Do patients receiving extracorporeal membrane-oxygenation need antibiotic prophylaxis? A systematic review and meta-analysis on 7,996 patients.

Background: Patients undergoing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) are particularly susceptible to infections: 42% experience sepsis and 26% develop a nosocomial infection (NI). Whether antibiotic prophylaxis is effective in reducing mortality and its effects on the rate of NIs is currently unclear.

Research Question: Can antibiotic prophylaxis decrease 30-day mortality for patients on ECMO? Can antibiotic prophylaxis prevent the occurrence of NIs in these patients?

Study Design And Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.

Plasmon-Enhanced Multiphoton Polymer Crosslinking for Selective Modification of Plasmonic Hotspots.

A novel approach to selectively modify narrow subareas of metallic nanostructures adjacent to plasmonic hotspots, where strong electromagnetic field amplification occurs upon localized surface plasmon (LSP) excitation, is reported. In contrast to surface plasmon-triggered polymerization, it relies on plasmonically enhanced multiphoton crosslinking (MPC) of polymer chains carrying photoactive moieties. When they are contacted with metallic nanostructures and irradiated with a femtosecond near-infrared beam resonantly coupled with LSPs, the enhanced field intensity locally exceeds the threshold and initiates MPC only at plasmonic hotspots.

Socioeconomic position during pregnancy and pre-school exposome in children from eight European birth cohort studies.

Distribution of environmental hazards and vulnerability to their effects vary across socioeconomic groups. Our objective was to analyse the relationship between child socioeconomic position (SEP) at birth and the external exposome at pre-school age (0-4 years). This study included more than 60,000 children from eight cohorts in eleven European cities (Oslo, Copenhagen, Bristol, Bradford, Rotterdam, Nancy, Poitiers, Gipuzkoa, Sabadell, Valencia and Turin).

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors prevent presymptomatic capillary flow disturbances in a model of cerebral amyloidosis.

Introduction: Disturbances in microvascular flow dynamics are hypothesized to precede the symptomatic phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, evidence in presymptomatic AD remains elusive, underscoring the need for therapies targeting these early vascular changes.

Methods: We employed a multimodal approach, combining in vivo optical imaging, molecular techniques, and ex vivo MRI, to investigate early capillary dysfunction in Tg-SwDI mice without memory impairment.

Green spaces and respiratory, cardiometabolic, and neurodevelopmental outcomes: An individual-participant data meta-analysis of >35.000 European children.

Studies evaluating the benefits and risks of green spaces on children's health are scarce. The present study aimed to examine the associations between exposure to green spaces during pregnancy and early childhood with respiratory, cardiometabolic, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age children. We performed an Individual-Participant Data (IPD) meta-analysis involving 35,000 children from ten European birth cohorts across eight countries.

Prenatal Urban Environment and Blood Pressure Trajectories From Childhood to Early Adulthood.

Background: Prenatal urban environmental exposures have been associated with blood pressure in children. The dynamic of these associations across childhood and later ages is unknown.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess associations of prenatal urban environmental exposures with blood pressure trajectories from childhood to early adulthood.

Vaccine preparation time, errors, satisfaction, and preference of prefilled syringes versus RSV vaccines requiring reconstitution: randomized, time and motion study.

Aim: The current study compared preparation time, errors, satisfaction, and preference for a prefilled syringe (PFS) versus two RSV vaccines requiring reconstitution (VRR1 and VRR2) in a randomized, single-blinded time and motion study.

Methods: Pharmacists, nurses, and pharmacy technicians were randomized to a preparation sequence of the three vaccines. Participants read instructions, then consecutively prepared the three vaccines with a 3-5-min washout period in between.

Green space exposure and blood DNA methylation at birth and in childhood - A multi-cohort study.

Green space exposure has been associated with improved mental, physical and general health. However, the underlying biological mechanisms remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between green space exposure and cord and child blood DNA methylation.

Urban environment during pregnancy and childhood and white matter microstructure in preadolescence in two European birth cohorts.

Growing evidence suggests that urban environment may influence cognition and behavior in children, but the underlying pollutant and neurobiological mechanisms are unclear. We evaluated the association of built environment and urban natural space indicators during pregnancy and childhood with brain white matter microstructure in preadolescents, and examined the potential mediating role of air pollution and road-traffic noise. We used data of the Generation R Study, a population-based birth cohort in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (n = 2725; 2002-2006) for the primary analyses.

Urban environment in pregnancy and postpartum depression: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 12 European birth cohorts.

Background: Urban environmental exposures associate with adult depression, but it is unclear whether they are associated to postpartum depression (PPD).

Objectives: We investigated associations between urban environment exposures during pregnancy and PPD.

Methods: We included women with singleton deliveries to liveborn children from 12 European birth cohorts (N with minimum one exposure = 30,772, analysis N range 17,686-30,716 depending on exposure; representing 26-46 % of the 66,825 eligible women).

Homocysteine potentiates amyloid -induced death receptor 4- and 5-mediated cerebral endothelial cell apoptosis, blood brain barrier dysfunction and angiogenic impairment.

Cerebrovascular dysfunction has been implicated as a major contributor to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology, with cerebral endothelial cell (cEC) stress promoting ischemia, cerebral-blood flow impairments and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Recent evidence suggests that cardiovascular (CV)/cerebrovascular risk factors, including hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy), exacerbate AD pathology and risk. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms for this interaction remain unclear.

Urban environment during pregnancy and lung function, wheezing, and asthma in school-age children. The generation R study.

The urban environment during pregnancy may influence child's respiratory health, but scarce evidence exists on systematic evaluation of multiple urban exposures (e.g., air pollution, natural spaces, noise, built environment) on children's lung function, wheezing, and asthma development.

Amyloid Beta Oligomers Activate Death Receptors and Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptotic Pathways in Cerebral Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells; Protective Effects of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors.

Amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition within the brain vasculature is an early hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which triggers loss of brain vascular smooth muscle cells (BVSMCs) in cerebral arteries, via poorly understood mechanisms, altering cerebral blood flow, brain waste clearance, and promoting cognitive impairment. We have previously shown that, in brain endothelial cells (ECs), vasculotropic Aβ species induce apoptosis through death receptors (DRs) DR4 and DR5 and mitochondria-mediated mechanisms, while FDA-approved carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) prevent mitochondria-mediated EC apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we analyzed Aβ-induced extrinsic and intrinsic (DR- and mitochondria-mediated) apoptotic pathways in BVSMC, aiming to unveil new therapeutic targets to prevent BVSMC stress and death.

Clearance of interstitial fluid (ISF) and CSF (CLIC) group-part of Vascular Professional Interest Area (PIA), updates in 2022-2023. Cerebrovascular disease and the failure of elimination of Amyloid-β from the brain and retina with age and Alzheimer's disease: Opportunities for therapy.

This editorial summarizes advances from the Clearance of Interstitial Fluid and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CLIC) group, within the Vascular Professional Interest Area (PIA) of the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART). The overarching objectives of the CLIC group are to: (1) understand the age-related physiology changes that underlie impaired clearance of interstitial fluid (ISF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (CLIC); (2) understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying intramural periarterial drainage (IPAD) in the brain; (3) establish novel diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's disease (AD), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), retinal amyloid vasculopathy, amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) of spontaneous and iatrogenic CAA-related inflammation (CAA-ri), and vasomotion; and (4) establish novel therapies that facilitate IPAD to eliminate amyloid β (Aβ) from the aging brain and retina, to prevent or reduce AD and CAA pathology and ARIA side events associated with AD immunotherapy.

Social inequalities, green and blue spaces and mental health in 6-12 years old children participating in the INMA cohort.

Availability of green and blue spaces in the area of residence has been related to various health outcomes during childhood, including mental health. These environmental exposures are not evenly distributed among socioeconomic groups, which may increase social inequalities in mental health. The mechanisms through which natural environments may promote mental health are numerous and diverse.

Amyloid β induces cardiac dysfunction and neuro-signaling impairment in the heart of an Alzheimer's disease model.

Aims: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cerebral amyloid β (Aβ) deposition and tau pathology. The AD-mediated degeneration of the brain neuro-signaling pathways, together with a potential peripheral amyloid accumulation, may also result in the derangement of the peripheral nervous system, culminating in detrimental effects on other organs, including the heart. However, whether and how AD pathology modulates cardiac function, neurotrophins, innervation, and amyloidosis is still unknown.

FDA-approved carbonic anhydrase inhibitors reduce amyloid β pathology and improve cognition, by ameliorating cerebrovascular health and glial fitness.

Introduction: Cerebrovascular pathology is an early and causal hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), in need of effective therapies.

Methods: Based on the success of our previous in vitro studies, we tested for the first time in a model of AD and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) methazolamide and acetazolamide, Food and Drug Administration-approved against glaucoma and high-altitude sickness.

Results: Both CAIs reduced cerebral, vascular, and glial amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation and caspase activation, diminished gliosis, and ameliorated cognition in TgSwDI mice.

The Effects of Amyloid-β on Metabolomic Profiles of Cardiomyocytes and Coronary Endothelial Cells.

Background: An increasing number of experimental and clinical studies show a link between Alzheimer's disease and heart diseases such as heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and atrial fibrillation. However, the mechanisms underlying the potential role of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease remain unknown. We have recently shown the effects of Aβ1 - 40 and Aβ1 - 42 on cell viability and mitochondrial function in cardiomyocytes and coronary artery endothelial cells.

Modelling socioeconomic position as a driver of the exposome in the first 18 months of life of the NINFEA birth cohort children.

Background: The exposome drivers are less studied than its consequences but may be crucial in identifying population subgroups with unfavourable exposures.

Objectives: We used three approaches to study the socioeconomic position (SEP) as a driver of the early-life exposome in Turin children of the NINFEA cohort (Italy).

Methods: Forty-two environmental exposures, collected at 18 months of age (N = 1989), were classified in 5 groups (lifestyle, diet, meteoclimatic, traffic-related, built environment).

Screening for PTSD and TBI in Veterans using Routine Clinical Laboratory Blood Tests.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder diagnosed by clinical interviews, self-report measures and neuropsychological testing. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have neuropsychiatric symptoms similar to PTSD. Diagnosing PTSD and TBI is challenging and more so for providers lacking specialized training facing time pressures in primary care and other general medical settings.

Autonomic nervous system and cardiac neuro-signaling pathway modulation in cardiovascular disorders and Alzheimer's disease.

The heart is a functional syncytium controlled by a delicate and sophisticated balance ensured by the tight coordination of its several cell subpopulations. Accordingly, cardiomyocytes together with the surrounding microenvironment participate in the heart tissue homeostasis. In the right atrium, the sinoatrial nodal cells regulate the cardiac impulse propagation through cardiomyocytes, thus ensuring the maintenance of the electric network in the heart tissue.