α-Synuclein Deletion Impairs Platelet Function: A Role for SNARE Complex Assembly.

Granule secretion is an essential platelet function that contributes not only to haemostasis but also to wound healing, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Granule secretion from platelets is facilitated, at least in part, by Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor (NSF) Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) complex-mediated granule fusion. Although α-synuclein is a protein known to modulate the assembly of the SNARE complex in other cells, its role in platelet function remains poorly understood.

Investigating the effects of arginine methylation inhibitors on microdissected brain tumour biopsies maintained in a miniaturised perfusion system.

Arginine methylation is a post-translational modification that consists of the transfer of one or two methyl (CH) groups to arginine residues in proteins. Several types of arginine methylation occur, namely monomethylation, symmetric dimethylation and asymmetric dimethylation, which are catalysed by different protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). Inhibitors of PRMTs have recently entered clinical trials to target several types of cancer, including gliomas (NCT04089449).

Urinary Metals Concentrations and Biomarkers of Autoimmunity among Navajo and Nicaraguan Men.

Metals are suspected contributors of autoimmune disease among indigenous Americans. However, the association between metals exposure and biomarkers of autoimmunity is under-studied. In Nicaragua, environmental exposure to metals is also largely unexamined with regard to autoimmunity.

Environmental and Occupational Exposures in Kidney Disease.

More than 8 million deaths each year are attributed to noncommunicable environmental hazards where people live, work, and play. Physical or chemical hazards may be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin, affecting all organ systems, including the kidney. Heavy metals, pesticides, and infections are some of the environmental hazards associated with kidney dysfunction and chronic kidney disease.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for CKD Among Brickmaking Workers in La Paz Centro, Nicaragua.

Rationale & Objective: In Central America, there is a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of nontraditional etiology often observed among agricultural workers. Few studies have assessed CKD prevalence among workers in nonagricultural occupations, which was the objective of this investigation.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.