Background and Aims
A newly recognized multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C) has had a paradigm‐shifting effect on the perception of severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus‐2 ...(SARS‐CoV‐2) illness severity in children. We report the clinical and biochemical features of liver involvement, and the comorbidities that present with hepatitis, in a substantial cohort of patients.
Approach and Results
This is a retrospective cohort study of 44 patients with MIS‐C admitted at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York‐Presbyterian during April and May 2020. We evaluated the number of patients who developed hepatitis and examined both demographics and inflammatory laboratory values to ascertain those that were at higher risk for liver involvement and more severe disease. Hepatitis was present in 19 subjects (43%) and was associated with more severe disease. Persons with hepatitis had significantly higher rates of shock at presentation (21.1% vs. 0%; P = 0.008), greater respiratory support requirement (42.1% vs. 12%; P = 0.005), and longer hospitalization times (median, 7 interquartile range {IQR}, 5, 10 vs. 4 days IQR, 3.5, 6.5; P < 0.05). Patients with hepatitis also had significantly higher levels of ferritin (706.9 vs. 334.2 mg/mL; P < 0.01), interleukin‐6 (233.9 vs. 174.7 pg/mL; P < 0.05), troponin (83.0 vs. 28.5 ng/L; P < 0.05), and B‐type natriuretic peptide (7,424.5 vs. 3,209.5 pg/mL; P < 0.05). The single patient with liver failure also developed multiorgan failure requiring vasopressors, hemodialysis, and mechanical ventilation. All patients were discharged, though >50% had persistent hepatitis up to 1 month after discharge.
Conclusions
Hepatitis is common in children with MIS‐C and is associated with a more severe presentation and persistent elevation of liver function tests in many. Despite the positive outcomes reported here, close follow‐up is warranted given the limited knowledge of the long‐term impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 on the liver.
Argentatins are secondary metabolites synthesized by guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) with numerous potential medical applications. In addition to inhibiting insect growth, they are endowed ...with several pharmacological properties including antimicrobial and antitumorigenic activity. However, their potential as immunomodulators remains unexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether argentatins can modulate the function of the immune system. Human mesenchymal stem cells were treated with argentatins and the production of several anti- and proinflammatory cytokines was evaluated. The effect of argentatins on the polarization of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and macrophages was also assessed. Results demonstrated that argentatins can modulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines and the polarization of cellular phenotypes, including Th2 lymphocytes and M1 macrophages. These findings suggest that argentatins are promising therapeutic agents in autoimmune or allergic diseases, and open new perspectives for the investigation of argentatins in immune response and in the development of more targeted and effective immunomodulatory therapies.
Monocyte distribution width (MDW) is a new biomarker used as an early indicator of sepsis (ESId). It is often aids in the identification of patients who may develop sepsis. This study aims to ...establish the MDW reference interval (RI) within the healthy population of blood donors using EDTA-K
as anticoagulant. Many hospitals use this biomarker as a means of identifying patients who present to the hospital with sepsis.
A total of 274 samples obtained from healthy donors were analyzed. MDW measurements were taken within 2 h post-extraction. The RI was estimated using various statistical methodologies, including the recommended CLSI EP28-A3c guideline, non-parametric and robust methods, along with the Harrell-Davis bootstrap method applied to the entire sample.
The RI estimated through non-parametric method was 14.77 CI90 % (14.36-14.97)-21.13 CI90 % (20.89-21.68); RI using the robust method was 15.64-19.05 and RI using the Harrell-Davis bootstrap method was 14.73 CI90 % (14.53-14.92)-21.14 CI90 % (20.88-21.40).
Based on clinical applicability, we recommend utilizing the RI derived from the non-parametric method, aligning with the CLSI recommendations. Furthermore, we consider that our results can be taken as a reference in other laboratories that serve a population similar to our study cohort.
•Lentil peptides showing potential antihypertensive activity were identified.•Bioactive fragments derived from lentil vicilin, convicilin and legumin.•Gastrointestinal digestion of peptides improved ...markedly their bioactivity.•C-terminal heptapeptide was crucial for antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities.•ACE inhibition relies on hydrogen bonds involving residues of the catalytic site.
The objective was to identify peptides with dual antioxidant and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities released from lentil proteins by Savinase®. The influence of gastrointestinal digestion on peptide bioactivity was also assayed. Fragments from vicilin, convicilin and legumin were the most abundant peptides identified. Peptides LLSGTQNQPSFLSGF, NSLTLPILRYL, TLEPNSVFLPVLLH showed the highest antioxidant (0.013–1.432μmol Trolox eq./μmol peptide) and ACE inhibitory activities (IC50=44–120μM). Gastrointestinal digestion of peptides improved their dual activity (10–14μmol Trolox eq./μmol peptide; IC50=11–21μM). In general, C-terminal heptapeptide was crucial for their dual activity. ACE inhibition relies on the formation of hydrogen bonds between C-terminal residues of lentil peptides and residues of the ACE catalytic site. The present study helps clarifying the relationship between structure and dual antioxidant/antihypertensive activity of lentil peptides opening new opportunities to food industry such as the application of lentil protein hydrolysates as ingredients for development of functional foods.
Devoted actors—those who share sacred values with a group with which they are fused—are particularly willing to self-sacrifice to defend their group or values when they are threatened. Here, we ...explore whether they are also prone to aggressive inclinations toward those who endanger their group or convictions. To that end, we examined the effect of threat and the two components of the devoted actor framework—identity fusion and sacred values—on aggressive inclinations. These inclinations were registered with a videogame that allowed participants to destroy ingroup and outgroup symbols. Two experiments indicated that devoted actors reacted to threats to their ingroup and value by increasing aggressive inclinations against the rival group. This effect was apparently mediated by the perceived physical strength of the ingroup versus foes. Results suggest that devoted actors might be more prone to self-sacrifice, but also to attack those who threaten their group or values.
Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) are rare diseases produced by the accumulation of abnormal amounts of metabolites, toxic to the newborn. When not detected on time, they can lead to irreversible ...physiological and psychological sequels or even demise. Metabolomics has emerged as an efficient and powerful tool for IEM detection in newborns, children, and adults with late onset. In here, we screened urine samples from a large set of neonates (470 individuals) from a homogeneous population (Basque Country), for the identification of congenital metabolic diseases using NMR spectroscopy. Absolute quantification allowed to derive a probability function for up to 66 metabolites that adequately describes their normal concentration ranges in newborns from the Basque Country. The absence of another 84 metabolites, considered abnormal, was routinely verified in the healthy newborn population and confirmed for all but 2 samples, of which one showed toxic concentrations of metabolites associated to ketosis and the other one a high trimethylamine concentration that strongly suggested an episode of trimethylaminuria. Thus, a non-invasive and readily accessible urine sample contains enough information to assess the potential existence of a substantial number (>70) of IEMs in newborns, using a single, automated and standardized
H- NMR-based analysis.
•Biodiesel production from a cheap raw material was studied at a pilot plant scale.•The free fatty acids content of the samples influence biodiesel yield and purity.•The contents of minor components ...as monoglycerides reduce the quality of biodiesel.•Biodiesel sample with high purity was obtained using an experimental design method.
In the present work an experimental design methods have been successfully applied to produce high quality biodiesel from used frying oil (UFO) samples with different free fatty acids (FFA) contents up to 4%. The influence of the oil FFA contents on biodiesel yield and purity regarding to mono-, di- and triglycerides (MG, DG and TG) contents has been studied and optimized. Results show that the FFA content of the samples influence on biodiesel yield and purity. It has been observed that the yield of methyl ester (ME) decrease from 97.2% to 95% by increasing the FFA content of the oil from 0% to 4%. When the FFA content of the oil decrease, the DG intermediate and TG content decrease, however the MG increase in biodiesel sample, exceeding in many cases the specification of EN14214 for biodiesel standard. The optimum conditions to produce a biodiesel sample which meets the European specifications EN14214 in particular, individual glyceride contents with high purity (99%) were found to be a catalyst concentration of 0.8% and an operation temperature of 30°C. The pilot plant process of biodiesel production using UFO as cheap raw materials has also been studied. The obtained results have been used for industrial scale up of the process.
Modulation of interactome networks, essentially protein-protein interactions (PPIs), might represent valuable therapeutic approaches to different pathological conditions. Since a high percentage of ...PPIs are mediated by α-helical structures at the interacting surface, the development of compounds able to reproduce the amino acid side-chain organization of α-helices (e.g. stabilized α-helix peptides and β-derivatives, proteomimetics, and α-helix small-molecule mimetics) focuses the attention of different research groups. This appraisal describes the recent progress in the non-peptide α-helix mimetics field, which has evolved from single-face to multi-face reproducing compounds and from oligomeric to monomeric scaffolds able to bear different substituents in similar spatial dispositions as the side-chains in canonical helices. Grouped by chemical structures, the review contemplates terphenyl-like molecules, oligobenzamides and heterocyclic analogues, benzamide-amino acid conjugates and non-oligomeric small-molecules mimetics, among others, and their effectiveness to stabilize/disrupt therapeutically relevant PPIs. The X-ray structures of a couple of oligomeric peptidomimetics and of some small-molecules complexed with the MDM2 protein, as well as the state of the art on their development in clinical trials, are also remarked. The discovery of a continuously increasing number of new disease-relevant PPIs could offer future opportunities for these and other forthcoming α-helix mimetics.
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•Protein-protein interactions are essential in physiopathological processes.•α-Helices are common recognition motifs in PPIs.•Non-peptide proteomimetics, imitating native helices, are important PPI modulators.•Progression from on-face to multi-face mimetics.•Evolution from oligomeric to non-oligomeic scaffolds.
Properties of biodiesel can be related to the chemical composition of the biomass source used in transesterification. Saturated fatty acids confer high oxidative stability, while unsaturated fatty ...acids improve the cold flow properties, which are also influenced by the chain length. In the present study, blends of biodiesel produced from different vegetable oils were evaluated in order to obtain the proper blend to fulfill the European Standard EN14214 in terms of oxidative stability and cold flow properties. Citric acid was used to purify the methyl ester phase. Oxidative stability resulted highly dependent on polyunsaturated fatty esters while fatty ester chain length is a determining factor in cold flow performance of the blends. A preliminary study of the effectiveness of a commercial additive (a Poly alkyl methacrylate) in improving methyl ester flow at low temperatures was done, but no significant changes were found.
Diets high in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, have been used to mitigate metabolic syndrome (MetS). Polyphenols are a large group of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, classified into ...two main classes: non-flavonoids and flavonoids. Flavonoids are distributed in foods, such as fruits, vegetables, tea, red wine, and cocoa. Studies have already demonstrated the benefits of flavonoids on the cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as cancer cells. The present review summarizes the results of clinical studies that evaluated the effects of flavonoids on the components of the MetS and associated complications when offered as supplements over the long term. The results show that flavonoids can significantly modulate several metabolic parameters, such as lipid profile, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Only theaflavin and catechin were unable to affect metabolic parameters. Moreover, only body weight and body mass index were unaltered. Thus, the evidence presented in this systematic review offers bases in support of a flavonoid supplementation, held for at least 3 weeks, as a strategy to improve several metabolic parameters and, consequently, reduce the risk of diseases associated with MetS. This fact becomes stronger due to the rare side effects reported with flavonoids.
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