D-ꞵ-hydroxybutyrate stabilizes hippocampal CA3-CA1 circuit during acute insulin resistance.

The brain primarily relies on glycolysis for mitochondrial respiration but switches to alternative fuels such as ketone bodies (KBs) when less glucose is available. Neuronal KB uptake, which does not rely on glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) or insulin, has shown promising clinical applicability in alleviating the neurological and cognitive effects of disorders with hypometabolic components. However, the specific mechanisms by which such interventions affect neuronal functions are poorly understood.

Ethnicity-related differences in mitochondrial regulation by insulin stimulation in diabetes.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been implicated in the development of insulin resistance, which is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. However, recent studies reveal ethnicity-related differences in mitochondrial processes, underscoring the need for nuance in studying mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, the higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes among African Americans and individuals of African descent has brought attention to the role of ethnicity in disease susceptibility.

MitoTracker: A useful tool in need of better alternatives.

The fluorescence viewing of mitochondria is commonly performed by MitoTracker, a lipophilic cationic dye that is taken up by the mitochondria. In this forum, we highlight several issues that may occur with MitoTracker, including staining of other organelles. Our aim is to offer alternative dyes and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

Call to action to properly utilize electron microscopy to measure organelles to monitor disease.

This review provides an overview of the current methods for quantifying mitochondrial ultrastructure, including cristae morphology, mitochondrial contact sites, and recycling machinery and a guide to utilizing electron microscopy to effectively measure these organelles. Quantitative analysis of mitochondrial ultrastructure is essential for understanding mitochondrial biology and developing therapeutic strategies for mitochondrial-related diseases. Techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and serial block face-scanning electron microscopy, as well as how they can be combined with other techniques including confocal microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and correlative light and electron microscopy are discussed.

-hydroxybutyrate stabilizes hippocampal CA3-CA1 circuit during acute insulin resistance.

The brain primarily relies on glycolysis for mitochondrial respiration but switches to alternative fuels such as ketone bodies (KBs) when less glucose is available. Neuronal KB uptake, which does not rely on glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) or insulin, has shown promising clinical applicability in alleviating the neurological and cognitive effects of disorders with hypometabolic components. However, the specific mechanisms by which such interventions affect neuronal functions are poorly understood.

Changes in Color Stability and Surface Roughness of Teflon-Coated Arch Wires After Clinical Use.

Objective: Peeling of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)-coated esthetic arch wires results in rough surfaces that may cause plaque accumulation, and the exposed core material may not meet the esthetic expectations of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in-vivo surface roughness, Streptococcus mutans colonization, and color stability of Teflon-coated arch wires from 3 different manufacturers.

Methods: Surface roughness and color data of 0.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) excess mortality outcomes associated with pandemic effects study (COPES): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continuing to impact healthcare systems around the world, healthcare providers are attempting to balance resources devoted to COVID-19 patients while minimizing excess mortality overall (both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients). To this end, we conducted a systematic review (SR) to describe the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on all-cause excess mortality (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) during the pandemic timeframe compared to non-pandemic times.

Methods: We searched EMBASE, Cochrane Database of SRs, MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), from inception (1948) to December 31, 2020.

Environmental and socioeconomic determinants of heart failure.

Background: Over 1.5 million people in Poland suffer from heart failure (HF). The risk of hospitalization is related to environmental and socioeconomic factors and the organization of the healthcare system.

Non-COVID outcomes associated with the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic effects study (COPES): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: As the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, healthcare providers struggle to manage both COVID-19 and non-COVID patients while still providing high-quality care. We conducted a systematic review/meta-analysis to describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with non-COVID illness and on healthcare systems compared to non-pandemic epochs.

Methods: We searched Ovid MEDLINE/EMBASE/Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews/CENTRAL/CINAHL (inception to December 31, 2020).

Defining COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pulmonary aspergillosis may complicate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and contribute to excess mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The disease is poorly understood, in part due to discordant definitions across studies.

Objectives: We sought to review the prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) and compare research definitions.

Invasive mould disease in fatal COVID-19: a systematic review of autopsies.

Invasive mould disease (IMD) might affect up to a third of critically ill patients with COVID-19. COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is typically diagnosed on the basis of a combination of non-specific clinical, radiographical, and mycological findings, but whether most cases represent invasive disease is unresolved. We systematically reviewed autopsy series of three or more decedents with COVID-19 for evidence of IMD.

Bacterial Superinfections Among Persons With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Comprehensive Review of Data From Postmortem Studies.

Background: Limited clinical data suggest a ~16% prevalence of bacterial superinfections among critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: We reviewed postmortem studies of patients with COVID-19 published in English through September 26, 2020, for histopathologic findings consistent with bacterial lung infections.

Results: Worldwide, 621 patients from 75 studies were included.

Locus coeruleus in memory formation and Alzheimer's disease.

Catecholamine neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) in the dorsal pontine tegmentum innervate the entire neuroaxis, with signaling actions implicated in the regulation of attention, arousal, sleep-wake cycle, learning, memory, anxiety, pain, mood, and brain metabolism. The co-release of norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) from LC terminals in the hippocampus plays a role in all stages of hippocampal-memory processing. This catecholaminergic regulation modulates the encoding, consolidation, retrieval, and reversal of hippocampus-based memory.

infection in intensive care: Epidemiology, outcomes, and antimicrobial susceptibilities.

Background: (PA) infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) contributes to substantial mortality. In this study, we describe the epidemiology, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and outcomes of ICU patients with pseudomonal infection.

Methods: ICU patients with PA were identified and classified as colonized or infected.

Rhenium(VII) Compounds as Inorganic Precursors for the Synthesis of Organic Reaction Catalysts.

Rhenium is an element that exhibits a broad range of oxidation states. Synthesis paths of selected rhenium compounds in its seventh oxidation state, which are common precursors for organic reaction catalysts, were presented in this paper. Production technologies for copper perrhenate, aluminum perrhenate as well as the ammonia complex of cobalt perrhenate, are thoroughly described.

Glutamatergic signaling between neurons and oligodendrocyte lineage cells: Is it synaptic or non-synaptic?

Fast chemical synaptic transmission is a major form of neuronal communication in the nervous system of mammals. Another important, but very different, form of intercellular communication is volume transmission, which is a slower non-synaptic signaling. The amino acid glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, which mediates both synaptic and non-synaptic signaling via ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors.

In Vivo Regulation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Proliferation and Differentiation by the AMPA-Receptor Subunit GluA2.

The functional role of AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated synaptic signaling between neurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) remains enigmatic. We modified the properties of AMPARs at axon-OPC synapses in the mouse corpus callosum in vivo during the peak of myelination by targeting the GluA2 subunit. Expression of the unedited (Ca permeable) or the pore-dead GluA2 subunit of AMPARs triggered proliferation of OPCs and reduced their differentiation into oligodendrocytes.

Glutamate Activates AMPA Receptor Conductance in the Developing Schwann Cells of the Mammalian Peripheral Nerves.

Schwann cells (SCs) are myelinating cells of the PNS. Although SCs are known to express different channels and receptors on their surface, little is known about the activation and function of these proteins. Ionotropic glutamate receptors are thought to play an essential role during development of SC lineage and during peripheral nerve injury, so we sought to study their functional properties.

A systematic review: can one prescribe carbapenems to patients with IgE-mediated allergy to penicillins or cephalosporins?

Background: Cross-reactivity between penicillins or cephalosporins and carbapenems is anticipated as all have a beta lactam ring. However, the true incidence of immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated cross-reactivity is not known.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted to collect and combine all published data on children and adults reported to have a clinical history of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to a penicillin and/or cephalosporin who were subsequently given a carbapenem.

Simultaneous determination of serum retinol and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol levels in type II diabetic patients using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

This paper presents a simple reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of retinol, and alpha- and gamma-tocopherols in human serum using a fluorescence detector. For chromatographic separation a binary gradient was used: phase A; acetonitrile-butanol (95:5); phase B; water, at a flow-rate of 1.5 ml/min.

Usefulness of fibroblast culture for testing of cattle tissues polluted with heavy metals.

Cattle tissues (liver, kidney, brain, and lung) that had been polluted with heavy metals were tested for their ability to alter fibroblast culture growth, cellular protein and DNA content, and fibroblast DNA synthesis. At 72 hr of incubation a significant increase in cellular DNA and [14C]thymidine incorporation was noted in the primary cultures as well as in the subcultures compared to controls. Fibroblast cultures also displayed growth inhibition and reduction in protein content.

[Effect of electric fields on the living organism. III. Activity of fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase and malate dehydrogenase in whole liver homogenate and in subcellular liver fractions in guinea pigs].

Guinea pigs were exposed to electric field of 50 Hz in different times of day. Activity of aldolase and malate dehydrogenase in whole liver homogenate as well as in nuclear, mitochondrial and supernatant liver fractions of guinea pigs was examined. A remarkable increase in enzyme activity in all studied groups was observed which may prove that a relevant electric stimulus can result in certain disorders in carbohydrate changes in liver cells.

Biochemical changes in cultured murine fibroblasts after treatment with hydrazinophthalazines.

Fibroblast cultures exposed to the drugs inducing a collagen-like syndrome (hydralazine and binazine) displayed growth inhibition and decrease in cellular protein content in a dose-dependent manner compared with control cultures. This was accompanied by the inhibitory effect of the drugs on DNA synthesis. The changes in the basic biochemical parameters of fibroblasts testify to the toxicity of hydrazinophthalazines in the connective tissue.

Polydispersity of glycosaminoglycan components in human palatal tonsils.

The aim of this study was to characterize glycosaminoglycan components in human palatal tonsils and to determine whether the proportions of individual glycosaminoglycans change with bacterial infection of the palatal tonsils and after recovery. The changes in glycosaminoglycans' content in the course of tonsillitis were mainly related to heparin and chondroitin-4-sulphate (increase) and hyaluronic acid (decrease). After recovery the polydispersity of glycosaminoglycans was found to be comparable to that in normal palatal tonsils.