Publications by authors named "Thomas Gary"
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined the potential impact of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] on the severity of venous thromboembolic events in pulmonary embolism (PE) by analyzing 90 patients and their Lp(a) levels.
- - Results indicated that Lp(a) levels did not correlate with the thrombus load or location in PE, suggesting it may not significantly influence the extent of venous thromboembolism.
- - The study found a strong correlation between thrombus load and D-dimer levels, as well as the right to left ventricular diameter ratio, implying these factors might be more relevant in assessing PE severity.
Article Synopsis
- - The regulation of SIRT1 is crucial for maintaining energy balance and is involved in various diseases, particularly how insulin interacts with it through DBC1 and PACS-2 to inhibit activity.
- - Research reveals that the DBC1/PACS-2 complex in the liver manages SIRT1's daily activity, essential for switching fuel use from fat to glucose in response to insulin.
- - Acetylation and phosphorylation of specific amino acids in DBC1 and SIRT1 affect their interaction, with implications for diseases like obesity and fatty liver disease if the regulatory pathway fails.
Article Synopsis
- * Research reveals that the mutated PACS1 protein enhances its interaction with HDAC6, an enzyme, leading to reduced acetylation of certain neuronal proteins and negatively impacting neuron structure and function.
- * Treatment with targeting agents for PACS1 or HDAC6 shows promise in restoring normal neuronal features and improving synaptic transmission in affected brain areas, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for PACS1 syndrome.
Article Synopsis
- - The study compared low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated heparin (UFH) protocols in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) from 2010 to 2022.
- - A total of 116 patients were analyzed, with most experiencing only minor complications, and similar rates of flap loss observed in both groups.
- - The findings indicate that UFH is equally safe and effective as LMWH for postoperative outcomes in this patient population; free flap surgery is confirmed to be a viable option for reconstruction.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluates the Vienna Prediction Model (VPM) to identify patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) who are at low risk of recurrence after stopping anticoagulation treatment.
- Among 818 patients, 520 had a predicted recurrence risk of ≤5.5%, with actual recurrence rates being 5.2% after 1 year and 11.2% after 2 years.
- The VPM was found to underestimate recurrence risk in some cases, but recalibration improved its accuracy in identifying low-risk patients, with men showing higher recurrence rates than women.
Article Synopsis
- The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria interact to create mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs), which are crucial for calcium (Ca) balance in neurons.
- Casein kinase 2 alpha 1 (CK2A1) plays a key role in regulating the structure and Ca transport of MAMs through its effect on PACS2 phosphorylation.
- Mutations in PACS2 linked to a specific form of epilepsy disrupt MAM integrity and disturb Ca transport, leading to increased cytosolic Ca levels and enhanced neurotransmitter release in certain brain neurons.
Article Synopsis
- PACS1-neurodevelopmental disorder (PACS1-NDD) is linked to a specific genetic variation, Arg203, which causes a type of intellectual disability due to its effect on PACS1 protein's client protein interactions.
- Researchers hypothesize that other PACS1 variants that disrupt binding to adaptor proteins could also lead to similar intellectual disabilities.
- A novel PACS1 variant (Ser252Phe) was identified in a mother-daughter pair, which may impair binding to an adaptor protein (GGA3), suggesting it could contribute to PACS1-NDD-like symptoms and enhancing understanding of how PACS1 variations cause intellectual disabilities.
Article Synopsis
- * A significant genetic factor is the PACS1 gene, where a specific mutation is associated with developmental delays and intellectual disabilities, but the mechanisms through which this occurs are not fully understood.
- * Research indicates that PACS1 interacts with the protein HDAC6, affecting the regulation of neuron structure and functioning; treatments targeting these proteins show promise in restoring normal neuronal function in models of PACS1 syndrome.
Article Synopsis
- * A study in central Pennsylvania investigated the effects of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) on anxiety and depression in PwMS during the early months of COVID-19.
- * Results showed that PwMS on LDN reported significantly lower anxiety and depression scores compared to those on standard oral disease-modifying therapies, indicating LDN may be a helpful treatment option.
Article Synopsis
- * Three weeks later, he experienced bilateral central pulmonary embolism, leading to cardiac arrest and the need for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).
- * Following endovascular thrombectomy using an Aspirex device, his condition improved, allowing for VA-ECMO to be discontinued after a day, and he was later discharged from ICU after 15 days; the case highlights alternative rescue strategies for patients who can't receive thrombolysis.
Article Synopsis
- COVID-19 vaccines were rapidly developed following the pandemic's onset, with cases of unusual thrombotic complications appearing soon after, particularly with adenoviral vector vaccines like those from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
- These complications, known as vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), involve rare thrombotic events paired with low platelet counts and share similarities with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
- The review focuses on providing an overview of how to diagnose and treat these complications, noting that standard treatment for other thrombotic events may be harmful in these cases.
Article Synopsis
- * Key research from various fields, including endocrinology and virology, led to the discovery of furin and laid the groundwork for developing furin inhibitors that target disease pathways linked to multiple health conditions.
- * The review highlights historical studies that ultimately guide current efforts to create small-molecule furin inhibitors, aiming to combat COVID-19 and other diseases dependent on furin for their harmful effects.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore the relationship between the severity of pulmonary embolism (PE) and levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] in patients at the University Hospital Graz, Austria.
- A retrospective analysis of 811 PE patients was conducted, categorizing them into four risk groups based on the 2019 ESC guidelines: low risk, intermediate low risk, intermediate high risk, and high risk.
- The research found no significant correlation between PE severity and Lp(a) levels, as similar median Lp(a) concentrations were observed across all risk groups.
Article Synopsis
- * Results indicated that while men generally experienced higher intraoperative blood loss (IOB) and perioperative bleeding volume (CBL-48 hours) compared to women, only CBL-48 showed significant statistical differences.
- * Understanding these gender differences in blood loss can assist clinicians in predicting and managing excessive bleeding during orthognathic surgical procedures.
Article Synopsis
- Rab32 is a small GTPase that plays a crucial role in targeting organelles, particularly at ER-mitochondria contact sites, and influencing mitochondrial membrane dynamics.
- The study identified specific MERC proteins, such as TMX1, that are targeted for degradation through Rab32-mediated autophagy, revealing RTN3L as an important effector in this process.
- The authors introduce the term "MAM-phagy" to describe this selective autophagy that degrades mitochondrial-proximal ER membranes, highlighting Rab32's role in regulating cellular degradation pathways.
Article Synopsis
- Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is linked to multiple risk factors, including thyroid dysfunction, specifically hyperthyroidism, but systematic research on this connection has been limited.
- In a study of 120 CVT patients at a single center from 2006 to 2020, 107 patients had their thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels checked, revealing that 17.8% had thyroid dysfunction, primarily hypothyroidism.
- The findings suggest a high prevalence of thyroid issues among CVT patients and indicate the need for further research to determine any causal relationship, while also recommending TSH screening for these patients.
Article Synopsis
- A multicenter study was conducted to assess the risk of venous (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (aPC) receiving palliative chemotherapy.
- Of the 455 patients studied, a significant number experienced VTE (20%) and ATE (2.8%), with VTE leading to increased mortality and cancer progression.
- The findings highlighted that a prior history of VTE significantly raised the risk for VTE, while cerebrovascular disease notably increased ATE risk; however, existing prediction models were not effective in identifying these risks in this patient population.
Article Synopsis
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a tough autoimmune disease that leads to blood vessel problems and organ scarring, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) can help high-risk patients.
- A 43-year-old man with severe SSc underwent AHSCT but continued to experience heart issues, prompting the use of the drug rituximab (RTX) eight months later.
- After starting RTX, the patient's symptoms and organ functions significantly improved, showcasing that RTX may be a beneficial treatment for SSc patients who do not respond to AHSCT.
Glioblastoma is among the tumor entities with an extreme thrombogenic potential and patients are at very high risk of developing a venous thromboembolism (VTE) over the course of the disease, with an incidence of up to 30% per year. Major efforts are currently being made to understand and gain novel insights into the underlying pathomechanisms of the development of VTE in patients with glioblastoma and to find appropriate biomarkers. Yet, patients with glioblastoma not only face a high thromboembolic risk but are also at risk of bleeding events.
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- This study focused on examining 'hidden blood loss' (HBL) during orthognathic surgery, which includes unnoticed bleeding during and after the procedure.
- Researchers measured visible blood loss at the end of surgery and calculated total bleeding 24 and 48 hours later, finding that HBL significantly differed between bimaxillary surgery and Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO).
- The results showed an average HBL of 287.2 ml for bimaxillary and 346.9 ml for BSSO, emphasizing the importance of tracking HBL to enhance patient safety and recovery outcomes in these surgical procedures.
Article Synopsis
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that leads to increased inflammation and disrupts the blood-brain barrier, driving the need for affordable and reliable biomarkers to monitor the disease.
- The study involved relapsing-remitting MS patients who provided blood samples to analyze levels of certain cytokines, opioid peptides, and complete the MSQOL-54 survey to assess quality of life.
- Results indicated that serum levels of Opioid Growth Factor (OGF) and β-endorphin were elevated in MS patients compared to healthy individuals, with potential correlations between these biomarkers and measures of physical health, suggesting their viability for tracking disease status.