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Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) has a high fatality rate with inadequate diagnostic tests being a major contributor. The rollout of Xpert MTB/Rif and Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra (Xpert Ultra) have improved time-to-diagnosis with sensitivities similar to culture, yet test availability and sensitivity are inadequate. The TB lipoarabinomannan lateral flow assay (AlereLAM) offers ease of use, but its low sensitivity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) limits clinical utility for TBM. The Fujifilm SILVAMP TB LAM (FujiLAM) assay has excellent sensitivity in urine, but performance on cerebrospinal fluid is uncertain.<br />We conducted a prospective cohort study at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda enrolling patients suspected to have TB meningitis. CSF was tested using AlereLAM, Xpert Ultra, culture, and FujiLAM. Results were compared to two reference standards probable and definite TBM, or definite TBM alone by the uniform TBM case definition.<br />Of 101 patients enrolled (95/101 HIV-positive), 34 had definite TBM and 24 had probable TBM. FujiLAM sensitivity on CSF was 52% (30/58) for definite or probable TBM, compared to 55% (32/58) for Xpert Ultra. AlereLAM had lower sensitivity than FujiLAM in the subgroup of patients tested with both assays (14%, 4/28 vs. 50%,14/28; p&lt;0.01). FujiLAM specificity was 98% (42/43) for patients without probable or definite TBM.<br />FujiLAM showed higher sensitivity than AlereLAM, with sensitivity potentially approaching that of Xpert Ultra. FujiLAM could improve time-to-treatment-initiation, especially in settings where the more technical Xpert Ultra system might not be feasible. Large confirmatory studies are needed.<br />FujiLAM showed higher sensitivity than AlereLAM, with sensitivity potentially approaching that of Xpert Ultra. FujiLAM could improve time-to-treatment-initiation, especially in settings where the more technical Xpert Ultra system might not be feasible. Large confirmatory studies are needed.<br />Children and older adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) display a distinct spectrum of disease severity yet the risk factors aren't well understood. We sought to examine the expression pattern of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the cell-entry receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the role of lung progenitor cells in children and older patients.<br />We retrospectively analysed clinical features in a cohort of 299 patients with COVID-19. The expression and distribution of ACE2 and lung progenitor cells were systematically examined using a combination of public single-cell RNA-seq datasets, lung biopsies, and ex vivo infection of lung tissues with SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in children and older adults. We also followed up patients who had recovered from COVID-19.<br />Compared with children, older patients (&gt; 50 yrs.) were more likely to develop into serious pneumonia with reduced lymphocytes and aberrant inflammatory response (p = 0.001). The expression level of ACE2 and lung progenitor cell markers were generally decreased in older patients. Notably, ACE2 positive cells were mainly distributed in the alveolar region, including SFTPC positive cells, but rarely in airway regions in the older adults (p &lt; 0.01). [https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pixantrone-maleate.html learn more] The follow-up of discharged patients revealed a prolonged recovery from pneumonia in the older (p &lt; 0.025).<br />Compared to children, ACE2 positive cells are generally decreased in older adults and mainly presented in the lower pulmonary tract. The lung progenitor cells are also decreased. These risk factors may impact disease severity and recovery from pneumonia caused by SARS-Cov-2 infection in older patients.<br />Compared to children, ACE2 positive cells are generally decreased in older adults and mainly presented in the lower pulmonary tract. The lung progenitor cells are also decreased. These risk factors may impact disease severity and recovery from pneumonia caused by SARS-Cov-2 infection in older patients.<br />With the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 ongoing in Europe in June of 2020, day care centres were reopened in the state of Hesse, Germany, after the lockdown. The role young children play in the dynamics of the transmission was unknown.<br />We conducted a longitudinal study over a period of 12 weeks and two days (18 th of June 2020 to 10 th of September, 2020) to screen attendees and staff from day care centres in the state of Hesse, Germany, for both respiratory and gastrointestinal shedding of SARS-CoV-2. 859 children (age range 3 months to 8 years) and 376 staff members from 50 day care centres, which were chosen representatively from throughout the state, participated in the study. Parents were asked to perform both a buccal mucosa and an anal swab on their children once a week. Staff were asked to self-administer the swabs. RT-PCRs for SARS-CoV-2 were performed in a multiple-swab pooling protocol.<br />7,366 buccal mucosa swabs and 5,907 anal swabs were analysed. No respiratory or gastrointestinal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in any of the children. Shedding of SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in two staff members from distinct day care centres. One was asymptomatic at the time of testing, and one was symptomatic and did not attend the facility on that day.<br />Detection of either respiratory or gastrointestinal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in children and staff members attending day care centres was rare in the context of limited community activity and with infection prevention measures in the facilities in place.<br />Detection of either respiratory or gastrointestinal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in children and staff members attending day care centres was rare in the context of limited community activity and with infection prevention measures in the facilities in place.Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is an analytical method for microextraction of analytes, in which the analytes bind to the sorbent on the surface of the SPME fiber. Many types of chemical agents are used as sorbent; however, many of these sorbents cause secondary contamination or are not cost-effective. Here, aqueous extract of Ferula gummosa was evaluated as potential source of sorbent for simultaneous microextraction of morphine and codeine. For this purpose, multiwalled carbon nanotubes were carboxylated with H2SO4/HNO3 (31) and then functionalized with aqueous extract of F. gummosa. Functionalization was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy measurements as well as scanning electron microscopy analysis. Porous polypropylene hollow fibers were filled with the functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and used for analyte extraction in urine sample at 40°C and pH 6 for 2 min. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis showed that the fiber could preconcentrate 1 ng/mL of morphine and 0.