Instationary metabolic flux analysis reveals that NPC1 inhibition increases glycolysis and decreases mitochondrial metabolism in brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Niemann Pick Disease Type C (NP-C), a rare neurogenetic disease with no known cure, is caused by mutations in the cholesterol trafficking protein NPC1. Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) are thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases; however, little is known about how these cells are altered in NP-C. In this study, we investigated how NPC1 inhibition perturbs BMEC metabolism in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived BMEC (hiBMEC).

Degradation characteristics of 3D printed continuous fibre-reinforced PA6/chopped fibre composites in simulated saltwater.

This paper investigates the performance of continuous fibre-reinforced 3D printed components in salt water medium at room temperature. Markforged Mark Two 3D printer was employed to fabricate standard specimens made of Onyx and reinforced Onyx specimens with continuous carbon, high-strength high-temperature glass, and Kevlar fibres. Aging process was conducted to characterize the long-term effect of salt water on the mechanical behaviour of fibre-reinforced 3D printed samples.

Particulate air pollution at the time of oocyte retrieval is independently associated with reduced odds of live birth in subsequent frozen embryo transfers.

Study Question: Does exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution prior to oocyte retrieval or subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET) affect the odds of live birth?

Summary Answer: Live birth rates are lower when particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels are higher prior to oocyte retrieval, regardless of the conditions at the time of embryo transfer.

What Is Known Already: Exposure to air pollution is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes, including reduced fecundity and ovarian reserve, and an increased risk of infertility and pregnancy loss.

Are assisted reproductive technology pregnancies more likely to be exposed to teratogenic medication? A whole-population study.

Background: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies are at greater risk of birth defects than non-ART pregnancies. Teratogenic medication exposure is a potential cause of birth defects that has not been compared between ART and non-ART pregnancies.

Aims: To determine whether the prevalence of exposure to teratogenic medicines during pregnancy varies by conception method (ART and three non-ART groups: ovulation induction (OI), subfertile untreated, and fertile naturally conceiving).

Family member experience with restricted family presence in Canadian PICUs: an interpretive descriptive study.

Purpose: We performed this study to explore family member experiences with restrictions to family presence during their child's PICU admission, leveraging the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic to aid in future ethical and informed decision-making.

Methods: Qualitative interpretive descriptive study with family members of Canadian PICU patients admitted from March 2020 to April 2021 who experienced restricted family presence (RFP) policies. Respondents were purposively sampled for demographic-based maximum variation.