Intraoperative Performance and Early Postoperative Outcomes Following Phacoemulsification With Three Fluidic Systems: A Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare intraoperative performance and early postoperative outcomes following phacoemulsification with two systems using active fluidics and one using gravity-based fluidics. METHODS: In this prospective randomized trial, 200 eyes were randomized to the traditional and Active Sentry groups (n = 80 eyes each) where the Centurion Vision System was used with traditional or Active Sentry (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) hand-pieces, respectively, or the Infinit group (n = 40 eyes) where the Infiniti Vision System (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) was used. Within the traditional and Active Sentry groups, there were two subgroups with low (30 mm Hg) or high (55 mm Hg) intraocular pressure (IOP) used. Outcome measures compared were: cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), percentage change in central corneal thickness (CCT) at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month, anterior chamber cells at 1 day and 1 week, rate of rise and fall of IOP following occlusion break, corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), and macular thickness 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: CDE was significantly lower in group II compared to the traditional group (2.96 ± 1.4 vs 4.14 ± 2.2, P = .001). With 30 mm Hg IOP, the Active Sentry group had significantly less percentage change in CCT at 1 week postoperatively compared to the traditional handpiece group (0.01% vs 0.02%, P = .008). Incidence of anterior chamber cells less than grade 2 on day 1 was significantly higher in the Active Sentry group (82.9% vs 52%, P = .03). Percentage change in ECD was significantly lower in the Active Sentry group (-0.957 vs -0.98%, P = .005). Significantly faster rise of IOP to baseline following occlusion break was seen in the Active Sentry group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Active Sentry handpiece was associated with lower CDE, less postoperative increase in CCT, fewer anterior chamber cells, and faster rise of IOP following occlusion break. [J Refract Surg. 2024;40(5):e304-e312.].

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Bone Repair of Human Hip Osteonecrosis with Bilateral Match-Control Evaluation: Impact of Tissue Source, Cell Count, Disease Stage, and Volume Size on 908 Hips.

We investigated the impact of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy on treating bilateral human hip osteonecrosis, analyzing 908 cases. This study assesses factors such as tissue source and cell count, comparing core decompression with various cell therapies. This research emphasizes bone repair according to pre-treatment conditions and the specificities of cell therapy in osteonecrosis repair, indicating a potential for improved bone repair strategies in hips without femoral head collapse. This study utilized a single-center retrospective analysis to investigate the efficacy of cellular approaches in the bone repair of osteonecrosis. It examined the impact on bone repair of tissue source (autologous bone marrow concentrate, allogeneic expanded, autologous expanded), cell quantity (from none in core decompression alone to millions in cell therapy), and osteonecrosis stage and volume. Excluding hips with femoral head collapse, it focused on patients who had bilateral hip osteonecrosis, both pre-operative and post-operative MRIs, and a follow-up of over five years. The analysis divided these patients into seven groups based on match control treatment variations in bilateral hip osteonecrosis, primarily investigating the outcomes between core decompression, washing effect, and different tissue sources of MSCs. Younger patients (<30 years) demonstrated significantly better repair volumes, particularly in stage II lesions, than older counterparts. Additionally, bone repair volume increased with the number of implanted MSCs up to 1,000,000, beyond which no additional benefits were observed. No significant difference was observed in repair outcomes between different sources of MSCs (BMAC, allogenic, or expanded cells). The study also highlighted that a 'washing effect' was beneficial, particularly for larger-volume osteonecrosis when combined with core decompression. Partial bone repair was the more frequent event observed, while total bone repair of osteonecrosis was rare. The volume and stage of osteonecrosis, alongside the number of injected cells, significantly affected treatment outcomes. In summary, this study provides comprehensive insights into the effectiveness and variables influencing the use of mesenchymal stem cells in treating human hip osteonecrosis. It emphasizes the potential of cell therapy while acknowledging the complexity and variability of results based on factors such as age, cell count, and disease stage.

Considering potential roles of selected MicroRNAs in evaluating subclinical mastitis and Milk quality in California mastitis test (+) and infected bovine milk.

This study investigates the relationships between subclinical mastitis and milk quality with selected microRNAs in cow milk. California Mastitis Test (CMT)-positive (n = 20) and negative (n = 20) samples were compared (Experiment I). Additionally, samples with CMT-positive but microbiological-negative, as well as positive for only Staphylococcus subspecies (Staph spp.) and only Streptococcus subspecies (Strep spp.) were examined (Experiment II). Four groups were formed in Experiment II: Group I (CMT and microbiological-negative) (n = 20), Group II (CMT-positive but microbiological-negative) (n = 10), Group III (Staph spp.) (n = 5), Group IV (Strep spp.) (n = 5). While electrical conductivity, somatic cell count (SCC), malondialdehyde (MDA) increased, miR-27a-3p and miR-223 upregulated and miR-125b downregulated in the CMT-positive group in Experiment I. SCC and MDA were higher in CMT-positive groups. miR-27a-3p and miR-223 upregulated in Groups III and IV. While miR-155 is upregulated, miR-125b downregulated in Group IV. Milk fat is positively correlated with miR-148a and miR-223. As miR-27a-3p positively correlated with SCC and MDA, miR-125b negatively correlated with electrical conductivity and SCC. miR-148a and MDA were positively correlated. miR-155 was correlated with fat-free dry matter, protein, lactose, and freezing point. miR-223 was positively correlated with SCC and miR-148a. Results particularly highlight miR-27a-3p and miR-223 as potential biomarkers in subclinical mastitis, especially those caused by Staph spp. and Strep spp., while miR-148a, miR-155, and miR-223 stand out in determining milk quality.

Cows with diverging haplotypes show differences in differential milk cell count, milk parameters and vaginal temperature after S. aureus challenge but not after E. coli challenge.

BACKGROUND: In dairy cattle, mastitis causes high financial losses and impairs animal well-being. Genetic selection is used to breed cows with reduced mastitis susceptibility. Techniques such as milk cell flow cytometry may improve early mastitis diagnosis. In a highly standardized in vivo infection model, 36 half-sib cows were selected for divergent paternal Bos taurus chromosome 18 haplotypes (Q vs. q) and challenged with Escherichia coli for 24 h or Staphylococcus aureus for 96 h, after which the samples were analyzed at 12 h intervals. Vaginal temperature (VT) was recorded every three minutes. The objective of this study was to compare the differential milk cell count (DMCC), milk parameters (fat %, protein %, lactose %, pH) and VT between favorable (Q) and unfavorable (q) haplotype cows using Bayesian models to evaluate their potential as improved early indicators of differential susceptibility to mastitis. RESULTS: After S. aureus challenge, compared to the Q half-sibship cows, the milk of the q cows exhibited higher PMN levels according to the DMCC (24 h, p < 0.001), a higher SCC (24 h, p < 0.01 and 36 h, p < 0.05), large cells (24 h, p < 0.05) and more dead (36 h, p < 0.001) and live cells (24 h, p < 0.01). The protein % was greater in Q milk than in q milk at 0 h (p = 0.025). In the S. aureus group, Q cows had a greater protein % (60 h, p = 0.048) and fat % (84 h, p = 0.022) than q cows. Initially, the greater VT of S. aureus-challenged q cows (0 and 12-24 h, p < 0.05) reversed to a lower VT in q cows than in Q cows (48-60 h, p < 0.05). Additionally, the following findings emphasized the validity of the model: in the S. aureus group all DMCC subpopulations (24 h-96 h, p < 0.001) and in the E. coli group nearly all DMCC subpopulations (12 h-24 h, p < 0.001) were higher in challenged quarters than in unchallenged quarters. The lactose % was lower in the milk samples of E. coli-challenged quarters than in those of S. aureus-challenged quarters (24 h, p < 0.001). Between 12 and 18 h, the VT was greater in cows challenged with E. coli than in those challenged with S. aureus (3-h interval approach, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This in vivo infection model confirmed specific differences between Q and q cows with respect to the DMCC, milk component analysis results and VT results after S. aureus inoculation but not after E. coli challenge. However, compared with conventional milk cell analysis monitoring, e.g., the global SCC, the DMCC analysis did not provide refined phenotyping of the pathogen response.

Corneal Endothelial Morphology and Ocular Biometric Indexes in Premature Children With and Without Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) morphology and ocular biometrics in premature (PM) children with or without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: Retrospective data on patient demographics, HCECs status, and ocular biometrics with at least 2 visits between 2016 and 2021 were reviewed. The main outcomes were endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), hexagonal cell ratio (HEX), central corneal thickness (CCT), axial length, anterior chamber depth, keratometry, corneal diameter, pupil diameter, and refraction status. Generalized estimating equation was used to evaluate the differences between PM no-ROP and ROP groups. We also analyzed the trend of ECD, CV, HEX, and CCT change with age between groups. Results: The study included 173 PM patients without ROP and 139 patients with ROP. A total of 666 and 544 measurements were recorded in the PM no-ROP and ROP groups, respectively. The ROP group had higher spherical power, myopic spherical equivalent (SE), and steeper steep keratometry (K; P < 0.05). The ROP group had higher CV (P = 0.0144), lower HEX (P = 0.0012) and thicker CCT (P = 0.0035). In the HCECs parameters, the ROP group had slower ECD decrement (P < 0.0001), faster CV decrement (P = 0.0060), and faster HEX increment (P = 0.0001). A difference in corneal morphology changes between the ROP and PM no-ROP groups were prominent in patients with lower gestational age (GA) in the subgroup analysis. Conclusions: Worse HCECs morphology and higher myopic status were initially observed in patients with prior ROP but not in PM patients with no-ROP. ECD and HCECs morphology improved with age, especially in patients with low GA.

Effect of low milking frequency on the concentration of antimicrobial proteins in goat milk.

This study examined the effects of low frequency milking on the concentrations of antimicrobial components in goat milk. Sixteen goats were divided into two groups of eight each: milking once every 2 d three times (for six days, three times group) or five times (for 10 days, five times group). On other days, milking was performed once daily. Milk was collected, and milk yield, somatic cell count (SCC), and the concentrations of some antimicrobial proteins such as lactoferrin (LF), S100A7, IgA, and sodium ions (Na+) in milk were measured. Milk yield significantly decreased in both the groups during the low-milking frequency period, followed by an increase above the low frequency milking period in both groups. In contrast, SCC and LF concentrations in milk increased in both groups during the low frequency milking period. The concentration of S100A7 in milk temporarily decreased after the low frequency milking period, followed by a significant increase. The S100A7 concentration during this period was higher in the five times group than in the three times group. These results indicated that low frequency milking induced a gradual decrease in milk yield and a concomitant increase in antimicrobial components, such as LF and S100A7, in milk. This increase in the antimicrobial components may be useful in preventing mastitis.

Vitreoretinal Interface Cells Correlate In Vivo With Uveitis Activity and Decrease With Anti-Inflammatory Treatment.

Purpose: To highlight the utility of en face swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) in assessing vitreoretinal interface cells (VRICs) of patients with active uveitis and their dynamics. Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, 20 eyes from patients with active uveitis were analyzed using six 6 × 6-mm macular scans at three time points: active inflammation (baseline), clinically improving (T1), and resolved inflammation (T2). VRICs were visualized using 3-µm en face OCT slabs on the inner limiting membrane. The variation of VRIC number, density, and size over time was assessed, and VRIC measurements were compared with clinical grading. Results: At baseline, the VRIC count was significantly higher (552.5 VRICs) than that of the healthy controls (478.2 VRICs), with a density of 15.3 cells/mm2. VRIC number decreased significantly to 394.8 (P = 0.007) at T1, with a density of 10.9 cells/mm2 (P = 0.007). VRIC size reduced from 6.8 µm to 6.3 µm at T1 (P = 0.009) and remained stable at T2 (P = 0.3). Correlation coefficients between inflammatory parameters (anterior chamber cells and National Eye Institute vitreous haze), and VRIC count indicated a positive correlation at baseline (r = 0.53), weakening at T1 (r = 0.36), and becoming negative at T2 (r = -0.24). Conclusions: En face SS-OCTA revealed increased VRIC number and size in active uveitis, likely due to monocyte recruitment. Post-inflammation control, VRIC number, size, and density significantly decreased, returning to normal despite residual anterior chamber cells or vitreous haze. Translational Relevance: Visualization of VRICs by in vivo OCT opens up new opportunities for therapeutic targets.

Genetic characterization of the Latvian local goat breed and genetic traits associated with somatic cell count.

The Latvian local goat (LVK) breed represents the only native domestic goat breed in Latvia, but its limited population places it within the endangered category. However, the LVK breed has not yet undergone a comprehensive genetic characterization. Therefore, we completed whole genome sequencing to reveal the genetic foundation of the LVK breed while identifying genetic traits linked to the somatic cell count (SCC) levels. The study included 40 genomes of LVK goats sequenced to acquire at least 35x or 10x coverage. A Principal component analysis, a genetic distance tree, and an admixture analysis showed LVK's similarity to some European breeds, such as Finnish Landrace, Alpine, and Saanen, which aligns with the breed's history. An analysis of genome-wide heterozygosity, nucleotide diversity, and LD analysis indicated that the LVK population exhibits substantial levels of genetic diversity. LVK genome was dominated by short runs of homozygosity (ROHs, ≤ 500 kb) with a median length of 25 kb. With FROH 2.49%, average inbreeding levels were low; however, FROH ranged broadly from 0.13 to 12.2%. With the exception of one pure-blood breeding buck exhibiting FROH of 9.3% and FSNP of 8.5%, animals with at least 66% LVK ancestry showed moderate or no inbreeding. Overall, this study demonstrated that the LVK goats can be differentiated from imported breeds, although the population has a complex genetic structure. We were able to identify potential genetic traits associated with SCC levels, although the kinship of the animals and the heterogenic substructure of the population might have largely influenced the association analysis. We identified 26 genetic variants associated with SCC levels, which included the potentially relevant SNP rs662053371 in the OSBPL8 gene, indicating a potential signal linked to lipid metabolism in goats. To conclude, these findings present valuable insight into the genetic structure of the LVK breed for the conservation of local genetic resources.

Determination of progressive endothelial cell loss after posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation.

Comments about endothelial cell loss after posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens are provided, with a particular emphasis on the importance of determining progressive postoperative cell density reduction, excluding that related to surgical trauma.

Smaug regulates germ plasm assembly and primordial germ cell number in Drosophila embryos.

During Drosophila oogenesis, the Oskar (OSK) RNA binding protein (RBP) determines the amount of germ plasm that assembles at the posterior pole of the oocyte. Here, we identify mechanisms that subsequently regulate germ plasm assembly in the early embryo. We show that the Smaug (SMG) RBP is transported into the germ plasm of the early embryo where it accumulates in the germ granules. SMG binds to and represses translation of the osk messenger RNA (mRNA) as well as the bruno 1 (bru1) mRNA, which encodes an RBP that we show promotes germ plasm production. Loss of SMG or mutation of SMG's binding sites in the osk or bru1 mRNA results in excess translation of these transcripts in the germ plasm, accumulation of excess germ plasm, and budding of excess primordial germ cells (PGCs). Therefore, SMG triggers a posttranscriptional regulatory pathway that attenuates the amount of germ plasm in embryos to modulate the number of PGCs.

High Intraepithelial Mast Cell Density in Warthin's Tumor.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Warthin's tumor, the second most frequent neoplasia of the parotid gland, is characterized by a proliferation of both epithelial and lymphoid components. In addition to epithelial and lymphoid cells, various other cell types are implicated to varying degrees in the immune response. Notably, mast cells have long been recognized as a consistent cell population within this tumor. Despite the historical acknowledgment of mast cell presence, their true distribution and significance within Warthin's tumor remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the distribution and significance of mast cells in Warthin's tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histochemical and immunohistochemical methods were employed for the evaluation of mast cells within tumor specimens. RESULTS: Our study revealed a notable concentration of mast cells in the epithelial component of Warthin's tumor. Microscopic examination showed predominant lymphoid and epithelial elements with occasional cystic formations. Immunohistochemical analysis identified mast cells in both components, emphasizing their role in the tumor microenvironment. Double immunostaining (mast cell tryptase and CD34) revealed no significant correlation between mast cells and blood vessels. Intraepithelial mast cells (IEMCs) had a significantly higher density in the epithelial component, suggesting a potential association with the tumor's benign nature. The relationship between IEMCs and epithelial cells, especially in the presence of cystic structures, offers valuable insights into the unique features of Warthin's tumor. CONCLUSION: Our study contributes to the understanding of mast cells in Warthin's tumor, highlighting a substantial concentration within the epithelial component. This knowledge may pave the way for further investigations into the roles of mast cells in the pathogenesis and treatment of Warthin's tumor.

Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) gill neuroepithelial cells in response to hypoxia exposure.

Neuroepithelial cells (NECs) within the fish gill contain the monoamine neurochemical serotonin (5-HT), sense changes in the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in the surrounding water and blood, and initiate the cardiovascular and ventilatory responses to hypoxia. The distribution of neuroepithelial cells (NECs) within the gill is known for some fish species but not for the Gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta, a fish that has always been considered hypoxia tolerant. Furthermore, whether NEC size, number, or distribution changes after chronic exposure to hypoxia, has never been tested. We hypothesize that toadfish NECs will respond to hypoxia with an increase in NEC size, number, and a change in distribution. Juvenile toadfish (N = 24) were exposed to either normoxia (21.4 ± 0.0 kPa), mild hypoxia (10.2 ± 0.3 kPa), or severe hypoxia (3.1 ± 0.2 kPa) for 7 days and NEC size, number, and distribution for each O2 regime were measured. Under normoxic conditions, juvenile toadfish have similar NEC size, number, and distribution as other fish species with NECs along their filaments but not throughout the lamellae. The distribution of NECs did not change with hypoxia exposure. Mild hypoxia exposure had no effect on NEC size or number, but fish exposed to severe hypoxia had a higher NEC density (# per mm filament) compared to mild hypoxia-exposed fish. Fish exposed to severe hypoxia also had longer gill filament lengths that could not be explained by body weight. These results point to signs of phenotypic plasticity in these juvenile, lab-bred fish with no previous exposure to hypoxia and a strategy to deal with hypoxia exposure that differs in toadfish compared to other fish.

Effect of Day 3 cell number on the live birth rate of vitrified-warmed Day 5 single blastocyst transfer in young women.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported inconsistent results regarding blastocyst selection with a high day 3 (D3) cell number and the eventual pregnancy outcomes. Thus, in this study, the relationship between the D3 cell number and clinical outcomes of day 5 single blastocyst transfer (SBT) in vitrified-warmed transfer cycles was investigated. METHODS: Our retrospective study included 1144 day 5 SBT in vitrified-warmed cycles between February 2016 and February 2021. All cycles were the first vitrified-warmed cycles, and the female patients were less than 35 years of age. Based on the D3 cell number, the cycles were divided into four groups, as follows: group A (3-7 cells, n = 130); group B (8-9 cells, n = 621); group C (10-12 cells, n = 328); and group D (13-16 cells, n = 65). The differences in the live birth rate (LBR), clinical pregnancy rate, and miscarriage rate were examined among the four groups. RESULTS: The LBR and clinical pregnancy rate increased with the D3 cell number (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found in the miscarriage rate among the groups (P = 0.055). After adjusting for confounding factors, the LBR was significantly higher in groups C (odds ratio [OR] = 1.477, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.124-1.941, P = 0.005) and D (OR = 2.000, 95% CI: 1.166-3.429, P = 0.012) than in group B. CONCLUSIONS: A high D3 cell number (> 9 cells) was associated with a high LBR in the vitrified-warmed day 5 SBT cycles of patients < 35 years of age. The cell number of D3 embryos can be an important reference indicator for blastocyst selection. Among blastocysts with the same morphological score, those with > 9 cells on D3 can be preferentially selected for transplantation.

Cow-level risk factors associated with the increase in somatic cell count and the occurrence of subclinical mastitis in Brazilian Holstein and Jersey dairy cows.

Mastitis, a multifactorial disease influenced by both cow and herd-level factors, results in significant losses throughout the dairy chain. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between milking frequency (MF), parity order (PO), days in milk (DIM), and milk yield (MY) on somatic cell count (SCC) and the odds of a cow having subclinical mastitis (SCM) in Brazilian Holstein and Jersey dairy cows. Our dataset consisted of 747,520 test-day records from 52,954 cows, including 49,089 Holstein cows and 3865 Jersey cows and 498 herds. The SCC was evaluated using a generalized linear mixed model, whereas SCM occurrence was evaluated using a logistic regression model. A case of SCM was defined when a cow had >200×103 cells/mL. Our results indicated that the SCC increases with higher PO and DIM and decreases in cows milked three times a day and those with higher MY in both breeds (>40 and >25 L/d for Holstein and Jersey, respectively). Increasing MF from two to three times a day reduced the chances of a Holstein and Jersey cow having SCM by 10 and 20 %, respectively. For Holstein and Jersey cows, those with ≥quadriparous had 3.9 times and 2.2 times higher chances, respectively, of having SCM compared to primiparous cows. Cows with >305 DIM had 2.0 times greater chances of having SCM for both, Holstein and Jersey cows, compared to cows with ≤105 DIM. Holstein cows yielding ≥40 L/d had a 75 % lower chance of having SCM compared to those yielding <20 L/d, while Jersey cows with ≥25 L/d had a 60 % lower chance compared to those yielding <15 L/d. In conclusion, higher PO and DIM pose risks, whereas a MF of three times a day and higher MY are protective factors against increases in SCC and SCM occurrence in Brazilian Holstein and Jersey cows.

Evaluation of the results of contact lens assisted corneal cross-linking treatment in keratoconus patients with thin corneas.

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of accelerated contact lens-assisted cross-linking (CA-CXL) with Lotrafilcon B and Comfilcon A lenses in keratoconus (KC) patients with thin corneas. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, single-center study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively included 51 eyes of 39 KC patients with corneal thickness <400µm after epithelial scraping (Epi-off), who underwent accelerated CA-CXL treatment with Lotrafilcon B (n=20) and Comfilcon A (n=31). Uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA), manifest refraction values, corneal topographic data and endothelial cell density were recorded at preoperative and postoperative 1st, 3rd and 6th month controls. RESULTS: CDVA in the Comfilcon A group was higher than CDVA before surgery at 6 months postoperatively (p<0.001). When the two lenses were compared, CDVA was found to be significantly higher in the Lotrafilcon B group in the preoperative, postoperative 1st month and 3rd month values, but there was no significant difference between the postoperative 6th month values (p=0.028, p=0.018, p=0.044, p=0.181, respectively). The maximum keratometry (Kmax) value at the 6th month after surgery in the Comfilcon A group was significantly lower than in the Lotrafilcon B group (p=0,009). There was no significant difference between the endothelial cell density values between the groups (p=0.623, p=0.609, p=0.794, p=0.458, respectively). There was no significant difference between the progression, regression, and stability rates of the two groups (p=0.714). CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated CA-CXL with Lotrafilcon B and Comfilcon A silicone hydrogel lenses is a safe and effective method to stop progression in patients with thin corneas.

Overview: Research on the Genetic Architecture of the Developing Cerebral Cortex in Norms and Diseases.

The human brain is characterized by high cell numbers, diverse cell types with diverse functions, and intricate connectivity with an exceedingly broad surface of the cortex. Human-specific brain development was accomplished by a long timeline for maturation from the prenatal period to the third decade of life. The long timeline makes complicated architecture and circuits of human cerebral cortex possible, and it makes human brain vulnerable to intrinsic and extrinsic insults resulting in the development of variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Unraveling the molecular and cellular processes underlying human brain development under the elaborate regulation of gene expression in a spatiotemporally specific manner, especially that of the cortex will provide a biological understanding of human cognition and behavior in health and diseases. Global research consortia and the advancing technologies in brain science including functional genomics equipped with emergent neuroinformatics such as single-cell multiomics, novel human models, and high-volume databases with high-throughput computation facilitate the biological understanding of the development of the human brain cortex. Knowing the process of interplay of the genome and the environment in cortex development will lead us to understand the human-specific cognitive function and its individual diversity. Thus, it is worthwhile to overview the recent progress in neurotechnology to foresee further understanding of the human brain and norms and diseases.

A smartphone-based diagnostic analyzer for point-of-care milk somatic cell counting.

BACKGROUND: Mastitis, a pervasive and detrimental disease in dairy farming, poses a significant challenge to the global dairy industry. Monitoring the milk somatic cell count (SCC) is vital for assessing the incidence of mastitis and the quality of raw cow's milk. However, existing SCC detection methods typically require large-scale instruments and specialized operators, limiting their application in resource-constrained settings such as dairy farms and small-scale labs. To address these limitations, this study introduces a novel, smartphone-based, on-site SCC testing method that leverages smartphone capabilities for milk somatic cell identification and enumeration, offering a portable and user-friendly testing platform. RESULTS: The central findings of our study demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for counting milk somatic cells. Its on-site applicability, facilitated by the microfluidic chip, optical system, and smartphone integration, heralds a paradigm shift in point-of-care testing (POCT) for dairy farms and smaller laboratories. This approach bypasses complex processing and presents a user-friendly solution for real-time SCC monitoring in resource-limited settings. This device boasts several unique features: small size, low cost (<$1,000 total manufacturing cost and <$1 per test), and high accuracy. Remarkably, it delivers test results within just 2 min. Actual-sample testing confirmed its consistency with results from the commercial Bentley FTS/FCM cytometer, affirming the reliability of the proposed method. Overall, these results underscore the potential for transformative change in dairy farm management and laboratory testing practices. SIGNIFICANCE: In summary, this study concludes that the proposed smartphone-based method significantly contributes to the accessibility and ease of SCC testing in resource-limited environments. By fostering the use of POCT technology in food safety control, particularly in the dairy industry, this innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the monitoring and management of mastitis, ultimately benefiting the global dairy sector.

Causal role of immune cells in psoriasis: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: A growing body of evidence has shown that immune cells are linked to psoriasis. It is, however, still unclear if these associations reflect a relationship of cause and effect. Objective: We employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR)-based study to elucidate the probable causative connection between immune cells and psoriasis. Methods: Summary information for psoriasis (Ncase = 5,427, Ncontrol = 479,171) was obtained from the European Bioinformatics Institute. Summarized statistical information on 731 immune cell features, including morphological parameters (MP; n = 32), relative cell number (n = 192), median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of surface antigens (n = 389), and absolute cell number (n = 118), was obtained from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) catalog. The research consisted of forward MR analysis, in which immune cell traits were used as the exposure factor, and psoriasis was the outcome, as well as reverse MR analysis, in which psoriasis was used as the exposure factor, and immune cell traits were the outcome. We ran numerous sensitivity analyses to ascertain the study results for robustness, heterogeneity, and potential multiple-biological effects. Result: This research determined a probable causative connection between immune cells and psoriasis. In particular, we identified 36 distinct types of immune cells that are potentially causally linked to psoriasis. Conclusion: Our findings indicate strong causal correlations between 36 immunological phenotypes and psoriasis, thus, directing future clinical trials.