Clinical and Analytical Performance of a Novel Point-of-Care High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Assay.

Background: Point-of-care (POC) high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays may further accelerate the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI).

Objectives: This study sought to assess the clinical and analytical performance of the novel high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI)-SPINCHIP POC test.

Methods: Adult patients presenting with acute chest discomfort to the emergency department were enrolled in an international, diagnostic, multicenter study.

Exercise improves load bearing bone structural properties in female secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) null mice but not in males.

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is the most abundant glycoprotein in bone and is thought to play a critical role in bone remodeling and homeostasis. However, the effect of SPARC in relation to gender and exercise on bone quality is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to quantify differences in the structural and biomechanical properties between calvarial and femoral bone from male and female wild-type (WT) and SPARC null (SPARC) mice as well as the ability of exercise to rescue bone health.

External validation of the myocardial-ischaemic-injury-index machine learning algorithm for the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction: a multicentre cohort study.

Background: The myocardial-ischaemic-injury-index (MI) is a novel machine learning algorithm for the early diagnosis of type 1 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The performance of MI, both when using early serial blood draws (eg, at 1 h or 2 h) and in direct comparison with guideline-recommended algorithms, remains unknown. Our aim was to externally validate MI and compare its performance with that of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 0/1h-algorithm.

Intervertebral disc human nucleus pulposus cells associated with back pain trigger neurite outgrowth in vitro and pain behaviors in rats.

Low back pain (LBP) is often associated with the degeneration of human intervertebral discs (IVDs). However, the pain-inducing mechanism in degenerating discs remains to be elucidated. Here, we identified a subtype of locally residing human nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), generated by certain conditions in degenerating discs, that was associated with the onset of discogenic back pain.

External validation of the 0/1h-algorithm and derivation of a 0/2h-algorithm using a new point-of-care Hs-cTnI assay.

Background: The high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) I point-of-care (POC) hs-cTnI-PATHFAST assay has recently become clinically available.

Methods: We aimed to externally validate the hs-cTnI-PATHFAST 0/1h-algorithm recently developed for the early diagnosis of non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and derive and validate a 0/2-algorithm in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest discomfort included in a multicenter diagnostic study. Two independent cardiologists centrally adjudicated the final diagnoses using all the clinical and study-specific information available including serial measurements of hs-cTnI-Architect.

Harmonization and standardization of nucleus pulposus cell extraction and culture methods.

Background: In vitro studies using nucleus pulposus (NP) cells are commonly used to investigate disc cell biology and pathogenesis, or to aid in the development of new therapies. However, lab-to-lab variability jeopardizes the much-needed progress in the field. Here, an international group of spine scientists collaborated to standardize extraction and expansion techniques for NP cells to reduce variability, improve comparability between labs and improve utilization of funding and resources.

iPSC-neural crest derived cells embedded in 3D printable bio-ink promote cranial bone defect repair.

Cranial bone loss presents a major clinical challenge and new regenerative approaches to address craniofacial reconstruction are in great demand. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation is a powerful tool to generate mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Prior research demonstrated the potential of bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) and iPSC-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells via the neural crest (NCC-MPCs) or mesodermal lineages (iMSCs) to be promising cell source for bone regeneration.

Directing iPSC differentiation into iTenocytes using combined scleraxis overexpression and cyclic loading.

Regenerative therapies for tendon are falling behind other tissues due to the lack of an appropriate and potent cell therapeutic candidate. This study aimed to induce tenogenesis using stable Scleraxis (Scx) overexpression in combination with uniaxial mechanical stretch of iPSC-derived mesenchymal stromal-like cells (iMSCs). Scx is the single direct molecular regulator of tendon differentiation known to date.

Single-cell atlas unveils cellular heterogeneity and novel markers in human neonatal and adult intervertebral discs.

The origin, composition, distribution, and function of cells in the human intervertebral disc (IVD) have not been fully understood. Here, cell atlases of both human neonatal and adult IVDs have been generated and further assessed by gene ontology pathway enrichment, pseudo-time trajectory, histology, and immunofluorescence. Comparison of cell atlases revealed the presence of two subpopulations of notochordal cells (NCs) and their associated markers in both the neonatal and adult IVDs.

Genomic and Chemical Decryption of the Bacteroidetes Phylum for Its Potential to Biosynthesize Natural Products.

With progress in genome sequencing and data sharing, 1,000s of bacterial genomes are publicly available. Genome mining-using bioinformatics tools in terms of biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) identification, analysis, and rating-has become a key technology to explore the capabilities for natural product (NP) biosynthesis. Comprehensively, analyzing the genetic potential of the phylum Bacteroidetes revealed as the most talented genus in terms of BGC abundance and diversity.

Trichoderma-Derived Pentapeptides from the Infected Nest Mycobiome of the Subterranean Termite Coptotermes testaceus.

Termites live in a dynamic environment where colony health is strongly influenced by surrounding microbes. However, little is known about the mycobiomes of lower termites and their nests, and how these change in response to disease. Here we compared the individual and nest mycobiomes of a healthy subterranean termite colony (Coptotermes testaceus) to one infected and ultimately eradicated by a fungal pathogen.

Two-step generation of monodisperse agarose-solidified double emulsions (w/w/o) excluding an inner oil barrier.

Miniaturization of biomedical and chemical research areas is performed using microfluidic techniques. Droplet-based microfluidic applications are of high interest for various applications, e.g.

Combination of high-throughput microfluidics and FACS technologies to leverage the numbers game in natural product discovery.

High-throughput platforms facilitating screening campaigns of environmental samples are needed to discover new products of natural origin counteracting the spreading of antimicrobial resistances constantly threatening human and agricultural health. We applied a combination of droplet microfluidics and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based technologies to access and assess a microbial environmental sample. The cultivation performance of our microfluidics workflow was evaluated in respect to the utilized cultivation media by Illumina amplicon sequencing of a pool of millions of droplets, respectively.

Neural crest-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells enhance cranial allograft integration.

Replacement of lost cranial bone (partly mesodermal and partly neural crest-derived) is challenging and includes the use of nonviable allografts. To revitalize allografts, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (mesoderm-derived BM-MSCs) have been used with limited success. We hypothesize that coating of allografts with induced neural crest cell-mesenchymal progenitor cells (iNCC-MPCs) improves implant-to-bone integration in mouse cranial defects.

Advanced Glycation End Product Inhibitor Pyridoxamine Attenuates IVD Degeneration in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with advanced glycation end product (AGE) enrichment and considered a risk factor for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. We hypothesized that systemic AGE inhibition, achieved using pyridoxamine (PM), attenuates IVD degeneration in T2DM rats. To induce IVD degeneration, lumbar disc injury or sham surgery was performed on Zucker Diabetic Sprague Dawley (ZDSD) or control Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

High-Throughput Cultivation for the Selective Isolation of Acidobacteria From Termite Nests.

Microbial communities in the immediate environment of socialized invertebrates can help to suppress pathogens, in part by synthesizing bioactive natural products. Here we characterized the core microbiomes of three termite species (genus ) and their nest material to gain more insight into the diversity of termite-associated bacteria. Sampling a healthy termite colony over time implicated a consolidated and highly stable microbiome, pointing toward the fact that beneficial bacterial phyla play a major role in termite fitness.

A Translational Porcine Model for Human Cell-Based Therapies in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.

Background: There is a high incidence of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and these injuries represent an enormous health care economic burden. In an effort to address this unmet clinical need, there has been increasing interest in cell-based therapies.

Purpose: To establish a translational large animal model of PTOA and demonstrate the feasibility of intra-articular human cell-based interventions.

Molecular Networking-Guided Discovery and Characterization of Stechlisins, a Group of Cyclic Lipopeptides from a sp.

Increasingly sensitive analytical instruments and robust downstream data processing tools have revolutionized natural product research over the past decade. A molecular networking-guided survey led to the identification of 33 new cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) from the culture broth of the proteobacterium sp. FhG100052.

Electrospun, synthetic bone void filler promotes human MSC function and BMP-2 mediated spinal fusion.

Introduction: Synthetic bone grafts are often used to achieve a well-consolidated fusion mass in spinal fusion procedures. These bone grafts function as scaffolds, and ideally support cell function and facilitate protein binding.

Objective: The aim was to characterize an electrospun, synthetic bone void filler (Reb) for its bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 release properties and support of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) function in vitro, and its efficacy in promoting BMP-2-/bone marrow aspirate-(BMA)-mediated posterolateral spinal fusion (PLF) in vivo.

Optimization of a rat lumbar IVD degeneration model for low back pain.

Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is often associated with low back pain and radiating leg pain. The purpose of this study is to develop a reproducible and standardized preclinical model of painful lumbar IVD degeneration by evaluation of structural and behavioral changes in response to IVD injury with increasing needle sizes. This model can be used to develop new therapies for IVD degeneration.

NF-κB inhibitor, NEMO-binding domain peptide attenuates intervertebral disc degeneration.

Background Context: Nonphysiological mechanical loading and inflammation are both critically involved in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, which is characterized by an increase in cytokines and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) in the nucleus pulposus (NP). This process is known to be mediated by the NF-κB pathway.

Clinical Significance: Current clinical treatments for IVD degeneration focus on the alleviation of symptoms rather than targeting the underlying mechanism.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Reduces Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

BACKGROUND Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a common cause of lower back pain, which carries substantial morbidity and economic cost. Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) are known to reduce inflammatory processes with a relatively benign side effect profile. This study aimed to investigate the effect of n-3 FA supplementation on IVD degeneration.

The effect of insulin dependent diabetes on bone metabolism and growth after spinal fusion.

Study Design: Experimental animal model.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) will inhibit the formation of a solid bony union after spinal fusion surgery via an alteration of the microenvironment at the fusion site in a rat model.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies report diabetes mellitus (DM) and specifically IDDM as a risk factor for complications and poor surgical outcomes following spinal fusion.

Preserving US microbe collections sparks future discoveries.

Collections of micro-organisms are a crucial element of life science research infrastructure but are vulnerable to loss and damage caused by natural or man-made disasters, the untimely death or retirement of personnel, or the loss of research funding. Preservation of biological collections has risen in priority due to a new appreciation for discoveries linked to preserved specimens, emerging hurdles to international collecting and decreased funding for new collecting. While many historic collections have been lost, several have been preserved, some with dramatic rescue stories.