Nature should be the model for microbial sciences.

Until recently, microbiologists have relied on cultures to understand the microbial world. As a result, model organisms have been the focus of research into understanding Bacteria and Archaea at a molecular level. Diversity surveys and metagenomic sequencing have revealed that these model species are often present in low abundance in the environment; instead, there are microbial taxa that are cosmopolitan in nature.

Modeling of Intracellular Taurine Levels Associated with Ovarian Cancer Reveals Activation of p53, ERK, mTOR and DNA-Damage-Sensing-Dependent Cell Protection.

Taurine, a non-proteogenic amino acid and commonly used nutritional supplement, can protect various tissues from degeneration associated with the action of the DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Whether and how taurine protects human ovarian cancer (OC) cells from DNA damage caused by cisplatin is not well understood. We found that OC ascites-derived cells contained significantly more intracellular taurine than cell culture-modeled OC.

Beyond methane, new frontiers in anaerobic microbial hydrocarbon utilizing pathways.

Alkanes, single carbon methane to long-chain hydrocarbons (e.g. hexadecane and tetradecane), are important carbon sources to anaerobic microbial communities.

Multistakeholder Recommendations for Supporting Patients and Families Transitioning From Paediatric to Adult Congenital Heart Disease Care.

Background: Transitioning from paediatric to adult congenital heart disease (CHD) care is a high-risk time for being lost to follow-up. Existing CHD transition programmes have not included patients, caregivers, and health care providers as partners in their development. This study aimed to develop recommendations for a CHD transition programme driven by lived and clinical experiences.

Integrating harm reduction into acute care: A single center's experience.

Objective: Injection drug use (IDU) is prevalent in North America and is associated with presentations with infective endocarditis. Supporting patients who present with infective endocarditis related to IDU through harm reduction, a pragmatic approach to reduce secondary harms of a health behavior, helps address the underlying IDU. We share a case exemplar of how one acute care facility integrated harm-reduction practices into daily patient care.

Multimodal Analgesic Effectiveness on Acute Postoperative Pain Management After Adult Cardiac Surgery: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: Many patients report moderate to severe pain in the acute postoperative period. Enhanced recovery protocols recommend multimodal analgesics, but the optimal combination of these is unknown.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to synthesize the best available evidence about effectiveness of multimodal analgesics on pain after adult cardiac surgery.

Modeling of Intracellular Taurine Levels Associated with Ovarian Cancer Reveals Activation of p53, ERK, mTOR and DNA-damage-sensing-dependent Cell Protection.

Taurine, a non-proteogenic amino acid, and commonly used nutritional supplement can protect various tissues from degeneration associated with the action of the DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Whether and how taurine protects human ovarian cancer (OC) cells from DNA damage caused by cisplatin is not well understood. We have found that OC ascites-derived cells contained significantly more intracellular taurine than cell cultures modeling OC.

Validation of the Emory Risk Score in the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Population: A Canadian Perspective.

Background: Permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation may be indicated post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The Emory Risk Score (ERS) is a validated predictive risk score of the need for a PPM post-TAVI using a balloon-expandable valve. Our objectives were to determine the validity of the ERS in our local TAVI population with both balloon-expandable and self-expanding valves and to identify additional electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters predictive of the need for a PPM post-TAVI.

Early life trauma and adult leucocyte telomere length.

Background: Telomere length, a biomarker of cell division and cellular aging, has been associated with multiple chronic disease endpoints. Experienced trauma over the life course may contribute to telomere shortening via mechanisms of stress embodiment. However, it is unclear how patterns of co-occurring trauma during sensitive periods (e.

Placental uptake and metabolism of 25(OH)vitamin D determine its activity within the fetoplacental unit.

Pregnancy 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with maternal and fetal health outcomes. Using physiological human placental perfusion and villous explants, we investigate the role of the placenta in regulating the relationships between maternal 25(OH)D and fetal physiology. We demonstrate active placental uptake of 25(OH)D by endocytosis, placental metabolism of 25(OH)D into 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D], with subsequent release of these metabolites into both the maternal and fetal circulations.

"Just think of it as sexercise" - healthcare providers' perceptions about sexual health education in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Purpose: Sexual health education (SHE) is an important rehabilitation component for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) survivors but is not routinely provided. This study's purpose was to explore healthcare providers' experiences of providing SHE to ACS survivors in cardiac rehabilitation programs to identify best practices.

Methods: This qualitative study used convenience sampling and an interpretive descriptive design.

Factors shaping the provision of sexual health education for adults with acute coronary syndrome: A scoping review.

Objective: Each year, 63,000 Canadians are diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 73 % survive. Sexual health education for ACS survivors is recommended but is not routinely provided. A scoping review was performed to inform health care providers about factors shaping sexual health education for ACS survivors.

Surface charge control through the reversible adsorption of a biomimetic polymer on silica particles.

The control of the physicochemical properties of silica particles is of paramount importance to achieve full functionality in specific applications. A novel facile method of silica particle synthesis, requiring only two reactants, was developed. Control of the surface charge of these newly synthesized silica particles was achieved via the rapid electrostatic adsorption and acidic desorption of the branched, biomimetic polymer, polyethylenimine (PEI).

The Rhodadyns, a New Class of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Dynamin GTPase Activity.

Six focused rhodanine-based libraries, 60 compounds in total, were synthesized and evaluated as potential dynamin I GTPase inhibitors. Twenty-six were more potent than the lead compound with 13 returning IC50 values ≤10 μM, making the Rhodadyn series among the most active dynamin inhibitors reported. Two analogues were highly effective at blocking receptor-mediated endocytosis: C10 and D10 with IC50(RME) = 7.