Spaceflight Associated Apoptosis

Lymphoid tissues have been shown to atrophy in rats flown on Russian spaceflights. Histological examination indicated evidence for cell degradation. Lymphoid tissues from rats flown on Spacelab Life Sciences-2 mission were analyzed for apoptosis by evidence of fragmented lymphocytes, which could be engulfed by macrophages, or DNA strand breaks using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. Apoptosis was not detected in the thymus and spleen collected inflight or from the synchronous ground rats but was detected in the thymus, spleen and inguinal lymph node of the flight animals on recovery. These results indicate that the apoptosis observed in the lymphatic tissues of the rats on recovery could have been induced by the gravitational stress of reentry, corroborating the findings from the early space-flight observations

A case of fatal ephedra intake associated with lipofuscin accumulation, caspase activation and cleavage of myofibrillary proteins

Ephedra, a herb reported to suppress appetite and stimulate the sympathetic nervous system as well as cardiac performance, has recently been related to several adverse events, including seizure, stroke, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Here, we describe the case of a 45‐year‐old woman who died of cardiovascular collapse while taking ephedra. Tissue analysis revealed non‐specific degenerative alterations in the myocardium (lipofuscin accumulation, basophilic degeneration and vacuolation of myocytes, as well as myofibrillary loss), associated with myocyte apoptosis, caspase activation, and extensive cleavage of miofibrillary proteins α‐actin, α‐actinin, and cardiac troponin T. Healthcare professionals are therefore urged to warn their patients about the risk of serious adverse effects, which may follow ephedra intake.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102708/1/ejhf2004-09-012.pd

Endothelial function and urine albumin levels among asymptomatic Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background-</p> <p>Mexican-Americans (MA) exhibit increases in various cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), yet are reported to have lower CVD mortality rates. Our aim was to help explain this apparent paradox by evaluating endothelial function and urine albumin levels in MA and NHW.</p> <p>Methods-</p> <p>One hundred-five MA and 100 NHW adults were studied by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), blood and urine tests. Participants were studied by ultrasound-determined brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), blood and urine tests, at a single visit.</p> <p>Results-</p> <p>Despite higher BMI and triglycerides in MA, MA demonstrated higher FMD than did NHW (9.1 ± 7.3% vs. 7.1 ± 6.3%, p < 0.04). Among MA, urinary albumin was consistently lower in participants with FMD ≥ 7% FMD versus < 7% FMD (p < 0.006). In multivariate analyses in MA men, urinary albumin was inversely related to FMD (r = -0.26, p < 0.05), as were BMI and systolic blood pressure. In MA women, urinary albumin:creatinine ratio was an independent inverse predictor of FMD (p < 0.05 ).</p> <p>Conclusion-</p> <p>To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze, in asymptomatic adults, the relation of MA and NHW ethnicity to FMD and urine albumin levels. The findings confirm ethnic differences in these important subclinical CVD measures.</p

Breast cancer chemotherapy using nano-drug delivery system in a mouse model

Purpose: Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be used as delivery vehicles for platinum anticancer drugs, improving their targeting and uptake into cells. Cisplatin, cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum (II), is the leading metallodrug used in the systemic treatment of solid tumors. The aim of the current study, to evaluate both in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) conjugated with conventional chemotherapy drug, cisplatin for the treatment of breast cancer, using preclinical animal model.Methods: GNPs, were successfully used as a complex tumor-targeting drug-delivery system. The drug cisplatin, was non-covalently conjugated onto the hydrophilic assemblies of GNPs-nanostructure.Results: The cancer cells toxicity and viability in the presence of the anti-cancer drugs delivered by the GNPs were found to be statistically more effective than those of cells exposed to the traditional cancer drug alone.  Post treatment with cisplatin and cisplatin-nanogold conjugate indicated that cispaltin-treated group has their relative treated volume (RTV) continuously increased while animals treated with cisplatin-nanogold continuously decreased. Histologically, the tumor cell density of cisplatin-nanogold conjugate -treated animals are less than those treated with cisplatin alone.Conclusion: This pilot study could offer a new chemotherapy strategy for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The late effect of cisplatin-nanogold on RTV at day 24 could be a significant chemodynamic of the drug on tumor eradication

Fatal Case of COVID-19 Pneumonia Associated with Acute Myelopathy

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus outbreak with multiple system involvement started initially in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is a systemic disorder typically presenting with fever, fatigue, and upper and lower respiratory symptoms, although neurological manifestations are increasingly reported, but pathological mechanisms have yet to be established. The symptoms of infection with COVID-19 are dependent on the patient’s age and underlying medical illness, and on the condition of the immune system. Neurotropic and neuroinvasive capabilities of coronaviruses have been described in humans. We herein report a patient infected with COVID-19 who developed pneumonia associated with acute progressive myelopathy. Neurological examination revealed progressive flaccid areflexic paralysis of lower limbs over 3 days with retention of urine and sensory level at 10th spinal thoracic segment (T10). The patient had a positive nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 at the onset of the neurological symptoms. This case of acute progressive myelopathy adds further evidence of the complications of severe COVID-19 infection, and we are dealing with a virus of unpredictable behavior. Since this virus neurotropism is not clear yet, further investigations should be conducted on the mechanism of possible neurological infection in patients with COVID-19

Relationship of Periodontitis with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Case Control Study

Background: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of adult mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Well known risk factors independently or combined are involved in both atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. Recent data have shown that viral and bacterial infections may also contribute to acute thromboembolic events, hence a case control study was carried out.Aims: To investigate the possible association between periodontal health and patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI).Material and Methods: 50 patients, and 50 control were included in the study. Data on hypertension, diabetes, and smoking status were recorded. Clinical examination of AMI patients was carried out during the hospital stay. Clinical Attachment Loss performed for all subjects.Results: There were no significant variations between the groups regarding the age, gender and BMI, while more incidence of risk factors in patients. There were significant worsening of grades of periodontitis with increasing age. Higher incidence of periodontitis in patients with AMI were distinguished. Those with unhealthy periodontium shows 11.5 times higher chance to have AMI. Most of the subjects in control group (92%) had healthy periodontium, whilst advanced periodontitis was limited to the patients only (50%). The bulk of the subjects (63%) were either overweight or obese, meanwhile, only 3.3% of the subjects were underweight. No statistically significant relationship of obesity with occurrence of AMI. No significant differences between the groups existed in the relation of BMI and grades of periodontitis.Conclusion: Overall result of this case control study showed an association between periodontitis and acute myocardial infarction

Endothelial function and urine albumin levels among asymptomatic Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites

Background-: Mexican-Americans (MA) exhibit increases in various cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), yet are reported to have lower CVD mortality rates. Our aim was to help explain this apparent paradox by evaluating endothelial function and urine albumin levels in MA and NHW. Methods-: One hundred-five MA and 100 NHW adults were studied by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), blood and urine tests. Participants were studied by ultrasounddetermined brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), blood and urine tests, at a single visit. Results-: Despite higher BMI and triglycerides in MA, MA demonstrated higher FMD than did NHW (9.1 +/- 7.3% vs. 7.1 +/- 6.3%, p &lt; 0.04). Among MA, urinary albumin was consistently lower in participants with FMD = 7% FMD versus &lt; 7% FMD (p &lt; 0.006). In multivariate analyses in MA men, urinary albumin was inversely related to FMD (r = -0.26, p &lt; 0.05), as were BMI and systolic blood pressure. In MA women, urinary albumin: creatinine ratio was an independent inverse predictor of FMD (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion-: To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze, in asymptomatic adults, the relation of MA and NHW ethnicity to FMD and urine albumin levels. The findings confirm ethnic differences in these important subclinical CVD measures

Amino acid supplementation differentially modulates STAT1 and STAT3 activation in the myocardium exposed to ischemia/reperfusion injury

We have previously demonstrated that the transcription factor STAT1 plays a critical role in promoting apoptotic cell death, whereas the related STAT3 family member may antagonize STAT1 and protect cardiac myocytes from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. More recently we demonstrated that long-term nutritional supplementation with mixed amino acids (AAs) can enhance myocyte survival by preserving mitochondrial functional capacity during I/R injury. We therefore investigated whether short-term nutritional supplementation with the same AA mixture has any effects on STAT1 or STAT3 activation in the Langendorff perfused rat heart exposed to I/R injury. In Sprague-Dawley rats given a single oral dose of a mixture of mainly essential l-AA (1 g/kg), and exposed, after 6 hours, to 35 minutes of ischemia, followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion, AA supplementation prolonged STAT3 activation/phosphorylation, while STAT1 activation was reduced. Enhanced STAT3 phosphorylation paralleled a reduction in expression of Fas, a known STAT1 target gene and proapoptotic marker that is upregulated after I/R. Moreover, abrogation of STAT3 activation by means of the JAK inhibitor AG490, reduced, but did not abolish, the cardioprotective effects of AA supplementation after I/R. These results show that modulation of the functional balance between STAT3 and STAT1, with preferential activation of prosurvival STAT3 over the proapoptotic STAT1, represents a mechanism by means of which short-term oral supplementation with mixed AAs protects the heart from I/R injur