Synovial fluid alpha-defensins in Lyme arthritis-a useful marker.

Lyme arthritis, one of the possible late manifestations of Lyme borreliosis, predominantly affects the supporting joints and in adults most often occurs in the form of monoarthritis of the knee. Early diagnosis is based on clinical findings and serology. PCR detection of Borrelia in synovial fluid has become an integral part of the laboratory testing algorithm.

Multiple cis-regulatory elements control prox1a expression in distinct lymphatic vascular beds.

During embryonic development, lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) precursors are distinguished from blood endothelial cells by the expression of Prospero-related homeobox 1 (Prox1), which is essential for lymphatic vasculature formation in mouse and zebrafish. Prox1 expression initiation precedes LEC sprouting and migration, serving as the marker of specified LECs. Despite its crucial role in lymphatic development, Prox1 upstream regulation in LECs remains to be uncovered.

The Compartmentalization of Amyloid-β in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Brain Biopsies.

Background: Amyloid-β (Aβ) is one of the hallmark lesions of Alzheimer's disease (AD). During the disease process, Aβ undergoes biochemical changes, producing toxic Aβ variants, proposed to be detected within the neurons. Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) causes cognitive impairment, gait, and urinary symptoms in elderly, that can be reversed by a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.

Microanatomy of the human tunnel of Corti structures and cochlear partition-tonotopic variations and transcellular signaling.

Auditory sensitivity and frequency resolution depend on the optimal transfer of sound-induced vibrations from the basilar membrane (BM) to the inner hair cells (IHCs), the principal auditory receptors. There remains a paucity of information on how this is accomplished along the frequency range in the human cochlea. Most of the current knowledge is derived either from animal experiments or human tissue processed after death, offering limited structural preservation and optical resolution.

Multivalent design of the monoclonal SynO2 antibody improves binding strength to soluble α-Synuclein aggregates.

Soluble aggregates are reported to be the most neurotoxic species of α-Synuclein (αSyn) in Parkinson's disease (PD) and hence are a promising target for diagnosis and treatment of PD. However, the predominantly intracellular location of αSyn limits its accessibility, especially for antibody-based molecules and prompts the need for exceptionally strong soluble αSyn aggregate binders to enhance their sensitivity and efficacy for targeting the extracellular αSyn pool. In this study, we have created the multivalent antibodies TetraSynO2 and HexaSynO2, derived from the αSyn oligomer-specific antibody SynO2, to increase avidity binding to soluble αSyn aggregate species through more binding sites in close proximity.

mRNA aggregates harness danger response for potent cancer immunotherapy.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) has emerged as a remarkable tool for COVID-19 prevention but its use for induction of therapeutic cancer immunotherapy remains limited by poor antigenicity and a regulatory tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we develop a facile approach for substantially enhancing immunogenicity of tumor-derived mRNA in lipid-particle (LP) delivery systems. By using mRNA as a molecular bridge with ultrapure liposomes and foregoing helper lipids, we promote the formation of 'onion-like' multi-lamellar RNA-LP aggregates (LPA).

The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile ().

An endocochlear potential (EP) exists in the mammalian cochlea generated by the stria vascularis and an associated fibrocyte network. It plays an essential role for sensory cell function and hearing sensitivity. In non-mammalian ectothermic animals the endocochlear potential is low and its origin somewhat unclear.

Duration of Prophylactic Levetiracetam After Surgery for Brain Tumor: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Background: Levetiracetam is commonly used as a prophylactic antiseizure medication in patients undergoing surgical resection of brain tumors.

Objective: To quantitate side effects experienced in patients treated with 1 week vs 6 weeks of prophylactic levetiracetam using validated measures for neurotoxicity and depression.

Methods: Patients undergoing surgical resection of a supratentorial tumor with no seizure history were randomized within 48 hours of surgery to receive prophylactic levetiracetam for the duration of either 1 or 6 weeks.

Regeneration in the Auditory Organ in Cuban and African Dwarf Crocodiles ( and ) Can We Learn From the Crocodile How to Restore Our Hearing?

In several non-mammalian species, auditory receptors undergo cell renewal after damage. This has raised hope of finding new options to treat human sensorineural deafness. Uncertainty remains as to the triggering mechanisms and whether hair cells are regenerated even under normal conditions.

The link between gliomas infiltration and white matter architecture investigated with electron microscopy and diffusion tensor imaging.

Diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGG) display different preferential locations in eloquent and secondary associative brain areas. The reason for this tendency is still unknown. We hypothesized that the intrinsic architecture and water diffusion properties of the white matter bundles in these regions may facilitate gliomas infiltration.

Echovirus 6 Infects Human Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreatic Cells and Induces Pro-Inflammatory Innate Immune Response.

Human enteroviruses (HEV), especially coxsackievirus serotype B (CVB) and echovirus (E), have been associated with diseases of both the exocrine and endocrine pancreas, but so far evidence on HEV infection in human pancreas has been reported only in islets and ductal cells. This study aimed to investigate the capability of echovirus strains to infect human exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cells. Infection of explanted human islets and exocrine cells with seven field strains of E6 caused cytopathic effect, virus titer increase and production of HEV protein VP1 in both cell types.

Coxsackie-adenovirus receptor expression is enhanced in pancreas from patients with type 1 diabetes.

Objectives: One of the theories connecting enterovirus (EV) infection of human islets with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the development of a fertile field in the islets. This implies induction of appropriate proteins for the viral replication such as the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR). The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent CAR is expressed in human islets of Langerhans, and what conditions that would change the expression.

Enterovirus infection of human islets of Langerhans affects β-cell function resulting in disintegrated islets, decreased glucose stimulated insulin secretion and loss of Golgi structure.

Aims/hypothesis: In type 1 diabetes (T1D), most insulin-producing β cells are destroyed, but the trigger is unknown. One of the possible triggers is a virus infection and the aim of this study was to test if enterovirus infection affects glucose stimulated insulin secretion and the effect of virus replication on cellular macromolecules and organelles involved in insulin secretion.

Methods: Isolated human islets were infected with different strains of coxsackievirus B (CVB) virus and the glucose-stimulated insulin release (GSIS) was measured in a dynamic perifusion system.

Simultaneous liver-pancreas transplantation for cystic fibrosis-related liver disease: a multicenter experience.

Background: Diabetes is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). While liver transplantation is well established for CF-related liver disease (CFLD), the role of simultaneous liver-pancreas transplantation is less understood.

Methods: We polled 81 pediatric transplantation centers to identify and characterize subjects who had undergone simultaneous liver-pancreas transplantation and obtain opinions about this procedure in CFLD.

Tropism Analysis of Two Coxsackie B5 Strains Reveals Virus Growth in Human Primary Pancreatic Islets but not in Exocrine Cell Clusters In Vitro.

Human Enteroviruses (HEVs) have been implicated in human pancreatic diseases such as pancreatitis and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Human studies are sparse or inconclusive and our aim was to investigate the tropism of two strains of Coxsackie B virus 5 (CBV-5) in vitro to primary human pancreatic cells. Virus replication was measured with TCID50 titrations of aliquots of the culture medium at different time points post inoculation.

Sexual Health and Overall Wellness (SHOW) survey in men and women in selected European and Middle Eastern countries.

Objective: To investigate whether better sexual health is associated with improvements in overall health and wellness, a more loving and intimate relationship, and a more positive outlook on life.

Methods: The Sexual Health and Overall Wellness survey used self-administered questionnaires to collect data from men and women aged 25-74 years who had had sexual intercourse at least once within the previous 12 months.

Results: Across nine countries, 3780 self-administered questionnaires were completed: 1893 from men (mean age, 44.

Recruitment and retention strategies in a clinical trial for children with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Successful strategies for recruitment and retention (R & R) in pediatric trials are needed. The purpose of our study was to analyze the effectiveness of R&R in a trial for children with hepatitis C. Recruitment strategies were (1) Initial (months 0-12) and (2) extra effort (months 13-18).

A survey of disease severity, quality of life, and treatment patterns of biologically naive patients with psoriasis in central and eastern Europe.

Because data on the epidemiology of psoriasis in central and eastern Europe are scarce, a survey was carried out among dermatologists in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The objective of the survey was to determine disease severity, treatment patterns, proportions of dermatologists considering their patients' current treatments unsatisfactory, and proportions of physicians intending to prescribe biologicals to their patients. Data collection was based on physician- and patient-completed questionnaires.

Affibody molecules for epidermal growth factor receptor targeting in vivo: aspects of dimerization and labeling chemistry.

Unlabelled: Noninvasive detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in malignant tumors by radionuclide molecular imaging may provide diagnostic information influencing patient management. The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel EGFR-targeting protein, the ZEGFR:1907 Affibody molecule, for radionuclide imaging of EGFR expression, to determine a suitable tracer format (dimer or monomer) and optimal label.

Methods: An EGFR-specific Affibody molecule, ZEGFR:1907, and its dimeric form, (ZEGFR:1907)2, were labeled with 111In using benzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and with 125I using p-iodobenzoate.