Electroencephalographic and Epilepsy Findings in ZNF711 Variants: A Case Series of Two Siblings.

Background/objectives: ZNF711(Zinc finger protein 711) encodes a zinc finger protein of currently undefined function, located on the X chromosome. Current knowledge includes a limited number of case reports where this gene has been exclusively associated with X-linked intellectual disability (XLID). As far as we are aware, we report the first cases of epilepsy associated with this particular variant.

Dietary Interventions in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Scoping Review.

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are burdened by multiple diet-sensitive comorbidities, including obesity and malnutrition. Despite this, a low percentage of patients with HFpEF have been enrolled in dietary intervention trials in heart failure and few dietary interventions have been conducted in HFpEF exclusively. This scoping review will examine available evidence regarding dietary interventions in patients with HFpEF, highlight existing gaps in knowledge, and discuss emerging dietary therapies in this population.

Validity of the Actigraph-GT9X accelerometer for measuring steps and energy expenditures in heart failure patients.

Introduction: The ActiGraph (AG) accelerometer is widely used to assess physical activity (PA) in heart failure (HF) patients. However, the validity of the AG in this population remains unexplored.

Objective: Therefore, this study examined the criterion validity of the AG-GT9X for measuring step counts (SC) and energy expenditure (EE) among HF patients.

Association of creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio with computed tomography measures of skeletal muscle quantity and quality: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Background & Aims: Skeletal muscle (SM) health has significant prognostic value in geriatric and chronic disease populations, yet its assessment is frequently omitted due to challenges in evaluation. The creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (CCR) is a simple serum-based measure that associates well with measured SM quantity (myopenia) and strength, but evidence for its association with SM quality (myosteatosis) is limited and conflicting. This study investigated the association between CCR and computed tomography (CT) measures of myopenia and myosteatosis.

Sex and Gender Differences in Weight-Related Biopsychosocial Factors Among Adults Receiving Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder.

Introduction: Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is the most efficacious treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). MOUD uptake and continuation may be impacted by health concerns, including weight gain, and social factors, such as food insecurity, that vary between men and women. This study aimed to describe sex and gender differences in body mass index (BMI) and weight-related demographic, psychosocial, and clinical characteristics among adults receiving buprenorphine for OUD.

Highly neurogenic glia from human and mouse myenteric ganglia generate functional neurons following culture and transplantation into the gut.

Enteric neural stem cell (ENSC) therapy offers great promise for neurointestinal diseases; however, current isolation methods yield insufficient neurons for regenerative applications. Multiomic profiling of enteric glial cells (EGCs) suggests that subpopulations within myenteric ganglia (MyGa) are a reservoir of highly neurogenic ENSCs. Here, we describe protocols to enrich for intraganglionic EGCs by isolating intact fragments of MyGa, generating cultures with higher neuronal purity than traditional methodologies isolating intramuscular single cells (IM-SCs).

Sex differences in the relationship between body composition and cardiac structure and function.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to characterize sex differences in the relationship between body composition and cardiac structure and function. In secondary analyses, we explored pathophysiologic mediators of these relationships.

Methods And Results: In a cross-sectional analysis of 25,063 UK Biobank participants (54% female, median age 55 years), the sex-specific associations of visceral adipose tissue volume (VAT), appendicular lean mass (ALM), and muscle fat infiltration (MFI) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) measures of cardiac structure and function were assessed using linear regression models.

Catfish Puncture Wound and Retained Spine Management in the ED Setting: A Case Report.

Fishing is a common recreational activity in the United States, with over 29 million registered fishers. Although not inherently dangerous, commonly seen injuries from fishing include embedded fishhooks and injury from flora and fauna. Emergency department (ED) physicians need a basic understanding of how to treat these less-than-frequent injuries.

Gut Analysis Toolbox - automating quantitative analysis of enteric neurons.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) consists of an extensive network of neurons and glial cells embedded within the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Alterations in neuronal distribution and function are strongly associated with GI dysfunction. Current methods for assessing neuronal distribution suffer from undersampling, partly due to challenges associated with imaging and analyzing large tissue areas, and operator bias due to manual analysis.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors, Malnutrition, Cachexia, and Survival in Patients With Heart Failure With a History of Anthracycline Treatment.

Patients undergoing anthracycline-based cancer treatments have an increased risk of heart failure or worsening preexisting heart failure as well as adverse metabolic outcomes such as malnutrition and cachexia. This retrospective study explored the impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on these outcomes in patients with heart failure previously treated with anthracyclines. Using the TriNetX research network, we identified 1545 patients with a history of SGLT2i use and 17,681 patients without a history of SGLT2i use.

Young users of electronic cigarettes exhibit reduced cardiorespiratory fitness.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems, often referred to as e-cigarettes, are popular tobacco products frequently advertised as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes despite preliminary data suggesting a potential negative cardiovascular impact. Cardiorespiratory fitness is a critical cardiovascular health marker that is diminished in individuals who consume traditional tobacco products. Whether the use of e-cigarettes impacts cardiorespiratory fitness is currently unknown.

Relationship Between Sarcopenia and Intensive Blood Pressure Control Efficacy and Safety: A Secondary Analysis of SPRINT.

Background: Sarcopenia and hypertension are independently associated with worse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and survival. While individuals with sarcopenia may benefit from intensive blood pressure (BP) control, the increased vulnerability of this population raises concerns for potential harm. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and safety outcomes with intensive (target <120 mm Hg) versus standard (<140 mm Hg) systolic BP targets in older hypertensive adults with sarcopenia compared with nonsarcopenic counterparts in the SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial).

Smoking exposure and Parkinson's disease: A UK Brain Bank pathology-validated case-control study.

Introduction: Epidemiological studies have consistently shown an inverse association between cigarette smoking and Parkinson's disease. Literature indicates that both current and former smokers have a reduced risk of developing PD compared to non-smokers. If smoking protects against Parkinson's disease risk or, conversely, smoking habit is abated due to the disease itself, according to the reverse causation, is still an unsolved question.

Sarcopenic Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: An Overlooked but High-Risk Syndrome.

Purpose Of Review: Sarcopenic obesity (SO), defined as the coexistence of excess fat mass and reduced skeletal muscle mass and strength, has emerged as an important cardiovascular risk factor, particularly in older adults. This review summarizes recent findings on the diagnosis, prevalence, health impacts, and treatment of SO.

Recent Findings: Growing evidence suggests SO exacerbates cardiometabolic risk and adverse health outcomes beyond either condition alone; however, the heterogeneity in diagnostic criteria and the observational nature of most studies prohibit the evaluation of a causal relationship.

Should We Rule out Celiac Disease in Recurrent Headache Disorders? A Review of the Literature.

Recurrent headaches, encompassing migraine and tension-type headaches, represent prevalent conditions affecting individuals across different age groups, exerting a substantial influence on daily functioning and quality of life. Headaches serve as common manifestations of underlying health issues. Among these, celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder activated by gluten consumption, has emerged as a noteworthy concern.

'Working me to life': longitudinal perceptions from adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction enrolled in an exercise training clinical trial.

Aims: Adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) responded more favourably to an exercise intervention compared with those with reduced ejection fraction. This study explores factors that contributed to this response, focusing on the qualitative perceptions of adults with HFpEF enrolled in an exercise intervention.

Methods And Results: This qualitative descriptive study is a secondary analysis of longitudinal interviews collected at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months from participants with HFpEF enrolled in a randomized controlled trial testing an intervention to promote adherence to exercise.

Gold nanowires-based sensor for quantification of HO released by human airway epithelial cells.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a biomarker relevant for oxidative stress monitoring. Most chronic airway diseases are characterized by increased oxidative stress. To date, the main methods for the detection of this analyte are expensive and time-consuming laboratory techniques such as fluorometric and colorimetric assays.