by Nuria Arias-Ramos  , Jesús Pacheco-Torres  and Pilar López-Larrubia

Received: 11 November 2018;  Published: 30 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1901020

Background: Despite important advances in multimodal therapeutic options, glioblastoma (GBM), the most frequent and aggressive form of all astrocytomas, remains with a median overall survival period of 15 months. A direct correlation between GBM hypoxia and higher aggressiveness, poor prognosis and greater resistance to different treatments has been established. However, because of intratumoral and interindividual heterogeneity, it has not been possible to assess accurately the hypoxia degree from physiopathologica [...]

by Carly M. Darden  , Srividya Vasu  , Kenjiro Kumano  , Bashoo Naziruddin  and Michael C. Lawrence

Received: 21 November 2018;  Published: 29 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901043

Islet transplantation is a minimally invasive cell based replacement therapy to prevent or reverse diabetes or hypoglycemia through natural hormonal responses to regulate blood glucose. However, extending the islet graft functional lifespan remains a challenge that prevents long-term success and widespread use of the procedure. Islets are subject to stress and damage and undergo immunological assault during transplantation procedures. Current treatments to prevent immune reactivity toward the graft come with toxic [...]

by Elena Sala  , Donatella Conconi  , Francesca Crosti  , Nicoletta Villa  , Serena Redaelli  and Gaia Roversi

Received: 01 October 2018;  Published: 28 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901063

Since its introduction around the end of the 1970s, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) supports both classical and recent techniques for determining fetal karyotypes during prenatal diagnosis, quickly providing relevant information for the management of pregnancy. Interphase FISH plays an important role in the study of pregnancies with malformations, in mosaicism conditions, in confirming or excluding aneuploidy detected by non-invasive prenatal testing, and in the diagnosis of contiguous gene syn [...]

by Patrick Weber  , Cathia Rausch  , Annina Scholl  and M. Cristina Cardoso

Received: 22 July 2018;  Published: 25 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901062

Background: Genetic repeat elements (interspersed or tandem repeats) have diverse functions within cells and at different phases of the cell cycle. However, their investigation at a genome-wide scale is challenging due to their repetitive nature. Here, we describe a method to study the DNA replication kinetics of different repeat elements in single cells throughout the S-phase of the cell cycle. Methods: Mouse major satellite, minor satellite and telomere repeat elements as well as human LINE-1 and Alu repeats were [...]

by Anya Ahmed  , Paula Ormandy  and Maaike L. Seekles

Received: 15 November 2018;  Published: 24 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901030

Background: Promoting a good quality of life for the oldest members of society has become a top priority as evidenced in UK policy. The ‘household’ model is a departure from traditional approaches to care provision since it offers person-centred support - combing health and social care - to older people in specially-designed, small, homelike environments. Having gained increasing popularity in care homes across developed countries, the impact of this model of service delivery on residents’ quality of life and its c [...]

by Alexandria J Coughlan  , Kendall R. McEachron  , Mariya E. Skube  , Sydne Muratore  , Melena D. Bellin  and Greg J Beilman

Received: 29 October 2018;  Published: 24 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901042

The current predominant location for allo- and auto-transplantation of islets is the liver. Despite the historical success of this site, recent studies have revealed multiple disadvantages. Portal hypertension, portal vein thrombosis, bleeding, low oxygen tension, instant blood mediated inflammatory reaction, inadequate alpha cell function, and delays in neovascularization are factors that continue to drive researchers to explore alternative sites for islet transplantation. Factors of an optimal site include: capac [...]

by Suzie Jokic  , Nicole Jacqueline Albrecht  and Sue Erica Smith

Received: 15 July 2018;  Published: 23 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901004

Background: Adult learners often engage in formal education because they want to create changes in their lives and are determined to succeed in their chosen field. However, they also come with emotional "baggage" of early educational experiences, frequently have to deal with a multitude of competing demands, have financial strain, may face a lack of support, illness and/or injury. In addition, they are often dealing with the challenges of unfamiliar academic work, competing deadlines and initially lack basic academ [...]

by Naoki Ohkura  , Gen-ichi Atsumi  , Seima Uehara  , Mitsuhiro Ohta  and Masahiko Taniguchi

Received: 18 July 2018;  Published: 23 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901005

Metabolic syndrome is a serious health condition comprising a combination of glucose metabolism disorder, high blood pressure and obesity. The main underlying risk factors for metabolic syndrome are abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. Various studies have shown that herbal medicines can effectively reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Angelica keiskei Koidzumi (ashitaba), a large perennial herb native to the Southeast Pacific coast of Japan, has recently become a popular herbal medicine, dietary [...]

by Paul Scriven

Received: 29 October 2018;  Published: 22 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901061

United Kingdom guidelines recommend single embryo transfer (fresh or cryopreserved) in the first full assisted conception cycle for women under 40 years most at risk of having twins. Based on a recent randomized clinical trial for women aged 36 to 40 years, the hypothetical effect of preimplantation genetic testing for chromosome aneuploidy was extrapolated to single transfer of every morphologically transferable embryo available from a full cycle. Offering testing to every woman seems likely to result in fewer cli [...]

by Darren E. Stewart  , Amber R. Wilk  and David K. Klassen

Received: 14 December 2018;  Published: 22 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901041

Background: This study examines very recent trends in deceased donor kidney transplantation to assess the performance of the kidney allocation system (KAS), implemented December 4, 2014, and whether bolus effects associated with KAS have stabilized nearly four years after implementation. Methods: The overall number of deceased donor kidney transplants, as well as the proportion of transplants by recipient and transplant characteristics, were calculated monthly from December 2013 through September 2018 and examined [...]