DNA aptamers that modulate biological activity of model neurons.

There is an urgent need for agents that promote health and regeneration of cells and tissues, specifically to treat diseases of the aging nervous system. Age-associated nervous system degeneration and various diseases are driven by many different biochemical stresses, often making it difficult to target any one disease cause. Our laboratory has previously identified DNA aptamers with apparent regenerative properties in murine models of multiple sclerosis by selecting aptamers that bind oligodendrocyte membrane preparations.

Reasons for difficulties in isolating the causative organism during food-borne outbreak investigations using STEC as a model pathogen: a systematic review, 2000 to 2019.

IntroductionFood-borne disease outbreak investigations use epidemiological, microbiological and food chain evidence to identify the implicated food and inform risk management actions.AimsWe used Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) as a model pathogen to investigate the success of outbreak strain isolation from food or environmental samples during outbreak investigations, and examined the factors influencing the chance of isolation.MethodsWe searched for reports of food-borne STEC outbreak investigations worldwide in peer-reviewed and grey literature in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Scalp condition improvement with botanical extracts possessing chemical and physical antioxidant activity.

Objective: Oxidative stress is implicated in scalp and hair health manifesting in several ways, including skin barrier, hair retention, healthy hair appearance and scalp sensation. We previously linked markers of oxidative damage to dandruff and skin barrier impairment and have linked key anti-dandruff technologies to the resolution of these issues. Here we expand the therapeutic space demonstrating many botanical extracts offer protective benefits against ROS stress via both chemical and biological antioxidant mechanisms.

A Multimodal Educational Boot Camp for Training Fellows in Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).

Introduction: Pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) management presents unique challenges in acute care settings, requiring specialized expertise to manage critically ill children. Medical and surgical fellows often manage these patients, but prior residency training rarely provides sufficient ECMO exposure. We developed and evaluated a multimodal pediatric ECMO boot camp for new fellows.