Supplements Are Not a Synonym for Safe: Suspected Liver Injury From Ashwagandha.

Background: As patients look more to alternative herbal and dietary supplements to boost energy and mood, reports are increasing of unintended adverse effects, particularly to the liver.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 48-year-old man with a history of severe alcohol use disorder who presented to the emergency department with a cholestatic pattern of liver injury in the setting of alcohol and use of a testosterone-boosting supplement containing ashwagandha.

Conclusions: Drug-induced liver damage should be considered in patients with alcohol use disorder who present with a cholestatic pattern of liver injury.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the horned lizard (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) from California, USA.

Analysis of Gray from Marina, Monterey County, California, using 150 bp paired-end Illumina sequences (Illumina, San Diego, CA) resulted in the assembly of its complete mitogenome. The mitogenome is 16,946 bp in length and contains a putative origin of light strand replication (OL), control region, 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA, and 13 protein-coding genes. Its content and organization are similar to other Squamata.

The homeobox transcription factor Barx2 regulates plasticity of young primary myofibers.

Background: Adult mammalian muscle retains incredible plasticity. Muscle growth and repair involves the activation of undifferentiated myogenic precursors called satellite cells. In some circumstances, it has been proposed that existing myofibers may also cleave and produce a pool of proliferative cells that can re-differentiate into new fibers.