The Hypothalamic Preoptic Area and Body Weight Control.

The preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus is involved in many physiological and behavioral processes thanks to its interconnections to many brain areas and ability to respond to diverse humoral factors. One main function of the POA is to manage body temperature homeostasis, e.g.

Trends in Drug Prescription Rates for Dementia: An Observational Population-Based Study in France, 2006-2014.

Background: Since the 2011 French guidance updates, cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are considered optional in the management of dementia and leave physicians free to prescribe based on their clinical expertise.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze the influence of these recent guidance updates on the prescription rates of these drugs and to quantify the impact of potential changes on healthcare expenditures.

Methods: Patients over 65 years old from a representative sample of a national administrative claims database, the French national health insurance database, were retrospectively included from 2006 to 2014.

SoxF factors induce Notch1 expression via direct transcriptional regulation during early arterial development.

Arterial specification and differentiation are influenced by a number of regulatory pathways. While it is known that the Vegfa-Notch cascade plays a central role, the transcriptional hierarchy controlling arterial specification has not been fully delineated. To elucidate the direct transcriptional regulators of Notch receptor expression in arterial endothelial cells, we used histone signatures, DNaseI hypersensitivity and ChIP-seq data to identify enhancers for the human and zebrafish genes.

Insomnia and Relationship With Immunosuppressant Therapy After Lung Transplantation.

Background: Lung transplant recipients are at high risk of developing sleep disorders such as insomnia, but the prevalence and features are currently poorly characterized within this population. Since these disorders are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, it is important to identify them to optimize the care of lung transplant recipients. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of insomnia within our university-based lung transplant clinic and determine whether a relationship exists between insomnia and exposure to immunosuppressant medications following transplantation.

Teacher respiratory health symptoms in relation to school and home environment.

Purpose: Few studies have evaluated teachers' respiratory health, especially its relationship with school/home environment, and school policies. This study assessed asthma and smoking prevalence among teachers in Romania, teacher's perception and knowledge of the school environment, policies and asthma management, and how school and home environment affected asthma, allergy, and respiratory infection symptoms.

Methods: This cross-sectional study obtained information from 104 Romanian teachers utilizing teacher questionnaire data for Romania only, as part of the Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe (SINPHONIE) study, a multicenter European research project conducted between 2010 and 2012.

Functional evolution of Lepidoptera olfactory receptors revealed by deorphanization of a moth repertoire.

Insects detect their hosts or mates primarily through olfaction, and olfactory receptors (ORs) are at the core of odorant detection. Each species has evolved a unique repertoire of ORs whose functional properties are expected to meet its ecological needs, though little is known about the molecular basis of olfaction outside Diptera. Here we report a pioneer functional analysis of a large array of ORs in a lepidopteran, the herbivorous pest Spodoptera littoralis.

The impact of acute high-intensity interval exercise on biomarkers of cardiovascular health in type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions improve cardiovascular health, yet the acute effects on circulating and functional biomarkers of cardiovascular function are unclear in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). To explore this, we conducted two investigations to examine the acute response to HIIT in individuals with T2D.

Methods: Study 1 measured blood pressure, endothelial-dependent dilation, circulating measures of endothelial activation, and troponin T, 30 min and 2 h after HIIT (7 × 1-min intervals) in T2D (n = 8) and age-matched normoglycemic controls (CTL; n = 8).

Galanin-Expressing GABA Neurons in the Lateral Hypothalamus Modulate Food Reward and Noncompulsive Locomotion.

The lateral hypothalamus (LHA) integrates reward and appetitive behavior and is composed of many overlapping neuronal populations. Recent studies associated LHA GABAergic neurons (LHA ), which densely innervate the ventral tegmental area (VTA), with modulation of food reward and consumption; yet, LHA projections to the VTA exclusively modulated food consumption, not reward. We identified a subpopulation of LHA neurons that coexpress the neuropeptide galanin (LHA ).

Dominant-negative function inhibits dermal papilla maturation and differentiation in all murine hair types.

SOX family proteins SOX2 and SOX18 have been reported as being essential in determining hair follicle type; however, the role they play during development remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that regulates the normal differentiation of the dermal papilla of all hair types. In guard (primary) hair dermal condensate (DC) cells, we identified transient in addition to SOX2 expression at E14.

Co-axis digital holography based on sinusoidal phase modulation using generalized lock-in detection.

Sinusoidal phase modulating (SPM) interferometers are used to precisely measure complex light fields with simple interferometric setups. Recently, a generalized lock-in technique has been proposed for optimizing the signal extraction in phase-modulated interferometers. This article shows its applicability in digital holography as well as digital holographic interferometry.

Mural lymphatic endothelial cells regulate meningeal angiogenesis in the zebrafish.

Mural cells of the vertebrate brain maintain vascular integrity and function, play roles in stroke and are involved in maintenance of neural stem cells. However, the origins, diversity and roles of mural cells remain to be fully understood. Using transgenic zebrafish, we identified a population of isolated mural lymphatic endothelial cells surrounding meningeal blood vessels.

Sofosbuvir-Daclatasvir-Simeprevir Plus Ribavirin in Direct-Acting Antiviral-Experienced Patients With Hepatitis C.

We assessed the broadly used, off-label combination of sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, simeprevir, and ribavirin in direct-acting antiviral-experienced patients, as recommended in current guidelines despite scarce data. After 24 weeks' treatment, sustained virological response 12 weeks after the end of treatment was achieved in 6 patients (60%). Two cirrhotic patients relapsed and 2 discontinued treatment due to serious adverse events.

Similar metabolic response to lower- versus upper-body interval exercise or endurance exercise.

Purpose: To compare energy use and substrate partitioning arising from repeated lower- versus upper-body sprints, or endurance exercise, across a 24-h period.

Methods: Twelve untrained males (24±4 y) completed three trials in randomized order: (1) repeated sprints (five 30-s Wingate, 4.5-min recovery) on a cycle ergometer (SIT); (2) 50-min continuous cycling at 65% V̇Omax (END); (3) repeated sprints on an arm-crank ergometer (SIT).

Incidental findings in blunt trauma patients: prevalence, follow-up documentation, and risk factors.

Purpose: The frequency of computed tomography (CT) imaging of trauma patients has given rise to an increase in the discovery of incidental findings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and documentation of follow-up recommendations of incidental findings during the initial trauma evaluation. Secondarily, trauma patients with and without incidental findings were compared.

Vancomycin during the Last Hour of the Hemodialysis Session: A Pharmacokinetic Analysis.

Background: Vancomycin is usually administered after the dialysis sessions to patients undergoing hemodialysis. Administration of vancomycin during (as opposed to after) sessions would save time, and would be more acceptable to patients and staff, but may lead to vancomycin underexposure. The aim of this study was to propose a new dosing regimen of vancomycin taking into account the dialysis-related losses of vancomycin when administered during dialysis.

Pharmacological targeting of the transcription factor SOX18 delays breast cancer in mice.

Pharmacological targeting of transcription factors holds great promise for the development of new therapeutics, but strategies based on blockade of DNA binding, nuclear shuttling, or individual protein partner recruitment have yielded limited success to date. Transcription factors typically engage in complex interaction networks, likely masking the effects of specifically inhibiting single protein-protein interactions. Here, we used a combination of genomic, proteomic and biophysical methods to discover a suite of protein-protein interactions involving the SOX18 transcription factor, a known regulator of vascular development and disease.

Acute high-intensity interval exercise reduces human monocyte Toll-like receptor 2 expression in type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation that contributes to disease pathophysiology. Exercise has anti-inflammatory effects, but the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a single session of HIIT on cellular, molecular, and circulating markers of inflammation in individuals with T2D.

Tmem2 Regulates Embryonic Vegf Signaling by Controlling Hyaluronic Acid Turnover.

Angiogenesis is responsible for tissue vascularization during development, as well as in pathological contexts, including cancer and ischemia. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) regulate angiogenesis by acting through VEGF receptors to induce endothelial cell signaling. VEGF is processed in the extracellular matrix (ECM), but the complexity of ECM control of VEGF signaling and angiogenesis remains far from understood.

Functional Definition of Progenitors Versus Mature Endothelial Cells Reveals Key SoxF-Dependent Differentiation Process.

Background: During adult life, blood vessel formation is thought to occur via angiogenic processes involving branching from existing vessels. An alternate proposal suggests that neovessels form from endothelial progenitors able to assemble the intimal layers. We here aimed to define vessel-resident endothelial progenitors in vivo in a variety of tissues in physiological and pathological situations such as normal aorta, lungs, and wound healing, tumors, and placenta, as well.

Is borderline personality disorder only a mental health problem?

Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have been shown to have increased rates of the use of medical services. The objective of this multicentre study was to compare the utilization of physical health services by patients with severe BPD (n = 36) with that of two control groups: one with other personality disorders (PDs) (n = 38) and one with matched subjects randomly selected from the general population (n = 165). Information was drawn from an insurance database collected over a 5-year period.