Protocol for flow cytometry immunophenotyping of human antigen-specific T cells by activation-induced marker and Th1 cytokine detection.

Flow cytometry characterization of antigen-specific polyfunctional T cells is a valuable tool to study adaptive immunity. Here, we present a protocol for flow cytometry immunophenotyping of human antigen-specific T cells by activation-induced marker (AIM) and Th1 cytokine detection. We describe steps for preparing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for stimulation followed by washing and staining PBMCs for flow cytometry.

Exploring the role of the residues into catalytic cavity of inulosucrase from Leuconostoc citreum CW28.

Inulosucrases are enzymes capable of synthesizing inulin polymers using sucrose as the main substrate. The enzymatic activity relies on the catalytic triad within the active site and residues responsible for substrate recognition and orientation, termed carbohydrate-binding subsites. This study investigates the role of specific residues within the catalytic cavity of a truncated version of IslA4 in enzymatic catalysis.

Video telehealth to manage menopausal symptoms after cancer: a prospective study of clinicians and patient satisfaction.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate clinician and patient satisfaction with a novel video conferencing telehealth (VCT) service and barriers to use.

Methods: A prospective observational study (2018-2020) of a statewide VCT service using healthdirect was performed. Participants were clinicians and patients from the Menopausal Symptoms After Cancer service.

Effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and SARS-CoV-2 on antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes with reduced susceptibility in Spain, 2004-20: a national surveillance study.

Background: Epidemiological studies are necessary to explore the effect of current pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) against antibiotic resistance, including the rise of non-vaccine serotypes that are resistant to antibiotics. Hence, epidemiological changes in the antimicrobial pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic were studied.

Methods: In this national surveillance study, we characterised the antimicrobial susceptibility to a panel of antibiotics in 3017 pneumococcal clinical isolates with reduced susceptibility to penicillin during 2004-20 in Spain.

A national longitudinal study evaluating the activity of cefditoren and other antibiotics against non-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae strains during the period 2004-20 in Spain.

Background: Surveillance studies including antibiotic resistance and evolution of pneumococcal serotypes are critical to evaluate the susceptibility of commonly used antibiotics and the contribution of conjugate vaccines against resistant strains.

Objectives: To determine the susceptibility of clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae with reduced susceptibility to penicillin to a panel of antibiotics during the period 2004-20 and characterize the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in the evolution of resistant serotypes.

Methods: We selected 3017 clinical isolates in order to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration to penicillin, amoxicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, levofloxacin and oral cephalosporins, including cefditoren, cefixime and cefpodoxime.

Magnetoliposomes Based on Magnetic/Plasmonic Nanoparticles Loaded with Tricyclic Lactones for Combined Cancer Therapy.

Liposome-like nanoarchitectures containing manganese ferrite nanoparticles covered or decorated with gold were developed for application in dual cancer therapy, combining chemotherapy and photothermia. The magnetic/plasmonic nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, UV/Visible absorption, HR-TEM, and SQUID, exhibiting superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. The average size of the gold-decorated nanoparticles was 26.

Development of Novel Magnetoliposomes Containing Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles Covered with Gold for Applications in Thermotherapy.

Multifunctional nanosystems combining magnetic and plasmonic properties are a promising approach for cancer therapy, allowing magnetic guidance and a local temperature increase. This capability can provide a triggered drug release and synergistic cytotoxic effect in cancer cells. In this work, nickel ferrite/gold nanoparticles were developed, including nickel ferrite magnetic nanoparticles decorated with plasmonic gold nanoparticles and core/shell nanostructures (with a nickel ferrite core and a gold shell).

Exploring factors that impact uptake of risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) in high-risk women.

Objective: Only risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) has been shown to reduce ovarian cancer deaths in high-risk women. Uptake of RRBSO is, however, suboptimal and reasons are not well defined. More information is needed about the barriers to RRBSO and patient needs for information and care.

What information do healthcare professionals need to inform premenopausal women about risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy?

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the unmet information needs of healthcare professionals managing risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) in premenopausal women.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals managing high-risk women in Victoria, Australia. Questions included roles and responsibilities around RRBSO, perceived barriers to uptake of RRBSO, and unmet information needs.

Natural Conception is Safe for HIV-Serodiscordant Couples with Persistent Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy for the Infected Partner.

Sustained use of antiretroviral treatment to achieve a suppressed viral load in persons living with HIV is associated with zero or near-zero risk of sexual and vertical HIV transmission. This has led to an increasing number of HIV-serodiscordant couples (SDCs) who wish to have children. The aim of this study was to describe the most recent results of a protocol for reproductive counseling directed at HIV-SDCs who desire natural conception and to identify some of the factors influencing reproductive success.

SHOC2 phosphatase-dependent RAF dimerization mediates resistance to MEK inhibition in RAS-mutant cancers.

Targeted inhibition of the ERK-MAPK pathway, upregulated in a majority of human cancers, has been hindered in the clinic by drug resistance and toxicity. The MRAS-SHOC2-PP1 (SHOC2 phosphatase) complex plays a key role in RAF-ERK pathway activation by dephosphorylating a critical inhibitory site on RAF kinases. Here we show that genetic inhibition of SHOC2 suppresses tumorigenic growth in a subset of KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines and prominently inhibits tumour development in autochthonous murine KRAS-driven lung cancer models.

High-resolution Immunoelectron Microscopy Techniques for Revealing Distinct Subcellular Type 1 Cannabinoid Receptor Domains in Brain.

Activation of type 1 cannabinoid (CB) receptors by endogenous, exogenous (cannabis derivatives) or synthetic cannabinoids (, CP 55.940, Win-2) has a wide variety of behavioral effects due to the presence of CB receptors in the brain. hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques have been crucial for defining the CB receptor expression and localization at the cellular level.

Magnetoliposomes containing magnesium ferrite nanoparticles as nanocarriers for the model drug curcumin.

Magnesium ferrite nanoparticles, with diameters around 25 nm, were synthesized by coprecipitation method. The magnetic properties indicate a superparamagnetic behaviour, with a maximum magnetization of 16.2 emu g, a coercive field of 22.

A better model of care after surgery for early endometrial cancer - Comprehensive needs assessment and clinical handover to a woman's general practitioner.

Background: Endometrial cancer is the most common invasive gynaecological cancer in Australia. Despite the fact that review after treatment of early endometrial cancer has not been shown to detect recurrent disease, practice at several hospitals brings women back for specialist hospital review for 5 years after definitive cancer surgery.

Aim: Implement an improved model of follow-up care following hospital treatment for early endometrial cancer.

Updates in Pediatric Regional Anesthesia and Its Role in the Treatment of Acute Pain in the Ambulatory Setting.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest advances in pediatric regional anesthesia with special emphasis on its role in the ambulatory surgical setting.

Recent Findings: Undertreated pain in children following ambulatory surgery is not a rare occurrence and it is associated with increased morbidity and significant psychosocial harm. Use of regional anesthesia as part of the anesthetic approach in the ambulatory setting is safe when performed on children under general anesthesia and inclusion of certain adjuncts improves block outcomes.

Factors associated with seminal impairment in HIV-infected men under antiretroviral therapy.

Study Question: How do semen parameters of HIV-infected men under antiretroviral treatment compare with WHO parameters of normal semen, and what factors are associated with any differences?

Summary Answer: Semen quality in most HIV-infected patients under antiretroviral treatment exceeds WHO limits, but the number falling below them is higher than would be expected in a healthy population. Exposure to efavirenz has a significant association with dysmotility.

What Is Known Already: Dysmotility is the most frequently described sperm alteration related to HIV infection, and it has recently been linked to treatment with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, particularly to efavirenz.

Natural conception in HIV-serodiscordant couples with the infected partner in suppressive antiretroviral therapy: A prospective cohort study.

The potential of antiretroviral treatment (ART) to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV has increased the number of serodiscordant couples who are considering natural conception. We aim to describe the results of a protocol for reproductive counseling aimed at HIV serodiscordant couples who desire natural conception, in which the infected partner, the index case, is receiving suppressive antiretroviral treatment.A prospective cohort included all HIV serodiscordant couples attended a counseling program in the period 2002 to 2013 who opted for natural conception and met the following criteria: index case on ART with persistent plasma viral suppression for at least the previous 6 months, ART compliance over 95%, preserved immune status, undetectable HIV viral and proviral load in semen in male index cases, and absence of genitourinary infections and fertility problems in both members of the couple.

Absence of transmission from HIV-infected individuals with HAART to their heterosexual serodiscordant partners.

Background: Further studies are needed to evaluate the level of effectiveness and durability of HAART to reduce the risk of HIV sexual transmission in serodiscordant couples having unprotected sexual practices.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with prospective cohort of heterosexual HIV serodiscordant couples where the only risk factor for HIV transmission to the uninfected partner (sexual partner) was the sexual relationship with the infected partner (index case). HIV prevalence in sexual partners at enrolment and seroconversions in follow-up were compared by antiretroviral treatment in the index partner, HIV plasma viral load in index cases and sexual risk exposures in sexual partners.

Reproductive desire in women with HIV infection in Spain, associated factors and motivations: a mixed-method study.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy has created new expectations in the possibilities of procreation for persons living with HIV. Our objectives were to evaluate reproductive desire and to analyze the associated sociodemographic and clinical factors in HIV-infected women in the Spanish AIDS Research Network Cohort (CoRIS).

Methods: A mixed qualitative-quantitative approach was designed.

Interaction between anions and cationic metal complexes containing tridentate ligands with exo-C-H groups: complex stability and hydrogen bonding.

[Re(CO)3 ([9]aneS3 )][BAr'4 ] (1), prepared by reaction of ReBr(CO)5 , 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane ([9]aneS3 ) and NaBAr'4 , forms stable, soluble supramolecular adducts with chloride (2), bromide, methanosulfonate (3) and fluoride (4) anions. These new species were characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy and, for 2 and 3, also by X-ray diffraction. The results of the solid state structure determinations indicate the formation of CH⋅⋅⋅X hydrogen bonds between the anion (X) and the exo-CH groups of the [9]aneS3 ligand, in accord with the relatively large shifts found by (1) H NMR spectroscopy in dichloromethane solution for those hydrogens.

Improving maternal perinatal mental health: integrated care for all women versus screening for depression.

Objective: The objective of this article is to highlight the debate about universal routine screening and psychosocial assessment in the perinatal period, and suggest an alternative/additional approach to improving maternal perinatal mental illness.

Conclusions: Universal routine screening and psychosocial assessment in the perinatal period has been introduced in Australia despite a lack of evidence that this affects perinatal maternal morbidity. Furthermore, this approach is not designed to detect maternal illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, although it is these women and their infants who have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality.