Abstract The authors compared patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) with a healthy control group about childhood traumatic life events, parental attitudes, family history of mental illness, and birth risk factors. BPD patients reported more severe traumatic events and childhood traumatic experiences (i.e., sexual abuse, violence, separation from parents). Attitudes towards parents were significantly more negative in BPD patients. BPD patients also reported higher rates of mental il...

AbstractAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs when inflammation of the lungs leads to respiratory failure without cardiac failure. The mortality of patients with ARDS is still high despite efforts to develop treatments. Identifying biomarkers of ARDS will help decrease mortality. This study looks at soluble advanced glycation end-products, soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1, interleukin-6, interleukin8, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 for ARDS treatment by a soluble inhib...

AbstractAbout 100,000 people in the United States are in need of a kidney transplant, and 400,000 people are on dialysis. This study aims to discover more about the ability to create a transplantable kidney graft. They decellularized a rat, pig, and human kidney in this study, and recellularized the rat kidney with epithelial and endothelial cells. The grafts made urine in the lab setting. Some grafts were transplanted into the rat, and also produced urine after transplantation.IntroductionDialy...

Abstract Adjudin is a potential male contraceptive. It likely prevents pregnancy by stopping immature sperm cells from fully developing. After treatment with adjudin stops, sperm cells are able to fully mature and fertility returns. Recent research has shown adjudin targets the apical ES in the testes. This review highlights adjudin, gamendazole and CDB-4022 as potential male contraceptives.   Introduction Currently, the only available contraception for men are condoms and vasectomies. Hormonal ...

AbstractIt is important to understand how non-medical interventions impact COVID-19 transmission, especially to plan future measures to combat the ongoing pandemic. In this study, the researchers used data from American counties of reported infections and deaths along with data about how people move from place to place and a mathematical transmission model. Combining these three things, the researchers quantified changes in COVID-19 transmission in the U.S from March 2020 to May 2020. They found...

AbstractMucosal barrier immunity in the intestine is essential for maintaining the commensal microflora (friendly gut bacteria) and fighting bacterial infection. Previously, immune and epithelial cells were thought to maintain this balance between harboring the commensal microflora and fighting infection. In this study, the researchers show that the enteric nervous system (ENS), or neurons in the gastrointestinal tract, plays an important role in this balance. The researchers found that the ENS ...

AbstractThis was a retrospective study about the effect of hydroxychloroquine (with or without azithromycin) on in-hospital mortality and abnormal electrocardiogram findings. The study focused on adverse effects of this drug, opposed to its efficacy as a COVID-19 therapeutic. Records from 25 NY metropolitan region hospitals (representing 88.2% of COVID-19 patients in the area) were collected. Four groups were examined: patients receiving hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine a...

AbstractThe transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through droplets is clear, but whether it can be transmitted through aerosols (airborne transmission) is not. This study investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted through aerosols by measuring viral RNA in two Wuhan hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak. The researchers found that levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in isolation wards and vented patient rooms was low, but higher in patients' toilet areas. SARS-CoV-2 levels were undetectable except in two areas p...

AbstractThere are many existing hypotheses for the mechanism of DNA replication. There are three main models. The conservative model states that the parent DNA molecule remains completely intact. New DNA molecules are made of completely new strands. The semiconservative model states that each new DNA has one new strand and one parent strand. The dispersive model states that fragments of the parent are randomly passed on.Previous experiments used radioisotope labels to study DNA. In this experime...

AbstractFamotidine is a drug commonly used for gastric acid suppression. Some researchers have pointed to it possibly stopping SARS-CoV-2 replication. This study tested whether famotidine use is associated with better outcomes in COVID-19 patients. These patients were hospitalized in a non-intensive care setting. They were exposed to famotidine within 24 hours of hospital admittance. The study found that famotidine use was associated with a reduced risk for death or intubation, and for death alo...