Postpartum development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in a lean mouse model of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased postpartum risk for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). GDM-related MASLD predisposes to advanced liver disease, necessitating a better understanding of its development in GDM. This preclinical study evaluated the MASLD development in a lean GDM mouse model with impaired insulin secretion capacity. Lean GDM was induced by short-term 60% high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin injections (60 mg/kg for 3 days) before mating in C57BL/6N mice. The control dams received only high-fat diet or low-fat diet. Glucose homeostasis was assessed during pregnancy and postpartum, whereas MASLD was assessed on postpartum day 30 (PP30). GDM dams exhibited a transient hyperglycemic phenotype during pregnancy, with hyperglycaemia reappearing after lactation. Lower insulin levels and impaired glucose-induced insulin response were observed in GDM mice during pregnancy and postpartum. At PP30, GDM dams displayed higher hepatic triglyceride content compared controls, along with increased MAS (MASLD) activity scores, indicating lipid accumulation, inflammation, and cell turnover indices. Additionally, at PP30, GDM dams showed elevated plasma liver injury markers. Given the absence of obesity in this double-hit GDM model, the results clearly indicate that impaired insulin secretion driven pregnancy hyperglycaemia has a distinct contribution to the development of postpartum MASLD.

Short and long-term effects of sham-controlled prefrontal EEG-neurofeedback training in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we evaluated long-term effects of frontal beta EEG-neurofeedback training (E-NFT) on healthy subjects. We hypothesized that E-NFT can change frontal beta activity in the long-term and that changes in frontal beta EEG activity are accompanied by altered cognitive performance. METHODS: 25 healthy subjects were included and randomly assigned to active or sham E-NFT. On average the subjects underwent 15 E-NFT training sessions with a training duration of 45 min. Resting-state EEG was recorded prior to E-NFT training (t1) and in a 3-year follow-up (t3). RESULTS: Compared to sham E-NFT, which was used for the control group, real E-NFT increased beta activity in a predictable way. This increase was maintained over a period of three years post training. However, E-NFT did not result in significantly improved cognitive performance. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we conclude that EEG-NFT can selectively modify EEG beta activity both in short and long-term. SIGNIFICANCE: This is a sham controlled EEG neurofeedback study demonstrating long-term effects in resting state EEG.

Refinement of the nickel site structure in Desulfovibrio gigas hydrogenase using range-extended EXAFS spectroscopy.

We have reexamined the Ni EXAFS of oxidized, inactive (as-isolated) and H(2) reduced Desulfovibrio gigas hydrogenase. Better spatial resolution was achieved by analyzing the data over a 50% wider k-range than was previously available. A lower k(min) was obtained using the FEFF code for phase shifts and amplitudes. A higher k(max) was obtained by removing an interfering Cu signal from the raw spectra using multiple energy fluorescence detection. The larger k-range allowed us to better resolve the Ni-S bond lengths and to define more accurately the Ni-O and Ni-Fe bond lengths. We find that as-isolated, hydrogenase has two Ni-S bonds at approximately 2.2 A, but also 1-2 Ni-S bonds in the 2.35+/-0.05 A range. A Ni-O interaction is evident at 1.91 A. The as-isolated Ni-Fe distance cannot be unambiguously determined. Upon H(2) reduction, two short Ni-S bonds persist at approximately 2.2 A, but the remaining Ni-S bonds lengthen to 2.47+/-0.05 A. Good simulations are obtained with a Ni-Fe distance at 2.52 A, in agreement with crystal structures of the reduced enzyme. Although not evident in the crystal structures, an improvement in the fit is obtained by inclusion of one Ni-O interaction at 2.03 A. Implications of these distances for the spin-state of H(2) reduced H(2)ase are discussed.

Do families want to be present during CPR? A retrospective survey.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to interview families who had experienced the death of a loved one to determine their desires, beliefs, and concerns about family presence during CPR. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive telephone survey of families of patients who had died because of traumatic injuries while in an emergency department was used. A family presence survey was developed to determine the desires, beliefs, and concerns about family presence during CPR. RESULTS: Of the 25 family members surveyed, 80% said they would have wanted to have been in the room during CPR had they been given the option (desires), 96% believed that families should be able to be with their loved ones (beliefs), 68% believed that their presence might have helped their family member (beliefs), and 64% believed that their presence would have helped their sorrow following the death (beliefs). Major themes from family concerns were worry about the seriousness of the patient's condition and whether the patient would survive the resuscitation. DISCUSSION: Family members strongly support having the option of being present during CPR. Health care providers should explore ways to implement this program to best meet the needs of families.

Opening the doors: family presence during resuscitation.

In most hospitals, family members are prohibited from being present during resuscitation because it is believed that they would be unable to cope with the crisis or that litigation might be fostered. This article challenges traditional thinking and proposes that a movement is underway fostering family presence during resuscitation because of nursing's moral imperative to preserve the wholeness, integrity, and dignity of the family unit from birth to death. An overview of the family presence movement is presented that synthesizes current literature and research, examines risks and benefits, suggests guidelines for practice, shares experience, and proposes implications for the future.

The effect of ovariectomy on lipoprotein metabolism during a period of one year.

In a follow-up study over one year the influence of sex hormones on lipoprotein metabolism in women after ovariectomy was investigated. During this relatively long period we could observe several changes of lipid and apolipoprotein levels in serum which may be caused by adaptive processes after withdrawal of sex hormones. The first phase of variation of lipids and apolipoproteins (2 weeks after ovariectomy) is strongly influenced by the operation trauma and characterized by a decrease of apo A-I, apo A-II, TC levels and an increase of the triglyceride level. The second phase (6-18 weeks after operation) shows an increase of the levels of apolipoprotein of HDL (apo A-I and apo A-II) and also apo C-II and apo C-III. The pattern in the third phase (one year after operation) differs from that of the two earlier phases and is similar to that in the natural postmenopausal state (elevation of apo B, TC, nonsignificant elevation of apo A-I and significant elevation of apo A-II). It seems that ovariectomy causes permanent changes of the LDL-level whereas the fluctuation of HDL is temporary. The late changes in the lipoprotein spectrum following ovariectomy in the reported direction may be important for the increase of ischemic heart disease observed by many investigators.

Structure, physical, and photophysical properties of platinum(II) complexes containing bidentate aromatic and bis(diphenylphosphino)methane as ligands.

This study focuses on a series of PtII(L-L')(dppm)n+ complexes, where dppm is bis(diphenylphosphino)methane and L-L' are C-C' (n = 0), C-N (n = 1), and N-N' (n = 2) aromatic ligands. Structural characteristics are as follows: for [Pt(phen)(dppm)](PF6)2, a N-N' derivative, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 33.583(6) A, b = 11.399(2) A, c = 22.158(4) A, Z = 8; for [Pt(phq)(dppm)](PF6), a C-N derivative, triclinic, P1, a = 11.415(3) A, b = 13.450(3) A, c = 14.210(4) A, Z = 2; for [Pt(phpy)(dppm)](PF6), a C-N derivative, triclinic, P1, a = 10.030(3) A, b = 13.010(2) A, c = 15.066(4) A, Z = 2; and for [Pt(bph)(dppm)], a C-C' derivative, P2(1)/c, a = 17.116(7) A, b = 21.422(6) A, c = 26.528(6) A, Z = 12, where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline, phq is 2-phenylquinoline, phpy is 2-phenylpyridine, and bph is 2,2'-biphenyl. Structural features indicate that the Pt-C bond distance is shorter than the Pt-N bond distance in symmetrical complexes and that the Pt-P bond distance trans to N is shorter than the Pt-P bond trans to C. This is consistent with the 31P NMR spectra where the chemical shift of the P trans to C is approximately 10 ppm less than found for P trans to N. The energy maxima of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer band for the complexes containing various L-L' ligands occur in the near-UV region of the spectrum and fall into the energy series bpy > bph > phen > 2-phpy > 2-ptpy > 2-phq > 7,8-bzq, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, 2-phpy is 2-phenylpyridine, 2-ptpy is 2-p-tolylpyridine, and 7,8-bzq is 7,8-benzoquinoline. The emission energy maxima, ascribed to variance in metal-perturbed triplet ligand centered emission, commence near 500 nm and follow the series phen > bpy > 7,8-bzq > 2-phpy > 2-ptpy > bph > 2-phq. In general, emission is observed at 77 K and in solution at low temperatures, but the temperature dependence of the emission lifetimes indicates thermal activation to another state occurs with an energy of approximately 1800 cm-1 for the complexes, with the exception of [Pt(bph)(dppm)], which has an activation energy of approximately 2300 cm-1.

[Results of protein-sparing modified fasting in hyperlipoproteinemias]. / Ergebnisse des proteinsparenden modifizierten Fastens bei Hyperlipoproteinämien.

We investigated the influence of a PSMF on body weight, body composition, blood lipids, physical working capacity, and nitrogen balance in obese HLP patients. During 4 weeks, 12 patients were treated by PSMF (approximately 340 kcal/d) under health resort conditions. At the same time, they daily exercised on a bicycle with an intensity of 80% of their physical working capacity estimated by an exercise load. The therapeutic regimen induced a significant weight loss (10.1 kg in the mean). Evidently, the patients diminished their body fat only as could be shown by estimations of total body water. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol also decreased significantly, while HDL-cholesterol remained unchanged. In spite of the weight reduction, the physical working capacity significantly increased from 57.8 to 93.2 kgm. Measurements of total nitrogen excretion with urine gave evidence of the protein saving effect of the therapy. Thus, PSMF--representing an effective therapeutic procedure--can be recommended to be used in obese HLP patients, proceeded that contraindications have been taken into consideration carefully.