Patterning Neuroepithelial Cell Sheet a Sustained Chemical Gradient Generated by Localized Passive Diffusion Devices.

Recent advances in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)-derived models open a new avenue for studying early stage human development. While current approaches leverage the self-organizing capability of hPSCs, it remains unclear whether extrinsic morphogen gradients are sufficient to pattern neuroectoderm tissues . While microfluidics or hydrogel-based approaches to generate chemical gradients are well-established, these systems either require continuous pumping or encapsulating cells in gels, making it difficult for adaptation in standard biology laboratories and downstream analysis.

Chest X-ray quantification of admission lung congestion as a prognostic factor in patients admitted for worsening heart failure from the ICALOR cohort study.

Introduction: Chest X-ray (CXR) widely used, but the prognostic value of congestion quantification using CXR remains uncertain. The main objective of the present study was to assess whether initial quantification of lung congestion evaluated by CXR [and its interplay with estimated plasma volume status (ePVS)] in patients with worsening heart failure (WHF) is associated with in-hospital and short-term clinical outcome.

Methods: We studied 117 patients hospitalized for WHF in the ICALOR HF disease management program.

Interactions between mitral valve and left ventricle analysed by 2D speckle tracking in patients with mitral valve prolapse: one more piece to the puzzle.

Aims: Two-dimensional echocardiography often reveals abnormal left ventricle (LV) lateral wall kinetics in patients presenting with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). However, relations between MVP and LV deformation are not clearly established. The aim of this study was to assess and quantify mitral valve chordae, leaflets, and LV myocardial interactions using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE).