Signature of Ultrafast Formation and Annihilation of Polaronic States in a Layered Ferromagnet.

The strong interaction between charge and lattice vibration gives rise to a polaron, which has a profound effect on optical and transport properties of matters. In magnetic materials, polarons are involved in spin dependent transport, which can be potentially tailored for spintronic and opto-spintronic device applications. Here, we identify the signature of ultrafast formation of polaronic states in CrBr3. The polaronic states are long-lived, having a lifetime on the time scale of nanoseconds to microseconds, which coincides with the emission lifetime of ∼4.3 µs. Transition of the polaronic states is strongly screened by the phonon, generating a redshift of the transition energy ∼0.2 eV. Moreover, energy-dependent localization of polaronic states is discovered followed by transport/annihilation properties. These results shed light on the nature of the polarons and their formation and transport dynamics in layered magnetic materials, which paves the way for the rational design of two-dimensional magnetic devices.

The Epigenetics of Migraine.

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder and a major cause of disability. A wide range of different drug classes such as triptans, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, analgesics, and beta-blockers are used in acute and preventive migraine therapy. Despite a considerable progress in the development of novel and targeted therapeutic interventions during recent years, e.g., drugs that inhibit the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway, therapy success rates are still unsatisfactory. The diversity of drug classes used in migraine therapy partly reflects the limited perception of migraine pathophysiology. Genetics seems to explain only to a minor extent the susceptibility and pathophysiological aspects of migraine. While the role of genetics in migraine has been extensively studied in the past, the interest in studying the role of gene regulatory mechanisms in migraine pathophysiology is recently evolving. A better understanding of the causes and consequences of migraine-associated epigenetic changes could help to better understand migraine risk, pathogenesis, development, course, diagnosis, and prognosis. Additionally, it could be a promising avenue to discover new therapeutic targets for migraine treatment and monitoring. In this review, we summarize the state of the art regarding epigenetic findings in relation to migraine pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets, with a focus on DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNA-dependent regulation. Several genes and their methylation patterns such as CALCA (migraine symptoms and age of migraine onset), RAMP1, NPTX2, and SH2D5 (migraine chronification) and microRNA molecules such as miR-34a-5p and miR-382-5p (treatment response) seem especially worthy of further study regarding their role in migraine pathogenesis, course, and therapy. Additionally, changes in genes including COMT, GIT2, ZNF234, and SOCS1 have been linked to migraine progression to medication overuse headache (MOH), and several microRNA molecules such as let-7a-5p, let-7b-5p, let-7f-5p, miR-155, miR-126, let-7g, hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-375, miR-181a, let-7b, miR-22, and miR-155-5p have been implicated with migraine pathophysiology. Epigenetic changes could be a potential tool for a better understanding of migraine pathophysiology and the identification of new therapeutic possibilities. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to verify these early findings and to be able to establish epigenetic targets as disease predictors or therapeutic targets.

Pharmacogenetics and Pain Treatment with a Focus on Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Antidepressants: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review summarizes the impact of pharmacogenetics on the effect and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antidepressants when used for pain treatment. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines regarding the human in vivo efficacy and safety of NSAIDs and antidepressants in pain treatment that take pharmacogenetic parameters into consideration. Studies were collected from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to the cutoff date 18 October 2021. RESULTS: Twenty-five articles out of the 6547 initially detected publications were identified. Relevant medication-gene interactions were noted for drug safety. Interactions important for pain management were detected for (1) ibuprofen/CYP2C9; (2) celecoxib/CYP2C9; (3) piroxicam/CYP2C8, CYP2C9; (4) diclofenac/CYP2C9, UGT2B7, CYP2C8, ABCC2; (5) meloxicam/CYP2C9; (6) aspirin/CYP2C9, SLCO1B1, and CHST2; (7) amitriptyline/CYP2D6 and CYP2C19; (8) imipramine/CYP2C19; (9) nortriptyline/CYP2C19, CYP2D6, ABCB1; and (10) escitalopram/HTR2C, CYP2C19, and CYP1A2. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, a lack of well powered human in vivo studies assessing the pharmacogenetics in pain patients treated with NSAIDs or antidepressants is noted. Studies indicate a higher risk for partly severe side effects for the CYP2C9 poor metabolizers and NSAIDs. Further in vivo studies are needed to consolidate the relevant polymorphisms in NSAID safety as well as in the efficacy of NSAIDs and antidepressants in pain management.

Human herpesvirus 8 open reading frame 26 and open reading frame 65 sequences from multiple myeloma patients: a shared pattern not found in Kaposi's sarcoma or primary effusion lymphoma.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), multicentric Castleman's disease, and recently multiple myeloma (MM). DNA sequence analyses of HHV-8 suggest that multiple HHV-8 strains exist. We extracted DNA from 24 patients with MM and 3 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and compared HHV-8 open reading frames (ORFs) 26 and 65 sequences with those derived from patients with KS, PEL, and two HHV-8-positive PEL cell lines KS-1 and BC-1. ORF26 sequence data suggest that MM patients are consistently carriers of HHV-8 strain subtype C3. All MM patients also consistently revealed either a single bp deletion or substitution at position 112197 in ORF65. This unique alteration is not present in patients with KS or PEL or in PEL cell lines. It occurs in the portion of ORF65 that is known to be responsible for a serological response to HHV-8.

Computerized segmental plethysmography and laser flowmetry.

A new computerized plethysmograph allows segments of the vascular system to be examined accurately and automatically. Laser flowmetry allows blood flow measurements to be made of digital circulation for vascular abnormalities. With the 2 new instruments, large and small vessel circulations can be measured quickly and easily. Disease of these vessels can be readily detected. Thus, appropriate medical or surgical therapy can be investigated.

Comparison of various noninvasive techniques for evaluating deep venous thrombosis.

A series of noninvasive vascular tests was performed on groups of normal individuals (Group I) and on patients with chronic deep vein thrombophlebitis (Group II) to determine the relative specificity and sensitivity of the tests. Results indicate that the simpler tests, requiring a minimum of equipment and technique are as effective as certain of the more sophisticated procedures.

Influence of local and environmental temperatures on cutaneous circulation with use of laser Doppler flowmetry.

The purpose of this study was to determine a standard set of conditions for detecting peripheral arteriosclerosis with ischemia. One series of studies was done to determine the influence of room temperature on peripheral flow in healthy subjects and patients with peripheral vascular disease. The room temperature was varied from 30 degrees to 35 degrees C. The temperature from 24 degrees to 30 degrees C had only minor effects on the circulation. Thus, it seemed appropriate to use a room temperature in the lower range, usually 23 degrees C. Another series of studies showed the effect of changing skin temperatures locally at the finger tip or toe tip on the plantar and volar surfaces in healthy subjects and in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Results showed that as temperature was increased from 10 degrees to 45 degrees, there was a marked increase in the finger and toe circulations, which was considerably greater in the normal subjects as compared with those with digital disease. The ideal temperature at which to work as a routine is 40 degrees C as opposed to the lower temperatures, which did not separate healthy subjects from patients with peripheral vascular disease. A third experiment was done to study normal subjects and patients by using the finger circulation as control against the toe circulation when the conditions were a local skin temperature of 40 degrees C and a room temperature of 23 degrees C. A toe-finger index was established to detect abnormalities in the circulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thoracic outlet syndromes--application of microcirculation techniques and clinical review.

The thoracic outlet syndromes of the upper extremities consist of many disorders. The most important two are the costoclavicular syndrome (compression of neurovascular structures between the clavicle and the first rib) and the scalenus anticus syndrome (compression of these structures within the scalene triangle). Congenital abnormalities of the clavicle, congenital small thoracic outlet, high first rib, cervical ribs of all configurations, pectoralis minor and pectoralis major syndromes, and others may occur. The costoclavicular syndrome and scalenus anticus syndrome have been considered the most prevalent compression syndromes and are amenable to surgical or medical treatment. Quantitative measurements of the microcirculation of the fingertip were examined with the shoulders and head in various positions to provide quantitative information relative to the costoclavicular and scalenus anticus syndromes. A laser instrument was ideal for this purpose, for results were quantitative and no counterpressure was applied during the measurement. The technic applied was highly successful in separating quantitatively the normal individuals from those with either costoclavicular syndrome or scalenus anticus syndrome.