#Gut microbes impact #stroke severity via the trimethylamine N-oxide pathway

Clinical studies have demonstrated associations between circulating levels of the gut-microbiota-derived metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and stroke incident risk. However, a causal role of gut microbes in stroke has not yet been demonstrated. Herein we show that gut microbes, through dietary choline and TMAO generation, directly impact cerebral infarct size and adverse outcomes following stroke. Fecal… Continue reading #Gut microbes impact #stroke severity via the trimethylamine N-oxide pathway

Passive transfer of #fibromyalgia symptoms from patients to mice

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by widespread pain and tenderness, and patients typically experience fatigue and emotional distress. The etiology and pathophysiology of fibromyalgia are not fully explained and there are no effective drug treatments. Here we show that IgG from FMS patients produced sensory hypersensitivity by sensitizing nociceptive neurons. Mice treated with IgG from… Continue reading Passive transfer of #fibromyalgia symptoms from patients to mice

Predictive factors of #smell recovery in a clinical series of 288 #COVID-19 patients with olfactory dysfunction

To evaluate potential predictive factors of smell recovery in a clinical series of 288 patients presenting olfactory dysfunction (OD) related to the COVID19. Potential correlations are sought between epidemiological, clinical and immunological characteristics of patients and the persistence of OD at 60 days. MethodsCOVID-19 positive patients presenting olfactory dysfunction were prospectively recruited from three European… Continue reading Predictive factors of #smell recovery in a clinical series of 288 #COVID-19 patients with olfactory dysfunction

Low #muscle mass in #older adults and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sarcopenia comprises a loss of muscle function and muscle mass. So far, the association between the later and mortality in older adults is inconsistent. A meta-analysis was performed to assess whether muscle mass measured by appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) is associated with higher mortality in older adults. Articles of interest were searched for… Continue reading Low #muscle mass in #older adults and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Serial #sarcomere number is substantially decreased within the paretic #biceps brachii in individuals with chronic hemiparetic #stroke

A muscle’s structure, or architecture, is indicative of its function and is plastic; changes in input to or use of the muscle alter its architecture. Stroke-induced neural deficits substantially alter both input to and usage of individual muscles. We combined in vivo imaging methods (second-harmonic generation microendoscopy, extended field-of-view ultrasound, and fat-suppression MRI) to quantify… Continue reading Serial #sarcomere number is substantially decreased within the paretic #biceps brachii in individuals with chronic hemiparetic #stroke

A Systematic Review of Dietary #Supplements and Alternative Therapies for #Weight Loss

Dietary supplements and alternative therapies are commercialized as a panacea for obesity/weight gain as a result of the minimal regulatory requirements in demonstrating efficacy. These products may indirectly undermine the value of guideline-driven obesity treatments. Included in this study is a systematic review of the literature of purported dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight… Continue reading A Systematic Review of Dietary #Supplements and Alternative Therapies for #Weight Loss

#Fibrosis improvement in patients with #HCV treated with direct-acting antivirals

More prospective studies are needed to characterize fibrosis improvement in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who are treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). The aims of this study were to assess changes in elastography scores from baseline to 1-year follow-up in patients with HCV, to identify factors that were independently associated with improvement in fibrosis… Continue reading #Fibrosis improvement in patients with #HCV treated with direct-acting antivirals

Common #dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) efficiently blocks the interaction between ACE2 cell surface receptor and #SARS-CoV-2 spike protein D614, mutants D614G, N501Y, K417N and E484K in vitro

bioRxiv posts many COVID19-related papers. A reminder: they have not been formally peer-reviewed and should not guide health-related behavior or be reported in the press as conclusive. On 11th March 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). To date, there… Continue reading Common #dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) efficiently blocks the interaction between ACE2 cell surface receptor and #SARS-CoV-2 spike protein D614, mutants D614G, N501Y, K417N and E484K in vitro