LTx remains the definitive treatment for end-stage lung disease, but the increasing demand for donor lungs outpaces the available supply. This chapter explores innovative approaches to expand the pool of viable donor lungs and reduce waiting times, which is crucial to lowering mortality rates among patients on transplant lists. Xenotransplantation, which has made its greatest strides using porcine

The biologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], is able to promote the generation of tolerogenic mature dendritic cells (mDCs) with an impaired ability to activate autoreactive T cells. These cells could represent a reliable tool for the promotion or restoration of Ag-specific tolerance through vaccination strategies, for example in type 1 diabetes patients. Howe

Objective: Real-life observational report of clinical efficacy of bilateral subthalamic stimulation (STN-DBS), apomorphine (APO), and intrajejunal levodopa infusion (IJLI) on quality of life, motor, and nonmotor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, international, real-life cohort observation study of 173 PD patients undergoing STN-DBS (n = 101), IJ

The field of organ transplantation is experiencing a transformative shift with the rise of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), which include gene therapies, somatic cell therapies, and tissue-engineered products. These therapies offer new, potentially curative treatments for longstanding medical challenges, impacting numerous patients. However, their adoption is hindered by complex regula

As advancements in transplantation techniques continue, the challenge remains the limited availability of suitable donor organs. This chapter explores strategies to expand the donor pool and optimise transplant outcomes, which include the use of extended criteria donors, living lobar transplantation, donor-to-recipient graft size matching, and innovations in hypothermic storage and ex vivo lung pe

Objective. To investigate the course of disability related to the upper extremities (UEs) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to assess correlations between such disability and clinical variables, including grip force. Methods. In an inception cohort of patients with early RA (diagnosed 1995-2005, N = 222, follow-up 10 yrs), disability of the UEs was assessed using a subscore of the Health Ass

Acute SARS-CoV-2 infections are not always diagnosed; hence an unknown proportion of all infections are not documented. SARS-CoV-2 can induce spike and nucleocapsid protein specific IgG antibodies, which can be detected in seroprevalence studies to identify a previous infection. However, with the introduction of vaccines containing the spike protein it is no longer possible to use spike-IgG as a m

Organ-on-a-chip devices are predominately made of the polymer polymethylsiloxane (PDMS), exhibiting several attractive properties e.g., transparency, gas permeability, and biocompatibility. However, the attachment of cells to this polymer has proven challenging, especially for delicate primary cells e.g., small intestinal organoid-derived epithelial cells. Hence, a need to functionalize and coat t

X-ray ptychography provides the highest resolution non-destructive imaging at synchrotron radiation facilities, and the efficiency of this method is crucial for coping with limited experimental time. Recent advancements in multi-beam ptychography have enabled larger fields of view, but spatial resolution for large 3D samples remains constrained by their thickness, requiring consideration of multip

Objectives: North Sea–Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy (NS-PME) is a rare, childhood-onset disorder primarily characterized by movement disorders including progressive myoclonus and ataxia; subsequently accompanied by varying degrees of epilepsy. While motor symptoms are clearly defined, quality of life (QoL) has never been investigated in NS-PME. Additionally, nonmotor symptoms (NMS) including anxi

There is a need for ground-breaking technologies to boost crop yield, both grains and biomass, and their processing into economically competitive materials. Novel cereals with enhanced photosynthesis and assimilation of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide and ozone, and tailored straw suitable for industrial manufacturing, open a new perspective for the circular economy. Here we describe the

Manufacturing activities are highly prioritized by many low- and middle-income countries in the twentyfirst century, yet there is an urgent need for these processes to be done in a way that bring about sustainable and inclusive development. As an African forerunner that has developed manufacturing, achieved sustained growth, and undergone structural transformation, Mauritius is an interesting case

Chapter 7, written by Vera Sadovska, Oksana Mont and Yuliya Voytenko Palgan, explores the economic sustainability of food-sharing initiatives (FSIs). Bringing together insights from a systematic literature review and empirical research in Barcelona, the chapter examines the economic challenges FSIs face, such as managing operational costs, obtaining funding and dealing with regulatory complexities

The silicon isotope composition (δ30Si) of biogenic silica is often used as an archive of past environmental conditions. For example, sponge spicule δ30Si is known to be related to seawater-dissolved Si concentrations. Such a proxy application requires that the δ30Si is not diagenetically altered—or at least that any alteration can be identified and accounted for. Yet the preservation of pristine

Objective To assess patient's self-reported global assessment of health (PGA) in relation to inflammation, pain and disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Data were obtained from the Better Anti-Rheumatic PharmacOTherapy early RA cohort, in which patients were scheduled for follow-up of 15 years. Longitudinal PGA trajectories were identified using hierarchical agglomerative