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International Journal of Molecular... May 2024In all cell types, small EVs, very abundant extracellular vesicles, are generated and accumulated within MVB endocytic cisternae. Upon MVB fusion and exocytosis with the... (Review)
Review
In all cell types, small EVs, very abundant extracellular vesicles, are generated and accumulated within MVB endocytic cisternae. Upon MVB fusion and exocytosis with the plasma membrane, the EVs are released to the extracellular space. In the central nervous system, the release of neuronal EVs was believed to occur only from the surface of the body and dendrites. About 15 years ago, MVB cisternae and EVs were shown to exist and function at synaptic boutons, the terminals' pre- and post-synaptic structures essential for canonical neurotransmitter release. Recent studies have revealed that synaptic EVs are peculiar in many respects and heterogeneous with respect to other neuronal EVs. The distribution of synaptic EVs and the effect of their specific molecules are found at critical sites of their distribution. The role of synaptic EVs could consist of the modulation of canonical neurotransmitter release or a distinct, non-canonical form of neurotransmission. Additional roles of synaptic EVs are still not completely known. In the future, additional investigations will clarify the role of synaptic EVs in pathology, concerning, for example, circuits, trans-synaptic transmission, diagnosis and the therapy of diseases.
Topics: Humans; Extracellular Vesicles; Animals; Neurons; Synapses; Signal Transduction; Synaptic Transmission; Exocytosis; Neurotransmitter Agents; Synaptic Vesicles
PubMed: 38791143
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105103 -
Biomedicines May 2024Severe burns may induce hyperglycaemia in the absence of diabetes, but how glucose trajectories relate to burns outcomes is unclear.
BACKGROUND
Severe burns may induce hyperglycaemia in the absence of diabetes, but how glucose trajectories relate to burns outcomes is unclear.
AIM
To assess incidence of hyperglycaemia following acute burn injury, and associations with diabetes history and length of stay (LOS).
METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of adults admitted with acute burns to tertiary centres. Blood glucose level (BGL), hyperglycaemic episodes (BGL ≥ 11.1 mmol/L) and hyperglycaemic days were recorded. Stress hyperglycaemia was defined as BGL ≥ 11.1 mmol/L without a diabetes history.
RESULTS
A total of 30 participants had a diabetes history and 260 did not. Participants with known diabetes had higher mean BGLs (9.7 vs. 9.0 mmol/L, < 0.001), more hyperglycaemic episodes (28.0 vs. 17.2%, < 0.001) and hyperglycaemic days (51 vs. 21%, < 0.001), compared to those without diabetes, despite smaller burns (total body surface area 1.0 vs. 14.8%, < 0.001). Fourteen participants with stress hyperglycaemia had similar BGLs (at admission 10.3 vs. 11.5 mmol/L; during inpatient stay 9.9 vs. 9.8 mmol/L), more severe burns (15.6% vs. 1.0% TBSA) and longer LOS (18 vs. 7 days, < 0.001) compared to participants with known diabetes. Extent of burns, having NGT nutrition, age, having inpatient BGL monitoring in the setting of diabetes, or having inpatient BGL monitoring in the absence of diabetes were associated with longer LOS.
CONCLUSIONS
In participants with known diabetes, small burn injuries were associated with hyperglycaemia. Stress hyperglycaemia can be triggered by major burn injuries, with early and sustained elevation of BGLs. Further research is warranted to improve inpatient management of BGL in patients with acute burn injury.
PubMed: 38791089
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051127 -
Biomedicines May 2024Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic disorders characterized by pain, ulceration, and the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and...
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic disorders characterized by pain, ulceration, and the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and categorized into two major subtypes: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. The inflammation in UC is typically restricted to the mucosal surface, beginning in the rectum and extending through the entire colon. UC patients typically show increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to intestinal epithelial apoptosis and mucosal inflammation, which impair barrier integrity. Chronic inflammation is associated with the rapid recruitment and inappropriate retention of leukocytes at the site of inflammation, further amplifying the inflammation. While UC can be managed using a number of treatments, these drugs are expensive and cause unwanted side effects. Therefore, a safe and effective treatment for UC patients is needed. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous fatty acid amide and an analog of the endocannabinoid anandamine. PEA administration has been found to normalize intestinal GIT motility and reduce injury in rodents and humans. In the current study, we examined the efficacy of PEA encapsulated in phytosomes following oral administration in experimental ulcerative colitis. Here, we showed that PEA at a human-equivalent dose of 123 mg/kg (OD or BID) attenuated DSS-induced experimental colitis as represented by the reduction in clinical signs of colitis, reduction in gross mucosal injury, and suppression of leukocyte recruitment at inflamed venules. These findings add to the growing body of data demonstrating the beneficial effects of PEA to control the acute phase of intestinal inflammation occurring during UC.
PubMed: 38790962
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051000 -
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Chronic wounds caused by diabetes or lower-extremity artery disease are intractable because the wound healing mechanism becomes ineffective due to the poor environment...
INTRODUCTION
Chronic wounds caused by diabetes or lower-extremity artery disease are intractable because the wound healing mechanism becomes ineffective due to the poor environment of the wound bed. Biosheets obtained using in-body tissue architecture (iBTA) are collagen-based membranous tissue created within the body and which autologously contain various growth factors and somatic stem cells including SSEA4-posituve cells. When applied to a wound, granulation formation can be promoted and epithelialization may even be achieved. Herein, we report our clinical treatment experience with seven cases of intractable diabetic foot ulcers.
CASES
Seven patients, from 46 to 93 years old, had large foot ulcers including in the heel area, which were failing to heal with standard wound treatment.
METHODS
Two or four Biosheet-forming molds were embedded subcutaneously in the chest or abdomen, and after 3 to 6 weeks, the molds were removed. Biosheets that formed inside the mold were obtained and applied directly to the wound surface.
RESULTS
In all cases, there were no problems with the mold's embedding and removal procedures, and Biosheets were formed without any infection or inflammation during the embedding period. The Biosheets were simply applied to the wounds, and in all cases they adhered within one week, did not fall off, and became integrated with the wound surface. Complete wound closure was achieved within 8 weeks in two cases and within 5 months in two cases. One patient was lost due to infective endocarditis from septic colitis. One case required lower leg amputation due to wound recurrence, and one case achieved wound reduction and wound healing in approximately 9 months.
CONCLUSIONS
Biosheets obtained via iBTA promoted wound healing and were extremely useful for intractable diabetic foot ulcers involving the heel area.
PubMed: 38790329
DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11050462 -
Nano Convergence May 2024Dimensional modifications play a crucial role in various applications, especially in the context of device miniaturization, giving rise to novel quantum phenomena. The...
Dimensional modifications play a crucial role in various applications, especially in the context of device miniaturization, giving rise to novel quantum phenomena. The many-body dynamics induced by dimensional modifications, including electron-electron, electron-phonon, electron-magnon and electron-plasmon coupling, are known to significantly affect the atomic and electronic properties of the materials. By reducing the dimensionality of orthorhombic CoSe and forming heterostructure with bilayer graphene using molecular beam epitaxy, we unveil the emergence of two types of phase transitions through angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. We disclose that the 2 × 1 superstructure is associated with charge density wave induced by Fermi surface nesting, characterized by a transition temperature of 340 K. Additionally, another phase transition at temperature of 160 K based on temperature dependent gap evolution are observed with renormalized electronic structure induced by electron-boson coupling. These discoveries of the electronic and atomic modifications, influenced by electron-electron and electron-boson interactions, underscore that many-body physics play significant roles in understanding low-dimensional properties of non-van der Waals Co-chalcogenides and related heterostructures.
PubMed: 38789878
DOI: 10.1186/s40580-024-00427-4 -
Journal of Functional Biomaterials Apr 2024Titanium with apatite-forming ability as well as antibacterial activity is useful as a component of antibacterial dental implants. When Ti was subjected to hydrogen...
Titanium with apatite-forming ability as well as antibacterial activity is useful as a component of antibacterial dental implants. When Ti was subjected to hydrogen peroxide (HO), copper acetate (Cu(OAc)), and heat (HO-Cu(OAc)-heat) treatments, a network structure of anatase and rutile titanium dioxide (TiO) and fine copper oxide (CuO) particles was formed on the Ti surface. The resulting samples accumulated a dense and uniform apatite layer on the surface when incubated in simulated body fluid and showed enhanced antibacterial activity against and under visible-light irradiation. Electron spin resonance spectra of HO-Cu(OAc)-heat-treated samples showed that hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were generated from the samples, and the concentration of ·OH increased with increasing Cu concentration of the Cu(OAc) solution. The enhanced antibacterial activity of these samples under visible-light irradiation may be attributable to the generation of ·OH from samples. These results suggest that Ti implants obtained using HO-Cu(OAc)-heat treatments and subjected to regular or on-demand visible-light irradiation may provide a decreased risk of peri-implantitis.
PubMed: 38786626
DOI: 10.3390/jfb15050114 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Although coronary artery nomograms in children have been published, data on Caucasian children are lacking. The aim of this study is to provide: (i) a full dataset of...
BACKGROUND
Although coronary artery nomograms in children have been published, data on Caucasian children are lacking. The aim of this study is to provide: (i) a full dataset of coronary artery diameters in healthy children and (ii) a comparison among major previous nomograms.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively evaluated 606 healthy subjects (age range, 1 days-<18 years; median age 8.7 years; 62.5% male). Coronary artery measurements in a short-axis view were performed. Age, heart rate, and body surface area (BSA) were used as independent variables in different analyses to predict the mean values of each measurement. To assess the accuracy of the predictive models of different studies, a Z-score calculator was created using Lopez's nomograms for comparison.
RESULTS
The association with BSA was found to be stronger, and was used for normalization of our data. The best-fit models, satisfying the assumption of homoscedasticity and normality of residuals and showing the highest R scores, were logarithmic (ln[y] = a + b*ln[x]). Predicted values and Z-score boundaries by BSA are provided. Our ranges of normality are slightly lower than those, diverging from -0.22 to -0.59 Z-scores for the left main coronary artery and from -0.23 to -0.3 Z-scores for the right coronary artery.
CONCLUSIONS
We report a complete dataset of normal echocardiography coronary artery diameter (including new measures of the proximal origin) values in a large population of healthy children. Our data were statistically like those of north American nomograms.
PubMed: 38786327
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14101029 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Echocardiographic myocardial work is a new load-independent echocardiographic technique to quantify left ventricle (LV) systolic performance. Our aim was to establish...
BACKGROUND
Echocardiographic myocardial work is a new load-independent echocardiographic technique to quantify left ventricle (LV) systolic performance. Our aim was to establish normal values for echocardiographic myocardial work in a large population of healthy children.
METHODS
For all the subjects 4-, 2-, and 3-chamber-view videos were stored. The following parameters were obtained by offline analysis: the global myocardial work (GMW), the global myocardial constructive work (GCW), the global myocardial wasted work (GWW), and the global myocardial work efficiency (GWE). Age, weight, height, heart rate, and body surface area (BSA) were used as independent variables in the statistical analysis.
RESULTS
In all, 516 healthy subjects (age range, 1 day-18 years; median age, 8.2 ± 5.3 years; 55.8% male; body surface area (BSA) range, 0.16 to 2.12 m) were included. GWI, GCW, and GWW increased with weight, height, and BSA (ρ ranging from 0.635 to 0.226, all < 0.01); GWI and GCW positively correlated with age (ρ 0.653 and 0.507). After adjusting for BSA differences, females showed higher mean GWI ( = 0.002) and GCW values ( < 0.001), thus Z-score equations for gender have been presented.
CONCLUSIONS
We provided MW values in a large population of healthy pediatric subjects including lower ages. MW values increased with age and body size and, interestingly, were higher in females than in men. These data cover a gap in current nomograms and may serve as a baseline for the evaluation of MW analysis in children with congenital and acquired heart diseases.
PubMed: 38786320
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14101022 -
Biosensors May 2024Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Associated risk factors include, but are not limited to, cirrhosis and... (Review)
Review
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Associated risk factors include, but are not limited to, cirrhosis and underlying liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis B or C infections, excessive alcohol consumption, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and exposure to chemical carcinogens. It is crucial to detect this disease early on before it metastasizes to adjoining parts of the body, worsening the prognosis. Serum biomarkers have proven to be a more accurate diagnostic tool compared to imaging. Among various markers such as nucleic acids, circulating genetic material, proteins, enzymes, and other metabolites, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein marker primarily used to diagnose HCC. However, current methods need a large sample and carry a high cost, among other challenges, which can be improved using biosensing technology. Early and accurate detection of AFP can prevent severe progression of the disease and ensure better management of HCC patients. This review sheds light on HCC development in the human body. Afterward, we outline various types of biosensors (optical, electrochemical, and mass-based), as well as the most relevant studies of biosensing modalities for non-invasive monitoring of AFP. The review also explains these sensing platforms, detection substrates, surface modification agents, and fluorescent probes used to develop such biosensors. Finally, the challenges and future trends in routine clinical analysis are discussed to motivate further developments.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; alpha-Fetoproteins; Liver Neoplasms; Biosensing Techniques; Early Detection of Cancer; Biomarkers, Tumor
PubMed: 38785709
DOI: 10.3390/bios14050235 -
Microbiology Spectrum May 2024Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a common blood transmission pathogen worldwide, can lead to viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other liver diseases. In particular,...
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a common blood transmission pathogen worldwide, can lead to viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other liver diseases. In particular, occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) may be caused by an immune response leading to suppressed virus replication. Gut microbiota can change the immunity status of the human body and, therefore, affect the replication of HBV. Thus, to identify whether there are differences in gut microbiota between HBV carriers and OBI carriers, we collected fecal samples from 18 HBV carriers, 24 OBI blood donors, and also 20 healthy blood donors as negative control. After 16S sequencing, we found that the abundance of was significantly reduced in samples from OBI blood donors compared with those from healthy blood donors. Compared with samples from HBV carriers, the samples from OBI blood donors had a significantly increased abundance of , which might stimulate immune activation, thus inhibiting HBV replication and contributing to the formation of occult infection. Our findings revealed the potential role of gut microbiota in the formation of OBI and further provided a novel strategy for the treatment of HBV infection.IMPORTANCEOccult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is a special form of hepatitis B virus infection with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA negative. Gut microbiota may contribute to the immune response leading to suppressed virus replication and, thus, participates in the development of OBI. The study on gut microbiota of OBI blood donors provides novel data considerably advancing our understanding of the immune mechanism for the determination of occult hepatitis B virus infection, which is helpful for improving the strategy of the treatment of HBV infection.
PubMed: 38785430
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00239-24