Developing Organoids from Ovarian Cancer as Experimental and Preclinical Models

Ovarian cancer (OC) represents the most dismal gynecological cancer. Pathobiology is poorly understood, mainly due to lack of appropriate study models. Organoids, defined as self-developing three-dimensional in vitro reconstructions of tissues, provide powerful tools to model human diseases. Here, we established organoid cultures from patient-derived OC, in particular from the most prevalent high-grade serous OC (HGSOC). Testing multiple culture medium components identified neuregulin-1 (NRG1) as key factor in maximizing OC organoid development and growth, although overall derivation efficiency remained moderate (36% for HGSOC patients, 44% for all patients together). Established organoid lines showed patient tumor-dependent morphology and disease characteristics, and recapitulated the parent tumor's marker expression and mutational landscape. Moreover, the organoids displayed tumor-specific sensitivity to clinical HGSOC chemotherapeutic drugs. Patient-derived OC organoids provide powerful tools for the study of the cancer's pathobiology (such as importance of the NRG1/ERBB pathway) as well as advanced preclinical tools for (personalized) drug screening and discovery.status: publishe

Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke:Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable

Background: Mobility is a key priority for stroke survivors. Worldwide consensus of standardized outcome instruments for measuring mobility recovery after stroke is an essential milestone to optimize the quality of stroke rehabilitation and recovery studies and to enable data synthesis across trials. Methods: Using a standardized methodology, which involved convening of 13 worldwide experts in the field of mobility rehabilitation, consensus was established through an a priori defined survey-based approach followed by group discussions. The group agreed on balance- and mobility-related definitions and recommended a core set of outcome measure instruments for lower extremity motor function, balance and mobility, biomechanical metrics, and technologies for measuring quality of movement. Results: Selected measures included the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment lower extremity subscale for motor function, the Trunk Impairment Scale for sitting balance, and the Mini Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for standing balance. The group recommended the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC, 0–5) for walking independence, the 10-meter Walk Test (10 mWT) for walking speed, the 6-Minute Walk Test (6 MWT) for walking endurance, and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) for complex walking. An FAC score of less than three should be used to determine the need for an additional standing test (FAC &lt; 3, add BBS to Mini-BESTest) or the feasibility to assess walking (FAC &lt; 3, 10 mWT, 6 MWT, and DGI are “not testable”). In addition, recommendations are given for prioritized kinetic and kinematic metrics to be investigated that measure recovery of movement quality of standing balance and walking, as well as for assessment protocols and preferred equipment to be used. Conclusions: The present recommendations of measures, metrics, technology, and protocols build on previous consensus meetings of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance to guide the research community to improve the validity and comparability between stroke recovery and rehabilitation studies as a prerequisite for building high-quality, standardized “big data” sets. Ultimately, these recommendations could lead to high-quality, participant-specific data sets to aid the progress toward precision medicine in stroke rehabilitation.</p

Controlled deposition of highly ordered soluble acene thin films:Effect of morphology and crystal orientation on transistor performance

\u3cp\u3e(Figure Presented) Controlling the morphology of soluble small molecule organic semiconductors is crucial for the application of such materials in electronic devices. Using a simple dip-coating process we systematically vary the film drying speed to produce a range of morphologies, including oriented needle-like crystals. Structural characterization as well as electrical transistor measurements show that intermediate drying velocities produce the most uniformly aligned films.\u3c/p\u3

Impact of doubling peptide length on in vivo hydrogel stability and sustained drug release

Peptide-based hydrogels represent promising systems for the sustained release of different types of drugs, ranging from small molecules to biologicals. Aiming at subcutaneous injection, which is a desirable parenteral administration route, especially for biologicals, we herein focus on physically crosslinked systems possessing thixotropic behaviour. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo properties of hydrogels based on the amphipathic hexapeptide H-FQFQFK-NH2, which served as the lead sequence. Upon doubling the length of this peptide, the dodecapeptide H-FQFQFKFQFQFK-NH2 gave a significant improvement in terms of in vivo stability of the hydrogel post-injection, as monitored by nuclear SPECT/CT imaging. This increased hydrogel stability also led to a more prolonged in vivo release of encapsulated peptide cargoes. Even though no direct link with the mechanical properties of the hydrogels before injection could be made, an important effect of the subcutaneous medium was noticed on the rheological properties of the hydrogels in post in vivo injection measurements. The results were validated in vivo for a therapeutically relevant analgesic peptide using the hot-plate test as an acute pain model. It was confirmed that elongation of the hydrogelator sequence induced more extended antinociceptive effects. Altogether, this simple structural modification of the hydrogelating peptide could provide a basis for reaching longer durations of action upon use of these soft biomaterials

Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke : consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable

Abstract: Background: Mobility is a key priority for stroke survivors. Worldwide consensus of standardized outcome instruments for measuring mobility recovery after stroke is an essential milestone to optimize the quality of stroke rehabilitation and recovery studies and to enable data synthesis across trials.Methods: Using a standardized methodology, which involved convening of 13 worldwide experts in the field of mobility rehabilitation, consensus was established through an a priori defined survey-based approach followed by group discussions. The group agreed on balance- and mobility-related definitions and recommended a core set of outcome measure instruments for lower extremity motor function, balance and mobility, biomechanical metrics, and technologies for measuring quality of movement.Results: Selected measures included the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment lower extremity subscale for motor function, the Trunk Impairment Scale for sitting balance, and the Mini Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for standing balance. The group recommended the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC, 0-5) for walking independence, the 10-meter Walk Test (10 mWT) for walking speed, the 6-Minute Walk Test (6 MWT) for walking endurance, and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) for complex walking. An FAC score of less than three should be used to determine the need for an additional standing test (FAC < 3, add BBS to Mini-BESTest) or the feasibility to assess walking (FAC < 3, 10 mWT, 6 MWT, and DGI are "not testable"). In addition, recommendations are given for prioritized kinetic and kinematic metrics to be investigated that measure recovery of movement quality of standing balance and walking, as well as for assessment protocols and preferred equipment to be used.Conclusions: The present recommendations of measures, metrics, technology, and protocols build on previous consensus meetings of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance to guide the research community to improve the validity and comparability between stroke recovery and rehabilitation studies as a prerequisite for building high-quality, standardized "big data" sets. Ultimately, these recommendations could lead to high-quality, participant-specific data sets to aid the progress toward precision medicine in stroke rehabilitation

Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke : consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable

Abstract: Background: Mobility is a key priority for stroke survivors. Worldwide consensus of standardized outcome instruments for measuring mobility recovery after stroke is an essential milestone to optimize the quality of stroke rehabilitation and recovery studies and to enable data synthesis across trials.Methods: Using a standardized methodology, which involved convening of 13 worldwide experts in the field of mobility rehabilitation, consensus was established through an a priori defined survey-based approach followed by group discussions. The group agreed on balance- and mobility-related definitions and recommended a core set of outcome measure instruments for lower extremity motor function, balance and mobility, biomechanical metrics, and technologies for measuring quality of movement.Results: Selected measures included the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment lower extremity subscale for motor function, the Trunk Impairment Scale for sitting balance, and the Mini Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for standing balance. The group recommended the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC, 0-5) for walking independence, the 10-meter Walk Test (10 mWT) for walking speed, the 6-Minute Walk Test (6 MWT) for walking endurance, and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) for complex walking. An FAC score of less than three should be used to determine the need for an additional standing test (FAC < 3, add BBS to Mini-BESTest) or the feasibility to assess walking (FAC < 3, 10 mWT, 6 MWT, and DGI are "not testable"). In addition, recommendations are given for prioritized kinetic and kinematic metrics to be investigated that measure recovery of movement quality of standing balance and walking, as well as for assessment protocols and preferred equipment to be used.Conclusions: The present recommendations of measures, metrics, technology, and protocols build on previous consensus meetings of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance to guide the research community to improve the validity and comparability between stroke recovery and rehabilitation studies as a prerequisite for building high-quality, standardized "big data" sets. Ultimately, these recommendations could lead to high-quality, participant-specific data sets to aid the progress toward precision medicine in stroke rehabilitation

Controlled deposition of highly ordered soluble acene thin films: Effect of morphology and crystal orientation on transistor performance

(Figure Presented) Controlling the morphology of soluble small molecule organic semiconductors is crucial for the application of such materials in electronic devices. Using a simple dip-coating process we systematically vary the film drying speed to produce a range of morphologies, including oriented needle-like crystals. Structural characterization as well as electrical transistor measurements show that intermediate drying velocities produce the most uniformly aligned films

sj-pptx-4-wso-10.1177_17474930231205207 – Supplemental material for Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable

Supplemental material, sj-pptx-4-wso-10.1177_17474930231205207 for Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable by Tamaya Van Criekinge, Charlotte Heremans, Jane Burridge, Judith E Deutsch, Ulrike Hammerbeck, Kristen Hollands, Suruliraj Karthikbabu, Jan Mehrholz, Jennifer L Moore, Nancy M Salbach, Jonas Schröder, Janne M Veerbeek, Vivian Weerdesteyn, Karen Borschmann, Leonid Churilov, Geert Verheyden and Gert Kwakkel in International Journal of Stroke</p

sj-xlsx-1-wso-10.1177_17474930231205207 – Supplemental material for Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable

Supplemental material, sj-xlsx-1-wso-10.1177_17474930231205207 for Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable by Tamaya Van Criekinge, Charlotte Heremans, Jane Burridge, Judith E Deutsch, Ulrike Hammerbeck, Kristen Hollands, Suruliraj Karthikbabu, Jan Mehrholz, Jennifer L Moore, Nancy M Salbach, Jonas Schröder, Janne M Veerbeek, Vivian Weerdesteyn, Karen Borschmann, Leonid Churilov, Geert Verheyden and Gert Kwakkel in International Journal of Stroke</p

sj-docx-3-wso-10.1177_17474930231205207 – Supplemental material for Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable

Supplemental material, sj-docx-3-wso-10.1177_17474930231205207 for Standardized measurement of balance and mobility post-stroke: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable by Tamaya Van Criekinge, Charlotte Heremans, Jane Burridge, Judith E Deutsch, Ulrike Hammerbeck, Kristen Hollands, Suruliraj Karthikbabu, Jan Mehrholz, Jennifer L Moore, Nancy M Salbach, Jonas Schröder, Janne M Veerbeek, Vivian Weerdesteyn, Karen Borschmann, Leonid Churilov, Geert Verheyden and Gert Kwakkel in International Journal of Stroke</p