Activation of the alternative complement pathway and its relevance for sodium retention in experimental nephrotic syndrome.

The complement component C3, factor B (FB) and factor D (FD) belong to the alternative complement pathway and have been identified in urine samples from nephrotic mice. However, it is not yet known whether these factors are involved in mediating sodium retention in nephrotic syndrome (NS). Here we used a genetic mouse model of NS based on an inducible podocin deletion ( ).

Genetic association of preeclampsia to von Willebrand factor and its size-regulator ADAMTS13.

Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy-specific vascular disorder that develops during the second half of pregnancy. Preeclampsia shares features with thrombotic microangiopathies. Here we analyzed whether sequence variants in the coagulation system genes predispose to preeclampsia.

A supervised machine learning approach for predicting the need for postsurgical intervention in acromegaly.

Objective: Patients with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas (PAs) experience various symptoms and comorbidities, which can ultimately lead to increased mortality. This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model for predicting long-term outcomes in patients with GH-secreting PAs following endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETS).

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective three-institution cohort study that included patients with GH-secreting PAs treated with ETS between 2013 and 2023.

The multiverse of CD46 and oncologic interactions.

Initially identified as a regulator of complement activation on host cells, the known roles of CD46 (membrane cofactor protein [MCP]) have expanded. We now know that this ancient molecule is expressed on almost all nucleated cells as a family of four predominant isoforms. It also is involved in human reproduction, modulation of T cell activation and immunoinflammatory effector functions, autophagy, and the newly identified intracellular complement system (complosome).

Thrombotic Microangiopathy After Kidney Transplantation: Insights Into Genetic Etiology and Clinical Outcomes.

Introduction: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), characterized by small-vessel thrombosis caused by endothelial injury, presents significant diagnostic and treatment challenges in kidney transplantation.

Methods: To investigate the factors associated with posttransplant TMA, we conducted a retrospective study of 3535 kidney transplant recipients at our center from 2008 to 2023.

Results: Sixty-eight patients were diagnosed with TMA, and 93% (63 of 68) underwent genetic testing.

An LLM-based hybrid approach for enhanced automated essay scoring.

Automated Essay Scoring systems have traditionally relied on shallow lexical data, such as word frequency and sentence length, to assess essays. However, these approaches neglect crucial factors like text structure and semantics, resulting in limited evaluations of coherence and quality. To address these limitations, we propose a hybrid approach to AES that combines multiple features from different linguistic levels.

Adipose-derived leptin and complement factor D mediate osteoarthritis severity and pain.

Obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), and leptin is among the adipokines implicated in obesity-induced OA. However, the specific role of leptin in OA severity and pain is not known. Using lipodystrophic (LD) mice, we show that fat-secreted factors are required for knee OA development, implicating a fat-cartilage cross-talk.

Reversal of Coma With Trendelenburg Position in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a clinical and radiologic syndrome caused by spinal leakage of cerebrospinal fluid due to a dural tear, leaking meningeal diverticulum, or cerebrospinal fluid-venous fistula. Whereas the hallmark clinical feature of SIH is orthostatic headache, in rare instances, life-threatening complications may include altered consciousness and even coma as a result of extreme downward displacement of the midbrain and brainstem. We describe the clinical features, neuroimaging findings, management strategies, and short-term outcomes of 2 unique cases of severe SIH and the role of Trendelenburg position to reverse coma.

Identification of mechanistic CKD biomarkers in a rat SNx kidney fibrosis model by transcriptomics and proteomics detectable in biofluids.

The rat sub-total nephrectomy (SNx) is a functional model of general chronic kidney disease (CKD) where the main pathological driver is glomerular hypertension representative of several subtypes of CKD. Comprehensive transcriptomics and proteomics analyses on the SNx rats were performed to identify biomarkers in plasma or urine that correlate with kidney disease and functional kidney loss. Kidneys were subjected to collagen I and III staining for fibrosis scoring, SWATH-MS proteomics and bulk RNA-sequencing transcriptomics, with SWATH-MS also performed on plasma and urine.

A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of multilayer plastic film food packaging materials, comparing to a paper-based alternative.

This study evaluates alternatives to polymers with high environmental impact in plastic-based multilayer packaging (PMP). This Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) quantifies energy demand, fossil resource scarcity (FRS), and greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with 14 PMP films, with comparisons to coated paper-based packaging (CPP). Two functional units, one ton and one mof packaging, were considered.

Machine learning-based model to predict long-term tumor control and additional interventions following pituitary surgery for Cushing's disease.

Objective: In this study, the authors aimed to establish a supervised machine learning (ML) model based on multiple tree-based algorithms to predict long-term biochemical outcomes and intervention-free survival (IFS) after endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) in patients with Cushing's disease (CD).

Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent ETS for CD between 2013 and 2023 were reviewed. Data were collected on the patient's baseline characteristics, intervention details, histopathology, surgical outcomes, and postoperative endocrine functions.

Safe and efficacious therapeutic outcomes with salvage endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma progression following stereotactic radiosurgery.

Objective: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) offers excellent tumor control for pituitary adenoma (PA); however, treatment failure occasionally necessitates salvage surgery. Comprehensive studies on salvage surgical outcomes for recurrent PA after SRS remain scarce. This study aimed to elucidate the outcomes of salvage endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (sETS) for progressive PA failing SRS.

N-glycosylation in the SERPIN domain of the C1-esterase inhibitor in hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary angioedema is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by defects in C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), resulting in poorly controlled activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and bradykinin overproduction. C1-INH is a heavily glycosylated protein in the serine protease inhibitor (SERPIN) family, yet the role of these glycosylation sites remains unclear. To elucidate the functional impact of N-glycosylation in the SERPIN domain of C1-INH, we engineered 4 sets consisting of 26 variants at or near the N-linked sequon (NXS/T).

Critical Role for Transglutaminase 2 in Scleroderma Skin Fibrosis and in the Development of Dermal Sclerosis in a Mouse Model of Scleroderma.

Objective: Scleroderma is a life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, tissue remodeling, and fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the expression and function of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) in scleroderma skin and experimentally induced dermal fibrosis to determine its potential role and therapeutic implications.

Methods: We performed immunohistochemistry on skin sections to assess TGM2 expression and localization, and protein biochemistry of both systemic sclerosis-derived and healthy control dermal fibroblasts to assess TGM2 expression, function, and extracellular matrix deposition in the presence of TGM2 inhibiting and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β neutralizing antibodies and a small-molecule inhibitor of the TGF-βRI kinase.

Recovery Residences Are an Innovative Site for HIV Prevention Interventions Targeting People Who Inject Drugs: Preliminary Data From Project HOMES.

Of 1.2 million Americans who would benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), only 36% were prescribed PrEP in 2023. Project HOMES is an ongoing study that evaluates recovery residences for individuals in medication-assisted recovery from opioid use disorder across five Texas cities.

Cardiac Output Directly Influences Intracardiac Air After Venous Air Embolism: An Echocardiographic Model Comparing Position Change on Intracardiac Air Bubble Clearance.

Background And Objectives: Venous air embolism (VAE) can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Prevention and management of VAE include cessation of air entrainment, positioning changes, and hemodynamic support. The degree to which position change and cardiac output (CO) moderate resolution of intracardiac air has not been rigorously studied using contemporary transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Self-rated health of Latino day laborers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study assesses the relationship between trust in sources of information in regard to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and self-rated health (SRH) in a sample of Latino Day Laborers (LDLs) and explores whether these associations were mediated by mental health measures.

Methods: A rapid needs assessment survey was conducted with 300 LDLs, recruited at randomly selected hiring locations in Houston, Texas, during November and December 2021. Two measures of trust were developed, and SRH was measured by a single item.

Multiorgan involvement and circulating IgG1 predict hypocomplementaemia in IgG4-related disease.

Objectives: Hypocomplementaemia is common in patients with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). We aimed to determine the IgG4-RD features associated with hypocomplementaemia and investigate mechanisms of complement activation in this disease.

Methods: We performed a single-centre cross-sectional study of 279 patients who fulfilled the IgG4-RD classification criteria, using unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression to identify factors associated with hypocomplementaemia.

Assessing the effectiveness of "BETTER Women", a community-based, primary care-linked peer health coaching programme for chronic disease prevention: protocol for a pragmatic, wait-list controlled, type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.

Introduction: The Building on Existing Tools to Improve Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening in Primary Care (BETTER) programme trains allied health professionals working in primary care settings to develop personalised chronic disease 'prevention prescriptions' with patients. However, maintenance of health behaviour changes is difficult without ongoing support. Sustainable options to enhance the BETTER programme and ensure accessibility to underserved populations are needed.