Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 6;243(17-18):1245-1255. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

6 Department of Surgery, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.

Impact Statement: Cancers kill mainly because metastatic disease is resistant to systemic therapies. It was hoped that newer targeted and immunomodulatory interventions could overcome these issues. However, recent findings point to a generalized resistance to elimination imparted by both cancer-intrinsic and -extrinsic changes to provide survival advantages to the disseminated tumor cells. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 14:1535370219831220. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

1 Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R7, Canada.

Impact Statement: This review summarizes the work on transcellular intestinal phosphate absorption, arguing why this pathway is not the predominant pathway in humans consuming a "Western" diet. We then highlight the recent evidence which is strongly consistent with paracellular intestinal phosphate absorption mediating the bulk of intestinal phosphate absorption in humans. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 13:1535370219826031. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

1 JS Yoon Memorial Cancer Research Institute LLC, Lutherville, MD 2109, USA.

Impact Statement: This review provides various genetic and cell line data previously published in a way to explain how cellular stress can lead into genetic instability. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 13:1535370219828703. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

1 Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

Impact Statement: The composition of the microbiota is of critical importance for health and disease, and is receiving increased scientific and medical scrutiny. Of particular interest is the role of changing diets as a function of agriculture and, perhaps to an even greater extent, modern food processing. To probe the connection between diet and the gut's microbial community, the microbiota from a mole rat, a rodent with a relatively unusual diet, was analyzed in detail, and the microbes found were compared with previously identified organisms. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 13:1535370219831437. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.

Impact Statement: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been reported as a vasoconstrictive substance which might be associated with preeclampsia. The novel findings of this study were that Y1R, Y2R, and Y5R expressions were significantly lower in the PE than the NP group. Moreover, the NPY receptor expression ratio between the PE/NP groups was lowest for Y2R (0. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 10:1535370219830665. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

1 Synovial Fluid Laboratory.

Impact Statement: Gout is distinguished by an inflammatory process that is mediated by phagocytosis of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in synoviocytes by regulation of unknown mechanisms. Here we suggest that the synovial cells play a crucial role in gouty arthritis by activating inflammation by MSU uptake and increasing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1, and the growth factors NGF and HGF. We discuss some co-existing features in synoviocytes, including anomalous morphologies of the cells, and microvesicle formation, dysregulation in VEGF gene expression. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 7:1535370219828694. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

Impact Statement: By compiling findings from recent studies, this review will garner novel insight on the dynamic and complex role of BMP signaling in diseases of inflammation, highlighting the specific roles played by both individual ligands and endogenous antagonists. Ultimately, this summary will help inform the high therapeutic value of targeting this pathway for modulating diseases of inflammation. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 6:1535370219828706. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

1 Department of Physiology & Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort, TX 76107, USA.

Impact Statement: We characterize the systemic oxidative stress response in young, healthy human subjects with exposure to simulated hemorrhage via application of lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Prior work has demonstrated that LBNP and actual blood loss evoke similar hemodynamic and immune responses (i.e. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 6:1535370219827907. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

University of Michigan, Department of Human Genetics, MI 48103, USA.

Impact Statement: The work described in this review is very important to scientists working on Alzheimer's disease (AD) because it reveals a cause for the explosive epidemic of this disease. It is also important to the public because it provides a method to avoid this newly revealed cause, and thereby avoid AD. The field is advanced because this review reveals new information about the mechanism of AD pathogenesis, namely copper, and specifically divalent copper, toxicity is important. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 5:1535370219827847. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

2 Food & Nutrition, Obesity/Diabetes Center, Hoseo University, Asan 336-795, Korea.

Impact Statement: Menopausal symptoms impair the quality of life of many women, and although conventional treatments are often effective, their use is limited by adverse effects. Ojayeonjonghwan, OJa, is a traditional Oriental medicine that is used for both male and female reproductive health and has a long history of safe use. We evaluated the effectiveness of two variations of OJa (OJa1 and OJa2) for treating menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 5:1535370219829006. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3121, USA.

Impact Statement: This work is important to the field of heart valve pathophysiology as it provides new insights into molecular markers of mechanically induced valvular degeneration as well as the protective role of the valvular endothelium. These discoveries reported here advance our current knowledge of the valvular endothelium and how its removal essentially takes valve leaflets into an environmental shock. In addition, it shows that static conditions represent a mild pathological state for valve leaflets, while 10% cyclic stretch provides valvular cell quiescence. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 4:1535370219828362. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

1 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Manitoba R3A1R9, Canada.

Impact Statement: Traditional sex-related biases in research are now obsolete, and it is important to identify the sex of humans, animals, and even cells in research protocols, due to the role of sex as a fundamental facet of biology, predisposition to disease, and response to therapy. Genetic sex, epigenetics and hormonal regulations, generate sex-dimorphisms. Recent investigations acknowledge sex differences in metabolic and immune health as well as chronic diseases. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 2:1535370219828195. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

1 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.

Impact Statement: Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2016, 8.9 million people are estimated to have died from various forms of cancer. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Feb 2:1535370219828692. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

1 Division of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Heart and Lung, Zhejiang 325000, PR China.

Impact Statement: In this study, we reported for the first time that FGF21 alleviated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension through attenuation of increased pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial remodeling and collagen deposition in vivo, and we confirmed the mutual promotion of FGF21 and PPARγ in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Additionally, we found that FGF21 and PPARγ mutually promote each other's expression via the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway and KLB protein in vitro and in vivo. Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive and serious pathological phenomenon with a poor prognosis, and current therapies are highly limited. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 31:1535370219826070. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

1 Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.

Impact Statement: The studies reviewed in this article combine diet in the context of disease progression or treatment with analysis of the microbiome. First, we present findings on how diet manipulation impacts the microbiome and disease pathogenesis in a broad variety of rodent models of disease. Then, we describe results from clinical trials that are using diet therapies to attempt to shift the microbiome and treat disease symptoms. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 28:1535370219827276. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Hematology Center, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Cidade Universitária, Campinas-SP 13083-878-SP, Brazil.

Impact Statement: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited diseases and is associated with a reduced life expectancy and acute and chronic complications, including frequent painful vaso-occlusive episodes that often require hospitalization. At present, treatment of SCD is limited to hematopoietic stem cell transplant, transfusion, and limited options for pharmacotherapy, based principally on hydroxyurea therapy. This review highlights the importance of intracellular cGMP-dependent signaling pathways in SCD pathophysiology; modulation of these pathways with soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators or phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors could potentially provide vasorelaxation and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as elevate levels of anti-sickling fetal hemoglobin. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 25:1535370219826526. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

3 Department of Internal Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.

Impact Statement: Negative alterations, or dysbiosis, in the intestinal microbial community balance in response to chronic kidney disease is emerging as a substantial and important factor in inducing and exacerbating multiple comorbid conditions. Patients with renal insufficiency experience a substantial increase in cardiovascular risk, and recent evidence is shedding light on the close interaction between microbiome dysbiosis and increased cardiovascular events in this population. Previous association and recent causality studies utilizing experimental animal models have enriched our understanding and confirmed the impact of microbial community imbalance on cardiac health in both the general population and in patients with renal impairment. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 23:1535370219825859. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

1 Department of Pediatrics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.

Impact Statement: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders caused by mutations in the human β-globin gene, leading to the synthesis of abnormal hemoglobin S, chronic hemolysis, and oxidative stress. Inhibition of hemoglobin S polymerization by fetal hemoglobin holds the greatest promise for treating SCD. The transcription factor NRF2, is the master regulator of the cellular oxidative stress response and activator of fetal hemoglobin expression. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 23:1535370219826544. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

1 Institute of Research and Development - IP&D, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba - UNIVAP, Laboratory Dynamics of Cellular Compartments, Sao Paulo 12244-000, Brazil.

Impact Statement: Recently, the use of photodynamic therapy grows as an alternative treatment for cancer, since it has a noninvasive characteristic and affinity to the tumor tissue. Accordingly, understanding the therapy's foci of action is important for the technique improvement. This work aims to understand the genotoxic effect triggered by the therapy action, thus evidencing the permanent changes caused to the genetic material of the tumor cell after the treatment. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 22:1535370218824101. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

1 Department of Medicine-DIMED, Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.

Impact Statement: Our article focuses on the pathogenesis and treatment of CTD-PAH. In the latest ESC/ESR guidelines for PAH, the authors underline that although CTD-PAH should follow the same treatment protocol as idiopathic PAH, the therapeutic approach is more complex and difficult in the former. This review throws light on several peculiar aspects of CTD-PAH and the latest findings in the pathogenesis, namely, the role of inflammation in the maladaptive right ventricle remodeling in SSc-PAH where immunosuppressants are classically believed to be ineffective. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 21:1535370218824573. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

4 Department of the Salmonid Research in Rutki, Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Żukowo 83-330, Poland.

Impact Statement: The delivery of short snippets of RNA, such as synthetic miRNA agents, is an essential step for achieving RNA-mediated knockdown, which has not been studied in sufficient detail in fish. Our results indicate that a MiR92b-3p mimic may be effectively delivered via intraperitoneal injection to the spleen and the liver of whitefish, and that it likely achieves functionality without causing any apparent toxic effects in the challenged animals. We report the novel finding that the MiR92b-3p mimic reduced the in vivo liver mRNA expression levels of its putative pro-apoptotic targets (p53, cdkn1a, and pcna), and important metabolic genes, e. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 21;244(1):42-51. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

1 Department of Medicine-DIMED, Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.

Impact Statement: Our article is focused on emerging pathogenetic pathways in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Notably, IL-12 and IL-23 have been described as emerging cytokines in SLE pathogenesis. We know that IL-23 stimulates Th17 cells to produce IL-17. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 19:1535370219825639. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Family Medicine, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC 28207, USA.

Impact Statement: Obesity is a major multi-faceted, chronic disease that increases the risk of morbidity and mortality of children and adults particularly impacting high-risk populations and those of lower socioeconomic status. Given provider time constraints, models of care to effectively and efficiently address obesity in primary care are key. Although physician recommendations can exert a powerful influence on behavior, providers often feel powerless to adequately address obesity due to the complexity of physical and behavioral health problems. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 19:1535370218824538. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

1 Musculoskeletal Research Group and Tumor Biology, Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich 80336, Germany.

Impact Statement: The mechanism by which natural products such as resveratrol suppresses TNF-β-promoted tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and colony formation is unknown. In this study, we explored for the first time the effect of resveratrol on the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-β-, compared to TNF-α-stimulated proliferative and pro-inflammatory signaling in HCT116 cells. Our findings suggest that expression of TNF-β and TNF-β-receptor, like TNF-α, can lead to activation of inflammatory transcription factor (NF-κB) and NF-κB-regulated gene biomarkers, which are involved in the promotion of cancer proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and cell survival of tumor. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 17:1535370218824340. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

2 Department of Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece.

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 17:1535370218822988. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, P.R. China.

Impact Statement: Circular RNAs are important regulators of multiple biological processes such as organogenesis and oncogenesis. Although the bulk of concerning studies focused on revealing their diversified roles in various types of cancers, reports began to accumulate in cardiovascular field these days. We summarize circular RNAs implicated in cardiovascular diseases, aiming to highlight the advances in the knowledge of such diseases and their potential of being promising target for diagnosis and therapy. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 12:1535370218823684. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

4 Department of Endocrinology, Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University & Wuhan Third Hospital, Wuhan 430060, China.

Impact Statement: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a serious arterial obstruction, resulting in serious reduction of blood flow to the extremities. CLI is a symptomatic disorder and is frequently not diagnosed in time. This results in a high mortality and elevated risk of limb amputation. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 12:1535370218823549. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

1 Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zhangzhou, Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou 363000, China.

Impact Statement: Nrf2 is an essential part of the defense mechanism of vertebrates and protects them from surrounding stress via participation in stimulated expression of detoxification as well as antioxidant enzymes. It also exerts a role in defending hosts from different stress in the environment, including reactive oxygen species. Our study investigates the role of exendin-4 on Nrf2 pathway as well as cell death in pancreatic β-cell and in non-obese diabetic mice. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 10:1535370218820290. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.

Impact Statement: Our results offer the potential for straightforward, additive-free, and molecularly simple routes to building complex bioreactors based on in vitro transcription-translation systems and lipid vesicles. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 10;244(1):13-21. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

1 Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada E-18100, Spain.

Impact Statement: 3D bioprinting represents a novel advance in the area of regenerative biomedicine and tissue engineering for the treatment of different pathologies, among which are those related to cartilage. Currently, the use of different thermoplastic polymers, such as PLA or PCL, for bioprinting processes presents an important limitation: the high temperatures that are required for extrusion affect the cell viability and the final characteristics of the construct. In this work, we present a novel bioprinting process called volume-by-volume (VbV) that allows us to preserve cell viability after bioprinting. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 8:1535370218821060. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.

Impact Statement: This review summarizes how biomaterial substrate modifications (e.g. chemical modifications like natural coatings, ligands, or functional side groups, and/or physical modifications such as topography or stiffness) can prime the cellular response to nonviral gene delivery (e. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 7:1535370218821857. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

1 Neoprospecta Microbiome Technologies, CEP 88057-260, SC - Brasil.

Impact Statement: Research concerning the microbiome of indoor environments like hospitals, houses or buildings could have several implications for human health. Today, there is an ongoing shift in the paradigm of microbial analysis, from single isolated bacterial samples to entire microbiome profiles using high-throughput DNA sequencing methods. The use of sequencing methods in several studies has revealed an unprecedented microbial diversity in indoor environments, leading to a larger comprehension of the entire microbiome context. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 6:1535370218821063. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

1 Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu 610041, China.

Impact Statement: How to maintain the stemness of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in cultures is a long-standing question. The present study found that mitochondrial dynamics affects the stemness of BMSCs in cultures and the retaining of mitochondrial fission enhances the stemness of BMSCs. This work thus provides a novel insight into strategic approaches to maintain the stemness of BMSCs in cultures in relation to the clinical application of bone-marrow stem cells. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 6:1535370218819726. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

1 Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, NHFPC, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.

Impact Statement: The mechanism of MSCs repairing the injured kidney in diabetic nephropathy is not yet clear. In the research, MVs showed the same surface markers as MSCs but much higher MiR-451a expression. miR-451a was decreased in both injured HK-2 cells and kidneys. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 6;243(17-18):1286-1301. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

1 Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR 80215-901, Brazil.

Impact Statement: Sterility testing is a critical issue in the recovery, processing, and release of tissue allografts. Contaminated allografts are often discarded, increasing costs, and reducing tissue stocks. Given these concerns, it is important to determine the most effective methodology for sterility testing. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019 Jan 2:1535370218819743. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

3 Nano Safety and Risk Assessment Laboratory, National Nanotechnology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.

Impact Statement: α-Mangostin has been reported to have anticancer properties both in vitro and in vivo models. Although there are several studies that evaluated the toxicity of the compound in rodent models, we are the first to evaluate the teratogenicity of α-mangostin. In the present work, we found that α-mangostin induced mortality and malformations in zebrafish embryos. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Nov 12;243(15-16):1220-1232. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

1 Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.

Impact Statement: This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of extracellular matrix protein (ECM) gene expression combined with echocardiographic analyses of heart functional parameters in the murine heart during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Our findings show regulation of all Timp, selected Mmps, and Col1a1, Col3a1, and Col8a1 mRNA levels with reproductive status, with the greatest number of significant changes occurring in the early postpartum period. Left ventricle cardiac diastolic parameters were the first to change during pregnancy and remained elevated postpartum, whereas systolic parameters were increased in late pregnancy and began to recover during the first week postpartum. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 12;243(17-18):1323-1330. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Neural & Behavioral Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.

Impact Statement: This mini-review presents information on the intermittent blockade of the opioid growth factor (OGF)-OGF receptor (OGFr) axis by low-dose naltrexone (LDN), and the role of enkephalin (i.e. OGF) in autoimmune disorders, specifically multiple sclerosis, Crohn's, and fibromyalgia. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Nov 12;243(15-16):1161-1164. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

3 Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35121, Italy.

Impact Statement: Tissue transglutaminase (t-TG) is unique among TG enzymes because of its additional role in several physiological and pathological activities, including inflammation, fibrosis, and wound healing. The presence of t-TG has previously been described in the intestine of human and animal models, yet studies on t-TG activity in human gastric mucosa are missing. Helicobacter pylori infection is the major cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 12:1535370218818175. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

2 Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.

Impact Statement: The heterogeneity of the renal disease, therapeutic interventions, and the original cause of the renal failure, all directly affect the microbiota. We delineate in this report the direct effect of decreased renal function on the bacterial composition following stringent criteria to eliminate the possibilities of other confounding factors and dissect the direct effects of the uremic milieu. We analyzed the microbiome following three different approaches to further evaluate the effects of mild, moderate and advanced renal insufficiency on the microbiome. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 11;243(17-18):1302-1312. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.

Impact Statement: This article reviews glial cell interactions with the immune system post-ischemic stroke. Research has shown that glial cells in the brain play a role in altering phenotypes of other glial cells and have downstream immune cell targets ultimately regulating a neuroinflammatory response. These interactions may play a deleterious as well as beneficial role in stroke recovery. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 11;243(17-18):1275-1285. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

1 Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Impact Statement: Current understanding of the association of body composition on mortality in the general population is limited. This review evaluated the available epidemiologic studies on body composition and mortality that leveraged diverse approaches to estimate body composition. Although studies showed inconsistent results, there was evidence suggesting that high fat mass and low lean body mass may be independently associated with mortality in the general population. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 3;243(17-18):1313-1322. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

1 Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.

Impact Statement: Sex-differences in the incidence and severity of inflammatory lung diseases have been recognized for years. Women of reproductive age are more likely to suffer from chronic lung disease, with higher mortality rates than men. Physiological changes in hormone levels such as those occurring during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause have been associated with lung function changes and asthma symptoms. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 3:1535370218817503. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

1 Unidade de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto - UNAERP, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14096-900, Brazil.

Impact Statement: The results of this work provide preliminary evidence that ovariectomized rats display the vaginal smear cells typical of the estrous phase of mature rats after long-term ingestion of Colocasia esculenta flavonoid glycosides. Moreover, the treatment caused beneficial effects on endocrine and reproductive organs compared to estradiol. The animals did not exhibit significant body weight alterations among the groups, demonstrating the maintenance of standard metabolism and energy balance. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 3:1535370218816657. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

CIBIO, University of Trento, Povo 38123, Italy.

Impact Statement: Advances in the understanding of the biophysics of membranes, the nonenzymatic and enzymatic polymerization of RNA, and in the design of complex chemical reaction networks have led to a new, integrated way of viewing the shared chemistry needed to sustain life. Although a protocell capable of Darwinian evolution has yet to be built, the seemingly disparate pieces are beginning to fit together. At the very least, better cellular mimics are on the horizon that will likely teach us much about the physicochemical underpinnings of cellular life. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Nov 28:1535370218815437. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

2 Nursing School, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China 200433.

Impact Statement: An enriched environment (EE) is an animal housing technique where animals are given increased amounts of space, physical activity, and social interaction. Presently, researchers studying EEs focus mainly on their effects within the context of neurological diseases. However, little is known about how EEs affect the intestinal mucosal barrier. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Dec 27;243(17-18):1256-1264. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

1 Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.

Impact Statement: Retinal photoreceptors are the primary target of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is the leading cause of severe vision loss and legal blindness. An objective method for functional assessment of photoreceptor physiology can benefit early detection and better treatment evaluation of AMD and other eye diseases that are known to cause photoreceptor dysfunctions. This article summarizes in vitro study of IOS mechanisms and in vivo demonstration of IOS imaging of intact animals. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Nov 24:1535370218815435. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

3 Laboratory of Calcium Binding Proteins, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw 02-093, Poland.

Impact Statement: Despite extensive research into the pathogenesis of hypertension and disease-related end organ damage, the mechanisms leading to cardiac complications of hypertensive patients are still not fully elucidated. The aim of the presented research was immunodetection and evaluation of CacyBP/SIP, β-catenin, and proteasomes in the hearts of rats with hypertension of different etiology. Our results show an innovative and important network of interactions between proteins potentially involved in the development and progression of heart problems in various types of hypertension. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Nov 24:1535370218815612. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

1 INSERM UMR-1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des sciences de Santé, Dijon F-21000, France.

Impact Statement: There are a great number of arguments suggesting that BDNF could be involved in stroke recovery dependent of neuroplasticity. Methods that can enhance BDNF levels in the ischemic brain could therefore have great clinical value. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that contain BDNF and infiltrate early and sustainably the ischemic brain might be used as a cellular vector to deliver BDNF to the ischemic brain and consequently promote recovery. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018 Nov 24:1535370218813988. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

1 Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

Impact Statement: Our study reveals that TETA, traditionally regarded as a copper chelator, in lower doses delivers copper selectively to the heart through a mechanism independent of copper transporter-1 or -2. Copper supplementation by a lower dose of TETA suppresses pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Since ischemic heart disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are accompanied by myocardial copper loss, this approach of using a lower dose of TETA to supplement copper to the heart would help treat the disease condition of patients with such cardiac events. Read More