Modulation of mGlu5 reduces rewarding associative properties of nicotine via changes in mesolimbic plasticity: Relevance to comorbid cigarette smoking in psychosis.

Rationale: Antipsychotic medications that are used to treat psychosis are often limited in their efficacy by high rates of severe side effects. Treatment success in schizophrenia is further complicated by high rates of comorbid nicotine use. Dopamine D heteroreceptor complexes have recently emerged as targets for the development of more efficacious pharmaceutical treatments for schizophrenia.

Disseminated Histoplasmosis Mimicking Macrophage Activation Syndrome in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Infections caused by typically do not produce symptoms. However, in individuals who are immunocompromised, progressive disseminated histoplasmosis may occur. A 67-year-old female, with lengthy history of immunosuppression due to management of rheumatoid arthritis, reported a two-month history of fatigue, headaches, and intermittent fevers following hip surgery.

ATM deficiency differentially affects expression of proteins related to fatty acid oxidation and oxidative stress in a sex-specific manner in response to Western-type diet prior to and following myocardial infarction.

Aims: Published work has shown that ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) deficiency is associated with cardioprotective effects in Western-type diet (WD)-fed female mice. This study assessed the expression of proteins related to fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and oxidative stress in WD-fed male and female mouse hearts, and investigated if sex-specific cardioprotective effects in WD-fed female ATM-deficient mice are maintained following myocardial infarction (MI).

Main Methods: Wild-type (WT) and ATM-deficient (hKO) mice (both sexes) were placed on WD for 14 weeks.

Self-recognition through Dectin-1 exacerbates liver inflammation.

Dectin-1 is a well-characterized C-type lectin receptor involved in anti-fungal immunity through the recognition of polysaccharides; however, molecular mechanisms and outcomes initiated through self-recognition have not been fully understood. Here, we purified a water-soluble fraction from mouse liver that acts as a Dectin-1 agonist. To address the physiological relevance of this recognition, we utilized sterile liver inflammation models.

The Relationship Between Cell-Free DNA and Resistance Training Volume Load.

Lang, HM, Duffourc, MM, Bazyler, CD, Ramsey, MW, and Gentles, JA. The relationship between cell-free DNA and resistance training volume load. J Strength Cond Res 38(6): 1008-1012, 2024-The primary purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity of cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) to different resistance training volume loads.

Factors Associated With Myocardial Infarction in a Rural Population With Peripheral Arterial Diseases.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) studies in rural populations are limited. The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) is higher in patients with PAD. This study examined the association between sociodemographic and clinical risk factors and MI in patients with PAD in Central Appalachia, comprising of 230 counties across six states in the United States.

Kirschner Wires and Bone Allograft Salvage Finger Motion in Pathologic Fracture of Middle Phalanx Enchondroma: A Case Report.

Introduction: Pathologic phalangeal fracture is a common initial presentation of solitary enchondroma of the finger. Enchondromas of the middle phalanx are most frequently associated with post-operative range of motion deficits. This report describes a case in which the use of Kirschner wires (K-wires) and allograft bone were used to salvage finger motion following surgical fixation of pathologic fracture of a middle phalanx enchondroma with extensor tendon injury.

Distribution and morphology of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) innervation in flat mounts of whole rat atria and ventricles.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is widely used as a marker for nociceptive afferent axons. However, the distribution of CGRP-IR axons has not been fully determined in the whole rat heart. Immunohistochemically labeled flat-mounts of the right and left atria and ventricles, and the interventricular septum (IVS) in rats for CGRP were assessed with a Zeiss imager to generate complete montages of the entire atria, ventricles, and septum, and a confocal microscope was used to acquire detailed images of selected regions.

A Case of Pasteurella Bacteremia in a Patient With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

is a Gram-negative coccobacillus commonly associated with soft tissue and skin infections. On rare occasions, it may result in systemic bacteremia and sepsis. Our case describes a 59-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with septic shock.

A Case of Saphenous Vein Graft Aneurysm Treated With Percutaneous Coiling.

In adults, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a commonly performed surgery. Oftentimes, saphenous veins from the lower extremity are used as the graft vessels. A rare complication of this procedure is the formation of saphenous vein graft (SVG) aneurysms.

Rise in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Rate Is Associated with Increase in Buprenorphine Prescription Numbers.

Objectives: Southern Appalachia is a region of the United States that is disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic and by increasing rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS rates increased approximately 400% between 1999 and 2012. Buprenorphine prescriptions written to treat opioid use disorder also increased dramatically.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Stability in Soft-Embalmed Cadaver vs In vivo Knee: Alternative Approaches to Medical Education.

Introduction: Soft-embalmed cadavers have been used in medical education with a variety of success in different curriculum objectives. In the United States, the ACL is the most commonly injured ligament. Yet, there has been little focus on the stability of the knee in the sagittal plane provided by the anterior cruciate ligament within the soft-embalmed cadaver model.

A Case of Multiple Vein Thrombosis Following Pacemaker Implantation.

Pacemakers are implanted as part of the treatment process of conditions including symptomatic bradycardia and certain types of heart block. One complication associated with pacemaker implantation is upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT), which can subsequently lead to pulmonary embolism, limb loss, or death. We present the case of an 88-year-old male who developed UEDVT in his left subclavian, axillary, brachial, and basilic veins shortly after dual chamber pacemaker implantation for treating symptomatic heart block.

A Case of Ceftaroline-Associated Thrombocytopenia.

Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation cephalosporin that can be used for the treatment of serious infections caused by methicillin-resistant (MRSA). A rare adverse effect of ceftaroline therapy is thrombocytopenia. Our case involves a 45-year-old male with active intravenous drug usage who presented with persistent fever, lower back pain, and left elbow pain.

Evaluating the safety and efficacy of baricitinib for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Introduction: New biologic and small molecule therapeutics have emerged for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), including oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors such as baricitinib. While JAK inhibitors are commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, these agents are relatively new in the field of dermatology.

Areas Covered: In this review, we outline the efficacy and safety data of phase III randomized controlled trials investigating the use of baricitinib for moderate-to-severe AD.

Macrophages in the Inflammatory Phase following Myocardial Infarction: Role of Exogenous Ubiquitin.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. One of the most common implications of CVD is myocardial infarction (MI). Following MI, the repair of the infarcted heart occurs through three distinct, yet overlapping phases of inflammation, proliferation, and maturation.

Enhanced Myocardial Adenylyl Cyclase Activity Alters Heart-Brain Communication.

Background: The central nervous system's influence on cardiac function is well described; however, direct evidence for signaling from heart to brain remains sparse. Mice with cardiac-selective overexpression of adenylyl cyclase type 8 (TGAC8) display elevated heart rate/contractility and altered neuroautonomic surveillance.

Objectives: In this study the authors tested whether elevated adenylyl cyclase type 8-dependent signaling at the cardiac cell level affects brain activity and behavior.

A Case of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease in an Adult Male.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is commonly seen in infants and children; less frequently, it may be seen in adults as well. The disease is usually associated with viral infections, including many variants of enteroviruses and coxsackieviruses. We discuss the case of a 39-year-old male who presented with constitutional symptoms, fever, and lesions on his hands, feet, and mouth.

Association between chronic disease and substance use among older adults in Tennessee.

Background: Substance use and misuse have a negative impact on health care outcomes, specifically in the older adult population. Older adults are at risk due to several factors occurring toward the end of life such as changing family dynamics, loss of friends and loved ones, and chronic diseases. Substance use in older adults with chronic diseases in rural areas remains poorly studied.

A Unique Presentation of 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA Carboxylase Deficiency.

3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting in impaired leucine metabolism. The condition is typically diagnosed with newborn screening; patients diagnosed at a later stage generally present with symptoms including metabolic disturbances, seizures, failure to thrive, or delayed development. We present the case of a child diagnosed at 12 months of age who was noted to have recurrent viral infections and nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting, hematochezia, and gaseous distention of the abdomen.

Pure red cell aplasia: The second hundred years.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare hematologic syndrome, characterized by an isolated normocytic anemia with severe reticulocytopenia, and defined by absence or near absence of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow. First described in 1922, PRCA may be a primary autoimmune or clonal myeloid or lymphoid disorder, but may also be secondary to other disorders of immune dysregulation/autoimmunity, to infections, to neoplasms, or to drugs. Insights from the study of PRCA have helped illuminate the understanding of the regulation of erythropoiesis.

Nicotinamide riboside functions during development while beta-hydroxybutyrate functions during adulthood to extend lifespan.

Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3 and a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD ) precursor, has been shown to activate the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR ) and extend the lifespan when supplemented to The ketone body and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) has also been shown to extend lifespan. Experiments were performed that showed that NR extended lifespan by acting almost exclusively during larval development, while BHB extended lifespan by acting during adulthood, and the combination of NR during development and BHB during adulthood unexpectedly decreased lifespan. This suggests that hormesis is involved in the lifespan-altering effects of BHB and NR and that they are inducing parallel longevity pathways that converge on a common downstream target.

Clinical and genomic characterization of an ATRA-insensitive acute promyelocytic leukemia variant with a FNDC3B::RARB fusion.

The promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor-α (PML::RARA) fusion is the hallmark of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and is observed in over 95% of APL cases. RARA and homologous receptors RARB and RARG are occasionally fused to other gene partners, which differentially affect sensitivity to targeted therapies. Most APLs without RARA fusions have rearrangements involving RARG or RARB, both of which frequently show resistance to all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and/or multiagent chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Mallet Finger Autofusion in Adolescent Post-Pin Fixation Surgery - A Case Report.

Introduction: Mallet finger is a common hand injury in sports in which the terminal extensor tendon is disrupted. This case report describes the rare occurrence of joint autofusion following surgical fixation of an unstable mallet finger injury.

Case Report: We present a case of a 13-year-old right-hand dominant boy who sustained a right long finger bony mallet injury while playing football.