Does Incretin Agonism Have Sustainable Efficacy?

Recent clinical trials using synthetic incretin hormones, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists have demonstrated that these treatments ameliorated many complications related to obesity, emphasizing the significant impact of body weight on overall health. Incretins are enteroendocrine hormones secreted by gut endothelial cells triggered by nutrient ingestion. The phenomenon that oral ingestion of glucose elicits a much higher insulin secretion than intra-venous injection of equimolar glucose is known as the incretin effect.

Identification of brain-enriched proteins in CSF as biomarkers of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a clinically and biologically heterogenous disease with currently unpredictable progression and relapse. After the development and success of neurofilament as a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker, there is reinvigorated interest in identifying other markers of or contributors to disease. The objective of this study is to probe the predictive potential of a panel of brain-enriched proteins on MS disease progression and subtype.

Cerebrospinal fluid camk2a levels at baseline predict long-term progression in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) remains a highly unpredictable disease. Many hope that fluid biomarkers may contribute to better stratification of disease, aiding the personalisation of treatment decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of CSF brain-specific proteins from early in the disease course of MS on long term clinical outcomes.

Discovery of novel glioma serum biomarkers by proximity extension assay.

Background: Gliomas are among the most malignant tumors, with a very poor prognosis. Early diagnosis is highly desirable since it can help implement more effective treatments for smaller tumors, which have not yet extensively metastasized. Improving early diagnosis may facilitate access of patients to clinical trials and prepare them for the future availability of new disease-modifying treatments.

Beyond the amyloid hypothesis: how current research implicates autoimmunity in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.

The amyloid hypothesis has so far been at the forefront of explaining the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to cognitive decline and eventual death. Recent evidence, however, points to additional factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. These include the neurovascular hypothesis, the mitochondrial cascade hypothesis, the inflammatory hypothesis, the prion hypothesis, the mutational accumulation hypothesis, and the autoimmunity hypothesis.

Quantitation of neurofilament light chain protein in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis using the MSD R-PLEX NfL assay.

Objectives: Neurofilament light (NfL) chain is a marker of neuroaxonal damage in various neurological diseases. Here we quantitated NfL levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and controls, using the R-PLEX NfL assay, which employs advanced Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based detection technology.

Methods: NfL was quantitated in samples from 116 individuals from two sites (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Mayo Clinic), consisting of patients with MS (n=71) and age- and sex-matched inflammatory neurological controls (n=13) and non-inflammatory controls (n=32).

Sensitive Serology Measurements in the Saliva of Individuals with COVID-19 Symptoms Using a Multiplexed Immunoassay.

Background: There are numerous benefits to performing salivary serology measurements for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we used a sensitive multiplex serology assay to quantitate salivary IgG against 4 SARS-CoV-2 antigens: nucleocapsid, receptor-binding domain, spike, and N-terminal domain.

Methods: We used single samples from 90 individuals with COVID-19 diagnosis collected at 0 to 42 days postsymptom onset (PSO) and from 15 uninfected control subjects.

The therapeutic relevance of the Kallikrein-Kinin axis in SARS-cov-2-induced vascular pathology.

While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) begins as a respiratory infection, it progresses as a systemic disease involving multiorgan microthromboses that underly the pathology. SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells attachment to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. ACE2 is widely expressed in a multitude of tissues, including the lung (alveolar cells), heart, intestine, kidney, testis, gallbladder, vasculature (endothelial cells), and immune cells.

Ultrasensitive assay for saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection.

Objectives: Widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing is invaluable for identifying asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic individuals. There remains a technological gap for highly reliable, easy, and quick SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests suitable for frequent mass testing. Compared to nasopharyngeal (NP) swab-based tests, saliva-based methods are attractive due to easier and safer sampling.

An overview of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since its initial outbreak in late 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the global community. In addition to the negative health consequences of contracting COVID-19, the implementation of strict quarantine and lockdown measures has also disrupted social networks and devastated the global economy. As a result, there is rising concern that the pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of the general population.

COVID-19: from an acute to chronic disease? Potential long-term health consequences.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite pulmonary impairments being the most prevalent, extra-pulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 are abundant. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have now surpassed 57.

Proteomic Profiling of the Human Tissue and Biological Fluid Proteome.

In-depth analysis of the human genome sequence has led to the annotation of approximately 20,000 human protein-coding genes. Although mass spectrometry (MS)-based workflows have made a great headway in achieving near genome-wide coverage, an equivalent complete map of the human proteome remains elusive. Delineating the spatial distribution of all human proteins at the organ, tissue, and cellular level can offer insight into health and disease and represents an excellent reference for the discovery of biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Adult patient perspectives on phenylketonuria care: Highlighting the need for dedicated adult management and services.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by an inability to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine (Phe). If left untreated, an accumulation of Phe results in neurodevelopmental, neurological and psychological impairments. Advancements in detection and treatment of PKU have improved outcomes and life expectancy for these patients, emphasizing the need for life-long, specialized care.