Cohort profile: Improved Pregnancy Outcomes via Early Detection (IMPROvED), an International Multicentre Prospective Cohort.

Background: Improved Pregnancy Outcomes via Early Detection (IMPROvED) is a multi-centre, European phase IIa clinical study. The primary aim of IMPROvED is to enable the assessment and refinement of innovative prototype preeclampsia risk assessment tests based on emerging biomarker technologies. Here we describe IMPROvED's profile and invite researchers to collaborate.

Results of patch testing with five fragrance materials hitherto not tested: A dose-finding study in the clinical population.

Background: Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) for skin sensitization is used to derive safe use levels of sensitising fragrance ingredients in products. Post-marketing surveillance of the prevalence of contact allergy to these ingredients provides relevant data to help evaluate the performance of these measures.

Objectives: To determine a suitable patch test concentration for five fragrance materials that had hitherto not been tested on a regular basis.

The European baseline series and recommended additions: 2023.

The European baseline series was last updated in 2019. This article discusses the reasoning behind a further iteration of the series for 2023.

Puumala Orthohantavirus Infection Does Not Affect the Trapping Success of Its Reservoir Host.

Pathogens might affect behavior of infected reservoir hosts and hence their trappability, which could bias population estimates of pathogen prevalence. In this study, we used snap-trapping data on Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV)-infected ( = 1619) and noninfected ( = 6940) bank voles () from five vole cycles, normally representing increase, peak, and decline phase, to evaluate if infection status affected trapping success. If PUUV infection, as previously suggested, increases activity and/or mobility, we would expect a higher proportion of infected than noninfected specimens in the first trapping night.

Picornavirus May Be Linked to Parkinson's Disease through Viral Antigen in Dopamine-Containing Neurons of Substantia Nigra.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease linked with the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain region called substantia nigra and caused by unknown pathogenic mechanisms. Two currently recognized prominent features of PD are an inflammatory response manifested by glial reaction and T-cell infiltration, as well as the presence of various toxic mediators derived from activated glial cells. PD or parkinsonism has been described after infection with several different viruses and it has therefore been hypothesized that a viral infection might play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Extending the Enterovirus Lead: Could a Related Picornavirus be Responsible for Diabetes in Humans?

We found an association between the abundance of rodents in the wild and onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in humans. A picornavirus named Ljungan virus (LV) was subsequently isolated from wild bank voles. Both picornavirus-like particles detected by electron microscopy and LV antigen visualized by immunohistochemistry was seen in islets of Langerhans in diabetic wild bank voles.

Effectiveness of Antivirals in a Type 1 Diabetes Model and the Move Toward Human Trials.

A Picornavirus (Ljungan virus [LV]) originally found in bank voles has been associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in its wild rodent reservoir, but also associated with T1D in a laboratory rat model for the disease, the diabetes prone (DP) Bio Breeding (BB) rat. Successful treatment of diabetes in this rat model, using experimental antiviral compounds directed against picornavirus, has been reported. In the present study we show significant clinical response in DP-BB rats using antiviral compounds available for human use (Pleconaril, Efavirenz, and Ribavirin).

Culture of human ovarian tissue in xeno-free conditions using laminin components of the human ovarian extracellular matrix.

Purpose: Our purpose was to identify human ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM) components that would support in vitro culture of human ovarian tissue and be compatible with possible future clinical applications. We characterized ovarian expression of laminins and selected three laminin tripeptides for culture experiments to be compared with Matrigel, an undefined and animal-based mixture of ECM components.

Methods: Expression of the 12 laminin genes was determined on transcript and protein levels using cortical tissue samples (n = 6), commercial ovary RNA (n = 1), follicular fluid granulosa cells (n = 20), and single-cell RNA-sequencing data.

Picornavirus Identified in Alzheimer's Disease Brains: A Pathogenic Path?

We investigated formalin-fixed postmortem brain tissue from the hippocampus region of 18 AD cases and 11 age-matched controls using a polyclonal antibody against Ljungan virus (LV) capsid protein 1. Evidence of a LV antigen was found in all AD cases but in none of the control specimens ( < 0.0001).

Oral oxycodone for pain after caesarean section: A randomized comparison with nurse-administered IV morphine in a pragmatic study.

Background and aims The present randomized open label parallel group study was conducted to evaluate if an oral oxycodone (OXY) regimen can be at least equally effective and as safe for postoperative analgesia after caesarean section (CS) as a standard of care program using nurse-administered intravenous morphine (IVM), followed by oral codeine. Methods Eighty women (40 + 40) were scheduled for elective CS under spinal anaesthesia. All patients received postoperative multimodal analgesic therapy, including ibuprofen and paracetamol.

Photoallergic Contact Dermatitis to Sunscreens Containing Oxybenzone in La Plata, Argentina.

Background: Photoallergic contact dermatitis (PACD) to oxybenzone was reported for the first time in 1980. Oxybenzone is the most common photoallergen in the United States and Canada and the fourth most common .in Europe.

Resveratrol supports and alpha-naphthoflavone disrupts growth of human ovarian follicles in an in vitro tissue culture model.

Infertility is a global health problem with an estimated incidence of 15%. Exposure to chemicals is a potential causal factor, and there is a lack of studies examining the effects on female germ cells. Here, we have studied the impact of different aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) modulators on human ovarian follicles using a human ovarian tissue culture model.

Contact sensitization to limonene and linalool hydroperoxides in Spain: a GEIDAC prospective study.

Background: Limonene and linalool are common fragrance terpenes widely used in cosmetic, household and hygiene products. Their primary oxidation products formed after air exposure, the hydroperoxides, have been recognized as important contact haptens.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of contact allergy to hydroperoxides of limonene (Lim-OOHs) and hydroperoxides of linalool (Lin-OOHs) in Spain, and to define the optimal concentration for screening in consecutive patients.

Diabetes Prevention Through Antiviral Treatment in Biobreeding Rats.

A picornavirus (Ljungan virus) has been associated with diabetes in its wild rodent reservoir and in diabetes-prone biobreeding (DP-BB) rats. We attempted to alter the development of diabetes in DP-BB rats using two anti-picornavirus compounds (pleconaril and APO-N039), singly or in combination. Antiviral therapy was initiated 2 weeks before expected onset of diabetes.

Genome characterisation of two Ljungan virus isolates from wild bank voles (Myodes glareolus) in Sweden.

Ljungan virus (LV) (family Picornaviridae, genus Parechovirus) is a suspected zoonotic pathogen with associations to human disease in Sweden. LV is a single-stranded RNA virus with a positive sense genome. There are five published Ljungan virus strains, three isolated from Sweden and two from America, and are classified into four genotypes.

Risk factors for persistent pain and its influence on maternal wellbeing after cesarean section.

Objectives: To investigate the overall incidence and risk factors for persistent pain and its interference with daily life after cesarean section.

Design: Prospective long-term follow-up study.

Setting: Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Air-oxidized linalool elicits eczema in allergic patients - a repeated open application test study.

Background: Linalool is a commonly used fragrance terpene that forms potent sensitizers upon oxidation. In a recent multicentre study, we found that 7% of 2900 patients showed positive patch test reactions to oxidized linalool at 6.0%.

Evaluation of different serological diagnostic methods for tick-borne encephalitis virus: enzyme-linked immunosorbent, immunofluorescence, and neutralization assay.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a zoonotic disease, transmitted mainly by the bite of ticks. The TBE virus (TBEV) belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus and is able to cause meningoencephalitis. For serological TBEV detection, the neutralization test (NT) is the most specific assay available.

Ljungan virus is endemic in rodents in the UK.

Ljungan virus is a recently identified member of the family Picornaviridae that was isolated from bank voles in Sweden. LjV has been associated with [corrected] type 1 diabetes-like symptoms and myocarditis in bank voles (Myodes glareolus), and it has been suggested that it has zoonotic potential. Here, we show for the first time that Ljungan virus is prevalent (20-27 % positive by PCR) in four species of UK rodent (Myodes glareolus [bank vole], Apodemus sylvaticus [wood mouse], Microtus agrestis [field vole] and Mus musculus [house mouse]).

Preservation of human ovarian follicles within tissue frozen by vitrification in a xeno-free closed system using only ethylene glycol as a permeating cryoprotectant.

Objective: To study the preservation of follicles within ovarian tissue vitrified using only one or a combination of three permeating cryoprotectants.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: University hospital.

Photopatch testing: recommendations for a European photopatch test baseline series.

In order to establish a consensus recommendation for performing photopatch testing, a photopatch test taskforce group was established under the joint umbrella of the European Society for Contact Dermatitis and the European Society for Photodermatology in 2000. After proposing the most adequate methodology in 2004 and completing a European multicentre photopatch test study in 2011, this taskforce is recommending a list of photoallergens that should form part of a baseline series for photopatch testing in Europe. It contains mainly ultraviolet filters and drugs, mostly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Intraoperative injection of bupivacaine-adrenaline close to the fascia reduces morphine requirements after cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a single injection of bupivacaine with adrenaline close to the fascia could decrease opiate consumption and pain in patients undergoing cesarean section in spinal anesthesia.

Design: Randomized double-blind controlled study.

Settings: Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden.

Development and characterization of murine monoclonal antibodies to first and second Ljungan virus genotypes.

Ljungan virus (LV) is a rodent pathogen that causes diabetes and myocarditis in its natural host. In addition, LV has been associated with human disease during pregnancy and of neonates, respectively. A panel of 22 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against first and second LV genotypes were produced by immunization of BALB/c mice with whole virus.