Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Although Tofacitinib, which inhibits the JAK1 and JAK3 signalling pathway, is approved to treat patients with UC, its specific mechanism of action remain elusive. Given the central role that conventional dendritic cells (cDC) elicit in gut homeostasis, we hypothesised that Tofacitinib acts modulating cDC function in UC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe immune system plays a crucial role in shaping the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment, characterized by its complexity and dynamic interactions. Understanding the tumor-immune crosstalk is essential for advancing cancer research and therapeutic development. Here, a novel multicompartment, barrier-free microfluidic device is presented that overcomes the limitations of existing models by enabling direct tumor-immune interactions without physical barriers, preserving natural immune cell infiltration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlkaline exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) offer a promising alternative to the traditional fossil fuel due to their ability to use inexpensive platinum group metal (PGM)-free catalysts, which could potentially replace Platinum-based catalysts. Iron coordinated in nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe-N-C) single atom electrocatalysts offer the best Pt-free ORR activities. However, most research focuses on material development in alkaline conditions, with limited attention on catalyst layer fabrication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDNA nanotechnology is a powerful synthetic approach to crafting diverse nanostructures through self-assembly. Chemical decoration of such nanostructures is often required to tailor their properties for specific applications. In this Letter, we introduce a pioneering method to direct the assembly and enable the functionalization of DNA nanostructures using an azide-bearing functional polyamine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: Primary objectives: to compare the rates of sustained clinical remission at 12 months in patients treated with antitumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) and immunomodulators who withdraw anti-TNF treatment versus those who maintain it.
Secondary Objectives: to evaluate the effect of anti-TNF withdrawal on relapse-free time, endoscopic and radiological activity, safety, quality of life and work productivity; and to identify predictive factors for relapse.
Design: Prospective, quadruple-blind, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
February 2025
Background: EsoCap is a thin mucoadhesive film designed to target the oesophageal mucosa. The device loaded with mometasone furoate (ESO-101) is under investigation for the treatment of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE).
Aims: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ESO-101 in patients with active EoE.
United European Gastroenterol J
December 2024
Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) predominantly affects males across all ages; however, little is known about sex differences for other aspects of EoE.
Objective: To investigate associations between sex and clinical presentation, endoscopic features, treatment choice and response in EoE patients in real-world practice.
Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the multicenter EoE CONNECT registry.
Background: Intraepithelial lymphocytes are the first line of defence of the human intestinal immune system. Besides, their composition is altered on patients with coeliac disease (CD), so they are considered as biomarkers with utility on their diagnose and/or monitoring. Our aim is to address their variability through the human gastrointestinal tract in health and characterized them in further depth in the coeliac duodenum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAtomic Fe in N-doped C (Fe-N-C) catalysts provide the most promising non-precious metal O reduction activity at the cathodes of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. However, one of the biggest remaining challenges to address towards their implementation in fuel cells is their limited durability. Fe demetallation has been suggested as the primary initial degradation mechanism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with antiTNF develop drug-induced psoriasis (antiTNF-IP). Several therapeutic strategies are possible.
Aims: to assess the management of antiTNF-IP in IBD, and its impact in both diseases.
Eur J Pediatr
August 2024
This study compared short-term effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors (PPI), swallowed topical corticosteroids (STC), and dietary therapies in reversing clinical and histological features in pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitits (EoE). Determinants for treatment choice and PPI therapy effectiveness were also assessed. A cross-sectional study analysis of patients under 18 years old recruited onto the multicenter EoE CONNECT registry was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: The impact of patient sex on the presentation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been poorly evaluated. Our aims were to assess potential disparities in IBD phenotype and progression between sexes.
Methods: We performed an observational multicenter study that included patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis from the Spanish Estudio Nacional en Enfermedad Inflamatoria intestinal sobre Determinantes genéticos y Ambientales registry.
Biomaterials play an important role in the development of advancing three dimensional (3D) in vitro skin models, providing valuable insights for drug testing and tissue-specific modeling. Commercial materials, such as collagen, fibrin or alginate, have been widely used in skin modeling. However, they do not adequately represent the molecular complexity of skin components.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderwater organisms exhibit sophisticated propulsion mechanisms, enabling them to navigate fluid environments with exceptional dexterity. Recently, substantial efforts have focused on integrating these movements into soft robots using smart shape-changing materials, particularly by using light for their propulsion and control. Nonetheless, challenges persist, including slow response times and the need of powerful light beams to actuate the robot.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomedicines
February 2024
Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the presence of conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF) with the level and progression of myopia and the impact of reduced sunlight exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic confinement (PC).
Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out using three cohorts, children (9-17 years old), young adults (18-25 years old), and adults (>40 years old) with myopia (≤0.75D) and at least three annual eye examinations (before and after PC).
DNA nanotechnology leverages Watson-Crick-Franklin base-pairing interactions to build complex DNA-based nanostructures (DNS). Due to DNA specific self-assembly properties, DNS can be designed with a total control of their architecture, which has been demonstrated to have an impact on the overall DNS features. Indeed, structural properties such as the shape, size and flexibility of DNS can influence their biostability as well as their ability to internalise into cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnited European Gastroenterol J
June 2024
The desire to continually reduce the lower limits of semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) fabrication methods continues to inspire interest in unimolecular electronics as a platform technology for the realization of future (opto)electronic devices. However, despite successes in developing methods for the construction and measurement of single-molecule and large-area molecular junctions, exercising control over the precise junction geometry remains a significant challenge. Here, host-guest complexes of the wire-like viologen derivative 1,1'-bis(4-(methylthio)-phenyl)-[4,4'-bipyridine]-1,1'-diium chloride ([1][Cl]) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) have been self-assembled in a regular pattern over a gold substrate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnited European Gastroenterol J
February 2024
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells require reduced construction costs to improve commercial viability, which can be fueled by elimination of platinum as the O reduction electrocatalyst. The past 10 years has seen significant developments in synthesis, characterisation, and electrocatalytic performance of the most promising alternative electrocatalyst; single metal atoms coordinated to nitrogen-doped carbon (M-N-C). In this Perspective we recap some of the important achievements of M-N-Cs in the last decade, as well as discussing current knowledge gaps and future research directions for the community.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarbon nitride materials (CN) have become one of the most studied photocatalysts within the last 15 years. While CN absorbs visible light, its low porosity and fast electron-hole recombination hinder its photoelectric performance and have motivated the research in the modification of its physical and chemical properties (such as energy band structure, porosity, or chemical composition) by different means. In this Concept we review the utilization of supramolecular crystals as CN precursors to tailor its properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Several methods are available to diagnose infection. Our objective was to evaluate the tests used for both the initial diagnosis and the confirmation of eradication after treatment in Europe.
Methods: The European Registry on the management of infection is an international, multicentre, prospective, non-interventional registry aiming to evaluate the management of -infected patients in Europe.