Association of Gut Microbiota With Fatigue in Black Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background: Fatigue is a highly prevalent symptom for individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, characterization of fatigue and investigation into the gut microbiome-a pathway that may contribute to fatigue-remains inadequately explored in Black women with PCOS.

Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine fatigue and its relationship to the gut microbiome in adult Black women with PCOS.

Methods: Adult Black women with a diagnosis of PCOS were recruited for this cross-sectional study.

Impact of Acupuncture on Human Metabolomic Profiles: A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Metabolomics provides insights into the biological underpinnings of disease development and treatment. This systematic review investigated the impact of acupuncture on metabolite levels and associated metabolic pathways using a metabolomic approach.

Methods: Five databases (i.

PS1/gamma-secretase acts as rogue chaperone of glutamate transporter EAAT2/GLT-1 in Alzheimer's disease.

The recently discovered interaction between presenilin 1 (PS1), a subunit of γ-secretase involved in amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide production, and GLT-1, the major brain glutamate transporter (EAAT2 in the human), may link two pathological aspects of Alzheimer's disease: abnormal Aβ occurrence and neuronal network hyperactivity. In the current study, we employed a FRET-based fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to characterize the PS1/GLT-1 interaction in brain tissue from sporadic AD (sAD) patients. sAD brains showed significantly less PS1/GLT-1 interaction than those with frontotemporal lobar degeneration or non-demented controls.

Metabolic Pathways Associated With Obesity and Hypertension in Black Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia.

Background: In the United States, Black adults have the highest prevalence of obesity and hypertension, increasing their risk of morbidity and mortality. Caregivers of persons with dementia are also at increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to the demands of providing care. Thus, Black caregivers-who are the second largest group of caregivers of persons with dementia in the United States-have the highest risks for poor health outcomes among all caregivers.

Oral Microbiome and Cognition Among Black Cancer Caregivers.

Background: Despite known links between oral health and dementia and the growing understanding of the role of the human microbiome in health, few studies have explored the relationship between the oral microbiome and cognition. Additionally, there is a notable absence of research on how the oral microbiome is associated with cognitive function in Black adult caregivers of cancer patients despite their elevated risk for both oral disease and cognitive impairment.

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the oral microbiome of Black caregivers of people living with cancer and explore the association of the oral microbiome with cognitive performance.

Recording γ-secretase activity in living mouse brains.

γ-Secretase plays a pivotal role in the central nervous system. Our recent development of genetically encoded Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors has enabled the spatiotemporal recording of γ-secretase activity on a cell-by-cell basis in live neurons . Nevertheless, how γ-secretase activity is regulated remains unclear.

Longitudinal Fatigue Symptoms and Inflammatory Markers in African American Adults With Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background: There is a dearth of research inclusive of African American adults living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) despite differences in symptom presentations compared to non-Hispanic White patient populations. Less is known regarding the potential effect of comorbidities, including hypertension, on commonly reported symptoms, such as fatigue, and their association with inflammatory biomarkers.

Objective: This longitudinal pilot study aimed to characterize fatigue symptom presentations among African American adults newly diagnosed with OSA and discern peripheral blood analytes linked to symptoms while accounting for co-occurring hypertension.

Alzheimer's disease linked Aβ42 exerts product feedback inhibition on γ-secretase impairing downstream cell signaling.

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides accumulating in the brain are proposed to trigger Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, molecular cascades underlying their toxicity are poorly defined. Here, we explored a novel hypothesis for Aβ42 toxicity that arises from its proven affinity for γ-secretases.

Associations between TCA cycle plasma metabolites and fatigue in black females with systemic lupus erythematosus: An untargeted metabolomics pilot study.

Objective: In this pilot study, we used untargeted metabolomics to identify biochemical mechanisms or biomarkers potentially underlying SLE-related fatigue.

Methods: Metabolon conducted untargeted metabolomic plasma profiling using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry on plasma samples of 23 Black females with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 21 no SLE controls. Fatigue phenotypes of general fatigue, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, reduced activity, and reduced motivation were measured with the reliable and valid Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI).

Longitudinal Renal Function Degradation Among Florida Agricultural Workers.

Objective: This longitudinal study evaluated renal function and acute kidney injury (AKI) over time in US agricultural workers.

Methods: We followed Florida agricultural workers from January 2020 to August 2022, collecting blood and urine preworkday and postworkday during five visits.

Results: Preworkday estimated glomerular filtration rate function in all participants was lower in summers but relatively consistent over time.

Sigma Receptor Ligands Are Potent Antiprion Compounds that Act Independently of Sigma Receptor Binding.

Prion diseases are invariably fatal neurodegenerative diseases of humans and other animals for which there are no effective treatment options. Previous work from our laboratory identified phenethylpiperidines as a novel class of anti-prion compounds. While working to identify the molecular target(s) of these molecules, we unexpectedly discovered ten novel antiprion compounds based on their known ability to bind to the sigma receptors, σR and σR, which are currently being tested as therapeutic or diagnostic targets for cancer and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Multi-omics analysis of the gut microbiome and metabolites associated with the psychoneurological symptom cluster in children with cancer receiving chemotherapy.

Background: Children with cancer receiving chemotherapy commonly report a cluster of psychoneurological symptoms (PNS), including pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. The role of the gut microbiome and its functional metabolites in PNS is rarely studied among children with cancer. This study investigated the associations between the gut microbiome-metabolome pathways and PNS in children with cancer across chemotherapy as compared to healthy children.

Recording γ-secretase activity in living mouse brains.

γ-Secretase plays a pivotal role in the central nervous system. Our recent development of genetically encoded Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors has enabled the spatiotemporal recording of γ-secretase activity on a cell-by-cell basis in live neurons in culture. Nevertheless, how γ-secretase activity is regulated in vivo remains unclear.

Body-piercing associated appendicitis in the pregnant patient incidentally discovered during Caesarian section.

Appendicitis is the most common general surgery condition encountered in pregnant patients. Its presentation and diagnosis can be confounded by physiological changes of pregnancy causing atypical symptoms and overlap between pregnancy symptoms and appendicitis. Diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnancy is important, as pregnant persons have a much higher rate of complication from appendicitis.

Sigma receptor ligands are potent anti-prion compounds that act independently of sigma receptor binding.

Prion diseases are invariably fatal neurodegenerative diseases of humans and other animals for which there are no treatment options. Previous work from our laboratory identified phenethyl piperidines as novel class of anti-prion compounds. While working to identify the molecular target(s) of these molecules, we unexpectedly discovered ten novel anti-prion compounds based on their known ability to bind to the sigma receptors, σ R and R, which are currently being tested as therapeutic or diagnostic targets for cancer and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Weight stigma and bias: A guide for pediatric clinicians.

Introduction: Many children and adolescents with obesity experience weight stigma and bias, which can have detrimental mental health, medical, and social consequences. Weight stigma in the healthcare setting threatens the therapeutic relationship between health care providers and their pediatric patients and families.

Methods: Data supporting this guidance were derived from cited references.

PS1/gamma-secretase acts as rogue chaperone of glutamate transporter EAAT2/GLT-1 in Alzheimer's disease.

The recently discovered interaction between presenilin 1 (PS1), a catalytic subunit of γ-secretase responsible for the generation of amyloid-β(Aβ) peptides, and GLT-1, the major glutamate transporter in the brain (EAAT2 in the human) may provide a mechanistic link between two important pathological aspects of Alzheimer's disease (AD): abnormal Aβoccurrence and neuronal network hyperactivity. In the current study, we employed a FRET-based approach, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), to characterize the PS1/GLT-1 interaction in its native environment in the brain tissue of sporadic AD (sAD) patients. There was significantly less interaction between PS1 and GLT-1 in sAD brains, compared to tissue from patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), or non-demented age-matched controls.

Associations of differentially expressed genes with psychoneurological symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer: A longitudinal study.

Objective: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) experience psychoneurological symptoms (PNS, i.e., depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain, and cognitive dysfunction) during intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) that negatively impact their functional status, quality of life, and overall survival.

Adverse maternal outcomes associated with major fetal malformations after singleton live birth.

Background: Major fetal malformations complicate 2% to 5% of live births. It is unclear what effect fetal malformations have on severe maternal morbidity.

Objective: This study aimed to compare maternal outcomes between individuals with a fetus with major or minor fetal malformations and those with a fetus without major or minor fetal malformations.

Alzheimer's disease linked Aβ42 exerts product feedback inhibition on γ-secretase impairing downstream cell signaling.

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides accumulating in the brain are proposed to trigger Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, molecular cascades underlying their toxicity are poorly defined. Here, we explored a novel hypothesis for Aβ42 toxicity that arises from its proven affinity for γ-secretases.

Unsupervised Hierarchical Clustering of Head and Neck Cancer Patients by Pre-Treatment Plasma Metabolomics Creates Prognostic Metabolic Subtypes.

There is growing evidence that the metabolism is deeply intertwined with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) progression and survival but little is known about circulating metabolite patterns and their clinical potential. We performed unsupervised hierarchical clustering of 209 HNSCC patients via pre-treatment plasma metabolomics to identify metabolic subtypes. We annotated the subtypes via pathway enrichment analysis and investigated their association with overall and progression-free survival.

A Pilot Study Examining the Use of Ultrasound to Measure Intravascular Volume Status in Agricultural Workers in a Field-Based Research Setting.

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to explore if internal jugular vein (IJV) ultrasound studies on agricultural workers in a field-based research setting could assess volume status during a hydration intervention.

Methods: We performed pre- and post-work shift IJV ultrasound images on 30 agricultural workers. The IJV collapsibility index values were <39% (euvolemic) or ≥39% (hypovolemic).