by Katherine Satrom  , Tate Gisslen  and Raghavendra Rao

Received: 29 May 2019;  Published: 29 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1903038

Hyperglycemia soon after birth is common in extremely preterm infants. Hyperglycemia is associated with severe intraventricular hemorrhage and impaired neurodevelopmental outcome in these infants. Recent data in human infants and animal models demonstrate that hyperglycemia leads to decreased white matter content, abnormal synaptogenesis, microgliosis, and functional deficits in the absence of intraventricular hemorrhage. Data suggest that oxidative stress, inflammation, and abnormal substrate metabolism are respon [...]

by Qing Ye  , Yijen L. Wu  , Lesley M. Moley  , Parker H. Mills  , Fang-Cheng Yeh  , Haosen Zhang  , Danielle F. Eytan  , Li Liu  , T. Kevin Hitchens  and Chien Ho

Received: 07 January 2019;  Published: 29 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903083

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains a major obstacle to long-term heart allograft survival. A number of studies show that immune mechanisms are involved in CAV. Using non-invasive cellular MRI (CMRI) to explore indicators of CAV lesions and characterize its development could provide new insights into the target immune cells that are responsible for the progression of CAV and reveal early markers of the disease before irreversible changes occur. Methods and Results: Rat heart transplant allograf [...]

by Max Oberste  , Sophia Sharma  and Philipp Zimmer

Received: 24 April 2019;  Published: 28 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1903052

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether acute aerobic exercise improves subsequent set shifting performance in healthy young individuals. Potential moderation of studies’ methodological quality and exercise intensity, as well as the presence of small-study effect was also examined. Studies were identified using electronic databases Medline, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus, as well as references of recent meta-analyses and references of included studies. In total, 12 studies were included into [...]

by Sigal Shaklai  , Meital Grafi-Cohen  , Orli Sharon  , Gabi Shefer  , Dalia Somjen  and Naftali Stern

Received: 17 April 2019;  Published: 27 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903082

Background: Estradiol 17-beta (E2) enhances the function and survival of pancreatic beta-cells, but its clinical use has been questioned due to concerns regarding oncogenic potential and feminizing effects in males. The G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), expressed in pancreatic islets, exhibits estrogenic beta-cell protective effects without the feminizing effects of the nuclear ERs. Here, we examine the outcome of selective activation of the three estrogen receptors ERα, ERβ, and GPER on rep [...]

by James S. Powers  , Destiny O. Birdsong  , Kemberlee R. Bonnet  , Neena R. Kapoor  , Jamaria J. Southward  , Ifeoma Nwankwo  and David G. Schlundt

Received: 25 April 2019;  Published: 26 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903072

Background: Narratives encompass written reflection experiences and hold the potential to display valuable insights into trainees’ thinking. We analyzed narratives from graduate students trained in aging themes, who then interviewed older hospitalized adults (senior partners) about their life experiences. Methods: Three Discovery & Learning Fellows trained on open-ended interviewing, empathy, and aging themes performed semi-structured interviews. Senior partners were hospitalized older veterans. After the [...]

by Jeffrey M. Witkin  , Lalit K. Golani  , Rok Cerne  , Md. Toufiqur Rahman  , Guanguan Li  , Michael M. Poe  , James M. Cook  and Jodi L. Smith

Received: 05 May 2019;  Published: 26 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903073

Major depressive disorder is a highly-prevalent and debilitating disorder in the aged population. Accumulating clinical evidence suggests a key role for social support in helping to mitigate depression. Preclinical data are reviewed that indicate that selective negative allosteric modulation of α5-containing GABAA receptors, as with RY-080, might rapidly impact depression in patients. Further, preclinical data in transgenic mice modeling neurodegenerative diseases has suggested that this mechanism might also [...]

by Lennaert Zwart  , Tjeerd Germans  , Suat Simsek  , Jaap Ruiter  and René Jansen

Received: 22 May 2019;  Published: 26 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903071

Background: Geriatric patients are at risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke, and the risk of oral anticoagulation (OAC) related bleeding is also presumed to be higher. Detailed knowledge about the prevalence of AF and bleeding pattern in this population is scarce. This study sought to assess the prevalence of AF, use of OAC, and the rate of major bleeding in geriatric patients who are prone to frequent falls. We expect to find a higher prevalence of AF among geriatric patients compared to elderly people of co [...]

by Shruthi Kodad  , Waleed Sabry  , Assem Elsayed  , Hadi Goubran  and Mohamed Elemary

Received: 25 June 2019;  Published: 26 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903081

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at an increased risk of bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections. Past exposures to infections, the degree of immunosuppression, prolonged neutropenia and presence of graft versus host disease (GVHD) are some of the factors which make HSCT recipients more susceptible to infections. Viral infections have emerged as a major challenge causing high morbidity and mortality in stem cell transplant recipients. Myeloablative conditioning regimens and GVHD pr [...]

by Hisayuki Komaki  and Tomohiko Tamura

Received: 19 April 2019;  Published: 23 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1903091

Background: Streptomyces avermitilis is an actinomycete that produces avermectins. The complete genome sequence of S. avermitilis K139 was determined in 2003. In our previous study, we revealed that S. avermitilis NBRC 14893T harbors two extra secondary metabolite-biosynthetic gene clusters (smBGCs), com and ptx, which are not present in strain K139. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing for S. avermitilis NBRC 14893T and ATCC 31267T was carried out by the SMRT DNA sequencing technology to determine the genomic loci enc [...]

by Scott S. Graves  , DavidW. Mathes  and Rainer Storb

Received: 23 November 2018;  Published: 23 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903080

Background: The application of hematopoietic cell transplantation for induction of immune tolerance has been limited by toxicities associated with conditioning regimens and to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Decades of animal studies have culminated into sufficient control of these two problems, making immune tolerance a viable alternative to life-long application of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent allograft rejection. Methods: Studies in mice have paved the way for the application of HCT with limited toxicity [...]