Validation and performance of microvue sC5b-9 plus ELISA on the Dynex DS2 platform.

Background: The complement membrane attack complex involves C5b-mediated assembly of C6-C9 polymers to form pores in cell membranes during complement activation. Inactive complexes can become soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9) when they bind to Protein S. Elevated sC5b-9 levels are associated with increased risk of hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA), a serious condition which can be improved with eculizumab therapy.

Testosterone Effects on Short-Term Physical, Hormonal, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants with 47,XXY/Klinefelter Syndrome: The TESTO Randomized Controlled Trial.

Context: 47,XXY/Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) is associated with impaired testicular function and differences in physical growth, metabolism, and neurodevelopment. Clinical features of XXY may be attributable to inadequate testosterone during the mini-puberty period of infancy.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that exogenous testosterone treatment positively effects short-term physical, hormonal, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with XXY.

Mid-Pregnancy Placental Transcriptome in a Model of Placental Insufficiency with and without Novel Intervention.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects between 5-10% of all live births. Placental insufficiency is a leading cause of FGR, resulting in reduced nutrient and oxygen delivery to the fetus. Currently, there are no effective in utero treatment options for FGR, or placental insufficiency.

MOLGENIS Armadillo: a lightweight server for federated analysis using DataSHIELD.

Summary: Extensive human health data from cohort studies, national registries, and biobanks can reveal lifecourse risk factors impacting health. Combining these sources offers increased statistical power, rare outcome detection, replication of findings, and extended study periods. Traditionally, this required data transfer to a central location or separate partner analyses with pooled summary statistics, posing ethical, legal, and time constraints.

Federated privacy-protected meta- and mega-omics data analysis in multi-center studies with a fully open-source analytic platform.

The importance of maintaining data privacy and complying with regulatory requirements is highlighted especially when sharing omic data between different research centers. This challenge is even more pronounced in the scenario where a multi-center effort for collaborative omics studies is necessary. OmicSHIELD is introduced as an open-source tool aimed at overcoming these challenges by enabling privacy-protected federated analysis of sensitive omic data.

Placental nanoparticle-mediated IGF1 gene therapy corrects fetal growth restriction in a guinea pig model.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) caused by placental insufficiency is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is currently no in utero treatment for placental insufficiency or FGR. The placenta serves as the vital communication, supply, exchange, and defense organ for the developing fetus and offers an excellent opportunity for therapeutic interventions.

Placental gene therapy in nonhuman primates: a pilot study of maternal, placental, and fetal response to non-viral, polymeric nanoparticle delivery of IGF1.

Currently, there are no placenta-targeted treatments to alter the in utero environment for administration to pregnant women who receive a diagnosis of fetal growth restriction (FGR). Water-soluble polymers have a distinguished record of clinical relevance outside of pregnancy. We have demonstrated the effective delivery of polymer-based nanoparticles containing a non-viral human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) transgene to correct placental insufficiency in small animal models of FGR.

Maternal-fetal interfaces transcriptome changes associated with placental insufficiency and a novel gene therapy intervention.

The etiology of fetal growth restriction (FGR) is multifactorial, although many cases often involve placental insufficiency. Placental insufficiency is associated with inadequate trophoblast invasion, resulting in high resistance to blood flow, decreased availability of nutrients, and increased hypoxia. We have developed a nonviral, polymer-based nanoparticle that facilitates delivery and transient gene expression of human insulin-like 1 growth factor () in placental trophoblast for the treatment of placenta insufficiency and FGR.

Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of placental gene therapy via uterine artery catheterization in a pregnant rhesus macaque.

Nanoparticles offer promise as a mechanism to non-invasively deliver targeted placental therapeutics. Our previous studies utilizing intraplacental administration demonstrate efficient nanoparticle uptake into placental trophoblast cells and overexpression of human IGF1 (hIGF1). Nanoparticle-mediated placental overexpression of hIGF1 in small animal models of placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction improved nutrient transport and restored fetal growth.

Mechanisms of Polyethylene Terephthalate Pellet Fragmentation into Nanoplastics and Assimilable Carbons by Wastewater .

bacteria are enriched on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) microplastics in wastewaters and urban rivers, but the PET-degrading mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated these mechanisms with KF-1, a wastewater isolate, by combining microscopy, spectroscopy, proteomics, protein modeling, and genetic engineering. Compared to minor dents on PET films, scanning electron microscopy revealed significant fragmentation of PET pellets, resulting in a 3.

RIPK1 is essential for Herpes Simplex Virus-triggered ZBP1-dependent necroptosis in human cells.

Necroptosis initiated by the host sensor Z-NA Binding Protein-1 (ZBP1) is essential for host defense against a growing number of viruses, including Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1). Studies with HSV-1 and other necroptogenic stimuli in murine settings have suggested that ZBP1 triggers necroptosis by directly complexing with the kinase RIPK3. Whether this is also the case in human cells, or whether additional co-factors are needed for ZBP1-mediated necroptosis, is unclear.

Nurses navigating moral distress, resilience, and team dynamics: A literature review.

Background: This manuscript explores the pervasive issue of moral distress among nurses and its impact on their well-being and professional satisfaction. Focusing on diverse factors contributing to moral distress, the review spans various experience levels and patient care settings.

Method: Utilizing integrative reviews and sourcing from PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and ProQuest, the study synthesizes findings from studies worldwide.

Significant metabolic alterations in mouse dams exposed to an environmental mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during gestation and lactation: Insights into PCB and metabolite profiles.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their metabolites are linked to developmental neurotoxicity, but their levels in the gestational and lactational environment remain unexplored. This study investigated the effects of dietary exposure to the Fox River Mixture (FRM) on serum levels of PCBs and their metabolites in female C57BL/6 J mice. Mice were exposed to 0.

Quantifying the Spectrum of Early Motor and Language Milestones in Sex Chromosome Trisomy.

Background And Objectives: Sex chromosome trisomy (SCT) is a common chromosomal abnormality associated with increased risks for early developmental delays and neurodevelopmental disorders later in childhood. Our objective was to quantify the spectrum of early developmental milestones in SCT. We hypothesized later milestone achievement in SCT than the general population.

Breast cancer research gaps: a questionnaire-based study to determine overall priorities and compare the priorities of patients, the public, clinicians and scientists.

Objective: This study aims to prioritise the themes identified from the three gap analyses performed by a combination of scientists, clinicians, patients and members of the public to determine areas in breast cancer care where research is lacking. We also aimed to compare the priorities of areas of agreed research need between patients, the public, clinicians and scientists.

Design: A cross-section of patients, public, clinicians and scientists completed a prioritisation exercise to rank the identified themes where research is lacking in breast cancer care.

Risk factors for prolonged length of hospital stay following elective hip replacement surgery: a retrospective longitudinal observational study.

Objectives: Our aim was to identify which patients are likely to stay in hospital longer following total hip replacement surgery.

Design: Longitudinal, observational study used routinely collected data.

Setting: Data were collected from an NHS Trust in South-West England between 2016 and 2019.

Quantifying Dendritic Arbors In Vitro and In Vivo in Rodent Models.

Dendritic arborization is a critical determinant of neuronal connectivity. The structure of a neuron's dendritic arbor determines the number of synaptic inputs a neuron can receive and how it processes synaptic input from other neurons. Here, we describe methods for visualizing and quantifying the dendritic arbor in primary cell cultures and in the intact rodent brain.

Impact of protein and small molecule interactions on kinase conformations.

Protein kinases act as central molecular switches in the control of cellular functions. Alterations in the regulation and function of protein kinases may provoke diseases including cancer. In this study we investigate the conformational states of such disease-associated kinases using the high sensitivity of the kinase conformation (KinCon) reporter system.

Maternal-fetal interfaces transcriptome changes associated with placental insufficiency and a novel gene therapy intervention.

The etiology of fetal growth restriction (FGR) is multifactorial, although many cases often involve placental insufficiency. Placental insufficiency is associated with inadequate trophoblast invasion resulting in high resistance to blood flow, decreased availability of nutrients, and increased hypoxia. We have developed a non-viral, polymer-based nanoparticle that facilitates delivery and transient gene expression of ( ) in placental trophoblast for the treatment of placenta insufficiency and FGR.

Developmental exposure to the Fox River PCB mixture modulates behavior in juvenile mice.

Developmental exposures to PCBs are implicated in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). This observation is concerning given the continued presence of PCBs in the human environment and the increasing incidence of NDDs. Previous studies reported that developmental exposure to legacy commercial PCB mixtures (Aroclors) or single PCB congeners found in Aroclors caused NDD-relevant behavioral phenotypes in animal models.

A RIPK1-specific PROTAC degrader achieves potent antitumor activity by enhancing immunogenic cell death.

Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) functions as a critical stress sentinel that coordinates cell survival, inflammation, and immunogenic cell death (ICD). Although the catalytic function of RIPK1 is required to trigger cell death, its non-catalytic scaffold function mediates strong pro-survival signaling. Accordingly, cancer cells can hijack RIPK1 to block necroptosis and evade immune detection.