Feeding- and Light-Cycle Synergistically Regulate Mouse Blood Pressure Daily Rhythm via -Dependent and Independent Mechanisms.

Cardiovascular health requires the orchestration of the daily rhythm of blood pressure (BP), which responds to changes in light exposure and dietary patterns. Whether rhythmic light and feeding can modulate daily BP rhythm directly or via modulating intrinsic core clock gene is unknown. Using inducible global knockout mice (iBmal1KO), we explored the impact of rhythmic light, rhythmic feeding, or their combination on various physiological parameters.

Androgen aggravates aortic aneurysms via suppression of PD-1 in mice.

Androgen has long been recognized for its pivotal role in the sexual dimorphism of cardiovascular diseases, including aortic aneurysms (AAs), a devastating vascular disease with a higher prevalence and fatality rate in men than in women. However, the mechanism by which androgen mediates AAs is largely unknown. Here, we found that male, not female, mice developed AAs when exposed to aldosterone and high salt (Aldo-salt).

Mitochondrial function and gastrointestinal diseases.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that function in cellular energy metabolism, intracellular and extracellular signalling, cellular fate and stress responses. Mitochondria of the intestinal epithelium, the cellular interface between self and enteric microbiota, have emerged as crucial in intestinal health. Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs in gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer.

Platelet-derived thrombospondin 1 promotes immune cell liver infiltration and exacerbates diet-induced steatohepatitis.

Background & Aims: Recent studies have implicated platelets, particularly α-granules, in the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the specific mechanisms involved have yet to be determined. Notably, thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) is a major component of the platelet α-granules released during platelet activation.

Modulating microbiome-immune axis in the deployment-related chronic diseases of Veterans: report of an expert meeting.

The present report summarizes the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) field-based meeting titled "Modulating microbiome-immune axis in the deployment-related chronic diseases of Veterans." Our Veteran patient population experiences a high incidence of service-related chronic physical and mental health problems, such as infection, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), various forms of hematological and non-hematological malignancies, neurologic conditions, end-stage organ failure, requiring transplantation, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We report the views of a group of scientists who focus on the current state of scientific knowledge elucidating the mechanisms underlying the aforementioned disorders, novel therapeutic targets, and development of new approaches for clinical intervention.

Standardization and Visualization of the Surgical Time-Out.

Introduction: The time-out (TO) can prevent adverse events but is subject to TO engagement. We hypothesize transforming the TO to an auditable, active process will improve compliance and engagement.

Methods: The passive nature of the current TO was identified as a potential safety issue on staff patient safety culture surveys.

Procedure-Based Telehealth Utilization in General Surgery.

The authors hypothesize that standardized telehealth (TH) scheduling processes will improve TH utilization without increasing adverse events. Fifty visits preimplementation and 67 visits postimplementation were audited from June 2021 to January 2022. Both leadership and frontline stakeholders were engaged to identify current workflows and potential interventions targeting outpatient elective procedures.

Serum amyloid A augments the atherogenic effects of cholesteryl ester transfer protein.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is predictive of CVD in humans and causes atherosclerosis in mice. SAA has many proatherogenic effects in vitro. However, HDL, the major carrier of SAA in the circulation, masks these effects.

CD47 antisense oligonucleotide treatment attenuates obesity and its-associated metabolic dysfunction.

Previous study from our lab has revealed a new role of CD47 in regulating adipose tissue function, energy homeostasis and the development of obesity and metabolic disease in CD47 deficient mice. In this study, the therapeutic potential of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting to CD47 in obesity and its-associated complications was determined in two obese mouse models (diet induced and genetic models). In diet induced obesity, male C57BL6 mice were fed with high fat (HF) diet to induce obesity and then treated with CD47ASO or control ASO for 8 weeks.

Effect of lifestyle-based lipid lowering interventions on the relationship between circulating levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances and serum cholesterol.

Exposure to certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been shown to be positively associated with total and/or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Examining this association in lipid lowering interventions may provide additional evidence linking PFAS to cardiovascular risk. We examined the relationship of 6 PFAS with cholesterol in a 6-month lifestyle-based intervention.

Exploring the Link Between Brain Waves and Sleep Patterns with Deep Learning Manifold Alignment.

Medical data are often multi-modal, which are collected from different sources with different formats, such as text, images, and audio. They have some intrinsic connections in meaning and semantics while manifesting disparate appearances. Polysomnography (PSG) datasets are multi-modal data that include hypnogram, electrocardiogram (ECG), and electroencephalogram (EEG).

Role of sympathetic pathway in light-phase time-restricted feeding-induced blood pressure circadian rhythm alteration.

Disruption of blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythm, independent of hypertension, is emerging as an index for future target organ damage and is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events. Previous studies showed that changing food availability time alters BP rhythm in several mammalian species. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown.

Managing Psychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a rare but debilitating chronic pain condition of the extremities, which often develops after an injury. Its multifactorial pathophysiology includes the immune and nervous systems and, potentially, autoimmune, genetic, and psychological factors. Psychiatric illnesses can be comorbid with CRPS, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, insomnia, substance use disorder, personality disorders, and somatic symptom disorder.

Adipose-Specific PPARα Knockout Mice Have Increased Lipogenesis by PASK-SREBP1 Signaling and a Polarity Shift to Inflammatory Macrophages in White Adipose Tissue.

The nuclear receptor PPARα is associated with reducing adiposity, especially in the liver, where it transactivates genes for β-oxidation. Contrarily, the function of PPARα in extrahepatic tissues is less known. Therefore, we established the first adipose-specific PPARα knockout () mice to determine the signaling position of PPARα in adipose tissue expansion that occurs during the development of obesity.

Effects of Dicyclohexyl Phthalate Exposure on PXR Activation and Lipid Homeostasis in Mice.

Background: Exposure to plastic-associated endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in humans. However, the underlying mechanisms for this association are unclear. Many EDCs have been shown to function as ligands of the nuclear receptor pregnane X receptor (PXR), which functions as xenobiotic sensor but also has pro-atherogenic effects .

Autotaxin impedes anti-tumor immunity by suppressing chemotaxis and tumor infiltration of CD8 T cells.

Autotaxin (ATX; ENPP2) produces lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) that regulates multiple biological functions via cognate G protein-coupled receptors LPAR1-6. ATX/LPA promotes tumor cell migration and metastasis via LPAR1 and T cell motility via LPAR2, yet its actions in the tumor immune microenvironment remain unclear. Here, we show that ATX secreted by melanoma cells is chemorepulsive for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and circulating CD8 T cells ex vivo, with ATX functioning as an LPA-producing chaperone.

Serum concentrations of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Anniston Community Health Surveys (ACHS I and ACHS II).

Background: Residents of Anniston Alabama were highly exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) due to longstanding manufacturing in the area. The Anniston Community Health Surveys (ACHS I-2005-2007 and II, 2014) have linked these exposures with a variety of deletereous health outcomes. In addition to PCBs, these individuals were likely simultaneously exposed to other persistent organic pollutants including per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are an emerging class of ubiquitous industrial chemicals that are measurable in the blood of most individuals and have themselves been linked increased risk of some non communicable diseases.

Thoracic dorsal arachnoid web with rapid onset of symptoms: A report of two cases and brief review of the literature.

Background: Thoracic arachnoid webs are a rare entity and can be challenging to diagnose with sometimes subtle radiographic findings. Arachnoid webs can cause severe cord compression with associated syrinx and resulting myelopathy, weakness, sensory loss, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. There have been a little over 60 cases total reported in the literature with only one systematic review.

Time-restricted feeding protects the blood pressure circadian rhythm in diabetic mice.

The quantity and quality of food intake have been considered crucial for peoples' wellness. Only recently has it become appreciated that the timing of food intake is also critical. Nondipping blood pressure (BP) is prevalent in diabetic patients and is associated with increased cardiovascular events.

Pioglitazone does not synergize with mirabegron to increase beige fat or further improve glucose metabolism.

BACKGROUNDBeige and brown adipose tissue (BAT) are associated with improved metabolic homeostasis. We recently reported that the β3-adrenergic receptor agonist mirabegron induced beige adipose tissue in obese insulin-resistant subjects, and this was accompanied by improved glucose metabolism. Here we evaluated pioglitazone treatment with a combination pioglitazone and mirabegron treatment and compared these with previously published data evaluating mirabegron treatment alone.

Effect of testing methods on incidence of infection rates in Veterans' Affairs medical centers.

Clostridioidesdifficile infection rates from 7 facilities that used nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) alone for 12 months then switched to NAAT plus toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and reported the latter result for 12 months were compared to 70 facilities that used NAAT alone for all 24 months. There was no significant difference in rates between facility groups over the first 12 months (P = .21, linear regression), but we detected a decrease in rates for the facilities that changed to NAAT+EIA (P < .