Epigenetic Aberrations and Targets in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma.

Peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCL) comprise a diverse group of aggressive T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas with many subtypes sharing same treatment algorithms despite having different pathobiology and responses to treatment. The molecular advances made in discovery of genetic mutations that disrupt epigenetic modulation in some subtypes of PTCL such as angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma and PTCL-not otherwise specified (NOS) may explain the poor outcomes and unsatisfactory responses to frontline line CHOP and CHOP-like therapy seen in this group of lymphomas. In this article, we address the main genetic mutations such as IDH2, TET2 and DNMT3A seen in PTCL and that disrupt the epigenetic modulation pathways, focusing on acetylation, deacetylation and methylation.

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans.

The Progressive Ratio (PR) self-administration paradigm is a common pre-clinical method used to examine the motivation for a drug attributed to a craving, reward, or the relief of negative affect. The Computer-assisted Alcohol Infusion System (CAIS) enables intravenous alcohol self-administration behavior in humans. This system provides the investigator with control over the trajectory of each incremental breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) reward and the maximum BrAC allowed in a session.

Stress vulnerability and alcohol use and consequences: From human laboratory studies to clinical outcomes.

It is well known that vulnerability to stress is a risk factor for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Chronic alcohol use can result in neuroadaptations in cortico-striatal pathways and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis function that are manifested in altered behavioral and cognitive control functions contributing to alcohol craving, compulsive motivation, consumption, and consequences. This symposium brings together studies utilizing novel approaches to help improve our understanding of stress - past, acute, and chronic - on alcohol seeking and consumption and related outcomes using a combination of human laboratory models, neuroimaging, and clinical measures.

HIV-Nef Protein Persists in the Lungs of Aviremic Patients with HIV and Induces Endothelial Cell Death.

It remains a mystery why HIV-associated end-organ pathologies persist in the era of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART). One possible mechanism is the continued production of HIV-encoded proteins in latently HIV-infected T cells and macrophages. The proapoptotic protein HIV-Nef persists in the blood of ART-treated patients within extracellular vesicles (EVs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Comparison of Neurologic Trauma and Motorcycle Helmet Use in Drivers vs Passengers.

This study compares postcrash prevalences of neurological and head and neck injuries in motorcycle drivers and passengers, stratified by helmet use.

Hypoxia-induced activin A diminishes endothelial cell vasculogenic activity.

Acute ischaemia causes a significant loss of blood vessels leading to deterioration of organ function. Multiple ischaemic conditions are associated with up-regulation of activin A, but its effect on endothelial cells (EC) in the context of hypoxia is understudied. This study evaluated the role of activin A in vasculogenesis in hypoxia.

Altered circadian hemodynamic and renal function in cirrhosis.

Background: Given that alterations in systemic hemodynamics have a profound influence on renal function in patients with cirrhosis, it is surprising that circadian variations in blood pressure (BP) and renal electrolyte excretion have scarcely been studied. Our aims were to define the relationship of 24-h ambulatory BP changes with renal tubular function and to determine the influence of endotoxemia on BP and urinary parameters.

Methods: Forty healthy controls served as a comparator to 20 cirrhotic patients.

C-spine injury and mandibular fractures: lifesaver broken in two spots.

Background: Trauma is a leading cause of injury and mortality and may involve mandibular fractures and cervical spine injuries. Manipulation of the spine during trauma protocols and operative treatment has the potential to cause serious spinal cord injuries. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with cervical spine injury (CSI) in patients with mandibular fractures.

Adipose stromal cells differentiation toward smooth muscle cell phenotype diminishes their vasculogenic activity due to induction of activin A secretion.

Adipose stromal cells (ASCs) support endothelial cell (EC) vasculogenesis through paracrine and cell-contact communications. In addition, ASCs differentiate towards the smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotype under different stimuli, which prompted their use as a source of mural cells in fabricating small calibre vessels. How ASCs' SMC-lineage commitment affects their subsequent communication with ECs is unknown.

Teaching Certificate Program Participants' Perceptions of Mentor-Mentee Relationships.

Objective. To assess teaching certificate program (TCP) participants' perceptions of mentor-mentee relationships. Methods.

Adipose Stromal Cell Contact with Endothelial Cells Results in Loss of Complementary Vasculogenic Activity Mediated by Induction of Activin A.

Adipose stem/stromal cells (ASCs) after isolation produce numerous angiogenic growth factors. This justifies their use to promote angiogenesis per transplantation. In parallel, local coimplantation of ASC with endothelial cells (ECs) leading to formation of functional vessels by the donor cells suggests the existence of a mechanism responsible for fine-tuning ASC paracrine activity essential for vasculogenesis.

Adipose stromal cells differentiate along a smooth muscle lineage pathway upon endothelial cell contact via induction of activin A.

Rationale: Adipose stromal cells (ASC) are therapeutically potent progenitor cells that possess properties of pericytes. In vivo, ASC in combination with endothelial cells (EC) establish functional multilayer vessels, in which ASC form the outer vessel layer and differentiate into mural cells.

Objective: To identify factors responsible for ASC differentiation toward the smooth muscle cell phenotype via interaction with EC.

Transfer of intracellular HIV Nef to endothelium causes endothelial dysfunction.

With effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are emerging as a major cause of morbidity and death in the aging HIV-infected population. To address whether HIV-Nef, a viral protein produced in infected cells even when virus production is halted by ART, can lead to endothelial activation and dysfunction, we tested Nef protein transfer to and activity in endothelial cells. We demonstrated that Nef is essential for major endothelial cell activating effects of HIV-infected Jurkat cells when in direct contact with the endothelium.

Survey of pharmacist-managed primary care clinics using healthcare failure mode and effect analysis.

Objective: The primary objective was to expand upon results of a previously piloted patient perception survey with Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA), to identify areas within pharmacist-managed clinics needing improvement.

Methods: The survey was adapted for use in pharmacist-managed clinics. Patients completed the survey following regularly scheduled pharmacist appointments.

Participant evaluation of a CBT program for enhancing work function in schizophrenia.

Objectives: While much has been written about the benefits of CBT for persons with schizophrenia, little has been published to date exploring participant evaluations of these programs. This paper reports on participant evaluations of such a program.

Methods: Forty-four participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were surveyed regarding their satisfaction with a 6-month weekly group and individual CBT intervention developed as an adjunct to work therapy or the control condition support group during a randomized controlled feasibility study.

Alcoholic liver disease.

Important mechanisms responsible for alcohol-induced liver injury include mitochondrial damage and loss of ATP, formation of acetaldehyde-and other aldehyde-protein adducts, release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from mitochondrial electron transfer chain, CYP2E1 , and activated Kupffer cells (KCs); weakening of antioxidant defense systems; and increased intestinal permeability with endotoxemia. Endotoxin interacts with ethanol and/or acetaldehyde, and such interaction leads to a complex cascade of autocrine and paracrine pathways that involve the release of cytokines (proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and mutagenic), chemokines, and eicosanoids. These pathways are mediated by activation of KCs, induction of proliferation, and other phenotype changes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) leading to transformation to myofibroblasts (the latter is responsible for fibrogenesis, chemotaxis, and contractility, therefore contributing to portal hypertension, angiogenic response, and release of additional cytokines), and stimulation of sinusoidal cells (SECs) to release adhesive molecules and cytokines.

Quality of sleep in patients with schizophrenia is associated with quality of life and coping.

Background: While sleep disturbance is widespread in schizophrenia it is less clear whether sleep disturbance is uniquely related to impaired coping and perceived quality of life.

Methods: We simultaneously assessed sleep quality, symptoms, and coping in 29 persons with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in a post acute phase of illness. Assessment instruments included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale; the Heinrichs Quality of Life Scale; and the Ways of Coping Scale.

Chromatographic estimation of iothalamate and p-aminohippuric acid to measure glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow in humans.

Iothalamate (IOT) clearance and p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) clearance are used for estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). A simple and rapid method is described for simultaneous determination of IOT and PAH in the same chromatogram in the serum and urine of humans. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-50 mM sodium monobasic phosphate with 0.