Differential gene expression in Chorthippus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Gomphocerinae) induced by Wolbachia infection.

Distinct lineages of the grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus (Orthoptera: Acrididae) form well-known hybrid zones (HZs) both in the Pyrenees and the Alps mountain ranges in South Europe. These HZs represent unique experimental systems to identify "key genes" that maintain genetic boundaries between emerging species. The Iberian endemism C.

Effects of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Cardiac Mechanics in Hispanic and Black Diabetic Patients.

Clinical trials demonstrating improved cardiovascular outcomes with SGLT2 inhibitors have often had limited representation from Black and Hispanic populations. While the mechanisms of action are not well known, ethnicity- or gender-based receptor physiology may render SGLT2 inhibitors a better agent in certain populations over others. A medical records query yielded diabetic patients initiated on SGLT2 inhibitors between 2013 and 2020.

Associations of Atrioventricular Blocks and Other Arrhythmias in Patients with Lyme Carditis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Lyme disease often leads to cardiac injury and electrophysiological abnormalities. This study aimed to explore links between atrioventricular blocks and additional arrhythmias in Lyme carditis patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature was performed from 1990 to 2023, and aimed to identify cases of Lyme carditis through serology or clinical diagnosis with concomitant arrhythmias.

Collagen-like Osteoclast-Associated Receptor (OSCAR)-Binding Motifs Show a Co-Stimulatory Effect on Osteoclastogenesis in a Peptide Hydrogel System.

Osteoclastogenesis, one of the dynamic pathways underlying bone remodelling, is a complex process that includes many stages. This complexity, while offering a wealth of therapeutic opportunities, represents a substantial challenge in unravelling the underlying mechanisms. As such, there is a high demand for robust model systems to understand osteoclastogenesis.

Clinical experience of the Magseed magnetic marker to localize non-palpable breast lesions: a cohort study of 100 consecutive cases.

Background: The aim of this study was to report on a cohort of 100 patients where the Magseed paramagnetic marker was used to localize non-palpable breast lesions.

Methods: Data were collected from a cohort of 100 patients with non-palpable breast lesions, who underwent localization using the Magseed marker. This marker consists of a paramagnetic seed that can be seen on mammography or ultrasound and intraoperatively detected with the use of the Sentimag probe.

Legionella monitoring results by water quality characteristics in a large public water system.

Legionella, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, is an emerging concern for water utilities. Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) is a public drinking water supplier, which provides treated surface water to approximately 800,000 customers in New Jersey. To evaluate the occurrence of Legionella in the PVWC distribution system, swab, first draw, and flushed cold water samples were collected from total coliform sites (n = 58) during a summer and winter sampling event.

Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure with Preserved Left Ventricular Systolic Function: Distinct Elevated Risk for Cardiovascular Outcomes in Women Compared to Men.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is prevalent in women and is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, sex associations in AF-related HFpEF are not well explored. Aim: We studied differences between men and women with and without AF-related HFpEF symptoms on left ventricular (LV) geometry and diastolic dysfunction (DD) and their effect on cardiovascular events.

Association between right ventricular dysfunction and in-hospital mortality in surges of SARS-CoV-2 infection attributed to the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in acute COVID-19 was reported to be associated with poor prognosis We studied the association between parameters of RV dysfunction and in-hospital mortality during the surges caused by different SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Methods: In a retrospective single-center study, we enrolled 648 consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 [66 (10 %) hospitalized during the alpha variant surge, 433 (67 %) during the delta variant surge, and 149 (23 %), during the omicron variant surge]. Patients were reported from a hospital with an underreported population of mostly African American and Hispanic patients.

Tissue Doppler derived biphasic velocities during the pre and post-ejection phases: patterns, concordance and hemodynamic significance in health and disease.

Background: Pre-(PRE) and post-ejection (POE) velocities by mitral annular tissue Doppler (TD) are biphasic and may be related to myocardial deformations. We investigated the predominance and concordance of TD-PRE and POE velocities and their effect on myocardial functions in controls and in heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods: Retrospectively, 84 HF patients [57.

Incorporation of Natural and Recombinant Collagen Proteins within Fmoc-Based Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogels.

Hydrogel biomaterials mimic the natural extracellular matrix through their nanofibrous ultrastructure and composition and provide an appropriate environment for cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions within their polymeric network. Hydrogels can be modified with different proteins, cytokines, or cell-adhesion motifs to control cell behavior and cell differentiation. Collagens are desirable and versatile proteins for hydrogel modification due to their abundance in the vertebrate extracellular matrix and their interactions with cell-surface receptors.

Relationship Between Marijuana Use and Hospitalization for Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background:  Recreational marijuana use is rising, especially among young adults. The cardiovascular (CVD) effect of marijuana remains mostly unknown.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 14,490 patients admitted to our hospital between 2012 and 2014 who had urine toxicology done for various reasons.

Extensive introgression at late stages of species formation: Insights from grasshopper hybrid zones.

The process of species formation is characterized by the accumulation of multiple reproductive barriers. The evolution of hybrid male sterility, or Haldane's rule, typically characterizes later stages of species formation, when reproductive isolation is strongest. Yet, understanding how quickly reproductive barriers evolve and their consequences for maintaining genetic boundaries between emerging species remains a challenging task because it requires studying taxa that hybridize in nature.

Hydroxyapatite-decorated Fmoc-hydrogel as a bone-mimicking substrate for osteoclast differentiation and culture.

Hydrogels are water-swollen networks with great potential for tissue engineering applications. However, their use in bone regeneration is often hampered due to a lack of materials' mineralization and poor mechanical properties. Moreover, most studies are focused on osteoblasts (OBs) for bone formation, while osteoclasts (OCs), cells involved in bone resorption, are often overlooked.

Optoelectronic manipulation of bio-droplets containing cells or macromolecules by active ferroelectric platforms.

Photovoltaic optoelectronic tweezers are a useful platform with many applications in optical manipulation and nanotechnology. They are based on electrical forces associated with the bulk photovoltaic effect presented by certain ferroelectric crystals, such as Fe doped lithium niobate. This manipulation technique has experienced huge developments in recent years, although its use in biology and biomedicine is still scarce.

Business models for the Anthropocene: accelerating sustainability transformations in the private sector.

The rapid pace and escalating severity of climate change impacts have made clear that current incremental approaches to pressing global socio-ecological challenges are insufficient to address the root causes of unsustainable development. This has spurred increasing interest in the dynamics of transformation: the actors, capacities and resources needed to fundamentally shift development paths. The private sector is at the core of essential transformative processes necessary to build a future premised on environmental integrity, social inclusivity, and resilience.

Anticoagulation for hypercoagulability in severe critical COVID-19: A case series of fading and fatal cycles of microthrombosis.

The pathophysiology of the COVID-19 involves a systemic hypercoagulable state and systemic micro-thrombosis which can cause fatal consequences. Despite that anticoagulation seems an intuitive therapeutic option, the US National Institute of Health has issued a warning against its use in critically ill patients. We present five cases of imaging-proven or clinically suspected hypercoagulability with hemodynamic compromise despite therapeutic anticoagulation.

Combined atrioventricular longitudinal strain rate during isovolumic contraction predicts pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in patients with systolic dysfunction.

Background: Reportedly, mitral annular velocities derived by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-during isovolumic contraction (IVV) can predict pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in heart failure patients with depressed ejection fraction (EF). We investigated the use of color TDI-derived left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain rate (SR) during isovolumic contraction (IC) to predict the invasively measured PCWP.

Methods And Results: Forty patients referred with symptoms of heart failure were prospectively studied [age: 56±8 years, 12 (30%) females, and mean LVEF: 51±14%].

Direct monitoring of biocatalytic deacetylation of amino acid substrates by H NMR reveals fine details of substrate specificity.

Amino acids are key synthetic building blocks that can be prepared in an enantiopure form by biocatalytic methods. We show that the l-selective ornithine deacetylase ArgE catalyses hydrolysis of a wide-range of N-acyl-amino acid substrates. This activity was revealed by 1H NMR spectroscopy that monitored the appearance of the well resolved signal of the acetate product.

Role of OSCAR Signaling in Osteoclastogenesis and Bone Disease.

Formation of mature bone-resorbing cells through osteoclastogenesis is required for the continuous remodeling and repair of bone tissue. In aging and disease this process may become aberrant, resulting in excessive bone degradation and fragility fractures. Interaction of receptor-activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) with its ligand RANKL activates the main signaling pathway for osteoclastogenesis.