Biomarkers.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is associated with increased release of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a mechanism that may underlie protective effects of PA on cognitive and brain aging. The Met allele of the BDNF Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism reduces activity-dependent BDNF release and is associated with increased phosphorylated tau (p-tau181) in dementia populations. We sought to determine whether BDNF Val66Met influences the effects of PA on plasma p-tau181 and cognition in older adults without dementia.

Spinal cord gray matter atrophy is associated with disability in spinal muscular atrophy.

Background: With the approval of disease-modifying treatments for 5q-spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), there is an increasing need for biomarkers for disease course and therapeutic response monitoring. Radially sampled Averaged Magnetization Inversion Recovery Acquisitions (rAMIRA) MR-imaging enables spinal cord (SC) gray matter (GM) delineation and quantification in vivo. This study aims to assess SC GM atrophy in patients with 5q-SMA and its associations with clinical disability.

PEG-PLGA nanoparticles deposited in and .

In our prior research, polymer nanoparticles (NPs) containing tobramycin displayed robust antibacterial efficacy against biofilm-embedded () and (. ) cells, critical pathogens in cystic fibrosis. In the current study, we investigated the deposition of a nanoparticulate carrier composed of poly(d,l-lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene glycol)--PLGA (PEG-PLGA) that was either covalently bonded with cyanine-5-amine (Cy5) or noncovalently bound with freely embedded cationic rhodamine B (RhB), which served as a drug surrogate.

Exhaled breath metabolites reveal postmenopausal gut-bone cross-talk and non-invasive markers for osteoporosis.

Background: Menopause driven decline in estrogen exposes women to risk of osteoporosis. Detection of early onset and silent progression are keys to prevent fractures and associated burdens.

Methods: In a discovery cohort of 120 postmenopausal women, we combined repeated quantitative pulse-echo ultrasonography of bone, assessment of grip strength and serum bone markers with mass-spectrometric analysis of exhaled metabolites to find breath volatile markers and quantitative cutoff levels for osteoporosis.

Incorporating the concept of overtransfusion into hemovigilance monitoring: An expert-based definition and criteria from the International HIT-OVER Forum.

Background: Liberal or overtransfusion (OT) may be regarded as "inappropriate," but it is not reported as a transfusion-related adverse event. A definition of OT is lacking. OT may include overdosing of components, giving the incorrect component, or unnecessary administration without evidence of need for transfusion.