TRIal to slow the Progression Of Diabetes (TRIPOD): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial using wireless technology and incentives.

Background: The outcomes for those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Singapore are poor. In this TRIal to slow the Progression Of Diabetes (TRIPOD), we will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive diabetes management package (DMP), with or without a financial incentives program, M-POWER Rewards, in efforts to improve HbA levels for individuals with T2DM.

Methods/design: TRIPOD is a randomized, open-label, controlled, multi-center, superiority trial with three parallel arms: (1) usual care only, (2) usual care with DMP, and (3) usual care with DMP plus M-POWER Rewards.

Mitochondrial Fusion by M1 Promotes Embryoid Body Cardiac Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be differentiated into cardiomyocytes for disease modelling and personalized medicine. Mitochondrial morphology and metabolism change dramatically as iPSCs differentiate into mesodermal cardiac lineages. Inhibiting mitochondrial fission has been shown to promote cardiac differentiation of iPSCs.

Poplar as Biofiber Reinforcement in Composites for Large-Scale 3D Printing.

The economic viability of the biofuel industry could be improved by adding a high-value revenue stream for biomass supply chains: bioderived composites for the rapidly expanding large-scale additive manufacturing industry (i.e., 3D printing).

Detection of swainsonine-producing endophytes in Patagonian Astragalus species.

Swainsonine has been identified as the toxin in legumes belonging to the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis throughout the world including China, North America, and South America. Several South American Astragalus species have been reported to contain swainsonine; however, data is lacking to support the presence of a fungal symbiont in South American Astragalus species as has been shown for North American and Chinese Astragalus and Oxytropis species. The objective of this study was to investigate several South American species that have been reported to contain swainsonine for the presence of the fungal symbiont using culturing and PCR.

Biodiversity of Convolvulaceous species that contain Ergot Alkaloids, Indole Diterpene Alkaloids, and Swainsonine.

Convolvulaceous species have been reported to contain several bioactive principles thought to be toxic to livestock including the calystegines, swainsonine, ergot alkaloids, and indole diterpene alkaloids. Swainsonine, ergot alkaloids, and indole diterpene alkaloids are produced by seed transmitted fungal symbionts associated with their respective plant host, while the calystegines are produced by the plant. To date, and represent the only species and members of the Convolvulaceae known to contain indole diterpene alkaloids, however several other Convolvulaceous species are reported to contain ergot alkaloids.

Micronutrient and Amino Acid Losses During Renal Replacement Therapy for Acute Kidney Injury.

Introduction: Malnutrition is common in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly in those requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Use of RRT removes metabolic waste products and toxins, but it will inevitably also remove useful molecules such as micronutrients, which might aggravate malnutrition. The RRT modalities vary in mechanism of solute removal; for example, intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) uses diffusion, continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) uses convection, and sustained low-efficiency diafiltration (SLEDf) uses a combination of these.

Transistor-Based Work-Function Measurement of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Ultra-Low-Power, Rationally Designed Chemical Sensors.

A classic challenge in chemical sensing is selectivity. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an exciting class of materials because they can be tuned for selective chemical adsorption. Adsorption events trigger work-function shifts, which can be detected with a chemical-sensitive field-effect transistor (power ≈microwatts).

A retrospective analysis of patient care activities in a community pharmacy mental illness and addictions program.

Background: The Bloom Program, a community pharmacy-based mental health and addictions care program, was developed and implemented to optimize pharmacists' care of eligible patients. Characterizing pharmacists' activities in the Bloom Program can facilitate program quality improvement and contribute more broadly to the knowledge base regarding pharmacists' roles and contributions to patient care.

Objectives: To characterize the patient care activities of the pharmacists in the Bloom Program.

Policies for Deprescribing: An International Scan of Intended and Unintended Outcomes of Limiting Sedative-Hypnotic Use in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Policies have been put in place internationally to reduce the overuse of certain medications that have a high risk of harm, such as sedative-hypnotic drugs for insomnia or opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. We explore and compare the outcomes of policies aimed at deprescribing sedative-hypnotic medication in community-dwelling older adults. Prescription monitoring policies led to the highest rate of discontinuation but triggered inappropriate substitutions.

Pharmacists' acceptability of a men's mental health promotion program using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.

Introduction: Community pharmacists are accessible, knowledgeable, and capable of providing mental health promotion and care in communities. This may not be a role that is recognized by the public, and men in particular. Differences between men and women exist in help seeking practices.

Evidence of Augmented Intrarenal Angiotensinogen Associated With Glomerular Swelling in Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia: Clinical Implications.

Background AGT (angiotensinogen) synthesis occurs in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, independent from systemic AGT , as a component of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system. We investigated urinary AGT , as a biomarker for renin-angiotensin system activation, and electrolyte concentrations, in relation to glomerular volume, as a proxy for glomerular endotheliosis in renal biopsy tissue from pregnant normotensive control and hypertensive women. Methods and Results Urine samples were collected from normotensive control (n=10), gestational hypertensive (n=6), and pre-eclamptic (n=16) women at the time a renal biopsy was obtained.

Oxygen Regulates Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Metabolic Flux.

Metabolism has been shown to alter cell fate in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC). However, current understanding is almost exclusively based on work performed at 20% oxygen (air), with very few studies reporting on hPSC at physiological oxygen (5%). In this study, we integrated metabolic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic data to elucidate the impact of oxygen on hPSC.

Culture of the Mouse Preimplantation Embryo.

The first culture media designed specifically to support development of the preimplantation mouse embryo were formulated over 50 years ago and were based on balanced salt solutions, containing the carbohydrates pyruvate, lactate, and glucose as the sole energy sources. Such media used a bicarbonate-carbon dioxide buffer system to maintain the desired pH, and were typically supplemented with serum albumin, but lacked free amino acids. In contrast to the complexity of a tissue culture medium, these original formulations of mouse embryo culture media were very simplistic.

Immunofibroblasts are pivotal drivers of tertiary lymphoid structure formation and local pathology.

Resident fibroblasts at sites of infection, chronic inflammation, or cancer undergo phenotypic and functional changes to support leukocyte migration and, in some cases, aggregation into tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). The molecular programming that shapes these changes and the functional requirements of this population in TLS development are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that external triggers at mucosal sites are able to induce the progressive differentiation of a population of podoplanin (pdpn)-positive stromal cells into a network of immunofibroblasts that are able to support the earliest phases of TLS establishment.

Metabolism Is a Key Regulator of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Reprogramming.

Reprogramming to pluripotency involves drastic restructuring of both metabolism and the epigenome. However, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) retain transcriptional memory, epigenetic memory, and metabolic memory from their somatic cells of origin and acquire aberrant characteristics distinct from either other pluripotent cells or parental cells, reflecting incomplete reprogramming. As a critical link between the microenvironment and regulation of the epigenome, nutrient availability likely plays a significant role in the retention of somatic cell memory by iPSC.

A Fibromyxoid Stromal Response is Associated with Muscle Invasion in Canine Urothelial Carcinoma.

Canine urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common type of cancer of the lower urinary tract and tends to affect elderly neutered female dogs, with a high predisposition for Scottish terriers. Tumour stroma, inflammation and necrosis are poorly characterized in canine UC and their role as prognostic factors is unknown. The aims of this study were to (1) assess histologically 381 canine UCs, with emphasis on myxoid tumour stroma, inflammation and necrosis and (2) assess possible associations between these features and the available epidemiological data as well as bladder wall muscle invasion.

The patient experience in a community pharmacy mental illness and addictions program.

Background: The Bloom Program was designed to enhance pharmacists' care of people with lived experience of mental illness and addictions in Nova Scotia. The Program's demonstration period was from September 2014 to December 2016 and included a qualitative evaluation of the patient experience.

Methods: Patients were recruited for individual interviews through Bloom Program pharmacies.

Electrospinning of Cellulose Nanocrystal-Filled Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Solutions: Material Property Assessment.

Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) random composite mats were prepared using the electrospinning method. PVA/CNC mats were reinforced with weight concentrations of 0, 20 and 50% CNC (/) relative to PVA. Scanning electron microscopy was used to measure the fiber diameter, which ranged from 377 to 416 nm.