Changes in snail chemical profiles through host-parasite interactions.

Host behavior may be modified by their parasites to increase the likelihood of transmission, but mechanisms underlying these interactions are not well understood. Hosts and parasites release chemical signaling molecules, like oxylipins, that may affect transmission. Oxylipins are oxygenated metabolites of fatty acids that function as signaling molecules and have essential physiological and functional roles.

Density-Dependent Prophylaxis in Freshwater Snails Driven by Oxylipin Chemical Cues.

While animal aggregations can benefit the fitness of group members, the behaviour may also lead to higher risks of parasite infection as group density increases. Some animals are known to moderate their investment in immunity relative to the risk of infection. These animals exhibit density-dependent prophylaxis (DDP) by increasing their immune investment as group density increases.

What is the Most Valid and Reliable Compassion Measure in Healthcare? An Updated Comprehensive and Critical Review.

Our previous review of compassion measures in healthcare between 1985 and 2016 concluded that no available measure assessed compassion in healthcare in a comprehensive or methodologically rigorous fashion. The present study provided a comparative review of the design and psychometric properties of recently updated or newly published compassion measures. The search strategy of our previous review was replicated.

Program Leaders' and Educators' Perspectives on the Factors Impacting the Implementation and Sustainment of Compassion Training Programs: A Qualitative Study.

Phenomenon: Training programs have been used to improve compassion in healthcare, but the factors necessary to make such programs successful and sustainable have not been identified. This thematic analysis aimed to bridge the gap between theory and practice by drawing on the experiences of international leaders and educators of compassion training programs to develop a clear understanding of what is relevant and effective and how compassion training is implemented and sustained.

Approach: International leaders and educators of compassion training programs (N = 15) were identified through convenience sampling based on academic and gray literature searches.

MicroRNA as an Important Target for Anticancer Drug Development.

Cancer has become the second greatest cause of death worldwide. Although there are several different classes of anticancer drugs that are available in clinic, some tough issues like side-effects and low efficacy still need to dissolve. Therefore, there remains an urgent need to discover and develop more effective anticancer drugs.

What works for whom in compassion training programs offered to practicing healthcare providers: a realist review.

Background: Patients and families want their healthcare to be delivered by healthcare providers that are both competent and compassionate. While compassion training has begun to emerge in healthcare education, there may be factors that facilitate or inhibit the uptake and implementation of training into practice. This review identified the attributes that explain the successes and/or failures of compassion training programs offered to practicing healthcare providers.

Role of Nrf2 in Synaptic Plasticity and Memory in Alzheimer's Disease.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an important transcription factor that reduces oxidative stress. When reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are detected, Nrf2 translocates from the cytoplasm into the nucleus and binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE), which regulates the expression of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory genes. Nrf2 impairments are observed in the majority of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Patient Perspectives on the Long-term Management of Celiac Disease.

Goal: The aim of this study was to survey adults with celiac disease (CD) on the utility of specific aspects of follow-up and on information needs.

Background: Currently, the treatment for CD is strict gluten avoidance. Although this places the onus on the patient for disease management, patient perspectives on CD care have not been formally assessed.

Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Reduces Kidney Folate Transporter Expression and Plasma Folate Levels.

Acute or chronic kidney disease can cause micronutrient deficiency. Patients with end-stage renal disease, kidney transplantation or on dialysis have reduced circulating levels of folate, an essential B vitamin. However, the molecular mechanism is not well understood.

The Effect of COVID-19 on NF-κB and Neurological Manifestations of Disease.

The coronavirus disease that presumably began in 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has resulted in a pandemic. Initially, COVID-19 was thought to only affect respiration. However, accumulating evidence shows a wide range of neurological symptoms are also associated with COVID-19, such as anosmia/ageusia, headaches, seizures, demyelination, mental confusion, delirium, and coma.

Challenges with Methods for Detecting and Studying the Transcription Factor Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) in the Central Nervous System.

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is highly expressed in almost all types of cells. NF-κB is involved in many complex biological processes, in particular in immunity. The activation of the NF-κB signaling pathways is also associated with cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders and even memory.

Beta-Glucan From Barley Attenuates Post-prandial Glycemic Response by Inhibiting the Activities of Glucose Transporters but Not Intestinal Brush Border Enzymes and Amylolysis of Starch.

Beta (β)-glucan (BG) from cereal grains is associated with lowering post-prandial blood glucose but the precise mechanism is not well-elucidated. The main aim of this study was to understand the mechanism through which BG from barley affects post-prandial glycemic response. Waffles containing 0, 1, 2, and 3 g barley BG and the same amount of available carbohydrate (15 g) were fed to the TIM-1 dynamic gastrointestinal digestion system to study the effect of BG on starch hydrolysis.

Lingonberry Improves Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Reducing Hepatic Lipid Accumulation, Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease globally and there is a pressing need for effective treatment. Lipotoxicity and oxidative stress are the important mediators in NAFLD pathogenesis. Lingonberry ( L.

What Is the State of Compassion Education? A Systematic Review of Compassion Training in Health Care.

Purpose: To investigate the current state and quality of compassion education interventions offered to health care providers during training or practice, determine how the components of each education intervention map onto the domains of an empirically based clinical model of compassion, and identify the most common approaches to compassion education.

Method: The MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Sociological Abstracts, Web of Science, ERIC, and Education Research Complete databases were searched from inception to March 2020 in this systematic review. Studies that evaluated a compassion education intervention for health care providers or those in training to enhance compassion toward patients and/or families were included.

Nilotinib Improves Bioenergetic Profiling in Brain Astroglia in the 3xTg Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Current treatments targeting amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have minimal efficacy, which results in a huge unmet medical need worldwide. Accumulating data suggest that brain mitochondrial dysfunction play a critical role in AD pathogenesis. Targeting cellular mechanisms associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in AD create a novel approach for drug development.

Reduced Granule Cell Proliferation and Molecular Dysregulation in the Cerebellum of Lysosomal Acid Phosphatase 2 (ACP2) Mutant Mice.

Lysosomal acid phosphatase 2 () mutant mice (naked-ataxia, ) have a severe cerebellar cortex defect with a striking reduction in the number of granule cells. Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, BrdU assays, and RT-qPCR, we show downregulation of MYCN and dysregulation of the SHH signaling pathway in the cerebellum. MYCN protein expression is significantly reduced at P10, but not at the peak of proliferation at around P6 when the number of granule cells is strikingly reduced in the cerebellum.

Molecular distribution and localization of extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) at three different laying stages in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) play important roles in regulating calcium mobilization, calcium absorption, and calcium homeostasis, and they could be potential therapeutic targets to osteoporosis in laying hens. The present study investigated the molecular distribution of CaSR and VDR and the localization of CaSR in the kidney, proventriculus (true stomach), duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, cecum, shell gland, and tibia of laying hens at 3 different laying stages (19, 40, and 55 wk). The results showed that the relative mRNA abundance of CaSR in the kidney, ileum, proventriculus, duodenum, and colon was higher (P < 0.

The effect of choline availability from gestation to early development on brain and retina functions and phospholipid composition in a male mouse model.

Objectives: Although choline is essential for brain development and neural function, the effect of choline on retina function is not well understood. This study examined the effects of choline on neural tissues of brain and retina, and membrane phospholipid (PL) composition during fetal development.

Methods: Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were fed one of 4 choline modified diets: i) control (Cont, 2.

Impact of consultation recordings on patient-reported outcomes in patients with brain tumors: a parallel randomized controlled trial.

Objective: We aimed to determine the impact of a primary treatment consultation recording on perception of being informed, satisfaction with cancer care, satisfaction with the oncologist, and psychological distress in patients with brain tumors.

Methods: This was a prospective, double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial conducted in 3 Canadian cities, in which patients who had their initial treatment consultation recorded were assigned to either receive their digital recording or not. It was hypothesized that patients who received their recording would realize statistically significant benefit on the outcomes of interest at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months post-consultation in comparison to patients who did not receive their recording.

A new implantable tool for repeated assessment of supraventricular electrophysiology and atrial fibrillation susceptibility in freely moving rats.

The complex pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) is governed by multiple risk factors in ways that are still elusive. Basic electrophysiological properties, including atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and conduction velocity, are major factors determining the susceptibility of the atrial myocardium to AF. Although there is a great need for affordable animal models in this field of research, in vivo rodent studies are limited by technical challenges.

Metabolomics profiling in hypertension and blood pressure regulation: a review.

Hypertension is a chronic health condition in which blood pressure is usually elevated beyond normal levels. It can progress with serious complications if left undetected and untreated. Incidence of hypertension is on the increase worldwide with debilitating consequences on the health systems of many countries.

Kidney Ischemia-Reperfusion Decreases Hydrogen Sulfide and Increases Oxidative Stress in the Heart.

Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The underlying mechanism of AKI-induced heart injury is not well-understood. Hydrogen sulfide (HS), at physiological concentrations, has been implicated in cardiovascular protection through redox balance and vessel relaxation.

Differences in coronary artery disease complexity and associations with mortality and hospital admissions among First Nations and non-First Nations patients undergoing angiography: a comparative retrospective matched cohort study.

Background: First Nations people are more likely than the general population to experience long-term adverse health outcomes after coronary angiography. Our aim was to quantify the extent of coronary artery disease among First Nations and non-First Nations patients undergoing angiography to investigate differences in coronary artery disease and related health disparities.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study to compare health outcomes of First Nations and non-First Nations adult patients (> 18 yr) who underwent index angiography between Apr.

Oxidative Stress and Pathways of Molecular Hydrogen Effects in Medicine.

There are many situations of excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as radiation, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and inflammation. ROS contribute to and arises from numerous cellular pathologies, diseases, and aging. ROS can cause direct deleterious effects by damaging proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids as well as exert detrimental effects on several cell signaling pathways.

Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is associated with longer hospital stay and increased in-hospital death and stroke, but its long-term implications remain incompletely understood. A systematic literature review was undertaken to investigate the impact of POAF on long-term death and stroke in adult patients who undergo cardiac operations.

Methods: Electronic databases (Cochrane, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, and PubMed) were queried from inception to October 2018.