Genetically Engineered, Multichromophore Virus-Like Nanoparticles with Ultranarrow Distribution of Emission Intensity.

Variance in the properties of optical mesoscopic probes is often a limiting factor in applications. In the thermodynamic limit, the smaller the probe, the larger the relative variance. However, specific viral protein cages can assemble efficiently outside the bounds of statistical fluctuations at equilibrium through a process that is characterized by intrinsic quality-control and self-limiting capabilities.

The Role of Curcumin in Modulating Vascular Function and Structure during Menopause: A Systematic Review.

The risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) escalates in women during menopause, which is associated with increased vascular endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, and vascular remodeling. Meanwhile, curcumin has been demonstrated to enhance vascular function and structure in various studies. Therefore, this study systematically reviewed the recent literature regarding the potential role of curcumin in modulating vascular function and structure during menopause.

Introducing menus of three weekly insect- or plant-based dinner meals slightly reduced meat consumption in Danish families: Results of a randomized intervention study.

The environmental concerns associated with excess meat consumption have emphasized the need for sustainable alternatives. Edible insects offer a promising alternative due to their environmental efficiency and nutritious profile, but their widespread adoption in Western diets remains a challenge. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of exposing families (parents and children) to insect-based or plant-based dinner menus on dietary pattern, meat intake, and protein intake over a six-week intervention period.

Clinical utility analysis of the Hoxb8 mast cell activation test for the diagnosis of peanut allergy.

Background: Peanut allergy is among the most severe and common food allergies. The diagnosis has a significant impact on the quality of life for patients and their families. An effective management approach depends on accurate, safe, and easily implementable diagnostic methods.

A time-stratified, case-crossover study of heat exposure and perinatal mortality from 16 hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Growing evidence suggests that extreme heat events affect both pregnant women and their infants, but few studies are available from sub-Saharan Africa. Using data from 138,015 singleton births in 16 hospitals in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, we investigated the association between extreme heat and early perinatal deaths, including antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths, and deaths within 24 h after birth using a time-stratified case-crossover design. We observed an association between an increase from the 75th to the 99th percentile in mean temperature 1 week (lag 0-6 d) before childbirth and perinatal mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 1.

Association between ambient air pollution a week prior to delivery and preterm birth using a nationwide study in Sweden.

Background: Air pollution exposure has been linked with increased risk of preterm birth, which is one of the leading causes of infant mortality. Limited studies have attempted to explore these associations in low-polluted areas. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and preterm birth in Sweden.

The Concise Language Paradigm (CLaP), a framework for studying the intersection of comprehension and production: electrophysiological properties.

Studies investigating language commonly isolate one modality or process, focusing on comprehension or production. Here, we present a framework for a paradigm that combines both: the Concise Language Paradigm (CLaP), tapping into comprehension and production within one trial. The trial structure is identical across conditions, presenting a sentence followed by a picture to be named.

The Effect of Niacinamide Supplementation on Phosphate Concentrations in Dutch Dialysis Patients: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Objective: Hyperphosphatemia is a common complication in patients with kidney failure, despite the use of phosphate binders. Vitamin B3, either in the form of niacin or niacinamide (NAM), shows potential as "add-on" treatment to reduce serum phosphate concentrations in this population. NAM seems to lack many of the side effects that are observed with niacin.

Prenatal Exposure to Severe Stress and the Risk of Heart Failure Up to Middle-Age.

Background: Prenatal stress is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but its association with heart failure (HF) is unknown.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether prenatal stress, defined as maternal bereavement, was associated with HF risk up to middle-age.

Methods: This cohort study included 6,758,560 live singleton births from the Danish (1973-2016) and the Swedish (1973-2014) Medical Birth Registers.

Extreme heat, pregnancy and women's well-being in Burkina Faso: an ethnographical study.

Climate change is an increasing threat to the health of populations in Africa, with a shift in seasonal temperatures towards more extreme heat exposures. In Burkina Faso, like other countries in the Sahel, many women have little protection against exposure to high temperatures, either outside or inside the home or place of work. This paper investigates how women perceive the impacts of heat on their physical and mental health, in addition to their social relationships and economic activities.

Too hot to thrive: a qualitative inquiry of community perspectives on the effect of high ambient temperature on postpartum women and neonates in Kilifi, Kenya.

Objective: To understand community perspectives on the effects of high ambient temperature on the health and wellbeing of neonates, and impacts on post-partum women and infant care in Kilifi.

Design: Qualitative study using key informant interviews, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with pregnant and postpartum women (n = 22), mothers-in-law (n = 19), male spouses (n = 20), community health volunteers (CHVs) (n = 22) and stakeholders from health and government ministries (n = 16).

Settings: We conducted our research in Kilifi County in Kenya's Coast Province.

The feasibility of an anti-inflammatory diet in endometriosis: barriers and facilitators perceived by endometriosis patients.

Research Question: What is the feasibility of an anti-inflammatory diet in women diagnosed with endometriosis?

Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews among patients with endometriosis. Transcripts of the focus groups and interviews were thematically analysed using ATLAS.ti 9.

Prenatal Exposure to Severe Stress and Risks of Ischemic Heart Disease and Stroke in Offspring.

Importance: Prenatal stress is associated with increased risks of several cardiovascular risk factors later in life. However, knowledge regarding the role of prenatal stress in the development of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke is very limited.

Objective: To examine prenatal stress, defined as maternal bereavement, and risks of IHD and stroke in the offspring.

Maternal and pregnancy predictive risk factors for having a compensated maternal injury claim: a Swedish nationwide cohort study.

To describe trends and identify maternal and pregnancy predictive risk factors for having a compensated claim for a maternal injury during delivery, as a proxy for having received suboptimal care. This nationwide retrospective cohort study included 1 754 869 births in Sweden between 2000 and 2016, including 4488 maternal injury claims filed with The National Swedish Patient Insurance Company (Löf), of which 1637 were compensated. Descriptive statistics on maternal and pregnancy characteristics, trends in filed/compensated claims over time, and distribution of compensated claims by clinical classification are presented.

Recombinant expression of Yersinia ruckeri outer membrane proteins in Escherichia coli extracellular vesicles.

The secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is a common process in Gram-negative bacteria and can be exploited for biotechnological applications. EVs pose a self-adjuvanting, non-replicative vaccine platform, where membrane and antigens are presented to the host immune system in a non-infectious fashion. The secreted quantity of EVs varies between Gram-negative bacterial species and is comparatively high in the model bacterium E.

Differences in health-related quality of life between native and foreign-born gynaecological cancer patients in Sweden: a five-year cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between native and foreign-born gynaecological cancer patients in Sweden, taking into account clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic factors.

Methods: The 30-item European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and a study-specific questionnaire covering demographic and socioeconomic factors were answered by 684 women aged ≥ 18 years old, diagnosed in 2014, 2016, or 2018 with gynaecological cancer in the Stockholm-Gotland health care region, Sweden. Clinical data were obtained from the Swedish Cancer Register.

Having breakfast has no clinically relevant effect on bioelectrical impedance measurements in healthy adults.

Background: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is commonly used to evaluate body composition as part of nutritional assessment. Current guidelines recommend performing BIA measurements in a fasting state of at least 2 h in a clinical setting and 8 h in a research setting. However, since asking patients with malnutrition or sarcopenia to fast is not desirable and literature to support the strategy in the guidelines is lacking, this study aimed to assess the impact of breakfast on BIA measurements.

Effects of correcting metabolic acidosis on muscle mass and functionality in chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Metabolic acidosis unfavourably influences the nutritional status of patients with non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) including the loss of muscle mass and functionality, but the benefits of correction are uncertain. We investigated the effects of correcting metabolic acidosis on nutritional status in patients with CKD in a systematic review and meta-analysis. A search was conducted in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library from inception to June 2023.

Process and outputs from a community codesign workshop on reducing impact of heat exposure on pregnant and postpartum women and newborns in Kilifi, Kenya.

Background: Ambient heat exposure is increasing due to climate change and is known to affect the health of pregnant and postpartum women, and their newborns. Evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to prevent heat health outcomes in east Africa is limited. Codesigning and integrating local-indigenous and conventional knowledge is essential to develop effective adaptation to climate change.