Editorial: Vagus nerve-mediated drive in supporting homeostasis: optimizing global health through monitoring and stimulating vagal function
Creator:
Niezgoda A., Rangon C.M., Porges S.W., and Moyse E.
Date of publication:
2023
Abstract Tesim:
Epigenetics encompasses the changes in gene expression triggered by environmental cues that occur without altering the underlying DNA sequences. Although epigenetics involves a limited number of identified mechanisms so far (DNA methylation, histone modifications and noncoding RNAs), the field of Epigenetics is spreading rapidly over integrated physiopathology (Jeffries, 2020). The importance of epigenetics has been acknowledged in cancer (Sun et al., 2022), sepsis (Binnie et al., 2020), autoimmune/inflammatory diseases (Surace and Hedrich, 2019), addiction (Hamilton and Nestler, 2019), aging (Pal and Tyler, 2016; Pérez et al., 2022), neurodegenerative diseases (Berson et al., 2018; Zhang et al., 2022) and even in neurodevelopmental (Esposito et al., 2018; Wu et al., 2020) and psychiatric diseases (Abdolmaleky et al., 2023). Likewise, a broad and expanding set of therapies in clinics have been potentialized by tuning the vagal complex of brainstem, i.e., the key neural node of homeostasis, via non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) (Hilz, 2022). Moreover, Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a physiologically validated and easily accessible read-out of the vagal tone (Lewis et al., 2012), is acknowledged as a polyvalent prognostic tool (Gidron et al., 2018; Mol et al., 2021). This is not surprising, since Epigenome is considered as a “mediator for host-microbiome crosstalk” (Peery et al., 2021) and since vagus nerve represents the fastest pathway of the Microbiota-Gut-brain Axis (Fülling et al., 2019). However, except for regulating neuro-inflammation (Chen et al., 2022), the mechanisms through which VNS influences peripheral and central nervous system plasticity are not well described yet, limiting therapeutic optimization (Morrison et al., 2020; Keute and Gharabaghi, 2021). Therefore, as the vagal complex (i.e., peripheral and brainstem components) is definitely prone to bring about epigenetic modulations, notably through neuro-endocrine stimuli (Gil et al., 2013), we questioned the epigenetic role of vagus nerve, in order to promote noninvasive VNS, guided by HRV monitoring, as a universal therapy to stay healthy.
Meiosis is essential for sexual reproduction and required for the formation of sperm and egg; its central events are the associations between homologous chromosomes (homologs), including pairing, synapsis, recombination and segregation. During recombination, the exchange of DNA between homologs results in new allelic combinations between the parents and offspring and among individual progeny (Wang and Copenhaver, 2018). This genetic variation is the foundation for biodiversity and speciation. The phenotypic diversity that results from genetic variation is also used to develop new elite traits during commercial plant and animal breeding practices. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms drive and regulate plant meiosis can accelerate crop improvement, and provide a theoretical foundation for the development and maintenance of new agricultural varieties.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
Department of Biology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/y4wd-s413
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1294591
ISSN:
1664-462X
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Plant Science
Journal Volume:
14
Keyword:
allopolyploid, FIGNL1, meiotic recombination, ZIP4, DMC1, crossover, double-strand-break, and PRD2
Language Label:
English
License Label:
Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
Arizona State University, , South China Agricultural University, and Academia Sinica
Editorial: Epigenetic insights into diagnostic and therapeutic applications
Creator:
Pattenden S.G., Jerónimo C., Perry A.S., and Fratta E.
Date of publication:
2023
Abstract Tesim:
Studies of the heredity and variation in DNA sequence that directs normal development of all living organisms has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of human disease. However, a greater focus on an additional layer of information that does not depend on the underlying DNA sequence referred to as “epigenetics”, has emerged. Epigenetic processes have been recognized as critical for refining DNA-encoded instructions that direct cellular function, and there is increasing evidence that epigenetic dysregulation plays a central role in human disease. In contrast to irreversible genetic mutations, alterations to epigenetic pathways are dynamic, making them attractive therapeutic targets.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/3zhn-2e41
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2023.1284535
ISSN:
2234943X
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Oncology
Journal Volume:
13
Keyword:
therapeutics, diagnostic, biomarker, cancer, and epigenetics
Language Label:
English
License Label:
Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
, University of Porto, University College Dublin, and IRCCS
Person:
Pattenden S.G., Jerónimo C., Perry A.S., and Fratta E.
Editorial: Mechanisms underlying the interactions between stress and pain
Creator:
Florea R., Géranton S.M., and Linnstaedt S.D.
Date of publication:
2023
Abstract Tesim:
Chronic pain results from a complex interplay between biological, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. To date, numerous risk factors have been associated with the increased susceptibility to chronic pain, from mental health state and lifestyle, to gender and the presence of medical comorbidities, such as insomnia and cardiovascular diseases. Despite the identification of these risk factors, managing chronic pain, let alone preventing it, remains a major clinical challenge. This is because the specific circuits and mediators underlying the diverse components of the multidimensional experience of pain are not specific to the processing of nociceptive information and are often engaged in response to other bodily threats, including stress exposure. This prompts the need for clinical and preclinical studies that examine the multifaceted aspects of chronic pain and how these may overlap with other long-term conditions.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
Department of Anesthesiology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/d6ef-je19
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2023.1285257
ISSN:
2673-561X
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Pain Research
Journal Volume:
4
Keyword:
vulnerability, stress, patient stratification, affective state, and pain
Editorial: Curbing global warming with multi-scale and multi-sectoral Water-Energy-Food nexus
Creator:
Hong J., Zhong H., Peng X., Chen H., and Song K.
Date of publication:
2023
Abstract Tesim:
Food, energy, and water play fundamental roles in human life and development. The rapid growth of global population requires increasing demand for agriculture product, renewable energy, and water resource supplies. Such demands echo with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially zero hunger (Goal 2), clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), and affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) in the shared blueprint for people and planet’s future.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
Department of Public Policy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/4qg7-e713
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1271246
ISSN:
2296-6463
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Earth Science
Journal Volume:
11
Keyword:
global climate change, mitigation and adaptation, trilemma, global sustainability, and Food-Energy-Water nexus
Language Label:
English
License Label:
Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
Chongqing University, Shandong University, Jiangnan University, and
Aminobisphosphonates reactivate the latent reservoir in people living with HIV-1
Creator:
Coffey A.R., Whitworth C.P., Chitrakar A., Bosque A., Selitsky S.R., Garrido C., Samir S., Soriano-Sarabia N., Goonetilleke N., Parker J.S., Xu Y., Tsai Y.H., Mann B.T., Iannone M.A., Weideman A.M.K., Clohosey M.L., Ward A.R., Kirchherr J., Sanz M., Garcia-Recio S., Copertino D., Hudgens M.G., and Jones B.R.
Date of publication:
2023
Abstract Tesim:
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is not curative due to the existence of cellular reservoirs of latent HIV-1 that persist during therapy. Current research efforts to cure HIV-1 infection include “shock and kill” strategies to disrupt latency using small molecules or latency-reversing agents (LRAs) to induce expression of HIV-1 enabling cytotoxic immune cells to eliminate infected cells. The modest success of current LRAs urges the field to identify novel drugs with increased clinical efficacy. Aminobisphosphonates (N-BPs) that include pamidronate, zoledronate, or alendronate, are the first-line treatment of bone-related diseases including osteoporosis and bone malignancies. Here, we show the use of N-BPs as a novel class of LRA: we found in ex vivo assays using primary cells from ART-suppressed people living with HIV-1 that N-BPs induce HIV-1 from latency to levels that are comparable to the T cell activator phytohemagglutinin (PHA). RNA sequencing and mechanistic data suggested that reactivation may occur through activation of the activator protein 1 signaling pathway. Stored samples from a prior clinical trial aimed at analyzing the effect of alendronate on bone mineral density, provided further evidence of alendronate-mediated latency reversal and activation of immune effector cells. Decay of the reservoir measured by IPDA was however not detected. Our results demonstrate the novel use of N-BPs to reverse HIV-1 latency while inducing immune effector functions. This preliminary evidence merits further investigation in a controlled clinical setting possibly in combination with therapeutic vaccination.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, HIV Cure Center, Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Biostatistics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/x3fq-v433
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1219250
ISSN:
1664-3224
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Immunology
Journal Volume:
14
Keyword:
IPDA, gamma delta (γδ) T cells, shock and kill, HIV cure, latency reversing agents, and aminobisphosphonates
Language Label:
English
License Label:
Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
, George Washington University, and Weill Cornell Medicine
Person:
Coffey A.R., Whitworth C.P., Chitrakar A., Bosque A., Selitsky S.R., Garrido C., Samir S., Soriano-Sarabia N., Goonetilleke N., Parker J.S., Xu Y., Tsai Y.H., Mann B.T., Iannone M.A., Weideman A.M.K., Clohosey M.L., Ward A.R., Kirchherr J., Sanz M., Garcia-Recio S., Copertino D., Hudgens M.G., and Jones B.R.
“When you get the HPV vaccine, it will prevent cervical cancer; it will act as a shield”: adolescent girls’ knowledge and perceptions regarding the human papillomavirus vaccine in Zambia
Introduction The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an important preventive measure for HPV-related conditions such as cervical cancer. In 2019, Zambia introduced a free national HPV vaccination program for 14-year-old girls. However, the adolescents’ knowledge and perceptions regarding the HPV vaccine are not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to understand adolescent girls’ knowledge and perceptions regarding the HPV vaccine and discuss its acceptability and uptake implications. Methods We conducted a qualitative study in the Lusaka district between June 2021 and November 2021 using semi-structured interviews with adolescent girls aged 15–18 years regardless of their HPV vaccination status. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and NVIVO 12 was used for data management and analysis. We coded transcripts deductively and inductively based on emerging themes. Perceptions were coded using the health belief model constructs. Results We interviewed 30 adolescent girls to reach saturation. Seventeen girls reported having received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Participants expressed variable knowledge and awareness about HPV and the HPV vaccine. Participants exhibited positive attitudes towards the HPV vaccine and perceived it as beneficial. However, there were multiple perceived barriers to vaccination, such as the need for parental consent, not being in school, concerns about vaccine side effects, and belief in myths and misinformation. Conclusion The adolescent girls in this study showed variable knowledge and positive attitudes toward the HPV vaccine despite the many perceived barriers. To support increased HPV vaccine acceptability and uptake among adolescent girls in Zambia, it is critical to actively engage stakeholders involved in HPV vaccination, such as adolescents and their parents, and debunk myths and misconceptions about HPV vaccination. Health education in schools and communities should be implemented to increase knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccination among adolescents and their parents.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/t5qq-9k57
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2023.1208458
ISSN:
2813-0146
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Health Services
Journal Volume:
3
Keyword:
myths and misinformation, HPV vaccine acceptability, COVID-19 vaccine, HPV vaccine uptake, parental consent, health belief model, and cervical cancer
Language Label:
English
License Label:
Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, University of Zambia,, , Helen JosephHospital, and University of theWitwatersrand
A review of neurological health disparities in Peru
Creator:
Diaz M.M., Almubaslat F., and Sanchez-Boluarte S.S.
Date of publication:
2023
Abstract Tesim:
Peru is a historically unique and culturally diverse Latin American country. As a low-to-middle-income country (LMIC), Peru faces health implications from the spread of communicable diseases as well as a growing rate of noncommunicable diseases, both of which have been worsened by the recent COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the national health system. Over the past two decades, the country has aimed to improve health access for its population through various efforts described in this review. Despite this, there are notable neurological health disparities that exist today. This narrative review investigates such disparities through the leading neurological contributors to the national burden of disease in the country, including migraine headaches, cerebrovascular disease, and dementia. Public health disparities that contribute to other major neurological diseases in the country, including epilepsy, neurocysticercosis, Chagas disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries are also investigated. We also explore potential solutions for overcoming the various neurological health disparities covered in this review that may be applied through public policies, as well as in similar LMICs in Latin America. By overcoming such disparities, the country may be able to successfully address the major contributors of neurological disease burden and create a healthcare environment that can sustainably and equitably improve health outcomes for Peruvian people.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
Department of Neurology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/59dp-mz38
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1210238
ISSN:
2296-2565
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Public Health
Journal Volume:
11
Keyword:
Latin America, disparities, neurological health, Peru, and narrative review
Language Label:
English
License Label:
Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
and Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas
Person:
Diaz M.M., Almubaslat F., and Sanchez-Boluarte S.S.
A homozygous missense variant in the YG box domain in an individual with severe spinal muscular atrophy: a case report and variant characterization
Creator:
Fan, Zheng, Hunter, Senyene E., Sneddon, Tam P., Shiloh-Malawsky, Yael, Li, Leping, Perera, Lalith, Varghese, Sonia A., Powell, Cynthia M., and Matera, A. Gregory
Date of publication:
2023
Abstract Tesim:
The vast majority of severe (Type 0) spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) cases are caused by homozygous deletions of survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1). We report a case in which the patient has two copies of SMN1 but clinically presents as Type 0 SMA. The patient is an African American male carrying a homozygous maternally inherited missense variant (c.796T>C) in a cis-oriented SMN1 duplication on one chromosome and an SMN1 deletion on the other chromosome (genotype: 2*+0). Initial extensive genetic workups including exome sequencing were negative. Deletion analysis used in the initial testing for SMA also failed to detect SMA as the patient has two copies of SMN1. Because of high clinical suspicion, SMA diagnosis was finally confirmed based on full-length SMN1 sequencing. The patient was initially treated with risdiplam and later gene therapy with onasemnogene abeparvovec at 5 months without complications. The patient’s muscular weakness has stabilized with mild improvement. The patient is now 28 months old and remains stable and diffusely weak, with stable respiratory ventilatory support. This case highlights challenges in the diagnosis of SMA with a non-deletion genotype and provides a clinical example demonstrating that disruption of functional SMN protein polymerization through an amino acid change in the YG-box domain represents a little known but important pathogenic mechanism for SMA. Clinicians need to be mindful about the limitations of the current diagnostic approach for SMA in detecting non-deletion genotypes.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
Department of Neurology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, and Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/7dt9-nx77
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2023.1259380
ISSN:
1662-5102
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Journal Volume:
17
Keyword:
YG Box, g.27134T>G polymorphism, c.796T>C variant, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), modeling, non-deletion, and African American
Language Label:
English
License Label:
Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Person:
Fan, Zheng, Hunter, Senyene E., Sneddon, Tam P., Shiloh-Malawsky, Yael, Li, Leping, Perera, Lalith, Varghese, Sonia A., Powell, Cynthia M., and Matera, A. Gregory
Understanding care coordination for Veterans with complex care needs: protocol of a multiple-methods study to build evidence for an effectiveness and implementation study
Creator:
Singer, Sara J., McDonald, Kathryn M., Slatore, Christopher G., Niederhausen, Meike, Waller, Dylan, Battaglia, Catherine, Rowneki, Mazhgan, Hickok, Alex, Perla, Lisa, Hynes, Denise M., Thomas, Kathleen C., Tuepker, Anaïs, Laliberte, Avery Z., McCready, Holly, Govier, Diana J., Maciejewski, Matthew, and Cordasco, Kristina M.
Date of publication:
2023
Abstract Tesim:
Background For patients with complex health and social needs, care coordination is crucial for improving their access to care, clinical outcomes, care experiences, and controlling their healthcare costs. However, evidence is inconsistent regarding the core elements of care coordination interventions, and lack of standardized processes for assessing patients’ needs has made it challenging for providers to optimize care coordination based on patient needs and preferences. Further, ensuring providers have reliable and timely means of communicating about care plans, patients’ full spectrum of needs, and transitions in care is important for overcoming potential care fragmentation. In the Veterans Health Administration (VA), several initiatives are underway to implement care coordination processes and services. In this paper, we describe our study underway in the VA aimed at building evidence for designing and implementing care coordination practices that enhance care integration and improve health and care outcomes for Veterans with complex care needs. Methods In a prospective observational multiple methods study, for Aim 1 we will use existing data to identify Veterans with complex care needs who have and have not received care coordination services. We will examine the relationship between receipt of care coordination services and their health outcomes. In Aim 2, we will adapt the Patient Perceptions of Integrated Veteran Care questionnaire to survey a sample of Veterans about their experiences regarding coordination, integration, and the extent to which their care needs are being met. For Aim 3, we will interview providers and care teams about their perceptions of the innovation attributes of current care coordination needs assessment tools and processes, including their improvement over other approaches (relative advantage), fit with current practices (compatibility and innovation fit), complexity, and ability to visualize how the steps proceed to impact the right care at the right time (observability). The provider interviews will inform design and deployment of a widescale provider survey. Discussion Taken together, our study will inform development of an enhanced care coordination intervention that seeks to improve care and outcomes for Veterans with complex care needs.
Resource type:
Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17615/vvee-2495
Edition:
Publisher
Identifier:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2023.1211577
ISSN:
2813-0146
Journal Title:
Frontiers in Health Services
Journal Volume:
14
Keyword:
care integration, care coordination, Veterans, access to care, and study protocol
Language Label:
English
License Label:
Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
Stanford University School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Veterans Affairs Central Office, , Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and University of California, Los Angeles
Person:
Singer, Sara J., McDonald, Kathryn M., Slatore, Christopher G., Niederhausen, Meike, Waller, Dylan, Battaglia, Catherine, Rowneki, Mazhgan, Hickok, Alex, Perla, Lisa, Hynes, Denise M., Thomas, Kathleen C., Tuepker, Anaïs, Laliberte, Avery Z., McCready, Holly, Govier, Diana J., Maciejewski, Matthew, and Cordasco, Kristina M.