Geroderma Osteodysplastica With Concomitant Transposition of Great Vessels: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Geroderma Osteodysplastica (GO) is a rare autosomal recessive connective tissue disease characterized by wrinkled skin and osteoporosis, two distinct aging-related features. A loss of function mutation in results in the disease. Immediately after birth, a cyanotic female neonate was found to have transposition of great vessels (TGV) that was corrected with an uneventful surgical recovery.

Bioactive lipids improve serum HDL and PON1 activities in coronary artery disease patients: Ex-vivo study.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of vascular disease worldwide. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the accumulation of lipids and oxidized lipids on the blood vessel walls. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common display of atherosclerotic CVD.

P38α MAPK Coordinates Mitochondrial Adaptation to Caloric Surplus in Skeletal Muscle.

Excessive calorie intake leads to mitochondrial overload and triggers metabolic inflexibility and insulin resistance. In this study, we examined how attenuated p38α activity affects glucose and fat metabolism in the skeletal muscles of mice on a high-fat diet (HFD). Mice exhibiting diminished p38α activity (referred to as p38α) gained more weight and displayed elevated serum insulin levels, as well as a compromised response in the insulin tolerance test, compared to the control mice.

Emerging role of exosomal microRNA in liver cancer in the era of precision medicine; potential and challenges.

Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have great potential in the fight against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In this study, we explored the various applications of these small molecules while analyzing their complex roles in tumor development, metastasis, and changes in the tumor microenvironment. We also discussed the complex interactions that exist between exosomal miRNAs and other non-coding RNAs such as circular RNAs, and show how these interactions coordinate important biochemical pathways that propel the development of HCC.

Novel bioactive lipids enhanced HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux from macrophages through the ABCA1 receptor pathway.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has traditionally been acknowledged as "good cholesterol" owing to its significant association with a decreased risk of atherosclerosis. This association is primarily attributed to HDL's direct involvement in cholesterol efflux capacity, which plays a pivotal role in reverse cholesterol transport. A novel active compound from Nannochloropsis microalgae termed lyso-DGTS, a lipid that contains EPA fatty acids, was previously isolated and found to increase paraoxonase 1 activity and enhance HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux and HDL-induced endothelial nitric oxide release.

Lyso-DGTS Lipid Derivatives Enhance PON1 Activities and Prevent Oxidation of LDL: A Structure-Activity Relationship Study.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) plays a role in regulating reverse cholesterol transport and has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, vasodilative, and antithrombotic activities. Scientists are currently focused on the modulation of PON1 expression using different pharmacological, nutritional, and lifestyle approaches. We previously isolated a novel active compound from microalgae-lyso-diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine (lyso-DGTS)-which increased PON1 activity, HDL-cholesterol efflux, and endothelial nitric oxide release.

Alfalfa genomic selection for different stress-prone growing regions.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) selection for stress-prone regions has high priority for sustainable crop-livestock systems. This study assessed the genomic selection (GS) ability to predict alfalfa breeding values for drought-prone agricultural sites of Algeria, Morocco, and Argentina; managed-stress (MS) environments of Italy featuring moderate or intense drought; and one Tunisian site irrigated with moderately saline water.

Induction of glutathione biosynthesis by glycine-based treatment mitigates atherosclerosis.

Lower circulating levels of glycine are consistently reported in association with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the causative role and therapeutic potential of glycine in atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of most CVDs, remain to be established. Here, following the identification of reduced circulating glycine in patients with significant coronary artery disease (sCAD), we investigated a causative role of glycine in atherosclerosis by modulating glycine availability in atheroprone mice. We further evaluated the atheroprotective potential of DT-109, a recently identified glycine-based compound with dual lipid/glucose-lowering properties.

A Case of Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia Diagnosed in Bronchoscopy With Negative Repeated Nasopharyngeal Swabs.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide pandemic that had emerged in China since December 2019. The disease affects all age groups, with clinical manifestations in the spectrum from asymptomatic to rapidly lethal multi-organ failure, mainly involving the respiratory system. Diagnosis is confirmed mainly by a positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nasopharyngeal swab.

Dysregulated oxalate metabolism is a driver and therapeutic target in atherosclerosis.

Dysregulated glycine metabolism is emerging as a common denominator in cardiometabolic diseases, but its contribution to atherosclerosis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate impaired glycine-oxalate metabolism through alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGXT) in atherosclerosis. As found in patients with atherosclerosis, the glycine/oxalate ratio is decreased in atherosclerotic mice concomitant with suppression of AGXT.

A case of rapidly progressive upper limb ischemic necrosis in a patient with COVID-19.

Background: For more than a year, health systems all over the world have been combating the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was first described in the city of Wuhan in China, presenting as an atypical infection of the lower respiratory tract.

Methods: COVID-19 is characterized by multisystemic involvement, and mortality is attributed mainly to the respiratory system involvement, which may lead to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure.

Glycine-based treatment ameliorates NAFLD by modulating fatty acid oxidation, glutathione synthesis, and the gut microbiome.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has reached epidemic proportions with no pharmacological therapy approved. Lower circulating glycine is consistently reported in patients with NAFLD, but the causes for reduced glycine, its role as a causative factor, and its therapeutic potential remain unclear. We performed transcriptomics in livers from humans and mice with NAFLD and found suppression of glycine biosynthetic genes, primarily alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 1 ().

p38 MAPK in Glucose Metabolism of Skeletal Muscle: Beneficial or Harmful?

Skeletal muscles respond to environmental and physiological changes by varying their size, fiber type, and metabolic properties. P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is one of several signaling pathways that drive the metabolic adaptation of skeletal muscle to exercise. p38 MAPK also participates in the development of pathological traits resulting from excessive caloric intake and obesity that cause metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Soybean Oil Modulates the Gut Microbiota Associated with Atherogenic Biomarkers.

During the last few decades there has been a staggering rise in human consumption of soybean-oil (SO). The microbiome and specific taxa composing it are dramatically affected by diet; specifically, by high-fat diets. Increasing evidence indicates the association between dysbiosis and health or disease state, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and atherosclerosis pathogenesis in human and animal models.

Prednisone and Its Active Metabolite Prednisolone Attenuate Lipid Accumulation in Macrophages.

Background: Synthetic forms of glucocorticoids (GCs; eg, prednisone, prednisolone) are anti-inflammatory drugs that are widely used in clinical practice. The role of GCs in cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, is highly controversial, and their impact on macrophage foam cell formation is still unknown. We investigated the effects of prednisone and prednisolone on macrophage oxidative stress and lipid metabolism.

A Comparative Study of the Reverse Sural Fascio-Cutaneous Flap Outcomes in the Management of Foot and Ankle Soft Tissue Defects in Diabetic and Trauma Patients.

. Soft tissue defects in the distal leg and foot are challenging conditions for reconstruction. The widely used reverse sural fascio-cutaneous flap (RSFCF) has been reported with large variation in complication frequency.

Leucine supplementation attenuates macrophage foam-cell formation: Studies in humans, mice, and cultured macrophages.

Whereas atherogenicity of dietary lipids has been largely studied, relatively little is known about the possible contribution of dietary amino acids to macrophage foam-cell formation, a hallmark of early atherogenesis. Recently, we showed that leucine has antiatherogenic properties in the macrophage model system. In this study, an in-depth investigation of the role of leucine in macrophage lipid metabolism was conducted by supplementing humans, mice, or cultured macrophages with leucine.

Heparanase Inhibition Reduces Glucose Levels, Blood Pressure, and Oxidative Stress in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial process. Emerging evidence highlights a role of the enzyme heparanase in various disease states, including atherosclerosis formation and progression.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of heparanase inhibition on blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and oxidative stress in apoE-/- mice.

[REDUCTION OF ANTIBIOTIC CONSUMPTION IN RAMBAM HEALTH CARE CAMPUS - THE ROLE OF AN ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM].

Introduction: Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) are designed to optimize antibiotic use in hospitals. Antibiotic consumption is one of the measures assessing the effects of ASPs.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of an ASP on antibiotic consumption in our hospital and compare it to hospitals in Israel and worldwide.

Atherogenicity of amino acids in the lipid-laden macrophage model system in vitro and in atherosclerotic mice: a key role for triglyceride metabolism.

Atherosclerosis-related research has focused mainly on the effects of lipids on macrophage foam cell formation and atherogenesis, whereas the role of amino acids (AAs) was understudied. The current study aimed to identify anti- or pro-atherogenic AA in the macrophage model system and to elucidate the underlying metabolic and molecular mechanisms. J774A.

Acrolein increases macrophage atherogenicity in association with gut microbiota remodeling in atherosclerotic mice: protective role for the polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice.

The unsaturated aldehyde acrolein is pro-atherogenic, and the polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice (PJ), known for its anti-oxidative/anti-atherogenic properties, inhibits macrophage foam cell formation, the hallmark feature of early atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate two unexplored areas of acrolein atherogenicity: macrophage lipid metabolism and the gut microbiota composition. The protective effects of PJ against acrolein atherogenicity were also evaluated.

Supplementation with linoleic acid-rich soybean oil stimulates macrophage foam cell formation via increased oxidative stress and diacylglycerol acyltransferase1-mediated triglyceride biosynthesis.

During the last decades there has been a staggering rise in human consumption of soybean oil (SO) and its major polyunsaturated fatty acid linoleic acid (LA). The role of SO or LA in cardiovascular diseases is highly controversial, and their impact on macrophage foam cell formation, the hallmark of early atherogenesis, is unclear. To investigate the effects of high SO or LA intake on macrophage lipid metabolism and the related mechanisms of action, C57BL/6 mice were orally supplemented with increasing levels of SO-based emulsion or equivalent levels of purified LA for 1 month, followed by analyses of lipid accumulation and peroxidation in aortas, serum and in peritoneal macrophages (MPM) of the mice.

Aqueous or lipid components of atherosclerotic lesion increase macrophage oxidation and lipid accumulation.

Introduction And Objective: Understanding the interactions among atherosclerotic plaque components and arterial macrophages, is essential for elucidating the mechanisms involved in the development of atherosclerosis. We assessed the effects of lesion extracts on macrophages.

Methods: Mouse peritoneal macrophages from atherosclerotic normoglycemic or hyperglycemic apoE(-/-) mice were incubated with aortic aqueous or with aortic lipidic extracts (mAAE or mALE) derived from these mice.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and pomegranate influence circadian gene expression and period length.

The circadian timing system regulates key aspects of mammalian physiology. Here, we analyzed the effect of the endogenous antioxidant paraoxonase 1 (PON1), a high-density lipoprotein-associated lipolactonase that hydrolyses lipid peroxides and attenuates atherogenesis, on circadian gene expression in C57BL/6J and PON1KO mice fed a normal chow diet or a high-fat diet (HFD). Expression levels of core-clock transcripts Nr1d1, Per2, Cry2 and Bmal1 were altered in skeletal muscle in PON1-deficient mice in response to HFD.

Paraoxonase 2 Induces a Phenotypic Switch in Macrophage Polarization Favoring an M2 Anti-Inflammatory State.

Inflammatory processes are involved in atherosclerosis development. Macrophages play a major role in the early atherogenesis, and they are present in the atherosclerotic lesion in two phenotypes: proinflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2). Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) is expressed in macrophages, and it was shown to protect against atherosclerosis.