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Clin Chem Lab Med 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Laboratory of Clinical Neurochemistry, Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

Objectives: Cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein (CSF α-syn) represents a possible biomarker in Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis. CSF blood contamination can introduce a bias in α-syn measurement. To date, CSF samples with a red blood cells (RBC) count >50 RBC × 10/L or haemoglobin (Hb) concentration >200 μg/L are excluded from biomarker studies. Read More

Parasitol Int 2021 May 3:102374. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Republic of Korea; Department of Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Vietnam achieved outstanding success against malaria in the last few decades. The mortality and morbidity of malaria in Vietnam have decreased remarkably in recent years, but malaria is still a major public health concern in the country, particularly in the Central Highlands region. In this study, molecular analyses of malaria parasites in the Central Highlands were performed to understand the population structure and genetic diversity of the parasites circulating in the region. Read More

Biotechniques 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Centre for Molecular Medicine & Biobanking, University of Malta, MSD 2080, Malta.

In this study, DNA was extracted from whole blood which had been collected and stored at -20°C for 5-18 years, with the aim of determining the most suitable commercial DNA extraction kit for this purpose. DNA from nine cord blood samples collected in 1999, 2001 and 2012, with low blood volumes (<1 ml), and a partly dried adult blood sample collected in 2003, having a large blood volume (6 ml) was extracted using four different DNA extraction kits: Quick-DNA Miniprep Plus kit, DNeasy Blood & Tissue kit, MagAttract HMW DNA kit and QIAamp Blood Maxi kit. We concluded that high-quality DNA can be extracted from whole blood sample collections which have been stored for even up to 18 years in a biobank at -20°C. Read More

Anal Chem 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Function Molecule, Ministry of Education; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Controllable Preparation and Functional Application of Fine Polymers; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for New Energy Storage and Conversion; Function Film Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, P. R. China.

Herein, we proposed an innovative visual quantitative sensing strategy based on thiol-ene click chemistry and the capillary action principle. A triethoxyvinylsilane (VTEO)- or mercaptopropylsilatrane (MPS)-modified interface was prepared for analyte recognition. Target analyte molecules containing thiol groups or C═C double bonds are coupled to the VTEO- or MPS-modified inner surface of the glass capillary tube via a thiol-ene click reaction, respectively. Read More

Blood Adv 2021 May;5(9):2412-2425

Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Advances in cancer genomics have revealed genomic classes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by class-defining mutations, such as chimeric fusion genes or in genes such as NPM1, MLL, and CEBPA. These class-defining mutations frequently synergize with internal tandem duplications in FLT3 (FLT3-ITDs) to drive leukemogenesis. However, ∼20% of FLT3-ITD-positive AMLs bare no class-defining mutations, and mechanisms of leukemic transformation in these cases are unknown. Read More

Anal Methods 2021 May;13(17):1995-2004

Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.

How to further improve the throughput of capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a fascinating question. Herein an idea to substantially increase the throughput of CE has been proposed together with theory and experimental demonstration. The key is to introduce samples for CE, one after another, by a short suspension of voltage application, which was hence termed separation-interrupted sequential injections (Sisi). Read More

Clin Exp Dent Res 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Department of Prosthodontics and Materials Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the possible ability of dental impression tray adhesives to serve as a transmission medium for bacteria and fungi when reusable adhesive applicators are utilized.

Materials And Methods: Ten flasks with tray adhesive were monitored over a period of 12 weeks during clinical use for contamination with bacteria or fungi. Adhesive fluid samples were cultivated on eight different culture media. Read More

Vet Med Sci 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Italy.

Although suspected hepatopathy in dogs can be assessed by the blood levels of both liver enzyme activities and functional liver parameters, very often the precise diagnosis of primary or secondary hepatobiliary diseases can remain uncertain. Therefore, in a number of patients, the therapeutic intervention has the purpose of slowing the progression of fibrosis and provide for optimal hepatic support. Recently the PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors) have been identified as a family of hepatic nuclear hormonal receptors, involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. Read More

Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.

Aims: To explore variables associated with the serological response following COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.

Methods: Eighty-six healthcare workers adhering to the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 were enrolled in January-February 2021. All subjects underwent two COVID-19 mRNA vaccine inoculations (Pfizer/BioNTech) separated by three weeks. Read More

J Clin Lab Anal 2021 May 6:e23791. Epub 2021 May 6.

The First Affiliated Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Cyrus Tang Medical Institute, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, National Clinical Research Center for Hematological Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Background: Tumor-educated platelets (TEPs) may enable blood-based cancer diagnosis. This study aimed to identify diagnostic TEPs genes involved in carcinogenesis.

Materials And Methods: The TEPs differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between healthy samples and early/advanced cancer samples were obtained using bioinformatics. Read More

Transfusion 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Blood Service, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium.

Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) remain a major concern for the safety of blood transfusion. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the trend of HBV prevalence and associated risk factors among a first-time donor population in a low endemic country.

Study Design And Methods: Between 2010 and 2018, blood samples were collected from first-time donors presented at donor collection sites of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. Read More

Br J Nutr 2021 May 6:1-39. Epub 2021 May 6.

Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the mixed evidence of almond consumption on HbA1c stems from testing people with different body fat distributions (BFD) associated with different risks of glucose intolerance. A 6-month RCT in 134 adults was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to the almond (A) or control (C) group based on their BFD. Read More

J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 May 6:10406387211014486. Epub 2021 May 6.

DPIRD Diagnostics & Laboratory Services, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia, South Perth, Australia.

We developed a sandwich ELISA that detects C and D toxins and reverse-transcription real-time PCRs (RT-rtPCRs) that detect botulinum C and D toxin genes, respectively, to replace the mouse bioassay. The toxin genes were closely associated with the toxin molecules and used as surrogates for the presence of toxin. Samples (638) from 103 clinical cases of birds (302) with suspected botulinum toxicity came from wild birds and poultry (9 cases). Read More

J Appl Physiol (1985) 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Center for Health and Performance, Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Myocellular stress with high-frequency blood flow restricted resistance exercise (BFRRE) was investigated by measures of heat shock protein (HSP) responses, glycogen content and inflammatory markers. Thirteen participants (24±2 years [mean±SD], 9 males) completed two 5-day-blocks of 7 BFRRE sessions, separated by 10 days. Four sets of unilateral knee extensions to failure at 20% of 1RM were performed. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2021 May 6:e020606. Epub 2021 May 6.

Inserm DCAC Université de Lorraine Nancy France.

Background Short leukocyte telomere length (TL) is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Endothelial repair plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. The objective was to examine associations between TL and proliferative dynamics of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), which behave as progenitor cells displaying endothelial repair activity. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Aims: The Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) risk scores differentiate survivals in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, measurements of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the peripheral blood may not adequately reflect early-stage decompensated heart failure (HF). Given that right heart catheterization (RHC) can facilitate measurements of intracardiac NT-proBNP, in this study our aim was to evaluate the predictive role of right ventricular (RV) NT-proBNP measurements in patients with PAH. Read More

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2021 May 5:e9121. Epub 2021 May 5.

Proteome Center Rostock, Medical Faculty and Natural Science Faculty, University of Rostock, Schillingallee 69, 18057, Rostock, Germany.

Rationale: To open new ways for MALDI-MS-based patient screening, blood serum is the most preferred specimen because of its richness in patho-physiological information and due to ease of collection. To overcome deleterious freeze/thaw cycles and to reduce high costs for shipping and storage, we sought to develop a procedure which enables MALDI-MS protein profiling of blood serum proteins without the need for serum freezing.

Methods: Blood sera from patients/donors were divided into portions which after pre-incubation were fast frozen. Read More

Aust Vet J 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, 2678, Australia.

Objective: Design, develop and trial an intravaginal device able to remain within the bovine vagina for up to 6 months, accommodating various technologies, while not adversely affecting the cow, or pregnancy.

Methods: Device scoping required minimal interference with vaginal drainage, no constant pressure on any single point of the vaginal mucosa and minimal footprint on the vaginal floor. A polycarbonate prototype was developed consisting of a central cargo space to house sensors and battery, with a separate retention module. Read More

Pediatr Nephrol 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.

Background: We sought to determine differences in the circulating metabolic profile of infants with or without acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiothoracic surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of preoperative and 24-h postoperative serum samples from infants ≤ 120 days old undergoing CPB. Metabolic profiling of the serum samples was performed by targeted analysis of 165 serum metabolites via tandem mass spectrometry. Read More

Hum Reprod 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Study Question: Do phytocannabinoids (PCs) affect follicular endocannabinoid signalling and the epigenome in the surrounding granulosa cells (GCs)?

Summary Answer: Exposure to PCs increases the expression of endocannabinoid receptors and reduces DNA methylation enzyme expression and global DNA methylation in naïve GCs.

What Is Known Already: Cannabis plant derivatives, known as PCs, are used for medicinal and recreational purposes. The main PC, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is the third most commonly used substance by women of childbearing age, hence knowledge of the effect it has on reproduction is of utmost importance. Read More

Genetics 2019 Jul;212(3):905-918

School of Biological Sciences and Center for Integrative Genomics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332.

Expression QTL (eQTL) detection has emerged as an important tool for unraveling the relationship between genetic risk factors and disease or clinical phenotypes. Most studies are predicated on the assumption that only a single causal variant explains the association signal in each interval. This greatly simplifies the statistical modeling, but is liable to biases in scenarios where multiple local causal-variants are responsible. Read More

Genetics 2019 Jul;212(3):905-918

School of Biological Sciences and Center for Integrative Genomics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332.

Expression QTL (eQTL) detection has emerged as an important tool for unraveling the relationship between genetic risk factors and disease or clinical phenotypes. Most studies are predicated on the assumption that only a single causal variant explains the association signal in each interval. This greatly simplifies the statistical modeling, but is liable to biases in scenarios where multiple local causal-variants are responsible. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2021 16;2021:5549847. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.

Background: species, which is previously considered as medically not important, now becomes one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections. Even though it becomes the most public health concern and emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen, there is no enough data in the study area.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance pattern, and associated risk factors of enterococci infection in pediatric patients. Read More

PeerJ 2021 14;9:e11207. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) has gained increasing attention owing to its role in replication of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in HBV. This marker has the potential to be used in clinical programs aimed to manage HBV infections. However, several reports on HBV pgRNA levels in clinical cases have conflicting results. Read More

Vet Res Forum 2021 15;12(1):133-135. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

Congenital ichthyosis is a disease associated with hair loss and the presence of horny plates in the epidermis, covering the whole skin. The leading cause of the disease in humans and animals is genetic disorders, and they can be found in mild and severe forms. In June 2015, a newly born calf of the Holstein breed was referred to the Livestock Veterinary Hospital internal ward, Shabestar, Iran. Read More

Vet Res Forum 2021 15;12(1):129-131. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

DVM Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Myxoma is a benign mesenchymal tumor of skin and soft connective tissues considered to be of fibroblastic origin. A female bearded dragon () with a raised mass on the left side of the body was referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. The mass had become evident and grew more extensive within the previous 11-month period. Read More

Iran J Basic Med Sci 2021 Feb;24(2):240-247

Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Department of Anatomical Science, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Objectives: The burden of disease and death related to environmental pollution is becoming a major public health challenge, especially in developing countries. This study was designed to investigate the effect of dust exposure on liver function and its structure in rats. Gallic acid (GA) as a potent anti-oxidant was also used to treat NAFLD in rats exposed to dust. Read More

Iran J Basic Med Sci 2021 Feb;24(2):175-183

Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Objectives: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is the leading cause of acute kidney injury. This study aimed to elucidate the reno-protective effect of gamma-oryzanol (GO) by comparing gavage and intraperitoneal (IP) administration methods on renal I/R injury in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: Rats were divided into four groups including (group 1) sham, (group 2) I/R-control, (group 3) I/R+GO gavage-treated, and (group 4) I/R+ GO IP-treated. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2021 19;12:658511. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.

Uridine diphosphate (UDP) is an extracellular nucleotide signaling molecule implicated in diverse biological processes via specific activation of pyrimidinergic receptor P2Y, G Protein-Coupled, 6 (P2Y6). There is very little knowledge about the function and mechanism of UDP in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study used a quasi-targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) approach to investigate the unique expression of metabolites in RA synovial fluids (SF) ( = 10) with samples from osteoarthritis (OA) as controls ( = 10). Read More

J Inflamm Res 2021 28;14:1689-1699. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China.

Background: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), but the predictive factors, based on cytokines and immunocytes of survival, are still lacking. This study aimed to establish a risk model based on cytokines and immunocytes for LAPC patients undergoing IRE treatment.

Patients And Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 31 LAPC patients and 8 healthy control subjects before IRE. Read More