Cytotoxic mechanisms of pemetrexed and HDAC inhibition in non-small cell lung cancer cells involving ribonucleotides in DNA.

The cytotoxic mechanisms of thymidylate synthase inhibitors, such as the multitarget antifolate pemetrexed, are not yet fully understood. Emerging evidence indicates that combining pemetrexed with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) may enhance therapeutic efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To explore this further, A549 NSCLC cells were treated with various combinations of pemetrexed and the HDACi MS275 (Entinostat), and subsequently assessed for cell viability, cell cycle changes, and genotoxic markers.

Perovskite Nanocrystal Self-Assemblies in 3D Hollow Templates.

Highly ordered nanocrystal (NC) assemblies, namely, superlattices (SLs), have been investigated as materials for optical and optoelectronic devices due to their unique properties based on interactions among neighboring NCs. In particular, lead halide perovskite NC SLs have attracted significant attention owing to their extraordinary optical characteristics of individual NCs and collective emission processes like superfluorescence (SF). So far, the primary method for preparing perovskite NC SLs has been the drying-mediated self-assembly method, in which the colloidal NCs spontaneously assemble into SLs during solvent evaporation.

Perivascular cells function as key mediators of mechanical and structural changes in vascular capillaries.

A hallmark of chronic and inflammatory diseases is the formation of a fibrotic and stiff extracellular matrix (ECM), typically associated with abnormal, leaky microvascular capillaries. Mechanisms explaining how the microvasculature responds to ECM alterations remain unknown. Here, we used a microphysiological model of capillaries on a chip mimicking the characteristics of healthy or fibrotic collagen to test the hypothesis that perivascular cells mediate the response of vascular capillaries to mechanical and structural changes in the human ECM.

Ventilation distribution during spontaneous breathing trials predicts liberation from mechanical ventilation: the VISION study.

Background: Predicting complete liberation from mechanical ventilation (MV) is still challenging. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) offers a non-invasive measure of regional ventilation distribution and could bring additional information.

Research Question: Whether the display of regional ventilation distribution during a Spontaneous Breathing Trial (SBT) could help at predicting early and successful liberation from MV.

Longitudinal Immunological Analysis of Portuguese Healthcare Workers Across the COVID-19 Pandemic Reveals Differences in the Humoral Immune Response to Vaccines.

A vaccination programme against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was initiated in Portugal in December 2020. In this study, we report the findings of a prospective cohort study implemented with the objective of monitoring antibody production in response to COVID-19 vaccination. The humoral immune response to vaccination was followed up using blood samples collected from 191 healthcare workers.