Development of a novel patient-reported outcome measure for disseminated coccidioidomycosis (valley fever).

Background: Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is a dimorphic fungal infection endemic to the southwest United States, Mexico, Central and South America, which can lead to chronic debilitating illness and death.

Objectives: This qualitative study was conducted to develop a bespoke patient-reported outcome measure for patients with chronic disseminated coccidioidomycosis to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impacts.

Patients And Methods: Online, first-person narratives of patient experiences of disseminated coccidioidomycosis were used to create a patient-centred conceptual model of symptoms and impacts of the condition.

Backpack-carrying macrophage immunotherapy for periodontitis.

Cell immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic modality to combat unmet medical needs. Macrophages offer a prominent cell therapy modality since their phenotypic plasticity allows them to perform a variety of roles including defending against pathogens, inducing/suppressing adaptive immunity, and aiding in wound healing. At the same time, this plasticity is a major hurdle in implementation of macrophage therapy.

Tailoring metabolic activity assays for tumour-engineered 3D models.

Monitoring cell behaviour in hydrogel-based 3D models is critical for assessing their growth and response to cytotoxic treatment. Resazurin-based PrestoBlue and AlamarBlue reagents are frequently used metabolic activity assays when determining cell responses. However, both assays are largely applied to cell monolayer cultures but yet to have a defined protocol for use in hydrogel-based 3D models.

Hydrogels in the clinic: An update.

Hydrogels have been used in the clinic since the late 1980s with broad applications in drug delivery, cosmetics, tissue regeneration, among many other areas. The past three decades have witnessed rapid advances in the fields of polymer chemistry, crosslinking approaches, and hydrogel fabrication methods, which have collectively brought many new hydrogel products, either injectable or non-injectable, to clinical studies. In an article published in 2020 entitled "Hydrogels in the clinic", we reviewed the clinical landscape and translational challenges of injectable hydrogels.