An adjustable and scalable method for the continuous flow synthesis of cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), targetted the reduction of their activity to synthetic biomembranes to inform the fabrication of nanoparticles (NPs) with reduced toxicity for commercial applications. By manipulating key factors; temperature, residence time, and the ratio of precursor to reductant, precise control over the morphology of CuO NPs is achieved with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirming the formation of needle-shaped CuO NPs. One-variable-at-a-time studies reveal a relationship between the synthesis conditions and the characteristics of the resultant NPs, with CuO NPs varying controllably between 10-50 nanometres in length and 4-10 nanometres in width.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProtection against postpartum depression is a commonly cited maternal benefit of breastfeeding. However, recent studies have found that negative breastfeeding experiences may actually increase the risk of depressive symptoms. To investigate women's self-reported associations between breastfeeding experiences and depressive symptoms on a social media platform.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cyst Fibros
November 2024
Specialized care is provided to people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) by interdisciplinary teams nested within the CF Foundation's accredited care center network. This network allows for standardization of the care model, implementation of clinical care guidelines, efficient communication, and outcomes reporting. Recent developments have impacted this care model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: We characterize microscopic ferning in pre-ejaculate samples with and without sperm.
Study Design: Healthy, male, withdrawal-experienced participants provided up to three paired pre-ejaculate and ejaculate samples. We centrifuged ejaculate samples to obtain a supernatant without sperm.
Osteoarthritis (OA) pain is often associated with the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), suggesting that TNF-α is one of the main contributing factors that cause inflammation, pain, and OA pathology. Thus, inhibition of TNF-α could potentially improve OA symptoms and slow disease progression. Anti-TNF-α treatments with antibodies, however, require multiple treatments and cannot entirely block TNF-α.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Bone fracture is one of the most globally prevalent injuries, with an estimated 189 million bone fractures occurring annually. Delayed union or nonunion occurs in up to 15% of fractures and involves the interruption or complete failure of bone continuity following fracture. Preclinical testing is essential to support the translation of novel strategies to promote improved fracture repair treatment, but there is a paucity of small animal models that recapitulate clinical attributes associated with delayed fracture healing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFractures continue to be a global economic burden as there are currently no osteoanabolic drugs approved to accelerate fracture healing. In this study, we aimed to develop an osteoanabolic therapy which activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, a molecular driver of endochondral ossification. We hypothesize that using an mRNA-based therapeutic encoding β-catenin could promote cartilage to bone transformation formation by activating the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in chondrocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The rates of home birth have been increasing; reliance on social media as a source of medical advice and support for patients has also been increasing. This is the first study that directly evaluates birthing people's perceptions, attitudes, and advice about planned home births expressed in public posts and comments on two popular social media platforms - Reddit and TikTok.
Methods: Posts on each platform were searched from January 2017 through July 2022 using the terms "home birth" and "home vs.
Impaired fracture healing, specifically non-union, has been found to occur up to 14% in tibial shaft fractures. The current standard of care to treat non-union often requires additional surgeries which can result in long recovery times. Injectable-based therapies to accelerate fracture healing have the potential to mitigate the need for additional surgeries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study sought to determine if pharmacies in Los Angeles County had implemented 2017 legislation requiring insurance companies based in California to fully reimburse for 13 cycles of oral contraceptives dispensed at once.
Study Design: We conducted a secret shopper telephone survey of Los Angeles County pharmacies nearly 5 years after the legislation went into effect. We chose the categorical state family program (Family PACT) to represent all programs covered by the legislation.
Expert Opin Pharmacother
November 2023
Introduction: Estetrol (E4) is a native estrogen produced only by the fetal liver during pregnancy. E4 is the first new estrogen to be used in hormonal contraception since the introduction of oral contraceptives in 1960. Ethinyl estradiol, the most commonly used estrogen in oral contraceptives today, increases the risks of thromboembolism and has other significant hepatic impacts, which induce important drug-drug interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfect Control Hosp Epidemiol
December 2023
Infection preventionist (IP) positions are difficult to fill, and future workforce shortages are anticipated. The IP field has less racial and ethnic diversity than the general nursing workforce or patient population. A targeted fellowship program for underrepresented groups allowed the recruitment and training of IPs while avoiding staffing shortages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have long been viewed as a promising therapeutic for musculoskeletal repair. However, regulatory concerns including tumorgenicity, inconsistencies in preparation techniques, donor-to-donor variability, and the accumulation of senescence during culture expansion have hindered the clinical application of MSCs. Senescence is a driving mechanism for MSC dysfunction with advancing age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe evaluated satisfaction with use of a segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (0.15/0.013 mg) contraceptive vaginal system (CVS) among women who had recently used a monthly contraceptive vaginal ring or contraceptive pills.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAging leads to several geriatric conditions including osteoporosis (OP) and associated frailty syndrome. Treatments for these conditions are limited and none target fundamental drivers of pathology, and thus identifying strategies to delay progressive loss of tissue homeostasis and functional reserve will significantly improve quality of life in elderly individuals. A fundamental property of aging is the accumulation of senescent cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOsteoarthritis Cartilage
April 2023
Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the latest evidence on the effects of losartan or Ang II receptor antagonists on cartilage repair, with a focus on their clinical relevance.
Design: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to November 12th 2021 to evaluate the effects of losartan or Ang II receptor antagonists on cartilage repair in in vitro studies and in vivo animal studies. Study design, sample characteristics, treatment type, duration, and outcomes were analyzed.
Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw
December 2022
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a disabling disorder that impacts 1.8 percent to 5.8 percent of menstruating women for 1-2 weeks each month.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs the worldwide population progresses in age, there is an increasing need for effective treatments for age-associated musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (OA). Fisetin, a natural flavonoid, has garnered attention as a promising pharmaceutical option for treating or delaying the progression of osteoporosis and OA. However, there is no systematic review of the effects of fisetin on bone and cartilage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Tissue Eng Regen Med
November 2022
Activation of the canonical Wingless-related integration site (Wnt) pathway has been shown to increase bone formation and therefore has therapeutic potential for use in orthopedic conditions. However, attempts at developing an effective strategy to achieve Wnt activation has been met with several challenges. The inherent hydrophobicity of Wnt ligands makes isolating and purifying the protein difficult.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEClinicalMedicine
September 2022
Background: The most widely used copper intrauterine device (IUD) in the world (the TCu380A), and the only product available in many countries, causes side effects and early removals for many users. These problems are exacerbated in nulliparous women, who have smaller uterine cavities compared to parous women. We compared first-year continuation rates and reasons/probabilities for early removal of the TCu380A versus a smaller Belgian copper IUD among nulliparous users.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAttentional biases towards threat are assumed to be a causal factor in the development of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, findings have been inconsistent, and studies often examine single time-point bias during threat exposure, instead of across time. Attention to threat may shift throughout exposure (e.
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