Single cell and TCR analysis of immune cells from AAV gene therapy-dosed Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are assessing the therapeutic efficacy of systemically delivered adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying a modified transgene. High vector doses (>1E14 vg/kg) are needed to globally transduce skeletal muscles; however, such doses trigger immune-related adverse events. Mitigating these immune responses is crucial for widespread application of AAV-based therapies.

Effects of hydrolyzed collagen alone or in combination with fish oil on the gut microbiome in patients with major burns.

Burns are associated with gut dysbiosis. Collagen peptides and omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are suggested to improve wound healing and the inflammatory response. These are also correlated with microbiome colonization.

Innate and adaptive AAV-mediated immune responses in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

High systemic doses of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have been associated with immune-related serious adverse events (SAEs). Although AAV was well tolerated in preclinical models, SAEs were observed in clinical trials, indicating the need for improved preclinical models to understand AAV-induced immune responses. Here, we show that mice dual-dosed with AAV9 at 4-week intervals better recapitulate aspects of human immunity to AAV.

Nanoparticles systemically biodistribute to regenerating skeletal muscle in DMD.

Skeletal muscle disease severity can often progress asymmetrically across muscle groups and heterogeneously within tissues. An example is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in which lack of dystrophin results in devastating skeletal muscle wasting in some muscles whereas others are spared or undergo hypertrophy. An efficient, non-invasive approach to identify sites of asymmetry and degenerative lesions could enable better patient monitoring and therapeutic targeting of disease.

Effect of a collagen-enriched beverage with or without omega-3 fatty acids on wound healing, metabolic biomarkers, and adipokines in patients with major burns.

Background & Aims: This study investigated the effects of collagen hydrolysate and omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) on the rate and quality of wound healing, metabolic disorders, and adipose-derived peptides in patients with major burns.

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 66 patients with 20-45% deep partial or full-thickness burns were randomly assigned to three groups to receive either a beverage containing collagen (40 gr/d), collagen (40 gr/d) plus 3 gr/d omega-3 (ω-3) FAs, or placebo for four weeks. Wound healing rate, Vancouver scar scale (VSS), as well as baseline, weeks two and three serum concentrations of adiponectin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), neuregulin 4 (NRG4), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and pre-albumin/hs-CRP ratio were assessed.

The effects of all trans retinoic acid, vitamin D3 and their combination on plasma levels of miRNA-125a-5p, miRNA-34a, and miRNA-126 in an experimental model of diabetes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ATRA (all trans retinoic acid), vitamin D3, and their combination on circulating levels of miR (MicroRNA) -125a-5p, miR-126, and miR-34ain diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: Total miRNA was extracted from plasma samples. miRNA expression profiles of 30 rats in five groups were analyzed after 4-week intervention.

Effect of Collagen Hydrolysate and Fish Oil on High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Glucose Homeostasis in Patients with severe Burn; a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Collagen and omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are suggested to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and insulin-sensitizing properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of collagen hydrolysate and omega-3 FAs on inflammation and insulin resistance in patients with major burns.

Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 66 patients with 20-45% burns were assigned to either of the three groups of collagen (40 gr/d), collagen (40 gr/d) plus fish oil (10 ml/d), or control.

Effect of bariatric surgery on endogenous sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Most studies have shown beneficial effect of bariatric surgery (BS) on serum levels of sex hormones.

Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the magnitude of possible changes in levels of sex hormones following BS.

Settings: Electronic databases were searched, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, for relevant studies.

Can vitamin E supplementation affect obesity indices? A systematic review and meta-analysis of twenty-four randomized controlled trials.

Background: Several mechanisms have been proposed for the effect of vitamin E on weight loss. Yet various interventional studies with wide ranges of doses and durations have reported contradictory results.

Methods: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases were searched up to December 2020.

The effect of obesity, macronutrients, fasting and nutritional status on drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450s: a systematic review of current evidence on human studies.

Background: Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are a class of hemoproteins involved in drug metabolism. It has been reported that body composition, proportion of dietary macronutrients, fasting and nutritional status can interfere with the activity of drug-metabolizing CYPs.

Objectives: The present systematic review was conducted to summarize the effect of obesity, weight reduction, macronutrients, fasting and malnutrition on the CYP-mediated drug metabolism.

Effect of evening primrose oil supplementation on lipid profile: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Studies have shown that evening primrose oil (EPO) supplementation might be effective in improving lipid profile, however, the results are inconsistent. This study was performed to determine the direction and magnitude of the EPO effect on the lipid profile.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science databases and Google Scholar were searched up to September-2019.

Vitamin C supplementation and C-reactive protein levels: Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Background and purpose C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory biomarker which prognosticates cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have reached mixed conclusions regarding the effect of vitamin C on reducing CRP or hs-CRP level. The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to resolve these inconsistencies.

Vitamin D suppresses proangiogenic factors in patients with ulcerative colitis: A randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial.

Background: Angiogenesis and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D on serum levels of proangiogenic factors, visfatin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in patients with UC.

Materials And Methods: Ninety patients were randomized to receive either a single intramuscular injection of 300,000 IU vitamin D or normal saline.

The Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Serum Leptin Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Recently, obesity has become a common worldwide concern. Leptin, as an adipocytokine, plays a major role in the etiology of obesity. Prior studies have demonstrated that zinc potentially affects serum leptin levels.

Optimization of the removal Pb (II) and its Gibbs free energy by thiosemicarbazide modified chitosan using RSM and ANN modeling.

In this research, the removal of Pb (II) by thiosemicarbazide modified chitosan (TSFCS) using RSM and ANN modeling was studied. Also, Gibbs free energy changes of adsorption process based on changes in initial concentration and temperature of solution was investigated. Optimization of these two objectives was performed using NSGA-II and RSM.

Effect of vitamin E supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although emerging evidence suggests that vitamin E may contribute to blood pressure improvement, the effects of vitamin E on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) are still controversial. The aim was to evaluate the influence of vitamin E on SBP, DBP, and MAP through meta-analysis. We identified all studies that assessed the effect of vitamin E supplementation on SBP, DBP, and MAP from PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, and Google scholar up to March 2018.

The DNA modification N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (m6dA) drives activity-induced gene expression and is required for fear extinction.

DNA modification is known to regulate experience-dependent gene expression. However, beyond cytosine methylation and its oxidated derivatives, very little is known about the functional importance of chemical modifications on other nucleobases in the brain. Here we report that in adult mice trained in fear extinction, the DNA modification N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (m6dA) accumulates along promoters and coding sequences in activated prefrontal cortical neurons.

A novel thiosemicarbazide modified chitosan (TSFCS) for efficiency removal of Pb (II) and methyl red from aqueous solution.

Thiosemicarbazide modified chitosan, TSFCS, was prepared and characterized by FTIR, SEM and TGA techniques and its application as a novel adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) and methyl red (MR) was investigated. The effect of some adsorption parameters such as pH, TSFCS dosage and initial concentration of solutions were evaluated. The maximum removal percentage for MR and Pb(II) was found to be about 91% and 85.

Dynamic filtration and static adsorption of lead ions in aqueous solution by use of blended polysulfone membranes with nano size MCM-41 particles coated by polyaniline.

MCM-41 mesopore was prepared by hydrothermal method and used for synthesis of polyaniline/MCM-41 nanocomposite via in situ polymerization. The nanocomposite was blended with polysulfone to prepare mixed matrix membrane in different content of nanocomposite by phase inversion method. Structural and surface properties of the samples were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR, AFM, TGA, BET, and zeta potential measurements.

Genetic and epigenetic factors underlying sex differences in the regulation of gene expression in the brain.

There are inherent biological differences between males and females that contribute to sex differences in brain function and to many sex-specific illnesses and disorders. Traditionally, it has been thought that such differences are due largely to hormonal regulation; however, there are also genetic and epigenetic effects caused by the inheritance and unequal dosage of genes located on the X and Y chromosomes. Here we discuss the evidence in favor of a genetic and epigenetic basis for sexually dimorphic behavior, as a consequence of underlying differences in the regulation of genes that drive brain function.

Chemical composition, cell wall features and degradability of stem, leaf blade and sheath in untreated and alkali-treated rice straw.

Three dominant morphological fractions (i.e. leaf blade (LB), leaf sheath (LS) and stem) were analysed for chemical composition and ruminal degradability in three rice straw varieties.

Dry chemical processing and ensiling of rice straw to improve its quality for use as ruminant feed.

In this study, changes in the chemical composition, pH, cell wall and degradability of ensiled rice straw were investigated when treated with alkali, acid, oxidant agents (1-11 %, w/w) and a combination of an oxidant with either an alkali (ALHP) or an acid (ACHP). The findings of the study revealed that ALHP had a lower efficiency in enhancing fibre degradability compared to alkali alone. Oxidant treatment showed no detectable changes in pH, dry matter (DM) and phenolic compound (PC) solubility, or in silica and fibre content, but led to increased esterified groups formed within the cell wall constituents (hemicellulose and lignin).