Discovery of mammalian collagens I and III within ancient poriferan biopolymer spongin.

Spongin is a fundamental biopolymer that has played a crucial role in the skeletogenesis of keratosan sponges for over 800 million years. This biomaterial had so far remained chemically unidentified and believed to be an enigmatic type of halogenated collagen-keratin-based bioelastomer. Here we show collagen I and III as the main structural components of spongin.

Methodological influences on circulating cell-free-mitochondrial and nuclear DNA concentrations in response to chronic stress.

Background: Mitochondria are versatile eukaryotic organelles that play a crucial role in the body's stress response. Prolonged stress exposure can cause structural and functional alterations, leading to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and subsequent release of mtDNA into the circulation. Cell-free circulating mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA) is a potential biomarker indicating cellular damage and stress.

Insomnia features and patient-reported daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Previous preliminary evidence suggests insomnia features playing a major causative or confounding role in daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. We investigated further this hypothesis in a larger OSA patient cohort. In a cross-sectional study in a tertiary medical center, consecutive patients presenting with suspected OSA, but without other sleepiness-promoting comorbidities, and tested by in-lab polysomnography (PSG) were evaluated prospectively for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and for insomnia using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) respectively.

Biomimetic Growth of Calcium Oxalate Hydrates: Shape Development and Structures in Agar Gel Matrices.

Crystal growth of calcium oxalate hydrates (COM: calcium oxalate monohydrate; COD: -dihydrate; COT: -trihydrate) is a specific example of biomineralization due to their harmful role as kidney/urinary stones. In this work, the biomimetic growth of calcium oxalate hydrates has been achieved using double diffusion technique in agar gel matrix. In-vitro experimental models for the growth of calcium oxalates can give valuable information on the formation of kidney/urinary stones.

Clinical Effectiveness of an Orthosis After Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Injection for Dupuytren Contracture.

Purpose: Dupuytren contracture is a fibroproliferative disorder forming fascial cords in the hand. Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is an alternative treatment to surgery. Current recommendations include nighttime extension orthosis after CCH for 4 months.