Accelerated cellular senescence may be a crucial process for periodontitis progression because it integrates the damaging effects of major periodontitis risk factors. Cellular senescence is a ...manifestation of aging at the cellular level. However, recent technological advances have shown that healthy young cells continuously exposed to sublethal oxidative stress undergo accelerated senescence. Although accumulation of senescent cells is normal in aged tissues, persistent bacterial infection, chronic inflammation, diabetes, and smoking promote the early onset of senescence by causing DNA damage. As a result, the premature accumulation of senescent cells not only increases tissue destruction but also limits regeneration. Senescent cells are a source of chronic inflammation, and once they start to accumulate, a “two-source” periodontal inflammation results from both bacteria-triggered and senescence-associated inflammation. Senescent cells also transmit senescence to nearby healthy cells, generating a vicious cycle that extends the affected area over time. Since senescent cells Accumulate, Limit regeneration, Transmit senescence, Exacerbate inflammation, and Remodel tissues, the acronym ALTER is suggested to summarize key senescence-associated features implicated in tissue deterioration. Given that different homeostatic mechanisms are disrupted during the transition of gingivitis to periodontitis and that the network of senescence-associated events disrupts local homeostasis, accelerated activation of cellular senescence could be a central underlying mechanism for periodontitis progression. In this review, the emerging contribution of premature DNA damage-driven cellular senescence in periodontitis is discussed. This novel knowledge is particularly important to better understand the host contribution in periodontal destruction and will help to develop new therapeutic strategies.
Objectives
To investigate the incidence of clinical, ultrasonographic and biochemical findings related to pre‐eclampsia (PE) in pregnancies with COVID‐19, and to assess their accuracy to ...differentiate between PE and the PE‐like features associated with COVID‐19.
Design
A prospective, observational study.
Setting
Tertiary referral hospital.
Participants
Singleton pregnancies with COVID‐19 at >20+0 weeks.
Methods
Forty‐two consecutive pregnancies were recruited and classified into two groups: severe and non‐severe COVID‐19, according to the occurrence of severe pneumonia. Uterine artery pulsatility index (UtAPI) and angiogenic factors (soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1/placental growth factor sFlt‐1/PlGF) were assessed in women with suspected PE.
Main outcome measures
Incidence of signs and symptoms related to PE, such as hypertension, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, abnormal UtAPI and increased sFlt‐1/PlGF.
Results
Thirty‐four cases were classified as non‐severe and 8 as severe COVID‐19. Five (11.9%) women presented signs and symptoms of PE, all five being among the severe COVID‐19 cases (62.5%). However, abnormal sFlt‐1/PlGF and UtAPI could only be demonstrated in one case. One case remained pregnant after recovery from severe pneumonia and had a spontaneous resolution of the PE‐like syndrome.
Conclusions
Pregnant women with severe COVID‐19 can develop a PE‐like syndrome that might be distinguished from actual PE by sFlt‐1/PlGF, LDH and UtAPI assessment. Healthcare providers should be aware of its existence and monitor pregnancies with suspected pre‐eclampsia with caution.
Tweetable
This study shows that a pre‐eclampsia‐like syndrome could be present in some pregnancies with severe COVID‐19.
Tweetable
This study shows that a pre‐eclampsia‐like syndrome could be present in some pregnancies with severe COVID‐19.
A
bstract
In view of both the latest LHCb measurement of
R
K
∗
and the new 2
.
7
σ
deviation reported by Belle II on
B
+
→
K
+
ν
ν
¯
decays, we present a fit to the
B
meson anomalies for various one ...and two dimensional hypothesis including complex Wilson coefficients. We show in a model-independent way that the generic non-universal U(1)
′
extensions of the SM, without flavour violation, fail to simultaneously fit those observables and corroborate that they can modify
BR
B
+
→
K
+
ν
ν
¯
up to only a 10%. In view of this deficit, we propose a new way in which those models can accommodate the data at tree level by introducing lepton flavour violating couplings and non-diagonal elements of the charged lepton mixing matrix, with implications in future charged lepton flavour violation searches.
Marine organisms process and deliver many of their underwater coatings and adhesives as complex fluids. In marine mussels one such fluid, secreted during the formation of adhesive plaques, consists ...of a concentrated colloidal suspension of a mussel foot protein (mfp) known as Mfp-3S. The results of this study suggest that Mfp-3S becomes a complex fluid by a liquid–liquid phase separation from equilibrium solution at a pH and ionic strength reminiscent of the conditions created by the mussel foot during plaque formation. The pH dependence of phase separation and its sensitivity indicate that inter-/intra-molecular electrostatic interactions are partially responsible for driving the phase separation. Hydrophobic interactions between the non- polar Mfp-3S proteins provide another important driving force for coacervation. As complex coacervation typically results from charge–charge interactions between polyanions and polycations, Mfp-3S is thus unique in being the only known protein that coacervates with itself. The Mfp-3S coacervate was shown to have an effective interfacial energy of ⩽1mJm−2, which explains its tendency to spread over or engulf most surfaces. Of particular interest to biomedical applications is the extremely high adsorption capacity of coacervated Mfp-3S on hydroxyapatite.
Grasslands provide grass and fodder to sustain the growing need for ruminant meat and milk. Soil nutrients in grasslands are removed through withdrawal in these livestock products and through animal ...manure that originates from grasslands and is spread in croplands. This leads to loss of soil fertility, because globally most grasslands receive no mineral fertilizer. Here we show that phosphorus (P) inputs (mineral and organic) in global grasslands will have to increase more than fourfold in 2050 relative to 2005 to achieve an anticipated 80% increase in grass production (for milk and meat), while maintaining the soil P status. Combined with requirements for cropland, we estimate that mineral P fertilizer use must double by 2050 to sustain future crop and grassland production. Our findings point to the need to better understand the role of grasslands and their soil P status and their importance for global food security.
Mg–Y alloys show significantly enhanced room temperature ductility compared to pure Mg and other classical Mg wrought alloys. The presented study focuses on understanding the mechanisms for this ...ductility improvement by microstructure analysis, texture analysis and slip trace analysis based on electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. As expected, pure Mg mainly deforms by 〈
a〉 basal slip and tensile twinning. In contrast, Mg–Y shows a high activity of compression twinning, secondary twinning and pyramidal 〈
c
+
a〉 slip. These additional deformation modes cause a homogeneous deformation with a weaker basal texture, more balanced work hardening and enhanced ductility. Additionally, in Mg–Y shear bands are much more frequent and carry less strain than those in pure Mg. As a consequence, failure in shear bands occurs at significantly higher strain. The experimental results are discussed focusing on the mechanisms effecting the observed high activation of pyramidal deformation modes in Mg–Y.
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, has been responsible for over 42 million infections and 1 million deaths since its emergence in December 2019. There are few therapeutic options and no ...approved vaccines. Here, we examine the properties of highly potent human monoclonal antibodies (hu-mAbs) in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 and in a mouse-adapted model of SARS-CoV-2 infection (SARS-CoV-2 MA). Antibody combinations were effective for prevention and in therapy when administered early. However, in vitro antibody neutralization potency did not uniformly correlate with in vivo protection, and some hu-mAbs were more protective in combination in vivo. Analysis of antibody Fc regions revealed that binding to activating Fc receptors contributes to optimal protection against SARS-CoV-2 MA. The data indicate that intact effector function can affect hu-mAb protective activity and that in vivo testing is required to establish optimal hu-mAb combinations for COVID-19 prevention.
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