Red Blood Cell Malfunction in COVID-19: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets.

The world has been facing a pandemic for the past 2 years. COVID-19 still leads to millions of deaths worldwide, while deteriorating the global economy. The need for therapeutic targets, thus, remains.

Lysophospholipid Metabolism and Signalling in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) constitutes a global health pandemic. It is estimated that about 25% of the world's population suffers from NAFLD. In the long-term, a subgroup of the patients can develop inflammation and fibrosis.

Red Blood Cell-Conditioned Media from Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients Contain Increased MCP1 and Induce TNF-α Release.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) constitutes a global pandemic. An intricate network among cytokines and lipids possesses a central role in NAFLD pathogenesis. Red blood cells comprise an important source of both cytokines and signaling lipids and have an important role in molecular crosstalk during immunometabolic deregulation.

Molecular Interactions between Erythrocytes and the Endocrine System.

Hormones are secreted by the endocrine glands and reach their targets after circulating in the blood. Many studies have documented that erythrocytes can bind hormones, and possible interactions have been reported. Erythrocytes are responsive to signaling initiated after binding of epinephrine, norepinephrine, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, parathyroid hormone, and angiotensin.

Lipotoxicity Disrupts Erythrocyte Function: A Perspective.

Background: Lipid accumulation in the liver, skeletal and cardiac muscle, kidneys and pancreas causes cell dysfunction, death and inflammation, a biological phenomenon named lipotoxicity. Erythrocytes participate in the transport of lipids in the circulation, and their lipidome is determined by exchange with blood components.

Objective: The objective of this study is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the effect of toxic lipid accumulation in erythrocytes.

Red Blood Cell Dysfunction in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Marker and Mediator of Molecular Mechanisms.

Despite efforts to unravel the pathogenetic mechanisms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), there is still a need for approved treatments and biomarkers. Interestingly, red blood cells present alterations in their characteristics during NAFLD. The phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine ratio, fatty acid profile, red blood cell count and red cell distribution width reflect molecular changes that are taking place in the liver.

Immune and Metabolic Interactions of Human Erythrocytes: A Molecular Perspective.

Apart from their main function as oxygen carriers in vertebrates, erythrocytes are also involved in immune regulation. By circulating throughout the body, the erythrocytes are exposed and interact with tissues that are damaged as a result of a disease. In this study, we summarize the literature regarding the contribution of erythrocytes to immune regulation and metabolism.

Cholesterol and Phospholipid Distribution Pattern in the Erythrocyte Membrane of Patients with Hepatitis C and Severe Fibrosis, before and after Treatment with Direct Antiviral Agents: A pilot Study.

Hepatitis C virus requires and induces changes in liver lipidome for its life cycle. In addition, alterations in plasma and erythrocyte lipidome are observed during a range of chronic liver diseases. A total of six subjects (three males and three females) were included in our study.

Correlation of Baseline Plasma and Inguinal Connective Tissue Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors With Late High-Pressure Endoleak After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Long-term Results.

To investigate whether plasma and connective tissue matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their inhibitors (TIMP) may predict late high-pressure endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Samples of inguinal fascia and blood were collected in 72 consecutive patients (mean age 73.1 years; 68 men) undergoing primary EVAR with the Endurant stent-graft.

Gut Microbial Signatures Underline Complicated Crohn's Disease but Vary Between Cohorts; An In Silico Approach.

Microflora dysbiosis is implicated in the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease. This work analyzes differences in microbial communities and relevant metabolic pathways among the nonstricturing nonpenetrating (B1), stricturing (B2), and penetrating (B3) subphenotypes of Crohn's disease vs healthy controls. We conducted a bioinformatics analysis using the QIIME pipeline and the Calypso, linear discriminant analysis effect size, Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States, and STAMP tools on publicly available 16S bacterial rRNA sequencing data from terminal ileum mucosal biopsies of healthy controls and the 3 subphenotypes of Crohn's disease.

Retrobulbar hemodynamics and aqueous humor levels of endothelin-1 in exfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma.

Background: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the most potent vasoconstrictor in the body. There are reports in the literature correlating plasma levels of ET-1 and its impact on retrobulbar hemodynamics. This study evaluates aqueous humor levels of ET-1 and retrobulbar hemodynamics in patients with exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and exfoliation glaucoma (XFG).

Intravasation of SW620 colon cancer cell spheroids through the blood endothelial barrier is inhibited by clinical drugs and flavonoids in vitro.

Mechanisms how colorectal cancer (CRC) cells penetrate blood micro-vessel endothelia and metastasise is poorly understood. To study blood endothelial cell (BEC) barrier breaching by CRC emboli, an in vitro assay measuring BEC-free areas underneath SW620 cell spheroids, so called "circular chemorepellent induced defects" (CCIDs, appearing in consequence of endothelial retraction), was adapted and supported by Western blotting, EIA-, EROD- and luciferase reporter assays. Inhibition of ALOX12 or NF-κB in SW620 cells or BECs, respectively, caused attenuation of CCIDs.

Prepartum Psychosis and Neonaticide: Rare Case Study and Forensic-Psychiatric Synthesis of Literature.

Peripartum psychosis is a rare but serious psychiatric disorder characterized by the presence of a mood episode with psychotic features. Although controversy surrounds the nosological status of peripartum mental disorders, these conditions continue to be of exceptional interest to the medical and forensic mental health communities. The aim of this study was to report a rare case of prepartum psychosis which escalated to the endpoint of neonaticide and summarize literature on peripartum mental disorders and infanticide.

Regional disparities in cancer mortality across the rural-urban axis: a case study from north-eastern Greece.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify differences in cancer mortality in north-eastern Greece, to describe potential drivers operating at the population level and to propose practical interventions and mitigation strategies.

Methods: Cancer mortality data were collected from local registries using the WHO 10th edition of International Classification of Disease (ICD-10). The direct standardization method was used to address demographic differences in the two regions, with the Standard European Population as reference.

Room air versus carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum: effects on oxidative state, apoptosis and histology of splanchnic organs.

Background: Although CO2 is the insufflation gas of choice in laparoscopic procedures, room air is usually used in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. The aim of the present study was to compare the safety of room air versus CO2 pneumoperitoneum in terms of their effect on the oxidative state, apoptosis and tissue injury of splanchnic organs.

Methods: Eighteen Wistar rats were assigned to three groups (n = 6 per group) and were subjected to 8 mm Hg room air (group Pne-Air) or CO2 pneumoperitoneum (group Pne-CO2) or sham operation for 60 min.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 4 in aqueous humor of patients with primary open angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and its role in proteolysis imbalance.

Background: To quantify the levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 4 (TIMP4) and its ratios with free metalloproteinases (MMP) in the aqueous humor of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG) and to evaluate a possible imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs in these samples.

Methods: Free MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, TIMP1, TIMP2, TIMP4 concentrations and active levels of MMP2 and MMP3 were determined with immunoassay ELISA and activity assay kits in 168 aqueous samples.

Results: TIMP4 was elevated in glaucoma patients(POAG: 0.

Overall survival and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with breast cancer in relation to the expression pattern of HER-2, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β1.

The present study was conducted to investigate the prognostic significance of co-expression patterna of HER-2, IL-6, TNF-a and TGF-β1 in breast cancer, by correlating the number of markers with positive expression with clinicopathological characteristics indicative of tumor progression and overall survival. One hundred thirty consecutive patients with primary breast cancer were prospectively included and evaluated. Serum concentrations of the above markers were measured by ELISA.

Erythrocyte membrane cholesterol and lipid core growth in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis: modulatory effects of rosuvastatin.

Background: Lipid core expansion is partly responsible for the conversion of a stable atherosclerotic lesion to a rupture-prone plaque. Intraplaque hemorrhage contributes to the accumulation of cholesterol within unstable plaques. In the present study, we investigated, using a rabbit model of atherosclerosis, the extent to which diet-induced increases in cholesterol content of erythrocyte membranes (CEM) contribute to lipid core expansion and the modulatory effect of rosuvastatin use.

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein: a potential marker of febrile urinary tract infection in childhood.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are encountered frequently in children, and their early diagnosis and treatment are important. This study evaluates the diagnostic value of serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), an acute-phase protein, in children with febrile UTI and compares it to those of the total white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Methods: The study population comprised 77 consecutive patients with a first-episode febrile UTI (33 boys) with a median age of 11 months [interquartile range (IQR), 5.

Silibinin protects H9c2 cardiac cells from oxidative stress and inhibits phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy: potential mechanisms.

Cardiac hypertrophy is the main response of the heart to various extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli, and it is characterized by specific molecular and phenotypic changes. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies indicate the involvement of reactive oxygen species in the hypertrophic response. In this study, silibinin, a plant flavonolignan extracted from milk thistle with potent antioxidant activity, was evaluated for its effects in (a) preventing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cellular damage and (b) blocking the phenylephrine-induced hypertrophic response.

Red blood cell distribution width: a strong prognostic marker in cardiovascular disease: is associated with cholesterol content of erythrocyte membrane.

Objectives: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of the variability in size of circulating erythrocytes, has recently been shown to be a strong predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with a great spectrum of cardiovascular disease. Recently, cholesterol content of erythrocytes membranes (CEM) has been associated with clinical instability in coronary artery disease whilst it has been linked with red blood cells (RBC) size and shape. Since the biological mechanisms underlying the association of higher RDW with cardiovascular mortality risk are currently unclear, we studied the association of CEM with RDW.

Phenotype and genotype frequency of β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease carriers in Halkidiki, Northern Greece.

A decade of screening (years 2000 to 2010) for hemoglobinopathies in 3,931 patients was performed at the General Hospital of Poligiros, Halkidiki, Northern Greece. Among the patients examined, 10.8% heterozygotes for β-thalassemia (β-thal) were found, as well as 4.

Matrix metalloproteinase imbalance in inguinal hernia formation.

Background: Emerging evidence supports the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in hernia formation. However, the imbalance between the proteolytic activity of MMPs and their endogenous inhibitors (TIMPs) has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to determine changes of MMP and TIMP levels in patients with inguinal hernia.

Serum VEGF levels and tissue activation of VEGFR2/KDR receptors in patients with breast and gynecologic cancer.

Objectives: Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in the biology of gynecological cancer, usually linked with aggressive tumour behaviour and a poor postoperative outcome. Yet, its role in benign breast/gynecological conditions is less clear.

Methods: Serum VEGF was analysed in a series of 49 patients with gynecological cancer and 61 patients with benign disease and compared to those of 12 normal female subjects.

Pringle maneuver deteriorates gut barrier dysfunction induced by extended-liver radiofrequency ablation.

Background: Large volume radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the liver disrupts intestinal mucosa barrier with subsequent bacterial translocation.

Aims: To investigate the effect of the Pringle maneuver applied concurrently with extended liver RFA on gut barrier integrity and bacterial translocation.

Materials And Methods: Rats were subjected to 30% liver RFA following laparotomy (group RFA), RFA plus 30 min Pringle (group RFA + P), Pringle (group P) or sham operation (group S).