EV-Elute: A universal platform for the enrichment of functional surface marker-defined extracellular vesicle subpopulations.

Intercellular communication via extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been identified as a vital component of a steadily expanding number of physiological and pathological processes. To accommodate these roles, EVs have highly heterogeneous molecular compositions. Given that surface molecules on EVs determine their interactions with their environment, EV functionality likely differs between subpopulations with varying surface compositions.

Confirmatory testing of in a sexual health clinic: implications for epidemiology and treatment policy.

Objectives: European guidelines advise the use of dual nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) in order to minimise the inappropriate diagnosis of (Ng) in urogenital samples from low prevalence areas and in extragenital specimens. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the effect of confirmatory testing and confirmation policy on the Ng-positivity in a population visiting the sexual health clinic in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Methods: Apart from urogenital testing, extragenital (oropharyngeal/anorectal) testing was performed for men who have sex with men (MSM) and according to sexual exposure for women and heterosexual men.

Fetal sex and maternal pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Since the placenta also has a sex, fetal sex-specific differences in the occurrence of placenta-mediated complications could exist.

Objective: To determine the association of fetal sex with multiple maternal pregnancy complications.

Search Strategy: Six electronic databases Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Web-of-Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar were systematically searched to identify eligible studies.

Immunosuppressive drugs and the gastrointestinal tract in renal transplant patients.

Gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort is common after renal transplantation and can be caused by the use of various immunosuppressive drugs. GI symptoms affect the quality of life, lead to an impaired graft survival and an increased mortality. Moreover, diseases and disturbances of the GI tract also affect the pharmacokinetics of immunosuppressive drugs.

Lifestyle factors, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, incidence and death increases from around the time of menopause comparing to women in reproductive age. A healthy lifestyle can prevent CVD, but it is unclear which lifestyle factors may help maintain and improve cardiovascular health for women after menopausal transition. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to evaluate the association between modifiable lifestyle factors (specifically smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, and obesity), with CVD and mortality in middle-aged and elderly women.