SELENOM Knockout Induces Synaptic Deficits and Cognitive Dysfunction by Influencing Brain Glucose Metabolism.

Selenium, a trace element associated with memory impairment and glucose metabolism, mainly exerts its function through selenoproteins. SELENOM is a selenoprotein located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen. Our study demonstrates for the first time that SELENOM knockout decreases synaptic plasticity and causes memory impairment in 10-month-old mice. In addition, SELENOM knockout causes hyperglycaemia and disturbs glucose metabolism, which is essential for synapse formation and transmission in the brain. Further research reveals that SELENOM knockout leads to inhibition of the brain insulin signaling pathway [phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR/p70 S6 kinase pathway], which may impair synaptic plasticity in mice. High-fat diet (HFD) feeding suppresses the brain insulin signaling pathway in SELENOM knockout mice and leads to earlier onset of cognitive impairment at 5 months of age. In general, our study demonstrates that SELENOM knockout induces synaptic deficits via the brain insulin signaling pathway, thus leading to cognitive dysfunction in mice. These data strongly suggest that SELENOM plays a vital role in brain glucose metabolism and contributes substantially to synaptic plasticity.

Excellent Water Lubrication Additives for Silicon Nitride To Achieve Superlubricity under Extreme Conditions.

Superlubricity has been recognized as the future of tribology. However, it is hard to achieve superlubricity under extreme conditions such as a high load and low sliding speed on the macroscale. In this paper, a remarkable synergetic lubricating effect between nanoparticles and silicon nitride (Si3N4) is demonstrated; this effect helps water-lubricated Si3N4 achieve superlubricity under extreme conditions successfully. Different kinds of hairy silica nanoparticles were prepared, dispersed into water, and characterized using a variety of methods. The tribological properties of water-lubricated Si3N4 with nanoparticle additives were tested using a ball-on-disk tribometer under different loads and sliding speeds. The coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter were measured and analyzed. Both the nanoparticle size and surface functional groups have a significant influence on the tribological properties of water-lubricated Si3N4. Amino-modified silica nanoparticles reduce the friction coefficient of water-lubricated Si3N4 by 82.9% under 60 N, compared with that achieved using deionized water, and induce superlubricity after the running-in process. Silica nanoparticles effectively form a homogenous film with silica gel on the worn surface under a high load and thus reduce the wear and maintain the superlubricity under extreme conditions.

Trends in the Utilization of Life-Sustaining Procedures and Palliative Care Consultation Among Dying Patients With Advanced Chronic Pancreas Illnesses in US Hospitals: 2005 to 2014.

AIM: Pancreas cancer continues to carry a poor prognosis. Hospitalized patients with advanced chronic pancreatic illnesses increasingly receive palliative care due to its perceived clinical benefits. Meanwhile, a growing proportion of elderly patients are reportedly receiving life-sustaining procedures. Temporal trends in the utilization of life-sustaining procedures and palliative care consultation among dying patients with advanced chronic pancreatic illnesses in US hospitals were examined. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A serial, cross-sectional analysis was carried out using the National Inpatient Sample Database. Decedents 18 years and older with a principal diagnosis of pancreas cancer or other advanced chronic pancreatic illnesses from 2005 through 2014. The compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) and Cochrane-Armitage correction of χ2 statistic were used. The receipt of life-sustaining systemic procedures, intra-abdominal local procedures and surgeries, and palliative care consultation were examined. Multilevel multivariate logistic regressions were performed to examine the association of various procedures with the utilization of palliative care consultation. RESULTS: Among 77 394 183 hospitalizations, 29 515 patients were examined. The CAGRs of systemic procedures, intra-abdominal procedures, surgeries, and palliative care were -4.19% (P = .008), 2.17%, -1.40%, and 14.03% (P < .001), respectively. The receipt of systemic procedures (odds ratio [OR] = 2.40, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.08-2.74), local intra-abdominal procedures (OR = 1.46, 95% CI, 1.27-1.70), and surgeries (OR = 2.51, 95% CI, 2.07-3.05) was associated with palliative care consultation (Ps < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with pancreatic cancer or other advanced chronic pancreatic illnesses in the US hospitals from 2005 to 2014, the utilization of life-sustaining systemic procedures decreased while the prevalence of palliative care consultation increased.

Health Literacy and Mortality in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Heart failure (HF) remains the most common diagnosis of hospital admission among U.S. adults. Although diagnosis and treatment have improved, mortality rates have not changed, and mortality risk remains high after hospitalization. The current researchers examined how limited health literacy is associated with mortality risk in adults with recent hospitalization due to decompensated HF. Researchers conducted a systematic literature search, selecting three cohort and three intervention studies. The fixed-effect model was used. From the three cohort studies, 2,858 study participants were analyzed. Among participants, limited health literacy was associated with higher all-cause mortality (pooled odds ratio = 2.95; 95% confidence interval [2.34, 3.72]; p < 0.01; I2 = 47.38%). However, none of the intervention studies showed an association between limited health literacy and cardiac (or all-cause) mortality. Future research should focus on the efficiency and safety of telehealth-based medicine in patients with HF, particularly those with limited health literacy. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2019; 12(2):91-108.].

Early Readmission Risk Identification for Hospitalized Older Adults With Decompensated Heart Failure.

The current study evaluated risk factors of early hospital readmission in geriatric patients with acute heart failure (HF) and analyzed 2,279 consecutively hospitalized older adults with decompensated HF from November 2013 to October 2014 across 15 U.S. hospitals. The eTracker-HF was designed to make risk factors known to treating clinicians in electronic health records. Multilevel multivariate logistic regression was applied to examine the association between risk factors and all-cause and HF 30-day readmission rates. All-cause and HF 30-day readmission rates were 22.3% and 9.8%, respectively. Old age, non-White ethnicity, delirium, physical impairment, ejection fraction <40%, advanced chronic kidney disease, and previous myocardial infarction were associated with all-cause and HF readmission. Home health care use was inversely associated with early readmission. In addition to demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, geriatric syndromes were associated with early readmission. Discharge to home health care may reduce early readmission in these patients. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(4):190-197.].

Association between residual teeth number in later life and incidence of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that tooth loss in later life might increase dementia incidence. The objective of this analysis is to systematically review the current evidence on the relationship between the number of remaining teeth and dementia occurrence in later life. METHODS: A search of multiple databases of scientific literature was conducted with relevant parameters for articles published up to March 25th, 2017. Multiple cohort studies that reported the incidence of dementia and residual teeth in later life were found with observation periods ranging from 2.4 to 32 years. Random-effects pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated to examine whether high residual tooth number in later life was associated with a decreased risk of dementia. Heterogeneity was measured by I2. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to assess the overall quality of evidence. RESULTS: The literature search initially yielded 419 articles and 11 studies (aged 52 to 75 at study enrollment, n = 28,894) were finally included for analysis. Compared to the low residual teeth number group, the high residual teeth number group was associated with a decreased risk of dementia by approximately 50% (pooled OR = 0.483; 95% CI 0.315 to 0.740; p < 0.001; I2 = 92.421%). The overall quality of evidence, however, was rated as very low. CONCLUSION: Despite limited scientific strength, the current meta-analysis reported that a higher number of residual teeth was associated with having a lower risk of dementia occurrence in later life.

Favorable effects of hydroxychloroquine on serum low density lipid in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has shown to have significant immunomodulatory effects in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Current studies show favorable effects of HCQ on traditional cardiac risk factors in patients with SLE. This review examined the effects of HCQ on serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level in patients with SLE. METHODS: A systematic search of seven major literature search databases from their inception until 3 April, 2017 identified nine studies. Random-effects pooled mean difference with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Heterogeneity was measured by I2 . Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots. Sensitivity analysis examined whether HCQ effect on serum total cholesterol level was similar to the main analysis. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was used to assess the overall quality of evidence. RESULTS: Pooled study participants were 559 patients from eight observation studies (two before-after studies; six case-control studies) examining the effects of HCQ on serum LDL. Pooled study participants' characteristics were as follows: mean age 45.719, female 95.262%, and prednisone use 58.366%. HCQ reduced mean LDL levels by 24.397 mg/dL (95% CI 8.921-39.872; P = 0.002). The number of studies identifying statin use was too few to perform meta-regression analysis of statin use. Heterogeneity was extensive (I2 = 94.739%). Symmetrical funnel plot visualized no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSION: HCQ was associated with serum LDL level reduction by mean 24.397 mg/dL in patients with SLE. Future prospective studies are need to fully characterize the treatment effect.