p38γ/δ activation alters cardiac electrical activity and predisposes to ventricular arrhythmia.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a leading immediate cause of sudden cardiac death. There is a strong association between aging and VF, although the mechanisms are unclear, limiting the availability of targeted therapeutic interventions. Here we found that the stress kinases p38γ and p38δ are activated in the ventricles of old mice and mice with genetic or drug-induced arrhythmogenic conditions.

Client experience of food assistance programs among adults in the United States: a qualitative evidence synthesis protocol.

Introduction: Policymakers, health practitioners, and other key partners are increasingly focused on ensuring that clients of food assistance programs have positive experiences, a key aspect of high-quality programming. The objectives of this review are to describe the experiences of clients participating in food assistance programs in the United States (US) and to identify ways that these programs promote or hinder positive experiences.

Methods And Analysis: We will conduct a qualitative evidence synthesis with partners from food security organizations and community members.

JNK-mediated disruption of bile acid homeostasis promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Metabolic stress causes activation of the cJun NH-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction pathway. It is established that one consequence of JNK activation is the development of insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis through inhibition of the transcription factor PPARα. Indeed, JNK1/2 deficiency in hepatocytes protects against the development of steatosis, suggesting that JNK inhibition represents a possible treatment for this disease.

COMPUTER ASSISTED RETINAL VESSEL TORTUOSITY EVALUATION IN NOVEL MUTATION FABRY DISEASE: Towards New Prognostic Markers.

Purpose: Fabry disease is a rare lysosomal storage disorder with systemic involvement. The authors report on a large Fabry family with GLA p.M187R mutation and exhaustive ophthalmologic assessment.

PIM2 inhibition as a rational therapeutic approach in B-cell lymphoma.

PIM serine/threonine kinases are overexpressed, translocated, or amplified in multiple B-cell lymphoma types. We have explored the frequency and relevance of PIM expression in different B-cell lymphoma types and investigated whether PIM inhibition could be a rational therapeutic approach. Increased expression of PIM2 was detected in subsets of mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBLC), follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma-mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and nodal marginal zone lymphoma cases.

miRNA expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) prognostication requires additional biologic markers. miRNAs may constitute markers for cancer diagnosis, outcome, or therapy response. In the present study, we analyzed the miRNA expression profile in a retrospective multicenter series of 258 DLBCL patients uniformly treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

High-flow nasal cannula: impact on oxygenation and ventilation in an acute lung injury model.

Introduction: High-flow nasal cannula therapy (HFNC) has been shown to be more effective than continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in reducing intubations and ventilator days. HFNC likely provides mechanisms to support respiratory efficiency beyond application of distending pressure. We reason that HFNC washout of nasopharyngeal dead space impacts CO(2) removal along with oxygenation.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus load in asymptomatic contacts of Cuban epidemic KS patients.

To evaluate the pathogenic mechanisms and transmission routes involved in KSHV infection in 22 Cuban individuals who maintained close contact with epidemic KS patients, real-time PCR was used to quantify KSHV-DNA in clinical samples of plasma, saliva and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). KSHV-DNA was detected in 72.7% (16/22) of the contacts.

[Knowledge, perceptions and practice of dermatologists with respect to Giardia lamblia infection].

Objective: to ascertain the level of knowledge, the perceptions and practice of dermatologists in the City of Havana with respect to Giardia lamblia infection.

Methods: with prior informed consent given by the dermatologists from the City of Havana, 50 dermatologists- a number very close to the universe of these experts in the province- were administered a survey of their knowledge, perceptions and practice about this parasitosis. The survey was prepared in 4 phases; that is, interviews to physicians on diagnosis, treatment and control of giardiasis; drafting of a preliminary questionnaire based on the interview results; submission of this instruments to the experts, and finally its validation through its application to a small group of physicians.

Functional role of the additional domains in inulosucrase (IslA) from Leuconostoc citreum CW28.

Background: Inulosucrase (IslA) from Leuconostoc citreum CW28 belongs to a new subfamily of multidomain fructosyltransferases (FTFs), containing additional domains from glucosyltransferases. It is not known what the function of the additional domains in this subfamily is.

Results: Through construction of truncated versions we demonstrate that the acquired regions are involved in anchoring IslA to the cell wall; they also confer stability to the enzyme, generating a larger structure that affects its kinetic properties and reaction specificity, particularly the hydrolysis and transglycosylase ratio.

Hypertriglyceridemia is linked to reduced nitric oxide synthesis in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), which affect 8% to 15% of pregnancies, are associated with nitric oxide dysfunction and hyperlipidemia, but their precise role in HDP remains controversial. In order to gain more insight into the mechanisms underlying HDP, we evaluated some indicators common to the diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from 47 normotensive women (control group) and from 27 women with HDP (experimental group).

Identification and functional characterization of levS, a gene encoding for a levansucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512 F.

A Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512 F levansucrase gene, (levS), was isolated, sequenced and cloned in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme was shown to be a fructosyltransferase producing a polymer identified by (13)C-NMR as levan. Based on sequence analysis, we found that this levansucrase is a mosaic protein, bearing structural features of glucosyltransferases in the amino and carboxy terminal regions similarly to inulosucrase from Leuconostoc citreum.

Ischemia results 3 months later in altered ERG, degeneration of inner layers, and deafferented tectum: neuroprotection with brimonidine.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term effects of transient ligature of the ophthalmic vessels (LOV) on the inner and outer retina as well as on retinotectal projection, and whether brimonidine (BMD) has protective effects.

Methods: In adult rats, the left eye was subjected to 90 minutes of LOV. One hour before ischemia, 2 drops of saline alone (vehicle group) or saline containing 0.

Molecular epidemiology and KSHV K1 subtypes in a Cuban AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma population.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is detected consistently in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Because of its dramatic sequence variation, the K1 gene has been used to classify KSHV. We found a diverse array of KSHV subtypes A1, A2, A3, A5, B1, B2, and C3 in 23 Cuban KS samples containing several novel sporadic insertions/deletions in subtypes A and C.

Characterization of bacterial diversity in pulque, a traditional Mexican alcoholic fermented beverage, as determined by 16S rDNA analysis.

The bacterial diversity in pulque, a traditional Mexican alcoholic fermented beverage, was studied in 16S rDNA clone libraries from three pulque samples. Sequenced clones identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus strain ASF360, L. kefir, L.

Anticipating the correct matching response in a second-order matching-to-sample task.

A study was designed to evaluate the effects of anticipating the matching response on acquisition and transfer of a second-order matching-to-sample task. 40 college students of both sexes were assigned to different anticipation procedures that involved several verbal descriptions of the correct response, as well as others not involving explicit descriptions. All subjects were exposed to a pretest, two training blocks, two transfer test blocks, and a posttest.