Nanocomposite Methacrylated Silk Fibroin-Based Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering.

The treatment of bone defects is a clinical challenge. Bone tissue engineering is gaining interest as an alternative to current treatments, with the development of 3D porous structures (scaffolds) helpful in promoting bone regeneration by ensuring temporary functional support. In this work, methacrylated silk fibroin (SilMA) sponges were investigated as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering by exploiting the combination of physical (induced by NaCl salt during particulate leaching) and chemical crosslinking (induced by UV-light exposure) techniques.

Comparison of in-person versus virtual ultrasound instruction for pediatric residents.

Purpose: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) instruction is prevalent in medical schools but not in pediatric residency programs, even though the majority of pediatric residents desire POCUS instruction. Virtual ultrasound instruction with affordable handheld ultrasound devices may help remedy this deficiency by allowing qualified instructors to circumvent geographic and financial limitations to reach this population. This study sought to determine if virtual ultrasound instruction is an effective alternative to traditional in-person instruction in a cohort of pediatric residents for the extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (eFAST) exam.

Invasion and Secondary Site Colonization as a Function of In Vitro Primary Tumor Matrix Stiffness: Breast to Bone Metastasis.

Increased breast tissue stiffness is correlated with breast cancer risk and invasive cancer progression. However, its role in promoting bone metastasis, a major cause of mortality, is not yet understood. It is previously identified that the composition and stiffness of alginate-based hydrogels mimicking normal (1-2 kPa) and cancerous (6-10 kPa) breast tissue govern phenotype of breast cancer cells (including MDA-MB-231) in vitro.

Role of stiffness and physico-chemical properties of tumour microenvironment on breast cancer cell stemness.

Several physico-chemical properties of the tumour microenvironment (TME) are dysregulated during tumour progression, such as tissue stiffness, extracellular pH and interstitial fluid flow. Traditional preclinical models, although useful to study biological processes, do not provide sufficient control over these physico-chemical properties, hence limiting the understanding of cause-effect relationships between the TME and cancer cells. Breast cancer stem cells (B-CSCs), a dynamic population within the tumour, are known to affect tumour progression, metastasis and therapeutic resistance.

Taking the Pulse of POCUS: The State of Point-of-Care Ultrasound at a Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospital.

We aim to quantify and categorize point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) usage by pediatric practitioners and trainees at our tertiary care center, and assess the degree of interest from pediatric residents, fellows, and program leaders for integrating POCUS into their training. Data was collected via online survey, evaluating the current use of POCUS in clinical decision making, desire for further formal training, and opinions on the importance of POCUS to future clinical practice. In total, 14 program directors/assistant program directors (PD/APDs) representing 10 of 15 training programs, 30 of 95 fellows representing 9 of 15 fellowships, and 32 of 82 residents responded.

Additively manufactured BaTiO composite scaffolds: A novel strategy for load bearing bone tissue engineering applications.

Piezoelectric ceramics, such as BaTiO, have gained considerable attention in bone tissue engineering applications thanks to their biocompatibility, ability to sustain a charged surface as well as improve bone cells' adhesion and proliferation. However, the poor processability and brittleness of these materials hinder the fabrication of three-dimensional scaffolds for load bearing tissue engineering applications. For the first time, this study focused on the fabrication and characterisation of BaTiO composite scaffolds by using a multi-material 3D printing technology.

SNX27-retromer assembly recycles MT1-MMP to invadopodia and promotes breast cancer metastasis.

A variety of metastatic cancer cells use actin-rich membrane protrusions, known as invadopodia, for efficient ECM degradation, which involves trafficking of proteases from intracellular compartments to these structures. Here, we demonstrate that in the metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, retromer regulates the matrix invasion activity by recycling matrix metalloprotease, MT1-MMP. We further found that MT2-MMP, another abundantly expressed metalloprotease, is also invadopodia associated.

The association of coagulopathy and traumatic brain injury in patients with isolated head injury.

Unlabelled: The emergence of prothrombotic agents (e.g. activated factor VII) to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI) requires a better understanding of the association of coagulopathy with isolated head injury (IHI).

Identifying traumatic brain injury in patients with isolated head trauma: are arterial lactate and base deficit as helpful as in polytrauma?

Background: Increase in lactate (LAC) within the central nervous system after head trauma is an established marker of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Objective: To investigate the utility of arterial base deficit (BD) and LAC in identifying TBI in patients with isolated head injury (IHI).

Materials And Methods: TBI was defined as Glasgow Coma Scale < or =8, head Abbreviated Injury Severity Score >2 or brain haematoma on CT scan.