Influence of micro- and nanoplastics on mitochondrial function in the cardiovascular system: a review of the current literature.

Mitochondria represent pivotal cellular organelles endowed with multifaceted functionalities encompassing cellular respiration, metabolic processes, calcium turnover, and the regulation of apoptosis, primarily through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Perturbations in mitochondrial dynamics have been intricately linked to the etiology of numerous cardiovascular pathologies, such as heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and various cardiomyopathies. Notably, recent attention has been directed towards the detrimental impact of micro- and nanoplastic pollution on mitochondrial integrity, an area underscored by a paucity of comprehensive investigations.

Soybean genomics research community strategic plan: A vision for 2024-2028.

This strategic plan summarizes the major accomplishments achieved in the last quinquennial by the soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] genetics and genomics research community and outlines key priorities for the next 5 years (2024-2028).

Association between intraoperative hypotension and postoperative nausea and vomiting: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occurs in up to 30% of patients and its pathophysiology and mechanisms have not been completely described. Hypotension and a decrease in cardiac output are suspected to induce nausea. The hypothesis that intraoperative hypotension might influence the incidence of PONV was investigated.

Impact of aging on mitochondrial respiration in various organs.

Mitochondria are considered central regulator of the aging process; however, majority of studies dealing with the impact of age on mitochondrial oxygen consumption focused on skeletal muscle concluding (although not uniformly) a general declining trend with advancing age. In addition, gender related differences in mitochondrial respiration have not been satisfactorily described yet. The aim of the present study was to evaluate mitochondrial oxygen consumption in various organs of aging male and female Fischer 344 rats at the ages of 6, 12 and 24 months.

Mitochondrial dysfunction in kidney cortex and medulla of subtotally nephrectomized rats.

Five-sixths nephrectomy is a widely used experimental model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is associated with severe mitochondrial dysfunction of the remnant tissue. In this study, we assessed the effect of CKD on mitochondrial respiration separately in the rat kidney cortex and medulla 10 weeks after induction of CKD by subtotal 5/6 nephrectomy (SNX). Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was evaluated on mechanically permeabilized samples of kidney cortex and medulla using high-resolution respirometry and expressed per mg of tissue wet weight or IU citrate synthase (CS) activity.

Mitochondrial respiration of human platelets in young adult and advanced age - Seahorse or O2k?

The objective of the present study was to evaluate platelet mitochondrial oxygen consumption using high-resolution respirometry (HRR) and metabolic flux analysis (MFA) and to verify the effect of advanced age on these parameters. HRR was used to analyze permeabilized and intact platelets, MFA to measure oxygen consumption rates (OCR), extracellular acidification rates (ECAR) and ATP production rate in intact fixed platelets. Two groups of healthy volunteers were included in the study: YOUNG (20-42 years, n=44) and older adults (OLD; 70-89 years; n=15).

Differences in insectivore bird diets in coffee agroecosystems driven by obligate or generalist guild, shade management, season, and year.

Neotropical shade-grown coffee systems are renowned for their potential to conserve avian biodiversity. Yet, little is known about food resources consumed by insectivorous birds in these systems, the extent of resource competition between resident and migratory birds, or how management of shade trees might influence diet selection. We identified arthropods in stomach contents from obligate and generalist insectivorous birds captured in mist-nets at five coffee farms in Chiapas, Mexico between 2001-2003.

Chronic DDE Exposure Modifies Mitochondrial Respiration during Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Mature Adipocytes.

The contribution of environmental pollutants to the obesity pandemic is still not yet fully recognized. Elucidating possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of their effects is of high importance. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic, 21-day-long, 2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichlorethylenedichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) exposure of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells committed to adipogenesis on mitochondrial oxygen consumption on days 4, 10, and 21.

Complex Interplay of Genes Underlies Invasiveness in Fibrosarcoma Progression Model.

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumours, with a great variability in their clinical behaviour. While our knowledge of sarcoma initiation has advanced rapidly in recent years, relatively little is known about mechanisms of sarcoma progression. JUN-murine fibrosarcoma progression series consists of four sarcoma cell lines, JUN-1, JUN-2, JUN-2fos-3, and JUN-3.

[Fluid and Volume Therapy with Crystalloid and Colloidal Infusion Solutions].

A rational infusion therapy orchestrates fluid- and volume therapy based on the individual indication and situation. The principle of fluid replacement is to substitute ongoing fluid losses such as insensible perspiration and urine output or to treat dehydration with balanced crystalloid solutions. Volume therapy in contrast is the quick restoration of intravascular losses such as an acute blood loss through application of balanced colloids or crystalloids.

SOFA Score, Hemodynamics and Body Temperature Allow Early Discrimination between Porcine Peritonitis-Induced Sepsis and Peritonitis-Induced Septic Shock.

Porcine model of peritonitis-induced sepsis is a well-established clinically relevant model of human disease. Interindividual variability of the response often complicates the interpretation of findings. To better understand the biological basis of the disease variability, the progression of the disease was compared between animals with sepsis and septic shock.

[Inhalational anesthetics].

Inhalational anesthetics have been used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia for more than 150 years. All of the currently used inhalational anesthetics are chlorinated and fluorinated derivatives of ether. Dosing is carried out using the minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) concept.

Evaluation of regional ventilation by electric impedance tomography during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in neurocritical care: a pilot study.

Background: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) has become a widely performed technique in neurocritical care, which is however known to be accompanied by some risks to the patient. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the derecruitment effects of PDT with the electric impedance tomography (EIT) during the PDT procedure in neurocritical care.

Methods: The prospective observational pilot study investigated 11 adult, intubated, mechanically ventilated patients with acute brain disease.

Hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction and psychiatric-relevant behavioral deficits in spinocerebellar ataxia 1 mouse model.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease associated with cerebellar degeneration and motor deficits. However, many patients also exhibit neuropsychiatric impairments such as depression and apathy; nevertheless, the existence of a causal link between the psychiatric symptoms and SCA1 neuropathology remains controversial. This study aimed to explore behavioral deficits in a knock-in mouse SCA1 (SCA1) model and to identify the underlying neuropathology.

Endothelial Glycocalyx.

The endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is the most luminal layer of the blood vessel, growing on and within the vascular wall. Shedding of the EG plays a central role in many critical illnesses. Degradation of the EG is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Norepinephrine turnover in the left ventricle of subtotally nephrectomized rats.

Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has been proposed as a risk factor for increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Information on the activity of cardiac sympathetic innervation is non-homogeneous and incomplete. The aim of our study was to evaluate the tonic effect of SNS on heart rate, norepinephrine turnover and direct and indirect effects of norepinephrine in left ventricles of subtotally nephrectomized rats (SNX) in comparison with sham-operated animals (SHAM).

Fatal intracranial aneurysm rupture after thrombolytic treatment for ischemic stroke: a case report and literature review.

Intravenous thrombolysis is a proven treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Its complications include intracranial hemorrhage; the risk may be increased in the presence of an unruptured aneurysm. We present a case report of a patient who suffered fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage after thrombolysis from a known aneurysm.

Pre-stroke undiagnosed dysphagia lusoria as a rare cause of aspiration pneumonia with respiratory failure in a stroke patient.

Introduction: Dysphagia is a risk factor for aspiration pneumonia and acute respiratory failure in acute stroke patients. Dysphagia lusoria is caused by compression on the esophagus from artery lusoria, when the aberrant right subclavian artery arises from the descending aortic arch. We present a rare case report of pre-stroke undiagnosed dysphagia lusoria as a cause of aspiration pneumonia with acute respiratory failure in a 67-year-old female patient admitted with a minor left intracerebral hemorrhage in the left basal ganglia.

Simulation of a central scotoma using contact lenses with an opaque centre.

Purpose: This study evaluated the feasibility of using soft contact lenses (CLs) with an opaque centre to induce absolute central scotomas that move with the eye. We examined the geometrical optics prediction that scotoma size will vary with the size of the CL's opaque centre and with ocular pupil size. We also tested the hypothesis that high environmental light levels will ensure that the ocular pupil will remain small enough, even with opaque centre CLs, to generate absolute scotomas representative of those experienced by patients with age-related macular disease.

Protocols for metagenomic DNA extraction and Illumina amplicon library preparation for faecal and swab samples.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has extraordinarily enhanced the scope of research in the life sciences. To broaden the application of NGS to systems that were previously difficult to study, we present protocols for processing faecal and swab samples into amplicon libraries amenable to Illumina sequencing. We developed and tested a novel metagenomic DNA extraction approach using solid phase reversible immobilization (SPRI) beads on Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) samples stored in RNAlater.

Avian conservation practices strengthen ecosystem services in California vineyards.

Insectivorous Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) occupy vineyard nest boxes established by California winegrape growers who want to encourage avian conservation. Experimentally, the provision of available nest sites serves as an alternative to exclosure methods for isolating the potential ecosystem services provided by foraging birds. We compared the abundance and species richness of avian foragers and removal rates of sentinel prey in treatments with songbird nest boxes and controls without nest boxes.

Atypical chemokine receptors in renal inflammation.

Chemokines are structurally related proteins which form a large family of chemotactic cytokines. They provide a general communication system for cells and regulate lymphocyte migration. These proteins orchestrate the formation of microenvironments in lymphoid tissue, promote lymphoid organogenesis and help foster vascular and lymphatic angiogenesis.