High incidence of cerebrovascular lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in pediatric COVID-19 during omicron outbreak - A retrospective case series.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pediatric hospitalizations has significantly increased since the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Changes of characteristics in respiratory and neurological symptoms have been reported. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study to characterize the MRI change in children with an emphasis on the change of cerebral vasculatures. METHODS: We retrospectively collected clinical and MRI data of 31 pediatric patients with neurological symptoms during the acute infection and abnormalities on MRI during the outbreak of omicron variant from April 2022 to June 2022 in Taiwan. The clinical manifestations and MRI abnormalities were collected and proportion of patients with vascular abnormalities was calculated. RESULTS: Among 31 pediatric patients with post-COVID-19 neurological symptoms, MRI abnormalities were observed in 15 (48.4%), predominantly encephalitis/encephalopathy (73.3%). Notable MRI findings included focal diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) hyperintensity in cerebral cortex and thalamus, diffuse cortical T2/DWI hyperintensity, and lesions in the medulla, pons, cerebellum, and splenium of corpus callosum. Vascular abnormalities were seen in 12 (80%) patients with MRI abnormalities, mainly affecting the middle cerebral arteries. The spectrum of neurological manifestations ranged from seizures to Alice in Wonderland syndrome, underscoring the diverse impact of COVID-19 on pediatric patients. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of vascular abnormalities was observed in pediatric patients with neurological involvements, suggesting that vascular involvement is an important mechanism of neurological manifestations in omicron variant infection.

Neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in Taiwan: A cross-section, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a global public health threat since December 2019. This study aims to investigate the neurological characteristics and risk factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwanese children, using data from a collaborative registry. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional, multi-center study was done using an online network of pediatric neurological COVID-19 cohort collaborative registry. RESULTS: A total of 11160 COVID-19-associated emergency department (ED) visits and 1079 hospitalizations were analyzed. Seizures were the most common specific neurological symptom, while encephalitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) was the most prevalent severe involvement. In ED patients with neurological manifestations, severe neurological diagnosis was associated with visual hallucination, seizure with/without fever, behavior change, decreased GCS, myoclonic jerk, decreased activity/fatigue, and lethargy. In hospitalized patients with neurological manifestations, severe neurological diagnosis was associated with behavior change, visual hallucination, decreased GCS, seizure with/without fever, myoclonic jerk, fatigue, and hypoglycemia at admission. Encephalitis/ADEM was the only risk factor for poor neurological outcomes at discharge in hospitalized patients. CONCLUSION: Neurological complications are common in pediatric COVID-19. Visual hallucination, seizure, behavior change, myoclonic jerk, decreased GCS, and hypoglycemia at admission are the most important warning signs of severe neurological involvement such as encephalitis/ADEM.

Viral Pneumonia during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019-2021 Evoking Needs for SARS-CoV-2 and Additional Vaccinations.

Coronaviruses can cause pneumonia, with clinical symptoms that may be similar to the symptoms of other viral pneumonias. To our knowledge, there have been no reports regarding cases of pneumonia caused by coronaviruses and other viruses among hospitalized patients in the past 3 years before and during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we analysed the causes of viral pneumonia among hospitalized patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (2019-2021). Between September 2019 and April 2021, patients hospitalized at Shuang Ho Hospital in north Taiwan with a diagnosis of pneumonia were enrolled in this study. Age, sex, onset date, and season of occurrence were recorded. Respiratory tract pathogens were identified with molecular detection using the FilmArray® platform from nasopharyngeal swabs. In total, 1147 patients (128 patients aged <18 years and 1019 patients aged ≥18 years) with pneumonia and identified respiratory tract pathogens were assessed. Among the 128 children with pneumonia, the dominant viral respiratory pathogen was rhinovirus (24.2%), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; 22.7%), parainfluenza virus (1 + 2 + 3 + 4) (17.2%), adenovirus (12.5%), metapneumovirus (9.4%), coronavirus (1.6%), and influenza virus (A + B) (1.6%). Among the 1019 adults with pneumonia, the dominant viral respiratory pathogen was rhinovirus (5.0%), followed by RSV (2.0%), coronavirus (2.0%), metapneumovirus (1.5%), parainfluenza virus (1 + 2 + 3 + 4) (1.1%), adenovirus (0.7%), and influenza virus (A + B) (0%). From 2019-2021, older patients (aged >65 years) with pneumonia tested positive for coronavirus most commonly in autumn. Coronavirus was not detected during summer in children or adults. Among children aged 0-6 years, RSV was the most common viral pathogen, and RSV infection occurred most often in autumn. Metapneumovirus infection occurred most often in spring in both children and adults. In contrast, influenza virus was not detected in patients with pneumonia in any season among children or adults from January 2020 to April 2021. Among all patients with pneumonia, the most common viral pathogens were rhinovirus in spring, adenovirus and rhinovirus in summer, RSV and rhinovirus in autumn, and parainfluenza virus in winter. Among children aged 0-6 years, RSV, rhinovirus, and adenovirus were detected in all seasons during the study period. In conclusion, the proportion of pneumonia cases caused by a viral pathogen was higher in children than the proportion in adults. The COVID-19 pandemic period evoked a need for SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2) vaccination to prevent the severe complications of COVID-19. However, other viruses were also found. Vaccines for influenza were clinically applied. Active vaccines for other viral pathogens such as RSV, rhinovirus, metapneuomoccus, parainfluenza, and adenovirus may need to be developed for special groups in the future.

Factors affecting the patency and complications of peripheral intravenous catheters in newborns.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral intravenous catheters (PICs) are necessary for medication, nutrient, and fluid administration in pediatric patients. However, PICs are uneasy to access and maintain in young infants. This study identified risk factors affecting the complications and patency of PICs. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included neonates and infants aged <4 months. All PICs inserted in the neonatal intensive care unit and intermediate care nursery were analyzed more than 5 months. The variables included gestational age, age and body weight at PIC insertion, insertion site, methods to maintain PIC patency (continuous intravenous drip [CIVD] versus intermittent flushing), fluid infusion rate and osmolarity, and ampicillin and cefotaxime concentrations. The effects of these variables on PIC complications and lifespan were assessed using binary logistic regression analysis and a general linear model, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 315 PICs were analyzed. The mean indwelling time was 33.8 ± 21.5 h and complication rate was 82.2%. The most frequent complications were infiltration (55.9%) and leakage (22.2%). The infusion rate and method to maintain PICs significantly impacted PIC patency. A negative correlation was noted between the infusion rate and PIC patency, with the patency decreasing by 0.9 h (p = 0.047) on increasing the infusion rate by 1 mL/h. Notably, compared with intermittent flushing, CIVD using a hypertonic solution significantly decreased PIC patency by 14 h (p = 0.006). As the patients' age increased by a month, the complication risk decreased by 35% (p = 0.027). However, as the infusion rate increased by 1 mL/h, the complication risk increased by 17% (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent flushing may be preferred over CIVD to preserve PIC patency. An increased infusion rate is correlated with decreased PIC patency and increased complications. For the peripheral administration of ampicillin, we recommended preparing final concentrations below 50 mg/dL to prevent PIC complications.

Fatal Fulminant Cerebral Edema in Six Children With SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 Infection in Taiwan.

Acute fulminant cerebral edema in children following SARS-CoV-2 infection has been rarely reported. Such patients frequently demonstrate rapid progression and are usually fatal. In this retrospective study, we describe the detailed clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging features of six fatal cases in Taiwan. All patients had shock initially, five showed rapid progression to multiorgan failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation, and three developed acute respiratory distress syndromes. The inflammatory biomarkers in the first 3 days, including interleukin 6, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, and D-dimer, showed significant elevation in all cases. The hyperinflammatory response may play a role in the pathophysiology.

Classic Ehlers-Dalnos syndrome presenting as atypical chronic haematoma: a case report with novel frameshift mutation in COL5A1.

BACKGROUND: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited connective tissue disorders characterized by skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility and soft tissue vulnerable to blunt injury. Early recognition and diagnosis are crucial to patients to provide appropriate treatment, as well as to screen for life-threatening conditions such as aortic dissection and hollow organ perforation. The diagnosis of EDS is made based on clinical presentations, skin biopsy, and electron microscopy findings. To date, mutations in at least 20 genes have been found to cause the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. However, EDS is still underestimated due to lack of awareness of its variable clinical presentations. Here we reported an EDS case with atypical initial presentation and a novel genetic mutation. CASE PRESENTATION: This 4-year-old Taiwanese male patient presented with easy bruising, multiple ecchymoses, joint hypermobility, hyperextensible skin, and prolonged pretibial haematoma. He was initially suspected of a bleeding tendency due to coagulation disorders. The coagulation test results were normal. DNA sequencing was performed for molecular diagnosis. Subsequently, the diagnosis of classical EDS was made by identifying a novel frameshift mutation in COL5A1 [NM_000093.4:c.4211_4212delAG, p.Gln1404Arg]. This mutation in the type V collagen gene COL5A1 contributes to the phenotype of classical EDS. This novel frameshift mutation may disturb the structural stability of collagen V and interfere with its heparin binding capacity, explaining the chronic haematoma. CONCLUSION: The reported case showed the unusual features of chronic haematoma. This novel frameshift mutation and its phenotype correlation can provide useful information for practitioners about early recognition in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

The impact of shared decision making with patient decision aids on the rotavirus vaccination rate in children: A randomized controlled trial.

Rotavirus vaccination reduces the incidence and severity of acute gastroenteritis due to rotavirus infection. However, because of a lack of understanding and private payment for the rotavirus vaccine, the rotavirus vaccination rate is still low in some countries. We intended to assess the impact of shared decision-making (SDM) with the assistance of patient decision aids (PDAs) on the rotavirus vaccination rate, and the knowledge, confidence, and congruence of value among baby's parents when decision-making. The study was a two-group, outcome assessor-blind, randomized, controlled trial. The families of 1-month-old infants for routine vaccination were enrolled; they were divided randomly into non-SDM and SDM groups. The influence of SDM on the acceptance of rotavirus vaccination was assessed when their infants were 2 months old. Outcome measures were decisional conflict, decision-making difficulties, and rotavirus vaccine knowledge, and the overall rotavirus vaccination rate. The study enrolled 180 participants. SDM, parents' education level, and rotavirus vaccination of a previous child were variables that influenced acceptance of rotavirus vaccination. The SDM group scored significantly higher for understanding the information on the oral rotavirus vaccine than the non-SDM group, which helped them to decide whether to vaccinate the baby against rotavirus. The rotavirus vaccination rate was 16.7% higher in the SDM group than the non-SDM group. SDM assisted with PDAs gives more information and helps infants' families understand what they need, reduces their decision conflict, and increases their baby's vaccination against rotavirus, which promotes public health. The clinical trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03804489).

Therapeutic effects of children with refractory epilepsy after vagus nerve stimulation in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is used as an add-on treatment for epilepsy. This study aimed to use Taiwanese nationwide registry data to analyze the therapeutic effects of VNS in children with refractory epilepsy (RE) and try to explore predictive factors of VNS treatment effectiveness. METHODS: This retrospective study collected data from December 2007 to December 2014. Patient variables included gender, age, VNS implantation date, epilepsy duration, seizure frequency, seizure type, etiology, and antiepileptic drug (AED) history. We divided patients into three groups: Group I as seizure frequency >80 times per month, Group II as seizure frequency 24-80 times per month, and Group III as seizure frequency <24 times per month. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of seizure frequency reduction after VNS treatment. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were included in this study. Three or more AED types were prescribed for 61 (77.1%) patients. Seizure frequency decreased significantly at 12 and 24 months after VNS treatment. The mean seizure reduction rates were 44.6% and 50.1% at 12 and 24 months after VNS treatment, with the difference between them reaching statistical significance (p = 0.001). In multivariate linear regression, high seizure frequency (Group I) was a positive predictor of seizure frequency reduction (p < 0.001). The most common complication was coughing (eight patients, 10%) and no patient had early withdrawal or premature termination of VNS use due to complications. CONCLUSION: VNS is an effective palliative treatment for children with RE for different seizure types. Seizure reduction rate at 24 months after VNS was better than at 12 months after VNS. High seizure frequency can be regarded as a positive predictor for seizure frequency reduction in children with RE treated with VNS.

Infants' Vitamin D Nutritional Status in the First Year of Life in Northern Taiwan.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and insufficiency (VDI) are common among exclusively breastfeeding infants. However, epidemiological evidence for the prevalence of VDD in infants during their first year of life in Taiwan has never been found. This trial determined the prevalence of VDD and VDI and the association between dietary vitamin D and vitamin D nutritional status in Northern Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on infants who returned to well-baby examinations from October 2012 to January 2014 in three hospitals: Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei Medical University Hospital, and Shuang Ho Hospital. The specific vitamin D cut-off concentrations for VDD, VDI, and VDS are 25(OH)D3 levels ≤ 20, 21-29, and ≥ 30 (ng/mL). Overall, 481 infants' parents completed a questionnaire comprising questions related to vitamin D nutritional status, including weekly time outdoors, breastfeeding status, anthropometric measurement, and assessment of dietary intake, including milk and complementary food. The results revealed that 197 (41%) and 212 (44%) of infants in their first year of life had VDI and VDD, respectively, by the Endocrine Society guidelines. Breastfed infants had a higher prevalence of VDI (86.1%) than did mixed-fed (51.9%) and formula-fed (38.5%) infants (p < 0.001). The prevalence of VDD was 55.4% in infants aged under six months but increased to 61.6% in infants aged over six months. Infants in the VDI and VDD groups had the same anthropometrics as those in the vitamin D sufficiency (VDS) group. Our results revealed that 25(OH)D3 had a negative correlation with the intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) when the serum 25(OH)D3 level ≤ 20 ng/mL (r = -0.21, p = 0.001). The VDS group had a higher total vitamin D intake than did the VDI and VDD groups, which was mainly obtained from infant formula. Our data revealed that dietary vitamin D intake and birth season were major indicators in predicting VDD. Lower dietary vitamin D intake and born in winter and spring significantly increased the odds ratio (OR) for VDI by 1.15 (95% CI 1.09-1.20) and 2.02 (95% CI 1.10-3.70), respectively, and that for VDD by 1.23 (95% CI 1.16-1.31) and 2.37 (95% CI 1.35-4.17) without covariates adjustment, respectively. Furthermore, ORs for VDI and VDD significantly differed after adjustment for covariates. In conclusion, the prevalence of VDI and VDD were high in infants during the first year of life. Breastfeeding infants had difficulty in obtaining sufficient vitamin D from diet. In cases where the amount of sun exposure that is safe and sufficient to improve vitamin D status is unclear, breastfed infants aged below one year old are recommended to be supplemented with vitamin D.

Far-infrared radiation prevents decline in ß-cell mass and function in diabetic mice via the mitochondria-mediated Sirtuin1 pathway.

Insulin deficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) involves a decline in both pancreatic ß-cell mass and function. Enhancing ß-cell preservation represents an important therapeutic strategy to treat type 2 DM. Far-infrared (FIR) radiation has been found to induce promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (PLZF) activation to protect the vascular endothelium in diabetic mice. The influence of FIR on ß-cell preservation is unknown. Our previous study reveals that the biologically effective wavelength of FIR is 8-10 µm. In the present study, we investigated the biological effects of FIR (8-10 µm) on both survival and insulin secretion function of ß-cells. FIR reduced pancreatic islets loss and increased insulin secretion in nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced DM mice, but only promoted insulin secretion in DM PLZF-/- mice. FIR-upregulated PLZF to induce an anti-apoptotic effect in a ß cell line RIN-m5f. FIR also upregulated mitochondrial function and the ratio of NAD+/NADH, and then induced Sirtuin1 (Sirt1) expression. The mitochondria Complex I inhibitor rotenone blocked FIR-induced PLZF and Sirt1. The Sirt1 inhibitor EX527 and Sirt1 siRNA inhibited FIR-induced PLZF and insulin respectively. Sirt1 upregulation also increased CaV1.2 expression and calcium influx that promotes insulin secretion in ß-cells. In summary, FIR-enhanced mitochondrial function prevents ß-cell apoptosis and enhances insulin secretion in DM mice through the Sirt1 pathway.

Iron Status of Infants in the First Year of Life in Northern Taiwan.

Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) typically occur in developing countries. Notably, ID and IDA can affect an infant's emotion, cognition, and development. Breast milk is considered the best food for infants. However, recent studies have indicated that breastfeeding for more than six months increases the risk of ID. This study investigated the prevalence of ID and IDA, as well as the association between feeding type and iron nutritional status in northern Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on infants who returned to the well-baby clinic for routine examination from October 2012 to January 2014. Overall, 509 infants aged 1-12 months completed the iron nutritional status analysis, anthropometric measurement, and dietary intake assessment, including milk and complementary foods. The results revealed that 49 (10%) and 21 (4%) infants in their first year of life had ID and IDA, respectively, based on the World Health Organization criteria. Breastfed infants had a higher prevalence rate of ID and IDA than mixed-fed and formula-fed infants (p < 0.001). Regarding biomarkers of iron status, plasma hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, and transferrin saturation (%) levels were significantly lower in ID and IDA groups. The prevalence of ID and IDA were 3.7% and 2.7%, respectively, in infants under six months of age, but increased to 20.4% and 6.6%, respectively, in infants above six months of age. The healthy group had a higher total iron intake than ID and IDA groups, mainly derived from infant formula. The total dietary iron intake was positively correlated with infants' Hb levels. Compared with formula-fed infants, the logistic regression revealed that the odds ratio for ID was 2.157 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.369-3.399) and that for IDA was 4.196 (95% CI: 1.780-9.887) among breastfed infants (p < 0.001) after adjusted for all confounding factors (including gestational week, birthweight, sex, body weight percentile, body length percentile, age of infants, mothers' BMI, gestational weight gain, education level, and hemoglobin level before delivery). In conclusion, our results determined that breastfeeding was associated with an increased the prevalence of ID and/or IDA, especially in infants above six months. This suggests that mothers who prolonged breastfeed after six months could provide high-quality iron-rich foods to reduce the prevalence of ID and IDA.

Effectiveness of corticosteroids versus adrenocorticotropic hormone for infantile spasms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effectiveness of oral corticosteroids with that of adrenocorticotrophic hormone for infantile spasms. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane library were searched to retrieve studies published before December 2018 to identify pediatric patients with a diagnosis of infantile spasms. The interventions of oral corticosteroids and adrenocorticotrophic hormone were compared. We included only randomized controlled trials that reported the cessation of spasms as treatment response. The primary outcome was clinical spasm cessation on day 13 or 14. The secondary outcomes were the resolution of hypsarrhythmia, side effects, continued spasm control, spasm relapse rate, and subsequent epilepsy rate. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, the study-level quality assessment was conducted using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. RESULTS: After extensive review, 39 articles were included for meticulous evaluation. Five randomized controlled trials with a total of 239 individuals were eligible for further analysis. No significant difference was detected between the corticosteroids and adrenocorticotrophic hormone in the cessation of clinical spasms (odds ratio [OR]: 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16 to 1.81; P = 0.32). The subgroups of high-dose prednisolone versus adrenocorticotrophic hormone and low-dose prednisone versus adrenocorticotrophic hormone also exhibited no significant difference. Furthermore, the two subgroups did not differ in terms of hypsarrhythmia resolution, side effects, relapse rate, or subsequent epilepsy rate. INTERPRETATION: This meta-analysis suggests that high-dose prednisolone is not inferior to adrenocorticotrophic hormone and that it be considered a safe and effective alternative treatment.

Camptothecin activates SIRT1 to promote lipid catabolism through AMPK/FoxO1/ATGL pathway in C2C12 myogenic cells.

Caloric restriction activates sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and induces a variety of metabolic effects that are beneficial for preventing age-related disease. The present study screened a commercially available used drug library to develop small molecule activators of SIRT1 as therapeutics for treatment of metabolic disorders. Using an in vitro fluorescence assay, the cancer therapeutic camptothecin increased SIRT1 enzymatic activity by 5.5-fold, indicating it to be a potent SIRT1 activator. Camptothecin also elevated the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+/NADH ratio and increased SIRT1 protein levels in differentiated C2C12 myogenic cells. Treatment of C2C12 myotubes with camptothecin increased phosphorylation of AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, caused nuclear translocation and deacetylation of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), increased transcription and protein expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), decreased the amount of intracellular oil droplets, and significantly increased ß-oxidation of fatty acids. These in vitro data were confirmed in vivo as camptothecin treatment of C57BL/6J mice reduced fat and plasma triglyceride levels. All of the above camptothecin-induced alterations were attenuated by the SIRT1-specific inhibitor nicotinamide and/or 6-[4-(2-piperidin-1-ylethoxy) phenyl]-3-pyridin-4-ylpyrazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidin (compound C). Thus, camptothecin activation of SIRT1 promotes lipid catabolism through AMPK/FoxO1/ATGL signaling.

ETF-QO Mutants Uncoupled Fatty Acid ß-Oxidation and Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Leading to Lipid Pathology.

The electron-transfer flavoprotein dehydrogenase gene (ETFDH) that encodes the ETF-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF-QO) has been reported to be the major cause of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD). ETF-QO is an electron carrier that mainly functions in mitochondrial fatty acid ß-oxidation and the delivery of electrons to the ubiquinone pool in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. A high frequency of c.250G>A has been found in Taiwanese patients with late-onset MADD. We postulated that the ETFDH c.250G>A mutation may concomitantly impair fatty acid ß-oxidation and mitochondrial function. Using MADD patient-derived lymphoblastoid cells and specifically overexpressed ETFDH c.92C>T, c.250G>A, or coexisted c.92C>T and c.250G>A (c.92C>T + c.250G>A) mutated lymphoblastoid cells, we addressed the genotype-phenotype relationship of ETFDH variation in the pathogenesis of MADD. The decreased adenosine triphosphate synthesis, dissipated mitochondrial membrane potentials, reduced mitochondrial bioenergetics, and increased neutral lipid droplets and lipid peroxides were found in the MADD patient-derived lymphoblastoid cells. Riboflavin and/or coenzyme Q10 supplementation rescued cells from lipid droplet accumulation. All three mutant types, c.92C>T, c.250G>A, or c.92C>T + c.250G>A, had increased lipid droplet accumulation after treatment with palmitic acid. These results help to clarify the molecular pathogenesis of MADD as a result of the high frequency of the ETFDH c.250G>A and c.92C>T mutations.

Coenzyme Q10 serves to couple mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid ß-oxidation, and attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD), an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder of fatty acid metabolism, is mostly caused by mutations in the ETFA, ETFB or ETFDH genes that result in dysfunctions in electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) or electron transfer flavoprotein-ubiquinone dehydrogenase (ETFDH). In ß-oxidation, fatty acids are processed to generate acyl-CoA, which is oxidised by flavin adenine dinucleotide and transfers an electron to ETF and, through ETFDH, to mitochondrial respiratory complex III to trigger ATP synthesis. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is believed to be a potential treatment that produces symptom relief in some MADD patients. CoQ10 acts as a key regulator linking ETFDH and mitochondrial respiratory complex III. Our aim is to investigate the effectiveness of CoQ10 in serving in the ETF/ETFDH system to improve mitochondrial function and to reduce lipotoxicity. In this study, we used lymphoblastoid cells with an ETFDH mutation from MADD patients. ETFDH dysfunction caused insufficient ß-oxidation, leading to increasing lipid droplet and lipid peroxide accumulation. In contrast, supplementation with CoQ10 significantly recovered mitochondrial function and concurrently decreased the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides, inhibited the accumulation of lipid droplets and the formation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing three (NLRP3) inflammasome, and reduced interleukin-1ß release and cell death. These results clarify the causal role of CoQ10 in coupling the electron transport chain with ß-oxidation, which may promote the development of CoQ10-directed therapies for MADD patients.

Ferrous glycinate regulates cell energy metabolism by restrictinghypoxia-induced factor-1α expression in human A549 cells.

Iron or oxygen regulates the stability of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). We investigated whether ferrous glycinate would affect HIF-1α accumulation, aerobic glycolysis and mitochondrial energy metabolism in human A549 lung cancer cells. Incubation of A549 cells with ferrous glycinate decreased the protein levels of HIF-1α, which was abrogated by proteosome inhibitor, or prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor. The addition of ferrous glycinate decreased protein levels of glucose transporter-1, hexokinase-2, and lactate dehydrogenase A, and decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-1 (PDK-1) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) phosphorylation in A549 cells. Ferrous glycinate also increased the expression of the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and the mitochondrial protein, cytochrome c oxidase (COX-IV). Silencing of HIF-1α expression mimicked the effects of ferrous glycinate on PDK-1, PDH, TFAM and COX-IV in A549 cells. Ferrous glycinate increased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production in A549 cells. These results suggest that ferrous glycinate may reverse Warburg effect through down regulating HIF-1α in A549 cells.

Alpha-lipoic acid suppresses Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition in HK-2 human renal proximal tubule cells.

Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) plays causal roles in diabetic complications. In the present study, we investigated whether CML-induced HIF-1α accumulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HK-2 renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. Treatment with CML-BSA increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential and induced mitochondrial fragmentation. Pre-treatment of cells with antioxidant, α-lipoic acid, normalised the ROS production and restored the mitochondrial membrane potential. These changes were accompanied with morphological changes of epithelial mesenchymal transition. CML-BSA increased the protein level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and the EMT-associated transcription factor, TWIST. These effects were reversed by α-lipoic acid. CML-BSA increased the protein levels of mesenchymal-specific markers, including vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, which were alleviated by pre-treatment with α-lipoic acid. Our data suggest that CML-BSA induces EMT through a ROS/HIF-1α/TWIST-dependent mechanism, and that α-lipoic acid may alleviate the CML-induced EMT in renal tubular cells.