Gender and sex hormone effects on neonatal innate immune function.

Objectives: Scientific evidence provides a widened view of differences in immune response between male and female neonates. The X-chromosome codes for several genes important in the innate immune response and neonatal innate immune cells express receptors for, and are inhibited by, maternal sex hormones. We hypothesized that sex differences in innate immune responses may be present in the neonatal population which may contribute to the increased susceptibility of premature males to sepsis.

Prader-Willi syndrome: guidance for children and transition into adulthood.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare orphan disease and complex genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, with a birth incidence of approximately 1 in 10,000-30,000. Management of people with PWS requires a multi-disciplinary approach, ideally through a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) clinic with community support. Hypotonia, poor feeding and faltering growth are characteristic features in the neonatal period, followed by hyperphagia and risk of rapid weight gain later in childhood.

Development and characterization of antacid microcapsules to buffer the acidic intervertebral disc microenvironment.

During intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, microenvironmental challenges such as decreasing levels of glucose, oxygen, and pH play crucial roles in cell survival and matrix turnover. Antacids, such as Mg(OH) and CaCO, entrapped in microcapsules are capable of neutralizing acidic microenvironments in a controlled fashion and therefore may offer the potential to improve the acidic niche of the degenerated IVD and enhance cell-based regeneration strategies. The objectives of this work were, first, to develop and characterize antacid microcapsules and assess their neutralization capacity in an acidic microenvironment and, second, to combine antacid microcapsules with cellular microcapsules in a hybrid gel system to investigate their neutralization effect as a potential therapeutic in a disc explant model.

Filtration performance of biofilm membrane bioreactor: Fouling control by threshold flux operation.

Membrane fouling is the major factor that restricts the furtherly widespread use of membrane bioreactor (MBR). As a new generation of MBR, biofilm membrane bioreactor (BF-MBR) demonstrates high treatment efficiency and low sludge growth rate, however the filtration performance improvement and membrane fouling control are still the challenges for its further development. This work investigated the filtration performance using resistance in series model and membrane fouling control via threshold flux for BF-MBR.

The response of the Irish pharmaceutical manufacturing sector to the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on Lean and JIT.

Background: Just in Time (JIT) and Lean manufacturing are concepts that originated in the automotive industry and were then adopted by pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies during the 1990s. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and the urgent demand for pharmaceutical treatment challenged JIT and Lean manufacturing processes. Production of Covid-19-related medicines increased, putting pressure on global supply chains and operations.

Porphyrin Atropisomerism as a Molecular Engineering Tool in Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Recognition, Supramolecular Assembly, and Catalysis.

Porphyrin atropisomerism, which arises from restricted σ-bond rotation between the macrocycle and a sufficiently bulky substituent, was identified in 1969 by Gottwald and Ullman in 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(o-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins. Henceforth, an entirely new field has emerged utilizing this transformative tool. This review strives to explain the consequences of atropisomerism in porphyrins, the methods which have been developed for their separation and analysis and present the diverse array of applications.

Diagnostic accuracy of F Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) PET-CT radiotracers in staging and restaging of high-risk prostate cancer patients and patients with biochemical recurrence: protocol for an overview of reviews.

Correct staging and risk stratification is essential in ensuring prostate cancer patients are offered the most appropriate treatment. Interest has been growing in the use of radiotracers targeting prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), including the use of F-PSMA PET-CT, as part of the primary staging or restaging of prostate cancer. Preliminary scoping identified a number of relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses; however, individually, these each appear to look at only part of the picture.

Brain health in diverse settings: How age, demographics and cognition shape brain function.

Diversity in brain health is influenced by individual differences in demographics and cognition. However, most studies on brain health and diseases have typically controlled for these factors rather than explored their potential to predict brain signals. Here, we assessed the role of individual differences in demographics (age, sex, and education; n = 1298) and cognition (n = 725) as predictors of different metrics usually used in case-control studies.

Pepper mild mottle virus as an effective tool in microbial source tracking for deficient domestic on-site water treatment systems.

Pollution from domestic on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) is a significant contaminant pressure in many rural catchments. However, due to their design, and dispersed proliferation, it is difficult to assess their impact. Water testing methodologies employ bacterial culturing methods and chemical analysis which may lose resolution and/or specificity being confounded by diffuse agricultural sources within a rural environment.

Fluorescent Probes for Disease Diagnosis.

The identification and detection of disease-related biomarkers is essential for early clinical diagnosis, evaluating disease progression, and for the development of therapeutics. Possessing the advantages of high sensitivity and selectivity, fluorescent probes have become effective tools for monitoring disease-related active molecules at the cellular level and . In this review, we describe current fluorescent probes designed for the detection and quantification of key bioactive molecules associated with common diseases, such as organ damage, inflammation, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and brain disorders.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Quaternary α-Aryl Stereocentres in Benzofuran-3(2H)-Ones Using Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation.

The Pd-catalysed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation (DAAA) has been applied to the enantioselective synthesis of sterically hindered benzofuran-3(2H)-one-derived α-aryl-β-keto esters employing the (R,R)-ANDEN phenyl Trost ligand. A range of substrates were synthesised, employing previously developed aryllead triacetate methodology to install various aryl groups. The resulting α-aryl-α-allyl benzofuran-3(2H)-one DAAA products were obtained in moderate to high yields and in enantioselectivities of up to 96 % ee, with the best results observed for substrates containing a di-ortho-substitution pattern on the aryl ring as well as naphthyl-containing substrates.

Demographics, culture and participatory nature of multi-marathoning-An observational study highlighting issues with recommendations.

Objectives: The defining achievement of a multi-marathoner is completing 100 marathons. This study aimed to comprehensively document the phenomenon of multi-marathoning, addressing its demographics, culture and participatory nature, filling a gap in peer-reviewed research on the topic. Additionally, it aimed to provide recommendations for multi-marathon governing bodies, event organisers, health professionals and participants to address identified issues.

Water droplet evaporation in varied gravity and electric fields.

Sessile water droplet evaporation in varied gravity and electric fields has been experimentally studied. Specifically, the influences of gravity and electric fields are investigated in the context of the heat flux distribution beneath the droplets, as well as the droplet mechanics and resulting shapes. Experimental testing was carried out during a European Space Agency (ESA) Parabolic Flight Campaign (PFC 66).

The Role of Intermediaries in Connecting Community-Dwelling Adults to Local Physical Activity and Exercise: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Connecting inactive individuals to local physical activity (PA) and exercise, via intermediaries (professionals who can facilitate and support connections to non-medical services) may be an effective method to tackle physical inactivity. Evidence regarding the processes of intermediaries, the profile of people referred, how connections to local PA and exercise are made and outcomes of these connections is lacking.

Methods: This scoping review followed guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Contribution of microglia to the epileptiform activity that results from neonatal hypoxia.

Microglia are described as the immune cells of the brain, their immune properties have been extensively studied since first described, however, their neural functions have only been explored over the last decade. Microglia have an important role in maintaining homeostasis in the central nervous system by surveying their surroundings to detect pathogens or damage cells. While these are the classical functions described for microglia, more recently their neural functions have been defined; they are critical to the maturation of neurons during embryonic and postnatal development, phagocytic microglia remove excess synapses during development, a process called synaptic pruning, which is important to overall neural maturation.

Role of the addiction clinical nurse specialist in acute hospital settings.

Background: The role of an addiction clinical nurse specialist (ACNS) is focused on individuals who misuse drugs and alcohol, and several benefits of the role have been identified in the literature. When people who misuse substances are admitted to acute general hospitals, there is an opportunity to engage with them and ensure they access support services to facilitate their recovery.

Aim: To determine general nurses' experience of caring for patients who misuse substances, and to gauge nurses' views on the implementation of an ACNS role in an acute general hospital.

Midpalatal miniscrew insertion: The accuracy of digital planning and surgical placement.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the accuracy of palatal miniscrew insertion, evaluating the effect of guide fabrication and surgical placement.

Methods: Guided insertion of bilateral paramedian palatal miniscrews was undertaken using Appliance Designer software (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark). A resin surgical guide (P Pro Surgical Guide; Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) was used.

International consensus on the management of metastatic gastric cancer: step by step in the foggy landscape : Bertinoro Workshop, November 2022.

Background: Many gastric cancer patients in Western countries are diagnosed as metastatic with a median overall survival of less than twelve months using standard chemotherapy. Innovative treatments, like targeted therapy or immunotherapy, have recently proved to ameliorate prognosis, but a general agreement on managing oligometastatic disease has yet to be achieved. An international multi-disciplinary workshop was held in Bertinoro, Italy, in November 2022 to verify whether achieving a consensus on at least some topics was possible.