Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Weiyue Zhang, Xin Guo, Lulu Chen, Ting Chen, Jiayu Yu, Chaodong Wu, Juan Zheng
Summary: The ketogenic diet (KD) has shown promising effects in managing various cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs) like obesity, heart failure, and hypertension, but remains controversial in diabetes and dyslipidemia. Current evidence suggests that KD is generally protective against obesity-related cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) but contradictory in diabetes and other metabolic disorder-related CVDs. More rigorous research focusing on clinical safety, treatment duration, and plan of KDs is needed to address the existing controversies.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jose Israel Leon-Pedroza, Octavio Rodriguez-Cortes, Raul Flores-Mejia, Cinthia Vianney Gaona-Aguas, Antonio Gonzalez-Chavez
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of MetS components combinations on the risk of death among COVID-19 patients. It found that the presence of one MetS component doubles the risk of death, with patients having DM2 + hypertension showing a higher risk, while there was no significant interaction between obesity and CVD.
ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Virology
Shaghayegh Khanmohammadi, Nima Rezaei
Summary: COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to a pandemic. TLRs play a crucial role in activating the immune system in response to the virus, and could potentially be a target for controlling the infection. Understanding the mechanisms of TLR in COVID-19 may help in developing vaccines and treatments.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sabrina E. Racine-Brzostek, He S. Yang, Gwendolyne A. Jack, Zhengming Chen, Amy Chadburn, Thomas J. Ketas, Erik Francomano, P. J. Klasse, John P. Moore, Kathleen A. McDonough, Roxanne C. Girardin, Alan P. Dupuis, Anne F. Payne, Lucy X. Ma, Jacob Sweeney, Elaine Zhong, Jim Yee, Melissa M. Cushing, Zhen Zhao
Summary: Postconvalescent SARS-CoV-2 IgG and neutralizing antibodies are elevated in obese patients, and there is a positive correlation between BMI and antibody levels.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Myriam Vidal Valero
Summary: The proportion of incarcerated people who were Black or Latino increased during the pandemic, mainly because of sentencing differences.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christie Aschwanden
Summary: Despite vaccination efforts in full force, the theoretical threshold for conquering COVID-19 appears to be unattainable.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Elaine A. Yu, Rachael P. Jackman, Marshall J. Glesby, K. M. Venkat Narayan
Summary: Cardiometabolic diseases have been found to be associated with COVID-19 severity, but the specific mechanisms are unclear. Studies have shown that obesity is related to higher neutralizing antibody titers after SARS-CoV-2 infection, while diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases are not associated with antibody levels.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Valentin Sencio, Nicolas Benech, Cyril Robil, Lucie Deruyter, Severine Heumel, Arnaud Machelart, Thierry Sulpice, Antonin Lamaziere, Corinne Grangette, Francois Briand, Harry Sokol, Francois Trottein
Summary: Obese patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19, and changes in the gut microbiota's composition may play a critical role in disease severity. The study found that infection with SARS-CoV-2 induced various changes in the gut microbiota in a diet-dependent manner, with more prominent and persistent alterations in obese NASH animals. These changes were also associated with alterations in the metabolic output of the gut microbiota. The results suggest that specific diet-associated taxa may influence COVID-19 outcomes.
Book Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hugh Pennington
Summary: Pathogens and pandemics have had a significant impact on human history, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, but the exact effects of these events are still highly disputed.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nidhi Subbaraman
Summary: The National Institutes of Health will fund researchers to track people's recovery and set up a biospecimen bank to investigate 'long COVID', with a $1 billion investment from the US health agency.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amy Maxmen
Summary: The WHO report on the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic focuses on animal markets, suggesting they may be the source of the virus. However, supporters of the lab-leak theory are not satisfied with this conclusion.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara Reardon
Summary: A biosecurity panel convened a meeting to approve recommendations, but the proceedings became complicated due to numerous concerns.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dyani Lewis
Summary: Early in the pandemic, the World Health Organization wrongly stated that SARS-CoV-2 was not transmitted through the air, causing confusion and raising questions about the future handling of pandemics.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas J. Bollyky, Jennifer Nuzzo, Noelle Huhn, Samantha Kiernan, Emily Pond
Summary: Speeding up the development of new vaccines will not be very effective in the next pandemic unless world leaders work faster to distribute vaccinations globally.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Eisenstein
Summary: These apps can predict the probability of infection and illness based on user activities and location.
Review
Hematology
Farwah Iqbal, Adrien Lupieri, Masanori Aikawa, Elena Aikawa
Summary: The transition of healthy arteries and cardiac valves into pathological tissues is driven by a complex interplay of cellular and molecular mechanisms. Single-cell RNA sequencing has emerged as a powerful tool to profile cell populations and identify unique genetic profiles in cardiovascular tissues. It has led to the discovery of new cell types implicated in cardiovascular disease and has improved our understanding of the pathological mechanisms of atherosclerosis and calcific aortic valve disease.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Simone Cristina Soares Brandao, Emmanuelle Tenorio Albuquerque Madruga Godoi, Lucia Helena de Oliveira Cordeiro, Camila Silva Bezerra, Julia de Oliveira Xavier Ramos, Gustavo Freitas Alves de Arruda, Esdras Marques Lins
Summary: COVID-19 and obesity both trigger immune system activation and inflammation. In severe COVID-19 patients, a cytokine storm occurs, while inflammation is further intensified in obese patients. These pathophysiological mechanisms lead to increased systemic inflammation and complications.
ARCHIVES OF ENDOCRINOLOGY METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sasha A. Singh, Allison B. Andraski, Hideyuki Higashi, Lang Ho Lee, Ashisha Ramsaroop, Frank M. Sacks, Masanori Aikawa
Summary: This study demonstrates the ability of Orbitrap Lumos to measure tracers in proteins with low abundance, such as PLTP, CETP, and LCAT, and reveals their unique metabolic structures through compartmental modeling. Advanced MS technologies enabled the determination of these lipid transfer proteins' metabolic characteristics.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica L. Ruiz, Joshua D. Hutcheson, Luis Cardoso, Amirala Bakhshian Nik, Alexandra Condado de Abreu, Tan Pham, Fabrizio Buffolo, Sara Busatto, Stefania Federici, Andrea Ridolfi, Masanori Aikawa, Sergio Bertazzo, Paolo Bergese, Sheldon Weinbaum, Elena Aikawa
Summary: The study demonstrates that bisphosphonates can alter EV-driven calcification process, affecting microcalcification morphology and risk of plaque rupture. The 3D hydrogel is a viable platform for studying EV-mediated mineral nucleation and evaluating potential therapies for cardiovascular calcification.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Gerson Gomes dos Santos Junior, Paulo Sergio Ramos Araujo, Kaliene Maria Estevao Leite, Emmanuelle Tenorio Godoi, Adriana Ferraz Vasconcelos, Heloisa Ramos Lacerda
Summary: After 6 months of treatment with atorvastatin + aspirin, older individuals were more likely to present with an increased FMD, but neither a reduction in IMT nor an increase in FMD were significantly associated with other factors.
ARQUIVOS BRASILEIROS DE CARDIOLOGIA
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mayara L. C. Dourado, Luca T. Dompieri, Glauber M. Leitao, Felipe A. Mourato, Renata G. G. Santos, Paulo I. Almeida Filho, Brivaldo Markman Filho, Brivaldo Markman, Marcelo D. T. Melo, Simone C. S. Brandao
Summary: This study investigated the effect of chemotherapy on the heart of lymphoma patients using F-18-FDG PET/CT scans. The results showed a clear increase in cardiac F-18-FDG uptake during and/or after chemotherapy, which is consistent with previous studies. The findings suggest that F-18-FDG PET/CT is a sensitive and reliable imaging test for detecting early metabolic signs of cardiotoxicity.
ARQUIVOS BRASILEIROS DE CARDIOLOGIA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Hematology
Julius L. Decano, Masanori Aikawa, Sasha A. Singh
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Andrew Kuo, Antonio Checa, Colin Niaudet, Bongnam Jung, Zhongjie Fu, Craig E. Wheelock, Sasha A. Singh, Masanori Aikawa, Lois E. Smith, Richard L. Proia, Timothy Hla
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of endothelial sphingolipid biosynthesis in regulating vascular development, maintaining circulatory and peripheral organ sphingolipid levels, and contributing to lipid raft formation and efficient signaling. The deletion of SPTLC1 in endothelial cells leads to impaired proliferation, differentiation, and delayed retinal vascular development. Furthermore, EC-derived sphingolipid metabolites are in constant flux between the vasculature, circulation, and non-CNS organs, and play a role in hepatocyte response to stress.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Francesca Bartoli-Leonard, Jonas Zimmer, Abhijeet R. R. Sonawane, Katelyn Perez, Mandy E. E. Turner, Shiori Kuraoka, Tan Pham, Feifei Li, Masanori Aikawa, Sasha Singh, Luke Brewster, Elena Aikawa
Summary: The study reveals the significant role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in peripheral arterial disease (PAD), contributing to macrophage accumulation and calcification in the arteries of PAD patients.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Florian Schlotter, Renata C. C. de Freitas, Maximillian A. Rogers, Mark C. Blaser, Pin-Jou Wu, Hideyuki Higashi, Arda Halu, Farwah Iqbal, Allison B. Andraski, Cayla N. Rodia, Shiori Kuraoka, Jennifer R. Wen, Michael Creager, Tan Pham, Joshua D. Hutcheson, Simon C. Body, Alison B. Kohan, Frank M. Sacks, Masanori Aikawa, Sasha A. Singh, Elena Aikawa
Summary: This study investigates the role of apolipoproteins in calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Specific apolipoproteins were found to be associated with valvular calcification, with apoC-III identified as an active and modifiable driver of CAVD.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)