Subcutaneous administration of the sphingosine kinase 2 inhibitor ABC294640 has no metabolic benefits in high fat diet-induced obesity in male mice.

Aims: Experimental evidence suggests an important role for sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and its generating enzymes sphingosine kinase 1/2 (SphK1/2) in obesity. We and others have shown that plasma S1P levels are elevated in obese mice and humans. Preclinical studies suggest that genetic SphK2 ablation in mice protects from age- and diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF LEVODOPA-INDUCED DYSKINESIA: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED CLINICAL FACTORS IN LATIN AMERICA.

Background: Although levodopa remains the gold standard treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), its chronic use is associated with levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), a motor complication that impacts prognosis, quality of life, and treatment costs. Most known LID-associated factors have been identified in European-descendant populations.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of LID in Latin American and Caribbean (LATAM) countries and assess the relevance of known and novel LID-associated factors in this population.

Performance of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS III), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Scores in a Medical Intermediate Care Unit.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the intermediate medical care unit (IMCU) in São Francisco Xavier Hospital, a Portuguese hospital, in the period from January to December 2019. Patients with incomplete records or IMCU stays shorter than 24 hours were excluded. Scores were calculated using MDCalc, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.

In Vitro Proof-of-Concept Study: Lidocaine and Epinephrine Co-Loaded in a Mucoadhesive Liquid Crystal Precursor System for Topical Oral Anesthesia.

Local anesthesia is essential for most dental procedures, but its parenteral administration is often painful. Topical anesthetics are commonly used to minimize local anesthesia pain; however, commercial formulations fail to fully prevent the discomfort of local anesthetic injection. We developed and characterized a novel lidocaine and epinephrine co-loaded liquid crystalline precursor system (LCPS) for topical anesthesia.

Genetic Risk Profiles for Atherosclerosis and Venous Thromboembolism in Azorean and Mainland Portuguese Populations: A Comparative Analysis.

The frequency of specific variants associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases has been extensively studied through genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Differences between populations may be caused by the interaction of several factors, such as environmental and genetic backgrounds. Here, we studied 19 SNPs involved in atherosclerosis (AT) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in the Azorean and mainland Portuguese populations and compared their frequencies with other European, Asian, and African populations.