The Use of Clips to Prevent Post-Polypectomy Bleeding: A Clinical Review.

Goals: The goal of this clinical review is to provide an overview of the current literature regarding the utility of prophylactic clips in reducing postpolypectomy bleeding and to provide an expert statement regarding their appropriateness in clinical practice.

Background: Colonoscopy enables the identification and removal of premalignant and malignant lesions through polypectomy, yet complications including postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB) can arise. While various studies have explored applying clips prophylactically to prevent PPB, their effectiveness remains uncertain.

Proliferating macrophages in human tumours show characteristics of monocytes responding to myelopoietic growth factors.

Macrophages play essential roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis and immune defence. However, their extensive infiltration into tumours has been linked to adverse outcomes in multiple human cancers. Within the tumour microenvironment (TME), tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote tumour growth and metastasis, making them prime targets for cancer immunotherapy.

An Inhaled Galectin-3 Inhibitor in COVID-19 Pneumonitis: A Phase Ib/IIa Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (DEFINE).

High circulating galectin-3 is associated with poor outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We hypothesized that GB0139, a potent inhaled thiodigalactoside galectin-3 inhibitor with antiinflammatory and antifibrotic actions, would be safely and effectively delivered in COVID-19 pneumonitis. Primary outcomes were safety and tolerability of inhaled GB0139 as an add-on therapy for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonitis.

GPU-based Real-time Contact Tracing at Scale.

Contact tracing is gaining its importance in controlling the spread of COVID-19. However, the enormous volume of the frequently sampled tracing data brings major challenges for real-time processing. In this paper, we propose a GPU-based real-time contact tracing system based on spatial proximity queries with temporal constraints using location data.

Randomised controlled trial of intravenous nafamostat mesylate in COVID pneumonitis: Phase 1b/2a experimental study to investigate safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics.

Background: Many repurposed drugs have progressed rapidly to Phase 2 and 3 trials in COVID19 without characterisation of Pharmacokinetics /Pharmacodynamics including safety data. One such drug is nafamostat mesylate.

Methods: We present the findings of a phase Ib/IIa open label, platform randomised controlled trial of intravenous nafamostat in hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonitis.

Clinical, histopathological and prognostic features of primary cutaneous acral CD8 T-cell lymphoma and other dermal CD8 cutaneous lymphoproliferations: results of an EORTC Cutaneous Lymphoma Group workshop.

Background: The differential diagnosis of atypical dermal nonepidermotropic CD8 lymphocytic infiltrates includes a heterogeneous spectrum of lymphoproliferations with overlapping histological and phenotypic features, but divergent clinical manifestations and prognoses. As these neoplasms are rare, more data on their clinicopathological presentation and course are needed.

Objectives: To assess the clinical, histological and immunophenotypic features; outcomes of; and differences between dermal CD8 lymphoproliferations.

Appropriate use criteria for ancillary diagnostic testing in dermatopathology: New recommendations for 11 tests and 220 clinical scenarios from the American Society of Dermatopathology Appropriate Use Criteria Committee.

Background: Appropriate use criteria (AUC) provide patient-centered physician guidance in test selection. An initial set of AUC was reported by the American Society of Dermatopathology (ASDP) in 2018. AUC reflect evidence collected at single timepoints and may be affected by evolving evidence and experience.

Turbulence and capillary waves on bubbles.

We present a link between the theory of deep water waves and that of bubble surface perturbations. Theory correspondence is shown analytically for small wavelengths in the linear regime and investigated numerically in the nonlinear regime. To do so, we develop the second-order spatial perturbation equations for the Rayleigh-Plesset equation and solve them numerically.

Rapid Characterization of Genetic Parts with Cell-free Systems.

Characterizing and cataloging genetic parts are critical to the design of useful genetic circuits. Having well-characterized parts allows for the fine-tuning of genetic circuits, such that their function results in predictable outcomes. With the growth of synthetic biology as a field, there has been an explosion of genetic circuits that have been implemented in microbes to execute functions pertaining to sensing, metabolic alteration, and cellular computing.

Rapid Visual Authentication Based on DNA Strand Displacement.

Novel ways to track and verify items of a high value or security is an ever-present need. Taggants made from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) have several advantageous properties, such as high information density and robust synthesis; however, existing methods require laboratory techniques to verify, limiting applications. Here, we leverage DNA nanotechnology to create DNA taggants that can be validated in the field in seconds to minutes with a simple equipment.

Impact of Porous Matrices and Concentration by Lyophilization on Cell-Free Expression.

Cell-free expression systems have drawn increasing attention as a tool to achieve complex biological functions outside of the cell. Several applications of the technology involve the delivery of functionality to challenging environments, such as field-forward diagnostics or point-of-need manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. To achieve these goals, cell-free reaction components are preserved using encapsulation or lyophilization methods, both of which often involve an embedding of components in porous matrices like paper or hydrogels.

The mutational landscape of melanoma brain metastases presenting as the first visceral site of recurrence.

Brain metastases are a major cause of melanoma-related mortality and morbidity. We undertook whole-exome sequencing of 50 tumours from patients undergoing surgical resection of brain metastases presenting as the first site of visceral disease spread and validated our findings in an independent dataset of 18 patients. Brain metastases had a similar driver mutational landscape to cutaneous melanomas in TCGA.

Utility of teledermatopathology for intraoperative margin assessment of melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type: A 6 year community practice experience.

Background: Achieving negative margins for melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type can be challenging, particularly on cosmetically sensitive areas.

Objective: To assess the utility of intraoperative frozen section margin assessment using a teledermatopathology system in the treatment of head and neck lentigo maligna.

Methods And Materials: Over a 6 year period, 96 patients with lentigo maligna had surgical excisions.

Breaching the Department of Defense's Biotech Bottleneck.

The global biotechnology revolution offers a profusion of promising innovations for the US Department of Defense (DoD). As with other emerging technologies, the commercial market, rather than defense, is driving the evolution of biotechnology products, and the ability to harness biotechnology for defense benefits has been hampered by strategic confusion in DoD. Here we describe a set of high-level challenges and a set of potential solutions that could bring innovative biotechnology closer to reality for the warfighter and DoD writ large.

Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents by Colorimetric Sensor Arrays.

We report the successful use of colorimetric arrays to identify chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Methods were developed to interpret and analyze a 73-indicator array with an entirely automated workflow. Using a cross-validated first-nearest-neighbor algorithm for assessing detection and identification performances on 632 exposures, at 30 min postexposure we report, on average, 78% correct chemical identification, 86% correct class-level identification, and 96% correct red light/green light (agent versus non-agent) detection.

TERT and TERT promoter in melanocytic neoplasms: Current concepts in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis.

Background And Objective: Located on chromosome locus 5p15.33, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT or hTERT) encodes the catalytic subunit of telomerase which permits lengthening and preservation of telomeres following mitosis. Mutations in TERT promoter (TERT-p) upregulate expression of TERT, allowing survival of malignant cells and tumor progression in wide variety of malignancies including melanoma.

Quantification of Interlaboratory Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Variability.

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) platforms, once primarily a research tool to produce difficult to express proteins, are increasingly being pursued by the synthetic biology community for applications including biomanufacturing, rapid screening systems, and field-ready sensors. While consistency within individual studies is apparent in the literature, challenges with reproducing results between laboratories, or even between individuals within a laboratory, are discussed openly by practitioners. As the field continues to grow and move toward applications, a quantitative understanding of expected variability for CFPS and the relative contribution of underlying sources will become increasingly important.

A method for cost-effective and rapid characterization of engineered T7-based transcription factors by cell-free protein synthesis reveals insights into the regulation of T7 RNA polymerase-driven expression.

The T7 bacteriophage RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) serves as a model for understanding RNA synthesis, as a tool for protein expression, and as an actuator for synthetic gene circuit design in bacterial cells and cell-free extract. T7 RNAP is an attractive tool for orthogonal protein expression in bacteria owing to its compact single subunit structure and orthogonal promoter specificity. Understanding the mechanisms underlying T7 RNAP regulation is important to the design of engineered T7-based transcription factors, which can be used in gene circuit design.

Muir-Torre syndrome appropriate use criteria: Effect of patient age on appropriate use scores.

Background: Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS) is a rare inherited syndrome, with an increased risk of sebaceous and visceral malignancy. Prior reports suggest screening for mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency may be warranted in patients <50 years and when sebaceous neoplasms are located on a non-head and neck location. Previously, appropriate use criteria (AUC) were developed for clinical scenarios in patients >60 years concerning the use of MMR protein immunohistochemistry (MMRP-IHC).

Evidence behind the use of molecular tests in melanocytic lesions and practice patterns of these tests by dermatopathologists.

Background: The gold standard for the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions is histologic examination. However, as histologic examination can have its limitations, there are many clinical scenarios in which additional testing may be appropriate in an attempt to render a definitive diagnosis.

Methods: A literature review for three ancillary tests-comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)/single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and gene expression profiling by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)-was compiled and current use patterns were tabulated.

Low-cost high sensitivity pulsed endomicroscopy to visualize tricolor optical signatures.

A highly sensitive, modular three-color fluorescence endomicroscopy imaging platform spanning the visible to near-infrared (NIR) range is demonstrated. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were sequentially pulsed along with the camera acquisition to provide up to 20 frames per second (fps) three-color imaging performance or 60 fps single color imaging. The system was characterized for bacterial and cellular molecular imaging in ex vivo human lung tissue and for bacterial and indocyanine green imaging in ex vivo perfused sheep lungs.

PTEN is indispensable for cells to respond to MAPK inhibitors in myeloid leukemia.

Constitutively activated MAPK and AKT signaling pathways are often found in solid tumors and leukemias. PTEN is one of the tumor suppressors that are frequently found deficient in patients with late-stage cancers or leukemias. In this study we demonstrate that a MAPK inhibitor, PD98059, inhibits both AKT and ERK phosphorylation in a human myeloid leukemia cell line (TF-1), but not in PTEN-deficient leukemia cells (TF-1a).