Urban Governance, Multisectoral Action, and Civic Engagement for Population Health, Wellbeing, and Equity in Urban Settings: A Systematic Review.

To identify the validated and reliable indicators and tools to assess good governance for population health, wellbeing, and equity in urban settings, and assess processes of multisectoral action and civic engagement as reported by peer-reviewed articles. We conducted a systematic review searching six databases for observational studies reporting strategies of either urban health, multisectoral action or civic engagement for wellbeing, health, or equity. Out of 8,154 studies initially identified we included 17.

Opportunities and short-comings of the axolotl salamander heart as a model system of human single ventricle and excessive trabeculation.

Few experimental model systems are available for the rare congenital heart diseases of double inlet left ventricle (DILV), a subgroup of univentricular hearts, and excessive trabeculation (ET), or noncompaction. Here, we explore the heart of the axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum, Shaw 1789) as model system of these diseases. Using micro-echocardiography, we assessed the form and function of the heart of the axolotl, an amphibian, and compared this to human DILV (n = 3).

Complement Regulation in Immortalized Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes and Primary Human Endothelial Cells in Response to SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine TNFα.

: Case reports are available showing that patients develop symptoms of acute arthritis during or after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since the interrelation is still unknown, our aim was to study the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) on human fibroblast-like synoviocytes and human endothelial cells (hEC) in terms of complement and cytokine regulation. : Non-arthritic (K4IM) synoviocyte, arthritic (HSE) synoviocyte cell lines and primary hEC were stimulated with recombinant NP and/or TNFα.

Identification of CD105 (endoglin) as novel risk marker in CLL.

Several genetic and clinical markers are established as prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, additional markers are needed for risk stratification. Flow cytometric analysis is a mainstay of CLL diagnostics, thus identification of novel prognostic surface markers can improve risk assessment without increasing burden for patients and physicians.

Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age.

Present-day people from England and Wales have more ancestry derived from early European farmers (EEF) than did people of the Early Bronze Age. To understand this, here we generated genome-wide data from 793 individuals, increasing data from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age in Britain by 12-fold, and western and central Europe by 3.5-fold.

Immunoprofiling of 4-1BB Expression Predicts Outcome in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

Recent success of novel therapies has improved treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, but most of them still require several treatment regimes. To improve treatment choice, prognostic markers suitable for prediction of disease outcome are required. Several molecular/genetic markers have been established, but accessibility for the entirety of all patients is limited.

Integrated Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessments Late After Fontan Operation.

Background: Several clinical and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived parameters have been shown to be associated with death or heart transplant late after the Fontan operation.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the relative importance and interactions of clinical and CMR-based parameters for risk stratification after the Fontan operation.

Methods: Fontan patients were retrospectively reviewed.

Experiences With Health Care Services in Switzerland Among Immigrant Women With Chronic Illnesses.

Descriptive data indicate a high burden of chronic illness among immigrant women in Switzerland. Little is known about how immigrant women with chronic illnesses experience healthcare services. This paper presents a methodological approach theoretically informed by Sen's capability approach and Levesque's framework of access to healthcare to study patient-reported experiences (PREs) of Swiss healthcare services among immigrant women with chronic conditions.

GDF-15 (Growth Differentiation Factor 15) Is Associated With Hospitalization and Mortality in Patients With a Fontan Circulation.

Background We investigated serial serum levels of GDF-15 (growth differentiation factor 15) in Fontan patients and their relation to outcome. Methods and Results In this single-center prospective study of consecutive Fontan patients, serial serum GDF-15 measurement and clinical assessment was done at baseline (n=81) and after 2 years (n=51). The association between GDF-15 and the combined end point of all-cause mortality, heart transplant listing, and Fontan-related hospitalization was investigated.

Serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking indicates early worsening of cardiac function in Fontan patients.

Background: In Fontan patients, attrition of ventricular function is well recognized, but early detection of ventricular dysfunction is difficult. The aim of this study is to longitudinally assess ventricular strain in Fontan patients using a new method for cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking, and to investigate the relationship between ventricular strain and cardiac systolic function.

Methods And Results: In this prospective, standardized follow-up study in 51 Fontan patients, age ≥ 10 years, CMR and concomitant clinical assessment was done at the start of the study and after 2 years.

Profilin1-Dependent F-Actin Assembly Controls Division of Apical Radial Glia and Neocortex Development.

Neocortex development depends on neural stem cell proliferation, cell differentiation, neurogenesis, and neuronal migration. Cytoskeletal regulation is critical for all these processes, but the underlying mechanisms are only poorly understood. We previously implicated the cytoskeletal regulator profilin1 in cerebellar granule neuron migration.

Natural History of Double Inlet Left Ventricle and Pulmonary Hypertension in an Adult Patient.

Almost 80% of univentricular cardiac malformations with left morphology consist of a double inlet left ventricle (DILV). We report on the natural history of a 28-year-old male patient with DILV and ventriculoarterial discordance, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hypertension and juxtaductal aortic coarctation. ().

Pulmonary artery size is associated with functional clinical status in the Fontan circulation.

Objective: In the Fontan circulation, non-pulsatile pulmonary blood flow is suggested to negatively affect pulmonary artery growth. The pulmonary vasculature is regarded a key determinant of outcome after Fontan completion. We hypothesised that in Fontan patients pulmonary artery size correlates with follow-up and functional clinical status.

CMR feature tracking left ventricular strain-rate predicts ventricular tachyarrhythmia, but not deterioration of ventricular function in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Myocardial strain has been shown to predict outcome in various cardiovascular diseases, including congenital heart diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking derived strain parameters in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) patients for developing ventricular tachycardia (VT) and deterioration of ventricular function.

Methods: Patients with rTOF who underwent CMR investigation were included.

[Hormone Therapy During Peri- and Postmenopause].

The recently published 18-year-follow-up of the WHI-study might resolve the long-standing dispute about hormone therapy, possibly reconciling the opposing parties attributing life-threatening risks to either the administration or the withholding of hormone therapy. 16 608 women without hysterectomy had taken either combined hormone therapy with estrogen and progestin or placebo for an average of 5.2 years, while 10 739 women after hysterectomy (and bilateral ovarectomy in 40 %) had taken either estrogen therapy alone or placebo for an average of 7 years.

The Aphid-Transmitted Differentially Affects Volatiles Emission and Subsequent Vector Behavior in Two Plants.

Aphids are important pests which cause direct damage by feeding or indirect prejudice by transmitting plant viruses. Viruses are known to induce modifications of plant cues in ways that can alter vector behavior and virus transmission. In this work, we addressed whether the modifications induced by the aphid-transmitted (TuYV) in the model plant also apply to the cultivated plant , both belonging to the family.

Transmission of by Is Reduced by Feeding Aphids on Double-Stranded RNA Targeting the Ephrin Receptor Protein.

Aphid-transmitted plant viruses are a threat for major crops causing massive economic loss worldwide. Members in the family are transmitted by aphids in a circulative and non-replicative mode. Virions are acquired by aphids when ingesting sap from infected plants and are transported through the gut and the accessory salivary gland (ASG) cells by a transcytosis mechanism relying on virus-specific receptors largely unknown.

Self-assembled thermoresponsive nanostructures of hyaluronic acid conjugates for osteoarthritis therapy.

Under pathological conditions, joints and skin are often affected by an imbalance in the breakdown and production of hyaluronic acid (HA). The unique biochemical and biomechanical properties provided by HA must be restored for the long-term lubrication and cushioning effects. To overcome the inconvenience of repeated injections and the rapid degradation of exogenous HA treatments, HA is conjugated to a thermosensitive polymer, enabling the spontaneous formation of nanoparticles (HA Nano) at body temperature.

Intracardiac anatomical relationships and potential for streaming in double inlet left ventricles.

The aim of this study was to gain better understanding of the variable anatomical features of double inlet left ventricle hearts without cavopulmonary connection that would potentially facilitate favorable streaming. Thirty-nine post-mortem specimens of double inlet left ventricle without cavopulmonary connection were investigated. The focus was on anatomical characteristics that could influence the flow and separation of deoxygenated and oxygenated blood in the ventricles.

Both Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency and Signs of Pancreatic Inflammation Are Prevalent in Children with Complicated Severe Acute Malnutrition: An Observational Study.

Objectives: To assess whether pancreatic function is impaired in children with severe acute malnutrition, is different between edematous vs nonedematous malnutrition, and improves by nutritional rehabilitation.

Study Design: We followed 89 children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. Stool and blood samples were taken on admission and 3 days after initial stabilization to determine exocrine pancreatic function via fecal elastase-1 (FE-1) and serum trypsinogen and amylase levels.

Effects of Particle Size, Electronic Connectivity, and Incoherent Nanoscale Domains on the Sequence of Lithiation in LiFePO₄ Porous Electrodes.

High-resolution X-ray microscopy is used to investigate the sequence of lithiation in LiFePO4 porous electrodes. For electrodes with homogeneous interparticle electronic connectivity via the carbon black network, the smaller particles lithiate first. For electrodes with heterogeneous connectivity, the better-connected particles preferentially lithiate.

PLANT VOLATILES. Biosynthesis of monoterpene scent compounds in roses.

The scent of roses (Rosa x hybrida) is composed of hundreds of volatile molecules. Monoterpenes represent up to 70% percent of the scent content in some cultivars, such as the Papa Meilland rose. Monoterpene biosynthesis in plants relies on plastid-localized terpene synthases.

End-ischemic machine perfusion reduces bile duct injury in donation after circulatory death rat donor livers independent of the machine perfusion temperature.

A short period of oxygenated machine perfusion (MP) after static cold storage (SCS) may reduce biliary injury in donation after cardiac death (DCD) donor livers. However, the ideal perfusion temperature for protection of the bile ducts is unknown. In this study, the optimal perfusion temperature for protection of the bile ducts was assessed.

The SWEET family of sugar transporters in grapevine: VvSWEET4 is involved in the interaction with Botrytis cinerea.

During plant development, sugar export is determinant in multiple processes such as nectar production, pollen development and long-distance sucrose transport. The plant SWEET family of sugar transporters is a recently identified protein family of sugar uniporters. In rice, SWEET transporters are the target of extracellular bacteria, which have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to modify their expression and acquire sugars to sustain their growth.