Protocol for Audiological Surveillance of Children at Risk for Permanent Hearing Loss

This document addresses procedures for the audiological surveillance of hearing of infants and young children at risk for late onset or progressive permanent hearing loss (PHL). It is closely linked with the Ontario Infant Hearing Program (IHP) Protocol for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Auditory Brainstem Response Assessment (ABRA) Protocol, and the IHP protocol for Audiometric Assessment for Children Aged 6 to 60 Months with respect to risk indicators, hearing screening technology applied, screening bypass, and audiological assessment procedures

New loci associated with birth weight identify genetic links between intrauterine growth and adult height and metabolism.

Birth weight within the normal range is associated with a variety of adult-onset diseases, but the mechanisms behind these associations are poorly understood. Previous genome-wide association studies of birth weight identified a variant in the ADCY5 gene associated both with birth weight and type 2 diabetes and a second variant, near CCNL1, with no obvious link to adult traits. In an expanded genome-wide association meta-analysis and follow-up study of birth weight (of up to 69,308 individuals of European descent from 43 studies), we have now extended the number of loci associated at genome-wide significance to 7, accounting for a similar proportion of variance as maternal smoking. Five of the loci are known to be associated with other phenotypes: ADCY5 and CDKAL1 with type 2 diabetes, ADRB1 with adult blood pressure and HMGA2 and LCORL with adult height. Our findings highlight genetic links between fetal growth and postnatal growth and metabolism

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018):a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (“MISEV”) guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these “MISEV2014” guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points

The HiGHmed Didactical Framework for Online Learning Modules on Medical Informatics: First Experiences

Within the HiGHmeducation consortium various online learning modules shall be developed by members of the consortium to address the increasing need for skilled professionals in a networked and digitalized healthcare system. Transferability of these modules to other locations is one main objective for the design of online learning modules. Thus, a didactical framework for online learning modules was developed. To ensure feasibility of the framework, the participating universities were analyzed concerning availability of e-learning support structures and infrastructures including learning management systems (LMS). The analysis especially focuses on the various LMS learning tools and their suitability for the framework. The framework is the basis for 12 HiGHmeducation online learning modules of which a part has firstly been conducted in winter 2019/20 and leads to a comparable structure of the modules

Optimisation of the surface properties of SBA-15 mesoporous silica for in-situ nanoparticle synthesis

Various methods proposed for preparing nanoparticles within porous matrices involve generally the impregnation of the matrix with a solution of precursors followed by reduction based on chemical, thermal, radiolytic, or photochemical process. In most cases, the amount of solution impregnated is small and not uniformly distributed in the matrix, with a yield less than 30% and concentrated around the matrix surface. We have developed a novel method for preparing composite materials, combining impregnation under partial vacuum with radiolytic reduction. This method has enabled us to obtain SBA-15 mesoporous silicas with 50–70% impregnation and to control the nanoparticle size

Label-free live brain imaging and targeted patching with third-harmonic generation microscopy

The ability to visualize neurons inside living brain tissue is a fundamental requirement in neuroscience and neurosurgery. Especially the development of a noninvasive probe of brain morphology with micrometer-scale resolution is highly desirable, as it would provide a noninvasive approach to optical biopsies in diagnostic medicine. Two-photon laser-scanning microscopy (2PLSM) is a powerful tool in this regard, and has become the standard for minimally invasive high-resolution imaging of living biological samples. However, while 2PLSM-based optical methods provide sufficient resolution, they have been hampered by the requirement for fluorescent dyes to provide image contrast. Here we demonstrate high-contrast imaging of live brain tissue at cellular resolution, without the need for fluorescent probes, using optical third-harmonic generation (THG). We exploit the specific geometry and lipid content of brain tissue at the cellular level to achieve partial phase matching of THG, providing an alternative contrast mechanism to fluorescence. We find that THG brain imaging allows rapid, noninvasive label-free imaging of neurons, white-matter structures, and blood vessels simultaneously. Furthermore, we exploit THG-based imaging to guide micropipettes towards designated neurons inside live tissue. This work is a major step towards label-free microscopic live brain imaging, and opens up possibilities for the development of laser-guided microsurgery techniques in the living brain