Chronic pregabalin treatment protects against spreading depolarization and alters hippocampal synaptic characteristics in a model of familial hemiplegic migraine-type 1.

Familial hemiplegic migraine type-1 (FHM-1) is a form of migraine with aura caused by mutations in the P/Q-type (Cav2.1) voltage-gated calcium channel. Pregabalin, used clinically in the treatment of chronic pain and epilepsy, inhibits P/Q-type calcium channel activity and recent studies suggest that it may have potential for the treatment of migraine.

Returns After Discharge From the Emergency Department Observation Unit: Who, What, When, and Why?

Introduction: The number of emergency department observation units (EDOU) and observation stays has continued to increase. Despite this, there is limited data on the characteristics of patients who return unexpectedly to the ED after EDOU discharge.

Methods: We identified the charts of all patients who were admitted to the EDOU of an academic medical center between January 2018-June 2020 and had a return to the ED within 14 days of discharge from the EDOU.

Review of the Effect of Continuous Use and Limited Reuse of N95 Respirators on Respirator Fit.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to severe shortages of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). As a result, extended use, limited reuse, and FFR decontamination have been utilized to extend the life of single-use FFRs. Although some studies have raised concerns that reuse could affect the FFR's ability to form a seal, no comprehensive literature review of the effect of extended use or limited reuse on FFR seal exists.

Hyperexcitable superior colliculus and fatal brainstem spreading depolarization in a model of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.

Cardiorespiratory arrest and death in mouse models of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy occur when spreading depolarization is triggered by cortical seizures and then propagates to the brainstem. However, the critical brain regions and the specific changes required to allow spreading depolarization to propagate to the brainstem under the relatively rare circumstances leading to a fatal seizure are unknown. We previously found that following cortical seizure-inducing electrical stimulation, spreading depolarization could occur in both the superior and inferior colliculi in Cacna1a mice, but was never observed in wild-type animals or following non-seizure-inducing stimuli in Cacna1a mice.

Practical Diagnostic Accuracy of Nasopharyngeal Swab Testing for Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Introduction: The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of COVID-19, which has had a devastating international impact. Prior reports of testing have reported low sensitivities of nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and reports of viral co-infections have varied from 0-20%. Therefore, we sought to determine the accuracy of nasopharyngeal PCR for COVID-19 and rates of viral co-infection.

Minocycline Reduces the Severity of Autonomic Dysreflexia after Experimental Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological condition for which there is no effective treatment to restore neurological function. The development of new treatments for those with SCI may be hampered by the insensitivity of clinical tools to assess motor function in humans. Treatments aimed at preserving neuronal function through anti-inflammatory pathways (i.

The natural progression of VGAMs and the need for urgent medical attention: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAMs) are congenital disorders that may require emergency treatment and some may cause sudden death before medical attention is provided. Some patients also have a spontaneous thrombosis.

Objective: To understand the natural progression of VGAMs through a systematic literature review.

Outcome and complications of endovascular embolization for vein of Galen malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Object: There have been many multidisciplinary approaches to the treatment of vein of Galen malformations. Endovascular embolization is the first option for treatment. However, the effects of the treatment remain controversial.

Effect of TNFRSF6B neutralization antibody on cell growth suppression and apoptosis induction in glioma cells.

Previously, we have reported that tumor necrosis factor receptor super-family member 6b (TNFRSF6B) is overexpressed in glioma tissues, as well as in the supernatant of cultured glioma cells. However, the function of TNFRSF6B in glioma remains unclarified. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of anti-TNFRSF6B neutralization monoclonal antibody on the malignant phenotype of glioma cells in vitro.

The use of cefepime for treating AmpC β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Background:  AmpC β-lactamase-producing organisms are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Induction of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins after exposure to these agents complicates treatment options and carbapenems are considered optimal therapy. The role of cefepime, however, remains unclear.

Cessation of neoangiogenesis in Alzheimer's disease follows amyloid-beta immunization.

Pathogenic neoangiogenesis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is due to amyloid-beta (Aβ) and results in blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakiness in AD. It likely occurs as a compensatory response to impaired cerebral blood flow and provides a strong link between brain vascularity and AD. Aβ immunotherapy is an experimental treatment for AD; however, unexpected negative vascular side effects seen in early human clinical trials demonstrate that our knowledge of Aβ and AD pathogenesis is incomplete.

Percutaneous coronary intervention versus optimal medical therapy in stable coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: The role of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the management of stable coronary artery disease remains controversial. Given advancements in medical therapies and stent technology over the last decade, we sought to evaluate whether PCI, when added to medical therapy, improves outcomes when compared with medical therapy alone.

Methods And Results: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases, until January 2012, for randomized clinical trials comparing revascularization with PCI to optimal medical therapy (OMT) in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Biochemical investigation and gene analysis of equol: a plant and soy-derived isoflavonoid with antiaging and antioxidant properties with potential human skin applications.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of equol, a plant and intestinal flora derived isoflavonoid molecule on the expression of skin genes and proteins using human dermal models. As equol has been shown to mimic 17β-estradiol and bind specifically to 5α-dihydrotestostone (5α-DHT), these agents were used (in addition to equol) to determine whether equol may play important and beneficial roles in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Equol at 0.

Amyloid triggers extensive cerebral angiogenesis causing blood brain barrier permeability and hypervascularity in Alzheimer's disease.

Evidence of reduced blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity preceding other Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology provides a strong link between cerebrovascular angiopathy and AD. However, the "Vascular hypothesis", holds that BBB leakiness in AD is likely due to hypoxia and neuroinflammation leading to vascular deterioration and apoptosis. We propose an alternative hypothesis: amyloidogenesis promotes extensive neoangiogenesis leading to increased vascular permeability and subsequent hypervascularization in AD.

The Ca(v)1.4 calcium channel is a critical regulator of T cell receptor signaling and naive T cell homeostasis.

The transport of calcium ions (Ca(2+)) to the cytosol is essential for immunoreceptor signaling, regulating lymphocyte differentiation, activation, and effector function. Increases in cytosolic-free Ca(2+) concentrations are thought to be mediated through two interconnected and complementary mechanisms: the release of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) "stores" and "store-operated" Ca(2+) entry via plasma membrane channels. However, the identity of molecular components conducting Ca(2+) currents within developing and mature T cells is unclear.

Salicin regulates the expression of functional 'youth gene clusters' to reflect a more youthful gene expression profile.

There are a variety of biological mechanisms that contribute to specific characteristics of ageing skin; for example, the loss of skin structure proteins, increased susceptibility to UV-induced pigmentation and/or loss of hydration. Each of these biological processes is influenced by specific groups of genes. In this research, we have identified groups of genes associated with specific clinical signs of skin ageing and refer to these as functional 'youth gene clusters'.

An evaluation of the effect of a topical product containing salicin on the visible signs of human skin aging.

Background: There are many different visible signs of skin aging. These include wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, lack of firmness, poor texture, enlarged pores, and dryness. While there are many topical agents that claim to deliver wide-spectrum anti-aging benefits, few target all of the signs of skin aging to the same extent.

Glutamine uptake and metabolism are coordinately regulated by ERK/MAPK during T lymphocyte activation.

Activation of a naive T cell is a highly energetic event, which requires a substantial increase in nutrient metabolism. Upon stimulation, T cells increase in size, rapidly proliferate, and differentiate, all of which lead to a high demand for energetic and biosynthetic precursors. Although amino acids are the basic building blocks of protein biosynthesis and contribute to many other metabolic processes, the role of amino acid metabolism in T cell activation has not been well characterized.

The integrin alpha4beta7 forms a complex with cell-surface CD4 and defines a T-cell subset that is highly susceptible to infection by HIV-1.

Both activated and resting CD4(+) T cells in mucosal tissues play important roles in the earliest phases of infection after sexual transmission of HIV-1, a process that is inefficient. HIV-1 gp120 binds to integrin alpha(4)beta(7) (alpha(4)beta(7)), the gut mucosal homing receptor. We find that alpha(4)beta(7)(high) CD4(+) T cells are more susceptible to productive infection than are alpha(4)beta(7)(low-neg) CD4(+) T cells in part because this cellular subset is enriched with metabolically active CD4(+) T cells.

Epigenetic enhancement of antigen processing and presentation promotes immune recognition of tumors.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have been hailed as a powerful new class of anticancer drugs. The HDACi, trichostatin A (TSA), is thought to interfere with epigenetic control of cell cycle progression in G1 and G2-M phase, resulting in growth arrest, differentiation, or apoptosis. Here, we describe a novel mechanism of action of HDACis in promoting immune responses against tumors.

Combining the antigen processing components TAP and Tapasin elicits enhanced tumor-free survival.

Purpose: Tpn is a member of the MHC class I loading complex and functions to bridge the TAP peptide transporter to MHC class I molecules. Metastatic human carcinomas often express low levels of the antigen-processing components Tapasin and TAP and display few functional surface MHC class I molecules. As a result, carcinomas are unrecognizable by effector CTLs.

HIV-1 envelope protein binds to and signals through integrin alpha4beta7, the gut mucosal homing receptor for peripheral T cells.

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) results in the dissemination of virus to gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Subsequently, HIV-1 mediates massive depletion of gut CD4+ T cells, which contributes to HIV-1-induced immune dysfunction. The migration of lymphocytes to gut-associated lymphoid tissue is mediated by integrin alpha4beta7.