JAK-STAT1 as therapeutic target for EGFR deficiency-associated inflammation and scarring alopecia.

The hair follicle stem cell niche is an immune-privileged microenvironment, characterized by reduced antigen presentation, thus shielding against permanent immune-mediated tissue damage. In this study, we demonstrated the protective role of hair follicle-specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) against scarring hair follicle destruction. Mechanistically, disruption of EGFR signaling generated a cell-intrinsic hypersensitivity within the JAK-STAT1 pathway, which, synergistically with interferon gamma expressing CD8 T-cell and NK-cell-mediated inflammation, compromised the stem cell niche.

Association between PM10 exposure and risk of myocardial infarction in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Air pollution has several negative health effects. Particulate matter (PM) is a pollutant that is often linked to health adversities. PM2.

Atomic Force Microscopy of Viruses: Stability, Disassembly, and Genome Release.

In atomic force microscopy (AFM), the probe is a nanometric tip located at the end of a microcantilever which palpates the specimen under study as a blind person manages a walking stick. In this way, AFM allows obtaining nanometric resolution images of individual protein shells, such as viruses, in liquid milieu. Beyond imaging, AFM also enables not only the manipulation of single protein cages but also the evaluation of each physicochemical property which is able of inducing any measurable mechanical perturbation to the microcantilever that holds the tip.

Single-Molecule Analysis of Genome Uncoating from Individual Human Rhinovirus Particles, and Modulation by Antiviral Drugs.

Infection of humans by many viruses is typically initiated by the internalization of a single virion in each of a few susceptible cells. Thus, the outcome of the infection process may depend on stochastic single-molecule events. A crucial process for viral infection, and thus a target for developing antiviral drugs, is the uncoating of the viral genome.

MRI pulmonary artery flow detects lung vascular pathology in preterms with lung disease.

Background: Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) affects the majority of preterm neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and significantly determines long-term mortality through undetected progression into pulmonary hypertension. Our objectives were to associate characteristics of pulmonary artery (PA) flow and cardiac function with BPD-associated PVD near term using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for improved risk stratification.

Methods: Preterms <32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) with/without BPD were clinically monitored including standard echocardiography and prospectively enrolled for 3 T MRI in spontaneous sleep near term (AIRR (Attention to Infants at Respiratory Risks) study).

Exploring nucleic acid condensation and release from individual parvovirus particles with different physicochemical cues.

In the infection cycle, viruses release their genome in the host cell during uncoating. Here we use a variety of physicochemical procedures to induce and monitor the in vitro uncoating of ssDNA from individual Minute Virus of Mice (MVM) particles. Our experiments revealed two pathways of genome release: i) filamentous ssDNA appearing around intact virus particles when using gradual mechanical fatigue and heating at moderate temperature (50 °C).

IL-2 availability regulates the tissue specific phenotype of murine intra-hepatic Tregs.

CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs are known to acquire tissue-specific features and exert cytoprotective and regenerative functions. The extent to which this applies to liver-resident Tregs is unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the phenotypic and functional characteristics of adult murine liver resident Tregs during homeostasis.

Electromechanical Photophysics of GFP Packed Inside Viral Protein Cages Probed by Force-Fluorescence Hybrid Single-Molecule Microscopy.

Packing biomolecules inside virus capsids has opened new avenues for the study of molecular function in confined environments. These systems not only mimic the highly crowded conditions in nature, but also allow their manipulation at the nanoscale for technological applications. Here, green fluorescent proteins are packed in virus-like particles derived from P22 bacteriophage procapsids.

Enhancing Visible-Light Photocatalysis Endohedral Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Organic Dyes.

The encapsulation of an organic dye, 10-phenylphenothiazine (), in the inner cavity of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as a breaking heterogenization strategy is presented. The material was microscopically and spectroscopically characterized, showing intense photoemission when illuminated with visible light at the nanoscale. Thus, was employed as a heterogeneous photocatalyst in single electron transfer dehalogenation reactions under visible light irradiation.

An in vitro study on factors affecting endotoxin neutralization in human plasma using the Limulus amebocyte lysate test.

Endotoxin neutralization, caused by plasma components, makes it difficult to detect endotoxins in human blood. In this study, we investigated which factors influence the recovery of endotoxins using limulus ameobocyte lysate (LAL)-based assays. The individual factors that were examined in more detail were lipoprotein content, type of blood anticoagulation, kinetics and serum levels of divalent cations.

Multilobar Epilepsy Surgery in Childhood and Adolescence: Predictors of Long-Term Seizure Freedom.

Background: Although multilobar resections correspond to one-fifth of pediatric epilepsy surgery, there are little data on long-term seizure control.

Objective: To investigate the long-term seizure outcomes of children and adolescents undergoing multilobar epilepsy surgery and identify their predictors.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we considered 69 consecutive patients that underwent multilobar epilepsy surgery at the age of 10.

Impact of anion exchange adsorbents on regional citrate anticoagulation.

Introduction: Heparin and citrate are commonly used anticoagulants in membrane/adsorption based extracorporeal liver support systems. However, anion exchange resins employed for the removal of negatively charged target molecules including bilirubin may also deplete these anticoagulants due to their negative charge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adsorption of citrate by anion exchange resins and the impact on extracorporeal Ca concentrations.

Focal epilepsy in SCN1A-mutation carrying patients: is there a role for epilepsy surgery?

Variants in the gene SCN1A are a common genetic cause for a wide range of epilepsy phenotypes ranging from febrile seizures to Dravet syndrome. Focal onset seizures and structural lesions can be present in these patients and the question arises whether epilepsy surgery should be considered. We report eight patients (mean age 13y 11mo [SD 8y 1mo], range 3-26y; four females, four males) with SCN1A variants, who underwent epilepsy surgery.

Epilepsy Surgery in the First 3 Years of Life: Predictors of Seizure Freedom and Cognitive Development.

Background: Although the majority of children undergoing epilepsy surgery are younger than 3 yr at epilepsy manifestation, only few actually receive surgical treatment in early childhood. Past studies have, however, suggested that earlier intervention may correlate with superior developmental outcomes.

Objective: To identify predictors for long-term seizure freedom and cognitive development following epilepsy surgery in the first 3 yr of life and determine the appropriate timing for surgical treatment in this age group.

Frontal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery in Childhood and Adolescence: Predictors of Long-Term Seizure Freedom, Overall Cognitive and Adaptive Functioning.

Background: Although frontal lobe resections account for one-third of intralobar resections in pediatric epilepsy surgery, there is a dearth of information regarding long-term seizure freedom, overall cognitive and adaptive functioning.

Objective: To identify outcome predictors and define the appropriate timing for surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 75 consecutive patients aged 10.

The role of ionized calcium and magnesium in regional citrate anticoagulation and its impact on inflammatory parameters.

Introduction: Regional anticoagulation with citrate has been found to be superior to heparin in terms of biocompatibility, and numerous protocols for regional citrate anticoagulation have been published, while a consensus on the target concentration of ionized calcium (Ca2+) in the extracorporeal circuit has not been reached so far.

Methods: The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the impact of different citrate concentrations on coagulation as well as on complement activation and cytokine secretion and to investigate the impact of ionized magnesium (Mg2+) on these parameters.

Results: We found that citrate effectively reduced coagulation, complement activation, and cytokine secretion in a dose-dependent manner and that a target Ca2+ concentration of 0.

Posterior cortex epilepsy surgery in childhood and adolescence: Predictors of long-term seizure outcome.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the long-term seizure outcome of children and adolescents who were undergoing epilepsy surgery in the parietooccipital cortex and determine their predictive factors.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 50 consecutive patients aged 11.1 (mean) ± 5.

Intelligence quotient improves after antiepileptic drug withdrawal following pediatric epilepsy surgery.

Objective: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have cognitive side effects that, particularly in children, may affect intellectual functioning. With the TimeToStop (TTS) study, we showed that timing of AED withdrawal does not majorly influence long-term seizure outcomes. We now aimed to evaluate the effect of AED withdrawal on postoperative intelligence quotient (IQ), and change in IQ (delta IQ) following pediatric epilepsy surgery.

Long-term seizure outcome in 211 patients with focal cortical dysplasia.

Objective: Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is currently recognized as the most common cause of neocortical pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Epilepsy surgery has become an increasingly successful treatment option. Herein, the largest patient cohort reported to date is analyzed regarding long-term outcome and factors relevant for long-term seizure control.

First description of pharmacoresistant epilepsy due to independent bilateral hypothalamic hamartomas.

Hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are rare developmental malformations consisting of mixed neurons and glial cells, usually unilaterally attached to the tuber cinereum or mammillary bodies. We report on two patients, both suffering from pharmacoresistant epilepsy, behavioural and cognitive disturbances. Ictal and interictal electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities appeared bilaterally and multiregionally with right-sided preponderance.

Epilepsy surgery for glioneuronal tumors in childhood: avoid loss of time.

Background: In contrast to the abundance of seizure outcome reports in epilepsy surgery for glioneuronal tumors in childhood and adolescence, there is a dearth of information regarding cognitive outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the seizure and cognitive outcome of children and adolescents that underwent resective surgery for glioneuronal tumor-associated refractory epilepsy and determine their predictive factors.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the presurgical findings, resection types, and outcomes over 1.

Hypothalamic hamartoma: is the epileptogenic zone always hypothalamic? Arguments for independent (third stage) secondary epileptogenesis.

Gelastic seizures associated with hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are a clinicoradiologic syndrome presenting with a variety of symptoms, including pharmacoresistant epilepsy with multiple seizure types, electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities, precocious puberty, behavioral disturbances, and progressive cognitive deterioration. Surgery in adults provides seizure freedom in only one third of patients. The poor results of epilepsy surgery could be explained by an extrahypothalamic epileptogenic zone.

Everolimus for the treatment of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma probably causing seizure aggravation in a child with tuberous sclerosis complex: a case report.

We are reporting on a 13.5-year-old girl with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) who was treated with everolimus because of giant cell astrocytoma and bilateral angiomyolipoma. She suffered from pharmacoresistant partial epilepsy with clusters of tonic and tonic-clonic seizures.

A target-oriented algorithm for citrate-calcium anticoagulation in clinical practice.

Background/aims: Because of a high monitoring demand and an ensuing need for automation of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA), a new semi-automated target-oriented algorithm was developed. The aim of this study was the evaluation of its functionality and safety.

Methods: Fourteen haemodialysis patients were treated 5 times consecutively with RCA.