Transmission electron microscopy on a case of infection from an immune-competent case confirms and extends prior detailed descriptions of its notably small endogenous stage.

Although infections with are prevalent worldwide, many aspects of this parasite's life cycle remain unknown. Humans are the only known hosts, existing information on its endogenous development has been derived from histological examination of only a few biopsy specimens. In histological sections, its stages are less than 10 m, making definitive identification difficult.

Highly Efficient SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Human Cardiomyocytes: Spike Protein-Mediated Cell Fusion and Its Inhibition.

Severe cardiovascular complications can occur in coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Cardiac damage is attributed mostly to the aberrant host response to acute respiratory infection. However, direct infection of cardiac tissue by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also occurs.

Diagnostic laboratory standardization and validation of platelet transmission electron microscopy.

Platelet transmission electron microscopy (PTEM) is considered the gold standard test for assessing distinct ultrastructural abnormalities in inherited platelet disorders (IPDs). Nevertheless, PTEM remains mainly a research tool due to the lack of standardized procedures, a validated dense granule (DG) count reference range, and standardized image interpretation criteria. The aim of this study was to standardize and validate PTEM as a clinical laboratory test.

Comprehensive Platelet Phenotypic Laboratory Testing and Bleeding History Scoring for Diagnosis of Suspected Hereditary Platelet Disorders: A Single-Institution Experience.

Objectives: Patients with hereditary/congenital platelet disorders (HPDs) have a broad range of clinical manifestations and laboratory phenotypes. We assessed the performance characteristics of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis bleeding assessment tool (ISTH-BAT) and clinically validated platelet laboratory tests for diagnosis of HPDs.

Methods: The records of 61 patients with suspected HPDs were reviewed and ISTH-BAT scores calculated.

Calcifying nanoparticles promote mineralization in vascular smooth muscle cells: implications for atherosclerosis.

Background: Nano-sized complexes of calcium phosphate mineral and proteins (calcifying nanoparticles [CNPs]) serve as mineral chaperones. Thus, CNPs may be both a result and cause of soft tissue calcification processes. This study determined if CNPs could augment calcification of arterial vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro.

Incorporation of phosphate group modulates bone cell attachment and differentiation on oligo(polyethylene glycol) fumarate hydrogel.

In this work, we have investigated the development of a synthetic hydrogel that contains a negatively charged phosphate group for use as a substrate for bone cell attachment and differentiation in culture. The photoreactive, phosphate-containing molecule, bis(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)phosphate (BP), was incorporated into oligo(polyethylene glycol) fumarate hydrogel and the mechanical, rheological and thermal properties of the resulting hydrogels were characterized. Our results showed changes in hydrogel compression and storage moduli with incorporation of BP.

Proteomic evaluation of biological nanoparticles isolated from human kidney stones and calcified arteries.

Calcifying biological nanoparticles (NPs) develop under cell culture conditions from homogenates of diverse tissue samples displaying extraosseous mineralization, including kidney stones and calcified aneurysms. Probes to definitively identify NPs in biological systems are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to begin to establish a proteomic biosignature of NPs in order to facilitate more definitive investigation of their contribution to disease.

In situ fluorescent protein imaging with metal film-enhanced total internal reflection microscopy.

Fluorescence detection of single molecules provides a means to investigate protein dynamics minus ambiguities introduced by ensemble averages of unsynchronized protein movement or of protein movement mimicking a local symmetry. For proteins in a biological assembly, taking advantage of the single molecule approach could require single protein isolation from within a high protein concentration milieu. Myosin cross-bridges in a muscle fiber are proteins attaining concentrations of approximately 120 muM, implying single myosin detection volume for this biological assembly is approximately 1 attoL (10(-18) L) provided that just 2% of the cross-bridges are fluorescently labeled.

Sebastian platelet syndrome: a hereditary macrothrombocytopenia.

Sebastian platelet syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by macrothrombocytopenia with granulocyte inclusions similar to those in patients with Fechtner platelet syndrome but without evidence of hereditary nephritis and sensorineural hearing loss that characterizes the latter. Although by light microscopy the granulocyte inclusions in these disorders appear morphologically similar to those found in May-Hegglin anomaly, another autosomal dominant macrothrombocytopenia, by electron microscopy the inclusions are distinct. Studies of platelet function usually suggest normal or near-normal platelet function, although mild bleeding symptoms can be associated with each of these disorders.