Wheat germ supplementation has modest effects on gut health markers but improves glucose homeostasis markers in adults classified as overweight: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Wheat germ (WG), a by-product of flour milling, is rich in bioactive substances that may help improve health complications associated with increased adiposity. This study investigated the effects of WG on gut health, metabolic, and inflammatory markers in adults classified as overweight. We hypothesized that WG, because of its many bioactive components, would improve gut health and metabolic, and inflammatory markers in overweight adults. Forty adults (18-45 years old) and with a body mass index between 25 and 30 kg/m2 participated in this single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study. Participants consumed the study supplements containing 30 g of either cornmeal (control, CL) or WG daily for 4 weeks. Primary outcome variables were gut health markers including gut microbiota, gut integrity markers, and fecal short-chain fatty acids, whereas secondary outcome variables included metabolic and inflammatory parameters assessed at baseline and at the end of supplementation. Thirty-nine participants (n = 19 and 20 for CL and WG group, respectively) completed the study. The genus Faecalibacterium was significantly higher in the WG group compared to CL post-supplementation but no significant changes in other gut health markers, short-chain fatty acids, inflammatory markers, and lipid profiles were observed. Compared with baseline, WG improved markers of glucose homeostasis including insulin (P = .02), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (P = .03), glycated hemoglobin (P = .07), and the pro-inflammatory adipokine, resistin (P = .04). However, these parameters after intervention were not different with control. Our findings suggest that WG supplementation have modest effects on gut health but may provide an economical option for individuals to improve glycemic control.

Planned induction versus spontaneous delivery among women using prophylactic anticoagulation therapy: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the outcomes of planned induction of labour versus spontaneous onset of labour among women using prophylactic-dose low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) therapy. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University hospital. POPULATION: Women receiving antepartum prophylactic LMWH therapy undergoing a trial of vaginal delivery. METHODS: Charts from 2018-2019 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of anticoagulation interruption and eligibility to receive neuraxial anaesthesia. RESULTS: Data from 199 women were analysed; 78 (39.2%) were admitted following spontaneous onset of labour and 121 (60.8%) underwent planned induction of labour. Compared to women who underwent planned induction of labour, women who presented with spontaneous onset of labour had a shorter median admission-to-delivery interval (4.7 versus 29.3 hours, P < 0.001). Similarly, intervals from the last LMWH injection to delivery (25.8 versus 48.2 hours, P < 0.001) and to the first postpartum LMWH injection (41.2 versus 63.7 hours, P < 0.001) were shorter. Among those with spontaneous onset of labour, 69 (88.5%) were eligible to receive neuraxial anaesthesia. Rates of postpartum haemorrhage and blood transfusion were similar between the groups. No thrombotic events were encountered in those with spontaneous onset of labour, but four (3.3%) women who delivered following induction of labour developed a postpartum thrombotic event. CONCLUSION: Planned induction of labour was associated with a higher risk of postpartum thrombotic events than was spontaneous onset of labour (4 of 121 [3.3%] versus 0 of 78 [0%]), presumably due to prolonged duration of anticoagulation interruption, although the difference was not statistically significant. Allowing spontaneous onset of labour was associated with comparable rates of bleeding complications, and only a low proportion (9 of 78, 11.5%) were not eligible to receive neuraxial anaesthesia. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Planned induction among women using prophylactic LMWH therapy might increase the risk of thromboembolic complications.

Photon number measurement using heterodyne method for a detector's quantum efficiency determination based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion.

Active development of quantum informational components such as quantum computers and quantum key distribution systems requires parameter characterization of single photon detectors. A key property of the single photon detectors is detection efficiency. One of the methods of the detection efficiency measurement, as listed in the international standard ETSI, is the reference-free twin-photon-based Klyshko method. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of this method depends on the combination of the pump wavelength, the nonlinear crystal's axis angle, and the type of detector's sensitive element. When the combination is difficult, one has to deal with the low SNR of the detector counts measurement. To gain the high SNR, one has to average the long record complicated with the "random telegraph signal" noise. This type of noise exhibits high spectral density at a zero frequency, where simple averaging works. The heterodyne based method we have proposed is to perform averaging at the higher frequency of the modulation introduced to the standard Klyshko measurement scheme. The method was numerically simulated and experimentally tested. The 14 times improvement in SNR for the proposed method relative to the simple averaging was demonstrated by the numerical simulation and confirmed experimentally.

The role of the GABAA receptor Alpha 1 subunit in the ventral hippocampus in stress resilience.

Pre-pubertal stress increases post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) susceptibility. We have previously demonstrated that enriched environment (EE) intervention immediately after pre-pubertal stress protects from the effects of trauma in adulthood. Here, we examined whether exposure to EE would also be beneficial if applied after exposure to trauma in adulthood. We have recently shown that exposure to juvenile stress and under-water trauma (UWT) is associated with increased expression of GABAA receptor subunit α1 in the ventral hippocampus. However, differentiating between affected and unaffected individuals, this increased expression was confined to stress-exposed, behaviorally unaffected individuals, suggesting upregulation of α1 expression as a potential mechanism of resilience. We now examined whether EE-induced resilience renders increased expression of α1 in the ventral hippocampus redundant when facing a trauma later in life. Adult rats were exposed to UWT, with pre-exposure to juvenile stress, and tested in the open field and elevated plus maze paradigms four weeks later. EE exposure during juvenility prevented pre-pubertal stress-induced vulnerability, but not if performed following UWT in adulthood. Furthermore, juvenile EE exposure prevented the trauma-associated increase in α1 expression levels. Our findings emphasize the importance of early interventions in order to reduce the likelihood of developing psychopathologies in adulthood.

Risk factors, clinical course and outcomes of pregnancy-related group A streptococcal infections: retrospective 13-year cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence, risk factors, clinical course and outcomes of pregnancy-related group A streptococcus (GAS) infection. METHODS: A retrospective 13-year cohort study of culture-proven pregnancy-related GAS infection was performed at two university hospitals serving heterogeneous, multicultural, urban and rural populations. RESULTS: Of 124 women diagnosed with pregnancy-related GAS infection, 115 (93%) were in the puerperium, an incidence of 0.8 cases per 1000 live births (95% confidence interval, 0.7-0.9). A multivariate analysis showed primiparity and cesarean delivery to be independent protective factors against puerperal GAS infection (adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval), 0.60 (0.38, 0.97) and 0.44 (0.23, 0.81), respectively). Of the nine remaining patients, eight were diagnosed after first trimester abortions and one had an infected ectopic pregnancy. Among the entire cohort (n = 124), the predominant manifestations were fever and abdominal tenderness. Twenty-eight patients (23%) had severe GAS infections. All were treated with ß-lactams, and most (n = 104, 84%) received clindamycin. Only four (3%) required surgical intervention; the rest fully recovered with conservative medical treatment including antibiotics. No recurrences, maternal deaths or neonatal complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy-related GAS infection is not rare; it lacks specific signs and still carries significant morbidity. Primiparity, a presumable surrogate for diminished exposure to children and thus less GAS carriage, and cesarean delivery in which perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was uniformly provided, appear as protective factors against puerperal GAS infection. This hints to the importance of community-acquired GAS and may support shifting efforts from infection-control-oriented nosocomial investigations to screening and prevention-driven policies.

History-indicated cervical cerclage in management of twin pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cerclage, when performed in twin gestation, has been reported to be associated with poor outcome. However, the role of first-trimester history-indicated cerclage among women with a twin pregnancy and a history of preterm birth has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess pregnancy outcomes among women with a twin pregnancy who underwent first-trimester history-indicated cervical cerclage compared with outcomes in those managed expectantly. METHODS: This was a retrospective matched case-control study. The study group comprised all women with a twin pregnancy who had undergone first-trimester history-indicated cerclage during the period 2006 to 2017 at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center. A control group of women with a twin pregnancy who were managed expectantly was established by matching age, history of spontaneous preterm birth (20-36 weeks' gestation) and year of delivery. Pregnancy and delivery characteristics and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Data from 82 women with a twin gestation were analyzed, of whom 41 underwent first-trimester history-indicated cerclage and 41 were matched controls who were managed expectantly. Gestational age at delivery was higher in the cerclage group than in those managed expectantly (median 35 vs 30 weeks; P < 0.0001). Rates of spontaneous preterm birth before 24 weeks (2.4% vs 19.5%; odds ratio (OR), 0.10 (95% CI, 0.01-0.87); P = 0.03), before 28 weeks (12.2% vs 34.1%; OR, 0.27 (95% CI, 0.09-0.84); P = 0.03), before 32 weeks (22.0% vs 56.1%; OR, 0.22 (95% CI, 0.08-0.58); P = 0.003) and before 34 weeks (34.1% vs 82.9%; OR, 0.11 (95% CI, 0.04-0.30); P < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the cerclage group than in the control group. Median birth weight was higher in the cerclage group (2072 g vs 1750 g; P = 0.003), with lower rates of low birth weight (< 2500 g) (65.0% vs 89.4%; P = 0.001) and very low birth weight (< 1500 g) (21.3% vs 37.9%; P = 0.03) than in the group managed expectantly. Rates were also lower in the cerclage group for stillbirth, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, neonatal mortality and composite adverse neonatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: History-indicated cerclage performed in the first trimester, as compared with expectant management, in women with a twin pregnancy had an overall positive effect on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. These findings suggest the need for adequate randomized trials on cerclage placement in this subset of women. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Two-step enzymatic strategy for the synthesis of a smart phenolic polymer and further immobilization of a ß-galactosidase able to catalyze transglycosydation reaction.

A rapid and efficient enzymatic procedure for the preparation of an immobilized ß-galactosidase has been described. In a first step, soybean peroxidase was used to catalyze the polymerization of a strategically activated phenol (N-Succinimidyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, known as Bolton-Hunter reagent). The phenolic support was directly employed for immobilizing ß-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans (ATCC 31382, ß-Gal-3), giving rise to a new biocatalyst subsequently applied in the synthesis of a ß-galatodisaccharide (Gal-ß(1-3)-GlcNAc and Gal-ß(1-3)-GalNAc). The reaction proceeded with high conversion rates and total regioselectivity. Reusability assays were performed with the same reaction conditions finding that the immobilized enzyme retains about 55% of its activity after eight batches. Finally and based on our results, the two-step enzymatic procedure presented here is a good and green alternative to the preparation of carbohydrates with biological activities.

Antithrombin Activity of Erythrocyte Microvesicles.

Coagulation and optical (based on chromogenic substrate) methods were employed to examine antithrombin activity of erythrocytes and erythrocyte-derived microvesicles isolated days 7, 14, 21, and 28 on erythrocyte storage. The erythrocyte-derived microvesicles decelerated fibrin clot formation from fibrinogen in the presence of exogenous thrombin both with and without heparin. Microvesicles reduced optical density of chromogenic substrate. These data suggest that erythrocyte-derived microvesicles display a prominent antithrombin activity, which significantly increases during erythrocyte storage.

Pre-trauma Methylphenidate in rats reduces PTSD-like reactions one month later.

In basic research, the etiology of fear-related pathologies, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is conceptualized using fear-conditioning protocols that pair environmental stimuli (that is, a conditioned stimulus-CS) with an aversive, unconditioned stimulus (US) to elicit an assessable conditioned fear response. Although pathophysiological models agree that regulatory dysfunctions in this associative process may instigate fear-related pathology, current opinions differ in regard to the nature of these dysfunctions. Primarily derived from studies in rodents, the prevailing perspective proposes that pathological fear-reactions develop from intensified and overly consolidated CS-US associations. Alternatively, models derived from studies in humans suggest that tempospatial inaccuracies in representations of associative fear might precipitate pathology by engendering failure to differentiate present experiences and past memories of threat. To test this concept in rodents, we administered rats with cognition enhancing doses of Methylphenidate before or after fear conditioning and measured long-term alterations in their conditioned fear behaviors and PTSD-like reactions. The administration of Methylphenidate before fear-memory formation indeed reduced anxious-like responses during fear-memory retrieval one month later. An individual profiling analysis revealed that Methylphenidate onset had opposing effects on the risk for PTSD-like classification. The modulation of initial learning and formation of associative fear normalized the risk for developing PTSD-like reaction. In contrast, when the effects of Methylphenidate were exerted only over later consolidation this risk increased markedly. When examined under current psychiatric and neuropharmacologic literature, these results reveal a possible strategy of using low-dose Methylphenidate for the prevention of PTSD in high risk populations.

Exposure to prolonged controllable or uncontrollable stress affects GABAergic function in sub-regions of the hippocampus and the amygdala.

The degree of behavioral control that an individual has over a stressor can critically determine its behavioral and neurochemical outcomes. Exposure to uncontrollable stress was previously shown to have detrimental effects on behavior, whereas exposure to equivalent controllable stress prevented these negative outcomes and even improved later stress coping. As many lines of evidence show, stress exposure can have maladaptive changes on inhibitory circuitry, and these effects were largely shown in the hippocampus and amygdala. In the current study we set out to examine alterations in GABAergic activity following exposure to the prolonged two way shuttle (TWS) avoidance task, focusing on the GABA-related factors glutamate decarboxylase (GAD)65, cholecystokinin (CCK) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). As recent views of the hippocampus assume regional specificity in hippocampal function, we examined different regions in the hippocampus, as well as the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Our findings reveal similar alterations in GAD65 in BLA for both controllable and uncontrollable stress exposure, but differential alterations in GAD65 and NPY in the dorsal dentate gyrus (DG). Synaptic plasticity and inhibitory activity in the dorsal DG was further assessed by applying different stimulation protocols and measuring evoked field potentials in vivo. Our results support a role for the DG in stress processing, emphasizing its sensitivity to the nature of the stressor.

[AGGREGATION OF METABOLICALLY DEPLETED HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES].

An aggregation of erythrocytes in autologous plasma after blood storage for 14 days at 4 °C was studied using photometry and light microscopy. The decrease of ATP content, the formation of echinocytes and spheroechinocytes, the decrease of rouleaux form of erythrocyte aggregation were observed during the storage. On the other hand the aggregates of echinocytes were formed in the stored blood. The addition of plasma from the fresh blood didn't restore the normal discocytic shape and aggregation of erythrocytes in the stored blood. The possible mechanisms of erythrocytes and echinocytes aggregation are discussed.

A novel approach to PTSD modeling in rats reveals alternating patterns of limbic activity in different types of stress reaction.

Human reactions to trauma exposure are extremely diverse, with some individuals exhibiting only time-limited distress and others qualifying for posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis (PTSD). Furthermore, whereas most PTSD patients mainly display fear-based symptoms, a minority of patients display a co-morbid anhedonic phenotype. We employed an individual profiling approach to model these intriguing facets of the psychiatric condition in underwater-trauma exposed rats. Based on long-term assessments of anxiety-like and anhedonic behaviors, our analysis uncovered three separate phenotypes of stress response; an anxious, fear-based (38%), a co-morbid, fear-anhedonic (15%), and an exposed-unaffected group (47%). Immunohistochemical assessments for cellular activation (c-Fos) and activation of inhibition (c-Fos+GAD67) revealed a differential involvement of limbic regions and distinct co-activity patterns for each of these phenotypes, validating the behavioral categorization. In accordance with recent neurocognitive hypotheses for posttraumatic depression, we show that enhanced pretrauma anxiety predicts the progression of posttraumatic anhedonia only in the fear-anhedonic phenotype.

[THE EFFECT OF ERYTHROCYTE MICROVESICLES ON THE AGGREGATION OF PLATELETS].

We studied the influence of erythrocyte microvesicles, isolated after 4 weeks incubation the washed and the unwashed erythrocytes healthy donors from preservative, on spontaneous (flow-induced) aggregation of platelets. It was found out that microvesicles of the unwashed erythrocytes enhanced the spontaneous aggregation of platelets and also formation of fibrin. Microvesicles from the washed erythrocytes reduce the platelet aggregation. Possible mechanisms of the effect of erythrocyte microvesicles on platelet aggregation were investigated.

5-HT receptor-mediated modulation of granule cell inhibition after juvenile stress recovers after a second exposure to adult stress.

Aversive experiences in early life are thought to dispose to psychopathologies such as mood or anxiety disorders. In a two-hit stress model, we assessed the effects of juvenile and/or adult stress on the 5-HT-mediated modulation of synaptic inhibition of ventral dentate gyrus granule cells. Combined but not single stress exposure led to a significant reduction in activity and increased anxiety-like behavior. Similarly, the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated inhibition of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) of granule cells was only reduced in single stress exposed animals. This was also true for the number of granule cells responding with a 5-HT3 receptor-dependent burst of miniature IPSCs. 5-HT3 receptors are expressed on cholecystokinin (CCK)+ basket cells in the hippocampus. In fact, we observed a reduction of steady-state mRNA levels of CCK+ basket cell markers after single juvenile or adult stress and partial recovery after combined stress, thus matching the electrophysiological findings. Adaptive changes in 5-HT-mediated modulation of synaptic inhibition and CCK+ basket cells in the DG may help to maintain normal levels of anxiety after single juvenile or adult stress exposure, as indicated by the increased anxiety that accompanies the loss of this regulation upon combined stress.

[The role of erythrocyte microvesiculation and hemoglobin glycation in hemorheological disordes during burn injury].

INTRODUCTION: Hemorheological disorders play an important part in pathogenesis of acute period of burn injury. This mechanism remains practically unstudied. Thus, unknown is the role of hemoglobin glycation and erythrocyte microvesiculation in the decrease in erythrocyte deformability after thermal trauma. METHODS: Research was performed on 30 blood samples of burn patients in the acute period and 40 blood samples of healthy donors. The number of erythrocyte-derived microvesicles was determined by flow cytometry and then standardized in the samples; the microvesicles were preliminarily separated by ultracentrifugation at 100,000 g, for 60 minutes. Electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes was measured in a processing chamber of the optical cuvette under the light microscope. Deformability of erythrocytes was assessed by the level of their extension in the artificial shear flow. RESULTS: It was found that the amount of HbA1c in red blood cells of burn patients demonstrated a 2-fold increase compared to healthy donors. In the experiments in vitro it was proved that deformability of erythrocytes correlates with the level of hemoglobin glycation. Hb glycation leads to the increased rigidity of erythrocytes also by increasing their microvesiculation. The number of microvesicles derived from red blood cells of burn patients demonstrated a 3.47-fold increase compared to healthy donors. An important reason for microvesiculation is the destabilization of lipid complex of erythrocyte membrane, which is accompanied by the increase in the erythrocyte negative charge. It can be concluded that Hb glycation and redistribution of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids are he important reasons for the increase erythrocyte microvesiculation and are accompanied by the decrease in erythrocyte deformability after thermal trauma.

[The influence of erythrocyte-derived microvesicles on aggregation of platelets in burn injury].

Burn Injury is accompanied by a significant homeostasis disorder, including the disorder of primary homeostasis, associated with aggregation of platelets. The role of erythrocyte-derived microvesicles in this process has not undergone thorough research. Microvesicles were isolated from washed erythrocytes after one day of storage by ultracentrifugation at 100000 g. The number of MVs was determined by flow cytometry and was standardized in the samples. Heparin-dependent and heparin-independent antithrombin activity in erythrocyte microvesicles was studied by coagulation method. We studied platelet aggregation induced and not induced by ADP under the conditions of artificial shear flow. It was shown that at the early stage of bum injury the number of erythrocyte-derived microvesicles in blood demonstrated a 4.2-fold ncrease. We determined that microvesicles, derived from the erythrocytes of burn patients displayed a significantly less aggregation activity than the microvesicles from donors. The main reason is a considerably lower antithrombin activity in the erythrocyte microvesicles of bum patients. Thus, we can conclude that the decrease of antiaggregation and antithrombin activity of erythrocyte microvesicles associated with the increase in their concentration in blood contributes to thrombophilia of bum patients. Keywords: erythrocytes, microvesicles, bum injury, platelet aggregation, antithrombin activity

[Lysophosphatidic acid and human erythrocyte aggregation].

The effects of lysophosphatidic acid on the morphology and aggregation of human erythrocytes has been studied. Morphology of erythrocytes and their aggregates were studied by light microscopy. It has been shown that lysophosphatidic acid changes the shape of red blood cells: diskocyte become echinocytes. Aggregation of red blood cells (rouleaux) was significantly reduced in autoplasma. At the same time there is a strong aggregation of echinocytes. This was accompanied by the formation of microvesicles. Adding normal plasma to echinocytes restores shape and aggregation of red blood cells consisting of "rouleaux". A possible mechanism of action of lysophosphatidic acid on erythrocytes is discussed.

[Spectrophotometric method for aminoglycoside concentration measurement in blood plasma].

The aim of the research was to develop a simple, available and rapid spectrophotometric method for measuring aminoglycoside concentration in blood plasma and to evaluate the antibiotic efficacy and susceptibility. The method is based on the ability of aminoglycosides, in particular amikacin, to change the color of Fast Blue B Salt Dye (SIGMA-ALDRICH). An antibiotic at various concentrations and the dye were added to blood plasma. The resulting mixture was filtered to separate the insoluble residue. After that the optical density of the filtrate were measured spectrophotometrically against the control specimen with no antibiotic at the wavelength of 450 nm. It was demonstrated that an increase in the plasma antibiotic concentration led to a directly proportional increase of the antibiotic solution extinction. This is a simple, precise and rapid method.