Publications by authors named "Flora G"

Background: There are limited therapeutic options in cases of failed reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [mTICI] score < 2b) after stent-retriever and/or aspiration based endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke. Despite the absence of data supporting its use, rescue therapy (balloon angioplasty and/or stent implantation) is often utilized in such cases. Studies are limited to large vessel occlusions, while the outcomes and complications after rescue therapy in medium/distal vessel occlusions (MDVOs) have not been reported.

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Neutrophils contribute to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by releasing prothrombotic neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NET formation (known as NETosis) is an energy-intensive process that requires an increased rate of aerobic glycolysis. The metabolic enzymes pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDKs) inhibit the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex to divert the pyruvate flux from oxidative phosphorylation toward aerobic glycolysis.

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Flue gases are the gases which are produced from industries related to chemical manufacturing, petrol refineries, power plants and ore processing plants. Along with other pollutants, sulfur present in the flue gas is detrimental to the environment. Therefore, environmentalists are concerned about its removal and recovery of resources from flue gases due to its activation ability in the atmosphere to transform into toxic substances.

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This paper discusses language use and identity patterns in ethnic minority/ethnically heterogeneous multigenerational deaf families in Romania, where at least one of the family members belongs to the ethnic Hungarian minority. Early childhood and school linguistic socialization, language use within the family, and cross-generational transmission of identity to children are explored. The research is based on five ethnic minority/ethnically heterogeneous multigenerational deaf family case studies.

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The proliferation of emerging pollutants (EPs), encompassing a range of substances such as phthalates, phenolics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products, surfactants, and disinfection agents, has become a significant global concern due to their potential risks to the environment and human well-being. Over the past two decades, numerous research studies have investigated the presence of EPs in wastewater and aquatic ecosystems, with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) categorizing these newly introduced chemical compounds as emerging contaminants due to their poorly understood impact. EPs have been linked to adverse health effects in humans, including genotoxic and cytotoxic effects, as well as conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive abnormalities, often associated with their estrogenic action.

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Background: Evolving evidence suggests that besides signaling pathways, platelet activation involves a complex interplay between metabolic pathways to support thrombus growth. Selective targeting of metabolic checkpoints may inhibit platelet activation and provide a novel antiplatelet strategy. We, therefore, examined global metabolic changes that occur during the transition of human platelets from resting to an activated state to identify metabolites and associated pathways that contribute to platelet activation.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Current antithrombotic therapies, while effective against coagulation and platelet activation, pose a bleeding risk and are not ideal for long-duration use, highlighting the need for safer alternatives.
  • - Recent research suggests that targeting the metabolic pathways in platelets, particularly aerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), may help modulate their activation and reduce thrombosis risk.
  • - The review discusses how modifying key metabolic regulators like pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDKs) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), along with the roles of fatty acids and glutamine, may present a promising new strategy for antithrombotic therapy.
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Background: Easy bruising is included as a major or minor criterion for the classification of multiple types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Despite a longstanding recognition of the association between EDS and bleeding, we still lack a definitive understanding of the frequency, severity, and types of bleeding complications in patients with EDS.

Objectives: To evaluate hemorrhagic symptoms using the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis bleeding assessment tool (ISTH-BAT) in a cohort of patients with defined types of EDS.

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  • - The study investigated the role of mitochondrial calcium uniporter b (MCUb) in platelet function, finding that MCUb negatively regulates mitochondrial calcium uptake, impacting how platelets react during activation and thrombosis.
  • - Experiments with MCUb mice showed that these platelets had lower calcium responses, less aggregation and secretion, and were less prone to arterial thrombosis, indicating a specific role for MCUb in thrombosis regulation.
  • - The results suggest that MCUb influences both mitochondrial calcium signaling and glucose metabolism in activated platelets, pointing to a new understanding of its role in platelet activation and arterial thrombosis.
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  • Resting platelets primarily use oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and aerobic glycolysis for energy, but upon activation, they shift to increased aerobic glycolysis, with PDKs inhibiting OXPHOS by phosphorylating the PDH complex.
  • The combined deletion of PDK2 and PDK4 significantly disrupts key platelet functions such as aggregation and clot retraction and reduces essential signaling pathways like GPVI, making PDK2/4-/- mice less susceptible to thrombosis without affecting overall bleeding.
  • The findings indicate that PDK4 plays a more crucial role than PDK2 in regulating platelet secretion and thrombosis, highlighting the potential of targeting the PDK/PDH pathway for new antithrom
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  • * Research has highlighted the harmful effects of microplastics on the environment, prompting the need for thorough assessment and monitoring in personal care products.
  • * The review explores the fate, degradation mechanisms of cosmetic microplastics, and discusses innovative technologies aimed at removing and reducing their pollution.
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Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments that are widely distributed in algae, fungi, bacteria, and plants. Carotenoids play a significant role in the food, feed, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. These pigments are effectively considered as a health-promoting compounds, which are widely used in our daily diet to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, acute lung injury, cataracts, neural disorders, etc.

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We report the case of a young woman affected by an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and numerous anatomic abnormalities. A Transcranial Colour-Coded Duplex Sonography, performed with the aim of monitoring the vasospasm, showed a non-pulsatile flow with loss of sharp systolic peak and lowering of mean flow velocities in the right extracranial Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) and all its intra-cranial branches. This event suggested a possible concomitant acute right ICA sub-occlusion with a lack of collateral circulation.

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This paper discusses language use and identity patterns in families set up by deaf partners living in Romania, where at least one of the spouses belongs to the ethnic Hungarian minority. Language use and transmission of identity to children in ethnically homogenous (Hungarian) or heterogeneous (Hungarian-Romanian) families of deaf are explored. The research is based on a survey conducted among members of the ethnic Hungarian Deaf community (including ethnic Romanian spouses), life-path interviews with selected deaf persons and interviews with special school educators.

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There is a critical need for cerebro-protective interventions to improve the suboptimal outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke who have been treated with reperfusion strategies. We found that nuclear pyruvate kinase muscle 2 (PKM2), a modulator of systemic inflammation, was upregulated in neutrophils after the onset of ischemic stroke in both humans and mice. Therefore, we determined the role of PKM2 in stroke pathogenesis by using murine models with preexisting comorbidities.

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Very little is known about the role of metabolic regulatory mechanisms in platelet activation and thrombosis. Dimeric pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is a crucial regulator of aerobic glycolysis that facilitates the production of lactate and metabolic reprogramming. Herein, we report that limiting PKM2 dimer formation, using the small molecule inhibitor ML265, negatively regulates lactate production and glucose uptake in human and murine stimulated platelets.

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  • Connexins form hexameric hemichannels in cell membranes that combine to create gap junctions, which aid in the movement of molecules between cells.
  • This study introduces connexin-62 (Cx62) in platelets and a new peptide (62Gap27) designed to target Cx62, affecting its role in cell communication and function.
  • The inhibition of Cx62 by 62Gap27 impaired platelet function and blood clotting, while also highlighting the distinct action of Cx62 hemichannels compared to other connexins like Cx37 and Cx40.
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  • Neutrophils may contribute to thrombosis through mechanisms like forming neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and high levels of integrin α9β1 on neutrophils enhance their adhesion to blood vessel linings during activation.
  • Researchers created mice lacking integrin α9 specifically in myeloid cells to explore its role in arterial thrombosis, finding that these mice were less prone to thrombosis without affecting normal blood clotting.
  • The study showed that neutrophils in the integrin α9-deficient mice exhibited reduced levels of inflammation markers and NET formation, and using an anti-integrin α9 antibody in regular mice also decreased thrombosis, highlighting integrin α9's potential as a therapeutic target.
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  • The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor that helps detoxify xenobiotic compounds and has been recently found in human blood vessels, suggesting roles beyond detoxification, such as anti-atherosclerotic effects.
  • Researchers confirmed the presence of PXR in human platelets and discovered that PXR ligands can inhibit various platelet functions, such as aggregation and thrombus formation, both in lab settings and in living mice.
  • The study suggests that PXR ligands might offer acute anti-thrombotic and cardio-protective benefits by targeting platelet function through the inhibition of specific kinases (SFKs).
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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of premature death and disability in humans and their incidence is on the rise globally. Given their substantial contribution towards the escalating costs of health care, CVDs also generate a high socio-economic burden in the general population. The underlying pathogenesis and progression associated with nearly all CVDs are predominantly of atherosclerotic origin that leads to the development of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, venous thromboembolism and, peripheral vascular disease, subsequently causing myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias or stroke.

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Glioblastoma (GBM) are lethal primary brain tumours whose pathogenesis is aided, at least partly, via a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment. This study investigated whether microglia, a cell component of the GBM microenvironment, mediates pro-tumorigenic properties via the action of cyclophilin A (CypA), a potent secretable chemokine and cytoprotectant that signals via the cell surface receptor, CD147. To this end, intracellular and secreted CypA expression was assessed in human primary microglia and BV2 microglial cells treated with the endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the oxidative stress inducer, LY83583.

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  • * Human platelets serve as an effective model to study non-genomic effects of NRs due to their lack of a nucleus and quick response time.
  • * Research shows that various NRs in platelets can lead to anti-platelet effects through mechanisms like regulating kinase activity and ion channels, suggesting that targeting these receptors could lead to new heart-protective therapies.
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