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Clinical Rheumatology Jun 2024The heterodimer exostosin-1/exostosin-2 (EXO-1/2) is a novel antigen observed in membranous nephropathy associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. This study aimed to...
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES
The heterodimer exostosin-1/exostosin-2 (EXO-1/2) is a novel antigen observed in membranous nephropathy associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. This study aimed to evaluate the association between EXO-1/2 positivity in kidney biopsy and kidney outcomes.
METHODS
The kidney biopsy tissue from 50 class 5 lupus nephritis (LN) and 55 mixed class 3/4 + 5 LN patients was stained for EXO-1/2. Baseline clinical and histological characteristics were compared between EXO-1/2 positive and EXO-1/2 negative patients. Time-to-event analyses were performed to compare rates of response to therapy, kidney flares, and progression to a 40% decline of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), doubling of serum creatinine, and kidney failure.
RESULTS
Fourteen out of 50 (28%) of class 5 and 5 out of 55 (9%) of mixed class 3/4 + 5 LN stained positive for EXO-1/2. Patients with class 5 LN and EXO-1/2 positive stain were younger, with better kidney function at presentation, and lower scarring in the kidney biopsy analysis. Over a median follow-up of 100 months, patients with positive EXO-1/2 staining had significantly lower rates of progression in the full cohort. When analyzed separately in class 5 and mixed class LN subgroups, there were significantly lower rates of progression to a 40% decline of the eGFR and non-statistically significant trends for doubling of serum creatinine and kidney failure.
CONCLUSION
EXO-1/2 is a novel antigen detected in class 5 LN and associated with a good prognosis of kidney function. The incorporation of EXO-1/2 staining in clinical practice can potentially modify the management of LN due to its prognostic implications. Key Points • Exostosin-1/exostosin-2 antigen has been found in cases of membranous nephropathy associated with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. • Exostosin-1/exostosin-2 staining in the kidney biopsy of class 5 or mixed class 3/4 + 5 lupus nephritis is associated with a good long-term prognosis of kidney function. • The incorporation of exostosin-1/exostosin-2 staining into clinical practice can potentially modify management due to its prognostic implications.
PubMed: 38922553
DOI: 10.1007/s10067-024-07043-x -
Planta Jun 2024This review article highlights a broader perspective of NPs and plant-root interaction by focusing on their beneficial and deleterious impacts on root system... (Review)
Review
This review article highlights a broader perspective of NPs and plant-root interaction by focusing on their beneficial and deleterious impacts on root system architecture (RSA). The root performs a vital function by securing itself in the soil, absorbing and transporting water and nutrients to facilitate plant growth and productivity. In dicots, the architecture of the root system (RSA) is markedly shaped by the development of the primary root and its branches, showcasing considerable adaptability in response to changes in the environment. For promoting agriculture and combating global food hunger, the use of nanoparticles (NPs) may be an exciting option, for which it is essential to understand the behaviour of plants under NPs exposure. The nature of NPs and their physicochemical characteristics play a significant role in the positive/negative response of roots and shoots. Root morphological features, such as root length, root mass and root development features, may regulated positively/negatively by different types of NPs. In addition, application of NPs may also enhance nutrient transport and soil fertility by the promotion of soil microorganisms including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) and also soil enzymes. Interestingly the interaction of nanomaterials (NMs) with rhizospheric bacteria can enhance plant development and soil health. However, some studies also suggested that the increased use of several types of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) may disrupt the equilibrium of the soil-root interface and unsafe morphogenesis by causing the browning of roots and suppressing the growth of root and soil microbes. Thus, this review article has sought to compile a broader perspective of NPs and plant-root interaction by focusing on their beneficial or deleterious impacts on RSA.
Topics: Rhizosphere; Plant Roots; Nanoparticles; Microbiota; Soil Microbiology; Minerals; Stress, Physiological; Soil; Plant Development
PubMed: 38922515
DOI: 10.1007/s00425-024-04409-y -
Endocrine Jun 2024Fracture risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients is paradoxically increased despite no decrease in areal bone mineraldensity (BMD). This phenomenon, known as the...
Fracture risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients is paradoxically increased despite no decrease in areal bone mineraldensity (BMD). This phenomenon, known as the "diabetic bone paradox", has been attributed to various factorsincluding alterations in bone microarchitecture and composition, hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, advancedglycation end products (AGEs), and comorbidities associated with T2D. Zhao et al. recently investigated therelationship between T2D and fracture risk using both genetic and phenotypic datasets. Their findings suggest thatgenetically predicted T2D is associated with higher BMD and lower fracture risk, indicating that the bone paradox isnot observed when confounding factors are controlled using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. However, inprospective phenotypic analysis, T2D remained associated with higher BMD and higher fracture risk, even afteradjusting for confounding factors. Stratified analysis revealed that the bone paradox may disappear when T2Drelatedrisk factors are eliminated. The study also highlighted the role of obesity in the relationship between T2Dand fracture risk, with BMI mediating a significant portion of the protective effect. Overall, managing T2D-relatedrisk factors may be crucial in preventing fracture risk in T2D patients.
PubMed: 38922479
DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03926-w -
Osteoporosis International : a Journal... Jun 2024This multicentre, prospective cohort study measured the effect of romosozumab for 12 months on bone mineral density, taking into account prior therapies. Prior...
UNLABELLED
This multicentre, prospective cohort study measured the effect of romosozumab for 12 months on bone mineral density, taking into account prior therapies. Prior antiresorptive therapy blunted the BMD response to romosozumab, and the duration was correlated with BMD changes at both the lumbar spine and total hip.
INTRODUCTION
In Switzerland, romosozumab is administered to high-risk osteoporosis patients. Our study aimed to assess the effect of romosozumab on bone mineral density (BMD), taking into account prior therapies.
METHODS
This multicentre, prospective cohort study measured the effect of romosozumab for 12 months in patients in a nationwide Swiss osteoporosis registry. BMD and bone turnover marker (P1NP and CTX) changes were measured and compared between pre-treated and treatment naïve patients.
RESULTS
Ninety-nine patients (92 women and 7 men, median age 71 years [65, 76]) were enrolled from January 2021 to December 2023. Among them, 22 had no prior treatment before romosozumab, while 77 had previous therapy (including 23 with a history of prior teriparatide therapy), with a median duration of 6 years [4, 11] of cumulative antiresorptive treatment. Over 12 months, romosozumab led to BMD changes of 10.3% [7.5, 15.5] at the lumbar spine, 3.1% [1.1, 5.8] at the total hip and 3.1% [0.5, 5.3] at the femoral neck, indicating notable variability. Significantly lower BMD responses were observed in pre-treated patients, with the duration of prior antiresorptive therapy inversely associated with BMD increases at the lumbar spine and hip. Other predictors of BMD changes at the total hip included baseline T-scores at the hip, body mass index and baseline CTX level, while the BMD response at the lumbar spine was associated with the lumbar spine T-score at baseline, age and baseline CTX level.
CONCLUSION
Prior antiresorptive therapy blunted the BMD response to romosozumab, and the duration was correlated with BMD changes at both the lumbar spine and total hip.
PubMed: 38922397
DOI: 10.1007/s00198-024-07155-9 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Jun 2024Out of 5 million Indian spring water systems, a few were characterised for hydrochemistry and freshwater potential. The present study focuses on analysing the...
Out of 5 million Indian spring water systems, a few were characterised for hydrochemistry and freshwater potential. The present study focuses on analysing the hydrochemistry, discharge, and drinking/irrigation water quality of both cold and thermal spring clusters namely Southern Kerala Springs (SKS) and Dakshina Kannada Springs (DKS) of Southern Western Ghats, India. Currently, eleven springs from SKS and ten from DKS including one thermal spring (TS) with temperature ranges from 34 to 37 °C were considered. The study revealed that cold springs (CS) of SKS are Na-Cl type, while the thermal and cold-water springs in DKS are Na-HCO and mixing water type, respectively. Two distinct mechanisms predominantly define the hydro-chemical composition of the springs-SKS are influenced by precipitation, whereas DKS is likely by chemical weathering processes. While comparing the major ions and saturation indices of thermal springs (TS), it is evident that silicate minerals predominantly affect the chemical composition of water. CaCO is oversaturated in TS water and tends to precipitate as a scale layer. PCA showed that both geogenic and anthropogenic factors influence water chemistry. WQI categorized the CS in both the clusters are in the "Excellent" rank as compared to TS. Irrigation water quality signifies that the cold springs are only suitable for irrigation. Moreover, it is evident from the discharge that both SKS and DKS were rainfed in nature. Discharge monitoring designated that the CS could augment drinking water supplies in the nearby regions indicating the necessity of conservation and sustainable use considering future freshwater scarcity.
Topics: India; Environmental Monitoring; Natural Springs; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Hot Springs; Water Quality
PubMed: 38922385
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12775-z -
Journal of Endocrinological... Jun 2024In patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) vitamin D deficiency has been associated with more severe presentations. Our aim was to investigate the effects of...
PURPOSE
In patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) vitamin D deficiency has been associated with more severe presentations. Our aim was to investigate the effects of Vitamin D supplementation on mineral homeostasis and related hormones in individuals with and without PHPT.
METHODS
Individuals with and without PHPT (CTRL) received 14,000 IU/week of oral vitamin D for 12 weeks. At baseline and endpoint, blood samples were collected to measure 1,25(OH)vitamin D (1,25(OH)D), intact Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23), 25OHD, Parathormone, and other biochemical markers. The 1,25(OH)D measurement was performed using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
RESULTS
70 PHPT patients and 75 CTRL were included, and 55 PHPT and 64 CTRL completed the 12-week protocol. After the intervention, there were significant increases in the FGF23 levels (PHPT: 47.9 ± 27.1 to 76.3 ± 33.3; CTRL: 40.5 ± 13.9 to 59.8 ± 19.8 pg/mL, p < 0.001), and significant decreases in 1,25(OH)D levels (PHPT: 94.8 ± 34.6 to 68.9 ± 25.3; CTRL: 68.7 ± 23.5 to 56.4 ± 20.7 pg/mL, p < 0.001). The reduction of 1,25(OH)D was inversely associated with the increase of FGF23 in both the PHPT (r = -0.302, p = 0.028) and CTRL (r = -0.278, p = 0.027). No changes in plasmatic or uninary calcium concentrations were observed in both groups.
CONCLUSION
The weekly administration of 14,000 IU of Vitamin D3 was safe and efficient to increase in 25OHD levels in both groups. However, a paradoxical decrease in 1,25(OH)D levels measured by LC-MS/MS was associated with a significant increase in FGF23 levels in both groups. This phenomenon might represent a defense against hypercalcemia after vitamin D supplementation and paves the way for new studies in this regard.
PubMed: 38922369
DOI: 10.1007/s40618-024-02422-2 -
Mikrochimica Acta Jun 2024The enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis, recurrence monitoring, and prognosis assessment of...
The enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis, recurrence monitoring, and prognosis assessment of cancer patients. There is a compelling need to develop an efficient technique for the capture and identification of these rare CTCs. However, the exclusive reliance on a single criterion, such as the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibody or aptamer, for the specific recognition of epithelial CTCs is not universally suitable for clinical applications, as it usually falls short in identifying EpCAM-negative CTCs. To address this limitation, we propose a straightforward and cost-effective method involving triplex fluorescently labelled aptamers (FAM-EpCAM, Cy5-PTK7, and Texas Red-CSV) to modify FeO-loaded dendritic SiO nanocomposite (dmSiO@FeO/Apt). This multi-recognition-based strategy not only enhanced the efficiency in capturing heterogeneous CTCs, but also facilitated the rapid and accurate identification of CTCs. The capture efficiency of heterogenous CTCs reached up to 93.33%, with a detection limit as low as 5 cells/mL. Notably, the developed dmSiO@FeO/Apt nanoprobe enabled the swift identification of captured cells in just 30 min, relying solely on the fluorescently modified aptamers, which reduced the identification time by approximately 90% compared with the conventional immunocytochemistry (ICC) technique. Finally, these nanoprobe characteristics were validated using blood samples from patients with various types of cancers.
Topics: Humans; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; Silicon Dioxide; Aptamers, Nucleotide; Nanocomposites; Fluorescent Dyes; Immunomagnetic Separation; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; Limit of Detection; Cell Line, Tumor; Ferrosoferric Oxide
PubMed: 38922365
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06504-z -
International Journal of Systematic and... Jun 2024A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, motile bacterium, J379, was isolated from radioactive water spring C1, located in a former silver-uranium mine in the Czech...
A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, motile bacterium, J379, was isolated from radioactive water spring C1, located in a former silver-uranium mine in the Czech Republic. This slow-growing strain exhibited optimal growth at 24-28 °C on solid media with <1 % salt concentration and alkaline pH 8-10. The only respiratory quinone found in strain J379 was MK-7(H). C ω9 (60.9 %), C (9.4 %), C and alcohol-C (both 6.2 %) were found to be the major fatty acids. The peptidoglycan contained directly cross-linked -diaminopimelic acid. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences and the core-genome analysis revealed that strain J379 forms a separate phylogenetic lineage within the recently amended order . A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences between strain J379 and other members of the order showed <96 % similarity. This analysis revealed that the closest type strains were D16/0 /H6 (95.2 %), 0166_1 (94.9 %) and KV-962 (94.5 %). Whole-genome analysis showed that the closest type strain was BR7-21 with an average nucleotide identity of 78 %, average amino acid identity of 63.2 % and percentage of conserved proteins of 48.2 %. The G+C content of the J379 genomic DNA was 71.7 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phylogenomic data, as well as its physiological characteristics, strain J379 is proposed to represent a type strain (DSM 113746=CCM 9300) of gen. nov. sp. nov. within the family .
Topics: Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Fatty Acids; DNA, Bacterial; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Base Composition; Mining; Czech Republic; Peptidoglycan; Diaminopimelic Acid; Vitamin K 2; Silver; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 38922323
DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006432 -
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2024The ecology of movement is an expanding area, marked by the diversity of analytical methods and protocols, which enables this integrative reading. We investigated...
Tracking the little ones: use of fluorescent powder to follow a leaf litter lizard (Coleodactylus meridionalis, Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) in the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia, Brazil.
The ecology of movement is an expanding area, marked by the diversity of analytical methods and protocols, which enables this integrative reading. We investigated movement ecology aspects of Coleodactylus meridionalis in southern Bahia, northeastern Brazil, using fluorescent powder with mineral oil to track individuals. We monitored 69 individuals of C. meridionalis that walked an average distance of 148 cm in 2h. We identified this movement as foraging due to the orientation of the step sequence and microenvironments used. We find no significant differences between walking distance and weight. However, we found a decrease in activity over the follow-up period. Most of the lizard's movements were directed north, while south, east, and west were followed equally. The individuals stayed predominantly on the ground (leaf litter), but it was possible to observe the use of other surfaces, such as trunks and burrows on the ground. Therefore, we studied the movement in three dimensions (ground height, distance traveled, and orientation of steps). We observed the lizard's foraging, one of the most common and least investigated movements in small lizards like C. meridionalis. This involves not only the species' activity schedule but other intrinsic and extrinsic factors that shape the movement decisions of individuals.
Topics: Animals; Lizards; Brazil; Forests; Powders; Male
PubMed: 38922256
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202420230728 -
Brazilian Dental Journal 2024This study aimed to determine the effect of adding selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA HP) concerning alkalinizing potential. Additionally,...
This study aimed to determine the effect of adding selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA HP) concerning alkalinizing potential. Additionally, it examined the set material after SeNPs incorporation using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (FE-SEM/EDX) for characterizing the elemental composition and morphological alterations resulting from the integration of SeNPs. Cement samples, both before and after SeNPs incorporation, were examined using FE-SEM/EDX. The pH level was also measured with a pH-meter previously calibrated with solutions of known pH, to evaluate the alkalinizing activity of the integrated substance at different concentrations of nanoparticles: Group 1 (control): 0% w/w SeNPs, Group 2: 0.5% w/w SeNPs, Group 3: 1% w/w SeNPs, Group 4: 1.5% w/w SeNPs and Group 5: 2% w/w SeNPs after 1, 7, 14, and 30 days in distal water. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (P≤0.05). According to FE-SEM/EDX, the morphological characteristics indicate that SeNPs were successfully dispersed and integrated into the MTA repair matrix. EDX examination validates the presence of Selenium, confirming successful integration. The findings confirmed that the MTAHP showed a high pH level with a discernible reduction in the alkalinizing activity with each incorporated concentration of (SeNPs) that significantly differed from the control group across various periods at (P≤ 0.05). Consequently, the findings indicate that the addition of SeNPs to MTA HP has a notable impact on the pH of the storage solution, leading to a significant decrease in pH values for all concentrations and periods when compared to the control group. The alkalinizing action of MTA HP is highly affected by the incorporated SeNPs, making it more suitable for application in pulpal tissue. This study contributes to our understanding of the morphological alterations and elemental composition of SeNP-incorporated MTA HP, enhancing its potential applications in dental and tissue regeneration.
PubMed: 38922250
DOI: 10.1590/0103-6440202405760