Concomitant gut dysbiosis and defective gut barrier serve as the bridges between hypercortisolism and chronic systemic inflammation in Cushing's disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the gut microbial signatures and related pathophysiological implications in patients with Cushing's disease (CD).

Design And Methods: Twenty-seven patients with CD and 45 healthy controls were enrolled. Based on obtained metagenomics data, we performed correlation, network study, and genome interaction group (GIG) analysis.

Global changes in chromatin accessibility and transcription in growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma.

Purpose: Growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (GHPA) is an insidious disease with persistent hypersecretion of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1, causing increased morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have investigated the transcription of GHPA. However, the gene regulatory landscape has not been fully characterized.

Treatment of acromegaly by rosiglitazone via upregulating 15-PGDH in both pituitary adenoma and liver.

Rosiglitazone, a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) ligand, has been reported to reduce growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in 10 patients with acromegaly. However, the mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we reveal that PPARγ directly enhances 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) expression, whose expression is decreased and negatively correlates with tumor size in acromegaly.

Climatic Factors Influencing the Anthrax Outbreak of 2016 in Siberia, Russia.

In 2016, an outbreak of anthrax killing thousands of reindeer and affecting dozens of humans occurred on the Yamal peninsula, Northwest Siberia, after 70 years of epidemiological situation without outbreaks. The trigger of the outbreak has been ascribed to the activation of spores due to permafrost thaw that was accelerated during the summer heat wave. The focus of our study is on the dynamics of local environmental factors in connection with the observed anthrax revival.

Association of Circulating Extracellular Matrix Components with Central Hemodynamics and Arterial Distensibility of Peripheral Arteries.

Background: In addition to neuronal and endothelial regulators of vascular tone, the passive mechanical properties of arteries, determined by the molecular structure of extracellular matrices, are the principle modulators of vascular distensibility. Specifically, the association between collagen type IV (Col IV), a constituent of basement membrane, and arterial compliance remains unclear.

Methods: In 31 healthy adult men, radial applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis were used to assess aortic augmentation index (AIx), aortic-to-radial pulse pressure amplification (PPAmpl), and time to reflection wave.

Cardiorespiratory Coordination in Hypercapnic Test Before and After High-Altitude Expedition.

Coordination of cardiovascular and respiratory systems enables a wide range of human adaptation and depends upon the functional state of an individual organism. Hypoxia is known to elicit changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide sensitivity, while training alters cardiorespiratory coordination (CRC). The delayed effect of high altitude (HA) acclimatization on CRC in mountaineers remains unknown.

Effect of Acute Hypoxia on Cardiorespiratory Coherence in Male Runners.

Understanding the mechanisms of oxygen supply regulation, which involves the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, during human adaptation to intense physical activity, accompanied by hypoxemia, is important for the management of a training process. The objectives of this study were to investigate the cardiorespiratory coherence (CRC) changes in the low-frequency band in response to hypoxic exposure and to verify a dependence of these changes upon sports qualification level in athletes. Twenty male runners aged 17-25 years were exposed to acute normobaric hypoxia (10% O) for 10 min.

Precision Therapy in Acromegaly Caused by Pituitary Tumors: How Close Is It to Reality?

Acromegaly presents with an enigmatic range of symptoms and comorbidities caused by chronic and progressive growth hormone elevations, commonly due to endocrinologic hypersecretion from a pituitary gland tumor. Comprehensive national acromegaly databases have been appearing over the years, allowing for international comparisons of data, although still presenting varying prevalence and incidence rates. Lack of large-scale analysis in geographical and ethnic differences in clinical presentation and management requires further research.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Lipid Metabolite Profiling of Acromegaly.

Context: Metabolic disorders, especially dysregulated lipid metabolism, increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality in acromegaly. Previous studies measuring plasma macromolecular lipids have yielded conflicting results.

Purpose: To explore the plasma lipid metabolite profiles by metabolomics analysis and identify potential metabolites associated with cardiac function in acromegaly.

A quantitative method for estimating the adaptedness in a physiological study.

Background: Existed mathematical models of individual adaptation are mostly reductionist by nature. Researchers usually a priori consider the subject adapted basing only on the fact of continued or prolonged influence of the harmful factor. This paper describes a method that allows assessing the physiological adaptedness to experimental challenges on the basis of holistic approach and quantitative criteria.

Associations of Del 301-303 alpha2B-adrenoceptor gene polymorphism with central hemodynamic parameters in the northern Russian population.

The ADRA2B gene 301-303 I/D polymorphism is associated with various cardiovascular phenotypes. However, an association of genotypes with the timing structure of cardiac cycle remains unclear. The central hemodynamic parameters were assessed by pulse wave analysis in 63 residents of the Kola Peninsula (68 N) aged 27-65 yr.

Seasonal inconstancy of human sex ratio at birth.

A large body of literature describes relationships between the sex ratio at birth and modifying factors. The relationships that display seasonal fluctuations are hypothesized to reflect causal impact of periconceptional and later intrauterine effects. This short review summarizes the results of studies that investigated internal and external influences on the seasonal pattern of human sex ratio at birth.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus cereus Strain F, Isolated from Ancient Permafrost.

Bacillus cereus strain F was isolated and cultured from a sample of permafrost, aged presumably about 3 million years, on the Mammoth Mountain (62°56'N, 133°59'E). These genome data provide the basis to investigate Bacillus cereus F, identified as a long-term survivor of the extremely cold and close environment.

Limb muscle hemodynamics and arterial distensibility depend on atmospheric pressure in hypertensive men.

Objective: To verify whether peripheral blood circulation and arterial wall distensibility are influenced by atmospheric pressure (AtPr) and to examine if their association is dependent on age and/or sex.

Methods: Associations among natural AtPr levels (on the examination day as well as 1 and 2 days prior), limb muscle hemodynamics, and distensibility of conduit arteries were retrospectively examined in an observational study of 276 untreated patients with primary moderate hypertension (mean age 56.4 years, 194 men).

Reduced solar activity favors twin maternities.

Mechanisms underlying effects of physical factors on twin births are unclear. The present work studied an association between monthly and yearly multiple birth rates (MBRs) in the Novosibirsk region, south-west Siberia, in relation to solar activity (sunspot numbers) and geomagnetic activity (Ap index) from 1957 to 2008. The difference was verified by comparing the yearly MBR observed in 3-year peaks (M = 7.

Preoperative use of incentive spirometry does not affect postoperative lung function in bariatric surgery.

Morbidly obese patients undergoing general anesthesia for laparoscopic bariatric surgery are considered at increased risk of a postoperative decrease in lung function. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a systematic use of incentive spirometry (IS) prior to surgery could help patients to preserve their respiratory function better in the postoperative period. Forty-one morbidly obese (body mass index [BMI] > 40 kg/m²) candidates for laparoscopic bariatric surgery were consented in the study.

The current state of birth outcome and birth defect surveillance in northern regions of the world.

Objectives: Little is known about the rates of congenital anomalies in the northernmost regions of the world. As in other parts of the world, it is crucial to assess the relative rates and trends of adverse birth outcomes and birth defects, as indicators of population health and to develop public health strategies for prevention. The aim of this review is to catalogue existing and developing birth outcome and birth defect surveillance within and around the geographic jurisdiction of the International Union of Circumpolar Health (IUCH).

An evaluation of the rapid airway management positioner in obese patients undergoing gastric bypass or laparoscopic gastric banding surgery.

A new positioning device, the Rapid Airway Management Positioner (RAMP, Airpal Inc., Center Valley, PA) was evaluated to determine if there was an improvement in either mask ventilation, direct laryngoscopy, or both with the use of the RAMP in this patient population. Fifty-one morbidly obese patients (BMI > 35 kg/m(2)) undergoing elective bariatric surgery were enrolled.

Seasonality bias in adverse pregnancy outcomes in Siberia.

Objective: To examine which months are unfavourable for conception in the region with the severe continental climate.

Design: Retrospective population based study.

Methods: Monthly data on incidence rate for gestose, maternal anaemia, pyelonephritis, threat to spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, perinatal death and infant death at age under one year were extracted from medical records of obstetric, delivery, and paediatric hospitals in Novosibirsk (1976-1980), Norilsk (Taimir peninsula), and Mirny (western Yakutia).

The accuracy of electrocardiogram-controlled central line placement.

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) guidance to confirm accurate positioning of central venous catheters (CVC), placed before surgery in the operating room, is rarely used in the United States. We designed this randomized, controlled trial to investigate whether the use of this technique impacts the accuracy of CVC placement.

Methods: Patients in group ECG (n = 147) had a CVC placed using right-atrial ECG to guide catheter tip positioning.

Life span of people who died from cardiovascular diseases in Siberia: a comparative study of two populations.

Objectives: To assess associations between mean age at death from cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, ischemic heart disease and stroke) and sex, education, socio-professional status, marital status, region of residence at birth, month and season of birth and of death in dependence of climatic conditions.

Design: A retrospective analysis of death certificates in two Siberian cities from 1971 to 1978 (Novosibirsk, south-western Siberia) and from 1968 to 1985 (Mirny, western Yakutia).

Methods: Analysis of variance, test for seasonality.