Aortic Dissection and Renal Failure in a Patient with Severe Hypothyroidism

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. The most important recognized acquired cause that leads to dissection is chronic arterial hypertension. With respect to the anuria and renal failure, aortic dissection is not something that is always considered and is still not a very common presentation unless both renal arteries come off the false lumen of the dissection. However, when present, preoperative renal failure in patients with acute type B dissection has been noted to be an independent predictor of mortality. Early recognition and diagnosis is the key and as noted by previous studies as well, almost a third of these patients are initially worked up for other causes until later when they are diagnosed with aortic dissection. Here we present a case of a patient presenting with severe hypothyroidism, long-standing hypertension, and anuria. Through the case, we highlight the importance of having aortic dissection as an important differential in patients presenting with anuria who have a long standing history of uncontrolled hypertension. Pathophysiology relating to severe hypothyroidism-induced renal dysfunction is also discussed

Divergent functions for airway epithelial matrix metalloproteinase 7 and retinoic acid in experimental asthma.

The innate immune response of airway epithelial cells to airborne allergens initiates the development of T cell responses that are central to allergic inflammation. Although proteinase allergens induce the expression of interleukin 25, we show here that epithelial matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) was expressed during asthma and was required for the maximum activity of interleukin 25 in promoting the differentiation of T helper type 2 cells. Allergen-challenged Mmp7(-/-) mice had less airway hyper-reactivity and production of allergic inflammatory cytokines and higher expression of retinal dehydrogenase 1. Inhibition of retinal dehydrogenase 1 restored the asthma phenotype of Mmp7(-/-) mice and inhibited the responses of lung regulatory T cells, whereas exogenous administration of retinoic acid attenuated the asthma phenotype. Thus, MMP7 coordinates allergic lung inflammation by activating interleukin 25 while simultaneously inhibiting retinoid-dependent development of regulatory T cells

Drought and salinity stresses induced physio-biochemical changes in sugarcane: an overview of tolerance mechanism and mitigating approaches

Sugarcane productivity is being hampered globally under changing environmental scenarios like drought and salinity. The highly complex nature of the plant responses against these stresses is determined by a variety of factors such as genotype, developmental phase of the plant, progression rate and stress, intensity, and duration. These factors influence plant responses and can determine whether mitigation approaches associated with acclimation are implemented. In this review, we attempt to summarize the effects of drought and salinity on sugarcane growth, specifically on the plant’s responses at various levels, viz., physiological, biochemical, and metabolic responses, to these stresses. Furthermore, mitigation strategies for dealing with these stresses have been discussed. Despite sugarcane’s complex genomes, conventional breeding approaches can be utilized in conjunction with molecular breeding and omics technologies to develop drought- and salinity-tolerant cultivars. The significant role of plant growth-promoting bacteria in sustaining sugarcane productivity under drought and salinity cannot be overlooked

Role of inactivating ARID1A mutation on the tumor microenvironment in response to immune checkpoint therapy

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp21/1132/thumbnail.jp

Growth, optical transmission and X-ray photoemission studies of BaB2O4 single crystals

Beta barium borate (beta-BBO) crystals have been grown by the top seeded solution growth technique (TSSG) using Na2O as a flux. The crystals exhibited high transparency and the absence of inclusions and found to have sodium contamination in the range 150 to 230 p.p.m. The effect of this contamination on some crystal properties of interest has been investigated. The presence of impurities causes optical absorption below 550 nm in BBO crystals of both alpha and beta-phases. X-ray photo emission spectroscopy (XPS) measurements performed on these crystals show that sodium gives rise to a measurable shift in the binding energies of the constituent ions. Further, the results show that Na+ ions enter into the lattice substitutionally and provide charge trapping sites close to the band edge

Using cocreated visually informed community mental health education in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A case study of youth substance misuse in Assam, India

Abstract Introduction Our aim is to evaluate the visually informed community mental health education materials cocreated in our research on youth substance misuse in Assam, India, and to reflect on what we might learn for similar initiatives in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Methods Materials consist of: (i) images participants brought to the interview; (ii) 30 posters cocreated by participants to convey key messages from their interview; (iii) six short films on the implications of addiction, and (iv) an animation of our Pathways to Recovery model. We also created a community education package that incorporated these materials. We analyse feedback from three groups of events and a social media campaign, which drew variably across our materials and engaged a range of audiences. Results Outcomes indicate the cocreation process and focus on the visual was successful in promoting young people's voice, increasing awareness and has potential for stigma reduction. Our educational package was deemed useful in increasing awareness and has potential for prevention and treatment. Conclusions Our case study offers insights into community mental health education in low‐ and middle‐income countries, confirming the importance of cocreation, the usefulness of visual materials and the potential of social media campaigns while acknowledging the importance of local context in health messaging, particularly for stigmatized topics. Patient or Public Contribution Service users were involved in the cocreation of the materials evaluated in this study and contributed as presenters in one of the events reported. Members of the public took part in events in which the materials were shared and provided us with the feedback analysed in this article