Paul H's quest for covid-slowing things. Occasionally inventive
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washable95.bsky.social
Paul H's quest for covid-slowing things. Occasionally inventive
@washable95.bsky.social
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washable95.bsky.social
Dirty filters removed (eww) - peering inside
June 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
washable95.bsky.social
As you'd see it if you were standing in the room. It's above your head per the ADA.
June 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
washable95.bsky.social
Bottom. These fans would blow down the wall it was screwed to
June 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
washable95.bsky.social
Side view
June 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
washable95.bsky.social
Back of unit that'd go against the wall (with space feet)
June 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
washable95.bsky.social
I made a CR box to place on a classroom wall as
@DtaGuy
has been pioneering. I'm not sure whether my build suits wood or whether injection molded plastic would be better. These pics on the carpet, if that wasn't obvious.
June 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
washable95.bsky.social
An attempt to coerce GPT into some renditions, two of many here. it can't quite depict the single room-sized toroid
May 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
washable95.bsky.social
Hazard liabilities has come up recently in social media. Here's me cajoling claude.ai into a diagram
April 17, 2025 at 9:56 AM
washable95.bsky.social
March 8th Pfizer booster before and after antibody test (blood via pin prick into test tube and mailed back)
April 2, 2025 at 11:43 AM
washable95.bsky.social
I'm guessing those on all four walls of a classroom, help the flow of air in the shape of a toroid. Covid-laden air up to and along the ceiling, filtered air down then drifting toward the center of the room. Fantastic.
March 16, 2025 at 8:27 PM
washable95.bsky.social
Q3: US prices: what would a cash-paying adult have to pay for a spinal tap and analysis?
Costs for a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) plus analysis can vary widely in the United States, especially for a cash-paying patient. Many factors influence the price, including the type of facility (hospital vs. outpatient clinic), geographic location, and whether sedation or imaging guidance is used. Below are rough estimates to give you an idea: Procedure (Spinal Tap) Costs Low end: $1,000–$1,500 (outpatient setting, no anesthesia/sedation, minimal facility fees) Typical range: $2,000–$3,000+ (hospital setting, may include imaging guidance, physician fees, and facility fees) High end: $4,000+ (if sedation, advanced imaging, or complications require more resources) Laboratory Analysis Costs Basic CSF tests: $200–$600 (protein levels, cell count, etc.) More specialized tests: $600–$1,500+ (advanced immunological or infectious disease panels, depending on complexity) Factors That Affect Costs Facility Fees: Hospitals often charge higher facility fees than outpatient clinics. Imaging Guidance: If a radiologist uses fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance, that adds to the cost. Sedation or Anesthesia: Anesthesiologist fees and additional medications can increase the total bill. Additional Panel Tests: Specialized tests (e.g., extensive autoimmune panels) can add hundreds or thousands more. Tips for Cash-Payers Shop Around: Call multiple facilities or outpatient surgical centers for a price estimate. Request a Discount: Many hospitals and labs offer self-pay discounts if you’re paying cash. Bundle Services: Ask if there’s a single fee covering both the procedure and basic lab tests. Financial Assistance: If a hospital has a financial assistance program, you may qualify for reduced rates. Bottom Line You can generally expect to pay somewhere in the $2,000–$4,000+ range for a spinal tap plus basic lab work if paying cash. More specialized testing can push costs higher.
January 14, 2025 at 1:04 PM
washable95.bsky.social
Q2: Can those be done from a IV blood draw instead of spinal tap?
Short answer: Not reliably, no. Certain tests for autoimmune or inflammatory processes can be done via a standard blood draw (e.g., testing for specific antibodies), but key diagnostic information for CIDP and similar disorders often relies on measuring protein levels and immune markers directly in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). That’s why a spinal tap is typically part of the diagnostic process. Below are some more details: Why CSF is important: CIDP often shows elevated protein in the CSF with few or no extra white blood cells. This classic “high protein, normal cell count” pattern is harder to confirm with blood alone. Certain immunological “signatures” (e.g., specific patterns of immunoglobulins) appear only in the CSF. What can be tested in the blood: Blood tests can show signs of general inflammation or autoimmune activity. Specialized antibody panels (including tests for neurofascin 155 or other nerve-related antibodies) can sometimes be done on blood serum. However, these blood-based results typically complement rather than replace CSF findings. The bottom line: Although doctors often run parallel blood tests to look for systemic autoimmune markers, the spinal tap is still the gold standard for diagnosing CIDP. It provides a direct look at what’s happening around the brain and spinal cord, which blood tests simply cannot replicate. So while blood tests can provide important clues, they generally do not eliminate the need for a lumbar puncture when diagnosing CIDP or other inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the nervous system.
January 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
washable95.bsky.social
GPT analysis: Q: How did the spinal tap work to help him diagnose. Does someone look under the microscope or is that a chemical/DNA test of the fluid?
A spinal tap (also known as a lumbar puncture) can reveal important markers of immune-system activity in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (the cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF). For conditions like CIDP, doctors generally aren’t looking directly at the cells under a microscope (like you might for a biopsy). Instead, they perform chemical and immunological tests on the fluid. Here’s how it works: Measurement of Protein Levels In CIDP, one hallmark is elevated protein in the CSF. Doctors measure total protein content and compare it to normal ranges. Cell Count Doctors count how many white blood cells (immune cells) are present. In many inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, you may see an increased cell count. Immunoglobulins/Oligoclonal Bands The CSF is checked for the presence of certain immunoglobulins (antibodies) or oligoclonal bands, which can suggest a chronic inflammatory process taking place in the nervous system. Exclusion of Other Conditions The CSF can also be tested for signs of infection (e.g., viruses, bacteria), which helps rule out diseases like meningitis or other neurological infections. So, rather than looking at cells under a microscope to diagnose CIDP, clinicians measure the chemical composition and immune markers in the spinal fluid. Elevated protein combined with certain immunological signs (and ruling out other causes) helps point doctors toward an autoimmune demyelinating process like CIDP.
January 14, 2025 at 1:02 PM