August 2024 Member Publications

    1. Poudel R, Li S, Hong H, Zhao J, Srivastava S, Robertson RM, Hall JL, Srivastava S, Hamburg NM, Bhatnagar A, Keith RJ. Catecholamine levels with use of electronic and combustible cigarettes. Tob Induc Dis. 2024 Aug 14;22. doi: 10.18332/tid/190687. PMID: 39144677; PMCID: PMC11320712.
      Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that both e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes significantly increase urinary catecholamine levels, indicating potential cardiovascular risks associated with their use. These findings suggest that catecholamines may serve as valuable biomarkers for assessing the harm caused by tobacco products, with implications for future regulatory research. 
    2. Xin Y, Wang H, Cai L. Editorial: Cardiovascular diseases related to diabetes and obesity - volume IV. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024 Jul 18;15:1458742. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1458742. PMID: 39092283; PMCID: PMC11291376.
      Impact Statement: This editorial highlights new predictive indicators for obesity-related cardiovascular disease and diabetes complications, offering insights into early detection and intervention. The findings emphasize the need for continued research to validate these indicators and advance personalized treatment approaches for these chronic conditions. 
    3. Cai L, Tan Y, Islam MS, Horowitz M, Wintergerst KA. Diabetic cardiomyopathy: Importance of direct evidence to support the roles of NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome and pyroptosis. World J Diabetes. 2024 Aug 15;15(8):1659-1662. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i8.1659. PMID: 39192865; PMCID: PMC11346090.
      Impact Statement: This publication highlights the need for caution in interpreting the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), as current studies provide limited direct evidence. It calls for more comprehensive research to establish a clear causative link, which is crucial for developing effective treatments targeting these biomarkers. 
    4. Haines D, Grell R, Huang J, Abrams B, Kertai MD. The Important Thing Is Not to Stop Questioning. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2024 Aug 29:10892532241279627. doi: 10.1177/10892532241279627. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39207841.
      Impact Statement: Albert Einstein’s belief in the power of inquiry drives anesthesiologists worldwide to continuously enhance patient care through innovative practices and techniques. In this issue of Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, we delve into critical contemporary issues, showcasing advancements in pediatric cardiothoracic anesthesiology and highlighting the commitment to fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity that ultimately transforms patient outcomes. 
    5. Carroll D, Kavalukas S. Management of Complications in Crohn's Disease. Adv Surg. 2024 Sep;58(1):19-34. doi: 10.1016/j.yasu.2024.04.002. Epub 2024 May 16. PMID: 39089776.
      Impact Statement: This publication highlights that complications of Crohn's disease extend beyond traditional issues like surgical leaks and infections, emphasizing the critical roles of malnutrition and intestinal failure in patient management. It also discusses recent advancements in medical and surgical approaches, such as the Kono-S anastomosis and enhanced mesenteric resection techniques, which aim to improve outcomes and reduce the necessity for repeated surgeries. 
    6. Thakurdesai A, Jha SK, Erinkitola I, Said A, Joshi T, Schwandt ML, Parajuli D, Singal AK, Kong M, Cave MC, Vatsalya V. The gut-immune-liver axis in patients with alcohol use disorder and clinically low serum zinc levels. Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken). 2024 Aug 2. doi: 10.1111/acer.15408. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39095327.
      Impact Statement: This study highlights the critical role of zinc deficiency in exacerbating gut-barrier dysfunction, immune response, and hepatocyte injury in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients, with distinct differences between sexes. Findings suggest that zinc-deficient females may experience a shift from apoptosis to necrosis in liver cell death, signaling a progression of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). 
    7. Gobejishvili L, McClain CJ. Back to phosphodiesterase inhibitors for liver disease: Are we ready for clinical trials? Hepatology. 2024 Aug 8. doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000001053. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39116338.
      Impact Statement: The study highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting PDE4 and PDE5 enzymes in liver diseases such as ALD and MASH, demonstrating benefits in preclinical models through reduced liver injury and metabolic improvements. These findings suggest that dual inhibition of PDE4B and PDE5A may offer an enhanced treatment approach, raising the question of readiness for clinical trials to explore this strategy in patients with liver disease. 
    8. Chilton PM, Ghare SS, Charpentier BT, Myers SA, Rao AV, Petrosino JF, Hoffman KL, Greenwell JC, Tyagi N, Behera J, Wang Y, Sloan LJ, Zhang J, Shields CB, Cooper GE, Gobejishvili L, Whittemore SR, McClain CJ , Barve SS. Age-associated temporal decline in butyrate-producing bacteria plays a key pathogenic role in the onset and progression of neuropathology and memory deficits in 3×Tg-AD mice. Gut Microbes. 2024 Jan-Dec;16(1):2389319. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2389319. Epub 2024 Aug 25. PMID: 39182227; PMCID: PMC11346541.
      Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that age-related declines in butyrate-producing gut bacteria play a causal role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression, as shown by their impact on brain pathology and memory deficits in a mouse model. Oral administration of tributyrin, a butyrate prodrug, mitigated these declines, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing or slowing AD. 
    9. Shoctor NA, Brady MP, McLeish KR, Lightman RR, Davis-Johnson L, Lynn C, Dubbaka A, Tandon S, Daniels MW, Rane MJ , Barati MT, Caster DJ, Powell DW. Increased Urine Excretion of Neutrophil Granule Cargo in Active Proliferative Lupus Nephritis. Kidney360. 2024 Aug 1;5(8):1154-1166. doi: 10.34067/KID.0000000000000491. Epub 2024 Jul 2. PMID: 39207891; PMCID: PMC11371349.
      Impact Statement: Neutrophil degranulation plays a crucial role in glomerular injury associated with proliferative lupus nephritis, highlighting the inflammatory processes at work. The detection of neutrophil granule proteins in urine presents a promising diagnostic marker for assessing glomerular inflammation in this condition. 
    10. Alexander EM, Miller HA, Egger ME, Smith ML , Yaddanapudi K, Linder MW. The Correlation between Plasma Circulating Tumor DNA and Radiographic Tumor Burden. J Mol Diagn. 2024 Aug 22:S1525-1578(24)00179-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2024.07.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39181324.
      Impact Statement: Integrating plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) with conventional blood-based biomarkers and radiographic imaging can enhance precision medicine by addressing their individual limitations and improving the monitoring of malignant diseases. This approach emphasizes understanding tumor growth dynamics to better interpret ctDNA concentrations alongside traditional assessments, ultimately leading to more accurate evaluations of therapy response and tumor burden. 
    11. Holm RH, Anderson LB, Ness HD, LaJoie AS, Smith T. Towards the outbreak tail, what is the public opinion about wastewater surveillance in the United States? J Water Health. 2024 Aug;22(8):1409-1418. doi: 10.2166/wh.2024.074. Epub 2024 Jul 5. PMID: 39212278.
      Impact Statement: This study reveals that public support for wastewater surveillance remains robust, with over 90% endorsing its use for monitoring toxins and diseases, highlighting its potential as a vital public health tool. Despite varying levels of support for different surveillance applications, the findings indicate a strong public willingness to integrate wastewater-based epidemiology into broader health protection strategies. 
    12. Thänert R, Schwartz DJ, Keen EC, Hall-Moore C, Wang B, Shaikh N, Ning J, Rouggly-Nickless LC, Thänert A, Ferreiro A, Fishbein SRS, Sullivan JE, Radmacher P, Escobedo M, Warner BB, Tarr PI, Dantas G. Clinical sequelae of gut microbiome development and disruption in hospitalized preterm infants. Cell Host Microbe. 2024 Aug 18:S1931-3128(24)00286-5. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.07.027. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39197454.
      Impact Statement: This study reveals that preterm infants experience abnormal gut microbiota development, which is shaped by both antibiotic and non-antibiotic medications, leading to early-life health issues and long-term complications. Persistent low microbial diversity is linked to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis, highlighting the significant impact of medical interventions on microbiome composition in vulnerable neonates. 
    13. Samala N, Kulkarni M, Lele RS, Gripshover TC, Wise JY, Rai SN, Cave MC . Associations between Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposures and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in adult National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018. Toxicol Sci. 2024 Aug 16:kfae106. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae106. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39150893.
      Impact Statement: This study assessed the relationship between PFAS exposures and biomarkers of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in adults, using data from the NHANES 2017-2018 cohort. While some PFAS were linked to elevated liver enzyme levels, overall, the associations between PFAS and MASLD biomarkers were inconsistent, suggesting that PFAS may not pose a significant burden for liver disease in this population. More data are required to better understand the relationships between PFAS exposures and liver disease. 
    14. Lin X, Chen C, Chen J, Zhu C, Zhang J, Su R, Chen S, Weng S, Chang X, Lin S, Chen Y, Li J, Lin L, Zhou J, Guo Z, Yu G, Shao W, Hu H, Wu S, Zhang Q, Li H, Zheng F. Long Noncoding RNA NR_030777 Alleviates Cobalt Nanoparticles-Induced Neurodegenerative Damage by Promoting Autophagosome-Lysosome Fusion. ACS Nano. 2024 Sep 10;18(36):24872-24897. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.4c05249. Epub 2024 Aug 28. PMID: 39197041; PMCID: PMC11394346.

      Impact Statement: This study reveals that cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) cause significant neurodegenerative damage through autophagic dysfunction, leading to cognitive impairment and toxic protein accumulation. Importantly, the long noncoding RNA NR_030777 mitigates these effects by stabilizing the transcription factor EB (TFEB) mRNA, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for addressing CoNPs-induced CNS toxicity.

    15. Milanes JE, Yan VC, Pham CD, Muller F, Kwain S, Rees KC, Dominy BN, Whitehead DC, Millward SW, Bolejack M, Shek R, Tillery L, Phan IQ, Staker B, Moseman EA, Zhang X , Ma X, Jebet A, Yin X, Morris JC. Enolase inhibitors as therapeutic leads for Naegleria fowleri infection. PLoS Pathog. 2024 Aug 1;20(8):e1012412. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012412. PMID: 39088549; PMCID: PMC11321563.
      Impact Statement: This study identifies (1-hydroxy-2-oxopiperidin-3-yl) phosphonic acid (HEX) as a potent inhibitor of Naegleria fowleri enolase, demonstrating its toxicity to pathogenic amoebae and potential to increase survival in infected rodent models. These findings highlight the need for further exploration of HEX as a promising therapeutic candidate for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a condition with a historically high mortality rate.