Attomolar-sensitive milk fever sensor using 3D-printed multiplex sensing structures.

The diagnosis of milk fever or hypocalcemia in lactating cows has a significant economic impact on the dairy industry. It is challenging to identify asymptomatic subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) in transition dairy cows. Monitoring subclinical hypocalcemia in milk samples can expedite treatment and improve the health, productivity, and welfare of dairy cows.

The Onset of Steatosis Occurs as Early as Seven Days and Progresses to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in a Pediatric Pig Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic and progressive condition that afflicts patients of all ages, including neonates. Previously, we reported that neonatal pigs fed formulas rich in medium-chain (MCFA), compared with those fed formulas rich in long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) for 21 d, developed panacinar steatosis with no changes in whole-body adiposity.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the temporal onset and development of NAFLD in neonatal pigs in response to MCFA feeding.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Induced by Feeding Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Upregulates Cholesterol and Lipid Homeostatic Genes in Skeletal Muscle of Neonatal Pigs.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a range of disorders characterized by lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Although this spectrum of disorders is associated with adult obesity, recent evidence suggests that this condition could also occur independently of obesity, even in children. Previously, we reported that pigs fed a formula containing medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) developed hepatic steatosis and weighed less than those fed an isocaloric formula containing long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs).

Inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase accelerates anaerobic glycolysis under postmortem simulating conditions.

This research aimed to explore the potential influence of mitochondria on the rate of anaerobic glycolysis. We hypothesized that mitochondria could reduce the rate of anaerobic glycolysis and pH decline by metabolizing a portion of glycolytic pyruvate. We utilized an in vitro model and incorporated CPI-613 and Avidin to inhibit pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and pyruvate carboxylase (PC), respectively.

Medium-Chain Fatty Acid Feeding Reduces Oxidation and Causes Panacinar Steatosis in Livers of Neonatal Pigs.

Background: Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are commonly used to enhance the caloric content of infant formulas. We previously reported that pigs fed MCFA developed hepatic steatosis when compared to those fed isocaloric long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) rich formula.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate: 1) whether MCFA and LCFA feeding affect hepatic fatty acid oxidation, and 2) how fat type alters the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolic genes.

Feeding medium-chain fatty acid-rich formula causes liver steatosis and alters hepatic metabolism in neonatal pigs.

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) are often added to enhance the caloric value of infant formulas. Evidence suggests that MCFAs promote growth and are preferred over LCFAs due to greater digestibility and ease of absorption. Our hypothesis was that MCFA supplementation would enhance neonatal pig growth to a greater extent than LCFAs.

Minoritised ethnic women's experiences of inequities and discrimination in maternity services in North-West England: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Minoritised ethnic perinatal women can experience judgemental and stigmatising care due to systemic racism. Discriminatory care contributes to increased risks of poor maternal and infant outcomes, including higher rates of mental ill-health. This study aimed to explore minoritised ethnic women's experiences of maternity services, including maternity care and mental health support, within a North-West England locality.

Attitudes toward a novel breastfeeding-mediated drug and nutrient delivery system: A qualitative study.

The objective of this study was to determine the attitudes and impressions of breastfeeding mothers and healthcare practitioners towards a device concept integrating breastfeeding with infant drug and nutrient administration. This was an exploratory qualitative study involving 20 breastfeeding mothers and 6 healthcare practitioners from the Suffolk and Middlesex County areas of Massachusetts, USA each individually interviewed. Interview transcription of the semi-structured interviews by an independent service began during data collection, and data coding into major themes continued until and after data saturation was reached.

Contraceptive and Infertility Target DataBase: a contraceptive drug development tool for targeting and analysis of human reproductive specific tissues†.

The long and challenging drug development process begins with discovery biology for the selection of an appropriate target for a specific indication. Target is a broad term that can be applied to a range of biological entities such as proteins, genes, and ribonucleic acids (RNAs). Although there are numerous databases available for mining biological entities, publicly available searchable, downloadable databases to aid in target selection for a specific disease or indication (e.

Use of Model-Informed Drug Development to Streamline Development of Long-Acting Products: Can These Successes Be Translated to Long-Acting Hormonal Contraceptives?

Long-acting contraceptives are the most effective reversible contraceptive methods. Increasing patients' access to these contraceptives may translate into fewer unintended pregnancies and lead to substantial individual and public health benefits. However, development of long-acting products can be complex and challenging.

Relationships between patient- and session-related variables and outcomes of psychiatric genetic counseling.

Little data currently exist regarding whether and how different characteristics of a patient and session influence outcomes of genetic counseling (GC). We conducted an exploratory retrospective chart review of data from a specialist psychiatric GC clinic (where patients complete the Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale (GCOS) as part of routine care before and after GC). We used ANOVA and linear regression to analyze GCOS change scores in relation to twelve patient/session-related variables.

An assessment of infant medication administration and storage practices in selected communities in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Background: Effective infant medication administration and storage is a major public health challenge outlined by the World Health Organization. These challenges may be exacerbated in rural or limited-resource areas.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate infant medication administration and storage practices.

Muscle from grass- and grain-fed cattle differs energetically.

Insufficient acidification results in dark, firm, and dry beef. While this defect is often indicative of a stress event antemortem, muscle tissue may change in response to feeding regime. Longissimus dorsi muscle samples from 10 grain-fed and 10 grass-fed market weight, angus-crossbred beef cattle were collected postmortem.

Innovations in Pediatric Drug Formulations and Administration Technologies for Low Resource Settings.

Despite advances in regulations and initiatives to increase pediatric medicine development, there is still an unmet need for age-appropriate medicines for children. The availability of pediatric formulations is particularly lacking in resource poor areas, due to, for example, area-specific disease burden and financial constraints, as well as disconnected supply chains and fragmented healthcare systems. The paucity of authorized pediatric medicines often results in the manipulation and administration of products intended for adults, with an increased risk of mis-dosing and adverse reactions.

Southcare Geriatric Flying Squad: an innovative Australian model providing acute care in residential aged care facilities.

This study reviews the outcomes of a model developed to improve the quality of care of residents living within residential aged care facilities (RACF). The Southcare Geriatric Flying Squad saw a total of 640 acutely unwell RACF residents over an 18-month period. Of these, 578 (90.

Using the Slug Mucosal Irritation Assay to Investigate the Tolerability of Tablet Excipients on Human Skin in the Context of the Use of a Nipple Shield Delivery System.

Purpose: Neonates are particularly challenging to treat. A novel patented drug delivery device containing a rapidly disintegrating tablet held within a modified nipple shield (NSDS) was designed to deliver medication to infants during breastfeeding. However concerns exist around dermatological nipple tolerability with no pharmaceutical safety assessment guidance to study local tissue tolerance of the nipple and the areola.

Characterisation of zinc delivery from a nipple shield delivery system using a breastfeeding simulation apparatus.

Zinc delivery from a nipple shield delivery system (NSDS), a novel platform for administering medicines to infants during breastfeeding, was characterised using a breastfeeding simulation apparatus. In this study, human milk at flow rates and pressures physiologically representative of breastfeeding passed through the NSDS loaded with zinc-containing rapidly disintegrating tablets, resulting in release of zinc into the milk. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used to detect the zinc released, using a method that does not require prior digestion of the samples and that could be applied in other zinc analysis studies in breast milk.

Mimicking the Impact of Infant Tongue Peristalsis on Behavior of Solid Oral Dosage Forms Administered During Breastfeeding.

An in vitro simulation system was developed to study the effect of an infant's peristaltic tongue motion during breastfeeding on oral rapidly disintegrating tablets in the mouth, for use in rapid product candidate screening. These tablets are being designed for use inside a modified nipple shield worn by a mother during breastfeeding, a proposed novel platform technology to administer drugs and nutrients to breastfeeding infants. In this study, the release of a model compound, sulforhodamine B, from tablet formulations was studied under physiologically relevant forces induced by compression and rotation of a tongue mimic.

Reversible Ligation of Programmed DNA-Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies.

We demonstrate a new method to reversibly cross-link DNA-nanoparticle dimers, trimers, and tetramers using light as an external stimulus. A DNA interstrand photo-cross-linking reaction is possible via ligation of a cyano-vinyl carbazole nucleoside with an opposite thymine when irradiated at 365 nm. This reaction results in nanoparticle assemblies that are not susceptible to DNA dehybridization conditions.

Characterising the disintegration properties of tablets in opaque media using texture analysis.

Tablet disintegration characterisation is used in pharmaceutical research, development, and quality control. Standard methods used to characterise tablet disintegration are often dependent on visual observation in measurement of disintegration times. This presents a challenge for disintegration studies of tablets in opaque, physiologically relevant media that could be useful for tablet formulation optimisation.

Acceptability of a nipple shield delivery system administering antiviral agents to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breastfeeding.

Background: Breastfeeding is a route of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The World Health Organization recommends antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis as the best method to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) during breastfeeding. The nipple shield delivery system (NSDS) is being developed as an accessible method to deliver ARVs to infants and PMTCT during breastfeeding.

The perceived benefits of belonging to an extra curricular group within a pre-registration nursing course.

This study describes a qualitative research design that focuses on nursing students who were aligned to different extra-curricular groups (a student representative committee, a Nurses' Day Committee and a magazine editorial team) within the School of Health. The study explores the nursing students' experiences and perceptions of belonging to an extra-curricular group within a pre-registration nursing course. Data were collected using focus groups.

Triplex-mediated analysis of cytosine methylation at CpA sites in DNA.

Modified triplex-forming oligonucleotides distinguish 5-methyl cytosine from unmethylated cytosine in DNA duplexes by differences in triplex melting temperatures. The discrimination is sequence-specific; dramatic differences in stabilisation are seen for CpA methylation, whereas CpG methylation is not detected. This direct detection of DNA methylation constitutes a new approach for epigenetic analysis.