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Mymensingh Medical Journal : MMJ Jul 2024Physical activity and mindfulness techniques, such as exercise and Kapalbhati Pranayama, are known to have positive effects on health and well-being. However, limited... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Exercise and Kapalbhati Pranayama on Heart Rate Variability and Electroencephalogram Activity: Unveiling Physiological and Cognitive Insights.
Physical activity and mindfulness techniques, such as exercise and Kapalbhati Pranayama, are known to have positive effects on health and well-being. However, limited research has directly compared their impact on physiological and psychological parameters. This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of exercise and Kapalbhati Pranayama on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, shedding light on their contributions to overall health and mental well-being. The study was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal, India, from 2018 to 2022. A prospective interventional design was employed over two months, involving 20 participants with normal BMI and no respiratory or cardiac conditions. Exclusion criteria included lung or cardiac diseases, smoking history, dyspnoea during physical activity, pedal edema, and high blood pressure. The Kapalbhati Pranayama intervention was supervised and limited to 5 minutes. HRV was assessed using the HRV Brain Tap Neuralchek Machine before, during, and after Kapalbhati. For exercise, a mild-intensity cycling protocol was performed on healthy volunteers aged 20 to 50. HRV was recorded before, during, and after exercise. The EEG analysis revealed notable changes in brain wave patterns. At baseline, participants exhibited higher levels of delta, theta, and alpha waves, indicating a state of relaxation and calmness. During exercise, there was a significant increase in beta waves and a decrease in delta, theta, and alpha waves, reflecting heightened brain activity and alertness. After Kapalbhati, beta wave levels remained elevated, while delta and theta wave suppression was more pronounced, suggesting a stimulating effect on the brain similar to exercise. The changes in beta and gamma EEG waves could be attributed to factors such as exercise intensity, duration, frequency, and the release of endorphins during both exercise and Kapalbhati. The HRV analysis demonstrated distinct responses to exercise and Kapalbhati. Exercise led to a significant reduction in HRV parameters, characterized by increased heart rate and decreased time-domain HRV measures, aligning with the typical sympathetic nervous system dominance during physical activity. In contrast, Kapalbhati's impact on HRV parameters was milder, with minor changes in heart rate and subtle alterations in time-domain HRV measures. The high LF/HF ratio during Kapalbhati suggested a potential stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. More comprehensive research is required to confirm these findings and understand the long-term effects of Kapalbhati on HRV and cardiovascular health. This study contributes to the understanding of how exercise and Kapalbhati Pranayama affect both cognitive and cardiovascular aspects of health. It highlights that both interventions increase brain activity and alertness, but Kapalbhati may have a more potent effect. Exercise significantly reduces HRV parameters, indicating sympathetic nervous system dominance, while Kapalbhati has milder HRV effects. Further research with larger and more diverse populations is essential to confirm and expand on these findings, providing insights into optimizing cognitive function and cardiovascular health through tailored approaches of exercise and Kapalbhati Pranayama.
Topics: Humans; Heart Rate; Electroencephalography; Adult; Male; Exercise; Female; Prospective Studies; Middle Aged; India; Young Adult; Mindfulness; Yoga; Cognition
PubMed: 38944738
DOI: No ID Found -
The American Journal of Case Reports Jun 2024BACKGROUND Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a disease in which the immune response elicited by heparin results in a state of hypercoagulability and platelet...
BACKGROUND Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a disease in which the immune response elicited by heparin results in a state of hypercoagulability and platelet activation, leading to thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism. Gustilo-Anderson type IIIC open fractures of the extremities are defined as open fractures presenting with arterial injuries that require repair and result in treatment challenges and complications. The diagnosis of HIT can be difficult in patients with severe trauma with consumptive thrombocytopenia associated with heavy bleeding and the use of heparin after vascular anastomosis. CASE REPORT A 48-year-old man was injured in a car accident, pinching his right lower leg and sustaining a Gustilo-Anderson type IIIc open fracture, for which he underwent emergency revascularization surgery. Heparin was administered continuously immediately after the surgery. On postoperative day 9, ischemic changes were observed in the right foot, and we performed suture re-anastomosis; however, the blood circulation in the right lower leg did not resume, and right lower leg amputation was performed due to ischemic necrosis with the onset of HIT. Postoperatively, the patient was switched to edoxaban after the recovery of his platelet count. Thereafter, the patient experienced no new thrombus occlusion or wound trouble, and was able to walk on a prosthetic leg and return to daily life. CONCLUSIONS It is important to consider the possibility of HIT as soon as thrombocytopenia appears in patients with Gustilo-Anderson type IIIC open fracture who are receiving heparin after vascular anastomosis, as a delayed diagnosis of HIT can make it difficult to save the limb.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Heparin; Thrombocytopenia; Fractures, Open; Limb Salvage; Anticoagulants; Ischemia
PubMed: 38944681
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.944121 -
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles Jul 2024Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in triggering tumour-aggressive behaviours. However, the energetic process by which tumour cells produce EVs remains...
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in triggering tumour-aggressive behaviours. However, the energetic process by which tumour cells produce EVs remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the involvement of β-hexosaminidase B (HEXB) in mediating EV release in response to oxidative stress, thereby promoting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mechanistically, reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulate the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB), leading to the upregulation of both HEXB and its antisense lncRNA HEXB-AS. HEXB-AS can bind HEXB to form a protein/RNA complex, which elevates the protein stability of HEXB. The stabilized HEXB interacts with lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 1 (LAMP1), disrupting lysosome-multivesicular body (MVB) fusion, which protects EVs from degradation. Knockdown of HEXB efficiently inhibits EV release and curbs HCC growth both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, targeting HEXB by M-31850 significantly inhibits HCC growth, especially when combined with GW4869, an inhibitor of exosome release. Our results underscore the critical role of HEXB as a modulator that promotes EV release during HCC development.
Topics: Extracellular Vesicles; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Animals; Oxidative Stress; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Mice; Up-Regulation; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; RNA, Long Noncoding; Reactive Oxygen Species; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Male; Mice, Nude
PubMed: 38944674
DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12468 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 alters the antigenicity of the immunodominant spike (S) receptor-binding domain and N-terminal domain, undermining the efficacy of vaccines and...
Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 alters the antigenicity of the immunodominant spike (S) receptor-binding domain and N-terminal domain, undermining the efficacy of vaccines and antibody therapies. To overcome this challenge, we set out to develop a vaccine focusing antibody responses on the highly conserved but metastable S subunit, which folds as a spring-loaded fusion machinery. We describe a strategy for prefusion-stabilization and high yield recombinant production of SARS-CoV-2 S trimers with native structure and antigenicity. We demonstrate that our design strategy is broadly generalizable to sarbecoviruses, as exemplified with the SARS-CoV-1 (clade 1a) and PRD-0038 (clade 3) S subunits. Immunization of mice with a prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 S trimer elicits broadly reactive sarbecovirus antibodies and neutralizing antibody titers of comparable magnitude against Wuhan-Hu-1 and the immune evasive XBB.1.5 variant. Vaccinated mice were protected from weight loss and disease upon challenge with XBB.1.5, providing proof-of-principle for fusion machinery sarbecovirus vaccines.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; Humans; COVID-19; Female; COVID-19 Vaccines; Mice, Inbred BALB C
PubMed: 38944664
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49656-5 -
Journal of Pediatric Urology Jun 2024Many pediatric urology conditions affect putatively normal tissues or appear too commonly to be based solely on specific DNA mutations. Understanding epigenetic...
INTRODUCTION
Many pediatric urology conditions affect putatively normal tissues or appear too commonly to be based solely on specific DNA mutations. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms in pediatric urology, therefore, has many implications that can impact cell and tissue responses to settings, such as environmental and hormonal influences on urethral development, uropathogenic infections, obstructive stimuli, all of which originate externally or extracellularly. Indeed, the cell's response to external stimuli is often mediated epigenetically. In this commentary, we highlight work on the critical role that epigenetic machinery, such as DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), Enhancer of Zeste Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Subunit (EZH2), and others play in regulating gene expression and cellular functions in three urological contexts.
DESIGN
Animal and cellular constructs were used to model clinical pediatric uropathology. The hypertrophy, trabeculation, and fibrosis of the chronically obstructed bladder was explored using smooth muscle cell models employing disorganised vs. normal extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as a new animal model of chronic obstructive bladder disease (COBD) which retains its pathologic features even after bladder de-obstruction. Cell models from human and murine hypospadias or genital tubercles (GT) were used to illustrate developmental responses and epigenetic dependency of key developmental genes. Finally, using bladder urothelial and organoid culture systems, we examined activity of epigenetic machinery in response to non uropathogenic vs. uropathogenic E.coli (UPEC). DNMT and EZH2 expression and function were interrogated in these model systems.
RESULTS
Disordered ECM exerted a principal mitogenic and epigenetic role for on bladder smooth muscle both in vitro and in CODB in vivo. Key genes, e.g., BDNF and KCNB2 were under epigenetic regulation in actively evolving obstruction and COBD, though each condition showed distinct epigenetic responses. In models of hypospadias, estrogen strongly dysregulated WNT and Hox expression, which was normalized by epigenetic inhibition. Finally, DNA methylation machinery in the urothelium showed specific activation when challenged by uropathogenic E.coli. Similarly, UPEC induces hypermethylation and downregulation of the growth suppressor p16INK4A. Moreover, host cells exposed to UPEC produced secreted factors inducing epigenetic responses transmissible from one affected cell to another without ongoing bacterial presence.
DISCUSSION
Microenvironmental influences altered epigenetic activity in the three described urologic contexts. Considering that many obstructed bladders continue to display abnormal architecture and dysfunction despite relief of obstruction similar to after resection of posterior valves or BPH, the epigenetic mechanisms described highlight novel approaches for understanding the underlying smooth muscle myopathy of this crucial clinical problem. Similarly, there is evidence for an epigenetic basis of xenoestrogen on development of hypospadias, and UTI-induced pan-urothelial alteration of epigenetic marks and propensity for subsequent (recurrent) UTI. The impact of mechanical, hormonal, infectious triggers on genitourinary epigenetic machinery activity invite novel avenues for targeting epigenetic modifications associated with these non-cancer diseases in urology. This includes the use of deactivated CRISPR-based technologies for precise epigenome targeting and editing. Overall, we underscore the importance of understanding epigenetic regulation in pediatric urology for the development of innovative therapeutic and management strategies.
PubMed: 38944627
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2024.06.008 -
Trends in Immunology Jun 2024Basophils, rare granulocytes, have long been acknowledged for their roles in type 2 immune responses. However, the mechanisms by which basophils adapt their functions to... (Review)
Review
Basophils, rare granulocytes, have long been acknowledged for their roles in type 2 immune responses. However, the mechanisms by which basophils adapt their functions to diverse mammalian microenvironments remain unclear. Recent advancements in specific research tools and single-cell-based technologies have greatly enhanced our understanding of basophils. Several studies have shown that basophils play a role in maintaining homeostasis but can also contribute to pathology in various tissues and organs, including skin, lung, and others. Here, we provide an overview of recent basophil research, including cell development, characteristics, and functions. Based on an increasing understanding of basophil biology, we suggest that the precise targeting of basophil features might be beneficial in alleviating certain pathologies such as asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), and others.
PubMed: 38944621
DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.05.009 -
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta.... Jun 2024
Corrigendum to "Intestinal metabolite UroB alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by promoting competition between TRIM65 and TXNIP for binding to NLRP3 inflammasome in response to neuroinflammation" [BBA - Molecular Basis of Disease 1870 (2024) 167056].
PubMed: 38944594
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167285 -
Veterinary Parasitology Jun 2024Parasitic helminth Trichinella spiralis (Ts) induce mixed Th1/Th2 response with predominant type 2 immune responses, with protective immunity mediated by interleukin...
Parasitic helminth Trichinella spiralis (Ts) induce mixed Th1/Th2 response with predominant type 2 immune responses, with protective immunity mediated by interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13. β-Glucan (BG) has been shown to have the ability to induce trained immunity, confers non-specific protection from secondary infections. However, whether BG-induced trained immunity played a role in protective type 2 immunity against Ts infection is unclear. In this study, BG was administered five days before Ts infection to induce trained immunity. Our findings demonstrate that BG pretreatment effectively reduced the number of T. spiralis adults and muscle larvae, whereas inhibition of trained immunity abolished the effect of BG. Additionally, we observed a significant increase in goblet cells and mucus production as evidenced by Alcian blue periodic acid-Schiff staining. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed a significant upregulation of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 expression in response to BG. Conversely, the inhibitor of trained immunity reversed these effects, suggesting that BG-induced trained immunity confers strong protection against Ts infection. In conclusion, these findings suggest that BG-induced trained immunity may play a role in protection against infections caused by other helminths.
PubMed: 38944590
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110238 -
Vaccine Jun 2024Suspected allergic reactions after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination withheld multiple individuals from getting fully vaccinated during the pandemic. We vaccinated adults who...
Suspected allergic reactions after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination withheld multiple individuals from getting fully vaccinated during the pandemic. We vaccinated adults who had experienced possible allergic symptoms after their first intramuscular dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine with a 1/5th fractional intradermal test dose of the mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine. No anaphylactic reactions were observed after intradermal vaccination (n = 56). Serum anti-S1 IgG concentrations were measured using a bead-based multiplex assay four weeks after vaccinations. Antibody concentrations were compared with a previously collected nationwide cohort that had received two intramuscular doses of mRNA-1273. Antibody responses in all subjects tested (n = 47) were comparable to standard of care intramuscular dosing. Fractional intradermal dosing of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may provide a pragmatic solution that is safe, time efficient compared to skin prick testing, dose sparing and immunogenic in individuals with suspected vaccine allergy.
PubMed: 38944578
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.06.060 -
The Surgical Clinics of North America Aug 2024Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) often arises from kidney disease and is characterized by elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. The reported optimal PTH level... (Review)
Review
Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) often arises from kidney disease and is characterized by elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. The reported optimal PTH level to balance the compensatory physiologic response in SHPT with the pathologic morbidity and mortality has changed over time with our evolving understanding. Parathyroidectomy for kidney-related hyperparathyroidism requires consideration of the patient's dialysis status, potential for kidney transplantation, and medical history. Extent of parathyroidectomy and intraoperative decision-making requires consideration to maximize cure with the risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism. Parathyroidectomy for kidney-related hyperparathyroidism can provide a reduction in morbidity, mortality, and improved kidney allograft function and survival.
Topics: Humans; Parathyroidectomy; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary; Renal Dialysis; Kidney Transplantation; Parathyroid Hormone; Kidney Failure, Chronic
PubMed: 38944502
DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2024.02.011