New Sesterterpenes from the Antarctic Sponge sp.

Chemical investigation of the Antarctic sponge sp. has previously led to the identification of new suberitane derivatives, some of which show bioactivity toward respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Our ongoing NMR-guided investigation of new specimens of the sponge resulted in the isolation of five new analogs (-), previously reported suberitenones A-D (-), and oxaspirosuberitenone ().

CCL2/CCR2 Signalling in Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cell Recruitment and Fracture Healing in Mice.

Macrophage efferocytosis (clearance of apoptotic cells) is crucial for tissue homeostasis and wound repair, where macrophages secrete factors that promote resolution of inflammation and regenerative signalling. This study examined the role of efferocytic macrophage-associated CCL2 secretion, its influence on mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell (MSPC) chemotaxis, and in vivo cell recruitment using Ccr2 (KO) mice with disrupted CCL2 receptor signalling in two regenerative models: ossicle implants and ulnar stress fractures. Single cell RNA sequencing and PCR validation indicated that efferocytosis of various apoptotic cells at bone injury sites (osteoblasts, pre-osteoblasts, MSPC) upregulated CCL2.

The Utility of Long-Read Sequencing in Diagnosing Early Onset Parkinson's Disease.

Objective: Variants in PRKN and PINK1 are the leading cause of early-onset autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease, yet many cases remain genetically unresolved. We previously identified a 7 megabases complex structural variant in a pair of monozygotic twins using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing. This study aims to determine if ONT long-read sequencing can detect a second variant in other unresolved early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) cases with 1 heterozygous PRKN or PINK1 variant.

Triphenylamine-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers as the Next Generation Organic Cathode Materials.

This paper presents a study on a novel porous polymer based on triphenylamine (LPCMP) as an excellent cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. Through structural design and a scalable post-synthesis approach, improvements in intrinsic conductivity, practical capacity, and redox potential in an organic cathode material is reported. The designed cathode achieves a notable capacity of 146 mAh g⁻¹ with an average potential of 3.

Patch-based convolutional neural networks for automatic landmark detection of 3D facial images in clinical settings.

Background: The facial landmark annotation of 3D facial images is crucial in clinical orthodontics and orthognathic surgeries for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. While manual landmarking has traditionally been the gold standard, it is labour-intensive and prone to variability.

Objective: This study presents a framework for automated landmark detection in 3D facial images within a clinical context, using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and it assesses its accuracy in comparison to that of ground-truth data.

Clickable PEG-norbornene microgels support suspension bioprinting and microvascular assembly.

The development of perfusable and multiscale vascular networks remains one of the largest challenges in tissue engineering. As such, there is a need for the creation of customizable and facile methods to produce robustly vascularized constructs. In this study, secondarily crosslinkable (clickable) poly(ethylene glycol)-norbornene (PEGNB) microbeads were produced and evaluated for their ability to sequentially support suspension bioprinting and microvascular self-assembly towards the aim of engineering hierarchical vasculature.

Metal Punch vs. Drill for Rotator Cuff Anchor Socket Creation; Cadaveric and Clinical Comparisons.

Background: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair has been shown to decrease pain and increase function of certain rotator cuff tears. One potential source of pain is the technique used for bone tunnel creation in the humerus prior to suture anchor placement. This study compared the standard metal punch method to a continuous drilling method for tunnel creation prior to subsequent suture anchor placement.

Matrix Architecture and Mechanics Regulate Myofibril Organization, Costamere Assembly, and Contractility in Engineered Myocardial Microtissues.

The mechanical function of the myocardium is defined by cardiomyocyte contractility and the biomechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Understanding this relationship remains an important unmet challenge due to limitations in existing approaches for engineering myocardial tissue. Here, they established arrays of cardiac microtissues with tunable mechanics and architecture by integrating ECM-mimetic synthetic, fiber matrices, and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), enabling real-time contractility readouts, in-depth structural assessment, and tissue-specific computational modeling.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte in vitro models: benchmarking progress and ongoing challenges.

Recent innovations in differentiating cardiomyocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have unlocked a viable path to creating in vitro cardiac models. Currently, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) remain immature, leading many in the field to explore approaches to enhance cell and tissue maturation. Here, we systematically analyzed 300 studies using hiPSC-CM models to determine common fabrication, maturation and assessment techniques used to evaluate cardiomyocyte functionality and maturity and compiled the data into an open-access database.

Long-Term Outcomes of Dental Implants Placed in Fibula-free Flaps Used for Reconstruction of Maxillo-Mandibular Defects.

The use of dental implants and prostheses in the oral rehabilitation process after maxillofacial ablation procedures is now regarded as standard practice. Numerous donor sites for free vascularized bone transfer in head and neck reconstruction have been well-documented in the literature including the ribs, ilium, fibula, scapula, and radius. Among these, the fibula is the most commonly used and studied for placing endosseous implants and for rehabilitation purposes.

Ultrasound-generated bubbles enhance osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells in composite collagen hydrogels.

Hydrogels can improve the delivery of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) by providing crucial biophysical cues that mimic the extracellular matrix. The differentiation of MSCs is dependent on biophysical cues like stiffness and viscoelasticity, yet conventional hydrogels cannot be dynamically altered after fabrication and implantation to actively direct differentiation. We developed a composite hydrogel, consisting of type I collagen and phase-shift emulsion, where osteogenic differentiation of MSCs can be non-invasively modulated using ultrasound.

TCR3d 2.0: expanding the T cell receptor structure database with new structures, tools and interactions.

Recognition of antigens by T cell receptors (TCRs) is a key component of adaptive immunity. Understanding the structures of these TCR interactions provides major insights into immune protection and diseases, and enables design of therapeutics, vaccines and predictive modeling algorithms. Previously, we released TCR3d, a database and resource for structures of TCRs and their recognition.

Professional development scheme: a tool to measure health research competencies in healthcare professionals.

Significant investments have been made in health research capacity development (HRCD) initiatives focusing on individual professionals and institutional frameworks. However, prevailing approaches often prioritise specific research projects over explicit strategies for strengthening the capacities of health research professionals (HRPs) particularly in low and middle-income countries. Despite recognition of its limitations, this implicit approach persists resulting in a lack of effective HRCD strategies.

Quantifying physical degradation alongside recording and stimulation performance of 980 intracortical microelectrodes chronically implanted in three humans for 956-2246 days.

Motivation: The clinical success of brain-machine interfaces depends on overcoming both biological and material challenges to ensure a long-term stable connection for neural recording and stimulation. Therefore, there is a need to quantify any damage that microelectrodes sustain when they are chronically implanted in the human cortex.

Methods: Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we imaged 980 microelectrodes from Neuroport arrays chronically implanted in the cortex of three people with tetraplegia for 956-2246 days.

A nanoporous hydrogel-based model to study chemokine gradient-driven angiogenesis under luminal flow.

The growth of new blood vessels through angiogenesis is a highly coordinated process, which is initiated by chemokine gradients that activate endothelial cells within a perfused parent vessel to sprout into the surrounding 3D tissue matrix. While both biochemical signals from pro-angiogenic factors, as well as mechanical cues originating from luminal fluid flow that exerts shear stress on the vessel wall, have individually been identified as major regulators of endothelial cell sprouting, it remains unclear whether and how both types of cues synergize. To fill this knowledge gap, here, we created a 3D biomimetic model of chemokine gradient-driven angiogenic sprouting, in which a micromolded tube inside a hydrogel matrix is seeded with endothelial cells and connected to a perfusion system to control fluid flow rates and resulting shear forces on the vessel wall.

Reassuring humoral and cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in participants with systemic sclerosis.

Individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are particularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infections, yet it remains to be determined if they generate humoral and cellular responses comparable to controls following SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. Herein, we collected blood and serum after second, third, and fourth SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations in patients with SSc and controls. Following each dose, participants with SSc mounted comparable serum anti-RBD IgG, anti-RBD IgA, and spike-specific CD4 and CD8T cell responses to those found in controls.

Low socioeconomic status exacerbates unmet health-related needs in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

Background And Aims: Diminished quality of life has been well characterized in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH); however, the full spectrum of unmet needs is unclear. We hypothesized that there is a high burden of health-related unmet needs in patients with AIH, and this burden differs by socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods: Members of the Autoimmune Hepatitis Association were invited online and by email to complete a modified version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient Needs Questionnaire.

Outcomes following extended resection of radiation-induced angiosarcoma of the breast: a sarcoma unit experience and systematic review.

Purpose: Radiation-induced angiosarcoma (RIAS) of the breast is a rare tumour with high rate of local recurrence. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of radical resections.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent extended surgical resection for RIAS of the breast between 2013 and 2022.

The effect of Tyloxapol on the metabolome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The use of detergents when culturing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) are essential to prevent clumping. However, these detergents may influence research outcomes by impacting bacterial morphology and metabolism.