The pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitor dichloroacetate mitigates alcohol-induced hepatic inflammation and metabolic disturbances in mice.

Background: Dichloroacetate (DCA), a pan-pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitor, ameliorates multiple pathological conditions and tissue injury and shows strong potential for clinical applications. Here, we investigated the preventive effects of DCA in a murine model of alcohol-associated liver disease.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were subjected to the acute-on-chronic model of alcohol-associated liver disease and treated with DCA.

A review of major reconstructive and gender-affirming surgical techniques in genital surgery and care for the transgender patient population.

The transgender community makes up a significant portion of the American population, yet there is a paucity of data available to surgeons and anesthesiologists. The purpose of this article is to provide information to surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals. This narrative review explores the importance of medical information that healthcare professionals should be aware of ahead of gender-affirming surgeries.

Stop The Falls! A framework for injury prevention outreach for older adults presented by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Geriatric Trauma and Injury Prevention Committees.

With the increasing age of the population in the USA, fall prevention events to target older patients are imperative. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma hosted a fall prevention event at the host city of the 2023 Annual Meeting. We review the planning and implementation of this "Stop the Falls" event, in hopes that other institutions may benefit and sustainably effectuate fall prevention events for an increasingly geriatric population.

Reduced S-nitrosylation of TGFβ1 elevates its binding affinity toward the receptor and promotes fibrogenic signaling in the breast.

Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) is a pleiotropic cytokine closely linked to tumors. Previously, we pharmacologically inhibited basal nitric oxide (NO) production in healthy mammary glands and found that this induced precancerous progression accompanied by upregulation of TGFβ and desmoplasia. In the present study, we tested whether NO directly S-nitrosylates (forms an NO-adduct at a cysteine residue) TGFβ for inhibition, whereas reduction of NO denitrosylates TGFβ for de-repression.

Contact Lens Regulation: Where Have We Been, Where are We Going?

The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission influence the contact lens (CL) market, with the Food and Drug Administration regulating CLs as medical devices and the Federal Trade Commission dictating how they are prescribed and sold. Legislative oversight came to the forefront in 2004, when the Contact Lens Rule was introduced, drastically changing how CLs are prescribed and distributed. This article examines the evolution of CL regulations over the past two decades and discusses how regulation, such as allowing passive verification, has shaped the current and evolving CL market.

Left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and cerebral amyloid angiopathy: insights from the LOGIC (Left atrial appendage Occlusion in patients with Gastrointestinal or IntraCranial bleeding) international multicenter registry.

Objectives: Oral anticoagulation therapy (OAC) is often contraindicated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) because of the high hemorrhagic risk. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) can prevent thromboembolic events while avoiding long-term anticoagulation. However, a short period of antithrombotic therapy (AT) is still recommended after LAAO, and, therefore, it is unclear whether patients with CAA can be candidates for LAAO.

Trained Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Based Therapy HXB-319 for Treating Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in a Pristane-induced Murine Model.

Introduction: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can modulate immune responses and suppress inflammation in autoimmune diseases. Although their safety has been established in clinical trials, the efficacy of MSCs is inconsistent due to variability in potency among different preparations and limited specificity in targeting mechanisms driving autoimmune diseases.

Methods: We utilized High-Dimensional Design of Experiments methodology to identify factor combinations that modulate gene expression by MSCs to mitigate inflammation.

Bioelectronic block of stellate ganglia mitigates pacing-induced heterogeneous release of catecholamine and neuropeptide Y in the infarcted pig heart.

The sympathetic nervous system modulates cardiac contractile and electrophysiological function and contributes to adverse remodelling following myocardial infarction (MI). Axonal modulation therapy (AMT), directed at the sympathetic chain, blocks efferent sympathetic outflow to the heart and is a strategy to transiently and controllably mitigate chronic MI-associated sympatho-excitation. In porcine models, we evaluated scalable AMT, directed at the paravertebral chain, in blocking reflex-mediated pacing-induced sympatho-excitation post-MI.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in solid organ transplant recipients.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are an important threat to the health of solid organ transplant recipients (SOTr); data comparing outcomes of SOTr with CRE to non-SOTr with CRE are lacking. A matched cohort study was performed within 2 prospective, multicenter, cohort studies (Consortium on Resistance Against Carbapenems in Klebsiella and other Enterobacterales and Consortium on Resistance Against Carbapenems in Klebsiella and other Enterobacterales 2). The epidemiology, desirability of outcome rankings outcomes, and mortality of SOTr and non-SOTr hospitalized in the United States (December 2011-August 2017) with clinical isolates with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-defined CRE were compared.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for the Primary Prevention of Glaucoma in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Target Trial Emulation.

Purpose: Pleiotropic cardiovascular benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) due to vascular remodeling effects have been demonstrated in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is unclear whether a similar benefit may be seen for glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of SGLT2i on the risk of glaucoma in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Liver Transplantation and Post-Liver Transplant Survival Among Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis and overall outcomes for HCC are well known. We present updated real-world data on racial or ethnic differences in LT and post-LT survival among patients with HCC in a large population-based database.

Methods: We used the TriNetX database to retrospectively identify patients who had HCC (ICD-10 C22.

Effects of withdrawal and re-application of spinal cord stimulation to restore cough.

Context: Paralysis of the expiratory muscles in cervical and high thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) results in an impaired ability to clear airway secretions effectively and increases the risk of atelectasis and respiratory tract infections (RTI). Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) applied via the Cough Stimulation System (CSS) has been shown to restore an effective cough mechanism in subjects with SCI. In this study, we evaluated the specific impact of use of the CSS by one study participant with SCI, subsequent discontinuation of usage, and then re-institution of this modality.

Fragmentation of Care After Admissions for Burn: An Analysis of the National Readmissions Database.

Introduction: Burn patients require complex longitudinal care guided by a team with specific clinical expertise. Burn patients are at increased need for readmission, which may result in Fragmentation of care (readmission to hospitals other than the index hospital), that can lead to increases in mortality, length of stay, and financial burden. In the already-complex burn patient, negative effects of care fragmentation may be magnified.

Outcomes of Total Hip Arthroplasty in Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Analysis.

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common surgical intervention for patients who have seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SpA). However, there is a paucity of literature addressing the outcomes of THA specifically in SpA patients. This study aimed to investigate both the short-term and long-term systemic and orthopaedic outcomes of THA in SpA patients as a whole, as well as within the individual subtypes of SpA.

Immunogenic shift of arginine metabolism triggers systemic metabolic and immunological reprogramming to prevent HER2+ breast cancer.

Arginine metabolism in tumors is often shunted into the pathway producing pro-tumor and immune suppressive polyamines (PAs), while downmodulating the alternative nitric oxide (NO) synthesis pathway. Aiming to correct arginine metabolism in tumors, arginine deprivation therapy and inhibitors of PA synthesis have been developed. Despite some therapeutic advantages, these approaches have often yielded severe side effects, making it necessary to explore an alternative strategy.

MRI genicular nerve mapping: a novel approach to sagittal genicular nerve localization.

Background And Objectives: Chronic knee pain, including postarthroplasty knee pain, is a major cause of morbidity. Radiofrequency ablation of genicular nerve branches is a treatment option. The literature to date has demonstrated and recommended consistent rhizotomy targets in the coronal and axial position of the three primary genicular nerve branches (superomedial genicular nerve, superolateral genicular nerve, inferomedial genicular nerve).

Comparing Low-to-Zero Fluoroscopic Navigation Systems for AVNRT Catheter Ablation: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Low-to-zero fluoroscopic navigation systems lower radiation exposure which improves health outcomes. Conventional x-ray fluoroscopy (CF) has long been the standard to guide to catheter location for cardiac ablation. With advancements in technology, alternative safety navigation systems have been developed.

Neurofeedback: new territories and neurocognitive mechanisms of endogenous neuromodulation.

Neurofeedback (NF) is endogenous neuromodulation of circumscribed brain circuitry. While its use of real-time brain activity in a closed-loop system is similar to brain-computer interfaces, instead of controlling an external device like the latter, the goal of NF is to change a targeted brain function. In this special issue on NF, we present current and future methods for extracting and manipulating neural function, how these methods may reveal new insights about brain function, applications, and rarely discussed ethical considerations of guiding and interpreting the brain activity of others.

Artificial intelligence for diagnosing exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a retinal disorder characterized by central retinal (macular) damage. Approximately 10% to 20% of non-exudative AMD cases progress to the exudative form, which may result in rapid deterioration of central vision. Individuals with exudative AMD (eAMD) need prompt consultation with retinal specialists to minimize the risk and extent of vision loss.