Loss of a Functional Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier in Does Not Improve Lactic Acid Production from Glycerol in Aerobic Cultivation.

Cytosolic pyruvate is an essential metabolite in lactic acid production during microbial fermentation. However, under aerobiosis, pyruvate is transported to the mitochondrial matrix by the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) and oxidized in cell respiration. Previous reports using or have shown that the production of pyruvate-derived chemicals is improved by deleting the gene.

Recurrent Cardiac Sarcoma Resection With Modified Partial Autotransplantation.

Primary cardiac sarcomas are very aggressive, being a challenge to cardio-oncology specialty. Surgical planning and innovative techniques have enhanced the possibility of resection. We have described a case of recurrent primary left atrium angiosarcoma, successfully resected with a modified partial autotransplantation technique, planned using a 3-dimensional model created from computed tomography.

Genetic strategies for improving hyaluronic acid production in recombinant bacterial culture.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a biopolymer of repeating units of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. Its market was valued at USD 8.9 billion in 2019.

Dapagliflozin increases the lean-to total mass ratio in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

We compared the effect of dapagliflozin versus glibenclamide on the ratio of lean-to total mass in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, carotid subclinical atherosclerosis, HbA1c 7.0-9.0% and 40-70 years-old.

Evaluation of () for Hyaluronic Acid Production.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a biopolymer formed by UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine disaccharide units linked by β-1,4 and β-1,3 glycosidic bonds. It is widely employed in medical and cosmetic procedures. HA is synthesized by hyaluronan synthase (HAS), which catalyzes the precursors' ligation in the cytosol, elongates the polymer chain, and exports it to the extracellular space.

Transcriptional Remodeling Patterns in Murine Dendritic Cells Infected with : More Is Not Necessarily Better.

Most people infected with the fungus spp. do not get sick, but approximately 5% develop paracoccidioidomycosis. Understanding how host immunity determinants influence disease development could lead to novel preventative or therapeutic strategies; hence, we used two mouse strains that are resistant (A/J) or susceptible (B10.

Evaluation of Product Distribution in Chemostat and Batch Fermentation in Lactic Acid-Producing Strains Utilizing Glycerol as Substrate.

Lactic acid is the monomeric unit of polylactide (PLA), a bioplastic widely used in the packaging, automotive, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Previously, the yeast was genetically modified for the production of lactate from glycerol. For this, the bovine L-lactate dehydrogenase- (LDH)-encoding gene was inserted and the gene encoding the pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) was disrupted, resulting in the GLp strain.

Antifungal drugs: New insights in research & development.

The need for better antifungal therapy is commonly accepted in view of the high mortality rates associated with systemic infections, the low number of available antifungal classes, their associated toxicity and the increasing number of infections caused by strains with natural or acquired resistance. The urgency to expand the range of therapeutic options for the treatment of fungal infections has led researchers in recent decades to seek alternative antifungal targets when compared to the conventional ones currently used. Although new potential targets are reported, translating the discoveries from bench to bedside is a long process and most of these drugs fail to reach the patients.

Change of BNP between admission and discharge after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (Killip I) improves risk prediction of heart failure, death, and recurrent myocardial infarction compared to single isolated measurement in addition to the GRACE score.

Objective: In ST-elevation myocardial infarction, 7-15% of patients admitted as Killip I will develop symptomatic heart failure or decreased ejection fraction. However, available clinical scores do not predict the risk of severe outcomes well, such as heart failure, recurrent myocardial infarction, and sudden death in these Killip I individuals. Therefore, we evaluated whether one vs two measurements of BNP would improve prediction of adverse outcomes in addition to the GRACE score in ST-elevation myocardial infarction/Killip I individuals.

Semiquantitative Volumetry by Sequential PET/CT May Improve Prediction of Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Patients With Distal Rectal Cancer.

Background: Previous studies using PET/CT imaging have failed to accurately identify complete responders to neoadjuvant chemoradiation among patients with rectal cancer. The use of metabolic parameters alone or imprecise delineation of baseline and residual tumor volumes may have contributed for these disappointing findings.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of complete response identification in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation by sequential PET/CT imaging with a decrease in tumor metabolism and volume using optimal tumor volume delineation.

(18)F-FDG uptake by rectal cancer is similar in mucinous and nonmucinous histological subtypes.

Purpose: PET/CT has been considered limited for the evaluation of mucinous colorectal tumors due to low (18)F-FDG uptake. The aim of our study was to compare PET/CT variables in mucinous (MC) and nonmucinous (NMC) rectal adenocarcinomas.

Methods: Consecutive patients with cT2-4N0-2M0 rectal cancer included in a prospective clinical trial were reviewed.

Low zinc levels is associated with increased inflammatory activity but not with atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis or endothelial dysfunction among the very elderly.

Background: Reduced zinc intake has been related to atherogenesis and arteriosclerosis. We verified this assumption in very old individuals, which are particularly prone to both zinc deficiency and structural and functional changes in the arterial wall.

Methods: Subjects (n = 201, 80-102 years) with uneventful cardiovascular history and who were not in use of anti-inflammatory treatments in the last 30-days were enrolled.

Glycosylated hemoglobin is associated with decreased endothelial function, high inflammatory response, and adverse clinical outcome in non-diabetic STEMI patients.

Objective: Chronic dysglycemia was recently identified as a predictor for adverse outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. Data for non-diabetic patients who underwent thrombolysis is scarce. In this context, we aimed to study the effect of HbA1c on cardiovascular outcome after STEMI.

Peri-infarct zone characterized by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is directly associated with the inflammatory activity during acute phase myocardial infarction.

Enhanced systemic inflammatory activity (SIA) during myocardial infarction (MI) and the extent of the peri-infarct zone characterized by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRi) are both associated with increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The present study investigated the existence of association between these two phenomena in 98 patients (55 ± 10 years) with ST segment elevation MI. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were measured on admission (D1) and on the fifth day post-MI (D5).

Emergent cardiovascular risk factors in the very elderly.

An appreciable amount of evidence generated in the recent decades has changed the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases dramatically. This advance has resulted in increased survival and, consequently, in a large new generation of very elderly individuals. In parallel, the aging of the population brought out a puzzle and a challenge for the next millennium.

High sodium intake adversely affects oxidative-inflammatory response, cardiac remodelling and mortality after myocardial infarction.

Objective: Enhanced sodium intake increases volume overload, oxidative stress and production of proinflammatory cytokines. In animal models, increased sodium intake favours ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to investigate, in human subjects presenting with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), the impact of sodium intake prior the coronary event.

High plasma HDL-C attenuates stress hyperglycemia during acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Objective: During myocardial infarction (MI), a transient decrease of both insulin sensitivity and secretion triggers stress hyperglycemia, which is followed by a substantial increase in mortality. Recent findings in cellular models indicate that HDL may act on glucose homeostasis by improving insulin sensitivity and secretion. In this study, we explored this potential effect in patients during the acute phase of MI.

New criteria of indication and selection of patients to cochlear implant.

Numerous changes continue to occur in cochlear implant candidacy. In general, these have been accompanied by concomitant and satisfactory changes in surgical techniques. Together, this has advanced the utility and safety of cochlear implantation.

Association of systemic inflammatory activity with coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in the very elderly.

Objective: To verify the existence of association between plasma levels of pro- or anti-inflammatory mediators and atherosclerotic burden at coronary and carotid arteries in individuals aged of 80 or more years old.

Methods: Healthy individuals aged between 80 and 102 years old (n = 178) underwent evaluation of plasma cytokines and acute phase proteins, intima-media thickness (IMT) and presence of plaques in carotid arteries by ultrasound and coronary artery calcification (CAC) by cardiac computed tomography.

Results: There was no association between CAC and carotid plaques (p = 0.

Vestibulo-ocular reflex as predictor of cerebral death in comatose patients.

Objective: Our goal was to establish the role of VOR - vestibular ocular reflex - in predicting cerebral death in comatose patients.

Patients And Methods: Prognosis study based on three concurrent cohorts of comatose patients of known etiology followed until the ultimate outcomes: recovery, vegetative state or death. Sixty comatose patients (Glasgow scale 8 or less) with known causes were studied: 49 males and 11 females; 7 to 83 years old.

Rebound inflammatory response during the acute phase of myocardial infarction after simvastatin withdrawal.

Objective: The present study aimed to verify the existence of a rebound inflammatory effect after statin withdrawal in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: In a prospective observational cohort, changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) between the first and the fifth day after MI were evaluated in 249 consecutive patients who were using statins prior to and during MI (SS), statins prior to but not during MI (SN), no statin prior to but during MI (NS), and no statin prior to nor during MI (NN). Data are presented as median (interquartile range).

Physicians' attitudes and adherence to use of risk scores for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: cross-sectional survey in three world regions.

Objective: To evaluate physicians' attitudes and adherence to the use of risk scores in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Design And Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 2056 physicians involved in the primary prevention of CVD. Participants included cardiologists (47%), general practitioners (42%), and endocrinologists (11%) from several geographical regions: Brazil (n = 968), USA (n = 381), Greece (n = 275), Chile (n = 157), Venezuela (n = 128), Portugal (n = 42), The Netherlands (n = 41), and Central America (Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala; n = 64).

Effect of beta blockers (metoprolol or propranolol) on effect of simvastatin in lowering C-reactive protein in acute myocardial infarction.

Recent data indicated that statin therapy may fail to reduce the incidence of coronary events in patients concomitantly using beta blockers. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the concomitant use of beta blockers would modify the anti-inflammatory action of statins. Changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) between days 1 and 5 after myocardial infarction were evaluated in 189 patients treated with simvastatin alone (S), beta blockers alone (B; propranolol or metoprolol), S + B, or neither of these 2 medications (N) in a prospective observational cohort.

Vestibular rehabilitation exercises in acute vertigo.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the effect of vestibular rehabilitation exercises in the early stages of peripheral vestibular disorders.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized trial. Patients were blinded to assignment groups.