Surface functionalisation of nanodiamonds for human neural stem cell adhesion and proliferation.

Biological systems interact with nanostructured materials on a sub-cellular level. These interactions may govern cell behaviour and the precise control of a nanomaterial's structure and surface chemistry allow for a high degree of tunability to be achieved. Cells are surrounded by an extra-cellular matrix with nano-topographical properties. Diamond based materials, and specifically nanostructured diamond has attracted much attention due to its extreme electrical and mechanical properties, chemical inertness and biocompatibility. Here the interaction of nanodiamond monolayers with human Neural Stem Cells (hNSCs) has been investigated. The effect of altering surface functionalisation of nanodiamonds on hNSC adhesion and proliferation has shown that confluent cellular attachment occurs on oxygen terminated nanodiamonds (O-NDs), but not on hydrogen terminated nanodiamonds (H-NDs). Analysis of H and O-NDs by Atomic Force Microscopy, contact angle measurements and protein adsorption suggests that differences in topography, wettability, surface charge and protein adsorption of these surfaces may underlie the difference in cellular adhesion of hNSCs reported here

deconstructSigs: delineating mutational processes in single tumors distinguishes DNA repair deficiencies and patterns of carcinoma evolution

BACKGROUND: Analysis of somatic mutations provides insight into the mutational processes that have shaped the cancer genome, but such analysis currently requires large cohorts. We develop deconstructSigs, which allows the identification of mutational signatures within a single tumor sample. RESULTS: Application of deconstructSigs identifies samples with DNA repair deficiencies and reveals distinct and dynamic mutational processes molding the cancer genome in esophageal adenocarcinoma compared to squamous cell carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: deconstructSigs confers the ability to define mutational processes driven by environmental exposures, DNA repair abnormalities, and mutagenic processes in individual tumors with implications for precision cancer medicine

Understanding the Effect of Body Weight on Muscle Activity During Unilateral Hopping

Running can be described as a series of bilateral single-legged jumps and landings. Interestingly, single-legged jumps and landings are qualitatively more difficult unilaterally than bilaterally known as bilateral deficit syndrome (BDS). For example, one leg will produce less mechanical energy while jump squatting unilaterally than it would produce if both legs worked synchronously. The analysis of dynamic conditions under different levels of body weight support of the hopping movement may prove useful to understanding the bilateral deficit. Purpose: To compare muscle activity of the lower extremity during single-legged hopping at different levels of body weight support. Methods: The research study was recently approved by the Institutional Review Board and data collection has begun. Therefore, no data are presented in the abstract at this time. Subjects will be equipped with electromyography (EMG) leads to measure muscle activity of the rectus femoris, semitendinosus, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. Subjects will be asked to perform 5 trials of hopping forwards at a preferred speed (PS) for 1 minute at varying levels of body weight (80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%). EMG data of all four muscles will be compared across the separate body weight control conditions

Subcutaneous Sarcoid Nodules: A Dermatologic Presentation of Systemic Sarcoidosis for Primary Care Physicians

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease primarily characterized by pulmonary manifestations. Extrapulmonary involvement in sarcoidosis is well documented and common, but isolated extrapulmonary involvement is rare at around 10% of cases at the time of diagnosis. Cutaneous presentations vary significantly, with erythema nodosum being the most common. Since extrapulmonary symptoms most likely suggest systemic involvement, any way to identify sarcoidosis early is paramount. We present a case of a 63-year-old Caucasian female with multiple palpable 0.5-3cm nodules under the skin of the bilateral forearms, left hand, and lower extremities. A biopsy of a lesion revealed numerous sarcoidal phenotype granulomas without necrosis surrounded by a mild lymphocytic infiltrate. Imaging confirmed calcified mediastinal, hilar, and sub-carinal lymph nodes, as well as revealed scattered calcified and non-calcified granulomas in the upper lung fields. Treatment is not always required, and this patient’s subcutaneous nodules resolved with a single course of steroids. Therefore, it is vital for primary care providers to maintain a high index of suspicion for sarcoidosis with various dermatological findings, as it may be the presenting symptom for sarcoidosis and allow early recognition, monitoring, and intervention

Virtual Community Health Workers: Outreach Calls During COVID-19

The “Clinical Experience” program at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College, established in 2017, provides pre-clerkship students with an opportunity to identify and address patients’ needs for social determinants of health (SDoH). The COVID-19 pandemic led to a suspension of the student program in the clinical environment, but the CHWs continued to address patients’ social needs from a remote setting. In the absence of established best practices regarding patient outreach calls from a remote setting, we sought to develop an effective workflow that would mask the CHWs’ personal cell phones while leading to fewer “unable to reach” scenarios and improved case resolution rates