International Validation of Echocardiographic AI Amyloid Detection Algorithm.

Background: Diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is often missed or delayed due to confusion with other causes of increased left ventricular wall thickness. Conventional transthoracic echocardiographic measurements like global longitudinal strain (GLS) has shown promise in distinguishing CA, but with limited specificity. We conducted a study to investigate the performance of a computer vision detection algorithm in across multiple international sites.

Host dispersal relaxes selective pressures in rafting microbiomes and triggers successional changes.

What little we know about how microbiomes change over the course of host dispersal has been gleaned from simulations or snapshot sampling of microbiomes of hosts undertaking regular, cyclical migrations. These studies suggest that major changes in both microbiome richness and turnover occur in response to long-distance movements, but we do not yet know how rare or sporadic dispersal events for non-migratory organisms might affect the microbiomes of their hosts. Here we directly examine the microbiomes of rafting seaweed, leveraging host genomic analyses, amplicon sequencing, and oceanographic modelling to study the impacts of ecological dispersal of hosts on their microbiomes.

Actuation-Mediated Compression of a Mechanoresponsive Hydrogel by Soft Robotics to Control Release of Therapeutic Proteins.

Therapeutic proteins, the fastest growing class of pharmaceuticals, are subject to rapid proteolytic degradation in vivo, rendering them inactive. Sophisticated drug delivery systems that maintain protein stability, prolong therapeutic effects, and reduce administration frequency are urgently required. Herein, a mechanoresponsive hydrogel is developed contained within a soft robotic drug delivery (SRDD) device.

ECM Proteins Nidogen-1 and Decorin Restore Functionality of Human Islets of Langerhans upon Hypoxic Conditions.

Transplantation of donor islets of Langerhans is a potential therapeutic approach for patients with diabetes mellitus; however, its success is limited by islet death and dysfunction during the initial hypoxic conditions at the transplantation site. This highlights the need to support the donor islets in the days post-transplantation until the site is vascularized. It was previously demonstrated that the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins nidogen-1 (NID1) and decorin (DCN) improve the functionality and survival of the β-cell line, EndoC-βH3, and the viability of human islets post-isolation.

Virtual reality education on myalgic encephalomyelitis for medical students and healthcare professionals: a pilot study.

Introduction: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic condition which may be characterised by debilitating fatigue, post-exertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, and cognitive difficulties. ME/CFS has significant negative impact on quality of life for those living with the condition. This may be exacerbated by a lack of knowledge within healthcare regarding the condition.