Alcohol-induced liver injury is mediated via α4-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in hepatocytes.

Background: Our previous study demonstrated that alcohol induced the expression of the α4 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the livers of wild type mice (WT), and that whole-body α4 nAChR knockout mice (α4KO) showed protection against alcohol-induced steatosis, inflammation, and injury. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that hepatocyte-specific α4 nAChRs may directly contribute to the detrimental effects of alcohol on the liver.

Methods: Hepatocyte-specific α4 knockout mice (α4HepKO) were generated, and the absence of α4 nAChR was confirmed through PCR of genomic DNA.

Sexual practices and risk behaviours towards human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among Ecuadorian university students: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To describe the sexual practices and behaviour towards HIV infection among Ecuadorian university students.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out between February 2019 and August 2020 among university students from all over the country. Students aged 18 years and older of each participating institution were contacted by an official email account and invited to fill out a survey through Google Forms.

Decoding brain structure to stage Alzheimer's disease pathology in Down syndrome.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Down syndrome (DS) is associated with changes in brain structure. It is unknown if thickness and volumetric changes can identify AD stages and if they are similar to other genetic forms of AD.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging scans were collected for 178 DS adults (106 nonclinical, 45 preclinical, and 27 symptomatic).

Injury of the popliteal artery by shrapnel of a Ukrainian girl treated at the University Hospital Ostrava - case report of arterial lesion without acute limb ischemia.

A popliteal artery injury in a 12-year-old female patient, injured in the war conflict in Ukraine, proved to be serious, requiring surgical treatment, despite seemingly poor symptoms and the absence of subjective difficulties. The presentation of arterial injury without acute limb ischemia was atypical. The clinical picture of the lower limb in the sense of "pulseless pink" based on an arterial lesion is not common, but its underestimation can have permanent consequences for the patient.

Feasibility and staff acceptability of implementing Xpert HIV-1 viral load point-of-care testing: a pilot study in San Francisco.

Background: Point-of-care HIV viral load testing may enhance patient care and improve HIV health services. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of implementing such testing in a high-volume community sexual health clinic in the United States.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study.