Structural and functional determination of peptide versus small molecule ligand binding at the apelin receptor.

We describe a structural and functional study of the G protein-coupled apelin receptor, which binds two endogenous peptide ligands, apelin and Elabela/Toddler (ELA), to regulate cardiovascular development and function. Characterisation of naturally occurring apelin receptor variants from the UK Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project, and AlphaFold2 modelling, identifies T89 as important in the ELA binding site, and R168 as forming extensive interactions with the C-termini of both peptides. Base editing to introduce an R/H168 variant into human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes demonstrates that this residue is critical for receptor binding and function.

Hand Grip Strength Index, a Novel Tool in Risk-Assessing Multi-Ethnic End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients Treated by Haemodialysis.

Introduction: Increasing numbers of elderly co-morbid patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are now offered haemodialysis. Simple, rapid screening tools are required to risk-assess patients, highlighting those requiring nutritional or other support and advising on prognosis. As such, we assessed a newly introduced tool, the hand grip strength index (HGS index), a comparison of measured to predicted HGS.

Analysis of a Pilot Study Delivering Cancer Survivorship Education to Community Healthcare Professionals Utilizing the Project ECHO Model.

As the number and needs of cancer survivors grow, innovative ways to enhance survivorship expertise are needed. This pilot study evaluated a 12-week cancer survivorship curriculum delivered to two cohorts of providers at affiliated sites within the Mercy Health System, utilising the Project ECHO® model, on provider self-efficacy (SE), knowledge (KN), and professional improvement (PI). Providers received six 1-hour sessions, informed by provider needs assessment, over 12 weeks.

ChemFET Anion Sensor Based on MOF Nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles of metal-organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) possess the unusual combination of both internal and external surfaces. While internal surfaces have been the focus of fundamental and applications-based MOF studies, the chemistry of the external surfaces remains scarcely understood. Herein we report that specific ion interactions with nanoparticles of Cu(1,2,3-triazolate) (Cu(TA)) resemble the Hofmeister behavior of proteins and the supramolecular chemistry of synthetic macromolecules.