Ramipril for the Treatment of COVID-19: RAMIC, a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Retrospective studies report that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) may reduce the severity of COVID-19, but prospective data on de novo treatment with ACEIs are limited. The RAMIC trial was a randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, allocation-concealed clinical trial to examine the efficacy of de novo ramipril versus placebo for the treatment of COVID-19.

Methods: Eligible participants were aged 18 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, recruited from urgent care clinics, emergency departments, and hospital inpatient wards at eight sites in the USA.

Gut Microbiome-Based Metagenomic Signature for Non-invasive Detection of Advanced Fibrosis in Human Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

The presence of advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most important predictor of liver mortality. There are limited data on the diagnostic accuracy of gut microbiota-derived signature for predicting the presence of advanced fibrosis. In this prospective study, we characterized the gut microbiome compositions using whole-genome shotgun sequencing of DNA extracted from stool samples.

Shared genetic effects between hepatic steatosis and fibrosis: A prospective twin study.

Unlabelled: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with metabolic risk factors including hypertension and dyslipidemia and may progress to liver fibrosis. Studies have shown that hepatic steatosis and fibrosis are heritable, but whether they have a significant shared gene effect is unknown. This study examined the shared gene effects between hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and their associations with metabolic risk factors.

Association of noninvasive quantitative decline in liver fat content on MRI with histologic response in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging-estimated proton-density-fat-fraction (MRI-PDFF) has been shown to be a noninvasive, accurate and reproducible imaging-based biomarker for assessing steatosis and treatment response in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) clinical trials. However, there are no data on the magnitude of MRI-PDFF reduction corresponding to histologic response in the setting of a NASH clinical trial. The aim of this study was to quantitatively compare the magnitude of MRI-PDFF reduction between histologic responders versus histologic nonresponders in NASH patients.

Sitagliptin vs. placebo for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Uncontrolled studies show sitagliptin, an oral DPP-4 inhibitor, may improve alanine aminotransferase and liver histology in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. We aimed to compare sitagliptin vs. the efficacy of a placebo in reducing liver fat measured by MRI-derived proton density-fat fraction (MRI-PDFF).

Novel 3D Magnetic Resonance Elastography for the Noninvasive Diagnosis of Advanced Fibrosis in NAFLD: A Prospective Study.

Objectives: Recent studies show two-dimensional (2D)-magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is accurate in diagnosing advanced fibrosis (stages 3 and 4) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. Three-dimensional (3D)-MRE is a more advanced version of the technology that can image shear-wave fields in 3D of the entire liver. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy of 3D-MRE and 2D-MRE for diagnosing advanced fibrosis in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD.

Cardiovascular risk assessment in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a secondary analysis of the MOZART trial.

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and mortality. No US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapies for NASH are available; clinical trials to date have not yet systematically assessed for changes in cardiovascular risk. This study examines the prospective utility of cardiovascular risk assessments, the Framingham risk score (FRS) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, as endpoints in a NASH randomized clinical trial, and assesses whether histologic improvements lead to lower cardiovascular risk.

Ezetimibe for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: assessment by novel magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance elastography in a randomized trial (MOZART trial).

Unlabelled: Ezetimibe inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption and lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Uncontrolled studies have suggested that it reduces liver fat as estimated by ultrasound in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Therefore, we aimed to examine the efficacy of ezetimibe versus placebo in reducing liver fat by the magnetic resonance imaging-derived proton density-fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and liver histology in patients with biopsy-proven NASH.

Portable lactate analyzer for measuring lactate in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma - method-comparison evaluations.

Unlabelled: Increased plasma lactate levels can indicate the presence of metabolic disorders in HIV infected individuals.

Objective: To determine whether a portable analyzer is valid for measuring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma lactate levels in HIV infected individuals.

Method: CSF and plasma were collected from 178 subjects.

Cerebrospinal fluid human immunodeficiency virus viral load in patients with neurosyphilis.

Syphilis is a frequent coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Whereas systemic syphilis infection increases plasma HIV RNA levels (viral load; VL), effects of syphilis on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) VL are unknown. We hypothesized that intrathecal immune activation in neurosyphilis would selectively increase CSF VL in coinfected patients.

Craniofacial tissue regeneration: where are we?

This paper provides a brief review of adult stem cells and their potential clinical applications, specifically in craniofacial regeneration. The initial discovery of stem cells from a variety of tissues has infused tremendous research, and, in conjunction with bioengineering technologies, has potential to transform clinical dentistry.

Role of metabolic syndrome components in human immunodeficiency virus-associated stroke.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors, including elevated mean arterial pressure (MAP), atherogenic dyslipidemia (elevated triglycerides [TRG]), abdominal obesity (increased body mass index [BMI]), glucose intolerance (elevated glucose [GLU]), and prothrombotic/inflammatory state (increases in uric acid [UA]), that are associated with increased risk of cerebrovascular disease. We studied if an association existed between MetS components and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated cryptogenic strokes-those not caused by HIV complications, endocarditis, or stimulant abuse. We performed a retrospective case-control study.