MRI-based ventilation and perfusion imaging to predict radiation-induced pneumonitis in lung tumor patients at a 0.35T MR-Linac.

Background And Purpose: Radiation-induced pneumonitis (RP), diagnosed 6-12 weeks after treatment, is a complication of lung tumor radiotherapy. So far, clinical and dosimetric parameters have not been reliable in predicting RP. We propose using non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based functional parameters acquired over the treatment course for patient stratification for improved follow-up.

Risk assessment of the mechanical spread of bacterial pathogens due to Lasius neglectus ants infesting a tertiary hospital.

Introduction: Mechanical spread of microbial pathogens has been investigated in cockroaches, but less well in ants. Considerably less information is available for ants. An investigation into ant-borne mechanical pathogen transmission was triggered by an infestation of a tertiary care hospital with Lasius neglectus ants.

The role of online MR-guided multi-fraction stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in lung tumours.

Background: The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the dosimetry benefits, changes in pulmonary function, and clinical outcome of online adaptive MR-guided SBRT.

Methods: From 11/2020-07/2022, 45 consecutive patients with 59 lesions underwent multi-fraction SBRT (3-8 fractions) at our institution. Patients were eligible if they had biopsy-proven NSCLC or lung cancer/metastases diagnosed via clinical imaging.

Unit-Based Nurses' Development of a Couplet Care Acuity Scoring Tool.

Objective: To evaluate content validity (CV) and interrater reliability (IRR) of an acuity scoring tool developed for the couplet care/postpartum/nursery patient population and to determine if there was agreement between supervisor or director scoring and staff scoring.

Design: A scoring tool to assess the acuity of the couplet care/postpartum/nursery patients was developed.

Setting: Two hospitals: one Level 2 hospital, one Level 3 hospital.

Multi-chamber cardioids unravel human heart development and cardiac defects.

The number one cause of human fetal death are defects in heart development. Because the human embryonic heart is inaccessible and the impacts of mutations, drugs, and environmental factors on the specialized functions of different heart compartments are not captured by in vitro models, determining the underlying causes is difficult. Here, we established a human cardioid platform that recapitulates the development of all major embryonic heart compartments, including right and left ventricles, atria, outflow tract, and atrioventricular canal.

Assay for evaluation of proarrhythmic effects of herbal products: Case study with 12 preparations.

Guidelines for preclinical drug development reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia-related side effects. Besides ample evidence for the presence of arrhythmogenic substances in plants, there is no consensus on a research strategy for the evaluation of proarrhythmic effects of herbal products. Here, we propose a cardiac safety assay for the detection of proarrhythmic effects of plant extracts based on the experimental approaches described in the Comprehensive Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA).

A neolignan from Connarus tuberosus as an allosteric GABA receptor modulator at the neurosteroid binding site.

In a screening of a small library of extracts from plants of the Amazonian and Cerrado biomes, a hexane extract of Connarus tuberosus roots was found to significantly potentiate the GABA induced fluorescence in a fluorescence (FLIPR) assay in CHO cells stably expressing the αβγ subtype of human GABA receptors. With the aid of HPLC-based activity profiling the activity was linked to the neolignan connarin. In CHO cells the activity of connarin was not abolished by increasing concentrations of flumazenil, while the effect of diazepam was increased by increasing concentrations of connarin.

Prophylactic Administration of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Does Not Prevent Arrested Lung Development in Extremely Premature-Born Non-Human Primates.

Premature birth is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality and often followed by an arrest of postnatal lung development called bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Therapies using exogenous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have proven highly efficacious in term-born rodent models of this disease, but effects of MSC in actual premature-born lungs are largely unknown. Here, we investigated thirteen non-human primates (baboons; Papio spp.

: A Versatile Workflow for the Generation of Receptor-based Pharmacophore Models for Virtual Screening.

Pharmacophore models are widely used as efficient virtual screening (VS) filters for the target-directed enrichment of large compound libraries. However, the generation of pharmacophore models that have the power to discriminate between active and inactive molecules traditionally requires structural information about ligand-target complexes or at the very least knowledge of one active ligand. The fact that the discovery of the first known active ligand of a newly investigated target represents a major hurdle at the beginning of every drug discovery project underscores the need for methods that are able to derive high-quality pharmacophore models even without the prior knowledge of any active ligand structures.

Acuity Tools for the Antepartum and Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Purpose: To evaluate content validity and interrater reliability for acuity tools developed for the antepartum and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patient population.

Study Design And Methods: Antepartum and NICU acuity tools were developed to better evaluate nurse staffing assignment equity and patient needs. Following several iterations with staff nurses and nurse leaders, content validity of the acuity tools was established via a panel of experts in each substantive area using the Content Validity Index.

β subunits of GABA receptors form proton-gated chloride channels: Insights into the molecular basis.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABARs) are ligand gated channels mediating inhibition in the central nervous system. Here, we identify a so far undescribed function of β-subunit homomers as proton-gated anion channels. Mutation of a single H267A in β3 subunits completely abolishes channel activation by protons.

Clerodane Diterpenes from as Allosteric GABA Receptor Modulators.

An EtOAc extract of leaves led to an allosteric potentiation of the GABA signal in a fluorometric imaging plate reader (FLIPR) assay on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing GABA receptors with an αβγ subunit composition. The activity was tracked by HPLC-based activity profiling, and four known (, , , and ) and five new clerodane-type diterpenoids (, -, and ) were isolated. Compounds - were obtained from the active time window.

PEGylation increases antitumoral activity of arginine deiminase of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Arginine auxotrophy is a metabolic defect that renders tumor cells vulnerable towards arginine-depleting substances, such as arginine deiminase (ADI) from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpyADI). Previously, we confirmed SpyADI susceptibility on patient-derived glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) models in vitro and in vivo. For application in patients, serum half-life of the enzyme has to be increased and immunogenicity needs to be reduced.

sp. nov., derived from a human genito-urinary lesion.

A strain of obligately anaerobically growing Gram-positive cocci was isolated from a human genito-urinary sample and characterized by a polyphasic approach. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences of this strain S3374 indicated that it belonged to the genus . Overall genome relatedness index calculations confirmed it to be phylogenetically distinct from (NCTC 11808) as its most closely related species with standing in nomenclature, with average nucleotide identity and genome-to-genome distance values of 85.

A Telemedicine-Guided Self-Collection Approach for PCR-Based SARS-CoV-2 Testing: Comparative Study.

Background: Large-scale, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based SARS-CoV-2 testing is expensive, resource intensive, and time consuming. A self-collection approach is a probable alternative; however, its feasibility, cost, and ability to prevent infections need to be evaluated.

Objective: This study aims to compare an innovative self-collection approach with a regular SARS-CoV-2 testing strategy in a large European industrial manufacturing site.

AWHONN Members' Recommendations on What to Include in Updated Standards for Professional Registered Nurse Staffing for Perinatal Units.

Objective: To solicit advice from members of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) on what to include in an update of nurse staffing standards.

Design: Online, single-question survey with thematic analysis of responses.

Setting: Electronic survey link sent via e-mail.

sp. nov., isolated from a human throat swab, and emendation of the genus to include saccharolytic species.

A novel species within the genus is described, based on the phenotypical, biochemical and genetic characterization of a strain of a facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium. Strain S3360 was isolated from the throat swab of a patient sampled during routine care at a hospital. Phylogenetic analyses (full-length 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences) placed the strain in the genus , separate from all recognized species but with the closest relationship to (NML 02-A-017).

Self-sampling versus health care professional-guided swab collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic reliability and practicability of self-collected oropharyngeal swab samples for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection as self-sampling could enable broader testing availability and reduce both personal protective equipment and potential exposure.

Methods: Hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected patients were asked to collect two oropharyngeal swabs (SC-OPS1/2), and an additional oropharyngeal swab was collected by a health care professional (HCP-OPS). SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing for samples from 58 participants was performed, with a 48-h delay in half of the self-collected samples (SC-OPS2).

Biological Profiling of Semisynthetic C19-Functionalized Ferruginol and Sugiol Analogues.

The abietane-type diterpenoids are significant bioactive compounds exhibiting a varied range of pharmacological properties. In this study, the first synthesis and biological investigation of the new abietane-diterpenoid (+)-4-epi-liquiditerpenoid acid (8a) together with several of its analogs are reported. The compounds were generated from the readily available methyl callitrisate (7), which was obtained from callitrisic acid present in Moroccan Sandarac resin.

Radiotherapy enhances uptake and efficacy of Y-cetuximab: A preclinical trial.

Background And Purpose: Systemic molecular radiotherapy utilizes internal irradiation by radionuclide-labeled tumor-targeting agents with the potential to destroy (micro-)metastases. However, doses that are applicable in solid tumors do not reach the levels nessecary for tumor control. Thus, the combination of molecular and external radiotherapy is a promising treatment strategy, as enhanced tumor doses can be delivered with and without minor overlapping toxicities.

Abnormal thyroid function is common in takotsubo syndrome and depends on two distinct mechanisms: results of a multicentre observational study.

Background: Several reports have described Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) secondary to thyrotoxicosis. A complex interaction of central and peripheral catecholamines with thyroid homeostasis has been suggested. In this study, we analysed sequential thyroid hormone profiles during the acute phase of TTS.

Generation of myogenic progenitor cell-derived smooth muscle cells for sphincter regeneration.

Background: Degeneration of smooth muscles in sphincters can cause debilitating diseases such as fecal incontinence. Skeletal muscle-derived cells have been effectively used in clinics for the regeneration of the skeletal muscle sphincters, such as the external anal or urinary sphincter. However, little is known about the in vitro smooth muscle differentiation potential and in vivo regenerative potential of skeletal muscle-derived cells.