Switching between individual and collective motility in B lymphocytes is controlled by cell-matrix adhesion and inter-cellular interactions.

Lymphocytes alternate between phases of individual migration across tissues and phases of clustering during activation and function. The range of lymphocyte motility behaviors and the identity of the factors that govern them remain elusive. To explore this point, we here collected unprecedented statistics pertaining to cell displacements, cell:matrix and cell:cell interactions using a model B cell line as well as primary human B lymphocytes.

Priming the Abscopal Effect Using Multifunctional Smart Radiotherapy Biomaterials Loaded with Immunoadjuvants.

In this study, we investigate the use of multifunctional smart radiotherapy biomaterials (SRBs) loaded with immunoadjuvants for boosting the abscopal effect of local radiotherapy (RT). SRBs were designed similar to currently used inert RT biomaterials, incorporating a biodegradable polymer with reservoir for loading payloads of the immunoadjuvant anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody. Lung (LLC1) tumors were generated both on the right and left flank of each mouse, with the left tumor representing metastasis.

Validation of a microRNA target site polymorphism in H3F3B that is potentially associated with a broad schizophrenia phenotype.

Despite much progress, few genetic findings for schizophrenia have been assessed by functional validation experiments at the molecular level. We previously reported evidence for genetic linkage of broadly defined schizophrenia to chromosome 17q25 in a sample of 24 multiplex families. 2,002 SNPs under this linkage peak were analyzed for evidence of linkage disequilibrium using the posterior probability of linkage (PPL) framework.

Phase III randomized trial comparing 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin with or without docetaxel in first-line advanced gastric cancer chemotherapy (GASTFOX study).

Introduction: In advanced gastric cancer, doublet regimen including platinum salts and fluoropyrimidine is considered as a standard first-line treatment. The addition of docetaxel (75 mg/m q3w) to cisplatin (75 mg/m q3w) and 5-fluorouracil has been shown to improve efficacy. However, this regimen (DCF) was associated with frequent severe toxicities (including more complicated neutropenia), limiting its use in clinical practice.

TRPC3 is required for the survival, pluripotency and neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).

Transient receptor potential canonical subfamily member 3 (TRPC3) is known to be important for neural development and the formation of neuronal networks. Here, we investigated the role of TRPC3 in undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and during the differentiation of mESCs into neurons. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout (KO) of TRPC3 induced apoptosis and the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential both in undifferentiated mESCs and in those undergoing neural differentiation.

Selective protein unfolding: a universal mechanism of action for the development of irreversible inhibitors.

High-throughput differential scanning fluorimetry of GFP-tagged proteins (HT-DSF-GTP) was applied for the identification of novel enzyme inhibitors acting by a mechanism termed: selective protein unfolding (SPU). Four different protein targets were interrogated with the same library to identify target-selective hits. Several hits selectively destabilized bacterial biotin protein ligase.

Assessment of curve progression on children with idiopathic scoliosis using ultrasound imaging method.

Purpose: To investigate the threshold of the curve difference on ultrasound measurement relative to the previous radiographic measurements to detect curves progression in children who have idiopathic scoliosis (IS).

Methods: Two hundred children with IS (F:170, M:30; mean age: 14.6 ± 1.

Capsular Biofilm Formation at the Interface of Textured Expanders and Human Acellular Dermal Matrix: A Comparative Scanning Electron Microscopy Study.

Background: Despite benefits in reducing capsular contractures, textured implants have been associated with significant pitfalls, such a propensity for biofilm formation. Few studies have investigated whether the use of acellular dermal matrix on textured implants produces similar findings. This study aims to characterize biofilm formation at the capsular-acellular dermal matrix interface with scanning electron microscopy.

Therapeutic response analysis in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.

Objective: Reporting the rate of positive (+) and negative (-) responders based on an objective outcome measure of pain-related functional disability/lameness in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA), and the relationship between initial lameness severity and the odds of being a (+) responder.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of published peer-reviewed clinical trials in dogs with naturally occurring OA.

Animals: Dogs (n = 213) with hip and/or stifle afflicted-joints.

Schroth physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: how many patients require treatment to prevent one deterioration? - results from a randomized controlled trial - "SOSORT 2017 Award Winner".

Background: Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) support using physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) for adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). All RCTs reported statistically significant results favouring PSSE but none reported on clinical significance. The number needed to treat (NNT) helps determine if RCT results are clinically meaningful.

Resection of pancreatic cancer in Europe and USA: an international large-scale study highlighting large variations.

Objective: Resection can potentially cure resectable pancreatic cancer (PaC) and significantly prolong survival in some patients. This large-scale international study aimed to investigate variations in resection for PaC in Europe and USA and determinants for its utilisation.

Design: Data from six European population-based cancer registries and the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database during 2003-2016 were analysed.

Distribution of clinical risk factors for fracture in a Brussels cohort of postmenopausal women: The FRISBEE study and comparison with other major cohort studies.

Objectives: The estimation of fracture risk using clinical risk factors (CRFs) is of primary concern in osteoporosis management, but only some risk factors have been thoroughly evaluated and incorporated in predictive models. We have launched a large prospective study, the 'Fracture Risk Brussels Epidemiological Enquiry' (FRISBEE), to develop a new predictive model for osteoporotic fractures. The aims of this report are to describe the methodology of the FRISBEE study and to compare the distribution of CRFs in our cohort with those reported in other large studies.

Neoadjuvant Therapy in Rectal Cancer Patients With Clinical Stage II to III Across European Countries: Variations and Outcomes.

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy improves survival of patients with clinical stage II and III rectal cancer in clinical trials. In this study, we investigated the administration of neoadjuvant radiotherapy (neo-RT) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neo-CRT) and its association with survival in resected patients in 2 European countries (The Netherlands and Sweden) and at 3 specialist centers.

Materials And Methods: Administration of neoadjuvant treatment (all registries) and overall survival after surgery in The Netherlands and Sweden were assessed.

Conditional Function of Autoaggregative Protein Cah and Common Mutations in Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli.

Cah is a calcium-binding autotransporter protein involved in autoaggregation and biofilm formation. Although is widespread in Shiga toxin-producing (STEC), we detected mutations in at a frequency of 31.3% in this pathogen.

Nanoparticle Drones to Target Lung Cancer with Radiosensitizers and Cannabinoids.

Nanotechnology has opened up a new, previously unimaginable world in cancer diagnosis and therapy, leading to the emergence of cancer nanomedicine and nanoparticle-aided radiotherapy. Smart nanomaterials (nanoparticle drones) can now be constructed with capability to precisely target cancer cells and be remotely activated with radiation to emit micrometer-range missile-like electrons to destroy the tumor cells. These nanoparticle drones can also be programmed to deliver therapeutic payloads to tumor sites to achieve optimal therapeutic efficacy.

Activity-Dependent Neuroplasticity Induced by an Enriched Environment Reverses Cognitive Deficits in Scribble Deficient Mouse.

Planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling is well known to play a critical role during prenatal brain development; whether it plays specific roles at postnatal stages remains rather unknown. Here, we investigated the role of a key PCP-associated gene scrib in CA1 hippocampal structure and function at postnatal stages. We found that Scrib is required for learning and memory consolidation in the Morris water maze as well as synaptic maturation and NMDAR-dependent bidirectional plasticity.

Refinement of the Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing, for Use by Veterinarians: detection of naturally occurring osteoarthritis in laboratory cats.

Objectives Feline osteoarthritis causes pain and disability. Detection and measurement is challenging, relying heavily on owner report. This study describes refinement of the Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing, for Use by Veterinarians.

MANOTA: a promising bifunctional chelating agent for copper-64 immunoPET.

Improved bifunctional chelating agents (BFC) are required for copper-64 radiolabelling of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) under mild conditions to yield stable, target-specific imaging agents. Four different bifunctional chelating agents (BFC) were evaluated for Fab (Fragment antigen binding) conjugation and radiolabelling with copper-64. Two DOTA- (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) and two NOTA- (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid) derivatives bearing a p-benzyl-isothiocyanate group were conjugated to Fab-trastuzumab - which targets the HER2/neu receptor - and the average number of chelators attached ranged from 2.

Detection of a few DNA copies by real-time electrochemical polymerase chain reaction.

In the current work, accurate quantification over 10 to 10 DNA copies has been successfully achieved for the first time by real-time electrochemical PCR. This has been made possible thanks to the combined use of a fully automated house-built electrochemical qPCR device, optimized for parallel heating and electrochemical monitoring of up to 48 PCR solutions, and the appropriate selection of a DNA intercalating redox probe retaining a strong affinity binding to ds-DNA at the PCR measurement temperature of 72 °C (corresponding to the PCR elongation step). This has also been achieved through the identification of the key parameters governing the onset electrochemical signal decrease and amplitude signal decrease as a function of the PCR cycle for a given DNA intercalating redox probe, thus allowing us to predict the electrochemical PCR kinetic plots from the values of the DNA affinity binding constant determined as a function of temperature.

Results of ultrasound-assisted brace casting for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Four factors have been reported to affect brace treatment outcome: (1) growth or curve based risk, (2) the in-brace correction, (3) the brace wear quantity, and (4) the brace wear quality. The quality of brace design affects the in-brace correction and comfort which indirectly affects the brace wear quantity and quality. This paper reported the immediate benefits and results on using ultrasound (US) to aid orthotists to design braces for the treatment of scoliosis.

ICG-fluorescence imaging for detection of peritoneal metastases and residual tumoral scars in locally advanced ovarian cancer: A pilot study.

Background And Objectives: No intraoperative imaging techniques exist for detecting tumor nodules or tumor scar tissues in patients treated with upfront or interval cytoreductive surgery (CS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The aims of this study were to evaluate the role of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging (FI) for the detection of peritoneal metastases (PM) and evaluate whether it can be used to detect remnant tumor cells in scar tissue.

Methods: Patients with PM from ovarian cancer admitted for CS were included.

Bacterial communities in the small intestine respond differently to those in the caecum and colon in mice fed low- and high-fat diets.

Bacterial communities in the mouse caecum and faeces are known to be altered by changes in dietary fat. The microbiota of the mouse small intestine, by contrast, has not been extensively profiled and it is unclear whether small intestinal bacterial communities shift with dietary fat levels. We compared the microbiota in the small intestine, caecum and colon in mice fed a low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Using exposure prediction tools to link exposure and dosimetry for risk-based decisions: A case study with phthalates.

A few different exposure prediction tools were evaluated for use in the new in vitro-based safety assessment paradigm using di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DnBP) as case compounds. Daily intake of each phthalate was estimated using both high-throughput (HT) prediction models such as the HT Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation model (SHEDS-HT) and the ExpoCast heuristic model and non-HT approaches based on chemical specific exposure estimations in the environment in conjunction with human exposure factors. Reverse dosimetry was performed using a published physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for phthalates and their metabolites to provide a comparison point.

Spatially Confined Spin Polarization and magnetic sublattice control in (La,Sr)MnO Thin Films by Oxygen Vacancy Ordering.

Perovskite oxides are known for their strong structure property coupling and functional properties such as ferromagntism, ferroelectricity and high temperature superconductivity. While the effect of ordered cation vacancies on functional properties have been much studied, the possibility of tuning the functionality through anion vacancy ordering has received much less attention. Oxygen vacancies in ferromagnetic LaSrMnO thin films have recently been shown to accumulate close to interfaces and form a brownmillerite structure (ABO).