Alterations in epidermal function in type 2 diabetes: Implications for the management of this disease.

Epidermal function is regulated by numerous exogenous and endogenous factors, including age, psychological stress, certain skin disorders, ultraviolet irradiation and pollution, and epidermal function itself can regulate cutaneous and extracutaneous functions. The biophysical properties of the stratum corneum reflect the status of both epidermal function and systemic conditions. Type 2 diabetes in both murine models and humans displays alterations in epidermal functions, including reduced levels of stratum corneum hydration and increased epidermal permeability as well as delayed permeability barrier recovery, which can all provoke and exacerbate cutaneous inflammation.

Developments in Exercise Capacity Assessment in Heart Failure Clinical Trials and the Rationale for the Design of METEORIC-HF.

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a highly morbid condition for which exercise intolerance is a major manifestation. However, methods to assess exercise capacity in HFrEF vary widely in clinical practice and in trials. We describe advances in exercise capacity assessment in HFrEF and a comparative analysis of how various therapies available for HFrEF impact exercise capacity.

Vitamin D regulation of immune function during covid-19.

Covid-19 has to date infected a confirmed 275 million people with 5.4 million, now dead, with the count rising every day. Although the virus, SARS-CoV2, causing Covid-19 infects many cells in the body, its infection of the upper and lower respiratory tract (upper airway epithelia and pulmonary alveolar pneumocytes and macrophages) causing what is now called a cytokine storm in the lungs is the major cause of morbidity and mortality.

Role of miR-182/PDCD4 axis in aggressive behavior of prostate cancer in the African Americans.

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among men. African Americans (AA) are at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer compared to European Americans (EA). miRNAs play a critical role in these tumors, leading to tumor progression.

Electrophysiological and Contractile Effects of Disopyramide in Patients With Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Translational Study.

Disopyramide is effective and safe in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, its cellular and molecular mechanisms of action are unknown. We tested disopyramide in cardiomyocytes from the septum of surgical myectomy patients: disopyramide inhibits multiple ion channels, leading to lower Ca transients and force, and shortens action potentials, thus reducing cellular arrhythmias.

Genistein Represses HOTAIR/Chromatin Remodeling Pathways to Suppress Kidney Cancer.

Background/aims: Genistein, a soy isoflavone, has been shown to have anti-cancer effects in various cancers including renal cancer. Long non-coding RNA, HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), is involved in cancer progression and metastasis, such as renal cancer. Our aim was to investigate the effects of genistein on HOTAIR chromatin remodeling functions.

Comparison of transepidermal water loss rates in subjects with skin patch test positive vs negative to skin care products.

Background: Adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products (SCP) are becoming increasingly common and may be indicative of defective permeability barrier function.

Aim: To determine the differences in transepidermal water loss rates (TEWL) between skin patch positive vs negative to skin care products in normal Chinese females.

Methods: Skin patch test reactions to nine skin care products were assessed in 65 normal Chinese females.

Myosin 1a Regulates Osteoblast Differentiation Independent of Intestinal Calcium Transport.

Myosin 1A (Myo1a) is a mechanoenzyme previously thought to be located exclusively in the intestinal epithelium. It is the principle calmodulin-binding protein of the brush border. Based on earlier studies in chickens, we hypothesized that Myo1a facilitates calcium transport across the brush border membrane of the intestinal epithelium, perhaps in association with the calcium channel Trpv6.

Gender-related characterization of sensitive skin in normal young Chinese.

Background: While clinical signs, symptoms, as well as etiology of sensitive skin in general populations have been extensively studied over the last decades, characteristics of sensitive skin in normal subjects, particularly gender-related characteristics, still remain unknown.

Objective: In the present study, we characterize facial sensitive skin in normal young Chinese.

Subjects And Methods: A questionnaire was given to each participant aged 10-30 years.

Novel tumor suppressor role of miRNA-876 in cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare, highly invasive malignancy, and its incidence is increasing globally. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) mediate a wide array of cellular and biological processes and are dysregulated in various tumors. The functional and biological roles of miRNAs in CCA have not been fully elucidated.

Comparison of Dietary Patterns, Perceptions of Health, and Perceived Barriers to a Heart Healthy Diet Before and After Coronary Artery Angiography.

Poor dietary patterns are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to determine whether reported dietary patterns change after undergoing invasive coronary angiography. Participants without a history of coronary revascularization were prospectively enrolled before undergoing coronary angiography at a tertiary center between February 2015 and February 2017.

Skeletal and Extraskeletal Actions of Vitamin D: Current Evidence and Outstanding Questions.

The etiology of endemic rickets was discovered a century ago. Vitamin D is the precursor of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and other metabolites, including 1,25(OH)2D, the ligand for the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The effects of the vitamin D endocrine system on bone and its growth plate are primarily indirect and mediated by its effect on intestinal calcium transport and serum calcium and phosphate homeostasis.

Adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face vary with age, but not with sex.

Background: Adverse skin reactions to skin care products have been increasing in recent years. However, to date, these reactions have not been well characterized.

Objective: To describe the symptoms, clinical signs and frequency of adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face in males vs females of various ages.

p120-catenin is required for regulating epidermal proliferation, differentiation, and barrier function.

p120-catenin (p120) is an important regulator in the function and stability of E-cadherin. However, the role of p120 in the epidermis is unclear. Previous studies have shown that globally knockout of p120 caused increased epidermal proliferation but little changes in epidermal differentiation and permeability.

Management of Acute Kidney Injury: Core Curriculum 2018.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a heterogeneous disorder that is common in hospitalized patients and associated with short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. When AKI is present, prompt workup of the underlying cause should be pursued, with specific attention to reversible causes. Measures to prevent AKI include optimization of volume status and avoidance of nephrotoxic medications.

Sudden cardiac death after acute heart failure hospital admission: insights from ASCEND-HF.

Aims: The incidence of and factors associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) early after an acute heart failure (HF) hospital admission have not been well defined.

Methods And Results: We assessed SCD and ventricular arrhythmias in the Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND-HF) trial, which included patients with acute HF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. SCD, resuscitated SCD (RSCD), and sustained ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) were adjudicated from randomization through 30 days and were combined into a composite endpoint.

Shift toward greater pathologic post-myocardial infarction remodeling with loss of the adaptive hypertrophic signaling of alpha1 adrenergic receptors in mice.

Rationale: We have hypothesized that post-infarction cardiac remodeling can be influenced by shifts in the balance between intracellular mediators of "pathologic" and "physiologic" hypertrophy. Although alpha1 adrenergic receptors (alpha1-ARs) mediate pro-adaptive hypertrophy during pressure overload, little is known about their role or downstream mediators after myocardial infarction.

Methods: We performed loss-of-function experiments via coronary ligation in alpha1A-AR knockout (AKO) mice.

Therapeutic Benefits of Natural Ingredients for Atopic Dermatitis.

Although a variety of regimens are available for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), severe adverse reactions and unpopular costs often limit their usage. In contrast, certain inexpensive, naturally-occurring ingredients are proven effective for AD with fewer side effects. The beneficial effects of these ingredients can be attributed to inhibition of cytokine and chemokine expression, IgE production, inflammatory cell infiltration, histamine release, and/or the enhancement of epidermal permeability barrier function.

NKG2D ligand expression in Crohn's disease and NKG2D-dependent stimulation of CD8 T cell migration.

Interaction between the activating NKG2D receptor on lymphocytes and its ligands MICA, MICB, and ULBP1-6 modulate T and NK cell activity and may contribute to the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). NKG2D ligands are generally not expressed on the cell surface of normal, non-stressed cells, but expression of MICA and MICB in CD intestine has been reported. In this exploratory study, we further characterize the expression of NKG2D and its ligands, including the less well-described ULBP4-6, in CD, and test if NKG2D ligand interactions are involved in the migration of activated T cells into the affected mucosal compartments.

A novel microRNA regulator of prostate cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

The most frequent alteration in the prostate oncogenome is loss of chromosome (chr) 8p21 that has been associated with loss of NKX3.1 homeobox gene. Chr8p21 deletions increase significantly with tumor grade and are associated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer (PCa), suggesting critical involvement of this region in tumor progression.

Incorporating development of a patient-reported outcome instrument in a clinical drug development program: examples from a heart failure program.

Background: Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures can be used to support label claims if they adhere to US Food & Drug Administration guidance. The process of developing a new PRO measure is expensive and time-consuming. We report the results of qualitative studies to develop new PRO measures for use in clinical trials of omecamtiv mecarbil (a selective, small molecule activator of cardiac myosin) for patients with heart failure (HF), as well as the lessons learned from the development process.

Heavy Cigarette Smokers in a Chinese Population Display a Compromised Permeability Barrier.

Cigarette smoking is associated with various cutaneous disorders with defective permeability. Yet, whether cigarette smoking influences epidermal permeability barrier function is largely unknown. Here, we measured skin biophysical properties, including permeability barrier homeostasis, stratum corneum (SC) integrity, SC hydration, skin surface pH, and skin melanin/erythema index, in cigarette smokers.