Unidirectional neuronal cell growth and differentiation on aligned polyhydroxyalkanoate blend microfibres with varying diameters.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of prokaryotic-derived biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymers known to exhibit neuroregenerative properties. In this work, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB), and poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), P(3HO), have been combined to form blend fibres for directional guidance of neuronal cell growth and differentiation. A 25:75 P(3HO)/P(3HB) blend (PHA blend) was used for the manufacturing of electrospun fibres as resorbable scaffolds to be used as internal guidance lumen structures in nerve conduits.

Resilience of BST-2/Tetherin structure to single amino acid substitutions.

Human tetherin, also known as BST-2 or CD317, is a dimeric, extracellular membrane-bound protein that consists of N and C terminal membrane anchors connected by an extracellular domain. BST-2 is involved in binding enveloped viruses, such as HIV, and inhibiting viral release in addition to a role in NF-kB signaling. Viral tethering by tetherin can be disrupted by the interaction with Vpu in HIV-1 in addition to other viral proteins.

Blood pressure and burden of hypertension in Cameroon, a microcosm of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies.

Objective: To estimate national and geography-based variations in blood pressure and burden of hypertension in Cameroon, generally called 'miniature Africa'.

Methods: PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science, Popline, Scopus and BDSP were searched through November 2018, for hypertension studies among Cameroonians aged at least 18 years. Hypertension was measured as SBP at least 140 mmHg or DBP at least 90 mmHg.

Feasibility of a tapering opioids prescription program for trauma patients at high risk of chronic consumption (TOPP-trauma): protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) and deaths related to the chronic use of opioids have increased significantly over the last two decades. Chronic consumption of opioids has been documented in many patients with traumatic injuries. Preliminary research findings have shown that interventions using cognitive-behavioral strategies were a promising adjunct in decreasing the burden associated with opioid consumption.

Beyond electrostatics: Antimicrobial peptide selectivity and the influence of cholesterol-mediated fluidity and lipid chain length on protegrin-1 activity.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising class of innate host defense molecules for next-generation antibiotics, as they uniquely target and permeabilize membranes of pathogens. This selectivity has been explained by the electrostatic attraction between these predominantly cationic peptides and the bacterial membrane, which is heavily populated with anionic lipids. However, AMP-resistant bacteria have non-electrostatic countermeasures that modulate membrane rigidity and thickness.

Choosing sides: unusual ultrafast charge transfer pathways in an asymmetric electron-accepting cyclophane that binds an electron donor.

Constructing functional molecular systems for solar energy conversion and quantum information science requires a fundamental understanding of electron transfer in donor-bridge-acceptor (D-B-A) systems as well as competitive reaction pathways in acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) and acceptor-donor-acceptor' (A-D-A') systems. Herein we present a supramolecular complex comprising a tetracationic cyclophane having both phenyl-extended viologen (ExV) and dipyridylthiazolothiazole (TTz) electron acceptors doubly-linked by means of two -xylylene linkers (TTzExVBox), which readily incorporates a perylene (Per) guest in its cavity (Per ⊂ TTzExVBox) to establish an A-D-A' system, in which the ExV and TTz units serve as competing electron acceptors with different reduction potentials. Photoexcitation of the Per guest yields both TTz˙-Per˙-ExV and TTz-Per˙-ExV˙ in <1 ps, while back electron transfer in TTz-Per˙-ExV˙ proceeds the unusual sequence TTz-Per˙-ExV˙ → TTz˙-Per˙-ExV → TTz-Per-ExV.

Gold Nanoparticle-Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy from Photosensitiser-Entrapped Ormosil Nanoparticles.

Herein, we investigate the effect of the surface attachment of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on photosensitiser-entrapped organically modified silica (ormosil) nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT). Photosensitiser methylene blue (MB)-entrapped ormosil nanoparticles of three different diameters (30/55/80 nm) were synthesised, and AuNPs were attached to their surface. Subsequent light irradiation with a 630 nm laser resulted in the production of singlet oxygen (O₂), with different amounts depending on the diameter of the ormosil nanoparticle.

Ultrasonographic comparison of the lateral epicondyle in wheelchair-user (and able-bodied) tennis players: A pilot study.

To evaluate whether manual wheelchair use and wheelchair tennis are associated with increased risk of lateral epicondylosis (LE). We hypothesized that the prevalence of LE would be highest in WC tennis players, followed by tennis players, WC users, and able-bodied subjects. Prospective cross-sectional pilot study.

Green synthesis of cadmium oxide decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites and its electrical and antibacterial properties.

A green, efficient synthesis of cadmium oxide decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (RGO/CdO) was prepared by one-step co-precipitation and hydrothermal method. Crystalline nature of the nanocomposites was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. To evaluate the structural morphology and particle size, high resolution transmission electron microscopy were used.

Preparation and characterization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetically guided drug delivery.

Iron oxide nanoparticles have unique magnetic properties and therefore readily respond to applied magnetic fields. Moreover, their surfaces can be used to attach active molecules via various covalent or noncovalent interactions. Thus, they can be used as drug carriers for magnetically controlled delivery to specific biological sites of interest.

Melting of the Vortex Lattice through Intermediate Hexatic Fluid in an a-MoGe Thin Film.

The hexatic fluid refers to a phase in between a solid and a liquid that has short-range positional order but quasi-long-range orientational order. In the celebrated theory of Berezinskii, Kosterlitz, and Thouless and subsequently refined by Halperin, Nelson, and Young, it was predicted that a two-dimensional hexagonal solid can melt in two steps: first, through a transformation from a solid to a hexatic fluid, which retains quasi-long-range orientational order; and then from a hexatic fluid to an isotropic liquid. In this Letter, using a combination of real space imaging and transport measurements, we show that the two-dimensional vortex lattice in an a-MoGe thin film follows this sequence of melting as the magnetic field is increased.

Chimeric temporopareital osteofascial and temporalis muscle flap; a novel method for the reconstruction of composite orbito-maxillary defects.

Reconstruction of midface defects are extremely challenging owing to the lack of suitable vascularized local flaps. The temporoparietal fascia and temporalis muscle flaps make excellent choices for midface and orbito-maxillary reconstruction. The muscle provides adequate thickness while the fascia yields pliable soft tissues for lining the midface.

Nucleic Acid Therapeutics in Huntington's Disease.

Background: Protein misfolding is a critical factor in the progression of a large number of neurodegenerative diseases. The incorrectly folded protein is prone to aggregation, leading to aberrant interaction with other cellular proteins, elevated oxidative stress, impaired cellular machinery, finally resulting in cell death. Due to its monogenic origin, Huntington's disease (HD) is a poster child of protein misfolding neurodegenerative disorders.

Cycles of protein condensation and discharge in nuclear organelles studied by fluorescence lifetime imaging.

Nuclear organelles are viscous droplets, created by concentration-dependent condensation and liquid-liquid phase separation of soluble proteins. Nuclear organelles have been actively investigated for their role in cellular regulation and disease. However, these studies are highly challenging to perform in live cells, and therefore, their physico-chemical properties are still poorly understood.

Depicting the DNA binding and photo-nuclease ability of anti-mycobacterial drug rifampicin: A biophysical and molecular docking perspective.

Rifampicin, an important member of ansamycin family, exhibits various biological activities. It is frequently used for the treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy. Recently, its interaction with protein is evidenced.

Styloid-stylohyoid syndrome: a rare cause of cranio-facial pain-a retrospective case series of 12 patients.

Purpose: Elongated styloid process results in severe cranio-facial/cervico-facial pain. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of treatment outcomes using transcervical approach in the management of styloid-stylohyoid syndrome/styloid syndrome.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study.

Biosynthesis and characterization of a novel, biocompatible medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate by Pseudomonas mendocina CH50 using coconut oil as the carbon source.

This study validated the utilization of triacylglycerides (TAGs) by Pseudomonas mendocina CH50, a wild type strain, resulting in the production of novel mcl-PHAs with unique physical properties. A PHA yield of 58% dcw was obtained using 20 g/L of coconut oil. Chemical and structural characterisation confirmed that the mcl-PHA produced was a terpolymer comprising of three different repeating monomer units, 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 3-hydroxydecanoate and 3-hydroxydodecanoate or P(3HO-3HD-3HDD).

Effect of cellulose nanocrystals on the performance of drug loaded in situ gelling thermo-responsive ophthalmic formulations.

Triblock poloxamer copolymer (PM) has been extensively utilized to deliver various ophthalmic pharmaceutical compounds. The aim of efficient ophthalmic drug delivery strategy is to attain the longer precorneal resident time and good bioavailability of drugs. In this pursuit, the influence of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on the in situ gelation behavior of PM and in vitro release of pilocarpine hydrochloride from the nanocomposites formulations was studied.

Hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery versus laparoscopy as a day-care procedure: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) versus total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) as a day-care procedure.

Design: Parallel group, 1:1 randomised single-centre single-blinded trial, designed as a non-inferiority study with a margin of 15%.

Setting: Belgian teaching hospital.

Does methylprednisolone improve postoperative outcomes after mandibular third molar surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to investigate whether methylprednisolone (MP) administered via any route improves postoperative outcomes (pain, trismus, and oedema) following mandibular third molar surgery. An electronic search of the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar databases was performed to identify studies published in English up until January 2018. A total of 28 studies were included in the review: 25 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and three controlled clinical trials.

Doxorubicin-loaded casein nanoparticles for drug delivery: Preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation.

Casein, a milk protein that self-assembles to form micelles in aqueous solution, can bind to a wide range of drugs (hydrophilic and hydrophobic). Herein, a low cost and facile method was reported to prepare casein nanoparticles loaded with an anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX). The particles were fabricated by adding an excess of Ca ions which brings the soluble casein present in the solution into the micellar framework to form dense nanoparticles.

[Burnout syndrome: definition, typology and management].

Although burnout syndrome was first described clinically about sixty years ago, it hasn't yet found its place in the classification of mental disorders. The wide range of clinical signs and aetiopathogenic theories has certainly contributed to this situation. There are different clinical forms of burnout and various therapeutic strategies.