Publications by authors named "James E Brown"

We aimed to quantify associations between resting heart rate variability (HRV) and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) characteristics in young adults. Thirty-two apparently healthy young adults (50% male) were included in the study. Short-term HRV was obtained via electrocardiography in the laboratory following an overnight fast to determine the mean RR interval, standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN), and root-mean square of successive differences (RMSSD).

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Increased accumulation of senescent cells with aging is associated with reduced ability of insulin-target tissues to utilize glucose, resulting in increased insulin resistance and glucotoxicity. We investigated the role of the senescent-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) within C2C12, skeletal muscle cells on glucose homeostasis and if such effects could be reduced by blocking pro-inflammatory pathways. C2C12 myotubes were treated with 40% conditioned media from senescent fibroblasts.

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One limitation on the ability to monitor health in older adults using Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is the presence of implants, where the prevalence of implantable devices (orthopedic, cardiac, neuromodulation) increases in the population, as does the pervasiveness of conditions requiring MRI studies for diagnosis (musculoskeletal diseases, infections, or cancer). The present study describes a novel multiphysics implant modeling testbed using the following approaches with two examples: - an human model based on the widely available Visible Human Project (VHP) cryo-section dataset; - a finite element method (FEM) modeling software workbench from Ansys (Electronics Desktop/Mechanical) to model MR radio frequency (RF) coils and the temperature rise modeling in heterogeneous media. The VHP Female model (250 parts with an additional 40 components specifically characterizing embedded implants and resultant surrounding tissues) corresponds to a 60-year-old female with a body mass index (BMI) of 36.

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Introduction: This study is to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of larsucosterol (DUR-928 or 25HC3S) in subjects with alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH), a devastating acute illness without US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies.

Methods: This phase 2a, multicenter, open-label, dose escalation study evaluated the safety, PK, and efficacy signals of larsucosterol in 19 clinically diagnosed subjects with AH. Based on the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, 7 subjects were considered to have moderate AH and 12 to have severe AH.

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Adipose tissue is a dynamic endocrine organ, secreting a plethora of adipokines which play a key role in regulating metabolic homeostasis and other physiological processes. An altered adipokine secretion profile from adipose tissue depots has been associated with obesity and related cardio-metabolic diseases. Asprosin is a recently described adipokine that is released in response to fasting and can elicit orexigenic and glucogenic effects.

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Background: Guidelines for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) focus on lifestyle changes, incorporating exercise. Whilst evidence suggests that aerobic exercise may be beneficial, less is known about the effectiveness of resistance training (RT), which may be more feasible for those that have low fitness levels and/or are unable to tolerate/participate in aerobic exercise.

Objectives: To identify the available evidence on RT in women with PCOS and to summarise findings in the context of a scoping review.

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Lockdown measures have been enforced globally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the comorbidity burden in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), these lockdown measures may have a particularly negative impact on sleep health, quality of life (QoL), and depression/stress levels in this population. The aim of this study was to explore whether such potential problems were present in women with PCOS during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK.

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The past 50 years have seen a growing ageing population with an increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); now, nearly half of all individuals with diabetes mellitus are older adults (aged ≥65 years). Older adults with T2DM present particularly difficult challenges. For example, the accentuated heterogeneity of these patients, the potential presence of multiple comorbidities, the increased susceptibility to hypoglycaemia, the increased dependence on care and the effect of frailty all add to the complexity of managing diabetes mellitus in this age group.

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White adipose tissue is a dynamic endocrine organ that releases an array of adipokines, which play a key role in regulating metabolic homeostasis and multiple other physiological processes. An altered adipokine secretion profile from adipose tissue depots frequently characterizes obesity and related cardio-metabolic diseases. Asprosin is a recently discovered adipokine that is released in response to fasting.

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The oxysterol sulfate, 25-hydroxycholesterol 3-sulfate (25HC3S), has been shown to play an important role in lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, and cell survival. However, the mechanism(s) of its function in global regulation is unknown. The current study investigates the molecular mechanism by which 25HC3S functions as an endogenous epigenetic regulator.

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Emissions generated from the combustion of coal have been a subject of regulation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and State agencies for years, as they have been associated with adverse effects on human health and the environment.

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a class of short noncoding RNAs which regulate gene expression by targeting messenger RNA, inducing translational repression and messenger RNA degradation. This regulation of gene expression by miRNAs in adipose tissue (AT) can impact on the regulation of metabolism and energy homeostasis, particularly considering the different types of adipocytes which exist in mammals, i.e.

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ABCC1 and ABCC4 utilize energy from ATP hydrolysis to transport many different molecules, including drugs, out of the cell and, as such, have been implicated in causing drug resistance. However recently, because of their ability to transport signaling molecules and inflammatory mediators, it has been proposed that ABCC1 and ABCC4 may play a role in the hallmarks of cancer development and progression, independent of their drug efflux capabilities. Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women.

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We present methods to harvest wireless power directly from the MRI RF field. The system includes a harvester coil to capture RF energy and an RF-DC converter for rectification. Energy harvesting by the harvester coil is modeled as a function of the MRI B RF field.

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Approximately 15% of elderly patients are readmitted within 28 days of discharge. This costs the NHS and patients. Previous studies show telephone contact with patients -post-discharge can reduce readmission rates.

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Background: Typically, management of PCOS focuses on lifestyle changes (exercise and diet), aiming to alleviate symptoms, and lower the associated risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to analyse evidence on the effectiveness of exercise in the management of PCOS, when compared to (i) usual care, (ii) diet alone, and (iii) exercise combined with diet, and also exercise combined with diet, compared to (i) control or usual care and (ii) diet alone.

Methods: Relevant databases were searched (June 2017) with no time limit for trial inclusion.

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Despite its import as a diagnostic tool, patients with active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) are generally denied access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The complexity of MRI environments stems from a multiplicity of fields and numerous scan parameters. In order to perform a risk assessment for RF-induced malfunction, manufacturers perform electromagnetic simulations using computational human models (CHMs) to calculate RF induced energy at the AIMD ports.

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We describe 2 cases of a distinct sarcoma characterized by a novel MEIS1-NCOA2 gene fusion. This gene fusion was identified in the renal neoplasms of 2 adults (21-y-old male, 72-y-old female). Histologically, the resected renal neoplasms had a distinctively nodular appearance, and while one renal neoplasm was predominantly cystic, the other demonstrated solid architecture, invasion of perirenal fat, and renal sinus vasculature invasion.

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Article Synopsis
  • Aquaporins are key membrane proteins that regulate water flow in cells and are linked to cancer biology, particularly through aquaglyceroporins like AQP3.
  • The study found that knocking down AQP3 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells led to significant decreases in cell proliferation (28%), migration (39%), and invasion (24%), along with increased cell death in response to the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
  • Results also showed a modest reduction in water permeability (17%) but a significant drop in glycerol permeability (77%) in cells lacking AQP3, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment.
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Gaseous and particulate emissions generated from the combustion of coal have been associated with adverse effects on human health and the environment, and have therefore been the subject of regulation by federal and state government agencies. Detailed emission characterizations are needed to better understand the impacts of pre- and post-combustion controls on a variety of coals found in the United States (U.S.

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Background: Irisin is a hormone released mainly from skeletal muscle after exercise which increases adipose tissue energy expenditure. Adipocytes can also release irisin after exercise, acting as a local adipokine to induce white adipose tissue to take on a brown adipose tissue-like phenotype, suggesting that irisin and its receptor may represent a novel molecular target for the treatment of obesity and obesity-related diabetes. Previous reports provide conflicting evidence regarding circulating irisin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

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The phenomenon of a discrepancy between glycated hemoglobin levels and other indicators of average glycemia may be due to many factors but can be measured as the glycation gap (GGap). This GGap is associated with differences in complications in patients with diabetes and may possibly be explained by dissimilarities in deglycation in turn leading to altered production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). We hypothesized that variations in the level of the deglycating enzyme fructosamine-3-kinase (FN3K) might be associated with the GGap.

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