Thrombotic triad in microgravity.

Thrombotic disease may be an underdiagnosed condition of prolonged exposure to microgravity and yet the underlying factors remain poorly defined. Recently, an internal jugular vein thrombosis was diagnosed in a low-risk female astronaut after an approximately 7-week space mission. Six of the additional 10 crew members demonstrated jugular venous flow risk factors, such as suspicious stagnation or retroversion. Fortunately, all were asymptomatic. Observations in space as well as clinical and in vitro microgravity studies on Earth, where experiments are designed to recapitulate the conditions of space, suggest effects on blood flow stasis, coagulation, and vascular function. In this article, the related literature on thrombotic disease in space is reviewed, with consideration of these elements of Virchow's triad.

A case of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and minimal change disease complicated by bilateral pulmonary emboli.

Nephrotic syndrome and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance are thought to be associated with venous thromboembolism. However, the association is thought to be weak and is often ignored by clinicians. We present a rare case of sudden-onset bilateral pulmonary emboli with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in a patient diagnosed with both minimal change disease and immunoglobulin M (IgM) kappa monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. No previous report has been published describing venous thromboembolism in a patient with plasma cell dyscrasia and minimal change disease. This case establishes the importance of considering a diagnostic workup for both disorders in patients with venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, venous thromboembolism risk in patients with both of these diseases is significant. Benefits of prophylactic anticoagulation in these patients are still controversial.

A Meta-Analysis of Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta), Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca fascicularis), African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops), and Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) as Large Animal Models for COVID-19.

Animal models are at the forefront of biomedical research for studies of viral transmission, vaccines, and pathogenesis, yet the need for an ideal large animal model for COVID-19 remains. We used a meta-analysis to evaluate published data relevant to this need. Our literature survey contained 22 studies with data relevant to the incidence of common COVID-19 symptoms in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops), and ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Rhesus macaques had leukocytosis on Day 1 after inoculation and pneumonia on Days 7 and 14 after inoculation, in frequencies that were similar enough to humans to reject the null hypothesis of a Fisher exact test. However, the differences in overall presentation of disease were too different from that of humans to successfully identify any of these 4 species as an ideal large animal of COVID-19. The greatest limitation to the current study is a lack of standardization in experimentation and reporting. To expand our understanding of the pathology of COVID-19 and evalu- ate vaccine immunogenicity, we must extend the unprecedented collaboration that has arisen in the study of COVID-19 to include standardization of animal-based research in an effort to find the optimal animal model.

The association between taking a course or class in self-managing diabetes with diabetic ocular complications including diabetic retinopathy: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: Diabetes currently affects 30.3 million people in the United States. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between taking a course in self-managing diabetes and diabetic ocular complications including diabetic retinopathy diagnosis (OC-RD). METHODS: The sample was from the 2017 CDC's BRFSS participants. We included adults who self-reported they had diabetes. The exposure included those who took a course in how to self-manage diabetes. The outcome was those told they had OC-RD by a doctor. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis were used to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The odds of OC-RD decreased by 30% for those who did not attend a course compared to those who did (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.60-0.80). Patients who saw a doctor showed a 50% increase in the odds of OC-RD than those who did not (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.20-1.90). Those earning above $15,000 had a 10% decreased likelihood of OC-RD every time income level increased. CONCLUSIONS: Taking a class on self-managing diabetes was associated with an increased risk of OC-RD in the diabetic population. Future studies may analyze how education will affect diabetic complications.

"Just not knowing" can make life sweeter (and saltier): Reward uncertainty alters the sensory experience and consumption of palatable food and drinks.

Reward uncertainty can prompt exploration and learning, strengthening approach and consummatory behaviors. For humans, these phenomena are exploited in marketing promotions and gambling products, sometimes spurring hedonic consumption. Here, in four experiments, we sought to identify whether reward uncertainty-as a state of "not knowing" that exists between an action and a positively valanced outcome-enhances the in-the-moment consumption and experience of other palatable food and drink rewards. In Experiment 1, we demonstrate that reward uncertainty can increase consumption of commercial alcoholic drinks and energy-dense savory snacks. In Experiment 2, we show that reward uncertainty is unlikely to promote consumption through gross increases in impulsivity (expressed as higher discounting rates) or risk tolerance (expressed as lower probability discounting rates). In Experiment 3, we find that reward uncertainty intensifies the taste of, and hedonic responses to, sucrose solutions in a concentration-dependent manner among individuals with heightened preferences for sweet tastes. Finally, in Experiment 4, we replicate and extend these findings by showing that reward uncertainty intensifies the taste of palatable foods and drinks in ways that are independent of individuals' discounting rates, motor control, reflection impulsivity, and momentary happiness but are strongly moderated by recent depressive symptoms. These data suggest a working hypothesis that (incidental) reward uncertainty, as a state of not knowing, operates as a mood-dependent "taste intensifier" of palatable food and drink rewards, possibly sustaining reward seeking and consumption. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).