Matrix Metallopeptidase 9 Promotes Contraction in Human Uterine Myometrium.

Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) is a secreted zinc-dependent peptidase known for extracellular remodeling. MMP9 is elevated in tissues from women experiencing preterm labor, and previous research has shown that the addition of combined matrix metallopeptidases 2 and 9 (MMP2/9) enhances uterine contractions. We hypothesized that adding MMP9 alone would enhance myometrial contractions and that specific MMP9 inhibition would suppress uterine contractions.

Genetic variation of hemolysin co-regulated protein 1 affects the immunogenicity and pathogenicity of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Hemolysin co-regulated protein 1 (Hcp1) is a component of the cluster 1 Type VI secretion system (T6SS1) that plays a key role during the intracellular lifecycle of Burkholderia pseudomallei. Hcp1 is recognized as a promising target antigen for developing melioidosis diagnostics and vaccines. While the gene encoding Hcp1 is retained across B.

Identification and comparison of -glycome profiles from common dietary protein sources.

The glycomes of bovine whey, egg white, pea, and soy protein isolates are described here. -glycans from four protein isolates were analyzed by HILIC high performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-FLD-QTOF-MS/MS). In total, 33 glycans from bovine whey and egg white and 10 -glycans from soy and pea glycoproteins were identified.

Online Marketing of Alternative Medicine for Heart Failure: An Assessment of Amazon.com.

Background: A wide array of products in the category of complementary or alternative medicine products for cardiovascular disease and prevention are readily available on online retail platforms. However, a critical assessment of these products including their therapeutic claims has not been previously performed.

Methods: "Heart failure supplement" and similar terms were entered into the Amazon.

Ca²⁺ signaling in myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC-MY) and their role as conditional pacemakers in the colon.

Interstitial cells of Cajal in the plane of the myenteric plexus (ICC-MY) serve as electrical pacemakers in the stomach and small intestine. A similar population of cells is found in the colon, but these cells do not appear to generate regular slow wave potentials, as characteristic in more proximal gut regions. Ca handling mechanisms in ICC-MY of the mouse proximal colon were studied using confocal imaging of muscles from animals expressing GCaMP6f exclusively in ICC.

Autologous Fascia Nerve Wrap in a Rodent Primary Epineurial Repair Model and Preliminary Case Series.

Background: Nerve wraps composed of various autologous and bioengineered materials have been used to bolster nerve repair sites. In this study, we describe the novel use of autologous fascia nerve wraps (AFNW) as an adjunct to epineurial repair and evaluate their effect on inflammatory cytokine expression, intraneural collagen deposition and end-organ reinnervation in rats and use of AFNW in a patient case series.

Methods: Lewis rats received sciatic transection with repair either with or without AFNW, sciatic-to-common peroneal nerve transfer with or without AFNW, or sham surgery (n=14/group).

Gene Polymorphisms in Greek Primary Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with distinct clinical subtypes, categorized by hormone receptor status, which exhibits different prognoses and requires personalized treatment approaches. These subtypes included luminal A and luminal B, which have different prognoses. Breast cancer development and progression involve many factors, including interferon-gamma ().

The Safety of Recently Approved Therapeutics in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Recent developments in treatments for both forms of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have led to the approval of multiple agents and modalities within the last few years. Five new medications for both neovascular AMD (nAMD) and geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to nonexudative AMD (neAMD) have been FDA-approved within the last 5 years, along with a new device designed for sustained drug delivery for nAMD. In nAMD, the newest agents approved by the FDA are brolucizumab (Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland), faricimab (F.

T. Howard Somervell: War Surgeon, Everest Pioneer, and Medical Missionary.

A full century has passed since George Leigh-Mallory and Andrew (Sandy) Irvine disappeared on the upper reaches of Mount Everest in June 1924. Theodore Howard Somervell (April 16, 1890-January 23, 1975), mountaineer, surgeon, and medical missionary, also was a key player in the 1924 expedition-as well as the 1922 Everest expedition where he was a member of the first ever team of climbers to break the 8000-m barrier. More commonly known as Howard or T.

Pharmaceutical industry use of key opinion leaders to market prescription opioids: A review of internal industry documents.

Objective: Prescription opioid-related deaths increased by 200 % from 2000 to 2014. There has been limited research regarding channels used by pharmaceutical companies to market prescription opioids. In this study, we investigated pharmaceutical industry use of key opinion leaders (KOLs).

Cost-minimizing thresholds and recurrence rates in surgical evacuation with adjunctive middle meningeal artery embolization versus evacuation alone.

Objective: Cost-minimization approaches for the treatment of patients with chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) are important given the increasing incidence of this pathology, particularly among elderly patients receiving antiplatelet and anticoagulation medications. The use of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) as an adjunct to surgical evacuation has shown promise in reducing surgical recurrence; however, additional costs are involved with this procedure. Using their institutional experience, the authors identified thresholds for cost and the cSDH surgical recurrence rate that could influence treatment decisions in patients requiring surgical evacuation for cSDH.

Incidental Coronary Artery Calcification and the Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes.

Background Incidental findings of coronary artery calcifications (CACs) are not consistently reported, and the clinical significance relating to cardiovascular outcomes remains to be established. In this single-center cross-sectional study, we assessed the association between incidental coronary artery calcification documented on formal chest CT reports and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Methods A MACE was defined as the occurrence of stroke or transient ischemic attack or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Retinal fluid quantification using a novel deep learning algorithm in patients treated with faricimab in the TRUCKEE study.

Background: Investigate retinal fluid changes via a novel deep-learning algorithm in real-world patients receiving faricimab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: Multicenter, retrospective chart review and optical coherence tomography (OCT) image upload from participating sites was conducted on patients treated with faricimab for nAMD from February 2022 to January 2024. The Notal OCT Analyzer (NOA) algorithm provided intraretinal, subretinal and total retinal fluid for each scan.

Prevalence and etiology of strabismus in Down syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis with a focus on ethnic differences in the esotropia/exotropia ratio.

Purpose: We sought to determine the prevalence of strabismus and the esotropia/exotropia ratio in Down syndrome. Wide ranges of an increased strabismus prevalence have been reported and it is unclear by how much esotropia exceeds exotropia in people with Down syndrome.

Methods: We compiled in a systematic review and meta-analysis the results of over 100 studies that report the strabismus prevalence and ratio of esotropia/exotropia in cohorts of Down syndrome.

Design and Characterization of a Novel Intravitreal Dual-Transgene Genetic Medicine for Neovascular Retinopathies.

Purpose: Intravitreal delivery of therapeutic transgenes to the retina via engineered viral vectors can provide sustained local concentrations of therapeutic proteins and thus potentially reduce the treatment burden and improve long-term vision outcomes for patients with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: We performed directed evolution in nonhuman primates (NHP) to invent an adeno-associated viral (AAV) variant (R100) with the capacity to cross vitreoretinal barriers and transduce all regions and layers of the retina following intravitreal injection. We then engineered 4D-150, an R100-based genetic medicine carrying 2 therapeutic transgenes: a codon-optimized sequence encoding aflibercept, a recombinant protein that inhibits VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and PlGF, and a microRNA sequence that inhibits expression of VEGF-C.

Immunohistochemical characterization of interstitial cells and their spatial relationship to motor neurons within the mouse esophagus.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and PDGFRα cells regulate smooth muscle motility in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, yet their function in the esophagus remains unknown. The mouse esophagus has been described as primarily skeletal muscle; however, ICC  have been identified in this region. This study characterizes the distribution of skeletal and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and their spatial relationship to ICC, PDGFRα cells, and intramuscular motor neurons in the mouse esophagus.

The group A pathogenicity island RD2: virulence role and barriers to conjugative transfer.

Serotype M28 isolates of the bacterial pathogen the group A (GAS; ), but not isolates of other serotypes, have a nonrandom association with cases of puerperal sepsis, a life-threatening infection that can occur in women following childbirth. In prior studies, we established that RD2, a pathogenicity island present in all M28 GAS isolates but mostly absent from other serotypes, is a factor in the M28-puerperal sepsis association. Here, we identified a significant reduction in the RD2 conjugation frequency in inter-serotype conjugation assays relative to intra-serotype assays.

Resolution of Angiographic Macular Leakage with Faricimab versus Aflibercept in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema in YOSEMITE/RHINE.

Purpose: To evaluate if dual angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2)/VEGF-A inhibition with faricimab resulted in greater macular leakage resolution versus aflibercept in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Design: Post hoc analysis of macular leakage assessments prespecified in the YOSEMITE/RHINE (NCT03622580/NCT03622593) phase III trials.

Participants: Adults with visual acuity loss due to center-involving DME.

Queer- and trans-inclusive faculty hiring-A call for change.

As queer and trans scientists, we face varied and systemic barriers to our professional success, resulting in our relative absence from faculty ranks at many institutions. In this Perspective, we call for a change in faculty hiring practices and present concrete guidance to make it a more inclusive process.

Integrated responses of the SIP syncytium generate a major motility pattern in the colon.

The peristaltic reflex has been a central concept in gastrointestinal motility; however, evidence was published recently suggesting that post-stimulus responses that follow inhibitory neural responses provide the main propulsive force in colonic motility. This new concept was based on experiments on proximal colon where enteric inhibitory neural inputs are mainly nitrergic. However, the nature of inhibitory neural inputs changes from proximal to distal colon where purinergic inhibitory regulation dominates.