Utility of placental biomarkers and fetoplacental Dopplers in predicting likely placental pathology in early and late fetal growth restriction - A prospective study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between placental abnormalities, placental biomarkers, and fetoplacental Dopplers in a cohort of pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR). We also ascertained the risk of perinatal mortality, severe neurological morbidity, and severe non-neurological morbidity by type of placental abnormality.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study.

Endometrial cancer PDX-derived organoids (PDXOs) and PDXs with FGFR2c isoform expression are sensitive to FGFR inhibition.

Endometrial cancer (EC) patients with metastatic/recurrent disease have limited treatment options and poor survival outcomes. Recently, we discovered the FGFR2c splice isoform is associated with poor prognosis in EC patients. Here we report the establishment of 16 EC patient-derived xenografts (PDX)-derived organoids (PDXOs) with or without FGFR2c expression.

UGDH promotes tumor-initiating cells and a fibroinflammatory tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer.

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a global health burden, with the poorest five-year survival rate of the gynecological malignancies due to diagnosis at advanced stage and high recurrence rate. Recurrence in EOC is driven by the survival of chemoresistant, stem-like tumor-initiating cells (TICs) that are supported by a complex extracellular matrix and immunosuppressive microenvironment. To target TICs to prevent recurrence, we identified genes critical for TIC viability from a whole genome siRNA screen.

Safety and feasibility of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy during interval cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced high-grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube, peritoneal cancer in an Australian context.

Aims: To assess the safety and feasibility of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) during cytoreduction surgery (CRS) in advanced high-grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer within an Australian context.

Methods: Data were collected from 25 consecutive patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC from December 2018 to July 2022 at the Peritoneal Malignancy Service at the Mater Hospital Brisbane, Australia. Data collected included demographics, clinical variables, surgical procedures and complications and intra-operative and post-operative indexes of morbidity.

Chronic villitis of unknown aetiology: an Australian institution's 5-year experience.

Villitis of unknown aetiology (VUE) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the placenta that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in perinatal medicine. The cause remains elusive and recent studies have explored immune-mediated, infectious and environmental triggers in the pathogenesis of VUE. The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of VUE diagnoses at Mater Mothers' Hospital over a 5-year period, including any association with seasons, maternal age and histological patterns of the disorder.

Preclinical Evaluation of a Fluorescent Probe Targeting Receptor CDCP1 for Identification of Ovarian Cancer.

Optimal cytoreduction for ovarian cancer is often challenging because of aggressive tumor biology and advanced stage. It is a critical issue since the extent of residual disease after surgery is the key predictor of ovarian cancer patient survival. For a limited number of cancers, fluorescence-guided surgery has emerged as an effective aid for tumor delineation and effective cytoreduction.

Disruption of Glycogen Utilization Markedly Improves the Efficacy of Carboplatin against Preclinical Models of Clear Cell Ovarian Carcinoma.

High stage and recurrent ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCC) are associated with poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy. A distinguishing histological feature of OCC is abundant cytoplasmic stores of glucose, in the form of glycogen, that can be mobilized for cellular metabolism. Here, we report the effect on preclinical models of OCC of disrupting glycogen utilization using the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG).

Airway Mucus Hyperconcentration in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is characterized by airway mucus accumulation and sputum production, but the role of mucus concentration in the pathogenesis of these abnormalities has not been characterized. This study was designed to: ) measure mucus concentration and biophysical properties of bronchiectasis mucus; ) identify the secreted mucins contained in bronchiectasis mucus; ) relate mucus properties to airway epithelial mucin RNA/protein expression; and ) explore relationships between mucus hyperconcentration and disease severity. Sputum samples were collected from subjects with bronchiectasis, with and without chronic erythromycin administration, and healthy control subjects.

CDCP1 enhances Wnt signaling in colorectal cancer promoting nuclear localization of β-catenin and E-cadherin.

Elevated CUB-domain containing protein 1 (CDCP1) is predictive of colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence and poor patient survival. While CDCP1 expression identifies stem cell populations that mediate lung metastasis, mechanisms underlying the role of this cell surface receptor in CRC have not been defined. We sought to identify CDCP1 regulated processes in CRC using stem cell populations, enriched from primary cells and cell lines, in extensive in vitro and in vivo assays.

MUC13 promotes the development of colitis-associated colorectal tumors via β-catenin activity.

Many adenocarcinomas, including colorectal cancer (CRC), overexpress the MUC13 cell surface mucin, but the functional significance and mechanisms are unknown. Here, we report the roles of MUC13 in colonic tumorigenesis and tumor progression. High-MUC13 expression is associated with poor survival in two independent patient cohorts.

Intestinal ischemia due to methamphetamine use: A case report.

Introduction: Methamphetamine use is a rare cause of intestinal ischemia but is of clinical significance due to its high morbidity and mortality. Knowledge of methamphetamine-induced intestinal ischemia has been limited to few case reports.

Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 48-year-old man who presented with ischemic bowel related to methamphetamine use.

Fallopian tube microbiota: evidence beyond DNA.

Aim: To determine whether cultivation-dependent and -independent analyses identifying fallopian tube bacteria were associated with visually observable microbial cells in situ using scanning electron microscopy.

Patients: Fallopian tubes were collected from pre- and postmenopausal women undergoing salpingectomies for benign disease or as prophylaxis.

Materials & Methods: Fresh fallopian tube samples were processed for scanning electron microscopy to characterize fallopian tube ultrastructure.

Immune regulation of the unfolded protein response at the mucosal barrier in viral infection.

Protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is subject to stringent quality control. When protein secretion demand exceeds the protein folding capacity of the ER, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is triggered as a consequence of ER stress. Due to the secretory function of epithelial cells, UPR plays an important role in maintaining epithelial barrier function at mucosal sites.

Making stillbirths visible: a systematic review of globally reported causes of stillbirth.

Background: Stillbirth is a global health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) application of the International Classification of Diseases for perinatal mortality (ICD-PM) aims to improve data on stillbirth to enable prevention.

Objectives: To identify globally reported causes of stillbirth, classification systems, and alignment with the ICD-PM.

Isolated Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy Presenting as Fetal Hydrops at 24 Weeks Gestation.

Ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy is a rare form of congenital cardiomyopathy with increasing evidence of genetic etiology, especially when presenting in childhood. Fetal presentation is rare. We describe a case of fetal hydrops, presenting at 24 weeks gestation and leading to intrapartum death at 26 weeks gestation.

Predictors of autopsy following stillbirth in Queensland, Australia: A population-based study.

Background: Accurate determination of causes of stillbirth is critical to effective prevention. Autopsy remains the gold standard investigation for stillbirth; however, with low autopsy rates many stillbirths are likely to be 'unexplored' rather than 'unexplained'.

Aim: To determine factors associated with autopsy following stillbirth.

MUC13 overexpression in renal cell carcinoma plays a central role in tumor progression and drug resistance.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is a largely incurable disease, and existing treatments targeting angiogenesis and tyrosine kinase receptors are only partially effective. Here we reveal that MUC13, a cell surface mucin glycoprotein, is aberrantly expressed by most renal cell carcinomas, with increasing expression positively correlating with tumor grade. Importantly, we demonstrated that high MUC13 expression was a statistically significant independent predictor of poor survival in two independent cohorts, particularly in stage 1 cancers.

Immune-driven alterations in mucin sulphation is an important mediator of Trichuris muris helminth expulsion.

Mucins are heavily glycosylated proteins that give mucus its gel-like properties. Moreover, the glycans decorating the mucin protein core can alter the protective properties of the mucus barrier. To investigate whether these alterations could be parasite-induced we utilized the Trichuris muris (T.

Colonic microbiota can promote rapid local improvement of murine colitis by thioguanine independently of T lymphocytes and host metabolism.

Objective: Mercaptopurine (MP) and pro-drug azathioprine are 'first-line' oral therapies for maintaining remission in IBD. It is believed that their pharmacodynamic action is due to a slow cumulative decrease in activated lymphocytes homing to inflamed gut. We examined the role of host metabolism, lymphocytes and microbiome for the amelioration of colitis by the related thioguanine (TG).

MUC13 protects colorectal cancer cells from death by activating the NF-κB pathway and is a potential therapeutic target.

MUC13 is a transmembrane mucin glycoprotein that is over produced by many cancers, although its functions are not fully understood. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a key transcription factor promoting cancer cell survival, but therapeutically targeting this pathway has proved difficult because NF-κB has pleiotropic functions. Here, we report that MUC13 prevents colorectal cancer cell death by promoting two distinct pathways of NF-kB activation, consequently upregulating BCL-X.

High Fat Diets Induce Colonic Epithelial Cell Stress and Inflammation that is Reversed by IL-22.

Prolonged high fat diets (HFD) induce low-grade chronic intestinal inflammation in mice, and diets high in saturated fat are a risk factor for the development of human inflammatory bowel diseases. We hypothesized that HFD-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/oxidative stress occur in intestinal secretory goblet cells, triggering inflammatory signaling and reducing synthesis/secretion of proteins that form the protective mucus barrier. In cultured intestinal cells non-esterified long-chain saturated fatty acids directly increased oxidative/ER stress leading to protein misfolding.

Epithelial Sel1L is required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an incurable chronic idiopathic disease that drastically decreases quality of life. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) is responsible for the clearance of misfolded proteins; however, its role in disease pathogenesis remains largely unexplored. Here we show that the expression of SEL1L and HRD1, the most conserved branch of mammalian ERAD, is significantly reduced in ileal Crohn's disease (CD).