Characterization of Laminins in Healthy Human Aortic Valves and a Modified Decellularized Rat Scaffold.

Aortic valve stenosis is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases in western countries and can only be treated by replacement with a prosthetic valve. Tissue engineering is an emerging and promising treatment option, but in-depth knowledge about the microstructure of native heart valves is lacking, making the development of tissue-engineered heart valves challenging. Specifically, the basement membrane (BM) of heart valves remains incompletely characterized, and decellularization protocols that preserve BM components are necessary to advance the field.

Differences and similarities between cancer and somatic stem cells: therapeutic implications.

Over the last decades, the cancer survival rate has increased due to personalized therapies, the discovery of targeted therapeutics and novel biological agents, and the application of palliative treatments. Despite these advances, tumor resistance to chemotherapy and radiation and rapid progression to metastatic disease are still seen in many patients. Evidence has shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs), a sub-population of cells that share many common characteristics with somatic stem cells (SSCs), contribute to this therapeutic failure.

Combination therapies enhance immunoregulatory properties of MIAMI cells.

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), adult stromal cells most commonly isolated from bone marrow (BM), are being increasingly utilized in various therapeutic applications including tissue repair via immunomodulation, which is recognized as one of their most relevant mechanism of action. The promise of MSC-based therapies is somewhat hindered by their apparent modest clinical benefits, highlighting the need for approaches that would increase the efficacy of such therapies. Manipulation of cellular stress-response mechanism(s) such as autophagy, a catabolic stress-response mechanism, with small molecules prior to or during MSC injection could improve MSCs' therapeutic efficacy.

Identifying newborns with umbilical cord blood metabolic acidosis by intrapartum cardiotography combined with fetal ECG ST analysis (STAN): comparison of the new and old FIGO systems to classify cardiotocograms.

The intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) classification system by FIGO in 2015 (FIGO2015) was introduced to simplify CTG interpretation, but it is not harmonized with the fetal ECG ST analysis (STAN) algorithm from 2007 (STAN2007), which is based on the FIGO CTG system from 1987. The study aimed to determine time courses and sensitivity between the systems in classifying CTG + ST events to indicate metabolic acidosis at birth. Forty-four cases with umbilical cord artery metabolic acidosis were retrieved from a European multicenter database.

FHR patterns that become significant in connection with ST waveform changes and metabolic acidosis at birth.

Recent developments have produced new CTG classification systems and the question is to what extent these may affect the model of FHR + ST interpretation? The two new systems (FIGO2015 and SSOG2017) classify FHR + ST events differently from the current CTG classification system used in the STAN interpretation algorithm (STAN2007). Identify the predominant FHR patterns in connection with ST events in cases of cord artery metabolic acidosis missed by the different CTG classification systems. Indicate to what extent STAN clinical guidelines could be modified enhancing the sensitivity.

New FIGO and Swedish intrapartum cardiotocography classification systems incorporated in the fetal ECG ST analysis (STAN) interpretation algorithm: agreements and discrepancies in cardiotocography classification and evaluation of significant ST events.

Introduction: The updated intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) classification system by FIGO in 2015 (FIGO2015) and the FIGO2015-approached classification by the Swedish Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologist in 2017 (SSOG2017) are not harmonized with the fetal ECG ST analysis (STAN) algorithm from 2007 (STAN2007). The study aimed to reveal homogeneity and agreement between the systems in classifying CTG and ST events, and relate them to maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Material And Methods: Among CTG traces with ST events, 100 traces originally classified as normal, 100 as suspicious and 100 as pathological were randomly selected from a STAN database and classified by two experts in consensus.

Systematic Analysis of White Pox Disease in Acropora palmata of the Florida Keys and Role of Serratia marcescens.

White pox disease (WPD) affects the threatened elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata. Owing in part to the lack of a rapid and simple diagnostic test, there have been few systematic assessments of the prevalence of acroporid serratiosis (caused specifically by Serratia marcescens) versus general WPD signs. Six reefs in the Florida Keys were surveyed between 2011 and 2013 to determine the disease status of A.

Real-time PCR-assay in the delivery suite for determination of group B streptococcal colonization in a setting with risk-based antibiotic prophylaxis.

Objective: Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) reduces the incidence of neonatal early onset group B streptococcal infections. The present study investigated if an automated PCR-assay, used bedside by the labor ward personnel was manageable and could decrease the use of IAP in a setting with a risk-based IAP strategy.

Methods: The study comprises two phases.

Association between umbilical cord artery pCO₂ and the Apgar score; elevated levels of pCO₂ may be beneficial for neonatal vitality after moderate acidemia.

Objective: To determine the association between 5-min Apgar score and umbilical cord artery carbon dioxide tension (pCO₂).

Design: Observational study.

Setting: European hospital labor wards.

Developmental outcome at 6.5 years after acidosis in term newborns: a population-based study.

Objectives: Infants who develop encephalopathy after perinatal asphyxia have an increased risk of death and adverse neurologic outcome. Conflicting results exist concerning outcome in healthy infants with metabolic acidosis at birth. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether metabolic acidosis at birth in term infants who appear healthy is associated with long-term developmental abnormalities.

How does the duration of active pushing in labor affect neonatal outcomes?

Aim: To assess the effect of time of active pushing (TAP) on neonatal outcome.

Materials And Methods: The study population (n=36,432) was taken from a Swedish randomized control trial on intrapartum monitoring, a European Union fetal electrocardiogram trial, and from Mölndal Hospital. After validation of acid-base samples and TAP, 22,812 cases were accepted for analysis.

A new tool for the validation of umbilical cord acid-base data.

Objective: To identify the distribution of carbon dioxide tension (pCO(2) ) relative to pH in validated umbilical cord acid-base data.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: European hospital labour wards.

Reduced prevalence of metabolic acidosis at birth: an analysis of established STAN usage in the total population of deliveries in a Swedish district hospital.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate quality-of-care improvements after the introduction of ST waveform analysis as an adjunct to standard cardiotocography (CTG).

Study Design: This was a prospective clinical study that was conducted over 7 years. Four yearly cohorts of 12,832 term pregnancies were part of a detailed analysis.

Fetal scalp pH and ST analysis of the fetal ECG as an adjunct to cardiotocography to predict fetal acidosis in labor--a multi-center, case controlled study.

Objective: To assess the relationship between scalp pH (FBS) and ST analysis in situations of acidosis with special emphasis on the timing of cardiotocography (CTG), FBS and ST changes during labor.

Study Design: From a European Union multicenter study on clinical implementation of the STAN methodology, 911 cases were identified where a scalp-pH had been obtained. In 53 cases, marked cord artery acidosis was found (cord artery pH<7.

STAN, a clinical audit: the outcome of 2 years of regular use in the city of Varberg, Sweden.

Objective: To monitor and analyze (audit) the introduction of the STAN methodology in a district hospital.

Design: Retrospective study covering the total population of deliveries at term during 2004 and 2005.

Material And Methods: 1,875 out of 3,193 term pregnancies (59%) were monitored using the STAN fetal heart monitor (Neoventa Medical, Moelndal, Sweden) and the associated clinical guidelines.

United States multicenter clinical usage study of the STAN 21 electronic fetal monitoring system.

Objective: The fetal electrocardiogram system for electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) (STAN S21, Neoventa Medical, Moelndal, Sweden) has led to improved perinatal outcomes in other countries. We aimed to assess the ability of United States (US) obstetricians to use this system appropriately for intrapartum care.

Study Design: A prospective nonrandomized trial was conducted in 6 sites.

Differential expression and localization of early light-induced proteins in Arabidopsis.

The early light-induced proteins (Elips) in higher plants are nuclear-encoded, light stress-induced proteins located in thylakoid membranes and related to light-harvesting chlorophyll (LHC) a/b-binding proteins. A photoprotective function was proposed for Elips. Here we showed that after 2 h exposure of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves to light stress Elip1 and Elip2 coisolate equally with monomeric (mLhcb) and trimeric (tLhcb) populations of the major LHC from photosystem II (PSII) as based on the Elip:Lhcb protein ratio.

STAN in clinical practice--the outcome of 2 years of regular use in the city of Gothenburg.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to monitor the introduction of the STAN-methodology (Noventa Medical, Moelndal, Sweden).

Study Design: This was a prospective observational study covering the total population of deliveries at term during 2 years. Four thousand eight hundred and thirty out of 14,687 term pregnancies were monitored using the STAN S 21 fetal heart monitor and the associated clinical guidelines.

Fetal scalp pH and ST analysis of the fetal ECG as an adjunct to CTG. A multi-center, observational study.

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between scalp-pH and CTG plus ST waveform analysis of the fetal ECG (STAN) clinical guidelines as indicators of intrapartum hypoxia in term fetuses born with cord artery acidemia.

Study Design: Data from 6999 term deliveries monitored by the STAN (R) S 21 as part of an EU multi-center study on clinical implementation of the STAN methodology for intrapartum fetal surveillance were analyzed. We identified 911 cases where a scalp-pH was obtained, including 53 cases with cord artery acidemia (pH < 7.

Fetal ECG waveform analysis.

Fetal ECG waveform analysis as an adjunct to electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) has developed over the last 3 decades. From a multitude of potential parameters, ST waveform analysis has been documented to provide the information required to shift EFM from a screening device to a diagnostic tool that meets the standards of evidence-based medicine. This chapter details the experimental and clinical evolution of the STAN methodology for intrapartum fetal surveillance.

ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram during labor: Nordic observational multicenter study.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic power of cardiotocography (CTG) plus the ST interval of the electrocardiogram (ECG) clinical guidelines with combined fetal heart rate and ST waveform analysis of the fetal ECG recorded during labor, to identify an adverse labor outcome (neonatal neurological symptoms and/or metabolic acidosis).

Study Design: An observational, multicenter study was undertaken in 12 Nordic labor wards. A total of 573 women in labor were monitored using a prototype of the STAN S 21 recorder with fetal ECG data and computerized ST analysis.

Fetal electrocardiography in labor and neonatal outcome: data from the Swedish randomized controlled trial on intrapartum fetal monitoring.

Objective: Cardiotocography plus automatic ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiography has been shown recently to reduce both the operative delivery rate for fetal distress and the cord artery metabolic acidosis rate. The purpose of this study was to analyze findings that were related to cases with a complicated/adverse neonatal outcome in the Swedish randomized controlled trial.

Study Design: Of the 4966 term fetuses that were included in the trial, all 351 newborn infants who required special neonatal care were identified.

Cardiotocography only versus cardiotocography plus ST analysis of fetal electrocardiogram for intrapartum fetal monitoring: a Swedish randomised controlled trial.

Background: Previous studies indicate that analysis of the ST waveform of the fetal electrocardiogram provides information on the fetal response to hypoxia. We did a multicentre randomised controlled trial to test the hypothesis that intrapartum monitoring with cardiotocography combined with automatic ST-waveform analysis results in an improved perinatal outcome compared with cardiotocography alone.

Methods: At three Swedish labour wards, 4966 women with term fetuses in the cephalic presentation entered the trial during labour after a clinical decision had been made to apply a fetal scalp electrode for internal cardiotocography.

Auxiliary photosynthetic functions of Arabidopsis thaliana--studies in vitro and in vivo.

An improved cultivation system for Arabidopsis thaliana was developed, allowing advanced biochemical studies in vitro and in vivo of this important model plant. Highly functional Arabidopsis thylakoids were isolated and used to study both basic and regulatory photosynthetic functions with the aim to create a platform for the characterization of mutants deficient in auxiliary proteins. Light-induced proteolytic degradation of the D1 protein could be followed and shown to be a subsequent event to photoinactivation of electron transport.