In Utero and Post-Natal Opioid Exposure Followed by Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Contributes to Cortical Neuroinflammation, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Behavioral Deficits in Juvenile Rats

ByResearch

Originally Published hereMaternal opioid use poses a significant health concern not just to the expectant mother but also to the fetus. Notably, increasing numbers of children born suffering from neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) further compounds the crisis. While epidemiological research has shown the heightened risk factors associated with NOWS, little research has investigated what…

Identification of YWHAH as a Novel Brain-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Marker Post Long-Term Midazolam Exposure during Early Development

ByResearch

Originally Published hereRecently, the long-term use of sedative agents in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has raised concerns about neurodevelopmental outcomes in exposed neonates. Midazolam (MDZ), a common neonatal sedative in the NICU, has been suggested to increase learning disturbances and cognitive impairment in children. However, molecular mechanisms contributing to such outcomes with long-term…

Effect of Combined Methamphetamine and Oxycodone Use on the Synaptic Proteome in an In Vitro Model of Polysubstance Use

ByResearch

Originally Published herePolysubstance use (PSU) generally involves the simultaneous use of an opioid along with a stimulant. In recent years, this problem has escalated into a nationwide epidemic. Understanding the mechanisms and effects underlying the interaction between these drugs is essential for the development of treatments for those suffering from addiction. Currently, the effect of…

Methamphetamine Induces the Release of Proadhesive Extracellular Vesicles and Promotes Syncytia Formation: A Potential Role in HIV-1 Neuropathogenesis

ByResearch

Originally Published hereDespite the success of combinational antiretroviral therapy (cART), the high pervasiveness of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) poses a significant challenge for society. Methamphetamine (meth) and related amphetamine compounds, which are potent psychostimulants, are among the most commonly used illicit drugs. Intriguingly, HIV-infected individuals who are meth users have a comparatively…

Performance of the Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) Mortality Risk Score in Hospitalized Adults with Infection in Rwanda: A Retrospective External Validation Study

ByResearch

Originally Published hereBACKGROUND: We previously derived a Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) score to better risk-stratify hospitalized patients in sub-Saharan Africa, including those with infection. Here, we aimed to externally validate the performance of the UVA score using previously collected data from patients hospitalized with acute infection in Rwanda. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of…

Periocular Manifestation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Novel Perioperative Screening Tool

ByResearch

Originally Published herePURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presents perioperative challenges with increased risk for complications. Floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) is associated with OSA yet has not been addressed perioperatively. The current standard for perioperative OSA screening includes assessing patient risk factors or the STOP-BANG tool, which requires an active participant. We aimed to confirm a…

A Comprehensive Study to Delineate the Role of an Extracellular Vesicle-Associated MicroRNA-29a in Chronic Methamphetamine Use Disorder

ByResearch

Originally Published hereExtracellular vesicles (EVs), which express a repertoire of cargo molecules (cf. proteins, microRNA, lipids, etc.), have been garnering a prominent role in the modulation of several cellular processes. Here, using both non-human primate and rodent model systems, we provide evidence that brain-derived EV (BDE) miRNA, miR-29a-3p (mir-29a), is significantly increased during chronic methamphetamine…

Child health and the Implementation of Community and District-management Empowerment for Scale-up (CODES) in Uganda: A Randomised Controlled Trial

ByResearch

Originally Published hereINTRODUCTION: Uganda’s district-level administrative units buttress the public healthcare system. In many districts, however, local capacity is incommensurate with that required to plan and implement quality health interventions. This study investigates how a district management strategy informed by local data and community dialogue influences health services. METHODS: A 3-year randomised controlled trial (RCT)…

Integrated Systems Analysis of Mixed Neuroglial Cultures Proteome Post Oxycodone Exposure

ByResearch

Originally Published hereOpioid abuse has become a major public health crisis that affects millions of individuals across the globe. This widespread abuse of prescription opioids and dramatic increase in the availability of illicit opioids have created what is known as the opioid epidemic. Pregnant women are a particularly vulnerable group since they are prescribed for…

Extracellular Vesicles from Infected Cells Are Released Prior to Virion Release

ByResearch

Originally Published hereHere, we have attempted to address the timing of EV and virion release from virally infected cells. Uninfected (CEM), HIV-1-infected (J1.1), and human T cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1)-infected (HUT102) cells were synchronized in G0. Viral latency was reversed by increasing gene expression with the addition of serum-rich media and inducers. Supernatants and cell…