Development and use of DJ-1 affinity microcolumns to screen and study small drug candidates for Parkinson's disease.

Background: DJ-1 is a protein whose mutation causes rare heritable forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) and is of interest as a target for treating PD and other disorders. This work used high performance affinity microcolumns to screen and examine the binding of small molecules to DJ-1, as could be used to develop new therapeutics or to study the role of DJ-1 in PD. Non-covalent entrapment was used to place microgram quantities of DJ-1 in an unmodified form within microcolumns, which were then used in multiple studies to analyze binding by model compounds and possible drug candidates to DJ-1.

Advances in Atrial Fibrillation Management: A Guide for General Internists.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, impacting approximately 6.1 million adults in the United States, with projections to increase two-fold by 2030. AF significantly increases the risk of stroke and other adverse cardiovascular events, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

The interdependent hemodynamic influence between abdominal aortic aneurysm and renal artery stenosis.

Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and renal artery stenosis (RAS) standing out as significant contributors to the vascular pathology spectrum. While these conditions have traditionally been approached as distinct entities, emerging evidence suggests a compelling interdependent relationship between AAA and RAS, challenging the conventional siloed understanding. The confluence of AAA and RAS represents a complex interplay within the cardiovascular system, one that is often overlooked in clinical practice and research.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Takotsubo Syndrome: Updated Insights From a Retrospective Analysis Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Background We explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and outcomes of takotsubo syndrome (takotsubo) using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to compare trends before and during the pandemic. Methods This retrospective study examined data from over 137 million admissions during 2017-2018 (pre-pandemic) and 2020-2021 (pandemic). Results Our analysis revealed a marked increase in takotsubo prevalence, from 109.