Blood markers of alcohol use in epistaxis patients

Epistaxis and alcohol overconsumption are frequently encountered in patients admitted to emergency wards. The aim of the study was to analyze indirect markers of alcohol overconsumption in epistaxis patients and evaluate its role as a risk factor. In a cohort of 510 epistaxis patients indirect markers of alcohol overuse were measured including the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. The results were compared to the normal findings in literature. Pathologic mean levels of GGT were found in epistaxis patients. Almost 5% had macrocytosis and MCV correlated positively with liver enzyme levels. Platelet counts were negatively correlated with both corpuscular volumes and liver enzymes. Indirect markers of alcohol overconsumption were found to be elevated in epistaxis patients. These results suggest that a subgroup of epistaxis patients overconsumes alcoholic beverages supporting the idea of alcohol abuse being a risk factor in epistaxis. Questioning about drinking habits should be employed and help offered to affected patient

Identification, characterization and molecular adaptation of class I redox systems for the production of hydroxylated diterpenoids

Background De novo production of multi-hydroxylated diterpenoids is challenging due to the lack of efficient redox systems. Results In this study a new reductase/ferredoxin system from Streptomyces afghaniensis (AfR·Afx) was identified, which allowed the Escherichia coli-based production of the trihydroxylated diterpene cyclooctatin, a potent inhibitor of human lysophospholipase. This production system provides a 43-fold increase in cyclooctatin yield (15 mg/L) compared to the native producer. AfR·Afx is superior in activating the cylcooctatin-specific class I P450s CotB3/CotB4 compared to the conventional Pseudomonas putida derived PdR·Pdx model. To enhance the activity of the PdR·Pdx system, the molecular basis for these activity differences, was examined by molecular engineering. Conclusion We demonstrate that redox system engineering can boost and harmonize the catalytic efficiency of class I hydroxylase enzyme cascades. Enhancing CotB3/CotB4 activities also provided for identification of CotB3 substrate promiscuity and sinularcasbane D production, a functionalized diterpenoid originally isolated from the soft coral Sinularia sp

Cardioprotection and lifespan extension by the natural polyamine spermidine

Aging is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Here we show that oral supplementation of the natural polyamine spermidine extends the lifespan of mice and exerts cardioprotective effects, reducing cardiac hypertrophy and preserving diastolic function in old mice. Spermidine feeding enhanced cardiac autophagy, mitophagy and mitochondrial respiration, and it also improved the mechano-elastical properties of cardiomyocytes in vivo, coinciding with increased titin phosphorylation and suppressed subclinical inflammation. Spermidine feeding failed to provide cardioprotection in mice that lack the autophagy-related protein Atg5 in cardiomyocytes. In Dahl salt-sensitive rats that were fed a high-salt diet, a model for hypertension-induced congestive heart failure, spermidine feeding reduced systemic blood pressure, increased titin phosphorylation and prevented cardiac hypertrophy and a decline in diastolic function, thus delaying the progression to heart failure. In humans, high levels of dietary spermidine, as assessed from food questionnaires, correlated with reduced blood pressure and a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. Our results suggest a new and feasible strategy for protection against cardiovascular disease

Long-term efficacy of sialendoscopy in treating childhood Sjögren’s disease with chronological monitoring by salivary gland ultrasonography: A novel approach

Abstract Background Childhood Sjögren’s Disease (cSjD) is an underdiagnosed phenomenon with clinical and pathophysiological nuances in contrast to Sjögren’s Disease (SjD) in the adult population. While adults typically experience sicca symptoms, children with cSjD often present with recurrent parotitis, diverse autoantibody profiles, and renal and neurological manifestations. Diagnosis and classification in pediatric rheumatology remain controversial due to the reliance on adult-focused diagnostic criteria and the lack of standardized treatment and understanding of outcomes. The purpose of the paper is to propose a multimodal treatment plan and demonstrate the effectiveness of sialendoscopy in the management of cSjD. Case Presentation We present the case of a twelve-year-old female diagnosed with cSjD using the 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) diagnostic criteria for SjD. In addition to medical management, she underwent sialendoscopy with triamcinolone irrigation under sedation and was monitored for progress via salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS). Over the course of one year, she demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms, with serial SGUS scores gradually decreasing by five points. Conclusions This paper proposes a multimodal treatment plan involving sialendoscopy and medical management as a non-invasive and potentially more effective approach for cSjD. Standardized monitoring through SGUS scoring allows objective and quantifiable measurement of treatment progress, enabling better assessment of glandular tissue status. Recurrence is possible, and each cSjD patient may present differently. Nevertheless, our year-long observation of a patient with cSjD demonstrates that sialendoscopy, as seen in adults, can promote remission of recurrent parotitis in children as well

Position 123 of halohydrin dehalogenase HheG plays an important role in stability, activity, and enantioselectivity

Abstract HheG from Ilumatobacter coccineus is a halohydrin dehalogenase with synthetically useful activity in the ring opening of cyclic epoxides with various small anionic nucleophiles. This enzyme provides access to chiral β-substituted alcohols that serve as building blocks in the pharmaceutical industry. Wild-type HheG suffers from low thermostability, which poses a significant drawback for potential applications. In an attempt to thermostabilize HheG by protein engineering, several single mutants at position 123 were identified which displayed up to 14 °C increased apparent melting temperatures and up to three-fold higher activity. Aromatic amino acids at position 123 resulted even in a slightly higher enantioselectivity. Crystal structures of variants T123W and T123G revealed a flexible loop opposite to amino acid 123. In variant T123G, this loop adopted two different positions resulting in an open or partially closed active site. Classical molecular dynamics simulations confirmed a high mobility of this loop. Moreover, in variant T123G this loop adopted a position much closer to residue 123 resulting in denser packing and increased buried surface area. Our results indicate an important role for position 123 in HheG and give first structural and mechanistic insight into the thermostabilizing effect of mutations T123W and T123G

Effective Apical Infection of Differentiated Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Induction of Proinflammatory Chemokines by the Highly Pneumotropic Human Adenovirus Type 14p1

<div><p>Background</p><p>Only a few pneumotropic types of the human adenoviruses (e.g. type B14p1) cause severe lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) even in immunocompetent patients. By contrast, many other human adenovirus (HAdV) types (e.g. HAdV-C5) are associated mainly with upper respiratory tract infections. This is in accordance with a highly physiological cell culture system consisting of differentiated primary human bronchial epithelial cells which are little susceptible for apical HAdV-C5 infections.</p><p>Objective and Methods</p><p>We hypothesized that a pneumotropic and highly pathogenic HAdV type infects differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells efficiently from the apical surface and also induces proinflammatory cytokines in order to establish ARDS and pneumonia. Therefore, the apical infection of differentiated primary human bronchial epithelial cells with the pneumotropic and virulent type HAdV-B14p1 was investigated in comparison to the less pneumotropic HAdV-C5 as a control.</p><p>Results</p><p>Binding of HAdV-B14p1 to the apical surface of differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells and subsequent internalization of HAdV DNA was 10 fold higher (p<0.01) compared to the less-pneumotropic HAdV-C5 one hour after infection. Overall, the replication cycle of HAdV-B14p1 following apical infection and including apical release of infectious virus progeny was about 1000-fold more effective compared to the non-pneumotropic HAdV-C5 (p<0.001). HAdV-B14p1 infected cells expressed desmoglein 2 (DSG2), which has been described as potential receptor for HAdV-B14p1. Moreover, HAdV-B14p1 induced proinflammatory chemokines IP-10 and I-Tac as potential virulence factors. Interestingly, IP-10 has already been described as a marker for severe respiratory infections e.g. by influenza virus A H5N1.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The efficient "apical to apical" replication cycle of HAdV-B14p1 can promote endobronchial dissemination of the infection from the upper to the lower respiratory tract. Simultaneous induction of proinflammatory cytokines probably contributes to the high virulence of HAdV-B14p1.</p></div

XBP1 mitigates aminoglycoside-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and neuronal cell death

Here we study links between aminoglycoside-induced mistranslation, protein misfolding and neuropathy. We demonstrate that aminoglycosides induce misreading in mammalian cells and assess endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways. Genome-wide transcriptome and proteome analyses revealed upregulation of genes related to protein folding and degradation. Quantitative PCR confirmed induction of UPR markers including C/EBP homologous protein, glucose-regulated protein 94, binding immunoglobulin protein and X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1) mRNA splicing, which is crucial for UPR activation. We studied the effect of a compromised UPR on aminoglycoside ototoxicity in haploinsufficient XBP1 (XBP1(+/-)) mice. Intra-tympanic aminoglycoside treatment caused high-frequency hearing loss in XBP1(+/-) mice but not in wild-type littermates. Densities of spiral ganglion cells and synaptic ribbons were decreased in gentamicin-treated XBP1(+/-) mice, while sensory cells were preserved. Co-injection of the chemical chaperone tauroursodeoxycholic acid attenuated hearing loss. These results suggest that aminoglycoside-induced ER stress and cell death in spiral ganglion neurons is mitigated by XBP1, masking aminoglycoside neurotoxicity at the organismal level