New Methacrylated Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels as Localized Drug Delivery Systems in Skin Cancer Therapy.

The aim of the present work was to obtain drug-loaded hydrogels based on combinations of dextran, chitosan/gelatin/xanthan, and poly (acrylamide) as a sustained and controlled release vehicle of Doxorubicin, a drug used in skin cancer therapy that is associated with severe side effects. Hydrogels for use as 3D hydrophilic networks with good manipulation characteristics were produced using methacrylated biopolymer derivatives and the methacrylate group's polymerization with synthetic monomers in the presence of a photo-initiator, under UV light stimulation (365 nm). Transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis (FT-IR) confirmed the hydrogels' network structure (natural-synthetic composition and photocrosslinking), while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the microporous morphology.

Omphalocele and Cardiac Abnormalities-The Importance of the Association.

Omphalocele is the most common ventral abdominal wall defect. Omphalocele is associated with other significant anomalies in up to 80% of cases, among which the cardiac ones are the most frequent. The aim of our paper is to highlight, through a review of the literature, the importance and frequency of association between the two malformations and what impact this association has on the management and evolution of patients with these pathologies.

Review on the Role of Salivary Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Concussion Syndrome.

(1) Background: While mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a major public health issue, post-concussion syndrome (PCS) remains a controversial entity. In both cases, the clinical diagnosis is mainly based on the symptoms and brain imaging evaluation. The current molecular biomarkers were described from blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), yet both fluid collection methods are invasive.

Comparative Proteomics Analysis of Pig Muscle Exudate through Label-Free Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Capital-driven animal husbandry systems undertaken in the last century led to the abandoning of many pig breeds that were not profitable. These local pig breeds and their respective production systems have great potential as they are able to respond to the high criteria and needs of modern society concerning some environmental aspects, animal-welfare, healthiness, etc. This is the case of the black pigs of Italy.

Current practice of genomic profiling of patients with advanced solid tumours in Italy: the Italian Register of Actionable Mutations (RATIONAL) study.

Background: The Italian Register of Actionable Mutations (RATIONAL) is a multicentric, observational study collecting next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based tumour profiling data of patients with advanced solid tumours.

Methods: The study enrols patients who had available an NGS-based tumour profiling (Pathway-A) or undergo comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) with FoundationOne CDx assays within the trial (Pathway-B). The primary endpoint was the rate of actionable mutations identified.

In situ architecture of the ER-mitochondria encounter structure.

The endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria are main hubs of eukaryotic membrane biogenesis that rely on lipid exchange via membrane contact sites, but the underpinning mechanisms remain poorly understood. In yeast, tethering and lipid transfer between the two organelles is mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES), a four-subunit complex of unresolved stoichiometry and architecture. Here we determined the molecular organization of ERMES within Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells using integrative structural biology by combining quantitative live imaging, cryo-correlative microscopy, subtomogram averaging and molecular modelling.

Sex and gender differences in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A narrative review.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), exhibit high phenotypic variability and they are very common in the general population. These diseases are associated with poor prognosis and a significant burden on patients and their caregivers. Although increasing evidence suggests that biological sex is an important factor for the development and phenotypical expression of some NDs, the role of sex and gender in the diagnosis and prognosis of NDs has been poorly explored.

Advanced intraoperative MRI in pediatric brain tumor surgery.

In the pediatric brain tumor surgery setting, intraoperative MRI (ioMRI) provides "real-time" imaging, allowing for evaluation of the extent of resection and detection of complications. The use of advanced MRI sequences could potentially provide additional physiological information that may aid in the preservation of healthy brain regions. This review aims to determine the added value of advanced imaging in ioMRI for pediatric brain tumor surgery compared to conventional imaging.

A novel ANO3 variant in two siblings with different phenotypes.

Introduction: Dystonia type 24 is due to the mutation of the ANO3 gene. It generally consists of craniocervical dystonia associated with tremor; however, other neurological manifestations may also occur. Scientific literature has been expanding on its phenotype over the past few years.

Nosocomial Infections Affecting Newborns with Abdominal Wall Defects.

Unlabelled: Abdominal wall defects are serious birth defects, with long periods of hospitalization and significant costs to the medical system. Nosocomial infection (NI) may be an additional risk factor that aggravates the evolution of newborns with such malformations.

Methods: in order to analyze the factors that may lead to the occurrence of NI, we performed a retrospective study over a period of thirty-two years (1990-2021), in a tertiary children's hospital; 302 neonates with omphalocele and gastroschisis were eligible for the study.

SERS assisted sandwich immunoassay platforms for ultrasensitive and selective detection of human Thyroglobulin.

We developed an immunoassay platform for the detection of human Thyroglobulin (Tg) to be integrated with fine-needle aspiration biopsy for early detection of lymph node metastases in thyroid cancer patients. The sensing platform detects Tg by a sandwich immunoassay involving a self-assembled surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate assisted by functionalized gold nanoparticles that provide additional Raman signal amplification and improved molecular specificity. Specifically, the SERS-active substrates were functionalized with Tg Capture antibodies and fabricated either on-chip or on optical fiber tips by nanosphere lithography.

Real Life Impact of Dry Eye Disease.

Dry Eye Disease (DED) is an increasingly common condition that affects between 5% and 50% of the global population. Even though DED is most frequently diagnosed in older people, it has also been diagnosed in young adults and adolescents more frequently in recent years (employees, gamers). People can experience different types of symptoms and find it challenging to read, watch TV, cook, climb stairs, and meet friends.

Many-Body Quantum Chaos and Emergence of Ginibre Ensemble.

We show that non-Hermitian Ginibre random matrix behaviors emerge in spatially extended many-body quantum chaotic systems in the space direction, just as Hermitian random matrix behaviors emerge in chaotic systems in the time direction. Starting with translational invariant models, which can be associated with dual transfer matrices with complex-valued spectra, we show that the linear ramp of the spectral form factor necessitates that the dual spectra have nontrivial correlations, which in fact fall under the universality class of the Ginibre ensemble, demonstrated by computing the level spacing distribution and the dissipative spectral form factor. As a result of this connection, the exact spectral form factor for the Ginibre ensemble can be used to universally describe the spectral form factor for translational invariant many-body quantum chaotic systems in the scaling limit where t and L are large, while the ratio between L and L_{Th}, the many-body Thouless length is fixed.

Corrigendum: Topology of diffusion changes in corpus callosum in Alzheimer's disease: An exploratory case-control study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.

FOXI3 pathogenic variants cause one form of craniofacial microsomia.

Craniofacial microsomia (CFM; also known as Goldenhar syndrome), is a craniofacial developmental disorder of variable expressivity and severity with a recognizable set of abnormalities. These birth defects are associated with structures derived from the first and second pharyngeal arches, can occur unilaterally and include ear dysplasia, microtia, preauricular tags and pits, facial asymmetry and other malformations. The inheritance pattern is controversial, and the molecular etiology of this syndrome is largely unknown.

A single-beat algorithm to discriminate farfield from nearfield bipolar voltage electrograms from the pulmonary veins.

Background: Superimposition of farfield (FF) and nearfield (NF) bipolar voltage electrograms (BVE) complicates the confirmation of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Our aim was to develop an automatic algorithm based on a single-beat analysis to discriminate PV NF from atrial FF BVE from a circular mapping catheter during the cryoballoon PV isolation.

Methods: During freezing cycles in cryoablation PVI, local NF and distant FF signals were recorded, identified and labelled.

Avian Assemblages in Forest Fragments do not Sum to the Expected Regional Community in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

While bird diversity in the Atlantic Forest can be considered well-known, how the communities have been affected by deforestation and habitat fragmentation is not. We studied birds in 10 forest fragments of distinct sizes (all originally within the Atlantic Forest) in southern Bahia. In 5,391 bird encounters, we found 251 species, with 46 endemics and eight considered globally vulnerable or endangered.

miR-4432 Targets FGFBP1 in Human Endothelial Cells.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate the expression of several target genes. Fibroblast growth factor binding protein 1 (FGFBP1) has been associated with endothelial dysfunction at the level of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, the underlying mechanisms are mostly unknown and there are no studies investigating the relationship between miRs and FGFBP1.

Turning and Sitting in Early Parkinsonism: Differences Between Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Associated with Parkinsonism and Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Differential diagnosis between idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) associated with parkinsonism (iNPH-P) and Parkinson's disease (PD) may prove difficult when evaluating patients with early parkinsonism. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in mobility during standardized tasks between iNPH-P and PD.

Methods: We selected 21 iNPH-P and 21 pharmacologically untreated PD patients.

Sialylation status in placentas from pregnancies with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Introduction: Recent investigations suggest the potential negative impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnant women and pregnancy outcome. In addition, some studies have described pathological changes in the placental tissue of SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers, which are related or not to the infection severity and/or infection trimester. Among the various molecules involved in the normal structure and functionality of the placenta, sialic acids (Sias) seem to play an important role.

Preclinical Ultrasonography in Rodent Models of Neuromuscular Disorders: The State of the Art for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications.

Ultrasonography is a safe, non-invasive imaging technique used in several fields of medicine, offering the possibility to longitudinally monitor disease progression and treatment efficacy over time. This is particularly useful when a close follow-up is required, or in patients with pacemakers (not suitable for magnetic resonance imaging). By virtue of these advantages, ultrasonography is commonly used to detect multiple skeletal muscle structural and functional parameters in sports medicine, as well as in neuromuscular disorders, e.