Differential Response of Human Dendritic Cells upon Stimulation with Encapsulated or Non-Encapsulated Isogenic Strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

During periodontitis, the extracellular capsule of Porphyromonas gingivalis favors alveolar bone loss by inducing Th1 and Th17 patterns of lymphocyte response in the infected periodontium. Dendritic cells recognize bacterial antigens and present them to T lymphocytes, defining their activation and polarization. Thus, dendritic cells could be involved in the Th1 and Th17 response induced against the P. gingivalis capsule. Herein, monocyte-derived dendritic cells were obtained from healthy individuals and then stimulated with different encapsulated strains of P. gingivalis or two non-encapsulated isogenic mutants. Dendritic cell differentiation and maturation were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression levels for distinct Th1-, Th17-, or T-regulatory-related cytokines and transcription factors, as well as TLR2 and TLR4, were assessed by qPCR. In addition, the production of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-23, and TNF-α was analyzed by ELISA. The encapsulated strains and non-encapsulated mutants of P. gingivalis induced dendritic cell maturation to a similar extent; however, the pattern of dendritic cell response was different. In particular, the encapsulated strains of P. gingivalis induced higher expression of IRF4 and NOTCH2 and production of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-23, and TNF-α compared with the non-encapsulated mutants, and thus, they showed an increased capacity to trigger Th1 and Th17-type responses in human dendritic cells.

Negative Charges Introduced Near the IT Helix of Cardiac Troponin T Stabilize the Active State of Actin Filaments.

The disordered and basic C-terminal 14 residues of human troponin T (TnT) are essential for full inhibition of actomyosin ATPase activity at low Ca2+ levels and for limiting activation at saturating Ca2+. In previous studies, stepwise truncation of the C-terminal region of TnT increased activity in proportion to the number of positive charges eliminated. To define key basic residues more closely, we generated phosphomimetic-like mutants of TnT. Phosphomimetic mutants were chosen because of reports that phosphorylation of TnT, including sites within the C terminal region, depressed activity, contrary to our expectations. Four constructs were made where one or more Ser and Thr residues were replaced with Asp residues. The S275D and T277D mutants, near the IT helix and adjacent to basic residues, produced the greatest activation of ATPase rates in solution; the effects of the S275D mutant were recapitulated in muscle fiber preparations with enhanced myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. Actin filaments containing S275D TnT were also shown to be incapable of populating the inactive state at low Ca2+ levels. Actin filaments containing both S275D/T284D were not statistically different from those containing only S275D in both solution and cardiac muscle preparation studies. Finally, actin filaments containing T284D TnT, closer to the C-terminus and not adjacent to a basic residue, had the smallest effect on activity. Thus, the effects of negative charge placement in the C-terminal region of TnT were greatest near the IT helix and adjacent to a basic residue.

Disruption of Z-Disc Function Promotes Mechanical Dysfunction in Human Myocardium: Evidence for a Dual Myofilament Modulatory Role by Alpha-Actinin 2.

The ACTN2 gene encodes α-actinin 2, located in the Z-disc of the sarcomeres in striated muscle. In this study, we sought to investigate the effects of an ACTN2 missense variant of unknown significance (p.A868T) on cardiac muscle structure and function. Left ventricular free wall samples were obtained at the time of cardiac transplantation from a heart failure patient with the ACTN2 A868T heterozygous variant. This variant is in the EF 3-4 domain known to interact with titin and α-actinin. At the ultrastructural level, ACTN2 A868T cardiac samples presented small structural changes in cardiomyocytes when compared to healthy donor samples. However, contractile mechanics of permeabilized ACTN2 A868T variant cardiac tissue displayed higher myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity of isometric force, reduced sinusoidal stiffness, and faster rates of tension redevelopment at all Ca2+ levels. Small-angle X-ray diffraction indicated increased separation between thick and thin filaments, possibly contributing to changes in muscle kinetics. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that while the mutation does not significantly impact the structure of α-actinin on its own, it likely alters the conformation associated with titin binding. Our results can be explained by two Z-disc mediated communication pathways: one pathway that involves α-actinin's interaction with actin, affecting thin filament regulation, and the other pathway that involves α-actinin's interaction with titin, affecting thick filament activation. This work establishes the role of α-actinin 2 in modulating cross-bridge kinetics and force development in the human myocardium as well as how it can be involved in the development of cardiac disease.

Effects of long-term testosterone treatment on cardiovascular outcomes in men with hypogonadism: Rationale and design of the TRAVERSE study.

BACKGROUND: Testosterone exerts some effects on the cardiovascular system that could be considered beneficial; some other effects may potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. Neither the long-term efficacy nor safety of testosterone treatment has been studied in an adequately-powered randomized trial. METHODS: The Testosterone Replacement therapy for Assessment of long-term Vascular Events and efficacy ResponSE in hypogonadal men (TRAVERSE) study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, non-inferiority, multicenter study. Eligible participants are men, 45 to 80 years, with serum testosterone concentration <300 ng/dL and hypogonadal symptoms, who have evidence pre-existing CV disease or increased risk of CV disease. Approximately 6,000 subjects will be randomized to either 1.62% transdermal testosterone gel or a matching placebo gel daily for an anticipated duration of up to 5 years. The primary outcome is CV safety defined by the major adverse CV event composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death due to CV causes. The trial will continue until at least 256 adjudicated major adverse CV event endpoints have occurred to assess whether the 95% (2-sided) upper confidence limit for a hazard ratio of 1.5 can be ruled out. Secondary endpoints include prostate safety defined as the incidence of adjudicated high grade prostate cancer and efficacy in domains of sexual function, bone fractures, depression, anemia, and diabetes. RESULTS: As of July 1, 2021, 5,076 subjects had been randomized. CONCLUSIONS: The TRAVERSE study will determine the CV safety and long-term efficacy of testosterone treatment in middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism with or at increased risk of CV disease.

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: relationship of central nervous system manifestations with physical disability and systemic inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Despite the multitude of clinical manifestations of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), studies applying statistical methods to directly investigate patterns of symptom co-occurrence and their biological correlates are scarce. METHODS: We assessed 30 symptoms pertaining to different organ systems in 749 adults (age = 55 ± 14 years; 47% female) during in-person visits conducted at 6-11 months after hospitalization due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including six psychiatric and cognitive manifestations. Symptom co-occurrence was initially investigated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and latent variable modeling was then conducted using Item Response Theory (IRT). We investigated associations of latent variable severity with objective indices of persistent physical disability, pulmonary and kidney dysfunction, and C-reactive protein and D-dimer blood levels, measured at the same follow-up assessment. RESULTS: The EFA extracted one factor, explaining 64.8% of variance; loadings were positive for all symptoms, and above 0.35 for 16 of them. The latent trait generated using IRT placed fatigue, psychiatric, and cognitive manifestations as the most discriminative symptoms (coefficients > 1.5, p < 0.001). Latent trait severity was associated with decreased body weight and poorer physical performance (coefficients > 0.240; p ⩽ 0.003), and elevated blood levels of C-reactive protein (coefficient = 0.378; 95% CI 0.215-0.541; p < 0.001) and D-dimer (coefficient = 0.412; 95% CI 0.123-0.702; p = 0.005). Results were similar after excluding subjects with pro-inflammatory comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Different symptoms that persist for several months after moderate or severe COVID-19 may unite within one latent trait of PASC. This trait is dominated by fatigue and psychiatric symptoms, and is associated with objective signs of physical disability and persistent systemic inflammation.

Coaching paraeducators to implement functional communication training involving augmentative and alternative communication for students with autism spectrum disorder.

Paraeducators play an important role in assisting teachers and other professionals to support students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including delivering positive behavioral supports to those students who engage in persistent challenging behavior. The purpose of this multiple baseline design across participants study was to support paraeducators to implement functional communication training (FCT) to address challenging behavior among three students with ASD who used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Paraeducators implemented FCT with high levels of fidelity after participating in an initial training session and follow-up coaching and generally found the initial training and coaching strategies to be effective and feasible. Reductions in challenging behavior were variable across student participants. Implications for practice and future research directions are discussed in relation to FCT for students with ASD who use AAC and paraeducator training.

Effect of High-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acids vs Corn Oil on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk: The STRENGTH Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: It remains uncertain whether the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reduce cardiovascular risk. Objective: To determine the effects on cardiovascular outcomes of a carboxylic acid formulation of EPA and DHA (omega-3 CA) with documented favorable effects on lipid and inflammatory markers in patients with atherogenic dyslipidemia and high cardiovascular risk. Design, Setting, and Participants: A double-blind, randomized, multicenter trial (enrollment October 30, 2014, to June 14, 2017; study termination January 8, 2020; last patient visit May 14, 2020) comparing omega-3 CA with corn oil in statin-treated participants with high cardiovascular risk, hypertriglyceridemia, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). A total of 13 078 patients were randomized at 675 academic and community hospitals in 22 countries in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Interventions: Participants were randomized to receive 4 g/d of omega-3 CA (n = 6539) or corn oil, which was intended to serve as an inert comparator (n = 6539), in addition to usual background therapies, including statins. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary efficacy measure was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, coronary revascularization, or unstable angina requiring hospitalization. Results: When 1384 patients had experienced a primary end point event (of a planned 1600 events), the trial was prematurely halted based on an interim analysis that indicated a low probability of clinical benefit of omega-3 CA vs the corn oil comparator. Among the 13 078 treated patients (mean [SD] age, 62.5 [9.0] years; 35% women; 70% with diabetes; median low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol level, 75.0 mg/dL; median triglycerides level, 240 mg/dL; median HDL-C level, 36 mg/dL; and median high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level, 2.1 mg/L), 12 633 (96.6%) completed the trial with ascertainment of primary end point status. The primary end point occurred in 785 patients (12.0%) treated with omega-3 CA vs 795 (12.2%) treated with corn oil (hazard ratio, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.90-1.09]; P = .84). A greater rate of gastrointestinal adverse events was observed in the omega-3 CA group (24.7%) compared with corn oil-treated patients (14.7%). Conclusions and Relevance: Among statin-treated patients at high cardiovascular risk, the addition of omega-3 CA, compared with corn oil, to usual background therapies resulted in no significant difference in a composite outcome of major adverse cardiovascular events. These findings do not support use of this omega-3 fatty acid formulation to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02104817.

A middle aged woman with isolated ACTH deficiency associated with transient growth hormone deficiency.

Isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD) is a rare entity characterized by secondary adrenal insufficiency with low levels of serum cortisol, decreased production of ACTH, adequate secretion of other pituitary hormones and normal pituitary structure on radioimaging. The prevalence of IAD as a cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency has not been determined. Impairment of growth hormone (GH) secretion has been noted in 20 to 30% of patients with IAD which is normalized after glucocorticoid replacement. We report the case of a 50 years-old female with symptoms and laboratory results suggestive of adrenal insufficiency. Insulin tolerance test confirmed ACTH and growth hormone deficiency. The rest of the anterior pituitary hormones were normal. A pituitary MRI was unremarkable. Glucocorticoid replacement therapy started and eight months afterwards glucagon stimulation test revealed persistent ACTH deficiency but nor- mal growth hormone secretion. IAD can present with nonspecific symptoms and could be potentially fatal in an acute stressful period. Prompt recognition is essential to decrease morbidity and mortality.

Multiple Skeletal Deformities in a Middle-Aged Man.

A 54-year-old man was seen in our endocrinology clinic with evidence of a limited range of motion in his left foot. He had a history of diabetes mellitus type 2 and atrial fibrillation. His family history included evidence of skeletal deformities in some of his relatives. This could imply the potential existence of a hereditary condition. It is worth noting that spontaneous mutations have been reported in some cases. A pertinent physical examination revealed a surgical scar on the patient's left knee, a hallux valgus deformity on his left foot with compromised joint function, and painless bony prominences on that same foot. The skeletal survey findings were consistent with multiple hereditary exostoses. Multiple osteochondromatosis (MO) is a rare genetic disorder associated with serious complications that may significantly affect the health related quality of life of anyone having the disorder. To prevent further complications, these patients require long-term follow-up with regular clinical and radiological examinations.

Do We Need Hormonal Screening In Patients With Subcentimeter Pituitary Microadenomas?

A 54-year-old woman came to our endocrinology clinics presenting with upper and lower extremity paresthesia, salt cravings, episodes of hypotension, fatigue and a long term history of depression. Physical exam was unremarkable. Cervical and brain MRI ordered by her neurologist three years ago revealed sella and pituitary normal in size, stable very small 3 mm pituitary incidentaloma and mild disc bulging. Basal pituitary hormonal screening showed low cortisol and ACTH levels. Insulin Tolerance Test and Glucagon Stimulation Test confirmed secondary ACTH deficiency with concomitant GH deficiency. In spite of medical counseling the patient refused glucocorticoid replacement. Due to the non-specific symptoms of this condition it remains a challenge to be diagnosed by clinicians. In conclusion: Our case shows that hormonal deficiencies may occur in small tumors less than 6 mm.

Young female with acromegaloid features and pituitary macroadenoma: what is your diagnosis?

Pseudoacromegaly is a extremely rare condition previously described and characterized by acromegaloid changes, tissue overgrowth, without elevations in insulin-like growth factor or growth hormone as seen in Acromegaly. We present the case of a young female seen initially with acromegaloid features and a pituitary microadenoma. After work-up the patient was diagnosed as insulin-mediated pseudoacromegaly. Only a few cases of pseudoacromegaly has been reported and should always be considered when evaluating patients for acromegaloid features with negative biochemical and hormonal levels.

Preconception dietary glycemic index and risk for large-for-gestational age births.

OBJECTIVES: Diets with a high glycemic index (GI) leading to elevated postprandial glucose levels and hyperinsulinemia during pregnancy have been inconsistently linked to an increased risk for large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births. The effects of prepregnancy dietary GI on LGA risk are, to our knowledge, unknown. We examined the association of prepregnancy dietary GI with LGA births and joint associations of GI and maternal overweight/obesity and infant sex with LGA births among 10 188 infants born without congenital anomalies from 1997 to 2011, using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS). The aim of this study was to investigate this association among infants without major congenital anomalies (controls) who participated in the NBDPS and to evaluate how prepregnancy BMI and infant sex may modify this association on the additive scale. METHODS: Dietary intake was ascertained using a 58-item food frequency questionnaire. We dichotomized dietary GI into high and low categories using spline regression models. Infants with a birth weight at or above the 90th percentile for gestational age and sex, according to a U.S. population reference, were considered LGA. We used logistic regression to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of the infants, 859 (9%) had a high dietary GI (cut-point: 59), and 1244 infants (12%) were born LGA. Unadjusted analysis suggested an inverse association between high dietary GI and LGA (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.62-0.99). No association was observed in multivariable models when comparing high dietary GI intake between LGA births and all other births (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.74-1.20) or when excluding small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.73-1.19). No joint associations with maternal overweight/obesity or infant sex were observed. CONCLUSION: High prepregnancy maternal GI was not associated with LGA births independently of or jointly with other factors.

Post-COVID-19 respiratory sequelae two years after hospitalization: an ambidirectional study.

Background: COVID-19 lung sequelae can impact the course of patient lives. We investigated the evolution of pulmonary abnormalities in post-COVID-19 patients 18-24 months after hospital discharge. Methods: A cohort of COVID-19 patients admitted to the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP in São Paulo, Brazil, between March and August of 2020, were followed-up 6-12 months after hospital discharge. A subset of patients with pulmonary involvement and chest computed tomography (CT) scans were eligible to participate in this second follow-up (18-24 months). Data was analyzed in an ambidirectional manner, including retrospective data from the hospitalization, and from the first follow-up (6-12 months after discharge), and compared with the prospective data collected in this new follow-up. Findings: From 348 patients eligible, 237 (68%) participated in this follow-up. Among participants, 139 (58%) patients presented ground-glass opacities and reticulations, and 80 (33%) presented fibrotic-like lesions (traction bronchiectasis and architectural distortion). Five (2%) patients improved compared to the 6-12-month assessment, but 20 (25%) of 80 presented worsening of lung abnormalities. For those with relevant assessments on both occasions, comparing the CT findings between this follow-up with the previous assessment, there was an increase in patients with architectural distortion (43 [21%] of 204 vs 57 [28%] of 204, p = 0.0093), as well as in traction bronchiectasis (55 [27%] of 204 vs 69 [34%] of 204, p = 0.0043). Patients presented a persistent functional impairment with demonstrated restrictive pattern in both follow-ups (87 [42%] of 207 vs 91 [44%] of 207, p = 0.76), as well as for the reduced diffusion capacity (88 [42%] of 208 vs 87 [42%] of 208, p = 1.0). Length of hospitalization (OR 1.04 [1.01-1.07], p = 0.0040), invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 3.11 [1.3-7.5] p = 0.011), patient's age (OR 1.03 [1.01-1.06] p = 0.0074 were consistent predictors for development of fibrotic-like lung lesions in post-COVID-19 patients. Interpretation: Post-COVID-19 lung sequelae can persist and progress after hospital discharge, suggesting airways involvement and formation of new fibrotic-like lesions, mainly in patients who were in intensive care unit (ICU). Funding: São Paulo Research Foundation (22/01769-5) and Instituto Todos pela Saúde (C1721).

Therapeutic targeting Tudor domains in leukemia via CRISPR-Scan Assisted Drug Discovery.

Epigenetic dysregulation has been reported in multiple cancers including leukemias. Nonetheless, the roles of the epigenetic reader Tudor domains in leukemia progression and therapy remain unexplored. Here, we conducted a Tudor domain-focused CRISPR screen and identified SGF29, a component of SAGA/ATAC acetyltransferase complexes, as a crucial factor for H3K9 acetylation, ribosomal gene expression, and leukemogenesis. To facilitate drug development, we integrated the CRISPR tiling scan with compound docking and molecular dynamics simulation, presenting a generally applicable strategy called CRISPR-Scan Assisted Drug Discovery (CRISPR-SADD). Using this approach, we identified a lead inhibitor that selectively targets SGF29's Tudor domain and demonstrates efficacy against leukemia. Furthermore, we propose that the structural genetics approach used in our study can be widely applied to diverse fields for de novo drug discovery.

Activity of cefiderocol and innovative ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor combinations against isogenic strains of Escherichia coli expressing single and double ß-lactamases under high and low permeability conditions.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the impact of the most clinically relevant ß-lactamases and their interplay with low outer membrane permeability on the activity of cefiderocol, ceftazidime/avibactam, aztreonam/avibactam, cefepime/enmetazobactam, cefepime/taniborbactam, cefepime/zidebactam, imipenem/relebactam, meropenem/vaborbactam, meropenem/xeruborbactam and meropenem/nacubactam against recombinant Escherichia coli strains. METHODS: We constructed 82 E. coli laboratory transformants expressing the main ß-lactamases circulating in Enterobacterales (70 expressing single ß-lactamase and 12 producing double carbapenemase) under high (E. coli TG1) and low (E. coli HB4) permeability conditions. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined by reference broth microdilution. RESULTS: Aztreonam/avibactam, cefepime/zidebactam, cefiderocol, meropenem/xeruborbactam and meropenem/nacubactam were active against all E. coli TG1 transformants. Imipenem/relebactam, meropenem/vaborbactam, cefepime/taniborbactam and cefepime/enmetazobactam were also highly active, but unstable against most of MBL-producing transformants. Combination of ß-lactamases with porin deficiency (E. coli HB4) did not significantly affect the activity of aztreonam/avibactam, cefepime/zidebactam, cefiderocol or meropenem/nacubactam, but limited the effectiveness of the rest of carbapenem- and cefepime-based combinations. Double-carbapenemase production resulted in the loss of activity of most of the compounds tested, an effect particularly evident for those E. coli HB4 transformants in which MBLs were present. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the promising activity that cefiderocol and new ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitors have against recombinant E. coli strains expressing widespread ß-lactamases, including when these are combined with low permeability or other enzymes. Aztreonam/avibactam, cefiderocol, cefepime/zidebactam and meropenem/nacubactam will help to mitigate to some extent the urgency of new compounds able to resist MBL action, although NDM enzymes represent a growing challenge against which drug development efforts are still needed.

Role of Incretins in Muscle Functionality, Metabolism, and Body Composition in Breast Cancer: A Metabolic Approach to Understanding This Pathology.

A poorly studied issue in women with breast cancer is the role of incretins (GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1)) in the quantity and quality of muscle mass in lean and obese individuals. The current report aims to analyze the patterns of association and the role of incretin in muscle functionality and body composition in women with cancer compared with healthy women (mammography BI-RADS I or II) to elucidate whether GIP and GLP-1 can be used to estimate the risk, in conjunction with overweight or obesity, for breast cancer. We designed a case-control study in women with a breast cancer diagnosis confirmed by biopsy in different clinical stages (CS; n = 87) and healthy women with a mastography BI-RADS I or II within the last year (n = 69). The women were grouped according to body mass index (BMI): lean (<25 kg/m2BS), overweight (≥25-<30 kg/m2BS), and obese (≥30 kg/m2BS). We found that GLP-1 and GIP levels over 18 pg/mL were associated with a risk of breast cancer (GIP OR = 36.5 and GLP-1 OR = 4.16, for the entire sample), particularly in obese women (GIP OR = 8.8 and GLP-1 OR = 6.5), and coincidentally with low muscle quality indexes, showed an association between obesity, cancer, incretin defects, and loss of muscle functionality.

Data-driven, cross-disciplinary collaboration: lessons learned at the largest academic health center in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted global research efforts to reduce infection impact, highlighting the potential of cross-disciplinary collaboration to enhance research quality and efficiency. Methods: At the FMUSP-HC academic health system, we implemented innovative flow management routines for collecting, organizing and analyzing demographic data, COVID-related data and biological materials from over 4,500 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized from 2020 to 2022. This strategy was mainly planned in three areas: organizing a database with data from the hospitalizations; setting-up a multidisciplinary taskforce to conduct follow-up assessments after discharge; and organizing a biobank. Additionally, a COVID-19 curated collection was created within the institutional digital library of academic papers to map the research output. Results: Over the course of the experience, the possible benefits and challenges of this type of research support approach were identified and discussed, leading to a set of recommended strategies to enhance collaboration within the research institution. Demographic and clinical data from COVID-19 hospitalizations were compiled in a database including adults and a minority of children and adolescents with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, covering 2020-2022, with approximately 350 fields per patient. To date, this database has been used in 16 published studies. Additionally, we assessed 700 adults 6 to 11 months after hospitalization through comprehensive, multidisciplinary in-person evaluations; this database, comprising around 2000 fields per subject, was used in 15 publications. Furthermore, thousands of blood samples collected during the acute phase and follow-up assessments remain stored for future investigations. To date, more than 3,700 aliquots have been used in ongoing research investigating various aspects of COVID-19. Lastly, the mapping of the overall research output revealed that between 2020 and 2022 our academic system produced 1,394 scientific articles on COVID-19. Discussion: Research is a crucial component of an effective epidemic response, and the preparation process should include a well-defined plan for organizing and sharing resources. The initiatives described in the present paper were successful in our aim to foster large-scale research in our institution. Although a single model may not be appropriate for all contexts, cross-disciplinary collaboration and open data sharing should make health research systems more efficient to generate the best evidence.

Respiratory arousal threshold among patients with isolated sleep apnea and with comorbid insomnia (COMISA).

Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common sleep disorders and frequently coexist (COMISA). Arousals from sleep may be a common link explaining the frequent comorbidity of both disorders. Respiratory arousal threshold (AT) is a physiologic measurement of the level of respiratory effort to trigger an arousal from sleep. The impact of COMISA on AT is not known. We hypothesized that a low AT is more common among COMISA than among patients with OSA without insomnia. Participants referred for OSA diagnosis underwent a type 3 sleep study and answered the insomnia severity index (ISI) questionnaire and the Epworth sleepiness scale. Participants with an ISI score ≥ 15 were defined as having insomnia. Sleep apnea was defined as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15 events/h. Low AT was determined using a previously validated score based on 3 polysomnography variables (AHI, nadir SpO2 and the frequency of hypopneas). OSA-only (n = 51) and COMISA (n = 52) participants had similar age (61[52-68] vs 60[53-65] years), body-mass index (31.3[27.7-36.2] vs 32.2[29.5-38.3] kg/m2) and OSA severity (40.2[27.5-60] vs 37.55[27.9-65.2] events/h): all p = NS. OSA-only group had significantly more males than the COMISA group (58% vs 33%, p = 0.013. The proportion of participants with a low AT among OSA-only and COMISA groups was similar (29 vs 33%, p = NS). The similar proportion of low AT among COMISA and patients with OSA suggests that the respiratory arousal threshold may not be related to the increased arousability of insomnia.

Adipose Tissue Denervation Blunted the Decrease in Bone Formation Promoted by Obesity in Rats.

The impact of obesity upon bone metabolism is controversial since both beneficial or harmful effects have been reported. Bone remodeling is modulated by the central nervous system through cytokines, hormones and neuromodulators. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects evoked by bilateral retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (rWAT) denervation (Dnx) upon bone mineral metabolism and remodeling in an experimental model of obesity in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed during 18 weeks with high-fat diet (HFD) or standard diet (SD) as controls, and rWAT Dnx or Sham surgery was performed at the 14th week. Biochemical and hormonal parameters, bone histomorphometry, rWAT and hypothalamus protein and gene expression were analyzed. The HFD group presented decreased bone formation parameters, increased serum and bone leptin and FGF23, increased serum and hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) and decreased serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and PTH. After rWAT Dnx, bone markers and histomorphometry showed restoration of bone formation, and serum and hypothalamic NPY decreased, without alteration in leptin levels. The present study shows that the denervation of rWAT improved bone formation in obese rats mediated by a preferential reduction in neurohormonal actions of NPY, emphasizing the relevance of the adipose tissue-brain-bone axis in the control of bone metabolism in obesity.