Blackcurrant Anthocyanins Improve Blood Lipids and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Healthy Women in Menopause Transition without Changing Body Composition.

Recent cell and animal studies suggest the potential of blackcurrants (BCs; Ribes nigrum) as a dietary agent that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by improving dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This study aimed to examine the effects of BC anthocyanin (ACN) extract supplementation on biomarkers of CVD risk in healthy adult women in menopause transition. The effects of BC ACN supplementation on body composition, fasting blood lipids and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated using anthropometric measures and blood samples collected from a pilot randomized controlled clinical trial in peri- and early postmenopausal women. Thirty-eight eligible peri- and early postmenopausal women aged 45-60 completed the entire trial, in which they were randomly assigned into one of three treatment groups: placebo (control group), 392 mg/day (low BC group), or 784 mg/day (high BC group) for six months. The significance of differences in outcomes was tested using repeated-measures ANOVA. Overall, following six-month BC consumption, significantly decreased triglyceride (TG) levels were observed between treatment groups (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) was significantly reduced in a dose and time dependent manner (p < 0.05). Significant decreases in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were also observed between treatment groups (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Six-month change in oxidized LDL was inversely correlated with changes in catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (p < 0.05), while C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) change was positively correlated with changes in TG and IL-1ß (p < 0.01). Together, these findings suggest that daily BC consumption for six months effectively improved dyslipidemia, inflammation, and lipid peroxidation, thus potentially mitigating the risk of postmenopausal CVD development in study participants. Future studies with larger sample sizes and at-risk populations are warranted to confirm these findings.

Complete genome sequences of cluster G1 and cluster K4 Mycobacterium smegmatis phages omnicritical and Barkley26.

We present the complete genome sequence of two Actinobacteriophages, OmniCritical and Barkley26, isolated in Clark County, NV. Over two semesters, The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) students isolated and purified phages and manually annotated the genomes. The courses follow the HHMI Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Sciences (SEA-PHAGES) curricula.

A fatal disseminated cryptococcal infection in a patient treated with zanubrutinib for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

INTRODUCTION: Zanubrutinib is a second generation, irreversible small-molecule Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTK) approved for the treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, mantle cell lymphoma, and marginal zone lymphoma. As a class, BTKs have been linked with an increased risk of respiratory infections in clinical trials. CASE REPORT: We describe a 75-year-old patient who presented with generalized weakness, fevers, dyspnea, and dry cough four months after starting zanubrutinib therapy for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. He was subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia. Septic work-up led to diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcal infection, complicated by fungal pneumonia and meningitis. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: Zanubrutinib was held on admission, and the patient was started on combination oral and intravenous antifungal therapy. Despite clearance of fungemia, aggressive resuscitation, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy, respiratory status deteriorated requiring intubation. His condition progressed to septic shock, multiorgan failure, and demise. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: We report herein a case of fatal disseminated cryptococcosis in the setting of zanubrutinib use for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. At the time of diagnosis, his Waldenström's macroglobulinemia was in a partial response. The mechanism by which Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKs) lead to invasive fungal infections in these patients remains to be explored. T- and B-cell immune defects accompanying low-grade B-cell lymphomas may contribute to the severity of these infections.

Periampullary carcinoma presenting as duodenojejunal intussusception: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma.

BACKGROUND: An intussusception is the invagination of one segment of the intestine into another. It is more common in children, but a rare clinical entity in adults, where the condition is almost always caused by tumors. METHODS: A 51-year-old female presented with symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction associated with significant weight loss, but no jaundice. Routine hematological and biochemical investigation, including tumor markers, were normal. Abdominal ultrasound revealed duodenojejunal intussusception, and subsequent CT of the abdomen confirmed it. RESULTS: She underwent a laparotomy, which confirmed duodenojejunal intussusception. On reducing the intussusception and performing a duodenotomy, a periampullary mass was confirmed. Hence, she underwent a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histology confirmed periampullary adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Adult intussusceptions are mostly caused by tumors. Contrast CT is the investigation of choice, although ultrasound can be used. One should have a low threshold for suspecting malignancy, obtain frozen section histology, and seek appropriate help at an early stage.

Individual differences in the expression of a "general" learning ability in mice.

Human performance on diverse tests of intellect are impacted by a "general" regulatory factor that accounts for up to 50% of the variance between individuals on intelligence tests. Neurobiological determinants of general cognitive abilities are essentially unknown, owing in part to the paucity of animal research wherein neurobiological analyses are possible. We report a methodology with which we have assessed individual differences in the general learning abilities of laboratory mice. Abilities of mice on tests of associative fear conditioning, operant avoidance, path integration, discrimination, and spatial navigation were assessed. Tasks were designed so that each made unique sensory, motor, motivational, and information processing demands on the animals. A sample of 56 genetically diverse outbred mice (CD-1) was used to assess individuals' acquisition on each task. Indicative of a common source of variance, positive correlations were found between individuals' performance on all tasks. When tested on multiple test batteries, the overall performance ranks of individuals were found to be highly reliable and were "normally" distributed. Factor analysis of learning performance variables determined that a single factor accounted for 38% of the total variance across animals. Animals' levels of native activity and body weights accounted for little of the variability in learning, although animals' propensity for exploration loaded strongly (and was positively correlated) with learning abilities. These results indicate that diverse learning abilities of laboratory mice are influenced by a common source of variance and, moreover, that the general learning abilities of individual mice can be specified relative to a sample of peers.