Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following infection: a 17-year population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous serological studies have indicated an association between viruses and atypical pathogens and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This study aims to investigate the correlation between infections from common pathogens, including typical bacteria, and the subsequent risk of developing CFS. The analysis is based on data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. METHODS: From 2000 to 2017, we included a total of 395,811 cases aged 20 years or older newly diagnosed with infection. The cases were matched 1:1 with controls using a propensity score and were followed up until diagnoses of CFS were made. RESULTS: The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship between infection and the subsequent risk of CFS. The incidence density rates among non-infection and infection population were 3.67 and 5.40 per 1000 person-years, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.5, with a 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47-1.54). Patients infected with Varicella-zoster virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, Candida, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and influenza virus had a significantly higher risk of CFS than those without these pathogens (p < 0.05). Patients taking doxycycline, azithromycin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, or ciprofloxacin had a significantly lower risk of CFS than patients in the corresponding control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our population-based retrospective cohort study found that infection with common pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, is associated with an increased risk of developing CFS.

Untargeted Lipidomic Profiling Reveals Lysophosphatidylcholine and Ceramide as Atherosclerotic Risk Factors in apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice.

Despite the availability and use of numerous cholesterol-lowering drugs, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of mortality globally. Many researchers have focused their effort on identifying modified lipoproteins. However, lipid moieties such as lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and ceramide (CER) contribute to atherogenic events. LPC and CER both cause endothelial mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to fatty acid and triglyceride (TG) accumulation. In addition, they cause immune cells to differentiate into proinflammatory phenotypes. To uncover alternative therapeutic approaches other than cholesterol- and TG-lowering medications, we conducted untargeted lipidomic investigations to assess the alteration of lipid profiles in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE-/-) mouse model, with or without feeding a high-fat diet (HFD). Results indicated that, in addition to hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia, LPC levels were two to four times higher in apoE-/- mice compared to wild-type mice in C57BL/6 background, regardless of whether they were 8 or 16 weeks old. Sphingomyelin (SM) and CER were elevated three- to five-fold in apoE-/- mice both at the basal level and after 16 weeks when compared to wild-type mice. After HFD treatment, the difference in CER levels elevated more than ten-fold. Considering the atherogenic properties of LPC and CER, they may also contribute to the early onset of atherosclerosis in apoE-/- mice. In summary, the HFD-fed apoE-/- mouse shows elevated LPC and CER contents and is a suitable model for developing LPC- and CER-lowering therapies.

Galectin-12 modulates sebocyte proliferation and cell cycle progression by regulating cyclin A1 and CDK2.

Enhanced sebocyte proliferation is associated with the pathogenesis of human skin diseases related to sebaceous gland hyperfunction and androgens, which are known to induce sebocyte proliferation, are key mediators of this process. Galectin-12, a member of the ß-galactoside-binding lectin family that is preferentially expressed by adipocytes and functions as an intrinsic negative regulator of lipolysis, has been shown to be expressed by human sebocytes. In this study, we identified galectin-12 as an important intracellular regulator of sebocyte proliferation. Galectin-12 knockdown in the human SZ95 sebocyte line suppressed cell proliferation, and its overexpression promoted cell cycle progression. Inhibition of galectin-12 expression reduced the androgen-induced SZ95 sebocyte proliferation and growth of sebaceous glands in mice, respectively. The mRNA expression of the key cell cycle regulators cyclin A1 (CCNA1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2CDK2 was reduced in galectin-12 knockdown SZ95 sebocytes, suggesting a pathway of galectin-12 regulation of sebocyte proliferation. Further, galectin-12 enhanced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression and transcriptional activity in SZ95 sebocytes, consistent with our previous studies in adipocytes. Rosiglitazone, a PPARγ ligand, induced CCNA1 levels, suggesting that galectin-12 may upregulate CCNA1 expression via PPARγ. Our findings suggest the possibility of targeting galectin-12 to treat human sebaceous gland hyperfunction and androgen-associated skin diseases.

Adiponectin forms a complex with atherogenic LDL and inhibits its downstream effects.

Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived protein, has antiatherogenic and antidiabetic effects, but how it confers the atherogenic effects is not well known. To study the antiatherogenic mechanisms of adiponectin, we examined whether it interacts with atherogenic low density lipoprotein (LDL) to attenuate LDL's atherogenicity. L5, the most electronegative subfraction of LDL, induces atherogenic responses similarly to copper-oxidized LDL (oxLDL). Unlike the native LDL endocytosed via the LDL receptor, L5 and oxLDL are internalized by cells via the lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1). Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), we showed that adiponectin preferentially bound oxLDL but not native LDL. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the LOX-1 or LDL receptor, adiponectin selectively inhibited the uptake of oxLDL but not of native LDL, respectively. Furthermore, adiponectin suppressed the internalization of oxLDL in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) and THP-1-derived macrophages. Western blot analysis of human plasma showed that adiponectin was abundant in L5 but not in L1, the least electronegative subfraction of LDL. Sandwich ELISAs with anti-adiponectin and anti-apolipoprotein B antibodies confirmed the binding of adiponectin to L5 and oxLDL. In LOX-1-expressing CHO cells, adiponectin inhibited cellular responses to oxLDL and L5, including nuclear factor-κB activation and extracellular signal-regulated kinas phosphorylation. In HCAECs, adiponectin inhibited oxLDL-induced endothelin-1 secretion and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Conversely, oxLDL suppressed the adiponectin-induced activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in COS-7 cells expressing adiponectin receptor AdipoR1. Our findings suggest that adiponectin binds and inactivates atherogenic LDL, providing novel insight into the antiatherogenic mechanisms of adiponectin.

Increased APOE glycosylation plays a key role in the atherogenicity of L5 low-density lipoprotein.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is heterogeneous, composed of particles with variable atherogenicity. Electronegative L5 LDL exhibits atherogenic properties in vitro and in vivo, and its levels are elevated in patients with increased cardiovascular risk. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) content is increased in L5, but what role APOE plays in L5 function remains unclear. Here, we characterized the contributions of APOE posttranslational modification to L5's atherogenicity. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we studied APOE's posttranslational modification in L5 from human plasma. APOE structures with various glycan residues were predicted. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed to examine the functional changes of APOE resulting from glycosylation. We also examined the effects of L5 deglycosylation on endothelial cell apoptosis. The glycan sequence N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, and sialic acid was consistently expressed on serine 94, threonine 194, and threonine 289 of APOE in L5 and was predicted to contribute to L5's negative surface charge and hydrophilicity. The electrostatic force between the negatively charged sialic acid-containing glycan residue of APOE and positively charged amino acids at the receptor-binding area suggested that glycosylation interferes with APOE's attraction to receptors, lipid-binding ability, and lipid transportation and metabolism functions. Importantly, L5 containing glycosylated APOE induced apoptosis in cultured endothelial cells through lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) signaling, and glycosylation removal from L5 attenuated L5-induced apoptosis. APOE glycosylation may contribute to the atherogenicity of L5 and be a useful biomarker for rapidly quantifying L5.

Effect of acyl and alkyl analogs of platelet-activating factor on inflammatory signaling.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a bioactive ether phospholipid with significant pro-inflammatory properties, was identified almost half a century ago. Despite extensive study of this autocoid, therapeutic strategies for targeting its signaling components have not been successful, including the recent clinical trials with darapladib, a drug that targets plasma PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). We recently provided experimental evidence that the previously unrecognized acyl analog of PAF, which is concomitantly produced along with PAF during biosynthesis, dampens PAF signaling by acting both as a sacrificial substrate for PAF-AH and probably as an endogenous PAF-receptor antagonist/partial agonist. If this is the scenario in vivo, PAF-AH needs to catalyze the selective hydrolysis of alkyl-PAF and not acyl-PAF. Accordingly, different approaches are needed for treating inflammatory diseases in which PAF signaling is implicated. The interplay between acyl-PAF, alkyl-PAF, PAF-AH, and PAF-R is complex, and the outcome of this interplay has not been previously appreciated. In this review, we discuss this interaction based on our recent findings. It is very likely that the relative abundance of acyl and alkyl-PAF and their interactions with PAF-R in the presence of their hydrolyzing enzyme PAF-AH may exert a modulatory effect on PAF signaling during inflammation.

The role of postprandial very-low-density lipoprotein in the development of atrial remodeling in metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Negatively charged very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-χ) in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients exerts cytotoxic effects on endothelial cells and atrial myocytes. Atrial cardiomyopathy, manifested by atrial remodeling with a dilated diameter, contributes to atrial fibrillation pathogenesis and predicts atrial fibrillation development. The correlation of VLDL-χ with atrial remodeling is unknown. This study investigated the association between VLDL-χ and remodeling of left atrium. METHODS: Consecutively, 87 MetS and 80 non-MetS individuals between 23 and 74 years old (50.6% men) without overt cardiovascular diseases were included in the prospective cohort study. Blood samples were collected while fasting and postprandially (at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after a unified meal). VLDL was isolated by ultracentrifugation; the percentile concentration of VLDL-χ (%) was determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The correlations of left atrium diameter (LAD) with variables including VLDL-χ, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, glucose, and blood pressure, were analyzed by multiple linear regression models. A hierarchical linear model was conducted to test the independencies of each variable's correlation with LAD. RESULTS: The mean LAD was 3.4 ± 0.5 cm in non-MetS subjects and 3.9 ± 0.5 cm in MetS patients (P < 0.01). None of the fasting lipid profiles were associated with LAD. VLDL-χ, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure were positively correlated with LAD (all P < 0.05) after adjustment for age and sex. Significant interactions between VLDL-χ and blood pressure, waist circumference, and hip circumference were observed. When adjusted for obesity- and blood pressure-related variables, 2-h postprandial VLDL-χ (mean 1.30 ± 0.61%) showed a positive correlation with LAD in MetS patients. Each 1% VLDL-χ increase was estimated to increase LAD by 0.23 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Postprandial VLDL-χ is associated with atrial remodeling particularly in the MetS group. VLDL-χ is a novel biomarker and may be a therapeutic target for atrial cardiomyopathy in MetS patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 69295295 . Retrospectively registered 9 June 2020.

An Updated Review of Lysophosphatidylcholine Metabolism in Human Diseases.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is increasingly recognized as a key marker/factor positively associated with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. However, findings from recent clinical lipidomic studies of LPC have been controversial. A key issue is the complexity of the enzymatic cascade involved in LPC metabolism. Here, we address the coordination of these enzymes and the derangement that may disrupt LPC homeostasis, leading to metabolic disorders. LPC is mainly derived from the turnover of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the circulation by phospholipase A2 (PLA2). In the presence of Acyl-CoA, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) converts LPC to PC, which rapidly gets recycled by the Lands cycle. However, overexpression or enhanced activity of PLA2 increases the LPC content in modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized LDL, which play significant roles in the development of atherosclerotic plaques and endothelial dysfunction. The intracellular enzyme LPCAT cannot directly remove LPC from circulation. Hydrolysis of LPC by autotaxin, an enzyme with lysophospholipase D activity, generates lysophosphatidic acid, which is highly associated with cancers. Although enzymes with lysophospholipase A1 activity could theoretically degrade LPC into harmless metabolites, they have not been found in the circulation. In conclusion, understanding enzyme kinetics and LPC metabolism may help identify novel therapeutic targets in LPC-associated diseases.

Flavonoids from Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze seed ameliorates TNF-α induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells.

The aim of this study is to discuss the non-catechin flavonoids (NCF) from Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze seed improving TNF-α impaired insulin stimulated glucose uptake and insulin signaling. Flavonoids had anti-metabolic syndrome and anti-inflammatory properties. It had widely been known for biological activity of catechins in tea, but very few research reports discussed the biological activity of non-catechin flavonoids in tea seed. We used HepG2 cell to treat with 5 µM insulin or with 5 µM insulin + 30 ng/ml TNF-α. Detecting the glucose concentration of medium, insulin decreased the glucose levels of medium meant that insulin promoted glucose uptake into cells, but TNF-α inhibited the glucose uptake effect of insulin. Furthermore, insulin increased the protein expressions of IR, IRS-1, IRS-2, PI3K-α, Akt/PKB, GLUT-2, AMPK, GCK, pyruvate kinase, and PPAR-γ. TNF-α activated p65 and MAPKs (p38, JNK1/2 and ERK1/2), iNOS and COX-2 which worsened the insulin signaling expressions of IR, IRS-1, IRS-2, PI3K-α, Akt/PKB, GLUT-2, AMPK, GCK, pyruvate kinase, and PPAR-γ. We added NCF (500, 1000, 2000 ppm) to cell with insulin and TNF-α. Not only glucose levels of medium were lowered, and the protein expressions of insulin signaling were increased, but p38, JNK1/2, iNOS and COX-2 were also reduced. NCF could ameliorate TNF-α induced insulin resistance through inhibiting p38, JNK1/2, iNOS and COX-2, and suggested that it might be used in the future to help control insulin resistance. This finding is the first report to present the discovery.

Rapid Screening for Deleted Form of ß-thalassemia by Real-Time Quantitative PCR.

BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is the most common single gene disease in human beings. The prevalence rate of ß-thalassemia in Taiwan is approximately 1-3%. Previously methods to reveal and diagnose severe deleted form of α- or ß-thalassemia were insufficient and inappropriate for prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: A real-time quantitative PCR method was set up for rapid screening of the deleted form of ß-thalassemia. RESULTS: Our results show that ΔΔCt between deleted form of ß-thalassemia and normal individuals were 1.0674 ± 0.0713. On the contrary, mutation form ß-thalassemia showed no difference with normal healthy control. The HBB/CCR5 ratio for deleted form of ß-thalassemia patients was 0.48, whether normal individuals and mutation form of ß-thalassemia was 1.0. CONCLUSION: This RQ-PCR technique is an alternative rapid screening assay for deleted form of ß-thalassemia. In addition, it could also identify undefined type. Our technique by using RQ-PCR to quantify gene copies is a reliable and time-saving method that can screen deleted form of ß-thalassemia.

Electronegative low density lipoprotein induces renal apoptosis and fibrosis: STRA6 signaling involved.

Dyslipidemia has been proven to capably develop and aggravate chronic kidney disease. We also report that electronegative LDL (L5) is the most atherogenic LDL. On the other hand, retinoic acid (RA) and RA receptor (RAR) agonist are reported to be beneficial in some kidney diseases. "Stimulated by retinoic acid 6" (STRA6), one retinol-binding protein 4 receptor, was recently identified to regulate retinoid homeostasis. Here, we observed that L5 suppressed STRA6 cascades [STRA6, cellular retinol-binding protein 1 (CRBP1), RARs, retinoid X receptor α, and retinol, RA], but L5 simultaneously induced apoptosis and fibrosis (TGFß1, Smad2, collagen 1, hydroxyproline, and trichrome) in kidneys of L5-injected mice and L5-treated renal tubular cells. These L5-induced changes of STRA6 cascades, renal apoptosis, and fibrosis were reversed in kidneys of LOX1(-/-) mice. LOX1 RNA silencing and inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38MAPK rescued the suppression of STRA6 cascades and apoptosis and fibrosis in L5-treated renal tubular cells. Furthermore, crbp1 gene transfection reversed downregulation of STRA6 cascades, apoptosis, and fibrosis in L5-treated renal tubular cells. For mimicking STRA6 deficiency, efficient silencing of STRA6 RNA was performed and was found to repress STRA6 cascades and caused apoptosis and fibrosis in L1-treated renal tubular cells. In summary, this study reveals that electronegative L5 can cause kidney apoptosis and fibrosis via the suppression of STRA6 cascades, and implicates that STRA6 signaling may be involved in dyslipidemia-mediated kidney disease.

Interplay between CRP, Atherogenic LDL, and LOX-1 and Its Potential Role in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the classic acute-phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) has proinflammatory effects on vascular cells and may play a causal role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. A growing body of evidence has suggested that interplay between CRP, lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), and atherogenic LDL may underlie the mechanism of endothelial dysfunction that leads to atherosclerosis. CONTENT: We review the biochemical evidence for an association of CRP, LOX-1, and either oxidized LDL (OxLDL) or electronegative L5 LDL with the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. Artificially oxidized OxLDL has been studied extensively for its role in atherogenesis, as has electronegative L5 LDL, which is present at increased levels in patients with increased cardiovascular risks. OxLDL and L5 have been shown to stimulate human aortic endothelial cells to produce CRP, indicating that CRP is synthesized locally in the endothelium. The ligand-binding face (B-face) of CRP has been shown to bind the LOX-1 scavenger receptor and increase LOX-1 expression in endothelial cells, thereby promoting the uptake of OxLDL or L5 by LOX-1 into endothelial cells to induce endothelial dysfunction. SUMMARY: CRP and LOX-1 may form a positive feedback loop with OxLDL or L5 in atherogenesis, whereby increased levels of atherogenic LDL in patients with cardiovascular risks induce endothelial cells to express CRP, which may in turn increase the expression of LOX-1 to promote the uptake of atherogenic LDL into endothelial cells. Further research is needed to confirm a causal role for CRP in atherogenesis.

VLDL from Metabolic Syndrome Individuals Enhanced Lipid Accumulation in Atria with Association of Susceptibility to Atrial Fibrillation.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of metabolic derangements. Dyslipidemia is an important factor in MetS and is related to atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) in MetS (MetS-VLDL) may induce atrial dilatation and vulnerability to AF. VLDL was therefore separated from normal (normal-VLDL) and MetS individuals. Wild type C57BL/6 male mice were divided into control, normal-VLDL (nVLDL), and MetS-VLDL (msVLDL) groups. VLDL (15 µg/g) and equivalent volumes of saline were injected via tail vein three times a week for six consecutive weeks. Cardiac chamber size and function were measured by echocardiography. MetS-VLDL significantly caused left atrial dilation (control, n = 10, 1.64 ± 0.23 mm; nVLDL, n = 7, 1.84 ± 0.13 mm; msVLDL, n = 10, 2.18 ± 0.24 mm; p < 0.0001) at week 6, associated with decreased ejection fraction (control, n = 10, 62.5% ± 7.7%, vs. msVLDL, n = 10, 52.9% ± 9.6%; p < 0.05). Isoproterenol-challenge experiment resulted in AF in young msVLDL mice. Unprovoked AF occurred only in elderly msVLDL mice. Immunohistochemistry showed excess lipid accumulation and apoptosis in msVLDL mice atria. These findings suggest a pivotal role of VLDL in AF pathogenesis for MetS individuals.

Four Statin Benefit Groups Defined by The 2013 ACC/AHA New Cholesterol Guideline are Characterized by Increased Plasma Level of Electronegative Low-Density Lipoprotein.

BACKGROUND: Significantly higher cytotoxic and thrombogenic human electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or L5, has been found in patients with stable coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome. We hypothesized that the statin-benefit groups (SBGs) defined by the new cholesterol guideline were of higher electronegative L5. METHODS: In total, 62 hyperlipidemia patients (mean age 59.4 ± 10.5, M/F 40/22) were retrospectively divided into SBGs (n = 44) and N-SBGs (n = 18). The levels of complete basic lipid panel, biochemical profile and electronegative L5 of each individual were obtained before and after rosuvastatin 10 mg/day for 3 months. RESULTS: After 3 months' statin therapy, significant reduction of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglyceride were demonstrated (all p-values < 0.05), with 38.4% LDL-C reduction. The percentage of L5 was significantly reduced by 40.9% (from 4.4% to 2.6%) after statin therapy (p = 0.001). Regarding absolute L5 concentration, derived from L5% multiplied by LDL-C, there was approximate 63.8% reduction (from 6.3 mg/dL to 2.3 mg/dL) of absolute L5 (p < 0.001) after statin treatment. Notably, while plasma LDL-C levels were similar between SBGs and N-SBGs (152.8 ± 48.6 vs. 146.9 ± 35.0 mg/dL), the SBGs had significantly elevated L5% (5.2 ± 7.4% vs. 2.6 ± 1.9%, p = 0.031) and higher absolute L5 concentration (7.4 ± 10.4 vs. 3.7 ± 3.1 mg/dL, p = 0.036). Linear regression showed the significantly positive correlation between the plasma L5 concentration and the 10-year cardiovascular risk by pooled cohort equation (r = 0.297, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The four SBGs defined by the 2013 ACC/AHA new cholesterol guideline tend to have increased atherogenic electronegative L5. Statin therapy can effectively reduce the electronegative L5 of these four major SBGs.

Highly electronegative LDL from patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction triggers platelet activation and aggregation.

Platelet activation and aggregation underlie acute thrombosis that leads to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). L5-highly electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-is significantly elevated in patients with STEMI. Thus, we examined the role of L5 in thrombogenesis. Plasma LDL from patients with STEMI (n = 30) was chromatographically resolved into 5 subfractions (L1-L5) with increasing electronegativity. In vitro, L5 enhanced adenosine diphosphate-stimulated platelet aggregation twofold more than did L1 and induced platelet-endothelial cell (EC) adhesion. L5 also increased P-selectin expression and glycoprotein (GP)IIb/IIIa activation and decreased cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels (n = 6, P < .01) in platelets. In vivo, injection of L5 (5 mg/kg) into C57BL/6 mice twice weekly for 6 weeks shortened tail bleeding time by 43% (n = 3; P < .01 vs L1-injected mice) and increased P-selectin expression and GPIIb/IIIa activation in platelets. Pharmacologic blockade experiments revealed that L5 signals through platelet-activating factor receptor and lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 to attenuate Akt activation and trigger granule release and GPIIb/IIIa activation via protein kinase C-α. L5 but not L1 induced tissue factor and P-selectin expression in human aortic ECs (P < .01), thereby triggering platelet activation and aggregation with activated ECs. These findings indicate that elevated plasma levels of L5 may promote thrombosis that leads to STEMI.

The underlying chemistry of electronegative LDL's atherogenicity.

Electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL) found in human plasma is highly atherogenic, and its level is elevated in individuals with increased cardiovascular risk. In this review, we summarize the available data regarding the elevation of the levels of electronegative LDL in the plasma of patients with various diseases. In addition, we discuss the harmful effects and underlying mechanisms of electronegative LDL in various cell types. We also highlight the known biochemical properties of electronegative LDL that may contribute to its atherogenic functions, including its lipid and protein composition, enzymatic activities, and structural features. Given the increasing recognition of electronegative LDL as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, key future goals include the development of a standard method for the detection of electronegative LDL that can be used in a large-scale population survey and the identification and testing of strategies for eliminating electronegative LDL from the blood.

The development of a beacon-based real-time PCR for cytomegalovirus and its application in immunocompromised patients.

BACKGROUND: Because of the high cost of commercially available quantitative PCR kits, we developed a beacon- based real-time PCR (B-rt-PCR) for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral load determination. METHODS: A total of 197 samples from 60 immunocompromised patients, who were bone marrow transplantation recipients or had hematological malignancies, were tested using B-rt-PCR, COBAS Amplicor CMV Monitor test (Amplicor CMV test), and conventional CMV PCR. The correlation results among these 3 assays were calculated. RESULTS: In these 197 samples, the CMV viral load determined by B-rt-PCR for positive specimens ranged from 19.8 to 4148.7 copies/10(5) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). When any positive result of B-rt-PCR, the Amplicor CMV test, or conventional PCR was considered as "CMV positive" for the 56 specimens tested by all three methods, we found that the positive and negative predictive values, respectively, were 100% and 98.6% for B-rt-PCR, 100% and 46.2% for the Amplicor CMV test, and 100% and 89.4% for conventional PCR. These three methods had good specificity (all 100%). However, the sensitivity rate of B-rt-PCR (96.3%) was higher compared to the Amplicor CMV test (46.2%) and conventional PCR (89.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The B-rt-PCR is evaluated to be a sensitive method for CMV detection in immunocompromised patients.

Phylodynamic and Epistatic Analysis of Coxsackievirus A24 and Its Variant.

Coxsackievirus A24 (CV-A24) is a human enterovirus that causes acute flaccid paralysis. However, a Coxsackievirus A24 variant (CV-A24v) is the most common cause of eye infections. The causes of these variable pathogenicity and tissue tropism remain unclear. To elucidate the phylodynamics of CV-A24 and CV-A24v, we analyzed a dataset of 66 strains using Bayesian phylodynamic approach, along with detailed sequence variation and epistatic analyses. Six CV-A24 strains available in GenBank and 60 CV-A24v strains, including 11 Taiwanese strains, were included in this study. The results revealed striking differences between CV-A24 and CV-A24v exhibiting long terminal branches in the phylogenetic tree, respectively. CV-A24v presented distinct ladder-like clustering, indicating immune escape mechanisms. Notably, 10 genetic recombination events in the 3D regions were identified. Furthermore, 11 missense mutation signatures were detected to differentiate CV-A24 and CV-A24v; among these mutations, the F810Y substitution may significantly affect the secondary structure of the GH loop of VP1 and subsequently affect the epitopes of the capsid proteins. In conclusion, this study provides critical insights into the evolutionary dynamics and epidemiological characteristics of CV-A24 and CV-A24v, and highlights the differences in viral evolution and tissue tropism.

Innovative technologies for the fabrication of 3D/4D smart hydrogels and its biomedical applications - A comprehensive review.

Repairing and regenerating damaged tissues or organs, and restoring their functioning has been the ultimate aim of medical innovations. 'Reviving healthcare' blends tissue engineering with alternative techniques such as hydrogels, which have emerged as vital tools in modern medicine. Additive manufacturing (AM) is a practical manufacturing revolution that uses building strategies like molding as a viable solution for precise hydrogel manufacturing. Recent advances in this technology have led to the successful manufacturing of hydrogels with enhanced reproducibility, accuracy, precision, and ease of fabrication. Hydrogels continue to metamorphose as the vital compatible bio-ink matrix for AM. AM hydrogels have paved the way for complex 3D/4D hydrogels that can be loaded with drugs or cells. Bio-mimicking 3D cell cultures designed via hydrogel-based AM is a groundbreaking in-vivo assessment tool in biomedical trials. This brief review focuses on preparations and applications of additively manufactured hydrogels in the biomedical spectrum, such as targeted drug delivery, 3D-cell culture, numerous regenerative strategies, biosensing, bioprinting, and cancer therapies. Prevalent AM techniques like extrusion, inkjet, digital light processing, and stereo-lithography have been explored with their setup and methodology to yield functional hydrogels. The perspectives, limitations, and the possible prospects of AM hydrogels have been critically examined in this study.

Lysophosphatidylcholine Impairs the Mitochondria Homeostasis Leading to Trophoblast Dysfunction in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy disorder associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia and macrosomia. Recent research has shown that the buildup of excess lipids within the placental trophoblast impairs mitochondrial function. However, the exact lipids that impact the placental trophoblast and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. GDM cases and healthy controls were recruited at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. The placenta and cord blood were taken during birth. Confocal and electron microscopy were utilized to examine the morphology of the placenta and mitochondria. We determined the lipid composition using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in data-independent analysis mode (LC/MSE). In vitro studies were carried out on choriocarcinoma cells (JEG3) to investigate the mechanism of trophoblast mitochondrial dysfunction. Results showed that the GDM placenta was distinguished by increased syncytial knots, chorangiosis, lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-1 (LOX-1) overexpression, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 16:0 was significantly elevated in the cord blood LDL of GDM patients. In vitro, we demonstrated that LPC dose-dependently disrupts mitochondrial function by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and HIF-1α signaling. In conclusion, highly elevated LPC in cord blood plays a pivotal role in GDM, contributing to trophoblast impairment and pregnancy complications.