Photopolymerizable platelet lysate hydrogels for customizable 3D cell culture platforms

3D cell culture platforms have emerged as a setting that resembles in vivo environments replacing the traditional 2D platforms. Over the recent years, an extensive effort has been made on the development of more physiologically relevant 3D cell culture platforms. Extracellular matrix-based materials have been reported as a bioactive and biocompatible support for cell culture. For example, human plasma derivatives have been extensively used in cell culture. Despite all the promising results, in most cases these types of materials have poor mechanical properties and poor stability in vitro. Here plasma-based hydrogels with increased stability are proposed. Platelet lysates are modified by addition of methacryloyl groups (PLMA) that polymerize in controlled geometries upon UV light exposure. The hydrogels could also generate porous scaffolds after lyophilization. The results show that PLMA materials have increased mechanical properties that can be easily adjusted by changing PLMA concentration or modification degree. Cells readily adhere, proliferate, and migrate, exhibiting high viability when encapsulated in PLMA hydrogels. The innovation potential of PLMA materials is based on the fact that it is a complete xeno-free solution for human cell culture, thus an effective alternative to the current gold standards for 3D cell culture based on animal products.publishe

Effects of oral and oropharyngeal cancer on speech intelligibility using acoustic analysis: Systematic review

Background: The development of automatic tools based on acoustic analysis allows to overcome the limitations of perceptual assessment for patients with head and neck cancer. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of literature describing the effects of oral and oropharyngeal cancer on speech intelligibility using acoustic analysis. Methods: Two databases (PubMed and Embase) were surveyed. The selection process, according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement, led to a final set of 22 articles. Results: Nasalance is studied mainly in oropharyngeal patients. The vowels are mostly studied using formant analysis and vowel space area, the consonants by means of spectral moments with specific parameters according to their phonetic characteristic. Machine learning methods allow classifying “intelligible” or “unintelligible” speech for T3 or T4 tumors. Conclusions: The development of comprehensive models combining different acoustic measures would allow a better consideration of the functional impact of the speech disorder

Clinical decision support of therapeutic drug monitoring of phenytoin: measured versus adjusted phenytoin plasma concentrations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Therapeutic drug monitoring of phenytoin by measurement of plasma concentrations is often employed to optimize clinical efficacy while avoiding adverse effects. This is most commonly accomplished by measurement of total phenytoin plasma concentrations. However, total phenytoin levels can be misleading in patients with factors such as low plasma albumin that alter the free (unbound) concentrations of phenytoin. Direct measurement of free phenytoin concentrations in plasma is more costly and time-consuming than determination of total phenytoin concentrations. An alternative to direct measurement of free phenytoin concentrations is use of the Sheiner-Tozer equation to calculate an adjusted phenytoin that corrects for the plasma albumin concentration. Innovative medical informatics tools to identify patients who would benefit from adjusted phenytoin calculations or from laboratory measurement of free phenytoin are needed to improve safety and efficacy of phenytoin pharmacotherapy. The electronic medical record for an academic medical center was searched for the time period from August 1, 1996 to November 30, 2010 for patients who had total phenytoin and free phenytoin determined on the same blood draw, and also a plasma albumin measurement within 7 days of the phenytoin measurements. The measured free phenytoin plasma concentration was used as the gold standard.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, the standard Sheiner-Tozer formula for calculating an estimated (adjusted) phenytoin level more frequently underestimates than overestimates the measured free phenytoin relative to the respective therapeutic ranges. Adjusted phenytoin concentrations provided superior classification of patients than total phenytoin measurements, particularly at low albumin concentrations. Albumin plasma concentrations up to 7 days prior to total phenytoin measurements can be used for adjusted phenytoin concentrations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggest that a measured free phenytoin should be obtained where possible to guide phenytoin dosing. If this is not feasible, then an adjusted phenytoin can supplement a total phenytoin concentration, particularly for patients with low plasma albumin.</p

Photodynamic therapy of early stage oral cavity and oropharynx neoplasms: an outcome analysis of 170 patients

The indications of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of oral cavity and oropharynx neoplasms are not well defined. The main reason is that the success rates are not well established. The current paper analyzes our institutional experience of early stage oral cavity and oropharynx neoplasms (Tis-T2) to identify the success rates for each subgroup according to T stage, primary or non-primary treatment and subsites. In total, 170 patients with 226 lesions are treated with PDT. From these lesions, 95 are primary neoplasms, 131 were non-primaries (recurrences and multiple primaries). The overall response rate is 90.7% with a complete response rate of 70.8%. Subgroup analysis identified oral tongue, floor of mouth sites with more favorable outcome. PDT has more favorable results with certain subsites and with previously untreated lesions. However, PDT can find its place for treating lesions in previously treated areas with acceptable results

Agrophaspidium monticola Wheeler and Mlynarek, sp. n.

Agrophaspidium monticola Wheeler and Mlynarek, sp. n. (Figs. 2, 14– 18) Description (male only): Total length 2.0– 2.4mm. Frons yellow anteriorly, darker posteriorly; frontal triangle pollinose except for shining strips lateral to posterior ocelli and shining triangle anterior to anterior ocellus (Fig. 15); ocellar tubercle pollinose; 8–9 short fronto-orbital setae (Figs. 14–15); 7–8 interfrontal setae, anterior pair strongest; ocellar bristles convergent, short, half as long as postocellars; inner vertical bristle strong as postocellar bristles; outer vertical bristle strong, longer than other cephalic bristles; eye bare, genal height 0.08–0.09 times eye height; vibrissa longer than genal setae; postgena and occiput black, pollinose; face pale, pollinose; antenna pedicel yellow; first flagellomere yellow, brown at insertion of arista and dorsolaterally; arista black; proboscis brown, palpus yellow. Scutum brown, mostly shining, with some scattered pollinosity; 1 postpronotal bristle stronger than others; scutellum dark, marginal projections well-developed; apical and sub-apical tubercles 0.33 times as long as scutellum (Fig. 2); scutellar bristles dark, strong, 1.4 times length of tubercles; thoracic pleurites with scattered pollinosity. Legs yellow except for wide band around middle of all femora and mid and hind tibiae. Wing: ratio of second to third costal sectors 1.9–2.1: 1; halter white, with brown base; Abdomen brown, pollinose. Male postabdomen: epandrium large and bulbous, much broader than rest of abdomen (Fig. 16); surstylus long, outer lobe with lateral flange near base, apex broad and triangular, inner lobe narrow, short, pointed (Figs. 17–18); cercus very broad and curved anteriorly in lateral view, ventral apex curved, branched (Figs. 17–18). Type material: Holotype ɗ: COSTA RICA: Prov. Puntarenas, Monteverde, Estacion Biologica, 1540– 1800m, 21–24.vii. 1995, J.M. Cumming (CNC). Paratype: COSTA RICA: Prov. Puntarenas, Monteverde, Finca Canada [Estacion Biologica], 21–22.viii. 1992, D.C. Currie, yellow pan trap (1 ɗ, CNC). Etymology: The species name is from the Latin montis (mountain) and -cola (dweller), referring to the type locality.Published as part of Wheeler, Terry A. & Mlynarek, Julia J., 2008, Systematics of Agrophaspidium, a new genus of Neotropical Chloropidae (Diptera), pp. 41-52 in Zootaxa 1926 on pages 46-47, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18480

Elachiptera melinifrons Mlynarek and Wheeler, sp. n.

Elachiptera melinifrons Mlynarek and Wheeler, sp. n. (Figs. 12–16) Description: Total length 2.0mm. Overall colour yellow; head yellow, frontal triangle shining, reaching anterior margin of frons; ocellar tubercle black, shining; frons microtomentose; 4 fronto-orbital setae well-developed, interfrontal setulae pale; occiput yellow with two vertical black stripes extending from cephalic foramen to vertex (occiput darker in one paratype); gena pale yellow, microtomentose, genal height 0.2 times eye height; face pale yellow, shining; scape and pedicel yellow, first flagellomere reniform, yellow, slightly darker dorsally, arista brown, broad and parallel-sided for most of its length, pubescence shorter than width of arista at base (Fig. 12); palpus, proboscis and clypeus yellow. Scutum yellow, microtomentose, slightly darker along ventral margin of notopleuron, pronotum black, scutal setulae short and sparse, scutum only slightly longer than wide; scutellum yellow, trapezoidal, 1.7 times wider than long, microtomentose, dorsally flat; apical scutellar bristles strong, on minute brown tubercles on dorsal margin of scutellum, lateral scutellar bristles stronger than adjacent setae (Fig. 13). Legs yellow, hind tibia with small, pale, ventral, apical spur; femoral organ not visible in type specimens; tibial organ oval, occupying middle quarter of hind tibia. Wing hyaline, veins pale, darker distally, ratio of costal sectors C 1: C 2: C 3: C 4 — 1: 1.2: 0.8: 0.4; halter white. Abdomen yellow, darker laterally and medially; syntergite 1 + 2 almost 1.5 times as long as tergite 3. Male postabdomen (Figs. 14–16): Epandrium higher than long in lateral view, wider than high in posterior view, with dense setae; surstylus long with slight widening and anterior bend at two-thirds of length to apex, surstylus with 4 strong anterior setae near base and sparse short setae elsewhere; cercus broad, with narrow ventral projection, cercus with sparse setae including strong ventral seta, cerci separated by broad semi-circular cleft; distiphallus sclerotized except at apex, tapering anteriorly. Type material: Holotype ɗ: COSTA RICA, San Jose, July, H. Schmidt (USNM). Paratypes: same data as holotype (1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, USNM). Etymology: The species name is derived from the Latin melinus (honey-coloured) and frons, referring to the pale yellow head.Published as part of Mlynarek, Julia J. & Wheeler, Terry A., 2008, Revision of the Costa Rican species of Elachiptera (Diptera: Chloropidae), pp. 41-51 in Zootaxa 1754 on page 46, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18178

Elachiptera

Key to the Costa Rican species of &lt;i&gt;Elachiptera&lt;/i&gt; &lt;p&gt;1. Thorax black................................................................................................................................................2&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Thorax entirely or mostly yellow................................................................................................................4&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 2. Wing with dark infuscations along R4+5 and CuA1 (Fig. 6) &lt;i&gt;............................................................. E. fucosa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Wing hyaline................................................................................................................................................3&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 3 Frontal triangle short, half to two-thirds length of frons; arista strongly tapering, slender in distal third (Fig. 2) &lt;i&gt;................................................................................................................................. E. coniotrigona&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; - Frontal triangle reaching or almost reaching anterior margin of frons; arista broad to apex (Fig. 26)......... &lt;i&gt;............................................................................................................................................. E. sacculicornis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 4. Gena 0.25 times eye height &lt;i&gt;...............................................................................................................E.&lt;/i&gt; sp. A&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Gena 0.1&ndash;0.15 times eye height...................................................................................................................5&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;5. Scutum entirely yellow along dorsocentral lines.........................................................................................6&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;- Scutum with black dorsocentral lines, tapering posteriorly.........................................................................7&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 6. Arista parallel-sided almost to tip (Fig. 12); male surstylus as in Fig. 15 &lt;i&gt;.............................. E. melinifrons&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; - Arista tapering in distal half, very slender at tip (Fig. 22); male surstylus as in Fig. 25 &lt;i&gt;............... E. rubida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; 7. Arista strongly tapering distally, very slender on distal fourth (as in Fig. 2); male surstylus evenly recurved &lt;i&gt;..................................................................................................................................... E. attenuata&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; - Arista evenly tapering to tip (Fig. 18); male surstylus long, straight and narrow (Fig. 21) &lt;i&gt;.... E. queposana&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Mlynarek, Julia J. &amp; Wheeler, Terry A., 2008, Revision of the Costa Rican species of Elachiptera (Diptera: Chloropidae), pp. 41-51 in Zootaxa 1754&lt;/i&gt; on page 42, DOI: &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/181783"&gt;10.5281/zenodo.181783&lt;/a&gt

Chloropid flies (Diptera, Chloropidae) associated with pitcher plants in North America

We review the taxonomy and ecology of Chloropidae (Diptera) associated with pitcher plants (Sarraceniaceae) in North America. Tricimba wheeleri Mlynarek sp.n. is described from the pitchers of Sarracenia alata Alph.Wood and S. leucophylla Raf. in the southeastern United States (Alabama, Mississippi). Aphanotrigonum darlingtoniae (Jones) associated with Darlingtonia californica Torr. in northern California is redescribed, including the first description of male genitalic characters. A lectotype is designated for A. darlingtoniae. Published records of other species of Tricimba Lioy in pitcher plants in North America are considered accidental or facultative occurrences; published records of Aphanotrigonum Duda as pitcher plant associates in eastern North America are probably errors in identification

Agrophaspidium flavimana Wheeler and Mlynarek, sp. n.

Agrophaspidium flavimana Wheeler and Mlynarek, sp. n. (Figs. 1, 3, 5–10) Description: Total length 1.7 –2.0mm. Frons yellow anteriorly, dark brown posteriorly; frontal triangle in male almost reaching anterior margin of frons (Fig. 6), shining except for anterior apex; frontal triangle in female reaching anterior margin of frons, entirely shining; ocellar tubercle black, shining; 5 distinct, strong fronto-orbital setae (Figs. 5–6); 3–4 long interfrontal setulae anterior or anterolateral to frontal triangle, strongest pair at anterior margin of frons; ocellar bristles shorter than postocellars or verticals; inner vertical bristle stout, proclinate; outer vertical bristle longer and stronger than inner verticals or postocellars; eye large, bare; genal height 0.08–0.1 times eye height; vibrissa twice as long as genal setae; postgena brown, sparsely pollinose; occiput brown, sparsely pollinose; face pale, densely pollinose; antenna pedicel small, darker than first flagellomere; first flagellomere yellow, darker at insertion of arista; arista slender, black; proboscis brown, pollinose, palpus brown. Scutum brown, shining; postpronotum brown, sparsely pollinose, 1 postpronotal bristle stronger than others; scutellum mostly yellow, brown anteriorly near junction with scutum; scutellar projections distinct but short, yellow (Fig. 3); scutellar bristles strong, dark, twice as long as scutellar projections, other setulae sparse, pale; thoracic pleurites brown, mostly shining. Legs yellow except for dark brown band around middle of all femora and tibiae and distal three tarsomeres dark brown. Wing: ratio of second to third costal sectors 1.2–1.3: 1; halter yellow. Abdomen brown, subshining. Male postabdomen: epandrium expanded (Fig. 8); wider than dorsal pregenital sclerite; surstylus with short, triangular outer lobe and quadrate inner lobe bearing patches of dense setulae (Figs. 9–10); hypandrium subquadrate, as long as high; cercus elongate, straight, clavate in lateral view (Fig. 8), triangular in posterior view, extending ventrally almost to ventral apex of surstylus (Fig. 10). Type material: Holotype ɗ: COSTA RICA: Heredia, La Selva Biological Station (10 ° 26 ’N 84 °01’W), sweep STR trail, 09.ii. 2003, S.E. Brooks (LEM). Paratypes: COSTA RICA: La Suiza de Turrialba, July, P. Schild (1 ɗ, USNM), Higuito, San Mateo, P. Schild (1 Ψ, USNM). Etymology: The species name is from the Latin flavus (yellow) and manus (hand), referring to the colour of the scutellum.Published as part of Wheeler, Terry A. & Mlynarek, Julia J., 2008, Systematics of Agrophaspidium, a new genus of Neotropical Chloropidae (Diptera), pp. 41-52 in Zootaxa 1926 on page 43, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18480