is now as cheap as it was in February, just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine touched off a global energy crisis. AAA reported the average nationwide price of a gallon of regular Wednesday was $3.50, and gas price tracking company GasBuddy projected it could drop below $3 by Christmas. And all of that relief probably helped drive robust shopping over Thanksgiving weekend. "People are realizing that they might be back to spending $50 to fill their tank instead of $80," said Emma Rasiel, a professor of economics at Duke University. "It is the main signal consumers notice on inflation. It is the one thing they are likely to track, how much it has gone up or down, because every week they need to fill up their car." But Rasiel cautioned that less-expensive gas can also

What Is Advil Cold & Sinus? Advil Cold & Sinus (pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication used to help relieve cold and flu symptoms. Advil Cold & Sinus is a combination product that contains pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen.  Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that influences chemical binding sites called alpha-adrenergic receptors.  It narrows blood vessels in the nose, relieving stuffy-nose symptoms. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that blocks unique proteins called cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-1 and 2). By blocking COX-1 and 2, ibuprofen relieves fever, inflammation, and pain. Advil Cold & Sinus is available in tablet and capsule form. Drug Facts Generic Name : Pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen Brand Name(s) : Advil Cold & Sinus Drug Availability : Over the counter Therapeutic Classification : Analgesic/deconge

Dry eye disease is a heterogeneous condition associated with a wide range of conditions and approaches to treatment. Two of the more prevalent causes of dry eye symptoms are immune-mediated conditions such as keratoconjunctivitis, and blepharitis due to demodex. "Different 'dry eye' subtypes need different approaches," Anat Galor, MD, MSPH, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Miami and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, told MedPage Today . "For a long time, our focus was on anti-inflammatory medications, which makes sense because many (but not all) subtypes have inflammation as a key component." "Allergic keratoconjunctivitis is often managed with cromolyn sodium eye drops, mast cell stabilizers that work by preventing mast cells from triggering the immune response," explained Chantal Cousineau-Krieger, MD, staff ophthalmologist at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. "Another option is

Are your medications keeping you up at night? - Harvard Health <div x-data="{ posts: [{&quot;id&quot;:17709,&quot;content_source_id&quot;:2,&quot;content_type_id&quot;:18,&quot;content_access_type_id&quot;:1,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Have you done your crossword puzzle today?&quot;,&quot;short_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;summary&quot;:&quot;\n <p>A study found that people with mild cognitive impairment who did crossword puzzles regularly showed modest improvement in cognition and less brain shrinkage. Will doing crossword puzzles be helpful to people whose thinking and memory are normal?<\/