Role of circadian clock system in the mitochondrial trans-sulfuration pathway and tissue remodeling.

Previous studies from our laboratory revealed that the gaseous molecule hydrogen sulfide (HS), a metabolic product of epigenetics, involves trans-sulfuration pathway for ensuring metabolism and clearance of homocysteine (Hcy) from body, thereby mitigating the skeletal muscle's pathological remodeling. Although the master circadian clock regulator that is known as brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator like protein 1 (i.e.

Effectiveness of prolonged versus standard-course of oseltamivir in critically ill patients with severe influenza infection: A multicentre cohort study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of prolonged versus standard course oseltamivir treatment among critically ill patients with severe influenza. A retrospective study of a prospectively collected database including adults with influenza infection admitted to 184 intensive care units (ICUs) in Spain from 2009 to 2018. Prolonged oseltamivir was defined if patients received the treatment beyond 5 days, whereas the standard-course group received oseltamivir for 5 days.

induces cardiovascular dysfunction.

() is one of the most responsible periodontopathogenic bacteria in the development of periodontal disease (PD); however, its role in the development of other diseases still needs to be understood, specially its implications in the causation of cardiovascular pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a direct association between -induced PD with that of the development of cardiovascular disease, and whether a long-term administration of probiotic(s) could help improve the cardiovascular disease outcome. To test this hypothesis, we employed four different experimental groups of mice, designated as: : Wild-type (WT) mice (C57BL/6J); : GG (LGG) (WT mice treated with a probiotic; LGG), PD (WT mice treated with ), and : PD + LGG (WT mice treated with and LGG).

Renal Denervation Helps Preserve the Ejection Fraction by Preserving Endocardial-Endothelial Function during Heart Failure.

Renal denervation (RDN) protects against hypertension, hypertrophy, and heart failure (HF); however, it is not clear whether RDN preserves ejection fraction (EF) during heart failure (HFpEF). To test this hypothesis, we simulated a chronic congestive cardiopulmonary heart failure (CHF) phenotype by creating an aorta-vena cava fistula (AVF) in the C57BL/6J wild type (WT) mice. Briefly, there are four ways to create an experimental CHF: (1) myocardial infarction (MI), which is basically ligating the coronary artery by instrumenting and injuring the heart; (2) trans-aortic constriction (TAC) method, which mimics the systematic hypertension, but again constricts the aorta on top of the heart and, in fact, exposes the heart; (3) acquired CHF condition, promoted by dietary factors, diabetes, salt, diet, etc.

COVID-19 Mimics Pulmonary Dysfunction in Muscular Dystrophy as a Post-Acute Syndrome in Patients.

Although progressive wasting and weakness of respiratory muscles are the prominent hallmarks of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and long-COVID (also referred as the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 syndrome); however, the underlying mechanism(s) leading to respiratory failure in both conditions remain unclear. We put together the latest relevant literature to further understand the plausible mechanism(s) behind diaphragm malfunctioning in COVID-19 and DMD conditions. Previously, we have shown the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in skeletal muscle fibrosis via a substantial increase in the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) employing a DMD mouse model that was crossed-bred with MMP9-knockout (MMP9-KO or MMP9) strain.

Hydrogen sulfide mitigates skeletal muscle mitophagy-led tissue remodeling via epigenetic regulation of the gene writer and eraser function.

Ketone bodies (KB) serve as the food for mitochondrial biogenetics. Interestingly, probiotics are known to promote KB formation in the gut (especially those that belong to the Lactobacillus genus). Furthermore, Lactobacillus helps produce folate that lowers the levels of homocysteine (Hcy); a hallmark non-proteinogenic amino acid that defines the importance of epigenetics, and its landscape.

Prior influenza vaccine is not a risk factor for bacterial coinfection in patients admitted to the ICU due to severe influenza.

Objective: To determine whether the prior usage of the flu vaccine is a risk factor for bacterial co-infection in patients with severe influenza.

Design: This was a retrospective observational cohort study of subjects admitted to the ICU. A propensity score matching, and logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders were carried out to evaluate the association between prior influenza vaccination and bacterial co-infection.

Simulation of COVID-19 symptoms in a genetically engineered mouse model: implications for the long haulers.

The ongoing pandemic (also known as coronavirus disease-19; COVID-19) by a constantly emerging viral agent commonly referred as the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 has revealed unique pathological findings from infected human beings, and the postmortem observations. The list of disease symptoms, and postmortem observations is too long to mention; however, SARS-CoV-2 has brought with it a whole new clinical syndrome in "long haulers" including dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia, brain fog, exercise intolerance, and extreme fatigue. We opine that further improvement in delivering effective treatment, and preventive strategies would be benefited from validated animal disease models.

Paradoxical response of pulmonary slowly adapting units during constant pressure lung inflation.

Typically, unit discharge of slowly adapting receptors (SARs) declines slowly when lung inflation pressure is constant, although in some units it increases instead-a phenomenon hereinafter referred to as creeping. These studies characterize creeping behavior observed in 62 of 137 SAR units examined in anesthetized, open-chest, and mechanically ventilated rabbits. SAR units recorded from the cervical vagus nerve were studied during 4 s of constant lung inflation at 10, 20, and 30 cmHO.

Prior influenza vaccine is not a risk factor for bacterial coinfection in patients admitted to the ICU due to severe influenza.

Objective: To determine whether the prior usage of the flu vaccine is a risk factor for bacterial co-infection in patients with severe influenza.

Design: This was a retrospective observational cohort study of subjects admitted to the ICU. A propensity score matching, and logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders were carried out to evaluate the association between prior influenza vaccination and bacterial co-infection.

Early oseltamivir treatment improves survival in critically ill patients with influenza pneumonia.

Background: The relationship between early oseltamivir treatment (within 48 h of symptom onset) and mortality in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with severe influenza is disputed. This study aimed to investigate the association between early oseltamivir treatment and ICU mortality in critically ill patients with influenza pneumonia.

Methods: This was an observational study of patients with influenza pneumonia admitted to 184 ICUs in Spain during 2009-2018.

Phosphate Transport in Epithelial and Nonepithelial Tissue.

Phosphate is an essential nutrient for life and is a critical component of bone formation, a major signaling molecule, and structural component of cell walls. Phosphate is also a component of high-energy compounds (i.e.

CureGN Study Rationale, Design, and Methods: Establishing a Large Prospective Observational Study of Glomerular Disease.

Rationale & Objectives: Glomerular diseases, including minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, share clinical presentations, yet result from multiple biological mechanisms. Challenges to identifying underlying mechanisms, biomarkers, and new therapies include the rarity of each diagnosis and slow progression, often requiring decades to measure the effectiveness of interventions to prevent end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or death.

Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study.

Relationship between acute kidney injury and serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentration in critically ill patients with influenza infection.

Introduction: Serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentration could be increased in patients with renal dysfunction in the absence of bacterial infection.

Objective: To determine the interactions among serum renal biomarkers of acute kidney injury (AKI) and serum PCT concentration, in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to lung influenza infection.

Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective multicentre observational study.

Acute exacerbations in the INPULSIS trials of nintedanib in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Time to first investigator-reported acute exacerbation was a key secondary end-point in the INPULSIS trials of nintedanib in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).We used the INPULSIS trial data to investigate risk factors for acute exacerbation of IPF and to explore the impact of nintedanib on risk and outcome of investigator-reported and adjudicated confirmed/suspected acute exacerbations. Mortality following these events and events adjudicated as not acute exacerbations was analysed using the log rank test.

Mechanisms Underlying HIV-Associated Noninfectious Lung Disease.

Pulmonary disease remains a primary source of morbidity and mortality in persons living with HIV (PLWH), although the advent of potent combination antiretroviral therapy has resulted in a shift from predominantly infectious to noninfectious pulmonary complications. PLWH are at high risk for COPD, pulmonary hypertension, and lung cancer even in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy. The underlying mechanisms of this are incompletely understood, but recent research in both human and animal models suggests that oxidative stress, expression of matrix metalloproteinases, and genetic instability may result in lung damage, which predisposes PLWH to these conditions.

Protein Requirements for Critically Ill Patients With Renal and Liver Failure.

Diseases leading to critical illness induce proteolysis resulting in muscle wasting and negative nitrogen balance. Muscle wasting has been associated with poor intensive care unit (ICU)-related outcomes, including an increased risk for mortality. Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a common organ dysfunction associated with ICU-related disorders, such as sepsis, trauma, and respiratory failure.

Exposure-Response Relationships during Free-Access Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Nondependent Drinkers: Influence of Alcohol Expectancies and Impulsivity.

Background: Self-administration is a hallmark of all addictive drugs, including alcohol. Human laboratory models of alcohol self-administration have characterized alcohol-seeking behavior and served as surrogate measures of the effectiveness of pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorders. Intravenous alcohol self-administration is a novel method that assesses alcohol exposure driven primarily by the pharmacological response to alcohol and may have utility in characterizing unique behavioral and personality correlates of alcohol-seeking and consumption.