MicroRNA-296: a promising target in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis has been recognized as an inflammatory disease involving the vascular wall. MicroRNAs are a group of small noncoding RNAs to regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level through mRNA degradation or translation repression. Recent studies suggest that miR-296 may play crucial roles in the regulation of angiogenesis, inflammatory response, cholesterol metabolism, hypertension, cellular proliferation and apoptosis.

Interferon gamma decreases intestinal epithelial aquaporin 3 expression through downregulation of constitutive transcription.

Unlabelled: Aquaporin (AQP) 3 expression is altered in inflammatory bowel diseases, although the exact mechanisms regulating AQP abundance are unclear. Although interferon gamma (IFNγ) is centrally involved in intestinal inflammation, the effect of this cytokine on AQP3 expression remains unknown. HT-29 human colonic epithelial cells were treated with IFNγ to assess AQP3 mRNA expression by real-time RT-PCR and functional protein expression through the uptake of radiolabelled glycerol.

How do physicians behave when they participate in audit and feedback activities in a group with their peers?

Background: Audit and feedback interventions may be strengthened using social interaction. With this in mind, the Calgary office of the Alberta Physician Learning Program developed a process for audit and group feedback for physician groups. As a part of a larger project to develop a practical approach to the design and implementation of audit and group feedback projects, we explored patterns of physician behavior during facilitated audit and group feedback sessions.

C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 9 in atherosclerosis: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic potential.

C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 9 (CTRP9), a newly discovered adipokine, is the closest paralog of adiponectin. After proteolytic cleavage, it can release the globular domain (gCTRP9) that serves as the major circulatory isoform. Upon binding to adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and N-cadherin, CTRP9 can activate a variety of signaling pathways to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism, vascular relaxation and cell differentiation.

Contemporary ancestor? Adaptive divergence from standing genetic variation in Pacific marine threespine stickleback.

Background: Populations that have repeatedly colonized novel environments are useful for studying the role of ecology in adaptive divergence - particularly if some individuals persist in the ancestral habitat. Such "contemporary ancestors" can be used to demonstrate the effects of selection by comparing phenotypic and genetic divergence between the derived population and their extant ancestors. However, evolution and demography in these "contemporary ancestors" can complicate inferences about the source (standing genetic variation, de novo mutation) and pace of adaptive divergence.

Generalizability of clinical trials of advanced melanoma in the real-world, population-based setting.

Results from novel therapeutics trials are not always generalizable to real-world patients. We aimed to determine the pattern in which trial findings are applied in a population-based setting of melanoma patients and consequent treatment outcomes. Patients with unresectable disease during 2011-2014 and referred to cancer centers in a large Canadian province were retrospectively reviewed.

Case report: Diffuse hyperplastic perilobar nephroblastomatosis complicated by a unilateral Wilms tumour: diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

Background: Nephroblastomatosis is an uncommon pathologic process characterized by the presence of persistent embryonic nephrogenic rests. Progression to Wilms tumour occurs in an estimated 35% of patients. Cure rates are based on histologic findings and disease stage and have improved from 10% in the 1920s to over 90% today.

A comparison of temporal artery thermometers with internal blood monitors to measure body temperature during hemodialysis.

Background: Thermometers that measure core (internal) body temperature are the gold standard for monitoring temperature. Despite that most modern hemodialysis machines are equipped with an internal blood monitor that measures core body temperature, current practice is to use peripheral thermometers. A better understanding of how peripheral thermometers compare with the dialysis machine thermometer may help guide practice.

T-type calcium channels functionally interact with spectrin (α/β) and ankyrin B.

This study describes the functional interaction between the Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels and cytoskeletal spectrin (α/β) and ankyrin B proteins.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 signaling transcriptionally regulates the axon guidance cue slit1.

Axons sense molecular cues in their environment to arrive at their post-synaptic targets. While many of the molecular cues have been identified, the mechanisms that regulate their spatiotemporal expression remain elusive. We examined here the transcriptional regulation of the guidance gene slit1 both in vitro and in vivo by specific fibroblast growth factor receptors (Fgfrs).

IL-8 negatively regulates ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux via upregulating miR-183 in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.

Objective: Previous studies suggest that IL-8 has an important role in the regulation of cholesterol efflux, but whether miRNAs are involved in this process is still unknown. The purpose of this study is to explore whether IL-8 promotes cholesterol accumulation by enhancing miR-183 expression in macrophages and its underlying mechanism.

Methods And Results: Treatment of THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells with IL-8 decreased ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux.

Strain-specific effects of crowding on long-term memory formation in Lymnaea.

Crowding of snails is a stress that obstructs long-term memory (LTM) formation following operant conditioning of aerial respiratory behaviour in Lymnaea stagnalis. In previous experiments, snails of the same strain/population were used for both the crowding and the operant conditioning training. However, there are different strains/populations of Lymnaea stagnalis exhibiting different cognitive abilities.

Heat shock protein 70 accelerates atherosclerosis by downregulating the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 through the JNK/Elk-1 pathway.

Background And Aims: Recent studies have suggested that heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) may play critical roles in cardiovascular disease. However, the effects of HSP70 on the development of atherosclerosis in apoE mice remain largely unknown. This study was to investigate the role and potential mechanism of HSP70 in atherosclerosis.

Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor accelerates cholesterol efflux by up-regulating ABCA1 expression via the NF-κB/miR-33a pathway in THP-1 macropahge-derived foam cells.

Atherosclerosis is a dyslipidemia disease characterized by foam cell formation driven by the accumulation of lipids. Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) is known to suppress the development of atherosclerosis via its anti-inflammatory properties, but it is not yet known whether vaspin affects cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. Here, we investigated the effects of vaspin on ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux, and further explored the underlying mechanism.

Anemia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis as prognostic factors in patients with cervical cancer treated with radical chemoradiotherapy: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Anemia has long been associated with poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. Recently, additional hematologic parameters have emerged as potential indicators of worse outcome in this patient group. In a cohort of cervical cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and brachytherapy, we report on the prognostic significance of hematologic parameters including anemia, leukocytosis, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and thrombocytosis, the effect of combining anemia with other hematologic parameters, and the effect of changes in hemoglobin levels during treatment.

AIBP reduces atherosclerosis by promoting reverse cholesterol transport and ameliorating inflammation in apoE mice.

Background And Aims: ApoA-1 binding protein (AIBP) is a secreted protein that interacts with apoA-I and accelerates cholesterol efflux from cells. We have recently reported that AIBP promotes apoA-1 binding to ABCA1 in the macrophage cell membrane, partially through 115-123 amino acids. However, the effects of AIBP on the development of atherosclerosis in vivo remain unknown.

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 promotes cholesterol efflux by activating autophagy via the miR-17-5p/Beclin-1 pathway in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.

Macrophage autophagy contributes to the hydrolysis of cholesteryl ester into free cholesterol mainly for ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-dependent efflux. Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) has been shown to regulate autophagy in multiple types of cells. The present study aimed to examine the effects of ISG15 on autophagy and cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Assembly, growth and conductive properties of tellurium nanorods produced by Rhodococcus aetherivorans BCP1.

Tellurite (TeO) is a hazardous and toxic oxyanion for living organisms. However, several microorganisms can bioconvert TeO into the less toxic form of elemental tellurium (Te). Here, Rhodococcus aetherivorans BCP1 resting (non-growing) cells showed the proficiency to produce tellurium-based nanoparticles (NPs) and nanorods (NRs) through the bioconversion of TeO, depending on the oxyanion initial concentration and time of cellular incubation.

Lipoprotein lipase: Biosynthesis, regulatory factors, and its role in atherosclerosis and other diseases.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis of the triglyceride (TG) core of circulating TG-rich lipoproteins including chylomicrons (CM), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). A variety of parenchymal cells can synthesize and secrete LPL. Recent studies have demonstrated that complicated processes are involved in LPL biosynthesis, secretion and transport.

Reducing the impact of intensive care unit mattress compressibility during CPR: a simulation-based study.

Background: The depth of chest compression (CC) during cardiac arrest is associated with patient survival and good neurological outcomes. Previous studies showed that mattress compression can alter the amount of CCs given with adequate depth. We aim to quantify the amount of mattress compressibility on two types of ICU mattresses and explore the effect of memory foam mattress use and a backboard on mattress compression depth and effect of feedback source on effective compression depth.

An experimental study on the impact of clinical interruptions on simulated trainee performances of central venous catheterization.

Background: Interruptions are common in the healthcare setting. This experimental study compares the effects of interruptions on simulated performances of central venous catheterization during a highly versus minimally complex portion of the task.

Methods: Twenty-six residents were assigned to interruptions during tasks that are (1) highly complex: establishing ultrasound-guided venous access (experimental group,  = 15) or (2) minimally complex: skin cleansing (control group,  = 11).

Bicaudal D2 is a novel autoantibody target in systemic sclerosis that shares a key epitope with CENP-A but has a distinct clinical phenotype.

We studied the clinical correlations and epitopes of autoantibodies directed to a novel autoantigen, Bicaudal D (BICD2), in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and reviewed its relationship to centromere protein A (CENP-A). 451 SSc sera were tested for anti-BICD2 using a paramagnetic bead immunoassay and then univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to study the association between anti-BICD2 and demographic and clinical parameters as well as other SSc-related autoantibodies. Epitope mapping was performed on solid phase matrices.

Quantifying Novice and Expert Differences in Visual Diagnostic Reasoning in Veterinary Pathology Using Eye-Tracking Technology.

Visual diagnostic reasoning is the cognitive process by which pathologists reach a diagnosis based on visual stimuli (cytologic, histopathologic, or gross imagery). Currently, there is little to no literature examining visual reasoning in veterinary pathology. The objective of the study was to use eye tracking to establish baseline quantitative and qualitative differences between the visual reasoning processes of novice and expert veterinary pathologists viewing cytology specimens.

A review on SLE and malignancy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production, complement activation, and immune complex deposition. It predominantly affects young and middle-aged women. While improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE have altered prognosis, morbidity and mortality rates remain higher than the general population.