Covalently Cross-Linked Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticles with Enhanced Stability against Dissociation at High Ionic Strength.

Polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PECNPs) often fully dissociate into individual polycations (PC) and polyanions (PA) at high salinities. Herein, we introduce a novel type of colloidally stable PECNP in which the PC is cross-linked, in this case branched polyethylenimine (PEI) to limit this dissociation, even in solutions up to 5.2 M NaCl or 5.

Assessing flexible ureteroscopy outcomes for lower Pole versus non lower Pole stones using the flexible and navigable suction ureteric access sheath: a prospective multicenter study by EAU Endourology and PEARLS group.

Purpose: Use of suction in flexible ureteroscopy is increasing lately. The introduction of flexible and navigable suction access sheath (FANS) has shown improved stone free rate (SFR). However, its efficacy in lower pole stone (LPS) in terms of SFR and complications is yet to be studied.

Complement C3d enables cell-mediated immunity capable of distinguishing spontaneously transformed from nontransformed cells.

Immune surveillance depends in part on the recognition of peptide variants by T cell antigen receptors. Given that both normal B cells and malignant B cells accumulate mutations we chose a murine model of multiple myeloma to test conditions to induce cell-mediated immunity targeting malignant plasma cell (PC) clones but sparing of normal PCs. Revealing a previously unknown function for intracellular C3d, we found that C3d engaged T cell responses against malignant PC in the bone marrow of mice that had developed multiple myeloma spontaneously.

Effectiveness of an Online Medical Spanish Course in Improving Medical Students' Spanish Proficiency.

Introduction: A growing need exists for language-concordant healthcare for Spanish speakers in the United States. More than three-quarters of American medical schools provide Spanish language instruction, but little data exists on best practices. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine whether an online medical Spanish course is effective at improving medical students' Spanish proficiency.

A Global Survey to Assess Urologists' Attitudes Towards Suction Technology in Endourology by the European Association of Urology Section of Endourology and Progressive Endourological Association for Research and Leading Solutions.

Objective: To assess urologists' perceptions and current practices of using suction-based techniques and technologies in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for kidney stones.

Materials And Methods: A customized web-based 28-item questionnaire was created. All participation was voluntary.