Intranasal Vaccination with Recombinant TLR2-Active Outer Membrane Vesicles Containing Sequential M2e Epitopes Protects against Lethal Influenza a Challenge.

Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease, resulting in an estimated 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness annually. While most influenza vaccines are administered parenterally via injection, one shortcoming is that they do not generate a strong immune response at the site of infection, which can become important in a pandemic. Intranasal vaccines can generate both local and systemic protective immune responses, can reduce costs, and enhance ease of administration.

Interfacial energy as an approach to designing amphipathic surfaces during photopolymerization curing.

Photopolymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) is a platform capable of creating heterogeneous materials from initially miscible resin solutions, where both the reaction's governing thermodynamics and kinetics significantly influence the resulting phase composition and morphology. Here, PIPS is used to develop materials in a single photopolymerization step that are hydrophobic on one face and hydrophilic on the other. These two faces possess a water contact angle difference of 50°, bridged by a bulk-scale chemical gradient.

Comprehensive, comparative evaluation of 25 automated SARS-CoV-2 serology assays.

We have previously highlighted the fact that hundreds of SARS-CoV-2 serology tests were released months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the hundreds of studies investigating the test kits' performance, few were comparative reports, using the same comprehensive sample set across multiple tests. Recently, we reported a comparative assessment of 35 rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) or microtiter plate enzyme immunoassays (EIA) for use in low- and middle-income countries, using a large sample set from individuals with a history of COVID-19.

Selective Accumulation of Near Infrared-Labeled Multivalent Quinidine Copolymers in Tumors Overexpressing P-Glycoprotein: Potential for Noninvasive Diagnostic Imaging.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a promiscuous small molecule transporter whose overexpression in cancer is associated with multidrug resistance (MDR). In these instances, anticancer drugs can select for P-gp-overexpressing cells, leading to cancer recurrence with an MDR phenotype. To avoid selection for MDR cancers and inform individual patient treatment plans, it is critical to noninvasively identify P-gp-overexpressing tumors prior to administration of chemotherapy.

Comprehensive, Comparative Evaluation of 35 Manual SARS-CoV-2 Serological Assays.

The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in hundreds of diagnostic devices (IVDs) coming to market, facilitated by regulatory authorities allowing "emergency use" without a comprehensive evaluation of performance. The World Health Organization (WHO) released target product profiles (TPPs) specifying acceptable performance characteristics for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) assay devices. We evaluated 26 rapid diagnostic tests and 9 enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for anti-SARS-CoV-2, suitable for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), against these TPPs and other performance characteristics.

Long-Term Survival and Curative-Intent Treatment in Hepatitis B or C Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Diagnosed during Screening.

Background: We initiated a prospective screening trial in patients with hepatitis to diagnose HCC in the early stage and to evaluate the impact on long-term survival. Methods: From 1993−2006, 10,372 patients with chronic hepatitis B (14%), hepatitis C (81%), or both (5%) were enrolled in an HCC screening program. All patients underwent liver biopsy at enrollment.

Polystyrene-Sepiolite Clay Nanocomposites with Enhanced Mechanical and Thermal Properties.

Polystyrene (PS)/sepiolite clay nanocomposites were prepared via the melt extrusion technique using vinyl tri-ethoxy silane (VTES) as the compatibilizer and cross-linking agent. Mechanical, thermal, and flame-retardant properties of the newly developed polystyrene-based nanocomposites were determined. Surface morphology was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), examining the distribution of the filler in various compositions of fabricated composites.

Biological Nanoparticles in Vaccine Development.

Vaccines represent one of the most successful public health initiatives worldwide. However, despite the vast number of highly effective vaccines, some infectious diseases still do not have vaccines available. New technologies are needed to fully realize the potential of vaccine development for both emerging infectious diseases and diseases for which there are currently no vaccines available.

Synthesis of Magnetic FeO Nano Hollow Spheres for Industrial TNT Wastewater Treatment.

The aim of the present work was to synthesize magnetite (Fe3O4) nano hollow spheres (NHS) via simple, one-pot, template-free, hydrothermal method. The structural, morphological, and surface analysis of Fe3O4 NHS were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction technique (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR and burner-Emmett-teller (BET). The as obtained magnetic (Fe3O4) NHS were used as an adsorbent for treating industrial trinitrotoluene (TNT) wastewater to reduce its Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) values.

Interleukin-10 attenuates renal injury after myocardial infarction in diabetes.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after myocardial infarction (MI) and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. AKI after MI occurs more frequently in patients with diabetes, however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, and specific treatments are lacking. Using the murine MI model, we show that diabetic mice had higher expression of the kidney injury marker, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), 3 days after MI compared with control mice.

Established Populations of Infected Ticks in New York City, New York, USA.

We sought to determine the habitat associations and pathogen status of ticks in New York City (NYC), New York, USA, a newly expanded portion of their range. We collected 88 ticks from two NYC parks on Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of NYC, and compared our findings with similar habitat in Brooklyn, New York during the same time period (April 30-September 1). We tested 76 for pathogens.

Sodium salicylate rewires hepatic metabolic pathways in obesity and attenuates IL-1β secretion from adipose tissue: The implications for obesity-impaired reverse cholesterol transport.

Introduction: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity impairs clearance of cholesterol through the Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT) pathway, with downregulation in hepatic expression of cholesterol and bile acid transporters, namely ABCG5/8 and ABCB11, and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC). In the current study, we hypothesized that the development of hepatosteatosis, secondary to adipose-tissue dysfunction, contributes to obesity-impaired RCT and that such effects could be mitigated using the anti-inflammatory drug sodium salicylate (NaS).

Materials And Methods: C57BL/6J mice, fed HFD ± NaS or low-fat diet (LFD) for 24 weeks, underwent glucose and insulin tolerance testing.

Magneto-structural Correlations in Ni-Halide···Halide-Ni Chains.

We present the magnetic properties of a new family of = 1 molecule-based magnets, NiF(3,5-lut)·2HO and NiX(3,5-lut), where X = HF, Cl, Br, or I (lut = lutidine CHN). Upon creation of isolated Ni-X···X-Ni and Ni-F-H-F···F-H-F-Ni chains separated by bulky and nonbridging lutidine ligands, the effect that halogen substitution has on the magnetic properties of transition-metal-ion complexes can be investigated directly and in isolation from competing processes such as Jahn-Teller distortions. We find that substitution of the larger halide ions turns on increasingly strong antiferromagnetic interactions between adjacent Ni ions via a novel through-space two-halide exchange.

Early prediction of clinical response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy in human solid tumors through mathematical modeling.

Background: Checkpoint inhibitor therapy of cancer has led to markedly improved survival of a subset of patients in multiple solid malignant tumor types, yet the factors driving these clinical responses or lack thereof are not known. We have developed a mechanistic mathematical model for better understanding these factors and their relations in order to predict treatment outcome and optimize personal treatment strategies.

Methods: Here, we present a translational mathematical model dependent on three key parameters for describing efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors in human cancer: tumor growth rate (), tumor-immune infiltration (), and immunotherapy-mediated amplification of anti-tumor response ().

Use of human tissue stem cell-derived organoid cultures to model enterohepatic circulation.

The use of human tissue stem cell-derived organoids has advanced our knowledge of human physiological and pathophysiological processes that are unable to be studied using other model systems. Increased understanding of human epithelial tissues including intestine, stomach, liver, pancreas, lung, and brain have been achieved using organoids. However, it is not yet clear whether these cultures recapitulate in vivo organ-to-organ signaling or communication.

Controlling Magnetic Anisotropy in a Zero-Dimensional = 1 Magnet Using Isotropic Cation Substitution.

The [ZnNi(HF)(pyz)]SbF ( = 0.2; pyz = pyrazine) solid solution exhibits a zero-field splitting () that is 22% larger [ = 16.2(2) K (11.

Perioperative Outcomes Following Combined Versus Isolated Colorectal and Liver Resections: .

Unlabelled: Our objective was to compare outcomes following combined versus isolated resections for metastatic colorectal cancer and/or liver metastases using a large, contemporary national database.

Background: Controversy persists regarding optimal timing of resections in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases.

Methods: We analyzed 11,814 patients with disseminated colorectal cancer and/or liver metastases who underwent isolated colon, rectal, or liver resections (CRs, RRs, or LRs) or combined colon/liver or rectal/liver resections (CCLRs or CRLRs) in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File (2011-2015).

3D-Bioprinted Inflammation Modulating Polymer Scaffolds for Soft Tissue Repair.

Development of inflammation modulating polymer scaffolds for soft tissue repair with minimal postsurgical complications is a compelling clinical need. However, the current standard of care soft tissue repair meshes for hernia repair is highly inflammatory and initiates a dysregulated inflammatory process causing visceral adhesions and postsurgical complications. Herein, the development of an inflammation modulating biomaterial scaffold (bioscaffold) for soft tissue repair is presented.

Metabolic Inflammation in Obesity-At the Crossroads between Fatty Acid and Cholesterol Metabolism.

Metabolic inflammation is a classic hallmark of obesity that is associated with numerous cardiometabolic complications. Disturbances in fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism are evident in obesity and likely intricately linked to the development and/or sustainment of metabolic inflammation and insulin resistance. Elevations in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and reductions in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in turn are two major disturbances that accompany obesity.

Magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of pancreatic cancer with quantitative parameter extraction by means of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion kurtosis imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging.

Background: Despite great technical advances in imaging, such as multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnosing pancreatic solid lesions correctly remains challenging, due to overlapping imaging features with benign lesions. We wanted to evaluate functional MRI to differentiate pancreatic tumors, peritumoral inflammatory tissue, and normal pancreatic parenchyma by means of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI)-, diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI)-, and intravoxel incoherent motion model (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-derived parameters.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 24 patients, each with histopathological diagnosis of pancreatic tumor, and 24 patients without pancreatic lesions.

Glycofullerenes as non-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors- towards better nanotherapeutics for pancreatic cancer treatment.

The water-soluble glycofullerenes GF1 and GF2 were synthesized using two-step modified Bingel-Hirsch methodology. Interestingly, we identified buckyballs as a novel class of non-receptor Src kinases inhibitors. The evaluated compounds were found to inhibit Fyn A and BTK proteins with IC values in the low micromolar range, with the most active compound at 39 µM.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Alpha Linolenic Acid Improve Cholesterol Homeostasis in Obesity by Modulating Distinct Hepatic Protein Pathways.

Scope: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity impairs macrophage-to-feces reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). It is hypothesized that dietary supplementation with the polyunsaturated fatty acids conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or alpha linolenic acid (ALA) would prevent HFD-impaired RCT by modulating hepatic protein pathways.

Methods And Results: ApoE3L.

Single cell correlation analysis of liquid and solid biopsies in metastatic colorectal cancer.

As cancer care is transitioning to personalized therapies with necessary complementary or companion biomarkers there is significant interest in determining to what extent non-invasive liquid biopsies reflect the gold standard solid biopsy. We have established an approach for measuring patient-specific circulating and solid cell concordance by introducing tumor touch preparations to the High-Definition Single Cell Analysis workflow for high-resolution cytomorphometric characterization of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Subgroups of cells based on size, shape and protein expression were identified in both liquid and solid biopsies, which overall displayed high inter- and intra- patient pleomorphism at the single-cell level of analysis.