Enteral plasma feeding improves gut function and immunity in piglets after birth asphyxia.

Introduction: Birth asphyxia may negatively affect gut function and immunity in newborns. Conversely, immunomodulatory milk diets may protect the gut and immune system against damage caused by asphyxia. Using caesarean-derived pigs as models, we hypothesised that enteral feeding with plasma improves gut and immune functions in asphyxiated newborns.

Danish children with ZZ-homozygous alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency are more affected on liver parameters than children with heterozygosity.

Aim: The longitudinal health status of Danish children with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency had never previously been characterised. This study aimed to assess the changes in growth, lung and liver function through childhood in these children.

Methods: Danish children diagnosed between 2005 and 2020 with pathogenic variants in the Serpin family A member 1 gene were included.

Disease Status at Diagnosis in Danish Children with α 1 -antitrypsin Deficiency.

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the state of disease at the time of diagnosis in Danish children with α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency as Denmark has a high prevalence of ZZ-homozygosity.

Methods: Children either heterozygous, compound heterozygous, or homozygous for Z- and S-variants in the SERPINA1 -gene were included. Clinical characteristics, SERPINA1 -genotype, and blood serum (S) concentrations were recorded concurrently with genetic testing.

Self-Testing of Vision in Age-Related Macula Degeneration: A Longitudinal Pilot Study Using a Smartphone-Based Rarebit Test.

Purpose. There is a need for efficient self-tests of vision in patients with neovascular age-related macula degeneration. A new tablet/smartphone application aiming to meet this need is described and its performance is assessed in a longitudinal pilot study.

New rarebit vision test captures macular deficits hidden to acuity tests.

Purpose: Evaluation of a new personal-computer-based vision test aimed for rapid and accurate assessment of macular conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: The new test depends on segmented digits defined by rarebits, that is, receptive field-size bright dots briefly presented against a dark background. Digit size was fixed at 40 × 50 min of arc.

Corticosteroid production in H295R cells during exposure to 3 endocrine disrupters analyzed with LC-MS/MS.

The adrenocortical human cell line H295R is a valuable tool for screening endocrine disrupting compounds. In general, previous research focus has been on the production of the 2 sex steroids, 17β-estradiol and testosterone, and less attention has been paid to other important steroid end points in the steroidogenesis with a wide range of physiological functions, such as the glucocorticoids (corticosterone and cortisol). A newly developed and validated solid phase extraction (SPE) liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) method was used to measure the production of cortisol and corticosterone in the H295R cell line.

A compact rarebit test for macular diseases.

Background: Rarebit testing implies probing for gaps in the neuro-retinal receptive field matrix, using bright microdots on a dark background. Previous reports have found rarebit testing useful for the detection of macular lesions. In its original implementation, the test requires darkroom facilities and a long test distance (2 m).