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This research constructs a 26 GHz waveguide slot antenna with decent gain. The application of millimeter-wave requires high bandwidth and gain to increase the traffic and users for millimeter-wave and 5G technology. The application of millimeter waves requires a high gain and bandwidth to achieve the requirements of traffic and users increasing for 5G technology and existing millimeter-wave. High-gain and power handling are provided by waveguide slot antennas. Three waveguide structures which are two waveguide antennae and a waveguide horn have been simulated by using CST and fabricated by a 3D printer. The tilt technique has been used with a waveguide to increase the bandwidth and gain of an antenna. A waveguide with broad wall tilt slots has one diction beam while a waveguide with broad and narrow wall tilt slots has two direction beams, each length of the wall enough to distribute six symmetric tilt slots. The gain of 14.3 dB and 1.9 GHz bandwidth are recorded for an antenna with broad wall tilt slots with one beam. While the waveguide with broad and narrow wall tilt slots achieved a gain of 13.9dB and a bandwidth of 1.9 GHz. The proposed antenna is a decent candidate for use with millimeter waves.

Background Ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection (VA-LRTI) is common among critically ill patients and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In acute critical illness, respiratory microbiome disruption indices (MDIs) have been shown to predict risk for VA-LRTI, but their utility beyond the first days of critical illness is unknown. We sought to characterize how MDIs previously shown to predict VA-LRTI at initiation of mechanical ventilation change with prolonged mechanical ventilation, and if they remain associated with VA-LRTI risk. Methods We developed a cohort of 83 subjects admitted to a long-term acute care hospital due to their prolonged dependence on mechanical ventilation; performed dense, longitudinal sampling of the lower respiratory tract, collecting 1066 specimens; and characterized the lower respiratory microbiome by 16S rRNA sequencing as well as total bacterial abundance by 16S rRNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Cross-sectional MDIs, including low Shannon diversity and high total bacterial abundance, were associated with risk for VA-LRTI, but associations had wide posterior credible intervals. Persistent lower respiratory microbiome disruption showed a more robust association with VA-LRTI risk, with each day of (base e) Shannon diversity Conclusions Cross-sectional MDIs have limited ability to discriminate VA-LRTI risk during prolonged mechanical ventilation, but persistent lower respiratory tract microbiome disruption, best characterized by consecutive days with low Shannon diversity, may identify a population at high risk for infection and may help target infection-prevention interventions.

Firearm injury is a disease that is disproportionately prevalent in the United States. When a bullet hits a human being, it brings together multiple structural determinants of health into one acute, life-changing event. Firearm injury can lead to long-term mental and physical challenges for individuals, families, and communities. Despite the impact of this disease, physicians often underestimate their role in not only treating but also preventing firearm injury. Physicians can intervene through screening, counseling, community engagement, and advocacy, and can mobilize the health care systems they serve to engage with injury prevention. Physicians also play a key role in expanding the knowledge base on firearm injury through much-needed research on the epidemiology, context, and outcomes of firearm injury. When we treat firearm injury as a disease, we can develop and implement interventions from the clinic to the statehouse that can curb profound harms. This work and these opportunities belong not only to emergency physicians and trauma surgeons, but to all fields that evaluate and assess patients over the life course.

Background Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a convenient to use biomarker of airway inflammation. However, the mutual relationship between FeNO, peripheral blood eosinophil, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and inflammatory cytokines showed some controversy. Objective This study was carried out to determine the accuracy of peripheral blood eosinophil and total IgE to detect eosinophilic airway inflammation as determined by two FeNO cutoff points. The correlation between FeNO, peripheral blood eosinophil, total IgE and certain inflammatory cytokines was also examined. Methods Seventy-six patients with partly controlled asthma performed the following tests on the same day: FeNO, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), peripheral blood eosinophils, total IgE, and inflammatory cytokine assay. The correlation between these markers was investigated and the diagnostic accuracy of peripheral blood eosinophils and total IgE to identify eosinophilic asthma phenotype was calculated using receiver operating characteristics area under the curve (ROC AUC). Results FeNO was positively correlated with percentage of blood eosinophils (r=0.276, p=0.017) and total blood IgE (r=0.3647; p=0.0013). No relationship between FeNO and serum inflammatory cytokines was detected. AUC of blood eosinophils and total IgE were 57% and 64% at FeNO ≥25 ppb and were 67% and 64% at FeNO >50, respectively. The higher predictive ability was detected at FeNO >50 ppb where the best cutoff point for blood eosinophil % was ≥4.0% (sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 60.0%) and the best cutoff point for total IgE was ≥350 (sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 63.6%). Conclusion In patients with partly controlled asthma, peripheral blood eosinophil and total IgE showed equal useful accuracy in predicting eosinophilic airways. However, higher predictive values were reported at FeNO level >50 ppb. FeNO was positively correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil, total IgE but not with any of the studied cytokines.

DNA tensegrity triangles self-assemble into rhombohedral three-dimensional crystals via sticky ended cohesion. Crystals containing two-nucleotide (nt) sticky ends (GA:TC) have been reported previously, and those crystals diffracted to 4.9 Å at beam line NSLS-I-X25. Here, we analyze the effect of varying sticky end lengths and sequences, as well as the impact of 5’- and 3’-phosphates on crystal formation and resolution. Tensegrity triangle motifs having 1-, 2- and 3-nt sticky ends all form crystals. X-ray diffraction data from the same beam line reveal that the crystal resolution for a 1-nt sticky end (G:C) and a 3-nt sticky end (GAT:ATC) were 3.4 Å and 4.2 Å respectively. Resolutions were determined from complete data sets in each case. We also conducted trials that examined every possible combination of 1-nucleotide and 2-nucleotide sticky-ended phosphorylated strands and successfully crystallized all 16 possible combinations of strands. We observed the position of the 5’-phosphate on either the crossover (1), helical (2), or central strand (3) affected the resolution of the self-assembled crystals for the 2-turn monomer (3.0 Å for 1–2P-3P) and 2-turn dimer sticky ended (4.1 Å for 1–2-3P) systems. We have also examined the impact of the identity of the base flanking the sticky ends, as well as the use of 3’-sticky ends. We conclude that crystal resolution is not a simple consequence of the thermodynamics of the direct nucleotide pairing interactions involved in molecular cohesion in this system.

Early mobilization (EM) is practiced for intensive care unit (ICU) patients in many hospitals in the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia. Respiratory care professionals’ knowledge about using EM was, therefore, surveyed and investigated to improve and update its practice and ultimately to develop related regulations and policies. A survey including 156 respiratory care professionals was conducted using a validated questionnaire. The focus was on collecting information on participants’ relevant backgrounds and on proper use of EM. Knowledge and proper use of EM were calculated in relation to participants’ demographic and professional characteristics. The statistical analysis using analysis of variance and Student t-test showed that factors that affected knowledge of EM were the respiratory care professional’s age, gender, nationality, and years of experience in intensive care medicine. How many patients these professionals treated using EM also significantly correlated with their knowledge of EM. The survey showed the extent of respiratory care professionals’ knowledge about the proper use of EM. More importantly, the survey also identified important shortfalls in practice of some experienced medical practitioners.

Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) has been used to estimate quantitative viral load, with the goal of targeting isolation precautions for individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and guiding public health interventions. However, variability in specimen quality can alter the Ct values obtained from SARS-CoV-2 clinical assays. We sought to define how variable nasopharyngeal (NP) swab quality impacts clinical SARS-CoV-2 test sensitivity. Methods We performed amplification of a human gene target (β-actin) in parallel with a clinical RT-PCR targeting the SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab gene for 1282 NP specimens collected from patients with clinical concern for COVID-19. We evaluated the relationship between NP specimen quality, characterized by late Ct values for the human gene target β-actin Ct, and the probability of SARS-CoV-2 detection via logistic regression, as well as the linear relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and β-actin Ct. Results Low-quality NP swabs are less likely to detect SARS-CoV-2 (odds ratio, 0.607 [95% credible interval {CrI}, .487–.753]). We observed a positive linear relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and β-actin Ct values (slope, 0.181 [95% CrI, .097–.264]), consistent with a reduction in detection of 0.181 cycles for each additional cycle of the β-actin target. COVID-19 disease severity was not associated with β-actin Ct values. Conclusions Variability in NP specimen quality significantly impacts the performance of clinical SARS-CoV-2 assays, and caution should be taken when interpreting quantitative SARS-CoV-2 Ct results. If unrecognized, low-quality NP specimens, which are characterized by a low level of amplifiable human DNA target, may limit the successful application of SARS-CoV-2 Ct values to direct infection control and public health interventions.

Background Public health measures were instituted to reduce COVID-19 spread. A decrease in total emergency department volume followed, but the impact on injury is unknown. With lockdown and social distancing potentially increasing domicile discord, we hypothesized that intentional injury increased during COVID-19, driven primarily by an increase in penetrating trauma. Study Design A retrospective review of acute adult patient care in an urban Level I trauma center assessed injury patterns. Presenting patient characteristics and diagnoses from 6 weeks pre to 10 weeks post statewide stay-at-home orders (March 16, 2020) were compared, as well as with 2015-2019. Subsets were defined by intentionality (intentional vs nonintentional) and mechanism of injury (blunt vs penetrating). Fisher exact and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare proportions and means. Results There were 357 trauma patients that presented pre stay-at-home order and 480 that presented post stay-at-home order. Pre and post groups demonstrated differences in sex (35.6% vs 27.9% female; p = 0.02), age (47.4 ± 22.1 years vs 42 ± 20.3 years; p = 0.009), and race (1.4% vs 2.3% Asian; 63.3% vs 68.3% Black; 30.5% vs 22.3% White; and 4.8% vs 7.1% other; p = 0.03). Post stay-at-home order mechanism of injury revealed more intentional injury (p = 0.0008). Decreases in nonintentional trauma after adoption of social isolation paralleled declines in daily emergency department visits. Compared with earlier years, 2020 demonstrated a significantly greater proportion of intentional violent injury during the peripandemic months, especially from firearms. Conclusions Unprecedented social isolation policies to address COVID-19 were associated with increased intentional injury, especially gun violence. Meanwhile, emergency department and nonintentional trauma visits decreased. Pandemic-related public health measures should embrace intentional injury prevention and management strategies.

Objective:Tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation provide essential support for patients with respiratory failure, but the course of mechanical ventilation may be complicated by adverse ventilator-associated events (VAEs), which may or may not be associated with infection. We sought to understand how the frequency of subglottic suction, an indicator of the quantity of sputum produced by ventilated patients, relates to the onset of all VAEs and infection-associated VAEs.Design:We performed a case-crossover study including 87 patients with VAEs, and we evaluated 848 days in the pre-VAE period at risk for a VAE.Setting and participants:Critically ill patients were recruited from the medical intensive care unit of an academic medical center.Methods:We used the number of as-needed subglottic suctioning events performed per calendar day to quantify sputum production, and we compared the immediate pre-VAE period to the preceding period. We used CDC surveillance definitions for VAE and to categorize whether events were infection associated or not.Results:Sputum quantity measured by subglottic suction frequency is greater in the period immediately prior to VAE than in the preceding period. However, it does not discriminate well between infection-associated VAEs and VAEs without associated infection.Conclusions:Subglottic suction frequency may serve as a valuable marker of sputum quantity, and it is associated with risk of a VAE. However, our results require validation in a broader population of mechanically ventilated patients and intensive care settings.

BackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) cycle of threshold (Ct) has been used to estimate quantitative viral load, with the goal of targeting isolation precautions for individuals with COVID-19 and guiding public health interventions. However, variability in specimen quality can alter the Ct values obtained from SARS-CoV-2 clinical assays. We sought to define how variable nasopharyngeal (NP) swab quality impacts clinical SARS-CoV-2 test sensitivity.MethodsWe performed amplification of a human gene target (β-actin) in parallel with a clinical RT-PCR targeting the SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab gene for 1311 NP specimens collected from patients with clinical concern for COVID-19. We evaluated the relationship between NP specimen quality, characterized by high Ct values for the human gene target β-actin Ct, and the probability of SARS-CoV-2 detection via logistic regression, as well as the linear relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and β-actin Ct.ResultsLow quality NP swabs are less likely to detect SARS-CoV-2 (odds ratio 0.654, 95%CI 0.523 to 0.802). We observed a positive linear relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and β-actin Ct values (slope 0.169, 95%CI 0.092 to 0.247). COVID-19 disease severity was not associated with β-actin Ct values.ConclusionsVariability in NP specimen quality accounts for significant differences in the sensitivity of clinical SARS-CoV-2 assays. If unrecognized, low quality NP specimens, which are characterized by a low level of amplifiable human DNA target, may limit the application of SARS-CoV-2 Ct values to direct infection control and public health interventions.

Much has been reported on the clinical course of severe COVID-19, but less is known about the natural history and sequalae of mildly symptomatic cases and the prospects of reinfection or recurrence of symptoms. We report a case of a patient with mildly symptomatic PCR-confirmed COVID-19 who, after being symptom-free for 2 weeks, redeveloped symptoms and was found to be PCR-positive again >4 weeks from original testing. Surprisingly, IgG and IgM antibody testing was negative 2 months after reinfection. Although no negative testing was performed between the two symptomatic bouts, this case raises the possibility of reinfection after controlling the virus and highlights the long period with which a patient can shed virus and experience symptoms after initial infection. Characterising variations in clinical symptoms and length of viral shedding after improvement is essential for informing recommendations on patients safely resuming contact with others.

Few studies have discussed the role of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in managing acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients. The present study compares the outcome of AKI in intensive care unit (ICU) patients randomized to treatment with tidal PD (TPD) or continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). One hundred and twenty-five ICU patients with AKI were randomly allotted to CVVHDF, (Group A, N = 62) or TPD, (group B, N = 63). Cause and severity of renal injury were assessed at the time of initiating dialysis. The primary outcome was hospital mortality at 28 days, and secondary outcomes were time to recovery of renal function, duration of stay in the ICU, metabolic and fluid control, and improvement of sensorial and hemodynamic parameters. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in regard to patients' characteristics. The survival at 28 days was significantly better in the patients treated with TPD when compared to CVVHDF (69.8% vs. 46.8%, P < 0.01). Infectious complications were significantly less (P < 0.01) in the TPD group (9.5%) when compared to the CVVHDF group (17.7%). Recovery of kidney function (60.3% vs. 35.5%), median time to resolution of AKI and the median duration of ICU stay of 9 days (7-11) vs. 19 days (13-20) were all in favor of TPD (P < 0.01). This study suggests that there are better outcomes with TPD compared to CRRT in the treatment of critically ill patients with AKI.

The possible anticancer effect of carnosine versus doxorubicin was investigated against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by trichloroacetic acid (TCA) (500mg/kg/day, p.o., for 5days) in rats. Following induction of HCC, rats treated with either carnosine (10mg/kg/day, i.p.), or doxorubicin (2.5mg/kg, i.p., once weekly), for 2 weeks. Carnosine significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase, and hepatic lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nuclear factor-κB p65 unit, and significantly increased liver total antioxidant status in TCA-challenged rats. The effects of doxorubicin on oxidative, nitrative, and inflammatory biomarkers were less significant than carnosine. However, both carnosine and doxorubicin significantly induced liver tissue apoptotic biomarkers, Bax, cytosolic cytochrome C, and caspase-3, in a comparable manner. Additionally, carnosine and doxorubicin reduced the histopathological dysplastic changes, and alpha-fetoprotein expression in liver of rats with HCC. It was concluded that carnosine significantly protected against TCA-induced liver carcinogenesis in rats, through its antioxidant, antinitrative, and anti-inflammatory effects, and induction of apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Nigella sativa and its derivatives have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator effects, but the effects have been evaluated in only a few clinical studies. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of N sativa supplementation on inflammation of the airways and limitation of airflow in partly controlled asthma patients. DESIGN: Single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. SETTING: Asthma and allergy clinic of a university hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into three groups. A control group (n=24) received the placebo, while NS-1 and NS-2 groups (n=26 each) received 1 and 2 g/day of N sativa, respectively, for 3 months along with maintenance inhaled therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Asthma control test (ACT) score, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability and other pulmonary function tests, IgE, serum cytokines, and frequency of exacerbations. RESULTS: FEF25-75% and FEV1 (% predicted) increased significantly (P

Purpose To develop and validate a deep learning model based on routine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging obtained before uterine fibroid embolization to predict procedure outcome. Materials and Methods Clinical data were collected on patients treated with uterine fibroid embolization at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 2007 to 2018. Fibroids for each patient were manually segmented by an abdominal radiologist on a T1-weighted contrast-enhanced (T1C) sequence and a T2-weighted sequence of MR imaging obtained before and after embolization. A residual convolutional neural network (ResNet) model to predict clinical outcome was trained using MR imaging obtained before the procedure. Results Inclusion criteria were met by 727 fibroids in 409 patients. At clinical follow-up, 85.6% (n = 350) of 409 patients (590 of 727 fibroids; 81.1%) experienced symptom resolution or improvement, and 14.4% (n = 59) of 409 patients (137 of 727 fibroids; 18.9%) had no improvement or worsening symptoms. The T1C trained model achieved a test accuracy of 0.847 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.745–0.914), sensitivity of 0.932 (95% CI, 0.833–0.978), and specificity of 0.462 (95% CI, 0.232–0.709). In comparison, the average of 4 radiologists achieved a test accuracy of 0.722 (95% CI, 0.609–0.813), sensitivity of 0.852 (95% CI, 0.737–0.923), and specificity of 0.135 (95% CI, 0.021–0.415). Conclusions This study demonstrates that deep learning based on a ResNet model achieves good accuracy in predicting outcome of uterine fibroid embolization. If further validated, the model may help clinicians better identify patients who can most benefit from this therapy and aid clinical decision making.

Breast-conserving surgery with breast re-irradiation is an emerging technique in the treatment of selected cases of locally recurrent breast cancer. Further information is needed to characterize factors that may select for an appropriate patient population for this treatment approach. We report herein a single-institution retrospective analysis of patients with ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence treated with a second breast-conserving therapy with intraoperative radiotherapy. Patient records were reviewed to analyze toxicity, further recurrence, and characteristics of recurrent patients following this treatment approach. We included 57 patients in the analysis. At median follow-up of 24.5 months, ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence occurred in six patients (11%), four of which localized to the quadrant of the initial recurrent disease and two of which recurred elsewhere in the treated breast. Locoregional control was 89%, and disease-free survival was 81%. Only one patient was found to have grade 3 or greater toxicity. A second breast-conserving surgery with intraoperative radiotherapy is tolerable with acceptable toxicity for patients with locally recurrent disease refusing mastectomy. Prospective clinical trials are needed to define the subset of patients who may be appropriate for this treatment approach as an alternative to mastectomy.

Background Patients admitted to long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) for ventilator weaning are at high risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia, which may contribute to adverse ventilator-associated events (VAE). Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) is a common cause of VAP. We sought to evaluate the impact of respiratory Sa colonization and bacterial community dominance on subsequent Sa VAP and VAE during long-term acute care. Methods We enrolled 83 subjects dependent on mechanical ventilation at LTACH admission, collected endotracheal aspirates, performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing (Illumina HiSeq) and bacterial community profiling (QIIME2). Statistical analysis was performed with R and Stan; mixed effects models were fit to relate the abundance of respiratory Sa on admission to clinically-diagnosed VAP and VAE. Results Of the 83 subjects, 8 were diagnosed with Sa pneumonia during the 14 days prior to LTACH admission (“Known Sa”), and 17 additional subjects received anti- Sa antibiotics within 48 hours of admission (“Suspected Sa”); 58 subjects had no known or suspected Sa (“Unknown Sa”). Among the Known Sa group, all 8 had Sa detectable by 16S sequencing, with elevated admission Sa proportional abundance (median 0.36; range 0.0013 - 1). Among the Suspected Sa group, only 7 had Sa detectable by 16S sequencing, with a wide range of admission Sa proportional abundance (median 0; range 0 - 0.96). 25 of 58 subjects in the Unknown Sa group also had detectable respiratory Sa, and a wide range of Sa proportional abundance at admission (median 0; range 0 - 0.93). Incident Sa VAP was observed within 30 days among 2 (25%) of the Known Sa subjects, 0 (0%) of the Suspected Sa subjects, and 3 (5.17%) of the Unknown Sa subjects. VAE was observed within 30 days among 0 (0%) of the Known Sa subjects, 3 (18%) of the Suspected Sa subjects, and 1 (1.7%) of the Unknown Sa subjects. Admission Sa abundance was positively associated with 30-day VAP risk in the Suspected Sa (type S error < 0.001) and Unknown Sa (type S error < 0.001) groups. Conclusion Among patients admitted to LTACH for weaning for mechanical ventilation, we observed a high prevalence of respiratory Sa colonization. Respiratory Sa abundance was associated with risk of incident Sa VAP, particularly among subjects without recognized Sa colonization. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels are higher in the Arab-Indian (AI) β-globin gene haplotype of sickle cell anemia compared with African-origin haplotypes. To study genetic elements that effect HbF expression in the AI haplotype we completed whole genome sequencing in 14 Saudi AI haplotype sickle hemoglobin homozygotes-seven selected for low HbF (8.2% ± 1.3%) and seven selected for high HbF (23.5% ± 2.6%). An intronic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in ANTXR1, an anthrax toxin receptor (chromosome 2p13), was associated with HbF. These results were replicated in two independent Saudi AI haplotype cohorts of 120 and 139 patients, but not in 76 Saudi Benin haplotype, 894 African origin haplotype and 44 AI haplotype patients of Indian origin, suggesting that this association is effective only in the Saudi AI haplotype background. ANTXR1 variants explained 10% of the HbF variability compared with 8% for BCL11A. These two genes had independent, additive effects on HbF and together explained about 15% of HbF variability in Saudi AI sickle cell anemia patients. ANTXR1 was expressed at mRNA and protein levels in erythroid progenitors derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and CD34+ cells. As CD34+ cells matured and their HbF decreased ANTXR1 expression increased; as iPSCs differentiated and their HbF increased, ANTXR1 expression decreased. Along with elements in cis to the HbF genes, ANTXR1 contributes to the variation in HbF in Saudi AI haplotype sickle cell anemia and is the first gene in trans to HBB that is associated with HbF only in carriers of the Saudi AI haplotype. Am. J. Hematol. 91:1118-1122, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Structural DNA nanotechnology combines branched DNA junctions with sticky-ended cohesion to create self-assembling macromolecular architectures. One of the key goals of structural DNA nanotechnology is to construct three-dimensional (3D) crystalline lattices. Here we present a new DNA motif and a strategy that has led to the assembly of a 3D lattice. We have determined the X-ray crystal structures of two related constructs to 3.1 Å resolution using bromine-derivatized crystals. The motif we used employs a five-nucleotide repeating sequence that weaves through a series of two-turn DNA duplexes. The duplexes are tied into a layered structure that is organized and dictated by a concert of four-arm junctions; these in turn assemble into continuous arrays facilitated by sequence-specific sticky-ended cohesion. The 3D X-ray structure of these DNA crystals holds promise for the design of new structural motifs to create programmable 3D DNA lattices with atomic spatial resolution. The two arrays differ by the use of four or six repeats of the five-nucleotide units in the repeating but statistically disordered central strand. In addition, we report a 2D rhombuslike array formed from similar components.

This study investigated the possible hepatoprotection of punicalagin in rats received cyclophosphamide (20mg/kg/day, i.p., for 7 days). Punicalagin given at two doses, 15 and 30mg/kg/day, p.o., for 7 days, starting the same day of cyclophosphamide administration. Punicalagin significantly and dose-dependently reduced the elevations of serum alanine aminotransferase, and liver nuclear factor-κB p65, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, inducible nitric oxide synthase, caspases 3 and 9 activities, and prevented the decrease of hepatic total antioxidant capacity. Punicalagin also attenuated the histopathological liver tissue damage, and decreased cyclooxygenase-2 expression in liver of rats received cyclophosphamide in a dose-dependent manner. It was concluded that punicalagin protected rat liver against cyclophosphamide toxicity by inhibiting oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

The tensegrity triangle is a robust DNA motif that can self-assemble to generate macroscopic three-dimensional crystals. However, the stability of these crystals is dependent on the high ionic conditions used for crystal growth. Here we demonstrate that a triplex-forming oligonucleotide can be used to direct the specific intercalation, and subsequent photo-cross-linking, of 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen to single or multiple loci within or between the tiles of the crystal. Cross-linking between the tiles of the crystal improves their thermal stability. Such an approach is likely to facilitate the removal of crystals from their mother liquor and may prove useful for applications that require greater crystal stability.

Background Genome wide association studies of patients with European descent have identified common variants associated with risk of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). A panel of eight variants were selected to evaluate their association and prevalence in a Saudi Arabian patient cohort with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods Eight genetic variants in four genes (SHROOM3, MYH9, SLC7A9, and CST3) were genotyped in 160 CKD patients and 189 ethnicity-matched healthy controls. Genetic variants were tested for association with the development of CKD (eGFR