Vocal cord dysfunction: Does laryngeal adduction on laryngoscopy predict disease severity and response to laryngeal retraining therapy?

Introduction: Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a complex disorder characterized by episodic adduction of the vocal folds during inspiration and expiration, which can lead to dyspnea, wheezing, cough, and acute-onset respiratory distress. Currently, there is a lack of standardized criteria among treating physicians across multiple disciplines, including otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, allergists, and speech and language pathologists, for diagnosis and treatment of VCD, although laryngeal-respiratory retraining therapy (LRT) has emerged as the preferred treatment modality.

Objective: In the present study, we examined the efficacy of LRT in patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of VCD in the presence and absence of laryngeal adduction on laryngoscopy.

Ibrutinib Promotes Atrial Fibrillation by Disrupting A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 1-Mediated Mitochondrial Quality Surveillance in Cardiomyocytes.

Ibrutinib, a potent Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor with marked efficacy against hematological malignancies, is associated with the heightened risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although ibrutinib-induced AF is linked to enhanced oxidative stress, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This research aimed to explore the molecular mechanism and regulatory target in ibrutinib-induced AF.

Metformin use correlated with lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases and related mortality among US cancer survivors: evidence from a nationally representative cohort study.

Background: In the USA, the prolonged effective survival of cancer population has brought significant attention to the rising risk of cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality in this population. This heightened risk underscores the urgent need for research into effective pharmacological interventions for cancer survivors. Notably, metformin, a well-known metabolic regulator with pleiotropic effects, has shown protective effects against cardiometabolic disorders in diabetic individuals.

Association of shift work and dietary inflammatory potential with all-cause death among us hypertensive population: national health and nutrition examination study, 2005-2010.

Background & Aims: The individual effect of working schedule on survival in the hypertensive population has not been adequately studied. Shiftworkers are also prone to unhealthy lifestyles like pro-inflammatory diet. Therefore, we assessed the effect of shift work and its joint association with dietary inflammatory potential on mortality risk among the large US nationally representative sample of adult hypertensive population.

Targeting P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 in preclinical ARDS: Genetic and epigenetic regulation of the promoter.

We previously identified a missense single nucleotide polymorphism rs2228315 (G>A, Met62Ile) in the selectin-P-ligand gene (), encoding P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1), to be associated with increased susceptibility to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These earlier studies demonstrated that lung tissue expression was increased in mice exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) suggesting that inflammatory and epigenetic factors regulate promoter activity and transcription. In this report, we used a novel recombinant tandem PSGL1 immunoglobulin fusion molecule (TSGL-Ig), a competitive inhibitor of PSGL1/P-selectin interactions, to demonstrate significant TSGL-Ig-mediated decreases in lung tissue expression as well as highly significant protection from LPS- and VILI-induced lung injury.

The Role of Mitochondrial Quality Control in Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity: From Bench to Bedside.

Cardiotoxicity is the major side effect of anthracyclines (doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, and idarubicin), though being the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs and the mainstay of therapy in solid and hematological neoplasms. Advances in the field of cardio-oncology have expanded our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC). AIC has a complex pathogenesis that includes a variety of aspects such as oxidative stress, autophagy, and inflammation.

Modulation of cardiac voltage-activated K currents by glypican 1 heparan sulfate proteoglycan.

Background: Glypican 1 (Gpc1) is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan attached to the cell membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, where it holds glycosaminoglycans nearby. We have recently shown that Gpc1 knockout (Gpc1) mice feature decreased systemic blood pressure. To date, none has been reported regarding the role of Gpc1 on the electrical properties of the heart and specifically, in regard to a functional interaction between Gpc1 and voltage-gated K channels.

Preventing Alzheimer's disease within reach by 2025: Targeted-risk-AD-prevention (TRAP) strategy.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that currently affects 6.2 million people in the United States and is projected to impact 12.7 million worldwide in 2050 with no effective disease-modifying therapeutic or cure.

Sex and APOE genotype differences related to statin use in the aging population.

Background: Significant evidence suggests that the cholesterol-lowering statins can affect cognitive function and reduce the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. These potential effects may be constrained by specific combinations of an individual's sex and apolipoprotein E () genotype.

Methods: Here we examine data from 252,327 UK Biobank participants, aged 55 or over, and compare the effects of statin use in males and females.

CD4 T Cell-Specific Proteomic Pathways Identified in Progression of Hypertension Across Postmenopausal Transition.

Background Menopause is associated with an increase in the prevalence and severity of hypertension in women. Although premenopausal females are protected against T cell-dependent immune activation and development of angiotensin II (Ang II) hypertension, this protection is lost in postmenopausal females. Therefore, the current study hypothesized that specific CD4 T cell pathways are regulated by sex hormones and Ang II to mediate progression from premenopausal protection to postmenopausal hypertension.

Efficient Isolation and Enrichment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Utilizing the Interaction between Integrin 51 and Fibronectin.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are a potent source of clinically relevant mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that confer functional and structural benefits in cell therapy and tissue regeneration. Obtaining sufficient numbers of MSCs in a short period of time and enhancing the differentiation potential of MSCs can be offered the potential to improve the regenerative activity of MSCs therapy. In addition, the underlying processes in the isolation and derivation of MSCs from hPSCs are still poorly understood and controlled.

Regulation of blood-brain barrier integrity by microglia in health and disease: A therapeutic opportunity.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a critical regulator of CNS homeostasis. It possesses physical and biochemical characteristics (i.e.

Junctional ectopic tachycardia in infants and children.

Tachyarrhythmias originating in the atrioventricular (AV) node and AV junction including the bundle of His complex (BH) are called junctional tachycardia (JT) or junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET). Congenital JET (CJET) is a rare arrhythmia that occurs in patients without a preceding cardiac surgery and can be refractory to medical therapy and associated with high morbidity and mortality. CJET has a high rate of morbidity and mortality with death occurring in 35% of cases.

Missense variants in in a patient with Joubert syndrome.

We present a patient with a clinical diagnosis of Joubert syndrome with COACH phenotype who carries two variants of uncertain significance (VUS). One VUS can be reclassified as "likely pathogenic" by adding clinical data. As genetic testing becomes more accessible, more VUS will require clinical correlation for accurate classification.

Inhibiting p21-Activated Kinase Induces Cell Death in Vestibular Schwannoma and Meningioma via Mitotic Catastrophe.

Hypothesis: p21-activated kinase (PAK) regulates signaling pathways that promote cell survival and proliferation; therefore, pharmacological inhibition of PAK will induce cell death in vestibular schwannomas (VS) and meningiomas.

Background: All VS and many meningiomas result from loss of the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) gene product merlin, with ensuing PAK hyperactivation and increased cell proliferation/survival.

Methods: The novel small molecule PAK inhibitors PI-8 and PI-15-tested in schwannoma and meningioma cells-perturb molecular signaling and induce cell death.

Panel testing reveals nonsense and missense CDH1 mutations in families without hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.

Background: The reported penetrance of germline CDH1 mutations is high in families with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). Men and women have a 70% and 56%, respectively, cumulative risk of developing diffuse gastric cancer by age 80. Women additionally have a 42% cumulative risk of developing breast cancer.

A Statistical Comparative Assessment of Face and Hand Transplantation Outcomes to Determine Whether Either Meets the Standard of Care Threshold.

Background: Hand and face transplantation has established itself as a clinical option for certain reconstructive problems. The purpose of this study was to carry out a rigorous statistical analysis of all hand and face transplantations to determine whether hand and/or face transplantation is the standard of care.

Methods: Data from September of 1998 until March of 2014 on all hand and face transplantations in the world were obtained through publications, news articles, personal communications, and presentations.

Occurrence of endometrial glandular dysplasia precedes uterine papillary serous carcinoma.

Endometrial glandular dysplasia (EmGD) is a newly defined entity that is commonly and specifically associated with serous endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma and uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC). Endometrial glandular dysplasia has been proposed as a true precancerous lesion of UPSC based on our recent studies showing morphological and molecular linkages between these 2 lesions. The present report is to examine if EmGD occurs before UPSC development and to define the period from the occurrence of EmGD to a full-blown UPSC by studying their clinicopathologic features in a retrospective setting.