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Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a gaseous signaling molecule produced in the body by three enzymes: cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and... (Review)
Review
Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a gaseous signaling molecule produced in the body by three enzymes: cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST). HS is crucial in various physiological processes associated with female mammalian reproduction. These include estrus cycle, oocyte maturation, oocyte aging, ovulation, embryo transport and early embryo development, the development of the placenta and fetal membranes, pregnancy, and the initiation of labor. Despite the confirmed presence of HS-producing enzymes in all female reproductive tissues, as described in this review, the exact mechanisms of HS action in these tissues remain in most cases unclear. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the knowledge about the presence and effects of HS in these tissues and outline possible signaling pathways that mediate these effects. Understanding these pathways may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies in the field of women's health and perinatal medicine.
PubMed: 38933705
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1378435 -
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2024Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) placed a significant strain on nursing homes, leading to numerous outbreaks and high mortality rates. This situation created...
PURPOSE
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) placed a significant strain on nursing homes, leading to numerous outbreaks and high mortality rates. This situation created considerable stress and challenges for residents, their physicians and nurses, as well as family caregivers. By understanding these challenges, we can gain new insights and learn valuable lessons. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the treatment and care provided to nursing home residents with COVID-19, as experienced by physicians, nurses, and family caregivers.
PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS
This study is a secondary analysis of 35 interviews with physicians, nurses, and family caregivers, each with personal experience caring for nursing home residents diagnosed with COVID-19. The interviews took place from December 2020 to April 2021. We analyzed the transcriptions based on Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis model and followed a qualitative descriptive design as outlined by Sandelowski.
FINDINGS
The analysis produced three themes: 1) Balancing medical treatment, 2) The need for increased systematic monitoring of vital functions, and 3) Determining the treatment level for nursing home residents. These themes were explored through the unique perspectives of the three participant groups: physicians, nurses, and family caregivers. The findings revealed several challenges related to treatment and care for nursing home residents diagnosed with COVID-19. This applied both to relief of symptoms, monitoring of vital functions, assessment of treatment level and use of advance care planning.
CONCLUSION
Drawing from the experiences of physicians, nurses, and family caregivers, there should be a unified plan at the municipal or national level for competency development in nursing homes to prepare for future crises like pandemics or epidemics. Additionally, the safe engagement of family caregivers and relatives should be given priority.
PubMed: 38933696
DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S467459 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024W.T. Aiton is an outstanding herb with the homology of medicine and food. Its ripe fruits are traditionally used as an important tonic for kidneys and liver in China.... (Review)
Review
W.T. Aiton is an outstanding herb with the homology of medicine and food. Its ripe fruits are traditionally used as an important tonic for kidneys and liver in China. W.T. Aiton is rich in nutritional components and a variety of bioactive ingredients. A total of 206 compounds have been isolated and identified, they mainly include flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, iridoid glycosides, and triterpenoids. These compounds exert anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor, liver protective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. W.T. Aiton has been traditionally used to treat many complex diseases, including osteoporotic bone pain, rheumatic bone, cancer, related aging symptoms, and so on. In the 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there are more than 100 prescriptions containing W.T. Aiton. Among them, some classical preparations including Er Zhi Wan and Zhenqi fuzheng formula, are used in the treatment of various cancers with good therapeutic effects. Additionally, W.T. Aiton has also many excellent applications for functional food, ornamental plants, bioindicator of air pollution, algicidal agents, and feed additives. W.T. Aiton has rich plant resources. However, the application potential of it has not been fully exploited. We hope that this paper provides a theoretical basis for the high-value and high-connotation development of W.T. Aiton in the future.
PubMed: 38933667
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1330732 -
Materials Today. Bio Jun 2024Photoaging, primarily caused by ultraviolet (UV) light, is the major factor in extrinsic skin aging. Existing anti-photoaging strategies mainly focus on early sun...
Photoaging, primarily caused by ultraviolet (UV) light, is the major factor in extrinsic skin aging. Existing anti-photoaging strategies mainly focus on early sun protection or repairing damaged skin, lacking a comprehensive treatment strategy. Therefore, this study developed a dressing that actively shields against UV radiation and repairs photoaged skin, offering double protection. This study utilized exosome-like nanovesicles derived from leaves (OLELNVs), enhancing them into a potent core biomaterial with high-dose effects and skin-friendly, non-cytotoxic inhibition of cell aging. These nanovesicles were incorporated into a cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) and tannic acid (TA) hydrogel with strong UV-absorbing properties, creating the OLELNVs@HA/TA hydrogel system. and experiments demonstrated that OLELNVs@HA/TA hydrogel can effectively reduce UV-induced skin damage and promote skin repair and regeneration. Additionally, RNA-seq and clustering analysis of miR168a-5p predicted targets revealed significant down-regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, mediating inflammatory aging responses. Overall, the OLELNVs@HA/TA hydrogel represents a novel dual-strategy approach for clinical application in combating photoaging.
PubMed: 38933415
DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101103 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2024Chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited syndrome with heterogeneous symptoms, which makes it a challenge for early diagnosis. The mutation...
Case report: Misdiagnosed orolingual dyskinesia as a consequence of seizures in a chorea-acanthocytosis patient with a novel variation from a family with consanguineous marriage.
Chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited syndrome with heterogeneous symptoms, which makes it a challenge for early diagnosis. The mutation of is considered intimately related to the pathogenesis of ChAc. To date, diverse mutation patterns of , consisting of missense, nonsense, and frameshift mutations, have been reported. In this study, we first report a clinical case that was misdiagnosed as epilepsy due to recurrent seizures accompanied by tongue bite for 9 months, which was not rectified until seizures were controlled and involuntary orolingual movements with awareness became prominent and were confirmed to be orolingual dyskinesia. The patient was eventually diagnosed as ChAc based on whole-exome sequencing revealing novel homozygous c.2061dup (frameshift mutation) and c.6796A > T dual mutations in . The patient from a family with consanguineous marriage manifested epileptic seizures at onset, including both generalized tonic-clonic seizures and absence but normal long-term electroencephalography, and gradually developed orofacial dyskinesia, including involuntary tongue protrusion, tongue biting and ulcers, involuntary open jaws, occasionally frequent eye blinks, and head swings. The first test of the peripheral blood smear was negative, and repeated checks confirmed an elevated percentage of acanthocytes by 15-21.3%. Structural brain MRI indicated a mildly swollen left hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus and a progressively decreased volume of the bilateral hippocampus 1 year later, along with atrophy of the head of the caudate nucleus but no progression in 1 year. We deeply analyzed the reasons for long-term misdiagnosis in an effort to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of ChAc, thus facilitating early diagnosis and treatment in future clinical practice.
PubMed: 38933328
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1352467 -
Fundamental Research May 2024The environmental stability of infectious viruses in the laboratory setting is crucial to the transmission potential of human respiratory viruses. Different experimental... (Review)
Review
The environmental stability of infectious viruses in the laboratory setting is crucial to the transmission potential of human respiratory viruses. Different experimental techniques or conditions used in studies over the past decades have led to diverse understandings and predictions for the stability of viral infectivity in the atmospheric environment. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the effect of simulated atmospheric conditions on the infectivity of respiratory viruses, mainly focusing on influenza viruses and coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. First, we summarize the impact of the experimental conditions on viral stability; these involve the methods of viral aerosol generation, storage during aging and collection, the virus types and strains, the suspension matrixes, the initial inoculum volumes and concentrations, and the drying process. Second, we summarize and discuss the detection methods of viral infectivity and their disadvantages. Finally, we integrate the results from the reviewed studies to obtain an overall understanding of the effects of atmospheric environmental conditions on the decay of infectious viruses, especially aerosolized viruses. Overall, this review highlights the knowledge gaps in predicting the ability of viruses to maintain infectivity during airborne transmission.
PubMed: 38933192
DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2023.12.017 -
Fundamental Research May 2024
PubMed: 38933187
DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2024.03.009 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024There is a scarcity of data on the epidemiology of hypertension and its treatment in Germany in recent years.
BACKGROUND
There is a scarcity of data on the epidemiology of hypertension and its treatment in Germany in recent years.
OBJECTIVES
The present study aimed to investigate trends in the number of adults diagnosed with hypertension and those being prescribed antihypertensive drugs each year in general practices from this country between 2013 and 2022.
METHODS
This retrospective cohort study used data of adults aged ≥18 years continuously collected from 336 general practices in Germany (IQVIA) during 2013-2022. The diagnosis of hypertension and the prescription of antihypertensive drugs were coded using the ICD-10 and the EphMRA classification, respectively. Covariates included the total number of patients, mean (SD) age of patients, and proportion of women per practice. Trends in hypertension diagnosis and treatment were studied using linear regression models.
RESULTS
The mean (SD) total number of patients per practice ranged from 2,235 (1,055) in 2013-2,845 (2,090) in 2021 (-value < 0.001). The mean (SD) age of patients per practice was between 48.4 (21.5) and 50.5 (21.4) years, while the proportion of women was 52.1%-53.9% (-values < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, there was a significant decrease in the number of patients diagnosed with hypertension (beta coefficient = -7.91, -value < 0.001) and treated with any antihypertensive drug per practice per year between 2013 and 2022 (beta coefficient = -5.40, -value < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
This study identified decreasing trends in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in general practices in Germany in the last decade. These data may suggest that the prevention of hypertension has improved in this country in recent years.
PubMed: 38932990
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1390902 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024Aging is the most significant contributor to the increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Dysbiosis of gut microbiota has been implicated in age-related...
OBJECTIVE
Aging is the most significant contributor to the increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Dysbiosis of gut microbiota has been implicated in age-related diseases, but its role in AF development remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between changes in the autonomic nervous system, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and alterations in gut microbiota in aged rats with AF.
METHODS
Electrophysiological experiments were conducted to assess AF induction rates and heart rate variability in rats. 16S rRNA gene sequences extracted from fecal samples were used to assess the gut microbial composition. Gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to identify SCFAs in fecal samples.
RESULTS
The study found that aged rats exhibited a higher incidence of AF and reduced heart rate variability compared to young rats. Omics research revealed disrupted gut microbiota in aged rats, specifically a decreased Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. Additionally, fecal SCFA levels were significantly lower in aged rats. Importantly, correlation analysis indicated a significant association between decreased SCFAs and declining heart rate variability in aged rats.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that SCFAs, as metabolites of gut microbiota, may play a regulatory role in autonomic nervous function and potentially influence the onset and progression of AF in aged rats. These results provide novel insights into the involvement of SCFAs and autonomic nervous system function in the pathogenesis of AF. These results provide novel insights into the involvement of SCFAs and autonomic nervous system function in the pathogenesis of AF.
PubMed: 38932988
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1394929 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults were facing more mental health issues that may cause complex impacts on pandemic prevention, and turning to the internet for...
Exploring the relationship between older adults' online health information seeking, negative emotions and prevention behaviors in the pandemic context: a two-wave longitudinal study.
INTRODUCTION
During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults were facing more mental health issues that may cause complex impacts on pandemic prevention, and turning to the internet for health information is a double-edged sword for them. This study aimed to investigate the reciprocal relationship between negative emotions and prevention behaviors in older adults, as well as the direct and moderating effects of online health information seeking (OHIS) on negative emotions and prevention behaviors.
METHODS
Based on the common-sense model of self-regulation (CSM) and a sample of more than 20,000 participants from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), this study first used an autoregressive cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) to analyze the longitudinal effect of negative emotions on prevention behaviors. Second, the study used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to explore the influence of OHIS usage frequency changes on negative emotions and prevention behaviors. Third, the study used multigroup analysis to examine the moderating effect of OHIS usage frequency changes on the CLPM.
RESULTS
The findings indicate a significant longitudinal association where initial negative emotions predicted later prevention behaviors ( = 0.038, < 0.001), and increased OHIS frequency was linked to positive changes in prevention behavior ( = 0.109, < 0.001). Multigroup analysis revealed that the connection between negative emotions or increased negative emotions and prevention behaviors remained significant for those with no change or an increase in OHIS frequency but not for those with a decrease.
CONCLUSION
This study suggested that negative emotions may drive older adults to engage more in prevention behaviors and that OHIS can augment this effect. These results underscore the importance of addressing mental health and providing reliable online health information to support older adults in managing infectious disease risks.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Longitudinal Studies; Aged; Female; Male; Information Seeking Behavior; Internet; Emotions; Health Behavior; SARS-CoV-2; Middle Aged; Europe; Pandemics; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38932787
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1377017