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Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may modulate the inflammatory process in systemic autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to assess the serum concentrations of essential 18-carbon PUFAs and their long-chain derivatives in patients with SLE and healthy controls, and to analyse their associations with laboratory and clinical features of the disease. n-6 and n-3 PUFA composition was assessed in the sera of 30 SLE patients and 20 healthy controls using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. We investigated the associations between PUFAs and disease activity measured with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, complement C3 and C4 concentrations, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) titre, anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody concentration, and medications. Serum linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid concentrations were significantly higher in SLE patients compared with healthy controls. LA concentration correlated positively with the ANA titre and corticosteroid doses; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid correlated inversely with anti-dsDNA antibody concentration. Patients treated with immunosuppressants had significantly lower concentrations of LA, arachidonic acid, and EPA. Both n-6 and n-3 PUFA precursors can participate in the inflammatory process in SLE patients. The mechanism of the PUFA metabolism disturbance needs further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is part of a series devoted to discussing strategies for the synthesis of ion-imprinted polymers and molecularly imprinted polymers, their chemical structure and great potential, which may be used in porous material design, analytical chemistry, environmental protection and other areas of science. The presented work constitutes a basis for a better understanding of what porous polymers are, how we can synthesise them and how to foresee their properties, which can be later used in studies of environmental pollution and analytical chemistry.

In Poland, in recent years, there has been a great interest in growing spelt wheat. This is dictated not only by an increasing demand for food with higher healthy properties and unique taste, but also by a possibility of attracting farmers’ attention to this cereal as an alternative crop, with smaller requirements regarding the use of fertilization, as compared with common wheat. The aim of this study was to carry out the assessment of value of some technological characters of grain and flour of spelt wheat depending on different fertilizations with nitrogen (I factor, n=3, 25 and 50 kg N∙ha−1 + control treatment) and foliar application of microelements (II factor, n=4, Mn, Cu, combined fertilization with Mn and Cu + control treatment). Based on the performed study, it was found that fertilization with nitrogen, microelements and their interaction had, on average for years, a significant effect on the values of technological characters. Introduction of 25 kg N·ha−1 caused an increase in the value of falling number, whereas total protein content, wet gluten content and sedimentation value increased as a result of increasing nitrogen rates up to a level of 50 kg·ha−1. Of the variants of fertilization with microelements, the highest values of the analysed baking indices were found in the effects of combined foliar application of copper and manganese.

The factors that affect the value of parsley for consumption include its taste, flavour and dietary utility (vitamins C and E, β-carotene, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron, raw fibre, proteins) as well as the content of hazardous substances, especially nitrogen compounds. A study was carried out in 2013–2015 to determine the effect of the cultivation technology and storage on the safety of parsley intended for processing. The study material was taken from an experiment where the following fertilisers were applied to the ground: nitrogen (0, 40, 80, 120 kg N∙ha−1) and magnesium (0; 30 kg Mg∙ha−1). Parsley roots were stored for six months in a storage room at +1°C and RH 95%. The content of nitrates (V) and (III) was determined by the ion selective method immediately after the harvest and after storage in parsley roots.

Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interpretation was assessed prospectively in patients with ambiguous genitalia or intersex problems. MRI depiction of the uterus was possible in 93%, the vagina in 95%, the penis in 100%, the testis in 88%, and the ovary in 74% of patients. The strength of MRI lies in the multiplanar capability and tissue characterization by means of T1- and T2-weighted sequences. MRI contributes to accurate morphologic evaluation of müllerian duct structures, the gonads, and the development of the phallus, all of which are essential for appropriate gender assignment and planning of surgical reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the associations between serum and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as well as the inflammatory potential of diet measured by the Children's Dietary Inflammatory Index (C-DII TM ), and recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) in children. We enrolled 44 children aged 3-16 years with RRIs and 44 healthy controls. Dietary intake was assessed using a 7-day food record from which PUFA intake and C-DII TM were calculated. Serum PUFA levels were determined using gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The dietary assessment showed a significantly lower fiber intake in children with RRIs. The RRI group had a higher inflammatory potential in the diet than healthy controls. Children with RRIs have higher serum levels of linoleic, arachidonic, and eicosapentaenoic acids than healthy subjects. A pro-inflammatory diet was positively associated with serum n -6 PUFA levels in both the groups. A high inflammatory potential of diet, body mass index over 75 percentile, and short breastfeeding duration were identified as risk factors for RRIs. The inflammatory potential of diet is strongly associated with RRIs in children and related to their PUFA status. Promoting breastfeeding and healthy dietary habits during childhood are crucial for implementing effective preventive management strategies.

Microbiological communities have a significant impact on health and disease. Candida are ubiquitous fungal pathogens that colonize the mucosal surfaces of the genital, urinary, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tracts, as well as the oral cavity. If the immune system is inadequate, then Candida infections may pose a significant threat. Due to the limited number of clinically approved drugs for the treatment of Candida albicans -based infections and the rapid emergence of resistance to the existing antifungals, a novel series of isoxazole-based derivatives was synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their anti- Candida potential. Two compounds, PUB14 and PUB17 , displayed selective antifungal activity without negatively affecting beneficial microbiota, such as Lactobacillus sp., at the same time. Moreover, these compounds exhibited significantly lower cytotoxicity in comparison to conventionally applied local antimicrobial (octenidine dihydrochloride), indicating their potential for safe and effective clinical application in conditions such as vulvovaginal candidiasis. The selective antifungal activity of PUB14 and PUB17 against C. albicans , coupled with its absence of antibacterial effects and minimal cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells, suggests a targeted mechanism of action that warrants further investigation. Consideration of the need to search for new antifungal agents and the discovery of an antifungal potential drug that does not inhibit lactobacilli growth could be a potential strategy to prevent and combat vulvovaginal candidiasis. This striking capacity to eradicate biofilm formed by Candida reveals a new approach to eradicating biofilms and sheds light on isoxazole-based derivatives as promising anti-biofilm drugs.

Biogenic amines are compounds whose occurrence in meat is linked to the presence of undesirable microorganisms. They can be utilised as a means to assess the quality and purity of the raw material. Therefore, the methods used to determine their levels are crucial in ensuring meat safety. We propose 2-chloro-3-nitropyridine as a new reagent for microwave-assisted synthesis of biogenic amine derivatives. The obtained products were synthesised with high purity and yield and characterised using 1 H and 13 C NMR as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry. The proposed derivatisation procedure, coupled with the HPLC method, was applied to determine the levels of biogenic amines in sirloin, ham, and chicken breast samples. Furthermore, differences in the content of the aforementioned compounds in the meat samples were analysed after storage for 24 and 72 h. The results suggest that cadaverine can be considered the primary indicator of meat changes, regardless of its type., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, a highly efficient and straightforward method for synthesizing novel Schiff bases was developed by reacting selected biogenic amines with sodium 2-formylbenzene sulfonate and sodium 3-formylbenzene sulfonate. 1 H and 13 C NMR, IR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry were used to characterize the new compounds. The main advantages of the proposed procedure include simple reagents and reactions carried out in water or methanol and at room temperature, which reduces time and energy. Moreover, it was shown that the obtained water-soluble Schiff bases are stable in aqueous solution for at least seven days. Additionally, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of synthesized Schiff bases were tested.

In this study, graphene flakes were obtained using an electrolytic method and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). Graphene-based composites with varying concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 3% by weight were prepared with acrylic paint, enamel and varnish matrices. The mechanical properties were evaluated using micro-hardness testing, while wettability and antimicrobial activity against three pathogens ( Staphylococcus aureus 33591, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 15442, Candida albicans 10231) were also examined. The results indicate that the addition of graphene flakes significantly enhances both the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the coatings.

Parental perspective on the health, safety, and quality of life in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF)., Aim of the Study: Assessment of the impact of a chronic disease such as cystic fibrosis (CF) on the quality of life and safety of children and adolescents as perceived by parents/caretakers., Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Lung Diseases of the Institute of Mother and Child, a branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Centre Children of Warsaw SZPZOZ in Dziekanów Leśny, the largest pediatric CF center in Poland, and in the Rodzinamuko group on Facebook. A total of 139 parents participated in the study. The study was conducted using the diagnostic survey method with the use of the Kid- & Kiddo-KINDLR questionnaire for examining the quality of life of children and adolescents and a demographic questionnaire., Results: The perception of cystic fibrosis (CF) as a chronic disease varies based on parental residence and professional status. The well-being of children and adolescents with CF is tied to their parents' employment, particularly regarding schooling. Social interactions are influenced by the level of parental education. The quality of life in children and adolescents with CF is age-dependent, with younger children exhibiting higher quality of life. This age-quality of life relationship extends to physical well-being, emotional well-being, and school-related aspects. Furthermore, the emotional dimension of quality of life is affected by the child's age at the time of diagnosis., Conclusions: The Kid- & Kiddo-KINDLR QoL Questionnaire for children with cystic fibrosis is a good tool to measure parental knowledge. The study shows the need for the whole family to understand and be aware of the impact of CF on family life. Parents may be tired or may misunderstand or miscommunicate the medical team's instructions, which may affect both family life and patient safety. To ensure patient safety, parents should work with healthcare professionals at hospitals or clinics but also at home. They should also account for the family as a whole, not just for the problems of the child with CF.

Aim: Knee pain is the most frequently reported type of lower extremity pain among children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to establish the features distinguishing inflammatory knee pain from non-inflammatory knee pain and to determine the specific variables to consider in suspected juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)., Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed among children with knee pain evaluated through paediatric rheumatology consultations at a single centre between 2012 and 2019., Results: Among the 262 children, 32 patients (12.2%) were diagnosed with JIA, 46 patients (17.6%) presented with inflammatory knee pain (IP) of an origin different than JIA, and 57 patients (21.7%) with non-inflammatory knee pain (NIP). In 127 cases (48.5%), no musculoskeletal disorder was diagnosed (NDD). The presence of limping, joint swelling, decreased passive range of motion and decreased active range of motion of the knee joint were registered more frequently in the JIA group compared to the other three groups. Multivariate analysis showed that a family history of autoimmune diseases and pain in other joints were associated with inflammatory pain. Increased pain after physical activity, pain only in the knee joint and absence of limping were predictors of NIP. The risk factors of JIA were limping and an erythrocyte sedimentation range of ≥10 mm after an hour. In the NDD group, the risk factors included no increase in pain after physical activity, serum C-reactive protein level < 5 mg/L and normal musculoskeletal ultrasound image., Conclusions: The majority of children with knee pain referred to a paediatric rheumatologist do not have arthritis. Knee pain alone, as a chief complaint, rarely leads to a final JIA diagnosis. Further studies are necessary in order to design the appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).)

In this work we developed a bi-functional Bacterial-Nano-Cellulose (BNC) carrier system for cell cultures of Chelidonium majus -a medicinal plant producing antimicrobial compounds. The porous BNC was biosynthesized for 3, 5 or 7 days by the non-pathogenic Komagataeibacter xylinus bacteria and used in three forms: (1) Without removal of K. xylinus cells, (2) partially cleaned up from the remaining K. xylinus cells using water washing and (3) fully purified with NaOH leaving no bacterial cells remains. The suspended C. majus cells were inoculated on the BNC pieces in liquid medium and the functionalized BNC was harvested and subjected to scanning electron microscopy observation and analyzed for the content of C. majus metabolites as well as to antimicrobial assays and tested for potential proinflammatory irritating activity in human neutrophils. The highest content and the most complex composition of pharmacologically active substances was found in 3-day-old, unpurified BNC, which was tested for its bioactivity. The assays based on the IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α secretion in an in vitro model showed an anti-inflammatory effect of this particular biomatrix. Moreover, 3-day-old-BNC displayed antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans . The results of the research indicated a possible application of such modified composites, against microbial pathogens, especially in local surface infections, where plant metabolite-enriched BNC may be used as the occlusive dressing.

There are growing interests in the complex combinations of natural compounds that may advance the therapy of cancer. Such combinations already exist in foods, and a good representative is seed oils. Two raspberry oils: cold pressed (ROCOP) and one extracted by supercritical CO 2 (ROSCO2) were evaluated for their chemical characteristics and oil emulsions for cell suppression potential against colon adenocarcinoma (LoVo), doxorubicin-resistant colon adenocarcinoma (LoVo/DX), breast cancer (MCF7), doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer (MCF7/DX), and lung cancer (A549) cell lines. The cytotoxicity was also assessed on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). With increasing concentration of raspberry oil emulsions (0.5-10%), increasing inhibition of cancer cell viability and proliferation in all of the lines was observed, with different degrees of potency between cancer types and oil tested. ROSCO2 strongly induced free radical production and DNA strand damage in LoVo and MCF7 cells especially doxorubicin-resistant lines. This suggests that ROSCO2 engages and effectively targets the vulnerabilities of the cancer cell. Generally, both ROSCO2 and ROCOP could be a nontoxic support in therapy of selected human cancers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Magdalena Grajzer et al.)

Background: Incidence of difficult endotracheal intubation ranges between 3 and 10%. Bougies have been recommended as an airway adjunct for difficult intubation, but reported success rates are variable. A new generation flexible tip bougie appears promising but was not investigated so far. We therefore compared the new flexible tip with a standard bougie in simulated normal and difficult airway scenarios, and used by experienced anesthesiologists., Methods: We conducted a observational, randomized, cross-over simulation study. Following standardized training, experienced anesthesiologists performed endotracheal intubation using a Macintosh blade and one of the bougies in six different airway scenarios in a randomized sequence: normal airway, tongue edema, pharyngeal obstruction, manual cervical inline stabilization, cervical collar stabilization, cervical collar stabilization and pharyngeal obstruction. Overall success rate with a maximum of 3 intubation attempts was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included number of intubation attempts, time to intubation and dental compression., Results: Thirty-two anesthesiologist participated in this study between January 2019 and May 2019. Overall success rate was similar for the flexible tip bougie and the standard bougie. The flexible tip bougie tended to need less intubation attempts in more difficult airway scenarios. Time to intubation was less if using the flexible tip bougie compared to the standard bougie. Reduced severity of dental compression was noted for the flexible tip bougie in difficult airway scenarios except cervical collar stabilization., Conclusion: In this simulation study of normal and difficult airways scenarios, overall success rate was similar for the flexible tip and standard bougie. Especially in more difficult airway scenarios, less intubation attempts, and less optimization maneuvers were needed if using the flexible tip bougie., Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03733158. 7th November 2018.

Promoting axon regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous system is of clinical importance in neural injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Both pro- and antiregeneration factors are being identified. We previously reported that the Rtca mediated RNA repair/splicing pathway restricts axon regeneration by inhibiting the nonconventional splicing of Xbp1 mRNA under cellular stress. However, the downstream effectors remain unknown. Here, through transcriptome profiling, we show that the tubulin polymerization-promoting protein (TPPP) ringmaker/ringer is dramatically increased in Rtca-deficient Drosophila sensory neurons, which is dependent on Xbp1. Ringer is expressed in sensory neurons before and after injury, and is cell-autonomously required for axon regeneration. While loss of ringer abolishes the regeneration enhancement in Rtca mutants, its overexpression is sufficient to promote regeneration both in the peripheral and central nervous system. Ringer maintains microtubule stability/dynamics with the microtubule-associated protein futsch/MAP1B, which is also required for axon regeneration. Furthermore, ringer lies downstream from and is negatively regulated by the microtubule-associated deacetylase HDAC6, which functions as a regeneration inhibitor. Taken together, our findings suggest that ringer acts as a hub for microtubule regulators that relays cellular status information, such as cellular stress, to the integrity of microtubules in order to instruct neuroregeneration., (© 2020 Monahan Vargas et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.)

Background: The nutritional significance of silicon for the human body is highlighted by a continually growing body of evidence. In conditions of excessive reactive oxygen species and upregulated immune response, silicon has been observed to provide benefits, but its role in redox and inflammatory status has not yet been examined in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)., Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of silicon intake and plasma level to systemic indices of redox status and inflammation in patients with RA., Material and Methods: Silicon intake and plasma levels were measured in 115 RA subjects and 129 control subjects. Serum antioxidant and oxidant levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, and albumin, uric acid, TBARS, hs-CRP, and IL-6 levels were measured and compared to the intake and plasma levels of silicon., Results: Silicon intake and plasma silicon levels were higher in RA subjects than in the controls. In the RA group, a generally favorable correlation to redox and inflammatory markers was found for silicon in diet and in plasma; however, albumin level, smoking status, and gender interfered with these results. In the control subjects, a significant relationship was observed only between plasma silicon and non-enzymatic markers of redox status., Conclusions: There are suggestions of silicon's involvement in managing redox and inflammatory status in RA, though further studies are warranted.

Introduction: Airway management is one of key elements of resuscitation. Endotracheal intubation is still considered the gold standard for airway management during resuscitation., Aim: The aim of the study was to compare success rates and intubation time of different endotracheal intubation methods during emergency intubation with difficult airways in the conditions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a standardized manikin model., Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, cross-over simulation study. It involved 46 paramedics with at least 5 years of experience in Emergency Medical Service. The participants performed endotracheal intubation under difficult airway conditions during continuous chest compression, implemented with the LUCAS3 chest compression system. Three methods of tracheal intubation were applied: (1) standard Macintosh laryngoscope without a bougie stylet; (2) standard laryngoscope and a standard bougie stylet; (3) standard laryngoscope and a new bougie stylet., Results: The overall intubation success rate was 100% in the standard bougie and new bougie groups and lower (86.9%) when no bougie stylet was used (P=0.028). The intubation success rate with the 1 st attempt equalled 91.3% for the new bougie group, 73.9% for standard bougie, and only 23.9% in the no-bougie group. The median intubation time was shortest in the new bougie group, where it amounted to 29 s (interquartile range [IQR]: 25-38); the time equalled 38s (IQR:31-44.5) in the standard bougie group and 47.5s (IQR:36-58) in the no-bougie group. The ease of use was lowest in the no-bougie group (85, IQR:63-88), average in the standard bougie group (44, IQR:30-51), and highest in the new bougie stylet group (32, IQR:19-41)., Conclusion: In this manikin-based study, paramedics were able to perform endotracheal intubation with higher efficacy and in a shorter time using the new bougie stylet as compared with the standard bougie stylet., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Background: Treatment of the aortic arch pathologies is technically challenging. In this study we assess early and late outcomes of hybrid aortic arch repairs that comprise extra-anatomic surgical procedures completed by thoracic endovascular interventions [thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)]., Methods: Since 2007, 21 patients (8 women and 13 men) with a median age of 48 years have undergone hybrid procedures for aortic arch pathologies. All of them were treated without cardio-pulmonary bypass. All survivors were followed up regularly and imaging examination were performed. A technical success, procedural complications as well as the early and late mortality and morbidity rates were evaluated., Results: All patients survived surgery and TEVAR was technically successful in all of them. However, 2 individuals died (in-hospital mortality rate 9.5%) during in-hospital stay, both due to multi-organ failure (MOF). Additionally, one patient developed symptoms of cerebral stroke, another one of spinal cord ischemia. During the follow-up that ranged from 6 to 118 months and was completed by 100% of the survivors, one patient died 3 years after procedure because of sepsis (aorto-oesophageal fistula prior to intervention) and late vascular graft occlusions were noted in three cases., Conclusions: Hybrid procedures on the aortic arch that comprise surgical and endovascular interventions has become an attractive and safe therapeutic option with acceptable mortality and morbidity rate. They may be considered as a method of choice in treatment of the elderly and high-risk patients., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Neuropeptides such as substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) play both pro- and anti-inflammatory activities and are produced during infection and inflammation. Moraxella catarrhalis is one of the leading infectious agents responsible for inflammatory exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Since the airway inflammation in COPD is connected with activation of both epithelial cells and accumulated neutrophils, in this study we determined the in vitro effects of neuropeptides on the inflammatory potential of these cells in response to M. catarrhalis outer membrane vesicle (OMV) stimulant. The various OMV-mediated proinflammatory effects were demonstrated. Next, using hBD-2-pGL4[ luc2 ] plasmid with luciferase reporter gene, SP and CGRP were shown to inhibit the IL-1 β -dependent expression of potent neutrophil chemoattractant, hBD-2 defensin, in transfected A549 epithelial cells (type II alveolar cells) upon OMV stimulation. Both neuropeptides exerted antiapoptotic activity through rescuing a significant fraction of A549 cells from OMV-induced cell death and apoptosis. Finally, CGRP caused an impairment of specific but not azurophilic granule exocytosis from neutrophils as shown by evaluation of gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) or CD66b expression and elastase release, respectively. Concluding, these findings suggest that SP and CGRP mediate the dampening of proinflammatory action triggered by M. catarrhalis OMVs towards cells engaged in lung inflammation in vitro .

A direct contribution towards destructive, proliferative synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been attributed to reactive oxygen species action. Some nutrients are considered to be capable of improving the oxidant/antioxidant status in RA; however the impact of diet composition on the antioxidant capacity of serum has not yet been studied in this disease. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between diet quality and antioxidant status in patients with RA and healthy controls. Nutritional assessment was performed, and antioxidant status in serum, without and with deproteinization (TAS and DSAS, resp.), was determined in 82 RA and 87 healthy subjects. The diet of the RA group was low-energy and imbalanced. TAS and DSAS were significantly lower in RA patients than in controls. Antioxidant status significantly correlated with the supply of foods and nutrients influencing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defense in RA; however, in this group, TAS was more sensitive to diet than DSAS. In healthy subjects, the nonprotein pool of serum antioxidants was more tightly linked to diet. These outcomes indicate the need to monitor diet quality of patients with RA and the usefulness of TAS measurements in this monitoring.

The homeostatic control of presynaptic neurotransmitter release stabilizes information transfer at synaptic connections in the nervous system of organisms ranging from insect to human. Presynaptic homeostatic signaling centers upon the regulated membrane insertion of an amiloride-sensitive degenerin/epithelial sodium (Deg/ENaC) channel. Elucidating the subunit composition of this channel is an essential step toward defining the underlying mechanisms of presynaptic homeostatic plasticity (PHP). Here, we demonstrate that the ppk1 gene encodes an essential subunit of this Deg/ENaC channel, functioning in motoneurons for the rapid induction and maintenance of PHP. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that PPK1 functions together with PPK11 and PPK16 as a presynaptic, hetero-trimeric Deg/ENaC channel. Finally, we highlight tight control of Deg/ENaC channel expression and activity, showing increased PPK1 protein expression during PHP and evidence for signaling mechanisms that fine tune the level of Deg/ENaC activity during PHP., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the association between dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), serum profiles, and immune and inflammatory markers in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in relation to onset, activity, and duration. A total of 66 JIA patients and 42 controls were included. Serum PUFA levels were assessed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, a dietary intake by 7-day dietary record method, and IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A levels using ELISA. Dietary PUFA intake did not differ between the JIA group and controls. Intakes of n-6 and n-3 PUFA and serum levels were not associated. Levels of total n-6 PUFA and linoleic acid (LA) were higher in inactive JIA than in active JIA. Patients with active and short-lasting disease (less than 3 months from diagnosis) had significantly lower levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than the control. Serum α-linolenic acid (ALA) levels were significantly higher in poly-JIA than in oligo-JIA and in controls. We found significantly higher serum IL-10 levels in JIA than in controls. Serum n-6 and n-3 levels were significantly negatively correlated with active joint count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein and positively with platelet count. Our study presents the low levels of AA and DHA in the active phase of short-lasting JIA, particularly poly-JIA, and the relationship between n-6 and n-3 PUFA and classic markers of inflammation. PUFAs may contribute to the pathogenesis of JIA and support a necessity to identify new targets suitable for successful interventional studies in JIA patients.