Comparison of assays measuring extracellular vesicle tissue factor in plasma samples: communication from the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Vascular Biology.

Background: Scientific and clinical interest in extracellular vesicles (EVs) is growing. EVs that expose tissue factor (TF) bind factor VII/VIIa and can trigger coagulation. Highly procoagulant TF-exposing EVs are detectable in the circulation in various diseases, such as sepsis, COVID-19, or cancer.

Caring for people with intellectual disabilities: Insights from a cross-sectional study among nursing students.

Background: Caring for people with intellectual disabilities poses substantial challenges. Nursing students' emotions, thoughts, and behaviors during their education in the context of people with intellectual disabilities, remain relatively unexplored.

Objectives: To examine nursing students' emotions, thoughts, competence, and expected professional behaviors in care provision for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as to identify factors associated with their expected professional behaviors with this population.

Decision-making process regarding passive euthanasia: Theory of planned behavior framework.

Background: Nurses have an essential role in caring for end-of-life patients. Nevertheless, the nurse's involvement in the passive euthanasia decision-making process is insufficient and lower than expected.

Objectives: To explore factors associated with nurses' intention to be involved in non-treatment decisions (NTD) regarding passive euthanasia decision-making versus their involvement in the palliative care of patients requesting euthanasia, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework.

Characterization of extracellular vesicles in COVID-19 infection during pregnancy.

SARS-CoV-2 infection may cause a severe inflammatory response, inflicting severe morbidity and mortality. This risk is modestly increased in pregnant patients. Despite the hypercoagulability and immunosuppression associated with pregnancy, most pregnant women experience a mild COVID-19 infection.

The Role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in Chronic Graft vs. Host Disease, and the Potential Function of Placental Cell-Derived EVs as a Therapeutic Tool.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) presents with dermal inflammation and fibrosis. We investigated the characteristics of extracellular vesicles (EVs) obtained from cGVHD patients, and their potential effects on human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. The anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of placental EVs were also explored given their known anti-inflammatory properties.

Extracellular Vesicles of COVID-19 Patients Reflect Inflammation, Thrombogenicity, and Disease Severity.

Severe COVID-19 infections present with cytokine storms, hypercoagulation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome, with extracellular vesicles (EVs) being involved in coagulation and inflammation. This study aimed to determine whether coagulation profiles and EVs reflect COVID-19 disease severity. Thirty-six patients with symptomatic COVID-19 infection with mild/moderate/severe disease (12 in each group) were analyzed.

Associations of maternal and placental extracellular vesicle miRNA with preeclampsia.

Gestational vascular complications (GVCs), including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, are leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Elevated levels of extracellular vesicles (EVs), in GVC have been linked to vascular injury. This study aims to characterize placental and circulating EV miRNA in GVCs, and explores the involvement of EV-miRNA in GVC, and whether they may be used to distinguish between placental and maternal pathologies.

Positive affect and fatigue as predictors of anti-inflammatory IL-10 concentrations among colorectal cancer patients during adjuvant chemotherapy.

Objectives: (1) To examine the relationships of positive and negative affect and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue at baseline with the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 concentrations in serum at three points in colorectal cancer patients; and (2) to assess the relationship between these factors and disease recurrence or mortality after a median follow-up of 24 months.

Methods: In a prospective trial, 92 stage II or III colorectal cancer patients scheduled to receive standard chemotherapy were enrolled. Blood samples were collected prior to start of chemotherapy onset (T0), 3 months later (T1), and upon chemotherapy completion (T2).

BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster induces seroconversion in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma who failed to respond to two prior vaccine doses.

This prospective study evaluated seroconversion rates in response to BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine booster in 44 B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) patients who failed to respond to two prior doses [42 previously exposed to anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) including 13 under maintenance treatment]. Seroconversion was obtained in 29.5% of the patients.

Extracellular Vesicle MicroRNA That Are Involved in β-Thalassemia Complications.

Beta thalassemia major (βT) is a hereditary anemia characterized by transfusion-dependency, lifelong requirement of chelation, and organ dysfunction. MicroRNA (miRNA) can be packed into extracellular vesicles (EVs) that carry them to target cells. We explored EV-miRNA in βT and their pathophysiologic role.

Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Cells: A Potential Therapy for Cancer.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are genetically engineered T cells, directed against a tumor-associated antigen. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from CAR-T cells (CAR-T EVs) may preserve CAR-T activity and overcome one of the major obstacles responsible for CAR-T cell failure in patients with solid tumors. This study aimed to compare CAR-T EVs with their parental cells and explore their cell penetration and cytotoxic activity.

Humoral response rate and predictors of response to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 vaccine in patients with multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients are at excess risk for clinically significant COVID19 infection. BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 (BNT162b2) vaccine provides effective protection against COVID19 for the general population, yet its effect in MM patients may be compromised due to disease and therapy-related factors and was not yet evaluated. This single-centre prospective study included MM patients tested for serological response 14-21 days post second vaccine.

Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have an increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease and mortality. The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with CLL. We evaluated humoral immune responses to the BNT162b2 messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine in patients with CLL and compared responses with those obtained in age-matched healthy control subjects.

COVID-19-Associated Hyper-Fibrinolysis: Mechanism and Implementations.

The emerging novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 presents with high infectivity, morbidity and mortality. It presenting a need for immediate understanding of its pathogenicity. Inflammation and coagulation systems are over-activated in COVID-19.

Circulating blood extracellular vesicles as a tool to assess endothelial injury and chemotherapy toxicity in adjuvant cancer patients.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are subcellular membrane blebs that include exosomes and microparticles, which represent a potential source for cancer biomarker discovery. We assess EVs characteristics as a tool to evaluate the endothelial and anti-tumor treatment injury during adjuvant chemotherapy in breast (BC) and colon cancer (CC) patients. Blood samples were taken from 29 BC and 25 CC patients before and after chemotherapy, as well as from healthy control donors (HC).

Extracellular Vesicles Reflect the Efficacy of Wheatgrass Juice Supplement in Colon Cancer Patients During Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CC) is the third most common type of cancer, accounting for 10% of all cancer cases. Adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended in stages II-III CC. Wheatgrass juice (WGJ) from wheat seeds has high nutritional values, may induce synergistic benefits to chemotherapy and may attenuate chemotherapy-related side effects.

Extracellular Vesicles of Alzheimer's Disease Patients as a Biomarker for Disease Progression.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain pathology and the most common form of dementia. Evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing cytokines and microRNA are involved in inflammation regulation. The current study aimed to explore a potential impact of AD patients' EVs on disease progression.

Wheatgrass Juice Administration and Immune Measures during Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer Patients: Preliminary Results.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended in high-risk stage II-III colorectal cancer (CC). We examine the effect of daily wheatgrass juice (WGJ) intake in addition to chemotherapy on immune parameters, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and white blood cells (WBCs) among CC patients. In a controlled prospective trial, 100 stage II-III CC patients were enrolled.

Public knowledge, attitudes, and intention to act violently, with regard to violence directed at health care staff.

Background: Violence directed at health care staff is widely prevalent. Few studies have explored public attitudes regarding violence against health care staff.

Purposes: To examine the Israeli public's attitudes regarding violence against health care staff and their intention to act violently in various health care settings.

Organizational commitment and quality of life at work among public health nurses in Israel.

Objective: To test the relationship between job satisfaction, professional self-image, work environment, organizational commitment (OC), and quality of life at work (QoLW) among public health nurses in Israel. To determine which variables can predict OC and QoLW among public health nurses.

Design And Sample: One hundred and thirty-two public health nurses participated in this cross-sectional study with a structured self-administered questionnaire that examined OC, professional self-image, job satisfaction, nursing work environment, and QoLW.

Extracellular vesicles of multiple myeloma cells utilize the proteasome inhibitor mechanism to moderate endothelial angiogenesis.

Bone marrow microenvironment is known to support angiogenesis, thus contributing to progression of multiple myeloma (MM). Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor (PI) widely used in MM treatment, has anti-angiogenic activity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), shedding from cell surface, serve as mediators in cell-to-cell communication.

Extracellular Vesicle Characteristics in β-thalassemia as Potential Biomarkers for Spleen Functional Status and Ineffective Erythropoiesis.

β-thalassemia major (β-TM) is a therapeutically challenging chronic disease in which ineffective erythropoiesis is a main pathophysiological factor. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed vesicles released by cells into biological fluids; they are involved in intercellular communication and in multiple physiological and pathological processes. The chaperone heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), which is released from cells via EVs, aggravates ineffective erythropoiesis in β-TM.

Effects of Low- and High-Dose Chemotherapy Agents on Thrombogenic Properties of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Background: The involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer-associated thrombosis (CT) is unclear. This study aimed to explore the properties of EVs derived from breast cancer (BC) cells following exposure to high- or low-dose chemotherapeutic agents and evaluate thrombogenic effects of these EVs on endothelial cells (ECs).

Methods: EVs were isolated from BC cell lines (non-metastatic MCF7, high-metastatic MDA-MB-231), pre-exposed to serum-free medium (control), with or without increasing doses of doxorubicin or paclitaxel.

Acrylated Chitosan Nanoparticles with Enhanced Mucoadhesion.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acrylate modification on the mucoadhesion of chitosan at the nanoscale. Nanoparticles were fabricated from acrylated chitosan (ACS) via ionic gelation with tripolyphosphate and were characterized in terms of size, zeta potential, stability, and nanoparticle yield. Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles, serving as a control, were fabricated using the same procedure.

Chemotherapy administration to breast cancer patients affects extracellular vesicles thrombogenicity and function.

Unlabelled: Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of malignancy in women. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are subcellular membrane blebs that include exosomes and microparticles.

Study Aims: To elucidate the effects of chemotherapy administration on BC patients' EVs characteristics and their effects on endothelial cells (EC) functions.