Development of a rapid antigen-based lateral flow assay for tick-borne spotted fever #rickettsioses

Tick-borne spotted fever rickettsioses (SFRs) continue to cause severe illness and death in otherwise-healthy individuals due to lack of a timely and reliable diagnostic laboratory test. We recently identified a diagnostic biomarker for SFRs, the putative N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase RC0497. Here, we developed a prototype laboratory test that targets RC0497 for diagnosis of SFRs. The concentrations… Continue reading Development of a rapid antigen-based lateral flow assay for tick-borne spotted fever #rickettsioses

Oral #microbiome and nitric oxide biomarkers in older people with mild #cognitive impairment and APOE4 genotype

AbstractApolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype and nitric oxide (NO) deficiency are risk factors for age-associated cognitive decline. The oral microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining NO bioavailability during aging. The aim of this study was to assess interactions between the oral microbiome, NO biomarkers, and cognitive function in 60 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)… Continue reading Oral #microbiome and nitric oxide biomarkers in older people with mild #cognitive impairment and APOE4 genotype

Real-Time Assessment of #Alcohol Reward, Stimulation, and Negative Affect in Individuals With and Without Alcohol Use Disorder and #Depressive Disorders

Objective:The allostasis theory states that, as addiction develops, alcohol is consumed to relieve negative affect rather than to produce positive effects. This study aimed to investigate the real-time subjective effects of alcohol in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and those prone to negative affect by virtue of having comorbid depressive disorder (DEP).Methods:Participants (N=221) completed… Continue reading Real-Time Assessment of #Alcohol Reward, Stimulation, and Negative Affect in Individuals With and Without Alcohol Use Disorder and #Depressive Disorders

#Sugar-sweetened beverage intake, gut #microbiota, circulating metabolites, and #diabetes risk in Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Highlights• Sugar-sweetened beverage intake was associated with nine gut bacteria abundances• These bacteria were correlated with aromatic and branched-chain amino acid metabolites• These bacteria were correlated with glycerophospholipids• These gut microbial metabolites were associated with diabetes risk SummaryNo population-based studies examined gut microbiota and related metabolites associated with sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among US adults.… Continue reading #Sugar-sweetened beverage intake, gut #microbiota, circulating metabolites, and #diabetes risk in Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Subcellular #NAD+ pools are interconnected and buffered by mitochondrial NAD+

The coenzyme NAD+ is consumed by signalling enzymes, including poly-ADP-ribosyltransferases (PARPs) and sirtuins. Ageing is associated with a decrease in cellular NAD+ levels, but how cells cope with persistently decreased NAD+ concentrations is unclear. Here, we show that subcellular NAD+ pools are interconnected, with mitochondria acting as a rheostat to maintain NAD+ levels upon excessive… Continue reading Subcellular #NAD+ pools are interconnected and buffered by mitochondrial NAD+

The influence of mechanical #ventilation and portable air cleaners upon aerosol spread in a hospital outpatients clinic

The SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic has highlighted the risk of nosocomial infections of airborne viruses to patient populations around the world. Increased use of mechanical ventilation and portable air cleaners (PACs) have been suggested as methods to mitigate this risk, but the introduction of new air flows to indoor areas can have complex and potentially unforeseen… Continue reading The influence of mechanical #ventilation and portable air cleaners upon aerosol spread in a hospital outpatients clinic

‘Experimentum Crucis’: Hauksbee the Younger’s ‘decisive experiment’ for comparing the ‘Safety and Efficacy’ of new medicines (1743)

AbstractIn 1743 Francis Hauksbee the Younger published a proposal for an ‘Experimentum Crucis’ (‘decisive experiment’) to compare his own medication for venereal disease with other treatments. Previously he had sought to replicate the methods of James Jurin FRS, who published outcomes from inoculation against smallpox in the 1720s. By seeking to record outcomes (‘Safety and… Continue reading ‘Experimentum Crucis’: Hauksbee the Younger’s ‘decisive experiment’ for comparing the ‘Safety and Efficacy’ of new medicines (1743)

Association of rapid eye movement #sleep latency with multimodal biomarkers of #Alzheimer’s disease

Sleep disturbances are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), but the relationship between sleep architecture, particularly rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and AD/ADRD biomarkers remains unclear.METHODSWe enrolled 128 adults (64 with Alzheimer's disease, 41 with mild cognitive impairment [MCI], and 23 with normal cognition [NC]), mean age 70.8 ±… Continue reading Association of rapid eye movement #sleep latency with multimodal biomarkers of #Alzheimer’s disease

Long-Term Effect of Intensive vs Standard Blood #Pressure Control on Mild Cognitive Impairment and Probable #Dementia in SPRINT

Background and ObjectivesThe Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial suggested that intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreases the risk of developing dementia. However, an insufficient number of probable dementia cases stemming from the trial's early termination made results inconclusive. The goal of this study was to estimate the effect of intensive vs standard SBP… Continue reading Long-Term Effect of Intensive vs Standard Blood #Pressure Control on Mild Cognitive Impairment and Probable #Dementia in SPRINT