Fetal gender and several cytokines are associated with the number of fetal cells in maternal blood--an observational study.

Objective: To identify factors influencing the number of fetal cells in maternal blood.

Methods: A total of 57 pregnant women at a gestational age of weeks 11-14 were included. The number of fetal cells in maternal blood was assessed in 30 ml of blood using specific markers for both enrichment and subsequent identification.

Structure and Property Based Design of Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine Inhibitors of CK2 Kinase with Activity in Vivo.

In this letter, we describe the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship of 5-anilinopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine inhibitors of CK2 kinase. Property-based optimization of early leads using the 7-oxetan-3-yl amino group led to a series of matched molecular pairs with lower lipophilicity, decreased affinity for human plasma proteins, and reduced binding to the hERG ion channel. Agents in this study were shown to modulate pAKT(S129), a direct substrate of CK2, in vitro and in vivo, and exhibited tumor growth inhibition when administered orally in a murine DLD-1 xenograft.

Forty-five year trends in overweight and obesity in an indigenous arctic Inuit Society in transition and spatiotemporal trends.

Objectives: Overweight and obesity associate with increased morbidity and premature death. Westernization of societies heralds rising obesity rates. A steep increase in body mass index (BMI) and overweight in Greenland from 1963 to 1998 led us to follow-up on height, weight, BMI, and rates of overweight among populations in Greenland and assess time trends between different stages of transition.

The Escherichia coli Tus-Ter replication fork barrier causes site-specific DNA replication perturbation in yeast.

Replication fork (RF) pausing occurs at both 'programmed' sites and non-physiological barriers (for example, DNA adducts). Programmed RF pausing is required for site-specific DNA replication termination in Escherichia coli, and this process requires the binding of the polar terminator protein, Tus, to specific DNA sequences called Ter. Here, we demonstrate that Tus-Ter modules also induce polar RF pausing when engineered into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome.

First results from the LUX dark matter experiment at the Sanford underground research facility.

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment is a dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota). The LUX cryostat was filled for the first time in the underground laboratory in February 2013. We report results of the first WIMP search data set, taken during the period from April to August 2013, presenting the analysis of 85.

Facile photoimmobilization of proteins onto low-binding PEG-coated polymer surfaces.

Immobilization of proteins onto polymer surfaces usually requires specific reactive functional groups. Here, we show an easy one-step method to conjugate protein covalently onto almost any polymer surface, including low protein-binding poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), without the requirement for the presence of specific functional groups. Several types of proteins, including alkaline phosphatase, bovine serum albumin, and polyclonal antibodies, were photoimmobilized onto a PEG-coated polymer surface using a water-soluble benzophenone as photosensitizer.

Structural and mechanistic insight into Holliday-junction dissolution by topoisomerase IIIα and RMI1.

Repair of DNA double-strand breaks via homologous recombination can produce double Holliday junctions (dHJs) that require enzymatic separation. Topoisomerase IIIα (TopIIIα) together with RMI1 disentangles the final hemicatenane intermediate obtained once dHJs have converged. How binding of RMI1 to TopIIIα influences it to behave as a hemicatenane dissolvase, rather than as an enzyme that relaxes DNA topology, is unknown.

Knowledge of HIV testing and attitudes towards blood donation at three blood centres in Brazil.

Background: Reducing risk of HIV window period transmission requires understanding of donor knowledge and attitudes related to HIV and risk factors.

Study Design And Methods: We conducted a survey of 7635 presenting blood donors at three Brazilian blood centres from 15 October through 20 November 2009. Participants completed a questionnaire on HIV knowledge and attitudes about blood donation.

The Gut Microbiotassay: a high-throughput qPCR approach combinable with next generation sequencing to study gut microbial diversity.

Background: The intestinal microbiota is a complex and diverse ecosystem that plays a significant role in maintaining the health and well-being of the mammalian host. During the last decade focus has increased on the importance of intestinal bacteria. Several molecular methods can be applied to describe the composition of the microbiota.

Exploration of two methods for quantitative Mitomycin C measurement in tumor tissue in vitro and in vivo.

: Two methods of quantifying Mitomycin C in tumor tissue are explored. A method of ultraviolet-visible absorption microscopy is developed and applied to measure the concentration of Mitomycin C in preserved mouse tumor tissue, as well as in gelatin samples. Concentrations as low as 60 μM can be resolved using this technique in samples that do not strongly scatter light.

Characterization of Bacillus spp. strains for use as probiotic additives in pig feed.

Bacillus spp. are commonly used as probiotic species in the feed industry, however, their benefits need to be confirmed. This study describes a high throughput screening combined with the detailed characterization of endospore-forming bacteria with the aim to identify new Bacillus spp.

In-chip fabrication of free-form 3D constructs for directed cell migration analysis.

Free-form constructs with three-dimensional (3D) microporosity were fabricated by two-photon polymerization inside the closed microchannel of an injection-molded, commercially available polymer chip for analysis of directed cell migration. Acrylate constructs were produced as woodpile topologies with a range of pore sizes from 5 × 5 μm to 15 × 15 μm and prefilled with fibrillar collagen. Dendritic cells seeded into the polymer chip in a concentration gradient of the chemoattractant CCL21 efficiently negotiated the microporous maze structure for pore sizes of 8 × 8 μm or larger.

Life-threatening dermatologic adverse events in oncology.

The incidences of life-threatening toxicities such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are inconsistently reported. The potential association of anticancer agents with SJS or TEN has not been systematically investigated. We searched the literature (Ovid: 1950 to June 2013 and PubMed: 1948 to June 2013) using terms for SJS/TEN and anticancer therapies.

Medial ulnar collateral ligament origin in children and adolescents: an MRI anatomic study.

Background: The medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) is the primary stabilizer against valgus stress on the elbow. The anatomy of the 3 bundles of the MUCL has been well studied in adults, but our review of the English literature found no study evaluating the origin of the MUCL in a large group of asymptomatic, skeletally immature elbows as it relates to the medial epicondylar physis.

Methods: Magnetic resonance T1-coronal images of 44 skeletally immature elbows (ages 5 to 17 y) with no history of fracture were evaluated by 2 independent musculoskeletal radiologists, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with fellowship training in pediatric orthopaedics, and an orthopaedic surgery resident.

Micro-drilling of polymer tubular ultramicroelectrode arrays for electrochemical sensors.

We present a reproducible fast prototyping procedure based on micro-drilling to produce homogeneous tubular ultramicroelectrode arrays made from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), a conductive polymer. Arrays of Ø 100 µm tubular electrodes each having a height of 0.37 ± 0.

Molecular- and pollen-based vegetation analysis in lake sediments from central Scandinavia.

Plant and animal biodiversity can be studied by obtaining DNA directly from the environment. This new approach in combination with the use of generic barcoding primers (metabarcoding) has been suggested as complementary or alternative to traditional biodiversity monitoring in ancient soil sediments. However, the extent to which metabarcoding truly reflects plant composition remains unclear, as does its power to identify species with no pollen or macrofossil evidence.

Effect of Lactobacillus salivarius Ls-33 on fecal microbiota in obese adolescents.

Background & Aims: This study is a part of the clinical trials with probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus salivarius Ls-33 conducted in obese adolescents. Previously reported clinical studies showed no effect of Ls-33 consumption on the metabolic syndrome in the subject group. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of L.

miRConnect 2.0: identification of oncogenic, antagonistic miRNA families in three human cancers.

Background: Based on their function in cancer micro(mi)RNAs are often grouped as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. However, miRNAs regulate multiple tumor relevant signaling pathways raising the question whether two oncogenic miRNAs could be functional antagonists by promoting different steps in tumor progression. We recently developed a method to connect miRNAs to biological function by comparing miRNA and gene array expression data from the NCI60 cell lines without using miRNA target predictions (miRConnect).

Quantitative liver ADC measurements using diffusion-weighted MRI at 3 Tesla: evaluation of reproducibility and perfusion dependence using different techniques for respiratory compensation.

Object: Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) of the liver suffers from low signal to noise making 3 Tesla (3 T) an attractive option, but 3 T data is scarce. It was the aim to study the influence of different b values and respiratory compensation methods (RCM) on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) level and on ADC reproducibility at 3 T.

Materials And Methods: Ten healthy volunteers and 12 patients with malignant liver lesions underwent repeated (2-22 days) breathhold, free-breathing and respiratory triggered DWI at 3 T using b values between 0 and 1,000 s/mm(2).

Characterisation of gut microbiota in Ossabaw and Göttingen minipigs as models of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota is an important contributing factor to obesity and obesity related metabolic disorders, known as the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to characterise the intestinal microbiota in two pig models of obesity namely Göttingen minipigs and the Ossabaw minipigs.

Methods And Findings: The cecal, ileal and colonic microbiota from lean and obese Osabaw and Göttingen minipigs were investigated by Illumina-based sequencing and by high throughput qPCR, targeting the 16S rRNA gene in different phylogenetic groups of bacteria.

Designing CAF-adjuvanted dry powder vaccines: spray drying preserves the adjuvant activity of CAF01.

Dry powder vaccine formulations are highly attractive due to improved storage stability and the possibility for particle engineering, as compared to liquid formulations. However, a prerequisite for formulating vaccines into dry formulations is that their physicochemical and adjuvant properties remain unchanged upon rehydration. Thus, we have identified and optimized the parameters of importance for the design of a spray dried powder formulation of the cationic liposomal adjuvant formulation 01 (CAF01) composed of dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDA) bromide and trehalose 6,6'-dibehenate (TDB) via spray drying.

Human cytomegalovirus chemokine receptor US28 induces migration of cells on a CX3CL1-presenting surface.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded G protein-coupled-receptor US28 is believed to participate in virus dissemination through modulation of cell migration and immune evasion. US28 binds different CC chemokines and the CX3C chemokine CX3CL1. Membrane-anchored CX3CL1 is expressed by immune-activated endothelial cells, causing redirection of CX3CR1-expressing leukocytes in the blood to sites of infection.

Mechanism and in vitro pharmacology of TAK1 inhibition by (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol.

Transforming growth factor-β activated kinase-1 (TAK1) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family that regulates several signaling pathways including NF-κB signal transduction and p38 activation. TAK1 deregulation has been implicated in human diseases including cancer and inflammation. Here, we show that, in addition to its kinase activity, TAK1 has intrinsic ATPase activity, that (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol irreversibly inhibits TAK1, and that sensitivity to (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol inhibition in hematological cancer cell lines is NRAS mutation status and TAK1 pathway dependent.

Neonatal chemokine levels and risk of autism spectrum disorders: findings from a Danish historic birth cohort follow-up study.

A potential role of chemokines in the pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) has been previously suggested. In a recent study we examined levels of three inflammatory chemokines (MCP-1, MIP-1α and RANTES) in samples of amniotic fluid of children diagnosed later in life with ASD and controls frequency-matched to cases on gender and year of birth. In this follow-up study, levels of the same chemokines were analyzed postnatally in dried blood spot samples from the same subjects utilizing the Danish Newborn Screening Biobank.