Mostread Articles

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, poses a significant threat to public health due to its venomous stings. While the chemistry of fire ants has been well investigated, most studies have focused on ants from mature colonies. The dynamic changes in chemical compositions during colony development have been less explored. In this study, we established S. invicta colonies using newly collected queens from the field and then tracked the chemistry of workers as the colonies developed. Our findings reveal that the chemistry of fire ant workers undergoes significant changes with the development of the colonies. However, the change in chemical diversity was not necessarily in the same direction for all individual glands.

Rotavirus (RV) is an agent of gastroenteritis and, to a lesser extent, neurological manifestations including seizures and epilepsy. Before the development of effective vaccines, rotavirus was among the leading global drivers of life-threatening diarrhea in neonates and children less than five years of age.

Severe asthma (SA) is asthma that remains uncontrolled despite patient adherence to mainteneance therapies and management of contributing factors, or asthma which worsens when high-dose treatments are reduced. It is estimated that 5-10% of asthma patients in Canada have SA. The condition is a significant burden on patients’ quality of life, and is associated with increased number and severity of exacerbations, hospitalizations, and mortality

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19, which has emerged as a health emergency worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 infects cells by binding to ACE2 receptors and enters into the cytoplasm following its escape from endolysosomes. Once in the cytoplasm, the virus replicates and eventually causes various pathological conditions including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that is caused by pro-inflammatory cytokine storms.

In early 2020, the contagious and deadly virus, SARS-CoV-2, was identified. The virus spread rapidly worldwide and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March of 2020 [1]. While many who became infected remained asymptomatic, an alarming number of infected individuals developed severe symptoms, often requiring hospitalization and intensive care, or resulting in death.

While other countries have begun to see a flattening of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) curve, the United States continues to see a rise in cases, with approximately 7.4 million confirmed cases to date. Even more worrisome, various news articles have begun to shed light on the healthcare inequities that have become increasingly more transparent during this crisis.

The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is frequently hyperactivated in different types of breast cancer. In the past two decades, major efforts have been made to develop inhibitors of this pathway to treat cancer patients. 

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasing health problem when left untreated. NAFLD is defined as accumulation of fat in 5% of the hepatocytes. NAFLD can convert into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which is defined as inflammatory NAFLD. Both NAFLD and NASH are observed in individuals suffering from metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Continuous, non-invasive optical brain pulse monitoring (OBPM; Cyban Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia) represents a significant advancement in the field of neurological monitoring. OBP monitoring uses red and infrared light sources to capture cardiac and respiratory waves from brain pulse waveforms, which reflect changes in both brain oxygen levels and brain movement.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents an escalating global health concern. Its prevalence varies significantly across different regions, in Asia it ranges from 30-32%, with notably higher prevalence in the Middle East. Europe reports a prevalence of 27-33%, while North America shows a range of 35-48%.

Interferons (IFNs) are a class of small immunological proteins that are secreted by infected cells during viral or bacterial infections to combat and prevent infection propagation [1]. They play important roles in triggering signal cascade processes inside the cell that activate other immune cells and limit viral multiplication.

Two distinct, but intertwining, threads of inquiry have demonstrated that the PDE4, or cAMP-selective, phosphodiesterases, have an essential role in human cognition, learning and memory. Study of genetically-modified preclinical models, and of humans with mutations in the PDE4D gene, has provided some of the most rigorous proof of the importance of PDE4 signaling in the CNS. More recently, clinical trials of PDE4-selective inhibitors have shown promising clinical activity in disorders of cognition and memory.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive pediatric bone tumor that is prone to metastasis. Due to low five-year survival rates and limited therapeutic options for metastatic disease, there is a dire clinical need for improved ES treatments. Targeting p21-activated kinases (PAKs) may be key. PAK1 and PAK4 are associated with aggressive ES and poor patient outcomes, although their molecular mechanisms remain largely uncharacterized in this disease.

In normal cells, homologous recombination (HR) is strictly regulated and precise and plays an important role in preserving genomic integrity by accurately repairing DNA damage. RAD51 is the recombinase which mediates homologous base pairing and strand exchange during DNA repair by HR. We have previously reported that HR is spontaneously elevated (or dysregulated) in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and contributes to ongoing genomic changes and instability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of RAD51 inhibitor on genomic toxicity caused by etoposide, a chemotherapeutic agent.

The incidence and prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) globally is 1.28 per 100,000 population-years (95% CI, 1.01-1.63) and 15.65 per 100,000 population (95% CI, 13.42-18.24), respectively [1]. The incidence and prevalence in children is 0.4 and 3.0 cases per 100,000 children [2], and in adults 17 per 100,000 [3,4].

Vitamin B12 is one of the most complex non-protein compounds as described by Dorothy Hodgkin, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist, who discovered the molecular crystal structure of B12. Cobalamins (vitamin B12 derivatives) contain the rare transition metal, cobalt (Co), positioned in the center of a corrin ring and weakly bound to carbon.  While cobalamins are synthesized only in certain bacteria and archaea, not in mice or humans, they are co-enzymes essential for all life except for plants. For example, in higher vertebrates, methyl-cobalamin and 5’-deoxyadenosyl-cobalamin are essential for the function of methionine synthase and methylmalonyl CoA mutase, respectively.

Discovered in a large-scale screening of natural plant chemicals, Taxol/paclitaxel and the taxane family of compounds are surprisingly successful anti-cancer drugs, used in treatment of the majority of solid tumors, and especially suitable for metastatic and recurrent cancer. Paclitaxel is often used in combination with platinum agents and is administrated in a dose dense regimen to treat recurrent cancer.

Cancer care has been greatly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate throughout the United States and the world. Worldwide, over 150 million people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and more than 3 million have died.

Sweat, an exocrine fluid secreted (sweat gland tissue of the eccrine and apocrine glands) by skin has an indispensable function for regulating body temperature and skin hydration [1]. The eccrine gland performs 90% of sweat secretion and secretory fluid of eccrine glands consists of 99% water and 1% inorganic substances.

The nucleosome, consisting of ~150bp of DNA wrapped around a core histone octamer, is a regulator of nuclear events that contributes to gene expression and cell fate. Nucleosome organization at promoters and their associated remodeling events are important regulators of access to the genome. Occupancy alone, however, is not the only nucleosomal characteristic that plays a role in genome regulation. Nucleosomes at the transcription start sites (TSSs) of genes show differential sensitivity to micrococcal nuclease (MNase) and this differential sensitivity is linked to transcription and regulatory factor binding events. 

The complexity of the tumor microenvironment has been a challenge for understanding the mechanisms of therapy resistance. The development of improved animal models that closely mimic human disease is key for understanding and treating diseases. Recently, a new humanized mouse model has been developed that enables the study of human immune cells in tumor host-cell interactions

Camping trips are often a lot of work, especially with children. Purchasing supplies, finding a location, and dealing with scary animals are often just too much. Inspired by so many films, my family instead set up a tent to camp in the backyard.

In the United States, lung and bronchus cancers are the second most common types of cancer and are responsible for the largest number of deaths from cancer, with African Americans suffering disproportionately from lung and bronchus cancers. This disparity likely results from a complex interplay among social, psycho-social, lifestyle, environmental, health system, and biological determinants of health.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex behavioral disorder characterized by hyperactivity, increased impulsivity, and inattention [1-3]. Methylphenidate (MPD) is the most
commonly prescribed psychostimulant for management and treatment of ADHD [3-7].

For thousands of years, simulations have been used by doctors for training before performing high-risk procedures on patients. Due to changes in healthcare and academic environments, as well as the introduction of new technologies, we have seen an increase in the use of simulation for education and competency assessment.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths [1]. However, significant improvements in the past decades have been achieved with improved outcomes [2-4]. Several mutations have been described as promoters of oncogenesis, and specific treatments are available, including those for Epidermal Growth Factor (EGFR) mutations [4].

This study examines differences between patients with and without cancer in patient demographic and clinical characteristics and COVID-19 mortality and discusses the implications of these differences in relation to existing cancer disparities and COVID-19 vulnerabilities. Data was collected as a part of a retrospective study on a cohort of COVID-19 positive patients across Mount Sinai Health System from March 28, 2020 to April 26, 2020. Descriptive, comparative, and regression analyses were applied to examine differences between patients with and without cancer in demographic and clinical characteristics and COVID-19 mortality and whether cancer status predicts COVID-19 mortality controlling for these covariates using SAS 9.4. Results showed that, of 4641 patients who tested positive for COVID-19, 5.1% (N=236) had cancer.

Influenza A virus (IAV) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPn) are two major respiratory pathogens in humans. IAV infection alone is often self-limited, and SPn colonization can be found in 5-90% of healthy individuals, as normal flora [1,2].

Prenatal care for patients with cardiac disease is complex, often involving close surveillance, intensive monitoring, and peripartum interventions that can result in mother infant separation after birth. Though these experiences can be distressing for patients, little is known about postpartum depression rates in this high-risk population. Characterizing postpartum depression and identifying risk factors might inform risk reduction strategies.

CD226 is a transmembrane glycoprotein with a well-defined structural organization, which is primarily expressed on natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells, and some subsets of B cells [1,2]. Its primary structure consists of an extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail [1]. Each of these domains contributes to the protein's overall function.

Nicotinamide (Nam, amide form of niacin acid or nicotinate), a precursor for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), is important for normal physiological function of organisms. Nam also suppresses mobilization of Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum into cytoplasm through inhibiting ADP-ribose cyclase. Previously, we have demonstrated that a pharmacological dose of Nam normalizes maternal blood pressure in mouse models of preeclampsia, a pregnancy related hypertensive disorder.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States. Because lung cancer is genetically heterogeneous, tailored therapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy would increase patient overall survival as compared with the one-size-fits-all chemotherapy. TP53-mutant lung cancer accounts for more than half of all lung cancer cases and is oftentimes more aggressive and resistant to chemotherapy. Directly targeting mutant p53 has not yet been successful, so identification of novel therapy targets and biomarkers in the TP53-mutant lung cancer is urgently needed to increase the overall survival in this subgroup.

Although human civilization has developed through genomic evolution, including its fingernail-functional cooperation, the daily lives of humans have resulted in a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) being released into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution, which started almost 200 years ago. Recently, climate change has been documented to have spread globally.

Anesthetic recovery can be a critical period since neurocognitive problems such as agitation and delirium are often seen during the early recovery phase. We recently demonstrated that an α2-adrenergic agonist dexmedetomidine-induced unconsciousness and accompanying brain dynamics changes were completely and instantly reversed by the α2-adrenergic antagonist in the nonhuman primate model.

We recently found that global deletion of TRPC1 produces phenotypes similar to FHH. These TRPC1 null mice have mildly elevated serum Ca in both fasted and unfasted conditions from 3.5 through 21.5 months of age, and inappropriately elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. They also have hypocalciuria, similar to FHH patients.

The optimal range of cell dose, route of administration, and timing for the treatement of neonatal encephalopathy are not known. However, it is not practical to systematically interrogate all combinations of these variables in animal models to define the optimal cell therapy protocol. Despite this limitation, a number of trends are present in the literature that should be considered when designing future clinical and preclinical trials.

Amyloid transformation under laboratory conditions is achieved by shaking an aqueous solution of any protein. The shaking time varies significantly, demonstrating the variable degree of ease of structural transformation in a given protein. The structural specificity that distinguishes amyloid forms from biologically active proteins is the flatness (two-dimensionality) of the form of each chain in the amyloid fibril.

In ongoing efforts to bring innovation to healthcare, technology and patient self-management are at an important intersection. Our study, "A Mobile App for Chronic Disease Self-Management for Individuals with Low Health Literacy: A Multisite Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial” [1], serves as a potentially useful contribution to this intersection by addressing the challenges faced by older adults with chronic conditions and low health literacy in managing chronic health conditions. 

In the early phases of the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) the emphasis of diagnosis and treatment was on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Arrestins were discovered as key players in the conserved two-step homologous desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): they specifically bind active phosphorylated GPCRs, precluding their coupling to cognate G proteins, thereby stopping (“arresting”) G protein-mediated receptor signaling [1]. 

Clearly, elite soccer athletes can lose performance as the time matches comes to an end, due to fatigue, match intensity, dehydration, and also, oftentimes, due to poor nutrition or poor supply of energy through carbohydrates.

Expectancy-Value theory was originally proposed by John William Atkinson in the 1950s and 60s as an attempt to understand different behaviors of students including persistence, decision making when given multiple opportunities to choose from, and the effort of striving for success.

Nationally, patients experience multiple barriers to receiving mental health care. In many parts of the US, access to mental health providers is limited. For many patients, getting an appointment with a psychiatrist is difficult and often takes weeks. When patients are able to schedule appointments with a psychiatrist, the visits are usually short and aimed mostly at prescribing medications. For patients with serious conditions like schizophrenia or major depression, the consequences of unattended emergence or worsening of symptoms during those time intervals can be severe.

In prior work, we analyzed gene expression profiles of mouse, rat and human gastrocnemius muscles to identify conserved regulators of muscle aging processes. By further comparing data obtained from different muscles we found stronger conservation of aging-related factors at the level of molecular pathways than at the level of individual genes.

Objectives: Physical function impairment can cause great stress to older adults. The purpose of the study is to investigate the association between self-reported and directly-observed physical function on perceived stress among U.S. Chinese older adults. 

Acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening condition, leading to rapid fatality if not promptly treated. The risk for Type A aortic dissection is increased in patients with preexisting thoracic aortic aneurysms, but specific triggering events leading to acute aortic dissection are incompletely understood. Our recent research suggests that influenza may be a risk factor for ATAAD by demonstrating a relationship between regional influenza activity and hospital admissions for ATAAD.

Histological analysis of fluorescently labeled tissues has been a critical tool to understand molecular organization in situ. However, assessing molecular structures within large cells and in the context of human organ anatomy has been challenging because it requires penetration of staining reagents and light deep into opaque tissues, while also conforming to the spatial constraints of high-resolution objective lenses.

Gating of voltage-dependent sodium channels involves coordinated movements of the voltage sensors in the voltage-sensing modules (VSMs) of the four domains (DI-DIV) in response to membrane depolarization. Zhu et al. have recently examined the effects of charge reversal substitutions at the VSM of domain III on the action of scorpion alpha- and beta-toxins that intercept the voltage sensors in domains IV and II, respectively.

Although essential metal ions are required in the body, neurotoxicity occurs when exposed to a concentration of metal that the body cannot accommodate. In the case of non-essential metals which are important in industry, these elements have the property of causing neurotoxicity even at small concentrations. When such neurotoxicity progresses chronically, it can contribute to various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Substance use disorders continue to be major medical and social problems worldwide. The use of opiate has grown substantially over the past three decades reaching the dimensions of a global epidemic. Current drug treatments have many limitations: long treatment times, dependency on treatment medications, relapses after treatment, high costs of treatment, and non-adherence by affected persons. Most of the available drug treatments for opiate addiction belong to the opioid family. Some worry that the availability of the drugs may simply cause substituting one opioid medication for another.

Aside its function in locomotion, posture maintenance and respiration, the hSKM is reported to be a critical metabolic regulator [1]. The hSKM is acknowledged as the primary site of glucose metabolism and storage [1]. Additionally, it serves as a reserve for amino acids [1,2]. In recently times, the hSKM has also been described as an endocrine organ.

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a significantly increased risk for cognitive impairment that is associated with cerebrovascular remodeling and endothelial dysfunction. The sub-acute stage following high thoracic SCI is characterized by increased fibrosis and stiffness of cerebral arteries. However, a more prolonged duration after SCI exacerbates cerebrovascular injury by damaging endothelium.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) through breastfeeding remains a major source of pediatric HIV-1 infection worldwide. To characterize plasma HIV-1 subtype C populations from infected mothers during pregnancy that related to subsequent breast milk transmission, an exploratory study was designed to apply next generation sequencing and a custom bioinformatics pipeline for HIV-1 gp41 extending from heptad repeat region 2 (HR2) through the membrane proximal external region (MPER) and the membrane spanning domain (MSD).

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. However, not much is known of underlying molecular mechanism and how oxidative stress contributes to its development. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of TGFβ signaling pathway on the effect of oxidative stress on VEGF secretion and viability of retinal cells. VEGF is the hallmark that exacerbates DR progression in prolonged diabetes. Some major concerns that have arisen are the underlying effects of antioxidants in elevating VEGF secretion in diabetes.

The identification of calcified sclero-choroidal choristomas (CaSCCs) in patients with mosaic RASopathies introduces a new dimension to understanding ocular manifestations in these genetic disorders.

Since the publication of our previous paper, Visual cycle proteins: Structure, function, and roles in human retinal disease (Tsin, et.al, JBC 293:13016, 2018) there has been significant progress on multiple topics discussed in this paper. In the present communication, we further explore research advances on two visual cycle proteins: DES1 and IRBP.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by multiple molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities, with increasing data to support clinical and prognostic implications to guide clinical decision making. One of the most well described mutations involves fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) that results in a constitutively active tyrosine kinase and is generally associated with poor prognosis involving shorter overall survival and higher rates of relapse.

Sanfilippo Syndrome Type-B remains an untreatable childhood neurodegenerative disease with great burden for both patient and caregiver. Very few clinical trials have been undertaken to treat the disease, and none of these have yet yielded clinically obtainable products for patients. Caused by a simple enzyme function deficiency, Sanfilippo Syndrome Type-B has been considered a great prospect for gene-therapy interventions.

Diabetes is a complex, multi-symptomatic disease whose complications drives increases in healthcare costs as the diabetes prevalence grows rapidly world-wide. Real-world electronic health records (EHRs) coupled with patient biospecimens, biological understanding, and technologies can characterize emerging diagnostic autoimmune markers resulting from proteomic discoveries.

While opioids remain our most potent analgesics in the management of pain, the many potential harms of prescription opioids have become increasingly clear. Despite the analgesic benefits for people with acute and chronic pain [1], opioid therapy (especially long-term opioid treatment) can result in significant problems such as opioid misuse, the development of opioid use disorder, and overdose. Some authors report that up to 20-30% of patients in primary and tertiary care settings who are maintained on long-term opioid therapy misuse opioids (i.e., use them in a manner other than how the opioids are prescribed) [2,3]. Misuse of opioids can cause or exacerbate additional health problems in people with chronic pain [1,4], and in fact, roughly 10% of patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy may develop an opioid use disorder (OUD), although prevalence varies between studies depending on differences in methodology and operational definitions [3]. 

The protein hormone adiponectin regulates glucose and fatty acid metabolism by binding to two PAQR-family receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2). Both receptors feature a C-terminal segment which is released by proteolysis to form a freely circulating C-terminal fragment (CTF) found in the plasma of normal individuals but not in some undefined diabetes patients.

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibits cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), which catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. In control environments, low-dose aspirin (75 mg or 81 mg) inhibits COX-1 and disrupts the production of thromboxane, reducing platelet aggregation

Liver masses account for 5 to 6% of pediatric cancer, which includes hepatoblastoma (HBL) along with rare cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The most dangerous form of pediatric liver cancer is aggressive HBL, which can be characterized by chemo-resistance and multiple nodules or metastases at diagnosis, all correlating with worse clinical prognosis. Despite intensive studies and a significant improvement in overall outcomes, very little is known about the key molecular pathways which determine the aggressiveness of pediatric liver cancer.

The action potential (AP) in cardiac tissue is important for initiating and coordinating contractions in the heart. In addition, the long refractory period minimizes the potential for developing extrasystoles and arrhythmias. The AP is generated by coordinate changes in different ionic currents. In human (or canine) adult ventricular cells, the depolarization phase of the AP is mainly through the influx of Na+ and Ca2+ through specific voltage gated channels.

Geophagy is described in most countries of the world as a practice observed in pregnant women. In industrialized countries, it results from migrant populations who carry with them their cultural habits and practices. This is the case in France and more particularly in Guiana, an overseas territory. Originally used to treat the ills of pregnancy, it is today considered to be dangerous for the woman and her unborn child.

Manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) is a sutureless cataract surgery that has multiple advantages over traditional phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) procedures. SICS became the procedure of choice for international ophthalmology, where the microscopes and operating room can be more challenging, in addition to the more advanced pathology often seen.

Here we report a novel method of performing a Neodyminium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy in an adult patient, unable to tolerate the procedure awake with topical anaesthesia in the outpatient clinic setting. The procedure was performed by altering the chin rest and arms of the Nd:YAG laser machine so that the procedure could be undertaken in an anaesthetized patient in the operating theatre, in the lateral decubitus position, with the laser machine upright in its normal position.