3D bioprinting of stem cells and polymer/bioactive glass composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

A major limitation of using synthetic scaffolds in tissue engineering applications is insufficient angiogenesis in scaffold interior. Bioactive borate glasses have been shown to promote angiogenesis. There is a need to investigate the biofabrication of polymer composites by incorporating borate glass to increase the angiogenic capacity of the fabricated scaffolds.

Nitrate radicals and biogenic volatile organic compounds: oxidation, mechanisms, and organic aerosol.

Oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) by the nitrate radical (NO) represents one of the important interactions between anthropogenic emissions related to combustion and natural emissions from the biosphere. This interaction has been recognized for more than 3 decades, during which time a large body of research has emerged from laboratory, field, and modeling studies. NO-BVOC reactions influence air quality, climate and visibility through regional and global budgets for reactive nitrogen (particularly organic nitrates), ozone, and organic aerosol.

Bimatoprost Sustained-Release Implants for Glaucoma Therapy: 6-Month Results From a Phase I/II Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of a biodegradable bimatoprost sustained-release implant (Bimatoprost SR).

Design: Phase I/II, prospective, 24-month, dose-ranging, paired-eye controlled clinical trial.

Methods: At baseline following washout, open-angle glaucoma patients (n = 75) were administered Bimatoprost SR (6 μg, 10 μg, 15 μg, or 20 μg) intracamerally in the study eye; the fellow eye began topical bimatoprost 0.

Review of Urban Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Gasoline and Diesel Motor Vehicle Emissions.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is formed from the atmospheric oxidation of gas-phase organic compounds leading to the formation of particle mass. Gasoline- and diesel-powered motor vehicles, both on/off-road, are important sources of SOA precursors. They emit complex mixtures of gas-phase organic compounds that vary in volatility and molecular structure-factors that influence their contributions to urban SOA.

e-ASPECTS software is non-inferior to neuroradiologists in applying the ASPECT score to computed tomography scans of acute ischemic stroke patients.

Background The Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) is an established 10-point quantitative topographic computed tomography scan score to assess early ischemic changes. We performed a non-inferiority trial between the e-ASPECTS software and neuroradiologists in scoring ASPECTS on non-contrast enhanced computed tomography images of acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods In this multicenter study, e-ASPECTS and three independent neuroradiologists retrospectively and blindly assessed baseline non-contrast enhanced computed tomography images of 132 patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke.

Vaccination mitigates the impact of PRRSv infection on the pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid in pigs.

The pharmacokinetics of intramuscularly administered ceftiofur crystalline-free acid (CCFA) were determined in pigs that were clinically healthy (n = 8), vaccinated with a Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome modified live virus (PRRS MLV) (n = 10), challenged with wild-type porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) VR-2385 (n = 10), or vaccinated with PRRS MLV and later challenged with wild-type PRRSv VR-2385 (n = 10). Animals were given a single dose of CCFA intramuscularly at 5 mg/kg body weight. Blood was collected at 0 (pretreatment), 0.

Follow the Carbon: Isotopic Labeling Studies of Early Earth Aerosol.

Despite the faint young Sun, early Earth might have been kept warm by an atmosphere containing the greenhouse gases CH and CO in mixing ratios higher than those found on Earth today. Laboratory and modeling studies suggest that an atmosphere containing these trace gases could lead to the formation of organic aerosol haze due to UV photochemistry. Chemical mechanisms proposed to explain haze formation rely on CH as the source of carbon and treat CO as a source of oxygen only, but this has not previously been verified experimentally.

Insulated Neighborhoods: Structural and Functional Units of Mammalian Gene Control.

Understanding how transcriptional enhancers control over 20,000 protein-coding genes to maintain cell-type-specific gene expression programs in all human cells is a fundamental challenge in regulatory biology. Recent studies suggest that gene regulatory elements and their target genes generally occur within insulated neighborhoods, which are chromosomal loop structures formed by the interaction of two DNA sites bound by the CTCF protein and occupied by the cohesin complex. Here, we review evidence that insulated neighborhoods provide for specific enhancer-gene interactions, are essential for both normal gene activation and repression, form a chromosome scaffold that is largely preserved throughout development, and are perturbed by genetic and epigenetic factors in disease.

Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including antibodies targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), have shown durable treatment responses in multiple tumor types by enhancing antitumor immunity. However, removal of self-tolerance can induce autoimmunity and produce a unique immune-driven toxicity profile, termed immune-related adverse events (irAEs). As ICIs gain approval for a growing number of indications, it is imperative clinicians increase their knowledge of and ability to manage irAEs.

Benefit from cytoreductive nephrectomy and the prognostic role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in the era of targeted therapies is currently undefined. In recent years, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a prognostic marker in several cancers, including mRCC. In this multicentre retrospective study, we aim to assess the impact of CN in mRCC and the value of NLR in risk stratification and patient selection.

Approaches to modernize the combination drug development paradigm.

Recent advances in genomic sequencing and omics-based capabilities are uncovering tremendous therapeutic opportunities and rapidly transforming the field of cancer medicine. Molecularly targeted agents aim to exploit key tumor-specific vulnerabilities such as oncogenic or non-oncogenic addiction and synthetic lethality. Additionally, immunotherapies targeting the host immune system are proving to be another promising and complementary approach.

Gold- and Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 1,8-Diynyl Vinyl Acetates to Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-ones.

A synthetic method for the efficient assembly of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-ones that relies on gold(I)-catalyzed Rautenstrauch rearrangement followed by Brønsted acid-mediated formal [3 + 2]-cycloaddition/deacetylation of 1,8-diynyl vinyl acetates at room temperature under atmospheric conditions is described.

Consensus Recommendations for Combined Aesthetic Interventions Using Botulinum Toxin, Fillers, and Microfocused Ultrasound in the Neck, Décolletage, Hands, and Other Areas of the Body.

Background: The popularity of aesthetic procedures in the face has led to greater disparity between treated areas and those that still show evidence of true age. Although many areas of the body often require multiple treatment procedures for optimal rejuvenation, combination therapy for specific areas is not yet well defined.

Objective: To develop recommendations for the optimal combination and ideal sequence of botulinum toxin (BoNT), hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), and microfocused ultrasound with visualization in nonfacial areas across all skin phototypes.

Time to Computerized Tomography Scan, Age, and Mortality in Acute Stroke.

Background: Time to computerized tomography (CT) is important to institute appropriate and timely hyperacute management in stroke. We aimed to evaluate mortality outcomes in relation to age and time to CT scan.

Methods: We used routinely collected data in 8 National Health Service trusts in East of England between September 2008 and April 2011.

Ozone, Electrostatic Precipitators, and Particle Number Concentrations: Correlations Observed in a Real Office during Working Hours.

This study investigates the impacts of outdoor and indoor ozone concentrations, ESP operation and occupancy on particle number concentrations within a modern office in Changsha, China. The office's one-pass air handling system contains a mini-bag filter (MERV 12) followed by an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Over a five-week period the system was operated either without the ESP (Stage 1, first-third week) or with the ESP (Stage 2, fourth and fifth week).

Ambient Gas-Particle Partitioning of Tracers for Biogenic Oxidation.

Exchange of atmospheric organic compounds between gas and particle phases is important in the production and chemistry of particle-phase mass but is poorly understood due to a lack of simultaneous measurements in both phases of individual compounds. Measurements of particle- and gas-phase organic compounds are reported here for the southeastern United States and central Amazonia. Polyols formed from isoprene oxidation contribute 8% and 15% on average to particle-phase organic mass at these sites but are also observed to have substantial gas-phase concentrations contrary to many models that treat these compounds as nonvolatile.

Surgical Outcomes of Lobular Neoplasia Diagnosed in Core Biopsy: Prospective Study of 316 Cases.

Background: Management recommendations for lobular neoplasia (LN) including lobular carcinoma-in-situ (LCIS) and atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) diagnosed in core biopsies (CB) are controversial. Our aim was to prospectively identify a subset of patients who do not require subsequent surgical excision (SE).

Patients And Methods: All patients diagnosed with LN on CB were enrolled and referred for SE.

"Janus" Calixarenes: Double-Sided Molecular Linkers for Facile, Multianchor Point, Multifunctional, Surface Modification.

We herein report the synthesis of novel "Janus" calix[4]arenes bearing four "molecular tethering" functional groups on either the upper or lower rims of the calixarene. These enable facile multipoint covalent attachment to electrode surfaces with monolayer coverage. The other rim of the calixarenes bear either four azide or four ethynyl functional groups, which are easily modified by the copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC), either pre- or postsurface modification, enabling these conical, nanocavity reactor sites to be decorated with a wide range of substrates to impart desired chemical properties.

Effects of Chemically Doped Bioactive Borate Glass on Neuron Regrowth and Regeneration.

Peripheral nerve injuries present challenges to regeneration. Currently, the gold standard for nerve repair is an autograft that results in another region of the body suffering nerve damage. Previously, bioactive borate glass (BBG) has been studied in clinical trials to treat patients with non-healing wounds, and we have reported that BBG is conducive for soft tissue repair.

Effects of Zinc Chelators on Aflatoxin Production in Aspergillus parasiticus.

Zinc concentrations strongly influence aflatoxin accumulation in laboratory media and in food and feed crops. The presence of zinc stimulates aflatoxin production, and the absence of zinc impedes toxin production. Initial studies that suggested a link between zinc and aflatoxin biosynthesis were presented in the 1970s.

Comprehensive analysis of promoter-proximal RNA polymerase II pausing across mammalian cell types.

Background: For many genes, RNA polymerase II stably pauses before transitioning to productive elongation. Although polymerase II pausing has been shown to be a mechanism for regulating transcriptional activation, the extent to which it is involved in control of mammalian gene expression and its relationship to chromatin structure remain poorly understood.

Results: Here, we analyze 85 RNA polymerase II chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing experiments from 35 different murine and human samples, as well as related genome-wide datasets, to gain new insights into the relationship between polymerase II pausing and gene regulation.

Application of Handheld Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to Geochemical Analysis.

While laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been in use for decades, only within the last two years has technology progressed to the point of enabling true handheld, self-contained instruments. Several instruments are now commercially available with a range of capabilities and features. In this paper, the SciAps Z-500 handheld LIBS instrument functionality and sub-systems are reviewed.

Consensus Recommendations for Combined Aesthetic Interventions in the Face Using Botulinum Toxin, Fillers, and Energy-Based Devices.

Background: The aging process is a complex interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic factors across multiple layers of the face. Accordingly, combining aesthetic interventions targeting different manifestations of aging often leads to better results than single modalities alone. However, no guidelines for a pan-facial approach using multiple interventions have been published to date.