Coleonyx variegatus is adapted to readily sacrifice its tail to predators. This adaptation is associated with characteristic tail behavior and rapid tail regeneration. There is no facultative metabolic increase associated with tail regeneration, and energy normally allocated to body growth and maintenance is diverted to tail regeneration. This supports the contention that tail behavior, autotomy, and rapid regeneration evolved as mechanisms promoting survival in terms of predator escape.

A papillomavirus (PV) that naturally infects laboratory mice will provide an extremely valuable tool for PV research. We describe here the isolation, cloning and molecular analysis of the first novel laboratory-mouse PV, designated MusPV. This agent, recently identified in the tissues from florid and asymmetrical papillomas on the face of nude mice (NMRI-Foxn1

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Introduction mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have emerged as a new form of vaccination that has proven to be highly safe and effective against COVID-19 vaccination. Rare adverse events including myocarditis have been reported in the literature. Methods Data were gathered from the electronic medical record of four patients personally treated by the authors. Results Four patients, ages 20 to 30, presented with myocarditis characterized by chest pain, elevations in troponin-I and C-reactive protein, and negative viral serologies two to four days following mRNA vaccine administration. One had a cardiac MRI showing delayed gadolinium enhancement in a subpericardial pattern. All experienced symptom resolution by the following day, and the two who have returned for follow-up had normal troponin-I and CRP values. Discussion Along with previously reported instances, these cases raise suspicion for a possible link between mRNA vaccines and myocarditis.

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Objective: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous signaling molecule and redox factor important for cardiovascular function. Deficiencies in its production or bioavailability are implicated in atherosclerotic disease. However, it is unknown if circulating H2S levels differ between vasculopaths and healthy individuals, and if so, whether H2S measurements can be used to predict surgical outcomes. Here, we examined: (1) Plasma H2S levels in patients undergoing vascular surgery and compared these to healthy controls, and (2) the association between H2S levels and mortality in a cohort of patients undergoing surgical revascularization.Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, open lower extremity revascularization or lower leg amputation were enrolled at a single institution. Peripheral blood was also collected from a matched control cohort of 20 patients without peripheral or coronary artery disease. Plasma H2S production capacity and sulfide concentration were measured using the lead acetate and monobromobimane methods, respectively.Results: Plasma H2S production capacity and plasma sulfide concentrations were reduced in patients with PAD (p < 0.001, p = 0.013, respectively). Patients that underwent surgical revascularization were divided into high vs. low H2S production capacity groups by median split. Patients in the low H2S production group had increased probability of mortality (p = 0.003). This association was robust to correction for potentially confounding variables using Cox proportional hazard models.Conclusion: Circulating H2S levels were lower in patients with atherosclerotic disease. Patients undergoing surgical revascularization with lower H2S production capacity, but not sulfide concentrations, had increased probability of mortality within 36 months post-surgery. This work provides insight on the role H2S plays as a diagnostic and potential therapeutic for cardiovascular disease.

In a prospective study of 6 patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis, we evaluated 3 measures of disease activity: comprehensive joint swelling and joint tenderness counts, and ultrasonography of joints. After baseline data were obtained on these 6 patients, therapy with fenbufen, a new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, was begun. Followup examinations were performed at 4 weeks and 24 weeks after baseline. There were statistically significant differences between joint tenderness and joint swelling findings and between joint tenderness and joint ultrasonography findings (P < 0.05 by kappa test statistic). In comparisons of joint swelling and ultrasonography, no difference was found (P > 0.05). When measures of changes over 6 months were compared, there was a high concordance between improvement in joint swelling and improvement in joint ultrasonography (P < 0.01). Our results demonstrate that clinical assessment of joint swelling provides an accurate measure of synovial effusion, as confirmed by the more objective ultrasound measurements.