Preclinical validation of NeoWarm, a low-cost infant warmer and carrier device, to ameliorate induced hypothermia in newborn piglets as models for human neonates.

Introduction: Approximately 1.5 million neonatal deaths occur among premature and small (low birthweight or small-for gestational age) neonates annually, with a disproportionate amount of this mortality occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Hypothermia, the inability of newborns to regulate their body temperature, is common among prematurely born and small babies, and often underlies high rates of mortality in this population.

An engineering strategy to target activated EGFR with CAR T cells.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown remarkable response rates in hematological malignancies. In contrast, CAR T cell treatment of solid tumors is associated with several challenges, in particular the expression of most tumor-associated antigens at lower levels in vital organs, resulting in on-target/off-tumor toxicities. Thus, innovative approaches to improve the tumor specificity of CAR T cells are urgently needed.

Modulation of immune responses to liposomal vaccines by intrastructural help.

The encapsulation of HIV-unrelated T helper peptides into liposomal vaccines presenting trimers of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) on the surface (T helper liposomes) may recruit heterologous T cells to provide help for Env-specific B cells. This mechanism called intrastructural help can modulate the HIV-specific humoral immune response. In this study, we used cationic T helper liposomes to induce intrastructural help effects in a small animal model.

Towards the optimization of drug delivery to the cochlear apex: Influence of polymer and drug selection in biodegradable intracochlear implants.

There is growing need for new drug delivery systems for intracochlear application of drugs to effectively treat inner ear disorders. In this study, we describe the development and characterization of biodegradable, triamcinolone-loaded implants based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyethylene glycol-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA) respectively, prepared by hot-melt extrusion. PEG 1500 was used as a plasticizer to improve flexibility and accelerate drug release.

GMP-compliant manufacturing of biologically active cell-derived vesicles produced by extrusion technology.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by a variety of cell types have been shown to act as a natural delivery system for bioactive molecules such as RNAs and proteins. EV therapy holds great promise as a safe and cell-free therapy for many immunological and degenerative diseases. However, translation to clinical application is limited by several factors, including insufficient large-scale manufacturing technologies and low yield.

Safety and audiological outcome in a case series of tertiary therapy of sudden hearing loss with a biodegradable drug delivery implant for controlled release of dexamethasone to the inner ear.

Background: Intratympanic injections of glucocorticoids have become increasingly common in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). However, due to their fast elimination, sustained applications have been suggested for local drug delivery to the inner ear.

Materials And Methods: The study is based on a retrospective chart review of patients treated for ISSHL at a single tertiary (university) referral center.

Microimaging of a novel intracochlear drug delivery device in combination with cochlear implants in the human inner ear.

The effective delivery of drugs to the inner ear is still an unmet medical need. Local controlled drug delivery to this sensory organ is challenging due to its location in the petrous bone, small volume, tight barriers, and high vulnerability. Local intracochlear delivery of drugs would overcome the limitations of intratympanic (extracochlear) and systemic drug application.

Novel biodegradable Round Window Disks for inner ear delivery of dexamethasone.

Drug delivery to the inner ear is an important and very challenging field. The cochlea is protected by several barriers that need to be overcome in the drug delivery process. Local drug delivery can avoid undesirable side effects arising from systemic drug delivery.

Conjugation of Native-Like HIV-1 Envelope Trimers onto Liposomes Using EDC/Sulfo-NHS Chemistry: Requirements and Limitations.

The display of native-like human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope (HIV-1 Env) trimers on liposomes has gained wide attention over the last few years. Currently, available methods have enabled the preparation of Env-liposome conjugates of unprecedented quality. However, these protocols require the Env trimer to be tagged and/or to carry a specific functional group.

Engineering osteogenic microenvironments by combination of multilayers from collagen type I and chondroitin sulfate with novel cationic liposomes.

Cationic liposomes composed of a novel lipid (N-{6-amino-1-[N-(9Z) -octadec9-enylamino] -1-oxohexan-(2S) -2-yl} -N'- {2- [N, N-bis(2-aminoethyl) amino] ethyl} -2-hexadecylpropandiamide) (OO4) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) possess high amounts of amino groups and are promising systems for lipofection. Moreover, these cationic liposomes can also be used as a polycationic entity in multilayer formation using layer-by-layer technique (LbL), which is a method to fabricate surface coatings by alternating adsorption of polyanions and polycations. Since liposomes are suitable for endocytosis by or fusion with cells, controlled release of their cargo on site is possible.

Crossing borders to facilitate live donor kidney transplantation: the Czech-Austrian kidney paired donation program - a retrospective study.

Kidney paired donation (KPD) is a valuable tool to overcome immunological barriers in living donor transplantation. While small national registries encounter difficulties in finding compatible matches, multi-national KPD may be a useful strategy to facilitate transplantation. The Czech (Prague) and Austrian (Vienna) KPD programs, both initiated in 2011, were merged in 2015.

Intracochlear PLGA based implants for dexamethasone release: Challenges and solutions.

The effective treatment of diseases of the inner ear is currently an unmet medical need. Local controlled drug delivery to the cochlea is challenging due to the hidden location, small volume and high sensitivity of this organ. A local intracochlear delivery of drugs would avoid the problems of intratympanic (extracochlear) drug application, but is more invasive.

Diversity and anaerobic growth of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from modified atmosphere packaged minced beef.

Aims: This study aimed to monitor development of spoilage-associated microbiota on high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) minced beef, assess diversity of Pseudomonas sp. therein employing a polyphasic approach and probe their ability to grow anaerobically in the presence of carbon dioxide.

Methods And Results: Headspace atmosphere and total viable count of MAP minced beef were monitored, and spoilage-associated microbiota was identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Controlled drug release to the inner ear: Concepts, materials, mechanisms, and performance.

Progress in drug delivery to the ear has been achieved over the last few years. This review illustrates the main mechanisms of controlled drug release and the resulting geometry- and size-dependent release kinetics. The potency, physicochemical properties, and stability of the drug molecules are key parameters for designing the most suitable drug delivery system.

Extracorporeal photopheresis as second-line therapy for patients with acute graft-versus-host disease: does the number of cells treated matter?

Background: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has demonstrated efficacy as second-line treatment for steroid-refractory (SR) acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). The aim of our study was to analyze whether the amount of ECP-treated cells in patients with SR, aGVHD has an impact on response at 1 month.

Study Design And Methods: Data on white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, mononuclear cells, and neutrophils, including absolute counts and counts per kilogram of body weight in ECP products from patients with aGVHD, were collected.

["Doing gender" in a nursing home for the elderly : Perspectives of staff and management].

Background: "Doing gender" plays an important role in nursing interactions in long-term care settings.

Aim: The aim of this article is to focus on the experiences of staff and management in a long-term care setting on the social categorization of gender and to reflect and discuss these findings against already existing research.

Material And Methods: Within a qualitative study, one to one interviews and group discussions with a total of 28 participants were conducted.

The role of personal goals in autonoetic experience when imagining future events.

Although autonoetic experience-a sense of mental time travel-has been considered as the hallmark of episodic future thinking, what determines this subjective feeling is not yet fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of autobiographical knowledge by manipulating the relevance of imagined events for personal goals. Participants were asked to imagine three types of events (goal-related future events, experimenter-provided future events, and atemporal events) and to assess various characteristics of their mental representations.

A comparison between oral antiarrhythmic drugs in the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: the pilot study of prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation (SPPAF), a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently occurs after cardiac surgical procedures, and beta-blockers, sotalol, and amiodarone may reduce the frequency of AF after open heart surgery. This pilot trial was designed to test whether each of the active oral drug regimens is superior to placebo for prevention of postoperative AF and whether there are differences in favor of 1 of the preventive strategies.

Methods And Results: We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in which patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the absence of heart failure and without significant left ventricular dysfunction (n = 253; average age, 65 +/- 11 years) received oral amiodarone plus metoprolol (n = 63), metoprolol alone (n = 62), sotalol (n = 63), or placebo (n = 65).

[Clinical relevance of cranial CT under emergency conditions--basic neuroradiologic investigations].

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of cranial CT under emergency conditions.

Material And Methods: Four hundred cranial CT examinations (cerebrum, petrosal bone, fascial bone, sinuses, orbita) were evaluated retrospectively and correlated with the initial neurologic examination, the discharge and surgical diagnoses, and the results of other imaging modalities (conventional X-Ray, MRI, angiography). The average age was 49 (2 to 89) years, with 42 % male and 58 % female patients.