Using a citizen science approach to assess nanoplastics pollution in remote high-altitude glaciers.

Nanoplastics are suspected to pollute every environment on Earth, including very remote areas reached via atmospheric transport. We approached the challenge of measuring environmental nanoplastics by combining high-sensitivity TD-PTR-MS (thermal desorption-proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry) with trained mountaineers sampling high-altitude glaciers ("citizen science"). Particles < 1 μm were analysed for common polymers (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and tire wear particles), revealing nanoplastic concentrations ranging 2-80 ng mL at five of 14 sites.

Blood-brain barrier disruption and microglial activation during hypoxia and post-hypoxic recovery in aged mice.

Hypoxia triggers blood-brain barrier disruption and a strong microglial activation response around leaky cerebral blood vessels. These events are greatly amplified in aged mice which is translationally relevant because aged patients are far more likely to suffer hypoxic events from heart or lung disease, and because of the pathogenic role of blood-brain barrier breakdown in vascular dementia. Importantly, it is currently unclear if disrupted cerebral blood vessels spontaneously repair and if they do, whether surrounding microglia deactivates.

Devices for aortoiliac occlusive disease.

Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) has traditionally been repaired with open surgery. However, with advancements in endovascular devices and techniques, many have adopted endovascular first approach, even for complex lesions. Stenting is the fundamental technique for endovascular treatment of AIOD, has been proven to be effective and safe.