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Current Opinion in Endocrinology,... Jul 2024Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal semi-dominant condition, characterized by excessive circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from birth...
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal semi-dominant condition, characterized by excessive circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from birth that substantially accelerates the onset and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), classically coronary artery disease (CAD). Elevated plasma LDL-C integrated over time is unequivocally the major determinant of ASCVD in heterozygous FH (HeFH); however, the wide variation in incidence and progression of ASCVD suggests a role for a wide spectrum of risk modifiers. We reviewed recent evidence describing the features of an ASCVD-free entity referred to as resilient FH among patients with HeFH.
RECENT FINDINGS
Compared with nonresilient FH patients, resilient patients are more likely to be female, and have a lower prevalence of ASCVD comorbidities, higher levels of HDL-C and larger HDL particles, as well as a lower level of lipoprotein(a). A lower SAFEHEART risk score is also an independent predictor of resilient FH. Gene expression studies also demonstrate that resilient FH patients are associated with a less atherogenic gene expression profile in relation to HDL metabolism and immune responses, as reflected by higher expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1, and lower expression of STAT2 and STAT3, respectively.
SUMMARY
A group of HeFH patients, referred as resilient FH, can survive to advance ages without experiencing any ASCVD events. Several key contributors to the event-fee CAD in HeFH patients have been identified. This could not only improve risk stratification and management for FH but also be of major importance for the general population in primary and secondary prevention. However, resilient FH remains an under-investigated area and requires further research.
PubMed: 38966915
DOI: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000874 -
Analytical Chemistry Jul 2024The urgent need for field detection of uranium in seawater is 2-fold: to provide prompt guidance for uranium extraction and to prevent human exposure to nuclear...
The urgent need for field detection of uranium in seawater is 2-fold: to provide prompt guidance for uranium extraction and to prevent human exposure to nuclear radiation. However, current methods for this purpose are largely hindered by bulky instrumentation, high costs of developed materials, and severe matrix interferences, which limit their further application in the field. Herein, we demonstrated a portable and label-free strategy for the field detection of uranyl in seawater based on the efficient photocleavage of DNA. Further experiments confirmed the generation of ultraviolet (UV) light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as O and •OH, which fragmented oligomeric DNA in the presence of uranyl and UV light. Detailed studies showed that DNA significantly enhances uranyl absorption in the UV-visible region, leading to the generation of more ROS. A fluorescence system for the selective detection of uranyl in seawater was established by immobilizing two complementary oligonucleotides with the fluorescent dye SYBR Green I. The strategy of UV-induced photocleavage offers high selectivity, excellent interference immunity, and high sensitivity for uranyl, with a detection limit of 6.8 nM. Additionally, the fluorescence can be visually detected using a 3D-printed miniaturized device integrated with a smartphone. This method has been successfully applied to the on-site detection of uranyl in seawater in 18 Chinese coastal cities and along the coast of Hainan Island within 3 min for a single sample. The sample testing and field analysis results indicate that this strategy has promising potential for real-time monitoring of trace uranyl in China's coastal waters. It is expected to be utilized for the rapid assessment of nuclear contamination and nuclear engineering construction.
PubMed: 38966896
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02205 -
Horticulture Research Jul 2024Jojoba is an industrial oil crop planted in tropical arid areas, and its low-temperature sensitivity prevents its introduction into temperate areas. Studying the...
Jojoba is an industrial oil crop planted in tropical arid areas, and its low-temperature sensitivity prevents its introduction into temperate areas. Studying the molecular mechanisms associated with cold acclimation in jojoba is advantageous for developing breeds with enhanced cold tolerance. In this study, metabolomic analysis revealed that various flavonols accumulate in jojoba during cold acclimation. Time-course transcriptomic analysis and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) demonstrated that flavonol biosynthesis and jasmonates (JAs) signaling pathways played crucial roles in cold acclimation. Combining the biochemical and genetic analyses showed that ScMYB12 directly activated gene (). The interaction between ScMYB12 and transparent testa 8 (ScTT8) promoted the expression of , but the negative regulator ScJAZ13 in the JA signaling pathway interacted with ScTT8 to attenuate the transcriptional activity of the ScTT8 and ScMYB12 complex, leading to the downregulation of . Cold acclimation stimulated the production of JA in jojoba leaves, promoted the degradation of ScJAZ13, and activated the transcriptional activity of ScTT8 and ScMYB12 complexes, leading to the accumulation of flavonols. Our findings reveal the molecular mechanism of JA-mediated flavonol biosynthesis during cold acclimation in jojoba and highlight the JA pathway as a promising means for enhancing cold tolerance in breeding efforts.
PubMed: 38966867
DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae125 -
International Journal For Parasitology.... Aug 2024The wild boar, an impactful invasive species in Brazil, is subject to population control activities, which often include the use of hunting dogs. Hunters commonly...
The wild boar, an impactful invasive species in Brazil, is subject to population control activities, which often include the use of hunting dogs. Hunters commonly consume wild boar meat, which is also used to feed their dogs, posing a risk of infection for humans and both and for dogs. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of infection in wild boars (n = 127) and hunting dogs (n = 73) from São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná states. We employed histopathological, serological (indirect fluorescent antibody test), and molecular techniques (endpoint polymerase chain reaction). Histopathology slides of wild boar tissue (central nervous system, heart, skeletal muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, lymph nodes, and thyroid) sections revealed no or cysts (0/47). Antibodies anti- were detected in 35/108 (32.4%) and anti- in 45/108 (41.7%) wild boars. Only 2/18 (11.1%) wild boar tissue homogenate samples tested positive for on endpoint PCR. Hunting dogs showed antibodies against in 62/73 (85%) and against in 31/73 (42%). The presence of antibodies against and in wild boars and hunting dogs, along with DNA detection in wild boars, indicates the circulation of these parasites. Educating hunters on preventing these foodborne diseases, including zoonotic risks, is crucial.
PubMed: 38966859
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100951 -
Journal of Abdominal Wall Surgery : JAWS 2024Our study addresses the gap in ventral hernia repair literature, regarding the long-term effectiveness of robotic transabdominal retrorectus umbilical prosthetic repair...
BACKGROUND
Our study addresses the gap in ventral hernia repair literature, regarding the long-term effectiveness of robotic transabdominal retrorectus umbilical prosthetic repair (r-TARUP) for primary and incisional ventral hernias. This study aimed to report the 3-year recurrence rates and overall patient outcomes including quality of life.
METHOD
A retrospective review of prospective collected data analyzed 101 elective r-TARUP patients from August 2018 to January 2022. Data collected included demographics, hernia sizes, mesh types, postoperative outcomes and the European Hernia Society Quality of Life questionnaire (EuraHS-QoL) before and after surgery.
RESULTS
The average age of the group of patients was 53, having a mean body mass index (BMI) of 32 kg/m, with 54% incisional and 46% primary hernias, with mean length and width of 4.4 cm and 6.1 cm, utilizing synthetic 58% and bioabsorbable 42% mesh types. The majority were classified as Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) class I wounds. Postoperative complications included seroma (2%), hematoma (3%), which required surgical intervention, with no significant correlation to mesh type. A strong positive correlation was found between Transversus Abdominis Release (TAR) and increased length of hospital stay (correlation coefficient: 0.731, 0.001). Preoperative quality of life assessments demonstrated statistically significant improvements when compared to postoperative assessments at 3 years, with a mean (±SD) of 61.61 ± 5.29 vs. 13.84 ± 2.6 ( 0.001). Mean follow up of 34.4 months with no hernia recurrence at 1 year and 3 recurrence at the 2-3 years follow up (3.2%).
CONCLUSION
The r-TARUP technique has proven to be safe and effective for repairing primary and incisional ventral hernias, with a low recurrence rate during this follow up period with a noticeable improvement in quality of life (QoL).
PubMed: 38966856
DOI: 10.3389/jaws.2024.12907 -
Open Forum Infectious Diseases Jul 2024Adjunctive lung resection is recommended for select patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary disease (PD). However, data are limited on long-term...
BACKGROUND
Adjunctive lung resection is recommended for select patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary disease (PD). However, data are limited on long-term recurrence rates in patients infected with major pathogens, including complex (MAC) and (MABC).
METHODS
In this prospective observational study, we retrospectively analyzed data from 125 patients with MAC-PD (n = 90) or MABC-PD (n = 35) who underwent adjunctive lung resection. We evaluated microbiological response, postoperative complications, recurrence, and all-cause mortality over a median 80-month follow-up.
RESULTS
Persistent culture positivity (64%) was the most common indication for surgery, followed by hemoptysis, recurrent pneumonia, or radiologic deterioration. Postoperative complications occurred in 18 (14%) patients, with no surgery-related deaths. Treatment outcomes did not significantly differ between the MAC- and MABC-PD groups. Cure with culture conversion was achieved in 112 (90%) patients. Recurrence occurred in 37 (33%) of 112 patients, of which 18 (49%) cases were attributed to reinfection by different NTM species or subspecies. The MAC group had higher recurrence rates than the MABC group (Kaplan-Meier curve, log-rank test, = .043) and was significantly associated with recurrence in the multivariable analysis (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.23-5.99). However, mortality was higher in the MABC-PD group than the MAC-PD group (7/35 vs 4/90, = .006).
CONCLUSIONS
Adjunctive lung resection with antibiotics helps to reduce bacterial burden and manage symptoms in patients with NTM-PD. However, it does not prevent recurrence, which is mostly caused by reinfection.
PubMed: 38966854
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae345 -
Open Forum Infectious Diseases Jul 2024People with HIV (PWH) are aging. Frailty is an age-related condition predictive of hospitalization and mortality. Here, we assessed the frequency and factors associated...
BACKGROUND
People with HIV (PWH) are aging. Frailty is an age-related condition predictive of hospitalization and mortality. Here, we assessed the frequency and factors associated with frailty transitions at 1-year follow-up in elderly PWH.
METHODS
Five hundred eight PWH aged 70 years or older who were on antiretroviral treatment were included in the French multicenter SEPTAVIH study in 2019-2020. Participants were classified as robust, prefrail, or frail according to Fried frailty phenotype at baseline and at 1 year. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate socioeconomic and medical factors associated with transition between frailty states. Models were adjusted for gender, age at baseline, education, and period of HIV diagnosis (before vs after 1996).
RESULTS
Seventeen PWH died during the 1-year follow-up. Of the remaining 491 PWH (median age, 73 years), frailty status worsened for 18% of participants and improved for 14% at 1 year. Advanced age, baseline CD4+ T-cell count <350 cells/mm, and type 2 diabetes were associated with transition from prefrailty to frailty (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.10 per 1-year positive difference; 95% CI, 1.01-1.20; aOR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.14-8.18; and aOR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.05-6.57; respectively). Being female was associated with more frequent improvement from prefrailty to robustness (aOR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.09-5.55).
CONCLUSIONS
Preventing frailty in elderly PWH is a long-term problem, beginning with the early diagnosis of HIV infection and the management of comorbidities.
PubMed: 38966850
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae229 -
Tobacco Induced Diseases 2024Assessing the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD) attributable to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is crucial for informing evidence-based healthcare practices,...
INTRODUCTION
Assessing the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD) attributable to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is crucial for informing evidence-based healthcare practices, prevention strategies, and resource allocation planning.
METHODS
The burden of IHD attributable to SHS from 1990 to 2019 was assessed using the comparative risk assessment method as part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019.
RESULTS
Globally, the absolute number of deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) from IHD due to SHS increased substantially from 270.0 thousand and 6971.3 thousand in 1990 to 397.4 thousand and 9566.1 thousand in 2019. The corresponding age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR) were both in a decreasing trend with estimate of the annual percentage change (EAPC) of -1.38 (-1.42 - -1.34) and -1.43 (-1.47 - -1.38). Central Asia has the highest ASMR (16 per 100000, 95% uncertainty interval, UI: 12.8-19.4), and Oceania has the highest ASDR (323.2 per 100000, 95% UI: 228.9-443.1 per 100000) in 2019. All sociodemographic index (SDI) category regions showed a decreasing trend in ASMR and ASDR, with the decrease being more obvious in high and high-middle SDI regions. Our analysis identified an escalating trend concerning ASMR and ASDR in Oceania from 1990 to 2019. In 2019, the most significant number of deaths and DALYs occurred in the age group of 80-84 years (5.4 thousand, 95% UI: 3.7-7.3 in thousands) and the age group of 55-59 years (1140.8 thousand, 95% UI: 876.1-1435 in thousands).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study reveals an absolute global increase in deaths and DALYs from IHD due to SHS from 1990 to 2019. Despite a declining trend in ASMR and ASDR, regional disparities persist. The elderly and middle-aged populations bore the most significant burden. These findings highlight the ongoing global health impact of SHS on IHD and emphasize the need for targeted interventions in regions with rising trends and vulnerable age groups.
PubMed: 38966818
DOI: 10.18332/tid/189771 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024To map studies assessing both clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) in clinical samples, focusing on...
AIMS
To map studies assessing both clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) in clinical samples, focusing on clinical/research/preventive paradigms and proposing informed research recommendations.
METHODS
We conducted a PRISMA-ScR/JBI-compliant scoping review (protocol: https://osf.io/8mz7a) of primary research studies (cross-sectional/longitudinal designs) using valid measures/criteria to assess CHR-P and BPD (threshold/subthreshold) in clinical samples, reporting on CHR-P/psychotic symptoms and personality disorder(s) in the title/abstract/keywords, identified in Web of Science/PubMed/(EBSCO)PsycINFO until 23/08/2023.
RESULTS
33 studies were included and categorized into four themes reflecting their respective clinical/research/preventive paradigm: (i) BPD as a comorbidity in CHR-P youth ( = 20), emphasizing early detection and intervention in psychosis; (ii) attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS) as a comorbidity among BPD inpatients ( = 2), with a focus on hospitalized adolescents/young adults admitted for non-psychotic mental disorders; (iii) mixed samples ( = 7), including descriptions of early intervention services and referral pathways; (iv) transdiagnostic approaches ( = 4) highlighting "clinical high at risk mental state" (CHARMS) criteria to identify a pluripotent risk state for severe mental disorders.
CONCLUSION
The scoping review reveals diverse approaches to clinical care for CHR-P and BPD, with no unified treatment strategies. Recommendations for future research should focus on: (i) exploring referral pathways across early intervention clinics to promote timely intervention; (ii) enhancing early detection strategies in innovative settings such as emergency departments; (iii) improving mental health literacy to facilitate help-seeking behaviors; (iv) analysing comorbid disorders as complex systems to better understand and target early psychopathology; (v) investigating prospective risk for BPD; (vi) developing transdiagnostic interventions; (vii) engaging youth with lived experience of comorbidity to gain insight on their subjective experience; (viii) understanding caregiver burden to craft family-focused interventions; (ix) expanding research in underrepresented regions such as Africa and Asia, and; (x) evaluating the cost-effectiveness of early interventions to determine scalability across different countries.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://osf.io/8mz7a.
PubMed: 38966724
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1381864 -
MethodsX Jun 2024In recent years, frequent and substantial area-wide power outages have underscored the critical need for cities to possess robust backup power sources capable of swift...
In recent years, frequent and substantial area-wide power outages have underscored the critical need for cities to possess robust backup power sources capable of swift response to prevent prolonged power system disruptions. Electric vehicles can contribute electricity to the power grid using vehicle-to-grid technology. The power delivered by electric vehicles in this context is termed as response capability. However, existing studies have overlooked response capability dynamics during transitions between electric vehicle states-such as the shift from charging or discharging to an idle state, thereby hindering a comprehensive understanding of this aspect. Hence, this paper introduces a multi-timescale response capability prediction model that evaluates the electric vehicle's state of charge to ensure users' requirements are met for upcoming trips. To better assess users' travel demand, the gravity model is employed as a precursor to response capability prediction to further enhance the validity of the prediction outcomes. Three neighborhoods in Los Angeles have been chosen for analysis: Downtown, Lincoln Heights, and Silver Lake. Predictions indicate that neglecting the response capability when electric vehicles undergo state transformation can lead to a differential response capability ranging from 2000 kWh to 4000 kWh, resulting in a loss of prediction accuracy by 20 % to 25 %.•The response capability of EV is non-zero during state transformations•Users' travel demand assessment•Seamless integration of vehicle-to-grid technology into the power grid.
PubMed: 38966713
DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102783