Unravelling the Basic Calcium Phosphate crystal-dependent chondrocyte protein secretome; a role for TGF-ß signaling.

OBJECTIVE: Basic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) crystals play an active role in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the cellular consequences remain largely unknown. Therefore, we characterized for the first time the changes in the protein secretome of human OA articular chondrocytes as a result of BCP stimulation using two unbiased proteomic analysis methods. METHOD: Isolated human OA articular chondrocytes were stimulated with BCP crystals and examined by Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) after twenty-four and forty-eight hours. Forty-eight hours conditioned media were analyzed by label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and an antibody array. The activity of BCP dependent Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-ß) signaling was analyzed by RT-qPCR and luciferase reporter assays. The molecular consequences regarding BCP-dependent TGF-ß signaling on BCP-dependent Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were investigated using specific pathway inhibitors. RESULTS: Synthesized BCP crystals induced IL-6 expression and secretion upon stimulation of human articular chondrocytes. Concomitant induction of catabolic gene expression was observed. Analysis of conditioned media revealed a complex and diverse response with a large number of proteins involved in TGF-ß signaling, both in activation of latent TGF-ß and TGF-ß superfamily members, which were increased compared to non-stimulated OA chondrocytes. Activity of this BCP driven TGF-ß signaling was confirmed by increased activity of expression of TGF-ß target genes and luciferase reporters. Inhibition of BCP driven TGF-ß signaling resulted in decreased IL-6 expression and secretion with a moderate effect on catabolic gene expression. CONCLUSION: BCP crystal stimulation resulted in a complex and diverse chondrocyte protein secretome response. An important role for BCP-dependent TGF-ß signaling was identified in development of a pro-inflammatory environment.

Impact of Pandemic Response on Training Experience of Anesthesiology Residents in an Academic Medical Center: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic substantially altered operations at hospitals that support graduate medical education. We examined the impact of the pandemic on an anesthesiology training program with respect to overall case volume, subspecialty exposure, procedural skill experience, and approaches to airway management. Methods Data for this single center, retrospective cohort study came from an Institutional Review Board approved repository for clinical data. Date ranges were divided into the following phases in 2020: Pre-Pandemic (PP), Early Pandemic (EP), Recovery 1 (R1), and Recovery 2 (R2). All periods were compared to the same period from 2019 for case volume, anesthesia provider type, trainee exposure to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) index case categories, airway technique, and patient variables. Results 15,087 cases were identified, with 5,598 (37.6%) in the PP phase, 1,570 (10.5%) in the EP phase, 1,451 (9.7%) in the R1 phase, and 6,269 (42.1%) in the R2 phase. There was a significant reduction in case volume during the EP phase compared to the corresponding period in 2019 (-55.3%; P < .001) that improved but did not return to baseline by the R2 phase (-17.6%; P < .001). ACGME required minimum cases were reduced during the EP phase compared to 2019 data for pediatric cases (age < 12 y, -72.1%; P < .001 and age < 3 y, -53.5%; P < .006) and cardiopulmonary bypass cases (52.3%, P < .003). Surgical subspecialty case volumes were significantly reduced in the EP phase except for transplant surgery. By the R2 phase, all subspecialty volumes had recovered except for plastic surgery (14.9 vs. 10.5 cases/week; P < .006) and surgical endoscopy (59.2 vs. 40 cases/week; P < .001). Use of video laryngoscopy (VL) and rapid sequence induction and intubation (RSII) also increased from the PP to the EP phase (24.6 vs. 79.6%; P < .001 and 10.3 vs. 52.3%; P < .001, respectively) and remained elevated into the R2 phase (35.2%; P < 0.001 and 23.1%; P < .001, respectively). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic produced significant changes in surgical case exposure for a relatively short period. The impact was short-lived, with sufficient remaining time to meet the annual ACGME program minimum case requirements and procedural experiences. The longer-term impact may be a shift towards the increased use of VL and RSII, which became more prevalent during the early phase of the pandemic.

Ribosomal RNA-based epitranscriptomic regulation of chondrocyte translation and proteome in osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis-related cartilage extracellular matrix remodeling is dependent on changes in chondrocyte protein expression. Yet, the role of ribosomes in chondrocyte translation regulation is unknown. In this exploratory study, we investigated ribosomal RNA (rRNA) epitranscriptomic-based ribosome heterogeneity in human articular chondrocytes and its relevance for osteoarthritis. METHODS: Sequencing-based rRNA 2'-O-methylation profiling analysis (RiboMethSeq) was performed on non-OA primary human articular chondrocytes (n = 5) exposed for 14 days to osteoarthritic synovial fluid (14 donors, pooled, 20% v/v). The SW1353 SNORD71 KO cell pool was generated using LentiCRISPRv2/Cas9. The mode of translation initiation and fidelity were determined by dual-luciferase reporters. The cellular proteome was analyzed by LC-MS/MS and collagen type I protein expression was evaluated by immunoblotting. Loading of COL1A1 mRNA into polysomes was determined by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation and fractionation. RESULTS: We discovered that osteoarthritic synovial fluid instigates site-specific changes in the rRNA 2'-O-me profile of primary human articular chondrocytes. We identified five sites with differential 2'-O-me levels. The 2'-O-me status of 5.8S-U14 (one of identified differential 2'-O-me sites; decreased by 7.7%, 95% CI [0.9-14.5%]) was targeted by depleting the level of its guide snoRNA SNORD71 (50% decrease, 95% CI [33-64%]). This resulted in an altered ribosome translation modus (e.g., CrPV IRES, FC 3, 95% CI [2.2-4.1]) and promoted translation of COL1A1 mRNA which led to increased levels of COL1A1 protein (FC 1.7, 95% CI [1.3-2.0]). CONCLUSIONS: Our data identify a novel concept suggesting that articular chondrocytes employ rRNA epitranscriptomic mechanisms in osteoarthritis development.

Development of a cyclic-inverso AHSG/Fetuin A-based peptide for inhibition of calcification in osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Ectopic calcification is an important contributor to chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis. Currently, no effective therapies exist to counteract calcification. We developed peptides derived from the calcium binding domain of human Alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein (AHSG/Fetuin A) to counteract calcification. METHODS: A library of seven 30 amino acid (AA) long peptides, spanning the 118 AA Cystatin 1 domain of AHSG, were synthesized and evaluated in an in vitro calcium phosphate precipitation assay. The best performing peptide was modified (cyclic, retro-inverso and combinations thereof) and evaluated in cellular calcification models and the rat Medial Collateral Ligament Transection + Medial Meniscal Tear (MCLT + MMT) osteoarthritis model. RESULTS: A cyclic peptide spanning AA 1-30 of mature AHSG showed clear inhibition of calcium phosphate precipitation in the nM-pM range that far exceeded the biological activity of the linear peptide variant or bovine Fetuin. Biochemical and electron microscopy analyses of calcium phosphate particles revealed a similar, but distinct, mode of action in comparison with bFetuin. A cyclic-inverso variant of the AHSG 1-30 peptide inhibited calcification of human articular chondrocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells and during osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow derived stromal cells. Lastly, we evaluated the effect of intra-articular injection of the cyclic-inverso AHSG 1-30 peptide in a rat osteoarthritis model. A significant improvement was found in histopathological osteoarthritis score and animal mobility. Serum levels of IFNγ were found to be lower in AHSG 1-30 peptide treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: The cyclic-inverso AHSG 1-30 peptide directly inhibits the calcification process and holds the potential for future application in osteoarthritis.

Direct comparison of non-osteoarthritic and osteoarthritic synovial fluid-induced intracellular chondrocyte signaling and phenotype changes.

OBJECTIVE: Since the joint microenvironment and tissue homeostasis are highly dependent on synovial fluid, we aimed to compare the essential chondrocyte signaling signatures of non-osteoarthritic vs end-stage osteoarthritic knee synovial fluid. Moreover, we determined the phenotypic consequence of the distinct signaling patterns on articular chondrocytes. METHODS: Protein profiling of synovial fluid was performed using antibody arrays. Chondrocyte signaling and phenotypic changes induced by non-osteoarthritic and osteoarthritic synovial fluid were analyzed using a phospho-kinase array, luciferase-based transcription factor activity assays, and RT-qPCR. The origin of osteoarthritic synovial fluid signaling was evaluated by comparing the signaling responses of conditioned media from cartilage, synovium, infrapatellar fat pad and meniscus. Osteoarthritic synovial fluid induced pathway-phenotype relationships were evaluated using pharmacological inhibitors. RESULTS: Compared to non-osteoarthritic synovial fluid, osteoarthritic synovial fluid was enriched in cytokines, chemokines and growth factors that provoked differential MAPK, AKT, NFκB and cell cycle signaling in chondrocytes. Functional pathway analysis confirmed increased activity of these signaling events upon osteoarthritic synovial fluid stimulation. Tissue secretomes of osteoarthritic cartilage, synovium, infrapatellar fat pad and meniscus activated several inflammatory signaling routes. Furthermore, the distinct pathway signatures of osteoarthritic synovial fluid led to accelerated chondrocyte dedifferentiation via MAPK/ERK signaling, increased chondrocyte fibrosis through MAPK/JNK and PI3K/AKT activation, an elevated inflammatory response mediated by cPKC/NFκB, production of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes by MAPK/p38 and PI3K/AKT routes, and enabling of chondrocyte proliferation. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first mechanistic comparison between non-osteoarthritic and osteoarthritic synovial fluid, highlighting MAPKs, cPKC/NFκB and PI3K/AKT as crucial OA-associated intracellular signaling routes.

Discovery of a functionally selective ghrelin receptor (GHSR1a) ligand for modulating brain dopamine.

SignificanceThe modulation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor-1a (GHSR1a) signaling is a promising strategy for treating brain conditions of metabolism, aging, and addiction. GHSR1a activation results in pleiotropic physiological outcomes through distinct and pharmacologically separable G protein- and ß-arrestin (ßarr)-dependent signaling pathways. Thus, pathway-selective modulation can enable improved pharmacotherapeutics that can promote therapeutic efficacy while mitigating side effects. Here, we describe the discovery of a brain-penetrant small molecule, N8279 (NCATS-SM8864), that biases GHSR1a conformations toward Gαq activation and reduces aberrant dopaminergic behavior in mice. N8279 represents a promising chemical scaffold to advance the development of better treatments for GHSR1a-related brain disorders involving the pathological dysregulation of dopamine.

Pre-implantation alcohol exposure induces lasting sex-specific DNA methylation programming errors in the developing forebrain.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal alcohol exposure is recognized for altering DNA methylation profiles of brain cells during development, and to be part of the molecular basis underpinning Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) etiology. However, we have negligible information on the effects of alcohol exposure during pre-implantation, the early embryonic window marked with dynamic DNA methylation reprogramming, and on how this may rewire the brain developmental program. RESULTS: Using a pre-clinical in vivo mouse model, we show that a binge-like alcohol exposure during pre-implantation at the 8-cell stage leads to surge in morphological brain defects and adverse developmental outcomes during fetal life. Genome-wide DNA methylation analyses of fetal forebrains uncovered sex-specific alterations, including partial loss of DNA methylation maintenance at imprinting control regions, and abnormal de novo DNA methylation profiles in various biological pathways (e.g., neural/brain development). CONCLUSION: These findings support that alcohol-induced DNA methylation programming deviations during pre-implantation could contribute to the manifestation of neurodevelopmental phenotypes associated with FASD.

Novel Non-Opioid Based Therapeutics for Chronic Neuropathic Pain.

Chronic neuropathic pain is currently a major health issue in U.S. complicated by the lack of non-opioid analgesic alternatives. Our investigations led to the discovery of major signaling pathways involved in the transition of acute to chronic neuropathic pain and the identification of several targets for therapeutic intervention. Our translational approach has facilitated the advancement of novel medicines for chronic neuropathic pain that are in advanced clinical development and clinical trials.

Past, present and future of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide.

The existence of the peptide encoded by the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (Cartpt) has been recognized since 1981, but it was not until 1995, that the gene encoding CART peptide (CART) was identified. With the availability of the predicted protein sequence of CART investigators were able to identify sites of peptide localization, which then led to numerous approaches attempting to clarify CART's multiple pharmacologic effects and even provide evidence of potential physiologic relevance. Although not without controversy, a picture emerged of the importance of CART in ingestive behaviors, reward behaviors and even pain sensation. Despite the wealth of data hinting at the significance of CART, in the absence of an identified receptor, the full potential for this peptide or its analogs to be developed into therapeutic agents remained unrealized. There was evidence favoring the action of CART via a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), but despite multiple attempts the identity of that receptor eluded investigators until recently. Now with the identification of the previously orphaned GPCR, GPR160, as a receptor for CART, focus on this pluripotent neuropeptide will in all likelihood experience a renaissance and the potential for the development of pharmcotherapies targeting GPR160 seems within reach.

Early symptomatic neurosyphilis and ocular syphilis: A comparative study between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.

OBJECTIVES: Since the 2000s, there has been an increase in prevalence of neurosyphilis (NS) and ocular syphilis (OS). As data about symptomatic NS/OS is limited, this study aims to assess the characteristics of symptomatic NS/OS, according to HIV status. METHODS: We compared the clinical and biological presentation of early symptomatic NS/OS and its outcome in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients (93% men, 49% HIV-positive) were included from 2000 to 2016 in two centers, with 67 (69%) having OS, 15 (16%) NS, and 14 (14%) both. HIV-positive patients were younger (P=0.006) and more likely to be males having sex with males (P=0.00048) or to have a history of syphilis (P=0.01). Among 81 OS, there were 43 posterior uveitis (57%), and bilateral involvement was more common in HIV-positive patients (62% versus 38%, P=0.045). Among 29 NS there were 21 cases of cranial nerve involvement (72%), seven meningitis (24%) and 11 paresthesia (38%). Involvement of the VIIIth cranial nerve was the most common (16 cases). Treponemal tests were more commonly found positive in cerebrospinal fluid in HIV-positive patients (88% versus 76%, P=0.04). Visual acuity (VA) always improved after treatment (initial VA logMAR 0.8±0.8 versus 0.1±0.1 at 3 months), but 32% and 18% of the patients still had neurological or ocular impairment respectively six and 12 months after treatment. Non-treponemal serological reversion was observed in 43/50 patients (88%) at six months. CONCLUSION: HIV infection has no consequence on the outcome of NS and OS. Sequelae are common, emphasizing the importance of prevention, and screening, and questioning enhanced treatment.

Area of technical uncertainty for susceptibility testing of amoxicillin/clavulanate against Escherichia coli: analysis of automated system, Etest and disk diffusion methods compared to the broth microdilution reference.

OBJECTIVES: The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) recently warned about an area of technical uncertainty (ATU) of amoxicillin/clavulanate (AMX/C) disk susceptibility testing against members of the Enterobacterales. Thus, we aimed to compare the reliability of three routine methods and to evaluate the impact of the ATU. METHODS: 286 Escherichia coli strains (including 159 AMX-resistant strains) were categorized for the two EUCAST AMX/C breakpoints by disk diffusion (Bio-Rad), the Phoenix automated system (Becton Dickinson) and the Etest (AES) compared to the broth microdilution reference method. RESULTS: By microdilution, 84.2% of strains were AMX/C-susceptible using the urinary breakpoint (MIC ≤32 mg/L) and 62.2% using the systemic breakpoint (MIC ≤8 mg/L), with 63.6% of MICs between 4 and 16 mg/L. For the systemic breakpoint, category agreement (CA) and very major error (VME) were unacceptable for the Etest (71.7% and 27.3%), disk (73.1% and 23.4% at 19-mm cut-off) and to a lesser extent for the Phoenix system (83.6% and 10.5%). For disks, an unacceptable VME rate was observed for diameters up to 22 mm, probably due to overcharged disks. For the Etest, VMEs were high at 6 mg/L (46/63) and 8 mg/L (22/29). For the urinary breakpoint, CA was more acceptable for disk (88.9%) and Etest (84.3%) but was unevaluable for Phoenix. CONCLUSION: AMX/C susceptibility testing of E. coli for systemic breakpoint was unreliable with the three routine methods, explained mainly by the high prevalence (~60%) of strains with microdilution MICs around the breakpoint (8 mg/L). Our data confirmed the EUCAST 19-20-mm ATU for disk and suggest introducing ATU for Etest MIC values of 6 and 8 mg/L.

Developmental genome-wide DNA methylation asymmetry between mouse placenta and embryo.

In early embryos, DNA methylation is remodelled to initiate the developmental program but for mostly unknown reasons, methylation marks are acquired unequally between embryonic and placental cells. To better understand this, we generated high-resolution DNA methylation maps of mouse mid-gestation (E10.5) embryo and placenta. We uncovered specific subtypes of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that contribute directly to the developmental asymmetry existing between mid-gestation embryonic and placental DNA methylation patterns. We show that the asymmetry occurs rapidly during the acquisition of marks in the post-implanted conceptus (E3.5-E6.5), and that these patterns are long-lasting across subtypes of DMRs throughout prenatal development and in somatic tissues. We reveal that at the peri-implantation stages, the de novo methyltransferase activity of DNMT3B is the main driver of methylation marks on asymmetric DMRs, and that DNMT3B can largely compensate for lack of DNMT3A in the epiblast and extraembryonic ectoderm, whereas DNMT3A can only partially compensate in the absence of DNMT3B. However, as development progresses and as DNMT3A becomes the principal de novo methyltransferase, the compensatory DNA methylation mechanism of DNMT3B on DMRs becomes less effective.

GPR160 de-orphanization reveals critical roles in neuropathic pain in rodents.

Treating neuropathic pain is challenging and novel non-opioid-based medicines are needed. Using unbiased receptomics, transcriptomic analyses, immunofluorescence, and in situ hybridization, we found that the expression of the orphan GPCR Gpr160 and GPR160 increased in the rodent dorsal horn of the spinal cord following traumatic nerve injury. Genetic and immunopharmacological approaches demonstrated that GPR160 inhibition in the spinal cord prevented and reversed neuropathic pain in male and female rodents without altering normal pain response. GPR160 inhibition in the spinal cord attenuated sensory processing in the thalamus, a key relay in the sensory discriminative pathways of pain. We also identified cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CARTp) as a GPR160 ligand. Inhibiting endogenous CARTp signaling in spinal cord attenuated neuropathic pain, whereas exogenous intrathecal CARTp evoked painful hypersensitivity through GPR160-dependent ERK and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Our findings de-orphanize GPR160, identify it as a determinant of neuropathic pain and potential therapeutic target, and provide insights into its signaling pathways. CARTp is involved in many diseases including depression and reward and addiction; de-orphanization of GPR160 is a major step forward understanding the role of CARTp signaling in health and disease.

Identifying Perceptions and Preferences of the General Public Concerning Universal Screening of Children for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a common genetic disorder that, if untreated, predisposes individuals to premature coronary heart disease. As most individuals with FH remain undiagnosed, new approaches to detection are needed and should be considered a priority in public health genomics. Universal screening of children for FH has been proposed, and this study explores public perspectives on the acceptability of this approach. METHODS: A one-day deliberative public forum was held in Perth, WA, Australia. Thirty randomly selected individuals were recruited, with self-reported sociodemographic characteristics used to obtain discursive representation. Participants were presented with information from a variety of perspectives and asked to discuss the information provided to identify points of consensus and disagreement. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Of the 17 participants at the forum, 16 deemed universal screening of children for FH to be acceptable. Fifteen of these 16 believed this was best performed at the time of an immunisation. Participants proposed a number of conditions that should be met to reduce the likelihood of unintended harm resulting from the screening process. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The outcomes of the forum suggest that establishing a universal screening programme for FH in childhood is acceptable to the general public in WA.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravenous Acetaminophen Versus Intravenous Hydromorphone for the Treatment of Acute Pain in the Emergency Department.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: As clinicians look to nonnarcotic analgesics in the emergency department (ED), it is essential to understand the effectiveness and adverse effects of nonopioid medications in comparison with existing opioid treatments. Studies of intravenous acetaminophen for acute pain in the ED demonstrate mixed results and suffer from small sample sizes and methodological limitations. This study compares intravenous hydromorphone with intravenous acetaminophen in adult ED patients presenting with acute pain. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, clinical trial comparing 1 g intravenous acetaminophen with 1 mg intravenous hydromorphone for treatment of adults with severe, acute pain in the ED. The primary outcome was between-group difference in change in numeric rating scale from baseline to 60 minutes postadministration of study medication. Secondary outcomes included the difference in proportion of patients in each group who declined additional analgesia at 60 minutes, received additional medication before 60 minutes, and developed nausea, vomiting, or pruritus. RESULTS: Of 220 subjects randomized, 103 patients in each arm had sufficient data for analysis. At 60 minutes, the mean decrease in numeric rating scale pain score was 5.3 in the hydromorphone arm and 3.3 in the acetaminophen arm, a difference of 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 2.7) favoring hydromorphone. A greater proportion of patients in the hydromorphone arm also declined additional analgesia at 60 minutes (65% versus 44%; difference 21%; (95% CI 8% to 35%). There was no difference in the proportion of patients receiving rescue analgesia before 60 minutes. Significantly more subjects in the hydromorphone group developed nausea (19% versus 3%; difference 16%; 95% CI 4% to 28%) and vomiting (14% versus 3%; difference 11%; 95% CI 0% to 23%). CONCLUSION: Although both 1 mg intravenous hydromorphone and 1 g intravenous acetaminophen provided clinically meaningful reductions in pain scores, treatment with hydromorphone provided both clinically and statistically greater analgesia than acetaminophen, at the cost of a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting.

The Evolution of Public Health Genomics: Exploring Its Past, Present, and Future.

Public health genomics has evolved to responsibly integrate advancements in genomics into the fields of personalized medicine and public health. Appropriate, effective and sustainable integration of genomics into healthcare requires an organized approach. This paper outlines the history that led to the emergence of public health genomics as a distinguishable field. In addition, a range of activities are described that illustrate how genomics can be incorporated into public health practice. Finally, it presents the evolution of public health genomics into the new era of "precision public health."

Mannitol and Hypertonic Saline Reduce Swelling and Modulate Inflammatory Markers in a Rat Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) leaves most survivors dependent at follow-up. The importance of promoting M2-like microglial responses is increasingly recognized as a key element to ameliorate brain injury following ICH. The osmotherapeutic agents, mannitol and hypertonic saline (HTS), which are routinely used to reduce intracranial pressure, have been shown to reduce neuroinflammation in experimental ischemic and traumatic brain injury, but anti-inflammatory effects of osmotherapies have not been investigated in ICH. METHODS: We studied the effects of iso-osmotic mannitol and HTS in rat models of ICH utilizing high-dose and moderate-dose collagenase injections into the basal ganglia, associated with high and low mortality, respectively. We studied the effects of osmotherapies, first given 5 h after ICH induction, and then administered every 12 h thereafter (4 doses total). Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify microglial activation and polarization. RESULTS: Compared to controls, mannitol and HTS increased plasma osmolarity 1 h after infusion (301 ± 1.5, 315 ± 4.2 and 310 ± 2.0 mOsm/kg, respectively), reduced mortality at 48 h (82, 36 and 53%, respectively), and reduced hemispheric swelling at 48 h (32, 21, and 17%, respectively). In both perihematomal and contralateral tissues, mannitol and HTS reduced activation of microglia/macrophages (abundance and morphology of Iba1 + cells), and in perihematomal tissues, they reduced markers of the microglia/macrophage M1-like phenotype (nuclear p65, TNF, and NOS2), increased markers of the microglia/macrophage M2-like phenotype (arginase, YM1, and pSTAT3), and reduced infiltration of CD45 + cells. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated dosing of osmotherapeutics at regular intervals may be a useful adjunct to reduce neuroinflammation following ICH.

Temocillin against Enterobacteriaceae isolates from community-acquired urinary tract infections: low rate of resistance and good accuracy of routine susceptibility testing methods.

Background: Temocillin is an old 'revived' antibiotic that may play an important role in the treatment of febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). Data regarding its activity against current Enterobacteriaceae isolates as well as the performance of routine susceptibility testing methods are, however, scarce. Objectives: To determine the MICs of temocillin for Enterobacteriaceae strains reflecting the current epidemiology and to analyse the accuracy of three commercial methods. Methods: Enterobacteriaceae isolates causing community-acquired UTI were prospectively collected from September 2015 to January 2017 in two French centres. Temocillin MIC was determined by agar dilution (AD) as the reference method and then compared with: (i) susceptibility testing by disc diffusion; (ii) MIC determination by Etest; and (iii) MIC estimation by the Vitek 2 automated system. Results: A total of 762 Enterobacteriaceae were analysed comprising 658 (86.4%) Escherichia coli and 37 (4.9%) ESBL-producing isolates. Susceptibility rate assessed by AD was 99.6% according to the 8 mg/L clinical breakpoint and was significantly lower against the ESBL-producing isolates than the non-ESBL-producing isolates (94.6% versus 99.9%, P < 0.01). The MIC50 and MIC90 for the total set were 3 and 6 mg/L, respectively. According to the 8 mg/L clinical breakpoint, the major error rate was <1% for disc diffusion and Etest, and significantly higher for Vitek 2 (4.3%, P < 0.01), but still low. No very major error was noticed. Conclusions: Temocillin showed a high level of activity against Enterobacteriaceae from community-acquired UTI and good to excellent reliability of routine methods for susceptibility testing in such a setting.

Celecoxib-mediated reduction of prostanoid release in Hoffa's fat pad from donors with cartilage pathology results in an attenuated inflammatory phenotype.

OBJECTIVE: The Hoffa's fat pad (HFP) is an intra-articular adipose tissue which is situated under and behind the patella. It contains immune cells next to adipocytes and secretes inflammatory factors during osteoarthritis (OA). In this study, we compared the release profile of prostanoids, which are involved in inflammation, of HFP from OA patients vs patients with a focal cartilage defect (CD) without evidence for OA on MRI and investigated the prostanoid modulatory anti-inflammatory action of celecoxib on HFP. DESIGN: Prostanoid release was analyzed in conditioned medium of HFP explant cultures from 17 osteoarthritic patients and 12 CD patients, in the presence or absence of celecoxib. Furthermore, gene expression of COX enzymes and expression of genes indicative of a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory phenotype of HFP was analyzed. RESULTS: Prostanoid release by HFP from knee OA patients clustered in two subgroups with high and low prostanoid producers. HFP from high prostanoid producers released higher amounts of PGE2, PGF2α and PGD2 compared to HFP from CD patients. PGE2 release by OA HFP was positively associated with expression of genes known to be expressed by M1 macrophages, indicating a role for macrophages. Celecoxib modulated prostanoid release by HFP, and also modulated the inflammation ratio towards a more favorable anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, most effectively in patients with higher prostanoid release profiles. CONCLUSION: In knee OA patients with inflamed HFP's, celecoxib may exert positive effects in the knee joint via decreasing the release of prostanoids produced by the HFP and by favorably modulating the anti-inflammatory marker expression in HFP.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition on petals enhances seed quality of the forest herb Anemone nemorosa.

Elevated atmospheric input of nitrogen (N) is currently affecting plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The growth and survival of numerous plant species is known to respond strongly to N fertilisation. Yet, few studies have assessed the effects of N deposition on seed quality and reproductive performance, which is an important life-history stage of plants. Here we address this knowledge gap by assessing the effects of atmospheric N deposition on seed quality of the ancient forest herb Anemone nemorosa using two complementary approaches. By taking advantage of the wide spatiotemporal variation in N deposition rates in pan-European temperate and boreal forests over 2 years, we detected positive effects of N deposition on the N concentration (percentage N per unit seed mass, increased from 2.8% to 4.1%) and N content (total N mass per seed more than doubled) of A. nemorosa seeds. In a complementary experiment, we applied ammonium nitrate to aboveground plant tissues and the soil surface to determine whether dissolved N sources in precipitation could be incorporated into seeds. Although the addition of N to leaves and the soil surface had no effect, a concentrated N solution applied to petals during anthesis resulted in increased seed mass, seed N concentration and N content. Our results demonstrate that N deposition on the petals enhances bioaccumulation of N in the seeds of A. nemorosa. Enhanced atmospheric inputs of N can thus not only affect growth and population dynamics via root or canopy uptake, but can also influence seed quality and reproduction via intake through the inflorescences.