nPOD-Kidney: A Heterogenous Donor Cohort for the Investigation of Diabetic Kidney Disease Pathogenesis and Progression.

Background: The Network for Pancreatic Organ donors with Diabetes-Kidney (nPOD-K) project was initiated to assess the feasibility of using kidneys from organ donors to enhance understanding of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression.

Methods: Traditional and digital pathology approaches were employed to characterize the nPOD-K cohort. Periodic acid-Schiff- and Hematoxylin and Eosin-stained sections were used to manually examine and score each nPOD-K case.

Activated sludge microbial community assembly: the role of influent microbial community immigration.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are host to diverse microbial communities and receive a constant influx of microbes from influent wastewater. However, the impact of immigrants on the structure and activities of the activated sludge (AS) microbial community remains unclear. To gain insight on this phenomenon known as perpetual community coalescence, the current study utilized controlled manipulative experiments that decoupled the influent wastewater composition from the microbial populations to reveal the fundamental mechanisms involved in immigration between sewers and AS-WWTP.

A multi-disciplinary commentary on preclinical research to investigate vascular contributions to dementia.

Although dementia research has been dominated by Alzheimer's disease (AD), most dementia in older people is now recognised to be due to mixed pathologies, usually combining vascular and AD brain pathology. Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), which encompasses vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common type of dementia. Models of VCI have been delayed by limited understanding of the underlying aetiology and pathogenesis.

Antibiotic resistance gene sequencing is necessary to reveal the complex dynamics of immigration from sewers to activated sludge.

Microbial community composition has increasingly emerged as a key determinant of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) content. However, in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (AS-WWTPs), a comprehensive understanding of the microbial community assembly process and its impact on the persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains elusive. An important part of this process is the immigration dynamics (or community coalescence) between the influent and activated sludge.

Cannabis use is associated with low plasma endocannabinoid Anandamide in individuals with psychosis.

Background: Cannabis use suppresses the endocannabinoid system in healthy individuals. However, the association between cannabis use with the endocannabinoid system is understudied in individuals with psychosis despite the high rate of cannabis use in these individuals.

Methods: We enrolled 83 individuals who were admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit with psychotic presentations, and measured their plasma levels of main endocannabinoids, Anandamide (AEA) and 2-Acylglycerol (2-AG), and endocannabinoid related compounds, Palmitoylethanolamine, and N-oleoylethanolamine.

Liraglutide protects β-cells in novel human islet spheroid models of type 1 diabetes.

To enable accurate, high-throughput and longer-term studies of the immunopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D), we established three in-vitro islet-immune injury models by culturing spheroids derived from primary human islets with proinflammatory cytokines, activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells or HLA-A2-restricted preproinsulin-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In all models, β-cell function declined as manifested by increased basal and decreased glucose-stimulated insulin release (GSIS), and decreased intracellular insulin content. Additional hallmarks of T1D progression such as loss of the first-phase insulin response (FFIR), increased proinsulin-to-insulin ratios, HLA-class I expression, and inflammatory cytokine release were also observed.

A review of experimental models of focal cerebral ischemia focusing on the middle cerebral artery occlusion model.

Cerebral ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, but current pharmacological therapies are limited in their utility and effectiveness. and models of ischemic stroke have been developed which allow us to further elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of injury and investigate potential drug targets. models permit mechanistic investigation of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of injury but are reductionist and do not mimic the complexity of clinical stroke.

On-Site Prescription Dispensing Improves Antidepressant Adherence among Uninsured Depressed Patients.

The successful treatment of depressive disorders critically depends on adherence to prescribed treatment regimens. Despite increasing rates of antidepressant medication prescription, adherence to the full treatment course remains poor. Rates of antidepressant non-adherence are higher for uninsured patients and members of some marginalized racial and ethnic communities due to factors such as inequities in healthcare and access to insurance.

Cannabinoid use in psychotic patients impacts inflammatory levels and their association with psychosis severity.

Inflammatory abnormalities are well-documented in individuals with chronic psychotic disorders. Particular attention has focused on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its correlation with psychotic symptom severity. Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of psychosis and also has immunomodulating properties.

Longitudinal Multimodal fMRI to Investigate Neurovascular Changes in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Hypertension is an important risk factor for age-related cognitive decline and neuronal pathologies. Studies have shown a correlation between hypertension, disruption in neurovascular coupling and cerebral autoregulation, and cognitive decline. However, the mechanisms behind this are unclear.

Improved reperfusion following alternative surgical approach for experimental stroke in mice.

: Following ischemic stroke, recanalisation and restoration of blood flow to the affected area of the brain is critical and directly correlates with patient recovery.  models of ischemic stroke show high variability in outcomes, which may be due to variability in reperfusion.  We previously reported that a surgical refinement in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of stroke, via repair of the common carotid artery (CCA), removes the reliance on the Circle of Willis for reperfusion and reduced infarct variability.

A longitudinal, multi-parametric functional MRI study to determine age-related changes in the rodent brain.

As the population ages, the incidence of age-related neurological diseases and cognitive decline increases. To further understand disease-related changes in brain function it is advantageous to examine brain activity changes in healthy aging rodent models to permit mechanistic investigation. Here, we examine the suitability, in rodents, of using a novel, minimally invasive anaesthesia protocol in combination with a functional MRI protocol to assess alterations in neuronal activity due to physiological aging.

Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in cocaine overdose and overdose-related cardiovascular events.

Overdose of stimulant drugs has been associated with increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events (ACVE), some of which may be ascribed to endothelial dysfunction. The aims of this study were to evaluate biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in emergency department (ED) patients with acute cocaine overdose and to assess the association between in-hospital ACVE in ED patients with any acute drug overdose. This was a prospective consecutive cohort study over 9 months (2015-2016) at two urban, tertiary-care hospital EDs.

Sexual dimorphism following in vitro ischemia in the response to neurosteroids and mechanisms of injury.

Background: Cerebral ischemic stroke is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Sex differences exist following stroke in terms of incidence, symptoms, outcomes and response to some treatments. Importantly, molecular mechanisms of injury, activated following ischemia may differ between the sexes and if so may account, at least in part, for sex differences seen in treatment response.

Dietary Intakes Differ by Body Composition Goals: An Observational Study of Professional Rugby Union Players in New Zealand.

Preseason in rugby union is a period of intensive training where players undergo conditioning to prepare for the competitive season. In some cases, this includes modifying body composition through weight gain or fat loss. This study aimed to describe the macronutrient intakes of professional rugby union players during pre-season training.

Imaging Functional Recovery Following Ischemic Stroke: Clinical and Preclinical fMRI Studies.

Disability and effectiveness of physical therapy are highly variable following ischemic stroke due to different brain regions being affected. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of patients in the months and years following stroke have given some insight into how the brain recovers lost functions. Initially, new pathways are recruited to compensate for the lost region, showing as a brighter blood oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal over a larger area during a task than in healthy controls.

Body Image Among Elite Rugby Union Players.

Gibson, C, Hindle, C, McLay-Cooke, R, Slater, J, Brown, R, Smith, B, Baker, D, Healey, P, and Black, K. Body image among elite rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res 33(8): 2217-2222, 2019-There is limited information on the risk of eating disorders (EDs) and body image of elite male athletes.

Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Allowing Reperfusion via Common Carotid Artery Repair in Mice.

The ischemic stroke is a major cause of adult long-term disability and death worldwide. The current treatments available are limited, with only tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) as an approved drug treatment to target ischemic strokes. Current research in the field of ischemic stroke focuses on better understanding the pathophysiology of stroke, to develop and investigate novel pharmaceutical targets.

Wastewater microbial community structure and functional traits change over short timescales.

Wastewater contains microorganisms coming from various sources, e.g. feces discharges, soil infiltrations and sewer biofilms and sediments.

Pre-stroke surgery is not beneficial to normotensive rats undergoing sixty minutes of transient focal cerebral ischemia.

Experimental stroke in rodents, via middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), can be associated with a negative impact on wellbeing and mortality. In hypertensive rodents, pre-stroke craniotomy increased survival and decreased body weight loss post-MCAO. Here we determined the effect, in normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats following 60 minutes MCAO, with or without pre-surgical craniotomy, on post-stroke outcomes in terms of weight loss, neurological deficit, lesion volume and functional outcomes.

Platelets: Peripheral Biomarkers of Dementia?

Dementia continues to be the most burdening neurocognitive disorder, having a negative impact on the lives of millions. The search for biomarkers to improve the clinical diagnosis of dementia is ongoing, with the focus on effective use of readily accessible peripheral markers. In this review, we concentrate on platelets as biomarkers of dementia and analyze their potential as easily-accessible clinical biomarkers for various subtypes of dementia.