Medin and transthyretin: a new amyloid double act in the aortic wall and valves.

Background: Cross-seeding and co-assembly of multiple amyloid species are increasingly recognised in various organs and amyloidoses. Medin and wild-type transthyretin (TTR) both form age-related amyloid deposits and have been identified within the aortic wall. Given the emerging role of amyloid in aortic disease, this study investigates the potential colocalisation of TTR and medin in the aorta.

Regional quantification of glycosaminoglycans and their association with collagen fibril ultrastructure in the sclera following enzymatic degradation.

Sclera biomechanics play an important role in clear vision. Understanding the biomechanical, composition and ultrastructural topography of the sclera may help provide better insight into eye health. Some prior research has investigated the ultrastructural and biomechanical properties of the sclera in relation to regional variations.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Innovative Vaccines for Mpox Diagnosis and Control: A Comprehensive Narrative Review.

Background: The re-emergence of monkeypox (mpox) has triggered a global alert and galvanized efforts toward a scientific reappraisal of the disease.

Aim: This study aims to provide a review of the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and novel vaccines in reducing the burden of mpox.

Methodology: A narrative review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines through electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Web of Science (WOS), using keywords such as Mpox, machine learning, deep learning, diagnosis and novel vaccines between the last 5 years (2019-2024).

Associations between central and brachial blood pressure in patients with hypertension and aortovascular disease: Implications for clinical practice.

Central blood pressure (CBP) measurements, compared to brachial blood pressure (bBP), offer a superior predictive accuracy for aortovascular disease outcomes. This emphasises the distinctiveness of central hemodynamic metrics such as CBP, measuring the pressure directly exerted from the cardiac muscle to the major arteries, and provides a more direct assessment of cardiovascular workload than bBP, which measures the pressure against peripheral artery walls. This review synthesises findings evaluating the correlation between CBP and key aortovascular disease markers.

Nitric oxide releasing coatings for the prevention of viral and bacterial infections.

Healthcare associated infections (HCAI) represent a significant burden worldwide contributing to morbidity and mortality and result in substantial economic consequences equating to billions annually. Although the impacts of HCAI have been felt for many years, the coronavirus pandemic has had a profound effect, escalating rates of HCAI, even with extensive preventative measures such as vaccination, personal protective equipment, and deep cleaning regimes. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new solutions to mitigate this serious health emergency.

Bone quality in zebrafish vertebrae improves after alendronate administration in a glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis model.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) changes the microarchitecture of bones and often leads to the reduction of bone-mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture rates. Zebrafish has been used as an alternative model for GIOP, however, the interaction of GIOP, and its treatment, with zebrafish bone morphometrics and mechanical properties, remains a challenge. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of prednisolone and alendronate on the properties of zebrafish vertebrae.

Staged surgically created type B aortic dissection model with endovascular reintervention for different morphological features.

Objectives: Understanding morphology and how this relates to treatment strategy is critical for achieving remodelling in aortic dissection. A controllable and reproducible large animal model is required for investigating new therapeutic devices and interventions.

Methods: Our experimental protocol involved the development of surgically created type B aortic dissection (TBAD) and endovascular reintervention-induced TBAD porcine models.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm and atrial fibrillation: clinical associations with the risk of stroke from a global federated health network analysis.

Background: An association with aortic aneurysm has been reported among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of thoracic aorta aneurysm (TAA) among patients with AF and to assess whether the co-presence of TAA is associated with a higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes.

Methods And Results: Using TriNetX, a global federated health research network of anonymised electronic medical records, all adult patients with AF, were categorised into two groups based on the presence of AF and TAA or AF alone.

Collagen (I) homotrimer potentiates the osteogenesis imperfecta (oim) mutant allele and reduces survival in male mice.

The osteogenesis imperfecta murine (oim) model with solely homotrimeric (α1)3 type I collagen, owing to a dysfunctional α2(I) collagen chain, has a brittle bone phenotype, implying that the (α1)2(α2)1 heterotrimer is required for physiological bone function. Here, we comprehensively show, for the first time, that mice lacking the α2(I) chain do not have impaired bone biomechanical or structural properties, unlike oim homozygous mice. However, Mendelian inheritance was affected in male mice of both lines, and male mice null for the α2(I) chain exhibited age-related loss of condition.

Ligament mechanics of ageing and osteoarthritic human knees.

Knee joint ligaments provide stability to the joint by preventing excessive movement. There has been no systematic effort to study the effect of OA and ageing on the mechanical properties of the four major human knee ligaments. This study aims to collate data on the material properties of the anterior (ACL) and posterior (PCL) cruciate ligaments, medial (MCL) and lateral (LCL) collateral ligaments.

Is There Enough Evidence to Support the Role of Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection?-A Systematic Review.

Altered proteoglycan (PG) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) distribution within the aortic wall has been implicated in thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD). This review was conducted to identify literature reporting the presence, distribution and role of PGs and GAGs in the normal aorta and differences associated with sporadic TAAD to address the question; is there enough evidence to establish the role of GAGs/PGs in TAAD? 75 studies were included, divided into normal aorta ( = 51) and TAAD ( = 24). There is contradictory data regarding changes in GAGs upon ageing; most studies reported an increase in GAG sub-types, often followed by a decrease upon further ageing.

Arterial stiffness and atrial fibrillation: shared mechanisms, clinical implications and therapeutic options.

Arterial stiffness (AS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) share commonalities in molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms and numerous studies have analyzed their reciprocal influence. The gold standard for AS diagnosis is represented by aortic pulse wave velocity, whose measurement can be affected by arrhythmias characterized by irregularities in heart rhythm, such as AF. Growing evidence show that patients with AS are at high risk of AF development.

Microcalcification and Thoracic Aortopathy: A Window Into Disease Severity.

Background: Patients with thoracic aortopathy are at increased risk of catastrophic aortic dissection, carrying with it substantial mortality and morbidity. Although granular medial calcinosis (medial microcalcification) has been associated with thoracic aortopathy, its relationship to disease severity has yet to be established.

Methods: One hundred one thoracic aortic specimens were collected from 57 patients with thoracic aortopathy and 18 control subjects.

Rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (intelligent knife) for point-of-care testing in acute aortic dissection surgery.

Objectives: Rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) can discriminate aneurysmal from normal aortic tissue. Our objective in this work was to probe the integrity of acute dissection tissue using biomechanical, biochemical and histological techniques and demonstrate that REIMS can be used to discriminate identified differences.

Methods: Human aortic tissue was obtained from patients undergoing surgery for acute aortic dissection.

Eye bank versus surgeon prepared Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty tissues: Influence on adhesion force in a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the biomechanical properties of the eye bank-prepared and surgeon prepared Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) tissues.

Methods: In this laboratory study, corneal tissues for research were randomly allocated in the following groups: a) surgeon-cut DSAEK and b) eye bank-prepared (pre-cut and pre-loaded) DSAEK. Endothelial cell loss (ECL), immunostaining for tight junction protein ZO-1, elastic modulus, and adhesion force were investigated.

Corneal biomechanical properties following corneal cross-linking: Does age have an effect?

Purpose: To explore the effect of age on corneal biomechanical properties following corneal cross-linking (CXL).

Methods: A total of 12 pairs of human eye-banked corneas (24 corneas, from 14 females and 10 males) were used in the study. The mean donor age was 48.

Surface-controlled spatially heterogeneous physical properties of a supramolecular gel with homogeneous chemical composition.

Controlling supramolecular self-assembly across multiple length scales to prepare gels with localised properties is challenging. Most strategies concentrate on fabricating gels with heterogeneous components, where localised properties are generated by the stimuli-responsive component. Here, as an alternative approach, we use a spiropyran-modified surface that can be patterned with light.

Exploring the potential of rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (Intelligent Knife) for point-of-care testing in aortic surgery.

Objectives: Many intraoperative decisions regarding the extent of thoracic aortic surgery are subjective and are based on the appearance of the aorta, perceived surgical risks and likelihood of early recurrent disease. Our objective in this work was to carry out a cross-sectional study to demonstrate that rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) of electrosurgical aerosol is able to empirically discriminate ex vivo aneurysmal human thoracic aorta from normal aorta, thus providing supportive evidence for the development of the technique as a point-of-care test guiding intraoperative surgical decision-making.

Methods: Human aortic tissue was obtained from patients undergoing surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysms (n = 44).

Case Series: Removal of Rectal Foreign Bodies.

Introduction: Foreign rectal body is one of the less common presentations in the emergency department and has a variety of etiologies. Our aim is to study the mode of injury, clinical presentation, diagnosis, surgical intervention and outcomes associated with a rectal foreign body.

Methods: This cross-sectional case series was conducted from January 2019 to July 2019 in the surgical unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Pakistan.

Influence of Prednisolone and Alendronate on the Mineralization of Zebrafish Caudal Fin.

Dysregulated balance between bone resorption and formation mediates the onset and progression of osteoporosis. The administration of prednisolone is known to induce osteoporosis, whereas alendronate is commonly used to reverse the process. However, the assessment of the effects of such medicines on the nanostructure of bone remodeling and mechanical properties remains a major technical challenge.

Eye bank versus surgeon prepared DMEK tissues: influence on adhesion and re-bubbling rate.

Aim: To investigate the difference in adhesion and rebubbling rate between eye bank and surgeon prepared Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) tissues.

Methods: Laboratory and clinical retrospective comparative interventional case series. Research corneal tissues were obtained for laboratory investigation.

The systemic influence of chronic smoking on skin structure and mechanical function.

One of the major functions of human skin is to provide protection from the environment. Although we cannot entirely avoid, for example, sun exposure, it is likely that exposure to other environmental factors could affect cutaneous function. A number of studies have identified smoking as one such factor that leads to both facial wrinkle formation and a decline in skin function.