Characterization and Safety Evaluation of Autoclaved Gut Commensal RV-01.

Gut commensals play important roles in maintaining the homeostasis of human health. Previous studies indicated that the abundance of in animal hosts was increased by the administration of prebiotics such as polysaccharides purified from iconic oriental medicinal fungi. Subsequently, was found to exert beneficial effects on the amelioration of multiple chronic inflammation-associated diseases.

Cataract Surgery and Incidence of Retinal Vascular Occlusion: Population-Based Cohort Study Using a Target Trial Emulation Framework.

Background: Previous studies suggested an association between cataract surgery and retinal vascular occlusion. However, the association may be attributable to detection bias because postoperative monitoring may be more frequent for those who receive cataract surgery than for those who do not.

Design: Population-based cohort study using target trial emulation framework.

Structure Effect on the Response of ZnGaO Gas Sensor for Nitric Oxide Applications.

We fabricated a gas sensor with a wide-bandgap ZnGaO (ZGO) epilayer grown on a sapphire substrate by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The ZGO presented (111), (222) and (333) phases demonstrated by an X-ray diffraction system. The related material characteristics were also measured by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Insights From a Large-Scale Whole-Genome Sequencing Study of Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, and Hypertension.

Background: The availability of whole-genome sequencing data in large studies has enabled the assessment of coding and noncoding variants across the allele frequency spectrum for their associations with blood pressure.

Methods: We conducted a multiancestry whole-genome sequencing analysis of blood pressure among 51 456 Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine and Centers for Common Disease Genomics program participants (stage-1). Stage-2 analyses leveraged array data from UK Biobank (N=383 145), Million Veteran Program (N=318 891), and Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (N=10 643) participants, along with whole-exome sequencing data from UK Biobank (N=199 631) participants.

Multiplexed CRISPR-based microfluidic platform for clinical testing of respiratory viruses and identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has demonstrated a clear need for high-throughput, multiplexed and sensitive assays for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses and their emerging variants. Here, we present a cost-effective virus and variant detection platform, called microfluidic Combinatorial Arrayed Reactions for Multiplexed Evaluation of Nucleic acids (mCARMEN), which combines CRISPR-based diagnostics and microfluidics with a streamlined workflow for clinical use. We developed the mCARMEN respiratory virus panel to test for up to 21 viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, other coronaviruses and both influenza strains, and demonstrated its diagnostic-grade performance on 525 patient specimens in an academic setting and 166 specimens in a clinical setting.

Selective Permeabilization of Gram-Negative Bacterial Membranes Using Multivalent Peptide Constructs for Antibiotic Sensitization.

The drug-impermeable bacterial membrane in Gram-negative pathogens limits antibiotic access to intracellular drug targets. To expand our rapidly waning antibiotic arsenal, one approach is to improve the intracellular delivery of drugs with historically poor accumulation in Gram-negative bacteria. To do so, we engineered macromolecular potentiators to permeabilize the Gram-negative membrane to facilitate drug influx.

Simultaneous detection of genotype and phenotype enables rapid and accurate antibiotic susceptibility determination.

Multidrug resistant organisms are a serious threat to human health. Fast, accurate antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) is a critical need in addressing escalating antibiotic resistance, since delays in identifying multidrug resistant organisms increase mortality and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, further selecting for resistant organisms. Yet current growth-based AST assays, such as broth microdilution, require several days before informing key clinical decisions.

Screw head plugs increase the fatigue strength of stainless steel, but not of titanium, locking plates.

Objectives: Screw plugs have been reported to increase the fatigue strength of stainless steel locking plates. The objective of this study was to examine and compare this effect between stainless steel and titanium locking plates.

Methods: Custom-designed locking plates with identical structures were fabricated from stainless steel and a titanium alloy.

Influence of GABA-B Agonist Baclofen on Capsaicin-Induced Excitation of Secondary Peristalsis in Humans.

Objectives: Esophageal instillation of capsaicin enhances secondary peristalsis, but the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor type B (GABA-B) agonist baclofen inhibits secondary peristalsis. This study aimed to investigate whether baclofen could influence heartburn perception and secondary peristalsis subsequent to capsaicin infusion in healthy adults.

Methods: Secondary peristalsis was performed by slow and rapid mid-esophagus air injections in 15 healthy subjects.

Oxidized Phospholipids and Risk of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease: The Copenhagen General Population Study.

Objective: Lipoprotein(a) is causally associated with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Lipoprotein(a) carries proinflammatory and procalcific oxidized phospholipids (OxPL). We tested whether the CAVD risk is mediated by the content of OxPL on lipoprotein(a).

Two-Year Outcomes of Surgical Treatment of Severe Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: In a randomized trial comparing mitral-valve repair with mitral-valve replacement in patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation, we found no significant difference in the left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI), survival, or adverse events at 1 year after surgery. However, patients in the repair group had significantly more recurrences of moderate or severe mitral regurgitation. We now report the 2-year outcomes of this trial.

Preclinical evaluation of the engineered stem cell chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1α analog in a translational ovine myocardial infarction model.

Rationale: After myocardial infarction, there is an inadequate blood supply to the myocardium, and the surrounding borderzone becomes hypocontractile.

Objective: To develop a clinically translatable therapy, we hypothesized that in a preclinical ovine model of myocardial infarction, the modified endothelial progenitor stem cell chemokine, engineered stromal cell-derived factor 1α analog (ESA), would induce endothelial progenitor stem cell chemotaxis, limit adverse ventricular remodeling, and preserve borderzone contractility.

Methods And Results: Thirty-six adult male Dorset sheep underwent permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, inducing an anteroapical infarction, and were randomized to borderzone injection of saline (n=18) or ESA (n=18).