Enhanced Accumulation and Penetration of Magnetic Nanoclusters in Tumors Using an 8-Magnet Halbach Array Leads to Improved Cancer Treatment.

Nanoparticles have gained attention as drug delivery vehicles for cancer treatment, but often struggle with poor tumor accumulation and penetration. Single external magnets can enhance magnetic nanoparticle delivery but are limited to superficial tumors due to the rapid decline in the magnetic field strength with distance. We previously showed that a 2-magnet device could extend targeting to greater tissue depths.

Resolution of selective fetal growth restriction after laser surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome can be predicted by predisease growth discordance.

Objective: To determine if the resolution of fetal growth discordance after laser surgery in pregnancies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and coexisting selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) can be predicted by estimated fetal weight (EFW) discordance recorded prior to the development of TTTS (pre-TTTS).

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on monochorionic twins with concurrent TTTS and sFGR that underwent laser surgery and had available growth ultrasound records from a pre-TTTS ultrasound evaluation. Maternal demographics, pregnancy characteristics and birth outcomes were compared between three outcome groups: double twin survival with resolved sFGR determined by birth weight discordance (BWD) < 20%; double twin survival with ongoing sFGR determined by BWD ≥ 20%; and single or double fetal demise after laser surgery.

Rapid nongenomic estrogen signaling controls alcohol drinking behavior in mice.

Ovarian-derived estrogen can signal non-canonically at membrane-associated receptors in the brain to rapidly regulate neuronal function. Early alcohol drinking confers greater risk for alcohol use disorder in women than men, and binge alcohol drinking is correlated with high estrogen levels, but a causal role for estrogen in driving alcohol drinking has not been established. We found that female mice displayed greater binge alcohol drinking and reduced avoidance when estrogen was high during the estrous cycle than when it was low.

Elevated neurofilament light chain associated with cobalt/chromium metal neurotoxicity in a patient with a failed hip implant.

Background: It is known that the heavy metals cobalt and chromium are associated with neurotoxicity. Chromium (Cr) and Cobalt (Co) are both components of metal-on-metal (MoM) implants which can be degraded/fragmented and released into the bloodstream. Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) is a neuron-specific protein that increases in serum following axonal damage.

Impacts of birth season and production system on gastrointestinal parasitism and growth in Katahdin lambs.

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection adversely affects the performance and well-being of forage-based sheep throughout the world. The study objectives were to estimate longitudinal differences between birth seasons and production systems for lamb postweaning growth and indicators of GIN infection. Data were collected on Katahdin lambs within a single flock from 2006 to 2022.