HIVToolbox, an Integrated Web Application for Investigating HIV

Many bioinformatic databases and applications focus on a limited domain of knowledge federating links to information in other databases. This segregated data structure likely limits our ability to investigate and understand complex biological systems. To facilitate research, therefore, we have built HIVToolbox, which integrates much of the knowledge about HIV proteins and allows virologists and structural biologists to access sequence, structure, and functional relationships in an intuitive web application. HIV-1 integrase protein was used as a case study to show the utility of this application. We show how data integration facilitates identification of new questions and hypotheses much more rapid and convenient than current approaches using isolated repositories. Several new hypotheses for integrase were created as an example, and we experimentally confirmed a predicted CK2 phosphorylation site. Weblink: [http://hivtoolbox.bio-toolkit.com

Gender Roles and Medical Progress

Maternal mortality was the second-leading cause of death for women in childbearing years up until the mid-1930s in the United States. For each death, twenty times as many mothers were estimated to suffer pregnancy-related conditions, often leading to severe and prolonged disablement. Poor maternal health made it particularly hard for mothers to engage in market work. Between 1930 and 1960, there was a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity, thanks to medical advances. We argue that these medical advances, by enabling women to reconcile work and motherhood, were essential for the joint rise in married women's labor force participation and fertility over this period. We also show that the diffusion of infant formula played an important auxiliary role

OCT Confirmation of Myelinated Nerve Fiber Layer in Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevoix- Saguenay

Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is a neurodegenerative process characterized by ataxia, dysarthria, spasticity, distal muscle wasting, finger and foot deformities, nystagmus and myelination of retinal nerve fibers as well as atrophy of the cerebellar vermis

Optic Disc Drusen Visualization with Auto-Fluorescent Imaging

Minimally buried optic disc drusen may present as swelling of the optic disc. Drusen auto-fluoresce when excited by short wavelength light. To distinguish disc edema from buried disc drusen, auto-fluorescent imaging may be useful

It's Not Just a FAD, (EHR Fatigue Syndrome)

A 29 year-old female nurse, nine months postpartum, presented with an inability to see her computerwell for the past two months. She denied eye pain, diplopia, numbness, tingling or weakness. Therewere no changes in vision in bright vs. dim lighting. She also had a headache at the back of her head fortwo months that was relieved with OTC medications. She denied any events immediately preceding theblurred vision. She also complained of shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss and extreme fatigue,sleeping 10 hours per night and taking naps over her lunch break at work. Workup by her primary caredoctor revealed a normal CXR, ECG with sinus bradycardia and anemia (Hgb 9.6, Hct 28.7). Towardsthe end of her recent pregnancy she was evaluated for polydipsia (drinking up to 9 L /d) and nocturia (6-7 x /night). Water deprivation testing during pregnancy was not possible but sodium of 133 made thediagnosis of diabetes insipidus (DI) unlikely. Symptoms improved after delivery and therefore thepolyuria and polydipsia was attributed to pregnancy. Postpartum she also developed fairly severeanxiety and depression that was managed with sertraline and clonazepam. On examination, bestcorrected visual acuity was 20/30 OU, Ishihara color plates were 11/13 OD, 13/13 OS. Pupils reactedbriskly without an RAPD. Visual fields were full to confrontation. Slit lamp and dilated fundusexamination was unremarkable, including absence of macular abnormalities or optic discpallor. Goldmann fields showed a suggestion of a homonymous field defect, but had variable responsesand the perimetrist noted that she was often falling asleep during the test. Optical coherencetomography showed a normal average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness OU. Lab workup showed anelevated ESR of 70 and an elevated ACE of 62.Tests were performed

Toxoplasma Retinochoroiditis and Optic Neuropathy in AIDS

A 29 year old had one week of pain and a few days of blurry vision O.S.. Medical history was significant for a positive HIV status. On presentation, his visual acuity was 20/20 O.D., vasculitis was present O.S.. The diagnosis of CMV retinitis was made

It's Not Just a FAD (EHR Fatigue Syndrome)

A 29 year-old female nurse, nine months postpartum, presented with an inability to see her computer well for the past two months. She denied eye pain, diplopia, numbness, tingling or weakness. There were no changes in vision in bright vs. dim lighting. She also had a headache at the back of her head for two months that was relieved with OTC medications. She denied any events immediately preceding the blurred vision. She also complained of shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss and extreme fatigue, sleeping 10 hours per night and taking naps over her lunch break at work. Workup by her primary care doctor revealed a normal CXR, ECG with sinus bradycardia and anemia (Hgb 9.6, Hct 28.7). Towards the end of her recent pregnancy she was evaluated for polydipsia (drinking up to 9 L /d) and nocturia (6- 7 x /night). Water deprivation testing during pregnancy was not possible but sodium of 133 made the diagnosis of diabetes insipidus (DI) unlikely. Symptoms improved after delivery and therefore the polyuria and polydipsia was attributed to pregnancy. Postpartum she also developed fairly severe anxiety and depression that was managed with sertraline and clonazepam. On examination, best corrected visual acuity was 20/30 OU, Ishihara color plates were 11/13 OD, 13/13 OS. Pupils reacted briskly without an RAPD. Visual fields were full to confrontation. Slit lamp and dilated fundus examination was unremarkable, including absence of macular abnormalities or optic disc pallor. Goldmann fields showed a suggestion of a homonymous field defect, but had variable responses and the perimetrist noted that she was often falling asleep during the test. Optical coherence tomography showed a normal average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness OU. Lab workup showed an elevated ESR of 70 and an elevated ACE of 62.Tests were performed

Toxoplasma Retinochoroiditis and Optic Neuropathy in Aids

A 29 year old had one week of pain and a few days of blurry vision O.S., Medical history was significant for a positive HIV status. On presentation, his visual acuity was 20/200.D., vasculitis was present O.S.. The diagnosis of CM V retinitis was made. Two weeks later, the vision O.S, had deteriorated to HM at 1 foot. DHPG was Initiated, Marked periorbital edema O.S. developed