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The article offers information on research of K.M. Strand and colleagues on the congenital disorders cerebral palsy (CP). Topics include obstetric factors influencing CP in births such as placental abruption, pre-eclampsia and chorioamnionitis; major cause of CP being placental dysfunction resulting from plasma protein–A levels; several ways to determine placental dysfunction like imaging, biochemically or hormonally; and the U.S. National Institutes of Health initiative in placenta research.

Textiles with thermal/moisture managing functions are of high interest. However, making the textile sensitive to the surrounding environment is still challenging. Herein, a multimodal smart fabric is developed by stitching together the Ag coated thermal-humidity sensitive thermoplastic polyurethane (Ag-THSPU) and the hybrid of polyvinylidene fluoride and polyurethane (PU-PVDF). The porous PU-PVDF layer is used for solar reflection, infrared emissivity, and water resistance. The Ag-THSPU layer is designed for regulating thermal reflection, sweat evaporation as well as convection. In cold and dry state, the Ag domains are densely packed covering the crystalline polyurethane matrix, featuring low water transmission (102.74 g m -2 ·24 h -1 ), high thermal reflection and 2.4 °C warmer than with cotton fabric. In the hot and humid state, the THSPU layer is swollen by sweat and expands in area, resulting in the formation of micro-hook faces where the Ag domains spread apart to promote sweat evaporation (2084.88 g/m -2 ·24 h -1 ), thermal radiation and convection, offering 2.5 °C cooler than with cotton fabric. The strategy reported here opens a new door for the development of adaptive textiles in demanding situations., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Polymeric surfactants are a special class of the polymers that have amphiphilic characteristics of surfactants. In selective solvents, polymeric surfactants exhibit interesting association processes and develop self‐assembled structures. Their capacity to create micellar aggregates with stimuli‐responsive behavior in aqueous solutions, enables the creation of smart materials for many applications. The only restrictions to the creation of polymeric surfactants with complicated structures using current synthetic methods are the researchers' interests and creativity. The chemical structure of the polymer and its aqueous solution characteristics (viscosity and surface tension) should be demonstrated as having a distinct and commonly accepted connection. Unavailability of systematic and updated review on these important molecules demands a comprehensive compilation and consistent discussion on key physical aspects, characterization, synthetic techniques, and their useful applications like enhanced recovery of oil, antimicrobial potential, water treatment, pharmaceutical, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD) may share overlapping features particularly at early disease stage, including sleep alterations, but have profoundly different prognoses. Certain sleep phenomena and disorders of motor control are more prevalent in multiple system atrophy, such as REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD). We quantitatively tested whether pervasive muscle activity during sleep occurs in subjects with multiple system atrophy versus Parkinson's disease. Laboratory polysomnographic studies were performed in 50 consecutive subjects with Parkinson's disease and 26 age‐ and gender‐matched subjects with multiple system atrophy at <5 years from disease onset. The distributions of normalised electromyographic activity of submentalis, wrist extensor, and tibialis anterior muscles in different wake–sleep states during the night were analysed. Subjects with multiple system atrophy had significantly higher activity of submentalis, wrist extensor, and tibialis anterior muscles than subjects with Parkinson's disease during non‐REM sleep, including separately in stages N1, N2, and N3, and during REM sleep, but not during nocturnal wakefulness. The activity of wrist extensor and tibialis anterior muscles during non‐REM sleep and the activity of tibialis anterior muscles during REM sleep were also significantly higher in subjects with multiple system atrophy and RBD than in subjects with Parkinson's disease and RBD. In conclusion, with respect to Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy is characterised by a pervasive and diffuse muscle overactivity that involves axial and limb muscles and occurs not only during REM sleep, but also during non‐REM sleep and between subjects with comorbid RBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore morphological changes of hippocampal subfields in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) with and without cognitive impairment using FreeSurfer-automated segmentation of hippocampal subfield techniques and their relationship with cognitive function. We enrolled 75 patients with MSA classified as cognitively impaired MSA (MSA-CI, n = 40) and cognitively preserved MSA (MSA-CP, n = 35), as well as 68 healthy controls. All participants underwent three-dimensional volume T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The hippocampal subfield volume was measured using FreeSurfer version 7.2 and compared among groups. Regression analyses were performed between the hippocampal subfield volumes and cognitive variables. Compared with healthy controls, the volume of the right cornu ammonis (CA) 2/3 was significantly lower in the MSA-CI group (P = 0.029) and that of the left fimbria was significantly higher in the MSA-CP group (P = 0.046). Results of linear regression analysis showed that the right CA2/3 volume was significantly correlated with the Frontal Assessment Battery score in patients with MSA (adjusted R2 = 0.282, β = 0.227, and P = 0.041). The hippocampal subfield volume decreased in patients with MSA-CI, even at the early disease stages. Specific structural changes in the hippocampus might be associated with cognitive deficits in MSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic, dissipative reactions play important roles in biological processes, and emulating such biological processes by artificial circuits and networks is a challenging topic in the area of Systems Chemistry. The present article summarizes efforts to apply the information encoded in the base sequence of nucleic acids to assemble transient, dissipative DNA‐based networks mimicking natural processes. The design principles of the transient nucleic acid‐based systems are introduced. Triggered reaction moduli lead to a transient intermediary constituent recovered to the parent moduli by enzymes, DNAzyme, or light as control units are described. Transient DNA‐based circuitries of enhanced complexities revealing temporal gated or cascaded transformations are demonstrated. Different applications of dynamically triggered transient circuits are introduced, including the temporal aggregation and deaggregation of plasmonic nanoparticles or semiconductor quantum dots and the control over their optical properties, the transient release and uptake of loads by aptamer scaffolds, and the transient reconfiguration of constitutional dynamic networks and the control over emergent catalytic functions. The future perspectives of dissipative nucleic acid‐based networks and their potential future applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive dysfunctions have been reported in multiple system atrophy (MSA). However the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to explore the possible cerebral metabolism associated with domain-specific cognitive performances in MSA. Methods: A total of 84 patients were diagnosed as probable or possible MSA, comprised of 27 patients as MSA with predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P) and 57 patients as MSA with predominant cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C). The comprehensive neuropsychological tests and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging were performed. Z -score was calculated to non-dimensionalize and unify indicators of different tests in the domains of executive function, attention, language, memory, and visuospatial function. Correlations between specific Z -score and cerebral 18F-FDG uptake were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping. The cognition-related metabolic differences between patients with MSA-P and MSA-C were analyzed using the post-hoc test. Results: Z -scores of the domains including attention, executive function, and language correlated positively with the metabolism in the superior/inferior frontal gyrus and cerebellum, but negatively with that in the insula and fusiform gyrus (p < 0.001). No significant differences in neuropsychological performances and frontal metabolism were found between patients with MSA-P and MSA-C. Only lower metabolism in the cerebellum was observed in MSA-C. Conclusion: Metabolic changes in the frontal lobe and cerebellum may participate in the cognitive impairments of patients with MSA. Nevertheless, cognitive and corresponding metabolic differences between the two subtypes of MSA still need more exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies conflict on how acute versus chronic placental pathology impacts outcomes after neonatal encephalopathy from presumed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We examine how outcomes after presumed HIE vary by placental pathology categories., Methods: We performed retrospective chart review for neonates with presumed HIE, regardless of severity, focusing on 50 triads for whom placental specimens were available for re-review. Placentas were categorized as having only acute, any chronic, or no lesions. Primary outcomes included in-hospital morbidity/mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental symptoms. Secondary outcomes assessed neonatal MRI and EEG., Results: Demographics did not differ between groups. Forty-seven neonates were treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Placental acuity category was not associated with primary or secondary outcomes, but clinical and/or histopathological chorioamnionitis was associated with abnormal EEG background and post-neonatal epilepsy (16.7%, n = 3 with chorioamnionitis versus 0%, n = 0 without chorioamnionitis, p = 0.04)., Conclusions: When grouped by acute, chronic, or absent placental lesions, we observed no association with in-hospital, neurodevelopmental, MRI, or EEG outcomes. When reanalyzed by the presence of chorioamnionitis, we found that chorioamnionitis appeared to be associated with a higher risk of EEG alterations and post-neonatal epilepsy. Despite our limited sample size, our results emphasize the critical role of placental examination for neuroprognostication in presumed HIE., Impact: Neonatal encephalopathy presumed to result from impaired fetal cerebral oxygenation or blood flow is called hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Prior studies link placental pathology to various outcomes after HIE but disagree on the impact of acute versus chronic pathology. Our study determines that neurodevelopmental outcomes, in-hospital outcomes, injury on MRI, and EEG findings in patients with HIE are not differentially associated with acute versus chronic placental pathology. Chorioamnionitis is associated with an increased risk of abnormal EEG patterns and post-neonatal epilepsy. Histopathologic chorioamnionitis without clinical symptoms is common in HIE, emphasizing the crucial role of placental pathology for neuroprognostication., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.)

Textiles and apparel archaeology is an indispensable part of history and archaeology. As most unearthed textile relics are silk, soft and multi‐layered in nature, their frangibility poses enormous difficulties in their transportation, storage and exhibition. Traditional methods may not be suitable for accurately monitoring their condition under various external situations, due to the particularity of the textile relics. Herein, a smart, flexible, fabric‐based monitoring system, which integrates sensing fibers, textile technology, and traditional silkscreen conservation, is developed for the preservation and conservation of textile relics. The proposed integrated electrochemical fabric bears a high level of flexibility and diversification in structure, and furthermore can act as a protective cover to monitor external environmental impact factors such as pH value, strain, humidity, temperature, and ultraviolet light. The newly developed system can act as a daily monitoring solution to achieve real‐time and prolonged preventative control from various mechanisms of degradation, so as to ultimately support and uphold the conversation and preservation of textile relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wool felt, a kind of natural biomass material, is usually discarded directly after industrial application. However, wool felt with an overhead network and open-channel architecture can be utilized as electrode materials for energy storage. In the present work, we converted wool felt into conductive materials via in situ polymerization of pyrrole and a hot-pressing process. The morphology and structure of the prepared PPy@wool felt were characterized by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), Fourier Transfer Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Compared with other biomass fiber sources, such as cotton and silk fabrics, the prepared PPy@wool felt with interconnected structure exhibited a higher electrical conductivity of 3.94 Ω □−1. As an electrode application for supercapacitors, the hot-pressed PPy@2D wool presented excellent areal specific capacitance of 6502.3 mF cm−2 and a high energy density of 577.99 μW h cm−2 at 0.25 mA cm−2. When the current density was 5 mA cm−2, the capacitance retention rate remained 80.23% of its initial areal specific capacitance after 1000 cycles. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to the unique network structure and thermal setting characteristics of wool felt. The production of electronic devices, sourced from waste wool felt, will create the premise for circular economy systems in the electronics sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anticancer drug development is a crucial step toward cancer treatment, that requires realistic predictions of malignant tissue development and sophisticated drug delivery. Tumors often acquire drug resistance and drug efficacy, hence cannot be accurately predicted in 2D tumor cell cultures. On the other hand, 3D cultures, including multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs), mimic the in vivo cellular arrangement and provide robust platforms for drug testing when grown in hydrogels with characteristics similar to the living body. Microparticles and liposomes are considered smart drug delivery vehicles, are able to target cancerous tissue, and can release entrapped drugs on demand. Microfluidics serve as a high‐throughput tool for reproducible, flexible, and automated production of droplet‐based microscale constructs, tailored to the desired final application. In this review, it is described how natural hydrogels in combination with droplet microfluidics can generate MCTSs, and the use of microfluidics to produce tumor targeting microparticles and liposomes. One of the highlights of the review documents the use of the bottom‐up construction methodologies of synthetic biology for the formation of artificial cellular assemblies, which may additionally incorporate both target cancer cells and prospective drug candidates, as an integrated "droplet incubator" drug assay platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given an asymptotically Anti-de Sitter supergravity solution, one can obtain a microscopic interpretation by identifying the corresponding state in the holographically dual conformal field theory. This is of particular importance for heavy pure states that are candidate black hole microstates. Expectation values of light operators in such heavy CFT states are encoded in the asymptotic expansion of the dual bulk configuration. In the D1-D5 system, large families of heavy pure CFT states have been proposed to be holographically dual to smooth horizonless supergravity solutions. We derive the precision holographic dictionary in a new sector of light operators that are superdescendants of scalar chiral primaries of dimension (1,1). These operators involve the action of the supercharges of the chiral algebra, and they play a central role in the proposed holographic description of recently-constructed supergravity solutions known as "supercharged superstrata". We resolve the mixing of single-trace and multi-trace operators in the CFT to identify the combinations that are dual to single-particle states in the bulk. We identify the corresponding gauge-invariant combinations of supergravity fields. We use this expanded dictionary to probe the proposed holographic description of supercharged superstrata, finding precise agreement between gravity and CFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: This is the first study assessing risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) among children born in Moldova. The aim of this study was to identify and describe risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) among children born in Moldova, which is one of the low-middle income countries in Europe. Materials and Methods: We identified 351 children with CP born during 2009 and 2010 in Moldova. Detailed information on 417 children without CP served as a reference group. Logistic regression analyses were applied to the calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) for CP with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in addition to attributable fraction (AF). Results: Among children with CP (40.5% girls), 26% had spastic unilateral, 54% bilateral, 13% dyskinetic, 5% ataxic and 2% unclassified CP. Significant risk factors for CP included maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy (OR 1.7, p = 0.002), maternal hypertension (OR 2.0, p < 0.001), children born to mothers from the rural areas (OR 1.6, p < 0.001), maternal age ≥35 years (OR 0.6, p = 0.018), maternal epilepsy (OR 4.3, p < 0.001), breech delivery (OR 3.1, p = 0.001), home births (OR 6.3, p = 0.001), umbilical cord around neck (OR 2.2, p < 0.001), AVD (OR 3.1, p < 0.001), male gender (OR 1.3, p < 0.001), SGA (OR 1.3, p = 0.027), multiple gestations (OR 1.7, p < 0.001) and hyperbilirubinemia (OR 4.5, p < 0.001). Multivariable analyses showed that the AF of CP was 64% for rural residence (OR 2.8, p = 0.002), 87% for home birth (7.6, p = 0.005), 79% for pre-labor rupture of membrane (OR 4.9, p = 0.001), 66% for breech delivery (OR 2.9, p = 0.002) and 81% for hyperbilirubinemia (OR 5.4, p < 0.001). Conclusions: A combination of factors related to the mother, the delivery and the child were risk factors for CP in Moldova, many of them possibly avoidable. Improved pregnancy and maternity care would potentially reduce the risk of CP. A national CP registry in Moldova is suggested as an opportunity to follow up on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the impact of maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) on mortality and neurological outcomes in extremely and very preterm infants using a nationwide neonatal database in Japan. This population-based retrospective study was based on an analysis of data collected by the Neonatal Research Network of Japan from 2003 to 2015 of neonates weighing 1,500 g or less at birth, between 22 and 31 weeks' gestation. A total of 21,659 infants were randomly divided into two groups, HDP (n = 4,584) and non-HDP (n = 4,584), at a ratio of 1:1 after stratification by four factors including maternal age, parity, weeks of gestation, and year of delivery. Short-term (neonatal period) and medium-term (3 years of age) mortality and neurological outcomes were compared between the two groups by logistic regression analyses. In univariate analysis, HDP was associated with an increased risk for in-hospital death (crude odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.63) and a decreased risk for severe intraventricular haemorrhage (0.68; 0.53–0.87) and periventricular leukomalacia (0.60; 0.48–0.77). In multivariate analysis, HDP was significantly associated with a lower risk for in-hospital death (adjusted OR, 0.61; 0.47–0.80), severe intraventricular haemorrhage (0.47; 0.35–0.63), periventricular leukomalacia (0.59; 0.45–0.78), neonatal seizures (0.40; 0.28–0.57) and cerebral palsy (0.70; 0.52–0.95) at 3 years after adjustment for covariates including birth weight. These results were consistent with those of additional analyses, which excluded cases with histological chorioamnionitis and which divided the infants into two subgroups (22–27 gestational weeks and 28–31 gestational weeks). Maternal HDP was associated with an increased risk for in-hospital death without adjusting for covariates, but it was also associated with a lower risk for mortality and adverse neurological outcomes in extremely and very preterm infants if all covariates except HDP were identical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some evidence has shown a relationship between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and pregnancy loss. However, whether recurrent or latent CMV infection or altered immune response to HCMV is related to recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is unclear. The recent study evaluated HCMV infection in women with RPL. Materials and Methods: The present case-control study was conducted on 100 women with RPL referred to Al-zahraa Teaching Hospital from April 2017 to July 2017 in Al-Najaf city (Iraq), and 100 women without a history of miscarriage were involved as controls. Patients and controls were undergone to an evaluation of anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies via Electro chemiluminescence (ECL) technology at Cobas e-411 analyzers (Roche Diagnostics /Germany). Chi-square test and student's t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: CMV infection was common among the study population. Anti-CMV IgG positivity was equal in patients and in controls (98.0% vs. 96.0%, P = 0.91), there was no difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The present study found that previous exposure to CMV was significantly higher in patients with RPL and in the control group. However, no association was found between IgG and RPL. Further investigations are needed to find whether latent CMV infection starts an indirect process of autoimmune etiology in RPL or women with RPL have recurrent or reactivation of CMV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to biocompatible characteristics and supporting cell growth capability, hydrogels have been widely used for scaffold fabrication and surface coating for cell culture. To employ the advantages of hydrogels, in the present study, we introduce a biocompatible chitosan (CS)–polydopamine (pDA) hydrogel complex as a green adhesion agent for the reversible bonding of thermoplastics assisted by UV irradiation. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates were bonded due to the covalent bond network formed between the amine groups of either CS or pDA in the hydrogel complex and the aldehyde groups of the oxidized PMMA surface via the Schiff-base reaction during the UV irradiation. Furthermore, the introduced method allowed for reversible bonding, which is highly appropriate for the fabrication of microdevices for cell-related applications. Surface characterizations such as water contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM), atomic force microscopy analysis (AFM), and Fourier-transform infrared microscopy analysis (FTIR) were performed to confirm the successful coating of the hydrogel complex on the PMMA surface. Moreover, the bonding between two PMMAs or PMMA with other thermoplastics was successfully investigated with high bond strengths ranging from 0.4 to 0.7 MPa. The potential for reversible bonding of this method was verified by repeating the bonding/debonding cycle of the bonded PMMAs for three times, which maintained the bond strength at approximately 0.5 MPa. The compatibility of the bonding method in biological applications was examined by culturing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) inside a microchannel where multiple uniform-sized MSC spheroids were successfully formed. Then, spheroids were harvested for off-chip experiments enabled by the reversibility of the introduced bonding strategy. The bonding strategy employing a green hydrogel complex as a cell-friendly and eco-friendly adhesion agent could have a high impact on the fabrication of microdevices suitable for advanced organ-on-a-chip studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable, biobased nonisocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) films having excellent water absorption characteristics were synthesized by a green‐chemistry approach, eliminating the use of any toxic component. An environment‐friendly bulk polyaddition reaction was carried out between a natural amine‐containing polysaccharide, chitosan, and carbonated soybean oil (CSBO) to prepare the NIPUs. Epoxidized soybean oil was reacted with carbon dioxide to obtain CSBO and the conversion was confirmed by Fourier transform infra‐red and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. NIPUs synthesized via this method did not involve the use of any curing agent and the crosslinking density of the polymer could be varied by altering the amine content. NIPUs with higher chitosan content showed better thermal and chemical properties, and superior water absorption characteristics. FTIR studies confirmed the typical linkages of polyurethane and the swelling behavior justified its enhanced resistance to organic solvents. Karl Fischer titration study proved the excellent water‐absorption capacity by absorbing ~90% moisture from toluene. These properties enable NIPUs to have diverse probable applications in the fields of chemical‐resistant coating, sealant, and also as an inorganic plant growth substrate because of its high water holding capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a shining beacon in the realm of photomedicine, is a non-invasive technique that utilizes dye-based photosensitizers (PSs) in conjunction with light and oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species to combat malignant tissues and infectious microorganisms. Yet, for PDT to become a common, routine therapy, it is still necessary to overcome limitations such as photosensitizer solubility, long-term side effects (e.g., photosensitivity) and to develop safe, biocompatible and target-specific formulations. Polymer based drug delivery platforms are an effective strategy for the delivery of PSs for PDT applications. Among them, hydrogels and 3D polymer scaffolds with the ability to swell in aqueous media have been deeply investigated. Particularly, hydrogel-based formulations present real potential to fulfill all requirements of an ideal PDT platform by overcoming the solubility issues, while improving the selectivity and targeting drawbacks of the PSs alone. In this perspective, we summarize the use of hydrogels as carrier systems of PSs to enhance the effectiveness of PDT against infections and cancer. Their potential in environmental and biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering photoremediation and photochemistry, is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Several classes of transcription factors are involved in the activation of defensins. A new type of the transcription factor responsible for the regulation of wheat grain specific defensins was characterised in this work. HD-Zip class IV transcription factors constitute a family of multidomain proteins. A full-length cDNA of HD-Zip IV, designated TaGL7 was isolated from the developing grain of bread wheat, using a specific DNA sequence as bait in the Y1H screen. 3D models of TaGL7 HD complexed with DNA cis-elements rationalised differences that underlined accommodations of binding and non-binding DNA, while the START-like domain model predicted binding of lipidic molecules inside a concave hydrophobic cavity. The 3′-untranslated region of TaGL7 was used as a probe to isolate the genomic clone of TdGL7 from a BAC library prepared from durum wheat. The spatial and temporal activity of the TdGL7 promoter was tested in transgenic wheat, barley and rice. TdGL7 was expressed mostly in ovary at fertilisation and its promoter was active in a liquid endosperm during cellularisation and later in the endosperm transfer cells, aleurone, and starchy endosperm. The pattern of TdGL7 expression resembled that of genes that encode grain-specific lipid transfer proteins, particularly defensins. In addition, GL7 expression was upregulated by mechanical wounding, similarly to defensin genes. Co-bombardment of cultured wheat cells with TdGL7 driven by constitutive promoter and seven grain or root specific defensin promoters fused to GUS gene, revealed activation of four promoters. The data confirmed the previously proposed role of HD-Zip IV transcription factors in the regulation of genes that encode lipid transfer proteins involved in lipid transport and defence. The TdGL7 promoter could be used to engineer cereal grains with enhanced resistance to insects and fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the influence of novel chemical additive on the physicochemical and rheological properties of novel lubricating grease compositions. The mentioned physicochemical tests revealed that the additive influenced positively the dropping point and oxidation stability of the tested lubricating greases as well as on the reduction of oil release from the grease. The introduction of chitosan caused also an increase of dynamic viscosity at lower shear rates and significant changes of viscosity in the low temperatures. The introduction of modifier led to the increase of yield point value of the tested lubricating compositions. Spectral analyses of lubricating compositions after tribological tests showed that during mechanical and thermal excesses, some components of the lubricant undergo chemical reactions with the surface of the friction pair, creating compounds effectively protecting the tribosystem from damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Some research has suggested a possible role for past infection in the development of preeclampsia. The objective of this study was to explore the role of Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae in the development of preeclampsia in a prospective pregnancy sample., Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study in The Archive for Child Health (ARCH), a pregnancy cohort of 867 unselected women enrolled at the first prenatal visit with archived blood and urine in pregnancy. We matched 21 cases of preeclampsia to 52 unaffected controls on maternal age (±4 years), race, parity, and gestational age at blood draw. Using conditional logistic regression, we examined the association between preeclampsia status and immunoglobulins G (IgG) tested by indirect ELISA to each of the three microorganisms, adjusting for potential confounders., Results: No significant difference was found between cases and controls. The unadjusted odds ratio was 1.5 (95%CI: 0.2-9.1), 0.6 (95%CI: 0.2-1.9), and 1.9 (95%CI: 0.6-5.6) for H. pylori, cytomegalovirus and C. pneumoniae respectively. After controlling for confounders analysis found increased odds of H. pylori IgG (AOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 0.2-15.3) and C. pneumoniae IgG (AOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 0.6-9.2) for preeclampsia, albeit being not significant. Conversely, cytomegalovirus IgG had lower odds for preeclampsia (AOR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.1-1.7)., Conclusions: Past infection with H. pylori, and C. pneumoniae in early pregnancy showed a higher risk of preeclampsia, but the findings failed to achieve statistical significance. Cytomegalovirus was not associated with preeclampsia in these data. These preliminary findings encourage future research in populations with high prevalence of these infections., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Placental vascularization is a tightly regulated physiological process in which the maternal immune system plays a fundamental role. Vascularization of the maternal-placental interface involves a wide range of mechanisms primarily orchestrated by the fetal extravillous trophoblast and maternal immune cells. In a healthy pregnancy, an immune cross-talk between the mother and fetal cells results in the secretion of immunomodulatory mediators, apoptosis of specific cells, cellular differentiation/proliferation, angiogenesis, and vasculogenesis, altogether favoring a suitable microenvironment for the developing embryo. In the context of vasculopathy underlying common pregnancy disorders, it is believed that inefficient invasion of extravillous trophoblast cells in the endometrium leads to a poor placental blood supply, which, in turn, leads to decreased secretion of angiogenic factors, hypoxia, and inflammation commonly associated with preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and preeclampsia. In this review, we will focus on studies published by Latin American research groups, providing an extensive review of the role of genetic variants from candidate genes involved in a broad spectrum of biological processes underlying the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. In addition, we will discuss how these studies contribute to fill gaps in the current understanding of preeclampsia. Finally, we discuss some trending topics from important fields associated with pregnancy vascular disorders (e.g., epigenetics, transplantation biology, and non-coding RNAs) and underscore their possible implications in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. As a result, these efforts are expected to give an overview of the extent of scientific research produced in Latin America and encourage multicentric collaborations by highlighted regional research groups involved in preeclampsia investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moldova is ranked as one of the countries in Europe with the lowest income per capita and with a relatively high infant and maternal mortality rate. Information on neurodisabilities in general is limited, and regarding cerebral palsy (CP) in particular, it is completely lacking. The aim of this study was therefore to make a crude estimate of the prevalence of CP and to describe subtypes and the severity of motor impairments and associated problems in this country.Methods: Children with CP born 2009-2010, attending the National Hospital Institute of Mother and Child, the reference hospital for ~ 75% of children in Moldova with neurological disabilities, were identified from medical records.Results: Among 207 children with CP (estimated prevalence 3.4 per 1000 live births), 185 (mean age 7.3 years; 36% girls) had detailed information. Thirty seven (20%) children had spastic unilateral, 113 (61%) spastic bilateral, 22 (12%) dyskinetic and 9 (5%) children had ataxic CP. The subtype was unclassified in four children. Among all children, 93 (51%) had epilepsy, 109 (59%) intellectual disability, 42 (23%) severe vision and 10 (5%) hearing impairments while 84 (45%) children had severe speech impairments. Fifty-two (28%) children were born prematurely, and 46 (25%) had Apgar scores below 7 at five minutes.Conclusion: Compared to other European studies, the distribution of CP subtypes was different in Moldova. Moreover, the estimated prevalence, the proportions with severe motor and associated impairments and of children born at term were higher in Moldova while the proportion with low Apgar did not differ. The findings may suggest different etiological pathways causing CP in Moldova than in other European countries. A national register is warranted for quality assurance and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a sensing mechanism for rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food samples using the actuation of chitosan-aptamer nanobrush borders. The bio-inspired soft material and sensing strategy mimic natural symbiotic systems, where low levels of bacteria are selectively captured from complex matrices. To engineer this biomimetic system, we first develop reduced graphene oxide/nanoplatinum (rGO-nPt) electrodes, and characterize the fundamental electrochemical behavior in the presence and absence of chitosan nanobrushes during actuation (pH-stimulated osmotic swelling). We then characterize the electrochemical behavior of the nanobrush when receptors (antibodies or DNA aptamers) are conjugated to the surface. Finally, we test various techniques to determine the most efficient capture strategy based on nanobrush actuation, and then apply the biosensors in a food product. Maximum cell capture occurs when aptamers conjugated to the nanobrush bind cells in the extended conformation (pH ＜ 6), followed by impedance measurement in the collapsed nanobrush conformation (pH ＞ 6). The aptamer-nanobrush hybrid material was more efficient than the antibody-nanobrush material, which was likely due to the relatively high adsorption capacity for aptamers. The biomimetic material was used to develop a rapid test (17 min) for selectively detecting L. monocytogenes at concentrations ranging from 9 to 107 CFU mL−1 with no pre-concentration, and in the presence of other Gram-positive cells (Listeria innocua and Staphylococcus aureus). Use of this bio-inspired material is among the most efficient for L. monocytogenes sensing to date, and does not require sample pretreatment, making nanobrush borders a promising new material for rapid pathogen detection in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since diabetes mellitus has become one of the most serious threats to human health, researchers have been designing new drugs and developing new technologies to control the blood glucose level (BGL) while improving patient compliance. In addition to the traditional subcutaneous injection method, alternative routes of insulin delivery have been investigated and tested, including oral, pulmonary, transdermal, and nasal. The final goal of all these technologies is to develop a system that releases insulin in a controlled manner depending on the BGL. pH-Sensitive polymers appear to be good candidates to achieve this goal because they exhibit a conformational transition when the pH in the surrounding medium fluctuates, which changes the solubility of the polymers and leads to the swelling of hydrogels. Many pH-sensitive polymers, such as poly(2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) and natural biopolymers such as chitosan, have been used in different delivery systems. This review focuses on the most commonly used pH-sensitive polymers and their applications in insulin delivery systems. In particular, the relationship between the chemical structure of the polymeric systems and their insulin delivery performance is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to prepare antibacterial cotton fabric using chitosan-silver nanoparticles (CS-AgNPs). CS-AgNPs were used as finishing agent for 100 % pure cotton fabric. AgNPs were prepared by Turkevich method. CSAgNPs were synthesized by mixing chitosan solution with silver nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer technique supported the formulation of CS-AgNPs. Cs-AgNPs crystalline peaks were in perfect agreement with JCPDS card no. 89-3722. Two gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two gram positive bacteria Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus were used to test the bacterial efficacy of synthesized AgNPs and CSAgNPs. Scanning electron micrograph of cotton fabric revealed the presence of CS-AgNPs on the surface of cotton fabric. The presence of small amount of silver nanoparticles in the composite was enough to enhance antibacterial activity significantly compared to pure chitosan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Old textiles - new possibilities," by E. Andersson Strand, K. M. Frei, and M. Gleba that was published in the previous issue is presented.

The account presents survey of our systematic studies on chitosan. Only this polysaccharide bears cationic charges, possesses antimicrobial activity and wound healing ability that make it highly appropriate for using in medicine, biomedical engineering, cosmetics, food, packaging. However, its application meets with severe limitation. Chitosan belongs to polysaccharides that do not jellify solutions. Main approaches are based on the chemical modifications and cross-linking, but these treatments impairs therewith the biocompatibility and biological activity of chitosan. We have developed approaches in which monolithic hydrogels are fabricated via the mineralization of polysaccharide by method of green sol-gel chemistry and via the formation of polyelectrolyte complex with oppositely charged counterparts in the regime of its charging by means of regulated acidification. The latter approach was also extended for the preparation of chitosan bionanocomposites and films with nanoparticles., (© 2018 The Chemical Society of Japan & Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: Special needs schools (SNS) educate children and young people with major neurological disabilities who are at high risk of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) and malnutrition (MN). We aimed to assess the prevalence of OD, MN, dehydration (DH), and oral health (OH) in students at an SNS. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at SNS L'Arboç, Catalonia, Spain. We assessed (a) demographics, health status, comorbidities, and gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), (b) swallowing function, oral-motor evaluation, masticatory capacity, and EDACS classification for eating and drinking abilities, (c) nutritional and DH status (anthropometry, bioimpedance and dietary records), and (d) OH (Oral Hygiene Index Simplified). Results: A total of 33 students (mean age 13.3 years; 39.4% level V of GMFCS) were included. Main diagnosis was cerebral palsy at 57.6%. All students presented OD, 90.6% had impaired safety, 68.7% were at levels II–III of EDACS, and 31.3% required PEG; furthermore, 89.3% had chronic MN, 21.4% had acute MN, 70% presented intracellular DH, and 83.9% presented impaired OH. Conclusion: MN, DH, OD, and poor OH are highly prevalent conditions in students with cerebral palsy and other neurological disabilities and must be specifically managed through nutritional and educational strategies. The multidisciplinary team at SNS should include healthcare professionals specifically trained in these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]