One-Pot Biocatalytic Synthesis of -Syringaresinol from a Lignin-Derived Phenol.

The drive for a circular bioeconomy has resulted in a great demand for renewable, biobased chemicals. We present a one-pot biocatalytic cascade reaction for the production of racemic syringaresinol, a lignan with applications as a nutraceutical and in polymer chemistry. The process consumes dihydrosinapyl alcohol, which can be produced renewably from the lignocellulosic material.

Multi-modal sensing with integrated machine learning to differentiate specific leukocytes targeted by electrically sensitive hybrid particles.

The growing need for personalized, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic technology has resulted in significant advancements, from pushing current mechanistic limitations to innovative modality developments across various disease-related biomarkers. However, there still lacks clinical solutions for analyzing multiple biomarkers simultaneously, limiting prognosis for patients suffering with complicated diseases or comorbidities. Here, we conceived, fabricated, and validated a multifrequency impedance cytometry apparatus with novel frequency-sensitive barcoded metal oxide Janus particles (MOJPs) as cell-receptor targeting agents.

Versatile Chemo-Biocatalytic Cascade Driven by a Thermophilic and Irreversible C-C Bond-Forming α-Oxoamine Synthase.

We report a chemo-biocatalytic cascade for the synthesis of substituted pyrroles, driven by the action of an irreversible, thermostable, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent, C-C bond-forming biocatalyst (AOS). The AOS catalyzes the Claisen-like condensation between various amino acids and acyl-CoA substrates to generate a range of α-aminoketones. These products are reacted with β-keto esters in an irreversible Knorr pyrrole reaction.

Regulation of human trophoblast gene expression by endogenous retroviruses.

The placenta is a fast-evolving organ with large morphological and histological differences across eutherians, but the genetic changes driving placental evolution have not been fully elucidated. Transposable elements, through their capacity to quickly generate genetic variation and affect host gene regulation, may have helped to define species-specific trophoblast gene expression programs. Here we assess the contribution of transposable elements to human trophoblast gene expression as enhancers or promoters.

Digital filtering dissemination for optimizing impedance cytometry signal quality and counting accuracy.

Improving biosensor performance which utilize impedance cytometry is a highly interested research topic for many clinical and diagnostic settings. During development, a sensor's design and external factors are rigorously optimized, but improvements in signal quality and interpretation are usually still necessary to produce a sensitive and accurate product. A common solution involves digital signal processing after sample analysis, but these methods frequently fall short in providing meaningful signal outcome changes.

Generation of two induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (IGIBi006-A and IGIBi008-A) carrying exonic deletions in the dystrophin gene.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder with defect in dystrophin gene that shows features of degeneration of muscle tissue at an early age. Here, we describe iPSC lines generated from LCL of two patients of Indian origin carrying 46-48 and 49-50 exons deletions in DMD. The resulting iPSC lines IGIBi006-A and IGIBi008-A showed all the characteristic features of pluripotency, differentiated into cells of three germ layers in vitro and have no major genetic alterations due to reprogramming process.

MACHINE LEARNING ENABLES QUANTIFYING CELL-JANUS PARTICLE CONJUGATES THROUGH MICROFLOWING IMPEDANCE SIGNALS.

In this work, we demonstrate the differentiation of demodulated multifrequency signals from impedance sensitive microparticles when targeting surface receptors on neutrophils in a microfluidic impedance cytometer. These scheme uses a single signal input and detection configuration, and machine learning can differentiate particle types with up to 82% accuracy.

Antibody-functionalized aluminum oxide-coated particles targeting neutrophil receptors in a multifrequency microfluidic impedance cytometer.

Personalized diagnostics of infectious diseases require monitoring disease progression due to their ever-changing physiological conditions and the multi-faceted organ system mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis. In such instances, the recommended clinical strategies involve multiplexing data collection from critical biomarkers related to a patient's conditions along with longitudinal frequent patient monitoring. Numerous detection technologies exist both in research and commercial settings to monitor these conditions, however, they fail to provide biomarker multiplexing ability with design and data processing simplicity.

Crotalus morulus (Viperidae: Crotalinae) envenoming and treatment with F(ab') antivenom.

We present the first published case of Tamaulipan Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus morulus) envenoming. A 54-year-old male professional herpetologist was bitten on the left thumb by a captive C. morulus.

Aluminum Oxide-Coated Particle Differentiation Employing Supervised Machine Learning and Impedance Cytometry.

This article uses a supervised machine learning (ML) system for identifying groups of nanoparticles coated with metal oxides of varying thicknesses using a microfluidic impedance cytometer. These particles generate unique impedance signatures when probed with a multifrequency electric field and finds applications in enabling many multiplexed biosensing technologies. However, current experimental and data processing techniques are unable to sensitively differentiate different metal oxide coated particle types.

Placental uptake and metabolism of 25(OH)vitamin D determine its activity within the fetoplacental unit.

Pregnancy 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with maternal and fetal health outcomes. Using physiological human placental perfusion and villous explants, we investigate the role of the placenta in regulating the relationships between maternal 25(OH)D and fetal physiology. We demonstrate active placental uptake of 25(OH)D by endocytosis, placental metabolism of 25(OH)D into 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D], with subsequent release of these metabolites into both the maternal and fetal circulations.

Convergent evolution of bacterial ceramide synthesis.

The bacterial domain produces numerous types of sphingolipids with various physiological functions. In the human microbiome, commensal and pathogenic bacteria use these lipids to modulate the host inflammatory system. Despite their growing importance, their biosynthetic pathway remains undefined since several key eukaryotic ceramide synthesis enzymes have no bacterial homolog.

Dual-Mobility Implants and Constrained Liners in Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Instability remains the most common complication after revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in aseptic revision rates and survivorship between dual-mobility (DM) and constrained liners (CL) in revision THA.

Methods: We reviewed a consecutive series of 2432 revision THA patients from 2008 to 2019 at our institution and identified all patients who received either a CL or DM bearing.

Investigating Cell-Particle Conjugate Orientations in a Microfluidic Channel to Ameliorate Impedance-based Signal Acquisition and Detection.

Many biomedical experimental assays rely on cell-to-microparticle conjugation and their subsequent detection to quantify disease-related biomarkers. In this report, we investigated the effect of particle attachment position on a cell's surface to a signal acquired using impedance cytometry. We also present a novel configuration of independent coplanar microelectrodes positioned at the bottom and top of the microfluidic channel.

Frequency-Time Domain (FTD) Impedance Data Analysis to Improve Accuracy of Microparticle Enumeration in a Microfluidic Electronic Counter.

Experimental background noise present in biosensors' data hinders the ability for sensitive and accurate detection of critical biomarkers. Here, we report our digital signal processing analysis with respect to frequency and time domain (FTD) data to reduce noise in an experimental microfluidic impedance cytometer. We evaluated the effectiveness of employed noise filtering techniques independently, including baseline drift correction, high frequency noise filtering, and powerline interference mitigation.

Current Insights in the Evaluation and Treatment of Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Total knee arthroplasty is a widely successful procedure, but a small percentage of patients have a postoperative course complicated by periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). PJI is a difficult problem to diagnose and to treat, and the management of PJI differs, depending on the acuity of the infection. This paper discusses the established and newer technologies developed for the diagnosis of PJI as well as different treatment considerations and surgical solutions currently available.

Time-domain signal averaging to improve microparticles detection and enumeration accuracy in a microfluidic impedance cytometer.

Microfluidic impedance cytometry is a powerful system to measure micro and nano-sized particles and is routinely used in point-of-care disease diagnostics and other biomedical applications. However, small objects near a sensor's detection limit are plagued with relatively significant background noise and are difficult to identify for every case. While many data processing techniques can be utilized to reduce noise and improve signal quality, frequently they are still inadequate to push sensor detection limits.

Matrilineal analysis of mutations in the DMD gene in a multigenerational South Indian cohort using DMD gene panel sequencing.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorder characterised by progressive irreversible muscle weakness, primarily of the skeletal and the cardiac muscles. DMD is characterised by mutations in the dystrophin gene, resulting in the absence or sparse quantities of dystrophin protein. A precise and timely molecular detection of DMD mutations encourages interventions such as carrier genetic counselling and in undertaking therapeutic measures for the DMD patients.

Point-of-critical-care diagnostics for sepsis enabled by multiplexed micro and nanosensing technologies.

Sepsis is responsible for the highest economic and mortality burden in critical care settings around the world, prompting the World Health Organization in 2018 to designate it as a global health priority. Despite its high universal prevalence and mortality rate, a disproportionately low amount of sponsored research funding is directed toward diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, when early treatment has been shown to significantly improve survival. Additionally, current technologies and methods are inadequate to provide an accurate and timely diagnosis of septic patients in multiple clinical environments.

Improving Cone-Beam CT Angiography for Prostatic Artery Embolization: Is a Low-Dose Protocol Equivalent to the Standard?

Purpose: To compare the utility of low-dose versus standard cone-beam computed tomography (CT) angiography protocols in identifying nontarget embolization (NTE) during prostatic artery embolization (PAE).

Materials And Methods: A prospective, single-center, Phase-1 study (NCT02592473) was conducted for lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate volume, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life score (QoL), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), peak flow rate, UCLA Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI), and postvoid residual were recorded at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24-months after PAE.

Lower Extremity Total Joint Arthroplasty Has Minimal Effect on Golf Handicap.

Although the vast majority of arthroplasty surgeons allow patients to return to participation in golf following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is relatively little published data regarding how TKA or THA affects a patient's golfing ability. The purpose of this study was to determine how golfers' handicaps change following TKA and THA. We mailed a questionnaire to patients who had underwent primary TKA or THA at our institution and asked whether they played golf and for their golf handicap information network (GHIN) number.

Long term outcomes of biomaterial-mediated repair of focal cartilage defects in a large animal model.

The repair of focal cartilage defects remains one of the foremost issues in the field of orthopaedics. Chondral defects may arise from a variety of joint pathologies and left untreated, will likely progress to osteoarthritis. Current repair techniques, such as microfracture, result in short-term clinical improvements but have poor long-term outcomes.

Functionalization of hybrid surface microparticles for in vitro cellular antigen classification.

Hybrid material surfaces on microparticles are emerging as vehicles for many biomedical multiplexing applications. Functionalization of these hybrid surface microparticles to biomolecules presents unique challenges related to optimization of surface chemistries including uniformity, repeatability, and sample sparring. Hybrid interfaces between microlevel surfaces and individual biomolecules will provide different microenvironments impacting the surface functionalization optimization and efficiency.