Evolving trends in neuropsychological profiles of post COVID-19 condition: A 1-year follow-up in individuals with cognitive complaints.

Cognitive difficulties are reported as lasting sequelae within post COVID-19 condition. However, the chronicity of these difficulties and related factors of fatigue, mood, and perceived health have yet to be fully determined. To address this, the current longitudinal study aimed to clarify the trends of cognitive test performance and cognitive domain impairment following COVID-19 onset, and whether hospitalization influences outcomes.

Differential Rates of Glycation Following Exposure to Unique Monosaccharides.

A complication of reducing sugars is that they can undergo Maillard chemical reactions, forming advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) that can induce oxidative stress and inflammation via engagements with the main receptor for AGEs (RAGE) in various tissues. Certain sugars, such as glucose and fructose, are well known to cause AGE formation. Recently, allulose has emerged as a rare natural sugar that is an epimer of fructose and which is of low caloric content that is minimally metabolized, leading to it being introduced as a low-calorie sugar alternative.

The Metabolic and Endocrine Effects of a 12-Week Allulose-Rich Diet.

The global rise in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity necessitates innovative dietary interventions. This study investigates the effects of allulose, a rare sugar shown to reduce blood glucose, in a rat model of diet-induced obesity and T2D. Over 12 weeks, we hypothesized that allulose supplementation would improve body weight, insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control.

Different Lengths of Gestational Exposure to Secondhand Smoke or e-Cigarette Vapor Induce the Development of Placental Disease Symptoms.

Exposure to cigarette smoke is known to induce disease during pregnancy. Recent evidence showed that exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) negatively impacts fetal and placental weights, leading to the development of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Electronic cigarettes (eCigs) represent a phenomenon that has recently emerged, and their use is also steadily rising.

Differential Inflammatory Cytokine Elaboration in Serum from Brick Kiln Workers in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Previous studies involving workers at brick kilns in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal have investigated chronic exposure to hazardous levels of fine particulate matter (PM) common in ambient and occupational environments. Such exposures are known to cause and/or exacerbate chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the status of systemic inflammation observed in exposed workers at brick manufacturing facilities within the country.

Availability of Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-Products (RAGE) Influences Differential Transcriptome Expression in Lungs from Mice Exposed to Chronic Secondhand Smoke (SHS).

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) has a central function in orchestrating inflammatory responses in multiple disease states including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RAGE is a transmembrane pattern recognition receptor with particular interest in lung disease due to its naturally abundant pulmonary expression. Our previous research demonstrated an inflammatory role for RAGE following acute exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS).

The Effect of Diesel Exhaust Particles on Adipose Tissue Mitochondrial Function and Inflammatory Status.

Air pollution poses a significant global health risk, with fine particulate matter (PM) such as diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) being of particular concern due to their potential to drive systemic toxicities through bloodstream infiltration. The association between PM exposure and an increased prevalence of metabolic disorders, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is evident against a backdrop of rising global obesity and poor metabolic health. This paper examines the role of adipose tissue in mediating the effects of PM on metabolic health.

Respirable dust and crystalline silica concentrations among workers at a brick kiln in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Exposure to respirable dust and crystalline silica (SiO) has been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, silicosis, cancer, heart disease, and other respiratory diseases. Relatively few studies have measured respirable dust and SiO concentrations among workers at brick kilns in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to measure personal breathing zone (PBZ) respirable dust and SiO concentrations among workers at one brick kiln in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

A Potential Role for the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-Products (RAGE) in the Development of Secondhand Smoke-Induced Chronic Sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis (CS) is characterized by sinonasal inflammation, mucus overproduction, and edematous mucosal tissue. CS impacts one in seven adults and estimates suggest up to 15% of the general U.S.

Inflammatory Cytokine Elaboration Following Secondhand Smoke (SHS) Exposure Is Mediated in Part by RAGE Signaling.

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a key contributor to immune and inflammatory responses in myriad diseases. RAGE is a transmembrane pattern recognition receptor with a special interest in pulmonary anomalies due to its naturally abundant pulmonary expression. Our previous studies demonstrated an inflammatory role for RAGE following acute 30-day exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), wherein immune cell diapedesis and cytokine/chemokine secretion were accentuated in part via RAGE signaling.

Decreased Expression of Pulmonary Homeobox NKX2.1 and Surfactant Protein C in Developing Lungs That Over-Express Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-Products (RAGE).

Receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) are multi-ligand cell surface receptors of the immunoglobin superfamily prominently expressed by lung epithelium. Previous experiments demonstrated that over-expression of RAGE by murine alveolar epithelium throughout embryonic development causes neonatal lethality coincident with significant lung hypoplasia. In the current study, we evaluated the expression of NKX2.

Altered Epigenetic Profiles in the Placenta of Preeclamptic and Intrauterine Growth Restriction Patients.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PE) are placental pathologies known to complicate pregnancy and cause neonatal disorders. To date, there is a limited number of studies on the genetic similarity of these conditions. DNA methylation is a heritable epigenetic process that can regulate placental development.

Decreased CSTB, RAGE, and Axl Receptor Are Associated with Zika Infection in the Human Placenta.

Zika virus (ZIKV) compromises placental integrity, infecting the fetus. However, the mechanisms associated with ZIKV penetration into the placenta leading to fetal infection are unknown. Cystatin B (CSTB), the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and tyrosine-protein kinase receptor UFO (AXL) have been implicated in ZIKV infection and inflammation.

Inflammation and Invasion in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells Exposed to Electronic Cigarette Vapor Extract.

Electronic cigarettes (eCig) represent a new avenue of tobacco exposure that involves heating oil-based liquids and the delivery of aerosolized flavors with or without nicotine, yet little is known about their overall health impact. The oral cavity is an anatomic gateway for exposure that can be compromised by activating myriad of signaling networks. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSSC) is a common malignancy affecting 30,000 people in the United States each year.

Post-COVID-19 fatigue: the contribution of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Fatigue in its many forms of physical, mental, and psychosocial exhaustion is a common symptom of post-COVID-19 condition, also known as "Long COVID." Persistent fatigue in COVID-19 patients is frequently accompanied by cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms; however, less is known about the relationships between these components of post-COVID-19 condition and fatigue itself. Consequently, the present study sought to (1) distinguish the types of fatigue experienced by participants, and (2) investigate whether cognitive deficits across various domains and neuropsychiatric conditions predicted these different types of fatigue.

RAGE signaling during tobacco smoke-induced lung inflammation and potential therapeutic utility of SAGEs.

Background: Smoke exposure culminates as a progressive lung complication involving airway inflammation and remodeling. While primary smoke poses the greatest risk, nearly half of the US population is also at risk due to exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS).

Methods: We used WT, RAGE-/- (KO), and Tet-inducible lung-specific RAGE overexpressing transgenic (TG) mice to study the role of RAGE during short-term responses to SHS.

Neuropsychological deficits in patients with cognitive complaints after COVID-19.

Background: While much of the scientific focus thus far has been on cognitive sequelae in patients with severe COVID-19, subjective cognitive complaints are being reported across the spectrum of disease severity, with recent studies beginning to corroborate patients' perceived deficits. In response to this, the aims of this study were to (1) explore the frequency of impaired performance across cognitive domains in post-COVID patients with subjective complaints and (2) uncover whether impairment existed within a single domain or across multiple.

Methods: Sixty-three patients with subjective cognitive complaints post-COVID were assessed with a comprehensive protocol consisting of various neuropsychological tests and mood measures.

A Role for RAGE in DNA Double Strand Breaks (DSBs) Detected in Pathological Placentas and Trophoblast Cells.

Impaired DNA damage responses are associated with several diseases, including pregnancy complications. Recent research identified an ATM-kinase dependent function for the nuclear isoform of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) during double strand break (DSB)-repair. RAGE contributes to end-resectioning of broken DNA sites by binding with the MRE11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex.

Low HDL and high triglycerides predict COVID-19 severity.

Lipids are indispensable in the SARS-CoV-2 infection process. The clinical significance of plasma lipid profile during COVID-19 has not been rigorously evaluated. We aim to ascertain the association of the plasma lipid profile with SARS-CoV-2 infection clinical evolution.

Exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke exacerbates the progression of osteoarthritis in a surgical induced murine model.

Osteoarthritis (OA), formerly understood to be a result of passive wear, is now known to be associated with chronic inflammation. Cigarette smoking promotes systemic inflammation and has been implicated in increased joint OA incidence in some studies, though the recent observational data on the association are contradictory. We hypothesize that second-hand smoke (SHS) treatment will increase the incidence of OA in a mouse model that has been subjected to a surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM).

Regulation of trophoblast cell invasion by Pyruvate Kinase isozyme M2 (PKM2).

The Pyruvate kinase isozymes M2 (PKM2) protein is a metabolic enzyme that regulates the final step of glycolysis. This enzyme is present in highly proliferating cells and is expressed in the placenta. We recently demonstrated upregulated placental PKM2 during human intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Polygenic Markers in Patients Diagnosed of Autosomal Dominant Hypercholesterolemia in Catalonia: Distribution of Weighted LDL-c-Raising SNP Scores and Refinement of Variant Selection.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is associated with mutations in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (), apolipoprotein B (), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 () genes. A pathological variant has not been identified in 30-70% of clinically diagnosed FH patients, and a burden of LDL cholesterol (LDL-c)-raising alleles has been hypothesized as a potential cause of hypercholesterolemia in these patients. Our aim was to study the distribution of weighted LDL-c-raising single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scores (weighted gene scores or wGS) in a population recruited in a clinical setting in Catalonia.

Cell invasion, RAGE expression, and inflammation in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells exposed to e-cigarette flavoring.

Objective: Electronic cigarettes have given rise to a new, largely unregulated market within the smoking industry. While generally supposed to be less harmful than traditional tobacco smoke, awareness of the biological effects of electronic cigarette liquid is still scarce. Our objective was to determine the impact of electronic cigarette flavoring and nicotine on gingival squamous cell carcinoma invasion, RAGE expression, and the elaboration of pro-inflammatory molecules.

The Circulating Fatty Acid Transporter Soluble CD36 Is Not Associated with Carotid Atherosclerosis in Subjects with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This study aimed to determine the association of fatty acid transporter plasma soluble cluster of differentiation 36 (sCD36) with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCA). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1023 subjects, 225 with type 1 diabetes (T1D), 276 with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 522 who were nondiabetic. Carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) presence was determined using B-mode carotid ultrasound imaging.