A cross-cultural study of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for people with hearing impairment.

Background: Cognitive screening tools enable the detection of cognitive impairment, facilitate timely intervention, inform clinical care, and allow long-term planning. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment for people with hearing impairment (MoCA-H) was developed as a reliable cognitive screening tool for people with hearing loss. Using the same methodology across four languages, this study examined whether cultural or linguistic factors affect the performance of the MoCA-H.

Assessing the pool activity level (PAL) checklist for use with people with hearing and vision loss.

Background: The PAL is a career-completed assessment that indexes cognitive functional ability to inform individualised support. As hearing and vision loss are prevalent, we assessed the PAL for potential bias with hearing or vision impairment.

Methods: We collected PAL responses for 333 adults aged over 60 years in the UK, France, Canada, Greece and Cyprus.

Dietary Stimuli, Intestinal Bacteria and Peptide Hormones Regulate Female Defecation Rate.

Peptide hormones control gut motility, but the intestinal stimuli and the gene networks coordinating this trait remain poorly defined. Here, we customized an assay to quantify female defecation rate as a proxy of intestinal motility. We found that bacterial infection with the human opportunistic bacterial pathogen (strain PA14) increases defecation rate in wild-type female flies, and we identified specific bacteria of the fly microbiota able to increase defecation rate.

Development and validation of the Montreal cognitive assessment for people with hearing impairment (MoCA-H).

Background: Hearing impairment is common among older adults and affects cognitive assessments for identification of dementia which rely on good hearing function. We developed and validated a version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for people with hearing impairment.

Methods: We adapted existing MoCA 8.

Proteobacteria and Firmicutes Secreted Factors Exert Distinct Effects on Infection under Normoxia or Mild Hypoxia.

Microbiota may alter a pathogen's virulence potential at polymicrobial infection sites. Here, we developed a multi-modal assay, amenable to the assessment of human bacterial interactions using fly survival or midgut regeneration as a readout, under normoxia or mild hypoxia. Deploying a matrix of 12 by 33 one-to-one co-infections via feeding, we classified bacterial interactions as neutral, synergistic, or antagonistic, based on fly survival.

Cardiac Output Measurement in Neonates and Children Using Noninvasive Electrical Bioimpedance Compared With Standard Methods: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze the validity of electrical bioimpedance-based noninvasive cardiac output monitoring in pediatrics compared with standard methods such as thermodilution and echocardiography.

Data Sources: Systematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE (2000-2019).

Study Selection: Method-comparison studies of transthoracic electrical velocimetry or whole body electrical bioimpedance versus standard cardiac output monitoring methods in children (0-18 yr old) were included.

Support care needs of people with hearing and vision impairment in dementia: a European cross-national perspective.

Purpose: Aging-related sensory impairments are among the most common and disabling comorbidities in people with dementia (PwD). This study explored the unmet support care needs (SCNs) from the perspectives of people with hearing and/or vision impairment in dementia (PwD), and their care partners in Europe.

Methods: This was a two-phase mixed methods study.

FAK displacement from focal adhesions: a promising strategy to target processes implicated in cancer progression and metastasis.

Background: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed or activated in several advanced-stage solid cancers. It is known to play both kinase-dependent and -independent roles in promoting tumor progression and metastasis. Numerous inhibitors, targeting either the enzymatic or scaffolding activities of FAK have been generated, with varying degree of success.

The need for improved cognitive, hearing and vision assessments for older people with cognitive impairment: a qualitative study.

Background: Hearing and vision (sensory) impairments are highly prevalent in people with dementia (PwD) and exacerbate the impact of living with dementia. Assessment of sensory or cognitive function may be difficult if people have concurrent dual or triple impairments. Most standard cognitive assessment tests are heavily dependent on having intact hearing and vision, and impairments in these domains may render the assessments unreliable or even invalid.

Impact of an intervention to support hearing and vision in dementia: The SENSE-Cog Field Trial.

Objectives: Hearing, vision, and cognitive impairment commonly co-occur in older adults. Improving sensory function may positively impact outcomes in people with dementia (PwD). We developed a "sensory intervention" (SI) to support hearing and vision in PwD.

Feasibility of an Intervention to Support Hearing and Vision in Dementia: The SENSE-Cog Field Trial.

Objectives: People with dementia (PwD) frequently experience hearing and vision impairment that is underrecognized and undertreated, resulting in reduced quality of life. Managing these impairments may be an important strategy to improve outcomes in PwD. Our objective was to field-trial a multifaceted sensory intervention (SI) to enhance hearing and vision in PwD.

Protocol for the development of versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for people with hearing or vision impairment.

Introduction: Hearing and vision impairments are highly prevalent among older adults and impact commonly used cognitive assessment tools for the identification of dementia. Adaptations of such tests for people with hearing or vision impairment have not been adequately validated among populations with such sensory impairment.

Methods And Analysis: We will develop two versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for people with acquired hearing impairment (MoCA-H) or vision impairment (MoCA-V).

Methods of Calpain Inhibition to Determine the Role of Calpains in Embryo Development in Amphibians.

Calpains are a family of calcium-dependent intracellular cysteine proteases that regulate important physiological processes by substrate cleavage. Despite the fact that the role of calpains in cell migration and other processes has been extensively studied in vitro, the same does not apply to cell migration and morphogenetic events during embryogenesis, in vivo. Herein, we describe the use of three different methods to selectively block calpain activity in vivo in order to investigate the impact on Xenopus gastrulation and neurulation, namely, a calpain inhibitor, a dominant negative, and a morpholino antisense oligonucleotide (MO).

Determining Temporal and Spatial Expression of Calpains in Amphibians.

Calpains are a family of calcium-dependent intracellular cysteine proteases that regulate important physiological processes by substrate cleavage. Despite the fact that Calpains have been identified in the Xenopus genome, their expression patterns and role have not been characterized. Therefore, herein, we describe two methods to determine temporal and spatial expression of Calpain 2 during Xenopus development, namely, RT-PCR and whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH).

Assessing and managing concurrent hearing, vision and cognitive impairments in older people: an international perspective from healthcare professionals.

Background: there is a significant gap in the understanding, assessment and management of people with dementia and concurrent hearing and vision impairments.

Objective: from the perspective of professionals in dementia, hearing and vision care, we aimed to: (1) explore the perceptions of gaps in assessment and service provision in ageing-related hearing, vision and cognitive impairment; (2) consider potential solutions regarding this overlap and (3) ascertain the attitudes, awareness and practice, with a view to implementing change.

Methods: our two-part investigation with hearing, vision, and dementia care professionals involved: (1) an in-depth, interdisciplinary, international Expert Reference Group (ERG; n = 17) and (2) a wide-scale knowledge, attitudes and practice survey (n = 653).

Research protocol for a complex intervention to support hearing and vision function to improve the lives of people with dementia.

Background: Hearing and vision impairments are among the most common and disabling comorbidities in people living with dementia. Intervening to improve sensory function could be a means by which the lives of people living with dementia may be improved. However, very few studies have tried to ameliorate outcomes in dementia by improving sensory function.

Screening tools for the identification of dementia for adults with age-related acquired hearing or vision impairment: a scoping review.

Background: Cognitive screening tests frequently rely on items being correctly heard or seen. We aimed to identify, describe, and evaluate the adaptation, validity, and availability of cognitive screening and assessment tools for dementia which have been developed or adapted for adults with acquired hearing and/or vision impairment.

Method: Electronic databases were searched using subject terms "hearing disorders" OR "vision disorders" AND "cognitive assessment," supplemented by exploring reference lists of included papers and via consultation with health professionals to identify additional literature.

In vivo, site-specific, covalent conjugation of quantum dots to proteins via split-intein splicing.

The ability to target proteins with nanostructures and/or nanodevices in vivo is important for understanding and controlling their biological function. Quantum dots (QDs) serve as an ideal model nanostructure due to their superior optical properties that permit visual confirmation of in vivo targeting and localization and due to their potential as a bio-imaging tool. Here, we describe the site-specific covalent conjugation of quantum dots to target proteins in vivo using an intein-based method.

High-resolution whole-mount in situ hybridization using Quantum Dot nanocrystals.

The photostability and narrow emission spectra of nanometer-scale semiconductor crystallites (QDs) make them desirable candidates for whole-mount fluorescent in situ hybridization to detect mRNA transcripts in morphologically preserved intact embryos. We describe a method for direct QD labeling of modified oligonucleotide probes through streptavidin-biotin and antibody-mediated interactions (anti-FITC and anti-digoxigenin). To overcome permeability issues and allow QD conjugate penetration, embryos were treated with proteinase K.

Split-inteins for simultaneous, site-specific conjugation of quantum dots to multiple protein targets in vivo.

Background: Proteins labelled with Quantum Dots (QDs) can be imaged over long periods of time with ultrahigh spatial and temporal resolution, yielding important information on the spatiotemporal dynamics of proteins within live cells or in vivo. However one of the major problems regarding the use of QDs for biological imaging is the difficulty of targeting QDs onto proteins. We have recently developed a DnaE split intein-based method to conjugate Quantum Dots (QDs) to the C-terminus of target proteins in vivo.

Intein-mediated site-specific conjugation of Quantum Dots to proteins in vivo.

We describe an intein based method to site-specifically conjugate Quantum Dots (QDs) to target proteins in vivo. This approach allows the covalent conjugation of any nanostructure and/or nanodevice to any protein and thus the targeting of such material to any intracellular compartment or signalling complex within the cells of the developing embryo. We genetically fused a pleckstrin-homology (PH) domain with the N-terminus half of a split intein (IN).

The human cancer antigen mesothelin is more efficiently presented to the mouse immune system when targeted to the DEC-205/CD205 receptor on dendritic cells.

To develop a tumor vaccine directly targeting tumor antigen to dendritic cells in situ, we engineered human mesothelin (MSLN) into an antibody specific for mouse DEC-205, a receptor for antigen presentation. We then characterized both T cell and humoral responses to human MSLN and compared immunizing efficacy of DEC-205-targeted MSLN to nontargeted protein after a single-dose immunization. Targeting human MSLN to DEC-205 receptor induced stronger CD4(+) T-cell responses compared to high doses of mesothelin protein.

Bortezomib enhances dendritic cell (DC)-mediated induction of immunity to human myeloma via exposure of cell surface heat shock protein 90 on dying tumor cells: therapeutic implications.

Most anticancer chemotherapies are immunosuppressive and induce nonimmunogenic tumor cell death. Bortezomib, a specific inhibitor of 26S proteasome, has shown clinical activity in several human tumors, including myeloma. Here we show that the uptake of human myeloma cells by dendritic cells (DCs) after tumor cell death by bortezomib, but not gamma irradiation or steroids, leads to the induction of antitumor immunity, including against primary tumor cells, without the need for any additional adjuvants.