Fluorescence Analysis of Quinine in Commercial Tonic Waters.

Quinine is known for treating malaria, muscle cramps, and, more recently, has been used as an additive in tonic water due to its bitter taste. However, it was shown that excessive consumption of quinine can have severe side effects on health. In this work, we utilized fluorescence spectroscopy to measure the concentration of quinine in commercial tonic water samples.

Differential DNA Extraction from Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Tests via the EZ1 Advanced XL System.

This differential extraction protocol details the steps for isolating DNA from sample pads used in lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFI) tests, particularly for cases involving mixed biological samples such as semen and menstrual blood, or other evidence related to sexual assault. This procedure utilizes a differential extraction technique applied to sample pads from immunochromatographic tests, where the sample pads serve as the substrate. The method involves two sequential lysis steps to effectively separate non-sperm and sperm fractions, enabling the targeted isolation of distinct cell types for downstream DNA analysis.

In Silico Prediction of Maize microRNA as a Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor: A New Approach to Treating Hyperuricemia Patients.

Introduction: Hyperuricemia is characterized by increased uric acid (UA) in the body. The ability to block xanthine oxidase (XO) is a useful way to check how different bioactive molecules affect hyperuricemia. Previous reports showed the significant effect of corn against hyperuricemia disorder with its anti-XO activity.

RNA Metabolism and the Role of Small RNAs in Regulating Multiple Aspects of RNA Metabolism.

RNA metabolism is focused on RNA molecules and encompasses all the crucial processes an RNA molecule may or will undergo throughout its life cycle. It is an essential cellular process that allows all cells to function effectively. The transcriptomic landscape of a cell is shaped by the processes such as RNA biosynthesis, maturation (RNA processing, folding, and modification), intra- and inter-cellular transport, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, modification, catabolic decay, and retrograde signaling, all of which are interconnected and are essential for cellular RNA homeostasis.

Reversing Decline in Aging Muscles: Expected Trends, Impacts and Remedies.

: Age-related decline in musculoskeletal function is a significant concern, particularly in Western countries facing demographic shifts and increased healthcare demands. This review examines the typical trajectories of musculoskeletal deterioration with age and evaluates the effectiveness of various interventions in preventing or reversing these changes. : The review analyzes documented rates of decline across multiple parameters, including muscle mass, Type II muscle fiber reduction, and decreased motor unit firing rates.

The Evolution of Match Running Performance in the Top Two Spanish Soccer Leagues: A Comparative Four-Season Study.

: This study uniquely examines the evolution of match running performance in official matches over four consecutive seasons (2019/2020-2022/23) within Spain's top two professional soccer leagues (LaLiga). By analyzing differences between competitive league standards (First Division vs. Second Division), this research provides critical insights into how competition levels influence physical performance trends over time.

Exploring the Interplay of Handgrip Neuromuscular, Morphological, and Psychological Characteristics in Tactical Athletes and General Population: Gender- and Occupation-Based Specific Patterns.

Background/objectives: The correlation of handgrip strength (HGS) and morphological characteristics with Big Five personality traits is well documented. However, it is unclear whether these relationships also exist in highly trained and specialized populations, such as tactical athletes, and whether there are specific differences compared to the general population. This study aimed to explore the interplay of handgrip neuromuscular, morphological, and psychological characteristics in tactical athletes and the general population of both genders.

Key Performance Indicators for College American Football Starters: An Exploratory Study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to profile body composition and physical fitness characteristics of collegiate American football starters and (b) to examine differences in key performance indicators across position groups. These indicators included select measures of body composition, joint kinematics, as well as muscular strength and power.

Methods: Sixteen National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division-II American football athletes (age: 22.

Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Its Relation to Exercise Behavior and Preferred Exercise Intensity.

Regular exercise is important for overall health, yet exercise participation in the United States remains low. Exercise promotion depends on identifying factors such as personality that might influence exercise participation. Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), a personality trait described as the tendency to deeply process environmental stimuli, is a psychological factor that may influence exercise participation.

Novel Integration of Spatial and Single-Cell Omics Data Sets Enables Deeper Insights into IPF Pathogenesis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease characterized by repetitive alveolar injuries with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. A crucial need in understanding IPF pathogenesis is identifying cell types associated with histopathological regions, particularly local fibrosis centers known as fibroblast foci. To address this, we integrated published spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) transcriptomics and adopted the Query method and the Overlap method to determine cell type enrichments in histopathological regions.

A Practical Guide to Grade Adjustment or Curving for Pharmacy and Other Professional Health Programs.

The peer-reviewed literature on the adjustment or curving of assessments in health profession programs is almost non-existent. This communication aims to present potential methods of grade adjustment for individual questions or entire assessments. Simulated data for a 25-item assessment were used as an example to analyze the effects of different methods of grade adjustment on students' scores.

Conversion to Glaucoma After Ocular Trauma in Pediatric Patients.

Background: The outcomes of pediatric glaucoma suspects with a history of ocular trauma remains unknown; we describe the rate of conversion to glaucoma of this population of patients at a research-intensive academic center.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series of pediatric patients with a history of open- or closed-globe trauma who were being monitored as pediatric glaucoma suspects at the Wilmer Eye Institute between 2005 and 2016.

Results: A total of 62 eyes from 62 patients with a history of ocular trauma were identified with a median age at presentation of 9.

The Ellipsoid Zone Is a Structural Biomarker for Visual Outcomes in Diabetic Macular Edema and Macular Hole Management.

Objectives: The goal was to study the ellipsoid zone (EZ) as a structural biomarker for final visual outcomes after pharmacological intervention in center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME) and surgical intervention for full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs).

Methods: This was a tertiary care center-based retrospective study. After sample size calculations, data from 64 consecutive cases were collected, with subjects aged between 40 and 60 years.

Effect of Hydration on Viscoelastic Tensile Properties of Sclera.

The present work characterized the effects of hydration on the viscoelastic tensile properties of the sclera. Scleral strips were dissected from the posterior region near the optic nerve head of porcine eyes in the superior-inferior direction. The samples were divided into four hydration groups and their mechanical response was characterized by conducting uniaxial tensile stress-relaxation experiments.

A Strategy for Simultaneous Engineering of Interspecies Cross-Reactivity, Thermostability, and Expression of a Bispecific 5T4 x CD3 DART Molecule for Treatment of Solid Tumors.

Bispecific antibodies represent a promising class of biologics for cancer treatment. However, their dual specificity and complex structure pose challenges in the engineering process, often resulting in molecules with good functional but poor physicochemical properties. To overcome limitations in the properties of an anti-5T4 x anti-CD3 (α5T4 x αCD3) DART molecule, a phage-display method was developed, which succeeded in simultaneously engineering cross-reactivity to the cynomolgus 5T4 ortholog, improving thermostability and the elevating expression level.

Phenomenological Modeling of Antibody Response from Vaccine Strain Composition.

The elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) is a major goal of vaccine design for highly mutable pathogens, such as influenza, HIV, and coronavirus. Although many rational vaccine design strategies for eliciting bnAbs have been devised, their efficacies need to be evaluated in preclinical animal models and in clinical trials. To improve outcomes for such vaccines, it would be useful to develop methods that can predict vaccine efficacies against arbitrary pathogen variants.

Rat as a Predictive Model for Human Clearance and Bioavailability of Monoclonal Antibodies.

Background: The prediction of human clearance (CL) and subcutaneous (SC) bioavailability is a critical aspect of monoclonal antibody (mAb) selection for clinical development. While monkeys are a well-accepted model for predicting human CL, other preclinical species have been less-thoroughly explored. Unlike CL, predicting the bioavailability of SC administered mAbs in humans remains challenging as contributing factors are not well understood, and preclinical models have not been systematically evaluated.

Coupling high-throughput and modeling approaches to streamline early-stage process development for biologics.

Platforms have long been implemented for downstream process development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to streamline development and reduce timelines. These platforms are also increasingly being used for other complex biologics modalities. While development has traditionally been conducted at the lab bench scale in a sequential manner, automated miniaturized and parallelized approaches like RoboColumns and resin plates have also been implemented for chromatographic screening.

Advancing Newborn Screening in Washington State: A Novel Multiplexed LC-MS/MS Proteomic Assay for Wilson Disease and Inborn Errors of Immunity.

For many genetic disorders, there are no specific metabolic biomarkers nor analytical methods suitable for newborn population screening, even where highly effective preemptive treatments are available. The direct measurement of signature peptides as a surrogate marker for the protein in dried blood spots (DBSs) has been shown to successfully identify patients with Wilson Disease (WD) and three life-threatening inborn errors of immunity, X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), and adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADAD). A novel proteomic-based multiplex assay to detect these four conditions from DBS using high-throughput LC-MS/MS was developed and validated.

Development, Validation, and Application of the Paya Hamsan Technologies Underivatized Newborn Screening Assay (PHUNSA) for Inborn Metabolic Disorders in Dried Blood Spot Samples from Iranian Infants.

Screening for inborn metabolic disorders (IMDs) in newborns is an important way to prevent serious metabolic and developmental difficulties that can result in lasting disabilities or even death. Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) provides an efficacious newborn blood spot screening (NBS) mechanism for analyzing dried blood spot specimens (DBSs) for biochemical markers for these conditions. Where possible, the elimination of derivatization in specimen preparation can simplify and streamline analysis.

Parent Reports of Developmental Service Utilization After Newborn Screening.

Newborn screening (NBS) presents an opportunity to identify a subset of babies at birth who are at risk for developmental delays and could benefit from a range of developmental services. Potential developmental services in the United States include Part C Early Intervention (EI), private therapies, and school-based services. Using parent-reported outcomes, this study examined the rates at which a sample of children diagnosed with NBS conditions used each developmental service.

Consolidated Newborn Bloodspot Screening Efforts in Developing Countries in the Asia Pacific-2024.

Approximately half of all births globally occur in the Asia Pacific Region. Concerted efforts to support local activities aimed at developing national newborn screening (NBS) have been ongoing for almost 30 years, first by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and then through volunteer efforts. Sustainable newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) continues to be initiated and develop in many of the countries with developing economies in the region.

Genetic Predisposition to Hippocampal Atrophy and Risk of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Dementia.

Background: There is a paucity of evidence on the association between genetic propensity for hippocampal atrophy with cognitive outcomes. Therefore, we examined the relationship of the polygenic risk score for hippocampal atrophy (PRShp) with the incidence of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as the rates of cognitive decline.

Methods: Participants were drawn from the population-based HELIAD cohort.

Two Clinically Implementable Digital PCR Assessments of DNA Methylation for Diagnosing Heavy Alcohol Consumption.

Background: Heavy alcohol consumption (HAC) has a profound adverse effect on human health. Unfortunately, there is a relative lack of tools that are easily implementable in clinical settings and that can be used to supplement self-reporting in the diagnosis and management of HAC. In part, this paucity is due to limitations of currently available biological measures and a mismatch between available biological measures and the needs of clinicians managing HAC.

Distinguishing Early from Late Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Magnetic Resonance Free-Water Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease. Differentiating early MCI (EMCI) from late MCI (LMCI) is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention. This study used free-water diffusion tensor imaging (fw-DTI) to investigate white matter differences and voxel-based correlations with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores.