GABAergic amacrine cells balance biased chromatic information in the mouse retina.

The retina extracts chromatic information present in an animal's environment. How this information is processed in the retina is not well understood. In the mouse, chromatic information is not collected equally throughout the retina.

Clinicogenomic characterization of inflammatory breast cancer.

Background: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and poorly characterized type of breast cancer with an aggressive clinical presentation. The biological mechanisms driving the IBC phenotype are relatively undefined-partially due to a lack of comprehensive, large-scale genomic studies and limited clinical cohorts.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2457 patients with metastatic breast cancer who underwent targeted tumor-only DNA-sequencing was performed at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities differ between perennial agroecosystem crops.

Biocrusts, common in natural ecosystems, are specific assemblages of microorganisms at or on the soil surface with associated microorganisms extending into the top centimeter of soil. Agroecosystem biocrusts have similar rates of nitrogen (N) fixation as those in natural ecosystems, but it is unclear how agricultural management influences their composition and function. This study examined the total bacterial and diazotrophic communities of biocrusts in a citrus orchard and a vineyard that shared a similar climate and soil type but differed in management.

Impact of repeated fumigant applications on soil properties, crop yield, and microbial communities in a plastic-mulched tomato production system.

Pre-plant soil fumigation is widely applied to control nematodes, soil-borne fungal pathogens, and weeds in vegetable crops. However, most of the research evaluating the effect of fumigants on crop yield and soil microbial communities has been done on single compounds despite growers mainly applying fumigant combinations. We studied the effect of different fumigant combinations (chloropicrin, 1,3-dichloropropene, and metam potassium) on soil properties, crop yield, and the soil bacterial and fungal microbiome for two consecutive years in a plastic-mulched tomato production system in Florida (United States).

Fabrication and biomechanical characterization of a spider silk reinforced fibrin-based vascular prosthesis.

With fibrin-based vascular prostheses, vascular tissue engineering offers a promising approach for the fabrication of biologically active regenerative vascular grafts. As a potentially autologous biomaterial, fibrin exhibits excellent hemo- and biocompatibility. However, the major problem in the use of fibrin constructs in vascular tissue engineering, which has so far prevented their widespread clinical application, is the insufficient biomechanical stability of unprocessed fibrin matrices.

Spider silk enhanced tissue engineering of cartilage tissue: Approach of a novel bioreactor model using adipose derived stromal cells.

Human cartilage tissue remains a challenge for the development of therapeutic options due to its poor vascularization and reduced regenerative capacities. There are a variety of research approaches dealing with cartilage tissue engineering. In addition to different biomaterials, numerous cell populations have been investigated in bioreactor-supported experimental setups to improve cartilage tissue engineering.

HER2/ERBB2 copy number analysis by targeted next-generation sequencing in breast cancer.

Objectives: A combination of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is the current standard of care for HER2 evaluation in breast cancer. Here, we investigate the potential clinical utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-derived HER2/ERBB2 copy number (CN) data for predicting HER2 status as defined by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines.

Methods: In total, 294 locally recurrent and metastatic breast cancers previously tested by targeted hybrid capture-based NGS and by HER2 IHC/FISH were included.

Comprehensive genomic characterization of HER2-low and HER2-0 breast cancer.

The molecular underpinnings of HER2-low and HER2-0 (IHC 0) breast tumors remain poorly defined. Using genomic findings from 1039 patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer undergoing next-generation sequencing from 7/2013-12/2020, we compare results between HER2-low (n = 487, 47%) and HER2-0 tumors (n = 552, 53%). A significantly higher number of ERBB2 alleles (median copy count: 2.

Organization of Hannover Skin Bank: Sterile culture and procurement protocols for viable cryopreserved allogeneic skin grafts of living donors.

Preserved allogeneic donor skin still represents one of the gold standard therapies in temporary wound coverage in severely burned patients or chronic wounds. Allogeneic skin grafts are currently commercially available as cryo- or glycerol-preserved allografts through skin tissue banks all over the world. Most of the skin tissue banks rely on human cadaveric skin donations.

Spider silk erectile nerve reconstruction in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a first-in-men feasibility analysis.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and feasibility of spider silk interposition for erectile nerve reconstruction in patients undergoing robotic radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Methods: The major-ampullate-dragline from Nephila edulis was used for spider silk nerve reconstruction (SSNR). After removal of the prostate with either uni- or bilateral nerve-sparing, the spider silk was laid out on the site of the neurovascular bundles.

A novel pathway for insurance-based breast reductions: A method for identifying appropriate surgical candidates.

Breast reductions are one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed. The purpose of this study was to streamline the evaluation of patients requiring breast reduction by using a nurse practitioner (NP)-led class to funnel appropriate surgical candidates through the preoperative process. We performed a retrospective review of patients interested in breast reduction who enrolled in this class from March 2015 to August 2021.

Interactions between rootstocks and compost influence the active rhizosphere bacterial communities in citrus.

Background: While the rootstock genotype (belowground part of a plant) can impact rhizosphere microbial communities, few studies have examined the relationships between rootstock genotype-based recruitment of active rhizosphere bacterial communities and the availability of root nutrients for plant uptake. Rootstocks are developed to provide resistance to disease or tolerance of abiotic stresses, and compost application is a common practice to also control biotic and abiotic stresses in crops. In this field study, we examined: (i) the effect of four citrus rootstocks and/or compost application on the abundance, diversity, composition, and predicted functionality of active rhizosphere bacterial communities, and (ii) the relationships between active rhizosphere bacterial communities and root nutrient concentrations, with identification of bacterial taxa significantly correlated with changes in root nutrients in the rhizosphere.

In Vitro Differentiation of Myoblast Cell Lines on Spider Silk Scaffolds in a Rotating Bioreactor for Vascular Tissue Engineering.

Functional construction of tissue-engineered vessels as an alternative to autologous vascular grafts has been shown to be feasible, however the proliferation of seeded smooth-muscle cells remains a limiting factor. We employed a rotating bioreactor system to improve myoblast cell differentiation on a spider silk scaffold for tissue-engineered vessel construction. C2C12 myofibroblast cells were seeded on the surface of spider silk scaffold constructs and cultivated in a rotating bioreactor system with a continuous rotation speed (1 rpm).

Buprenorphine in rats: potent analgesic or trigger for fatal side effects?

With ongoing animal welfare efforts, multimodal analgesia is often recommended to implement in study protocols. Buprenorphine with very potent analgesic effect is a standard opioid for the use in this context in rats. In this study, two rat strains (LEW/NHanZtm, n = 6 and Crl:CD(SD), n = 8) underwent orthopaedic surgery and received carprofen, buprenorphine and a local anaesthetic in a multimodal setup.

Native Rhizobia Improve Plant Growth, Fix N, and Reduce Greenhouse Emissions of Sunnhemp More than Commercial Rhizobia Inoculants in Florida Citrus Orchards.

Sunnhemp ( L.) is an important legume cover crop used in tree cropping systems, where there is increased interest by growers to identify rhizobia to maximize soil nitrogen (N) inputs. We aimed to isolate and identify native rhizobia and compare their capabilities with non-native rhizobia from commercial inoculants to fix atmospheric dinitrogen (N), produce and reduce nitrous oxide (NO), and improve plant growth.

Platelet-derived concentrates influence human keratinocyte proliferation and induce wound healing in a prospective case series of chronic wounds of different entities .

Objectives: Soft tissues defects can extend into the fat layer or even deeper and can cause significant clinical disadvantages like pain, infections, and loss of function. In particular, chronic wounds are difficult to treat, as split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) have varying success rates. To improve wound healing in chronic wounds, the authors have studied the application of platelet-mediator concentrate (PMC) in a human keratinocyte culture model and of autologous platelet concentrates (PRP) in a combination with surgical procedures as second line therapy in patients with initially failed wound closure.

Center-surround interactions underlie bipolar cell motion sensitivity in the mouse retina.

Motion sensing is a critical aspect of vision. We studied the representation of motion in mouse retinal bipolar cells and found that some bipolar cells are radially direction selective, preferring the origin of small object motion trajectories. Using a glutamate sensor, we directly observed bipolar cells synaptic output and found that there are radial direction selective and non-selective bipolar cell types, the majority being selective, and that radial direction selectivity relies on properties of the center-surround receptive field.

A New Standardized Clinical Model for Evaluation of Nerve Guides: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Prospective Study.

Background: Autologous nerve transplantation is the accepted clinical standard for reconstruction of peripheral nerve defects. Bioengineered nerve guides as an alternative to autologous nerve transplantation have been described in previous studies and several different types are commercially available. Examination of the implementation of these devices in the clinical setting is an important step in determining their applicability in reconstructive nerve surgery.

HER2-low inflammatory breast cancer: Clinicopathologic features and prognostic implications.

Background: HER2)-low expression is a predictive biomarker for novel anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugates. However, little is known about its clinical significance in inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).

Methods: Patients diagnosed with HER2-negative IBC between December 1999 and December 2020 were identified from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute IBC registry.

Influence of Tamoxifen on Different Biological Pathways in Tumorigenesis and Transformation in Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Mammary Cells and Mammary Carcinoma Cell Lines-An In Vitro Study.

Breast carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. In cases of hormone-sensitive cells, tamoxifen as an anti-estrogenic substance is a first line medication in the adjuvant setting. The spectrum of autologous breast reconstructions ranges from fat infiltrations to complex microsurgical procedures.

Effect of fumigants and non-fumigants on nematode and weed control, crop yield, and soil microbial diversity and predicted functionality in a strawberry production system.

Fumigants are commonly used to control soil-borne pathogens of high-value crops, but they may also impact non-target soil microorganisms. Increasing interest in the use of sustainable management practices to control plant- and root-parasitic nematodes has resulted in the formulation of non-fumigant nematicides (chemicals or bionematicides) which are considered environmentally friendly alternatives to fumigants. However, the impact of these new products compared to standard fumigants on soil-borne pathogens, plant production, and the diversity and composition of non-target microbial communities in all crops remains unclear.