The Influence of Physiological Blood Clot on Osteoblastic Cell Response to a Chitosan-Based 3D Scaffold-A Pilot Investigation.

Background: The use of ex vivo assays associated with biomaterials may allow the short-term visualization of a specific cell type response inserted in a local microenvironment. Blood is the first component to come into contact with biomaterials, providing blood clot formation, being substantial in new tissue formation. Thus, this research investigated the physiological blood clot (PhC) patterns formed in 3D scaffolds (SCAs), based on chitosan and 20% beta-tricalcium phosphate and its effect on osteogenesis.

Immortalization of patient-derived lip cells for establishing 3D lip models.

Introduction: The lips fulfill various critical physiological roles besides being viewed as a fundamental aesthetic feature contributing to the perception of health and beauty. Therefore, any lip injury, abnormality, or congenital malformation, such as cleft lip, needs special attention in order to restore proper lip function and aesthetics. To achieve this goal, a better understanding of the complex lip anatomy, function, and biology is required, which can only be provided by basic research endeavors.

Glycogen Storage Disease Type I and Bone: Clinical and Cellular Characterization.

Glycogen storage disease (GSD) is the most prevalent inherited disorder of glycogen metabolism for which no causal treatment is available. In recent years, thanks to the improved clinical management, the life expectancy of these patients extended, disclosing previously unidentified adverse conditions in other organs. In this study, we evaluated the clinical bone complications and the cellular responses in 20 patients (aged 14.

3D physiologically-informed deep learning for drug discovery of a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2).

Angiogenesis is an essential process in tumorigenesis, tumor invasion, and metastasis, and is an intriguing pathway for drug discovery. Targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) to inhibit tumor angiogenic pathways has been widely explored and adopted in clinical practice. However, most drugs, such as the Food and Drug Administration -approved drug axitinib (ATC code: L01EK01), have considerable side effects and limited tolerability.

Comprehensive real time remote monitoring for Parkinson's disease using Quantitative DigitoGraphy.

People with Parkinson's disease (PWP) face critical challenges, including lack of access to neurological care, inadequate measurement and communication of motor symptoms, and suboptimal medication management and compliance. We have developed QDG-Care: a comprehensive connected care platform for Parkinson's disease (PD) that delivers validated, quantitative metrics of all motor signs in PD in real time, monitors the effects of adjusting therapy and medication adherence and is accessible in the electronic health record. In this article, we describe the design and engineering of all components of QDG-Care, including the development and utility of the QDG Mobility and Tremor Severity Scores.

Depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with epilepsy and primary headache: a cross-sectional observational study.

Background: The primary aims of our cross-sectional observational study were: (i) to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with epilepsy compared to controls and (ii) to explore the difference in depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy only and those with epilepsy and primary headache as a comorbidity. The secondary objective was to explore parental stress levels.

Methods: 68 pediatric patients aged 6-18 years (44 with epilepsy only and 24 with epilepsy and headache) and 50 controls were recruited.

Beta Burst-Driven Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Gait Impairment and Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a debilitating symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) that is often refractory to medication. Pathological prolonged beta bursts within the subthalamic nucleus (STN) are associated with both worse impairment and freezing behavior in PD, which are improved with deep brain stimulation (DBS). The goal of the current study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of beta burst-driven adaptive DBS (aDBS) for FOG in PD.

Heterologous SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine for individuals with hematological malignancies after a primary SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine series.

Heterologous COVID-19 vaccine boosters have not been evaluated for patients with hematological malignancies. A Novavax booster was administered for 56 individuals with hematological malignancies who had received a primary COVID-19 series and prior boosters with mRNA vaccines only. Blood specimens were obtained at baseline (pre-vaccine), 28 days, and 168 days after vaccination with the Novavax booster.

Cementum and enamel surface mimicry influences soft tissue cell behavior.

Aims: To test whether titanium surface roughness disparity might be used to specifically guide the behavior of gingiva fibroblasts and keratinocytes, thereby improving the quality of soft tissue (ST) integration around abutments.

Methods: Titanium discs resembling the roughness of enamel (M) or cementum (MA) were created with normal or increased hydrophilicity and used as substrates for human fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Adhesion and proliferation assays were performed to assess cell-type specific responses upon encountering the different surfaces.

Quantitative DigitoGraphy: a Comprehensive Real-Time Remote Monitoring System for Parkinson's Disease.

People with Parkinson's disease (PWP) face critical challenges, including lack of access to neurological care, inadequate measurement and communication of motor symptoms, and suboptimal medication management and compliance. We have developed QDG-Care: a comprehensive connected care platform for Parkinson's disease (PD) that delivers validated, quantitative metrics of all motor signs in PD in real time, monitors the effects of adjusting therapy and medication adherence and is accessible in the electronic health record. In this article, we describe the design and engineering of all components of QDG-Care, including the development and utility of the QDG Mobility and Tremor Severity Scores.

Reflecting the human lip in vitro: Cleft lip skin and mucosa keratinocytes keep their identities.

Objectives: Cell models have shown great promise as tools for research, potentially providing intriguing alternatives to animal models. However, the original tissue characteristics must be maintained in culture, a fact that is often assumed, but seldom assessed. We aimed to follow the retention of the original tissue identities of cleft lip-derived skin and mucosa keratinocytes in vitro.

Anti-Fibronectin Aptamer Modifies Blood Clot Pattern and Stimulates Osteogenesis: An Ex Vivo Study.

Background: Scaffold (SCA) functionalization with aptamers (APT) provides adsorption of specific bioactive molecules on biomaterial surfaces. The aim of this study was to observe if SCA enriched with anti-fibronectin APT can favor coagulum (PhC) and osteoblasts (OSB) differentiation.

Methods: 20 μg of APT was functionalized on SCA by simple adsorption.

Diet-Related Attitudes, Beliefs, and Well-Being in Adolescents with a Vegetarian Lifestyle.

Vegetarianism can meet healthy, ethical, or ecological values (such as equality and protection of animals or the environment). At the same time, it can represent a response to the need for self-determination in adolescence. Furthermore, some studies show vegetarians have greater depressive risk and a lower sense of body satisfaction.

Fixed-duration ibrutinib-venetoclax versus chlorambucil-obinutuzumab in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (GLOW): 4-year follow-up from a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial.

Background: In the GLOW study, fixed-duration ibrutinib-venetoclax showed superior progression-free survival versus chlorambucil-obinutuzumab in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia who were older or had comorbidities, or both, at a median follow up of 27·7 months. In this Article, we report updated outcomes from GLOW after a 46-month median follow-up.

Methods: GLOW was a randomised, multicentre, phase 3 study done at 67 hospital centres across 14 countries.

Neutrophils' Contribution to Periodontitis and Periodontitis-Associated Cardiovascular Diseases.

Neutrophils represent the primary defense against microbial threats playing a pivotal role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. This review examines the multifaceted involvement of neutrophils in periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting structures of teeth summarizing the contribution of neutrophil dysfunction in periodontitis and periodontal-related comorbidities. Periodontitis, a pathological condition promoted by dysbiosis of the oral microbiota, is characterized by the chronic inflammation of the gingiva and subsequent tissue destruction.

Preparation of human primary macrophages to study the polarization from monocyte-derived macrophages to pro- or anti-inflammatory macrophages at biomaterial interface .

Background/purpose: Testing of dental materials when in contact with innate immune cells has been so far hindered by the lack of proper models. Human primary monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) would be an excellent option to this aim. However, the inability to detach them from the tissue culture plates contrast the possibility to culture them on biomaterials.

A chimeric human/dog-DNA vaccine against CSPG4 induces immunity with therapeutic potential in comparative preclinical models of osteosarcoma.

The high mortality rate of osteosarcoma (OSA) patients highlights the requirement of alternative strategies. The young age of patients, as well as the rarity and aggressiveness of the disease, limits opportunities for the robust testing of novel therapies, suggesting the need for valuable preclinical systems. Having previously shown the overexpression of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)4 in OSA, herein the functional consequences of its downmodulation in human OSA cells were evaluated in vitro, with a significant impairment of cell proliferation, migration, and osteosphere generation.

Aptamer-enriched scaffolds for tissue regeneration: a systematic review of the literature.

Aptamers are a brand-new class of receptors that can be exploited to improve the bioactivity of tissue engineering grafts. The aim of this work was to revise the current literature on and studies in order to i) identify current strategies adopted to improve scaffold bioactivity by aptamers; ii) assess effects of aptamer functionalization on cell behavior and iii) on tissue regeneration. Using a systematic search approach original research articles published up to 30 April 2022, were considered and screened.

Characterization of lab-based swarms of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes using 3D-video tracking.

Mosquito copulation is a crucial determinant of its capacity to transmit malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites as well as underpinning several highly-anticipated vector control methodologies such as gene drive and sterile insect technique. For the anopheline mosquitoes responsible for African malaria transmission, mating takes place within crepuscular male swarms which females enter solely to mate. However, the mechanisms that regulate swarm structure or that govern mate choice remain opaque.

Diagnostic Findings and Surgical Management of Three Dogs Affected by Osseous Metaplasia Secondary to a Salivary Mucocele.

Saliva is an irritant of the subcutaneous tissue, thus causing the development of a non-epithelial reactive pseudocapsule. Metaplastic ossification of the pseudocapsule is a condition rarely described in the veterinary literature. The main causes of calcification are trauma, tumours, various chronic inflammatory conditions and .

SREBP activation contributes to fatty acid accumulations in necroptosis.

Necroptosis is a type of programmed cell death. It is characterized by membrane permeabilization and is associated with the release of intracellular components due to compromised membrane integrity which induces a strong inflammatory response. We recently showed that the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) contributes to membrane permeabilization during necroptosis.