Exploring the Interplay between Diabetes and Lp(a): Implications for Cardiovascular Risk.

Purpose Of Review: The objective of this manuscript is to review and describe the relationship between Lp(a) and diabetes, exploring both their association and synergy as cardiovascular risk factors, while also describing the current evidence regarding the potential connection between low levels of Lp(a) and the presence of diabetes.

Recent Findings: Epidemiological studies suggest a potential relationship between low to very low levels of Lp(a) and diabetes. Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is an intriguing lipoprotein of genetic origin, yet its biological function remains unknown.

Natural deep eutectic solvents protect RNA from thermal-induced degradation.

RNA is a fundamental nucleic acid for life and it plays important roles in the regulation of gene transcription, post-transcriptional regulation, and epigenetic regulation. Recently, the focus on this nucleic acid has significantly increased due to the development of mRNA vaccines and RNA-based gene therapy protocols. Unfortunately, RNA based products show constrains mainly owing to instability and easy degradability of the RNA molecules.

HepCare Plus: Enhancing Primary Care Identification and Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus in High-Risk Individuals.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) disproportionately affects people who inject drugs, migrants, prisoners and the homeless. An integrated, peer-led model of care involving primary and secondary care is required to enhance the identification and treatment of HCV in these marginalised groups. HepCare Plus builds on the network and achievements of HepCare Europe (a co-funded Third Health Programme of the European Union/Health Service Executive project).

Analysis of Overall Survival in Patients With Multiple Primary Malignancies: A Single-center Experience.

Introduction Multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) are seen in ~5% of all tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative impact on overall survival (OS) and treatment choices in patients with MPMs. Methods A retrospective analysis to determine patients with MPMs was conducted over a six-year period.

Comparison of standard of care treatment with a low steroid and mycophenolate mofetil regimen for lupus nephritis in the ALMS and AURA studies.

Lupus nephritis is the most common organ-threatening manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. The current standard of care for patients is treatment with a combination of steroids plus either mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclophosphamide. However, these medications are associated with considerable toxicity and suboptimal efficacy.

Effect of different finishing/polishing procedures on surface roughness of Ormocer-based and different resin composites.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the surface roughness of six esthetic restorative materials (Gradia Direct Anterior, GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan; Filtek Supreme XTE, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA; Ceram.X Universal, Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany; Essentia enamel, GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan; Admira Fusion, Voco, Cuxhaven, Germany; and Estelite, Tokuyama Dental corporation, Taitou-ku, Tokyo, Japan) achieved using three different finishing and polishing techniques.

Extended criteria donor lung reconditioning with the organ care system lung: a single institution experience.

Lung transplantation is a life-saving procedure limited by donor's availability. Lung reconditioning by ex vivo lung perfusion represents a tool to expand the donor pool. In this study, we describe our experience with the OCS™ Lung to assess and recondition extended criteria lungs.

Effect of different surface finishing/polishing procedures on color stability of esthetic restorative materials: A spectrophotometric evaluation.

Objective: To evaluate the color stability of different esthetic restorative materials after surface finishing/polishing with different procedures.

Materials And Methods: All materials were polymerized into silicone rubber rings to obtain specimens identical in size. Samples were randomly assigned into four groups (10 specimens of each composite for each group), and they were finished with different procedures: Control group (Group 1), three or two polishers interspersed with diamond grit (Groups 3 and 2, respectively), and one tungsten carbide bur + one polisher interspersed with diamond grit (Group 4).

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for the treatment of oligoprogression on androgen receptor targeted therapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Castration-resistant prostate cancer is an incurable disease. To date, six agents-abiraterone, enzalutamide, docetaxel, cabazitaxel, radium-223 and sipuleucel-T- have shown clinical efficacy in phase III clinical trials, leading to their FDA approval. Patients are typically sequenced through most or all of these agents, and then eventually succumb to their disease.

Facial palsy and atrial fibrillation: a special case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus) is a rare complication of latent Varicella Zoster virus infection. It can be complicated by permanent hearing loss, loss of taste and postherpetic neuralgia. Although Ramsay Hunt syndrome most prominently involves the facial nerve, a number of other cranial nerves can be involved such as the vestibulocochlear, glossopharyngeal and the vagus nerve.

Color Stability of New Esthetic Restorative Materials: A Spectrophotometric Analysis.

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the color stability of different esthetic restorative materials (one microfilled composite, one nanofilled composite, one nanoceramic composite, one microfilled hybrid composite, one microfilled hybrid composite, one nanohybrid Ormocer based composite and one supra-nano spherical hybrid composite) after exposure to different staining solutions (physiological saline, red wine, coffee). All materials were prepared and polymerized into silicon rings (2 mm × 6 mm × 8 mm) to obtain specimens identical in size. Thirty cylindrical specimens of each material were prepared.

Stability of spermine oxidase to thermal and chemical denaturation: comparison with bovine serum amine oxidase.

Spermine oxidase (SMOX) is a flavin-containing enzyme that specifically oxidizes spermine to produce spermidine, 3-aminopropanaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide. While no crystal structure is available for any mammalian SMOX, X-ray crystallography showed that the yeast Fms1 polyamine oxidase has a dimeric structure. Based on this scenario, we have investigated the quaternary structure of the SMOX protein by native gel electrophoresis, which revealed a composite gel band pattern, suggesting the formation of protein complexes.

Amine oxidase-based biosensors for spermine and spermidine determination.

The present work describes the development and optimization of electrochemical biosensors for specific determination of the biogenic polyamine spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spmd) whose assessment represents a novel important analytical tool in food analysis and human diagnostics. These biosensors have been prepared using novel engineered enzymes: polyamine oxidase (PAO) endowed with selectivity towards Spm and Spmd and spermine oxidase (SMO) characterized by strict specificity towards Spm. The current design entails biosensors in which the enzymes were entrapped in poly(vinyl alcohol) bearing styrylpyridinium groups (PVA-SbQ), a photocrosslinkable gel, onto an electrode surface.

Affective dependence and aggression: an exploratory study.

Introduction: Emotionally dependent subjects may engage in controlling, restrictive, and aggressive behaviours, which limit their partner's autonomy. The underlying causes of such behaviours are not solely based on levels of aggression, but act as a mean of maintaining the subject's own sense of self-worth, identity, and general functioning.

Objective: The aim of the paper is to explore the correlation between affective dependency and reactive/proactive aggression and to evaluate individual differences as predisposing factors for aggressive behaviour and emotional dependency.

The Glu²¹⁶/Ser²¹⁸ pocket is a major determinant of spermine oxidase substrate specificity.

SMO (spermine oxidase) and APAO (acetylpolyamine oxidase) are flavoenzymes that play a critical role in the catabolism of polyamines. Polyamines are basic regulators of cell growth and proliferation and their homoeostasis is crucial for cell life since dysregulation of polyamine metabolism has been linked with cancer. In vertebrates SMO specifically catalyses the oxidation of spermine, whereas APAO displays a wider specificity, being able to oxidize both N¹-acetylspermine and N¹-acetylspermidine, but not spermine.

A plant spermine oxidase/dehydrogenase regulated by the proteasome and polyamines.

Polyamine oxidases (PAOs) are flavin-dependent enzymes involved in polyamine catabolism. In Arabidopsis five PAO genes (AtPAO1-AtPAO5) have been identified which present some common characteristics, but also important differences in primary structure, substrate specificity, subcellular localization, and tissue-specific expression pattern, differences which may suggest distinct physiological roles. In the present work, AtPAO5, the only so far uncharacterized AtPAO which is specifically expressed in the vascular system, was partially purified from 35S::AtPAO5-6His Arabidopsis transgenic plants and biochemically characterized.

Phase II trial of neoadjuvant pemetrexed plus cisplatin followed by surgery and radiation in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive tumor that has a poor prognosis and is resistant to unimodal approaches. Multimodal treatment has provided encouraging results.

Methods: Phase II, open-label study of the combination of chemotherapy (pemetrexed 500 mg/m²+cisplatin 75 mg/m² IV every 21 days × 3 cycles), followed by surgery (en-bloc extrapleural pneumonectomy, 3-8 weeks after chemotherapy) and hemithoracic radiation (total radiation beam 54 Gy, received 4-8 weeks post-surgery).

Fusiform gyrus responses to neutral and emotional faces in children with autism spectrum disorders: a high density ERP study.

Face processing is a neural mechanism that allows understanding social information and cues conveyed by faces, whose dysfunction has been postulated to underlie some of the behavioral impairments characterizing autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A special region of the cortex, the fusiform gyrus (FG), is believed to be the specific area for processing face features and emotions. However, behavioral, fMRI and ERP studies addressed to investigate the role of FG dysfunction in ASD have led to conflicting results.

Effects of amine oxidases in allergic and histamine-mediated conditions.

This review provides an update on histamine, on diamine oxidase (DAO) and on their implications in allergy and various conditions or affections, such as food histaminosis, ischemia and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The review also presents, in brief, patent coverage on therapies for allergy and IBD with the focus on histamine-related treatments.

Clinical utility of a novel colorimetric chair side test for oral malodour.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of a simple colorimetric chair side test detecting amines in saliva as an adjunct test in the oral malodour diagnosis.

Material And Methods: Non-stimulated saliva samples were collected from 100 volunteers with different degrees of oral malodour. The amount of amines detected by the test was estimated clinically (colorimetric test), confirmed semi quantitatively in the laboratory (standard addition method) and consequently compared with (i) the organoleptic score (OLS); (ii) the volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) levels (OralChroma(™)) and (iii) the amount of amines detected by means of gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy.