Improved tropoelastin synthesis in the skin by codon optimization and nucleotide modification of tropoelastin-encoding synthetic mRNA.

Loss of elastin due to aging, disease, or injury can lead to impaired tissue function. In this study, tropoelastin (TE) synthesis is investigated and using different TE-encoding synthetic mRNA variants after codon optimization and nucleotide modification. Codon optimization shows a strong effect on protein synthesis without affecting cell viability , whereas nucleotide modifications strongly modulate translation and reduce cell toxicity.

Communicating with health providers and romantic partners: The impact of negative emotions on quality of life for individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Unlabelled: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, debilitating skin disease that impacts an estimated 1 to 4% of the population; women are twice as likely to be diagnosed as men. There is no cure for HS, and many patients face a lifetime of various healthcare appointments, medical interventions, and personal experiences living with the disease.

Objective: This study aimed to explore social, emotional, and medical experiences for individuals with HS, and to understand connections between those experiences and quality of life.

Improving hemocompatibility of artificial lungs by click conjugation of glycoengineered endothelial cells onto blood-contacting surfaces.

Artificial lungs, also known as oxygenators, allow adequate oxygenation of the blood in patients with severe respiratory failure and enable patient survival. However, the insufficient hemocompatibility of the current of artificial lungs hampers their long-term use. Therefore, in this study, a novel strategy was developed to efficiently endothelialize blood-contacting surfaces to improve their hemocompatibility.

Exploring planet geology through force-feedback telemanipulation from orbit.

Current space exploration roadmaps envision exploring the surface geology of celestial bodies with robots for both scientific research and in situ resource utilization. In such unstructured, poorly lit, complex, and remote environments, automation is not always possible, and some tasks, such as geological sampling, require direct teleoperation aided by force-feedback (FF). The operator would be on an orbiting spacecraft, and poor bandwidth, high latency, and packet loss from orbit to ground mean that safe, stable, and transparent interaction is a substantial technical challenge.

"It makes it more real": Examining ambiguous fetal meanings in abortion care.

The role of fetal development in abortion work is unresolved, mirroring a broader cultural ambivalence regarding the fetus. The collective, cultural notion of fetuses tends to lie on a dichotomy between "clump of cells" and "baby," with little public attention to the realities of fetal development during all stages of pregnancy. This tension is exacerbated by an absence of medically accurate images of aborted fetal tissue available to lay audiences.

The option to look: patient-centred pregnancy tissue viewing at independent abortion clinics in the United States.

Abortion providers' approaches to patient-centred pregnancy tissue viewing (PCV) - when a patient requests to see their products of conception - is understudied in abortion care. This mixed-method study aimed to identify: (1) if, when, and how PCV is facilitated at US independent abortion clinics; (2) how staff are trained to offer viewing; and (3) provider experiences facilitating PCV. We surveyed administrators from 22 independent abortion clinics affiliated with the Abortion Care Network about their PCV practices and then completed in-depth semi-structured interviews with 25 providers to better understand their experiences facilitating PCV.

Application of Piezo-Based Measuring System for Evaluation of Nucleic Acid-Based Drugs Influencing the Coagulation.

During open-heart surgery, the status of hemostasis has to be constantly monitored to quickly and reliably detect bleeding or coagulation disorders. In this study, a novel optimized piezo-based measuring system (PIEZ) for rheological monitoring of hemostasis was established. The applicability of the PIEZ for the evaluation of nucleic acid-based drugs influencing coagulation was analyzed.

Efficient reduction of synthetic mRNA induced immune activation by simultaneous delivery of B18R encoding mRNA.

The application of synthetic modified messenger RNA (mRNA) is a promising approach for the treatment of a variety of diseases and vaccination. In the past few years, different modifications of synthetic mRNA were applied to render the mRNA more stable and less immunogenic. However, the repeated application of synthetic mRNA still requires the suppression of immune activation to avoid cell death and to allow a sufficient production of exogenous proteins.

Blood-Contacting Biomaterials: Evaluation of the Hemocompatibility.

Hemocompatibility of blood-contacting biomaterials is one of the most important criteria for their successful applicability. Thus, extensive analyses according to ISO 10993-4 are required prior to clinical applications. In this review, we summarize essential aspects regarding the evaluation of the hemocompatibility of biomaterials and the required analyses for determining the blood compatibility.

De Novo Synthesis of Elastin by Exogenous Delivery of Synthetic Modified mRNA into Skin and Elastin-Deficient Cells.

Elastin is one of the most important and abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that provide elasticity and resilience to tissues and organs, including vascular walls, ligaments, skin, and lung. Besides hereditary diseases, such as Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), which results in reduced elastin synthesis, injuries, aging, or acquired diseases can lead to the degradation of existing elastin fibers. Thus, the de novo synthesis of elastin is required in several medical conditions to restore the elasticity of affected tissues.

Rapid Complexation of Aptamers by Their Specific Antidotes.

Nucleic acid ligands, aptamers, harbor the unique characteristics of small molecules and antibodies. The specificity and high affinity of aptamers enable their binding to different targets, such as small molecules, proteins, or cells. Chemical modifications of aptamers allow increased bioavailability.

Effect of duration of packed red blood cell storage on morbidity and mortality in dogs after transfusion: 3,095 cases (2001-2010).

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) stored for >14 days is associated with increased rates of sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction, and mortality in human patients.

Objective: To determine if duration of PRBC storage has an effect on morbidity and mortality in dogs after transfusion.

Animals: Dogs admitted to the Matthew J Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

In vitro test system for evaluation of immune activation potential of new single-stranded DNA-based therapeutics.

Aptamers are synthetic single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules with the ability to fold into complex three-dimensional structures. They can bind their targets with a high selectivity and affinity, thus they have an enormous potential as therapeutic agents. However, since aptamers are synthetic and especially since certain sequences can increasingly bind to the pattern recognition receptors of the immune cells when applied in vivo, they can induce an immune activation.

Nomogram for selecting thyroid nodules for ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy based on a quantification of risk of malignancy.

Background: Our aim through this study was to develop a statistical tool to quantify risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules based on clinical, biochemical, and ultrasound features, which could be used to select which nodules require ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Methods: Clinical records, biochemical profiles, pathology reports, and ultrasound images were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to rank variables in their ability to predict malignancy.

Evaluation of renal masses with contrast-enhanced ultrasound: initial experience.

Objective: Nearly 25% of solid renal tumors are indolent cancer or benign and can be managed conservatively in selected patients. This prospective study was performed to determine whether preoperative IV microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be used to differentiate indolent and benign renal tumors from more aggressive clear cell carcinoma.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty-four patients with renal tumors underwent preoperative gray-scale, color, power Doppler, and octafluoropropane microbubble IV contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Ultrasonographically detected small thyroid bed nodules identified after total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer seldom show clinically significant structural progression.

Background: High-resolution ultrasound (US) is the primary tool used to identify locoregional recurrences in differentiated thyroid cancer. Although small thyroid bed (TB) nodules are a commonly reported sonographic finding, their natural history, regardless of whether they are benign or malignant, has not been well characterized. This study was designed to determine the likelihood, magnitude, and rate of growth of small TB nodules identified on routine surveillance neck US after thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer as well as to identify ultrasonographic and clinical predictors of growth.

Development and characterization of a Chinese hamster ovary cell-specific oligonucleotide microarray.

The Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line is one of the most widely used mammalian cell lines for biopharmaceutical production. We have developed and characterized a gene expression microarray (WyeHamster2a) specific for CHO cells that has enabled the study of ~3,500 sequences. Analysis of multiple sets of replicate scans showed that data derived from the WyeHamster2a array is highly reproducible confirming it as a robust tool for profiling.

Implementation of evidence-based guidelines for thyroid nodule biopsy: a model for establishment of practice standards.

Objective: Multiple studies have defined criteria for the selection of thyroid nodules for biopsy. No set of criteria is sufficiently sensitive and specific. The aim of this study is to develop a method for assessing consistency of practice in an ultrasound group and to determine whether a 5-point malignancy rating scale can be used to select patients for biopsy.

Nomogram for predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules using clinical, biochemical, ultrasonographic, and cytologic features.

Background: Thyroid nodules often discovered incidentally and present a management problem particularly when investigations suggest atypical or suspicious cells. Prediction of the risk of malignancy within such a thyroid nodule is based on clinical, biochemical, ultrasonographic, and cytologic features. Our aim was to create a nomogram to predict accurately the chance of malignancy within a thyroid nodule.

Effect of light-curing units in shear bond strength of metallic brackets: an in vitro study.

Objectives: To determine the influence of the light curing units on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets.

Material And Methods: Seventy-two premolars were divided into six groups (n=12): Group I: brackets bonded with Transbond and polymerization with halogen light; Group II: Transbond and LED; Group III: Fuji Ortho and halogen light; Group IV: Fuji Ortho and LED; Group V: Fuji Ortho, without acid and halogen light; Group VI: Fuji Ortho, without acid and LED. The groups were tested to shear strength in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.

Polypoid lesions of the gallbladder: diagnosis and followup.

Background: Polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (PLG) are commonly seen on ultrasonography (US), but optimal management of this problem is ill-defined. The aims of this study were to assess the natural history and the histologic characteristics of US-detected PLG.

Study Design: Patients with PLG detected by abdominal US were identified retrospectively.

Imaging of late complications from mantle field radiation in lymphoma patients.

Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers because of its sensitivity to both radiation and several chemotherapy agents. Radical radiotherapy alone provided curative therapy for patients who had Hodgkin lymphoma as early as six decades ago. Yet, the radiation field included normal organs, such as breast tissue, thyroid, and coronary arteries, which were at risk for long-term complications.

Medication abortion employing routine sequential measurements of serum hCG and sonography only when indicated.

Objectives: This study was designed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of providing medication abortion in a primary care site without routine use of pre- and postprocedure transvaginal sonography.

Methods: We performed a retrospective record review of 172 consecutive patients choosing medication abortion at our clinic. Our protocol used sonography only as needed for specific indications.

Predicting the histology of renal masses using preoperative Doppler ultrasonography.

Purpose: Traditional imaging techniques cannot differentiate among benign, indolent and malignant renal neoplasms. Since conventional clear cell carcinomas are highly vascular, we used preoperative color and/or power Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate the association between vascular flow in a renal mass and surgical pathology.

Materials And Methods: Nephrectomies performed at our institution between January 2001 and December 2004 were retrospectively evaluated.

Imaging of uterine cancer.

Although surgical staging is the primary method of assessing prognostic factors in endometrial cancer, cross-sectional imaging may help in treatment planning by providing information about factors such as the depth of myometrial invasion, cervical involvement, and nodal status. The pretreatment evaluation of cervical cancer traditionally has consisted of clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, and conventional radiographic studies, but more advanced imaging methods allow additional insights into the morphologic and metabolic features of cervical cancer. This article reviews the applications of modern imaging modalities in the assessment of endometrial cancer and cervical cancer and their impact on treatment planning and posttreatment follow-up.