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Time for it to Guard the long run Decades through the Omnipresent Microplastics.
Right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction is a strong predictor of mortality in pulmonary hypertension (PH). The goal of this study was to investigate whether right atrium (RA) and RV myocardial strain related to PH using speckle tracking echocardiography provide a superior estimation of RV systolic function than 2-dimensional (2D)-echo.

This cross-sectional study analyzed 22 patients with a diagnosis of PH stratified by right heart catheterization, and they were compared to a control group of 22 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.

Global longitudinal peak systolic strain measured in the RV free wall from the apical 4 chamber view was -15% vs. -14.5% when measured from the subcostal view (p = 0.99). Mean longitudinal strain during reservoir phase, and longitudinal strain rate during atrial reservoir and passive conduit function was significantly impaired measured in the right atrial free wall in patients with PH.

This study showed impaired LV contractility in patients with PH assessed by speckle w in patients with poor acoustic apical 4-chamber windows. The RA strain and strain rates values may be a valuable additive to assess right-sided heart function.
It has been unclear whether statin therapy directly improves coronary flow reserve (CFR) in hypertensive patients at cardiovascular risk, independent of lifestyle modification and antihypertensive medications.

In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned 95 hypertensive patients at cardiovascular risk to receive either rosuvastatin 10 mg or placebo for 12 months, in addition to antihypertensive therapy and lifestyle modification for hypercholesterolemia. Using Doppler echocardiography, coronary flow velocity in the distal left anterior descending artery was measured and CFR was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to basal averaged peak diastolic flow velocity. The primary end point was change in CFR from baseline to 12 months follow-up.

Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was changed from 157 ± 23 to 84 ± 16 mg/dL in the rosuvastatin group (p < 0.001) and from 152 ± 19 to 144 ± 22 mg/dL in the control group (p = 0.041, but there were no significant differences between the treatment groups in the changes in C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood pressures. CFR was changed from 3.03 ± 0.44 to 3.25 ± 0.49 in the rosuvastatin group (p < 0.001) and from 3.15 ± 0.54 to 3.17 ± 0.56 in the control group (p = 0.65). The primary end point of change in CFR was significantly different between the rosuvastatin group and the control group (0.216 ± 0.279 vs. 0.015 ± 0.217; p < 0.001).

Compared with lifestyle modification alone, addition of rosuvastatin significantly improved CFR in hypertensive patients at cardiovascular risk.
Compared with lifestyle modification alone, addition of rosuvastatin significantly improved CFR in hypertensive patients at cardiovascular risk.Double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a type of ventriculoarterial connection in which both great arteries arise entirely or predominantly from the right ventricle. The morphology of DORV is characterized by a ventricular septal defect (location and relationship with the semilunar valve); bilateral coni and aortomitral continuity; the presence or absence of outflow tract obstruction; tricuspid-pulmonary annular distance; and associated cardiac anomalies. The surgical approach varies with the type of DORV and is based on multiple variables. Computed tomography (CT) is a robust diagnostic tool for the preoperative and postoperative assessment of DORV. Unlike echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT imaging is not limited by small acoustic window, need for anaesthesia and can be used in patients with metallic implants. Current generations CT scanners with high spatial and temporal resolution, wide detectors, high-pitch scanning mode, dose-reduction algorithms, and advanced three-dimensional post-processing tools provide a low-risk, high-quality alternative to diagnostic cardiac catheterization or MRI, and have been increasingly utilized in nearly every type of congenital heart defect, including DORV.
Most patients with acute anterior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP) show elevations in cardiac enzymes that peak within 24 hours. The changing pattern of cardiac enzymes can be an early clue to the differentiation of anterior STEMI and SCMP.

This study was a retrospective analysis (matching cases and respective control subjects) performed at a single center. We compared 27 patients with SCMP and 30 patients with anterior STEMI. We used laboratory data included cardiac marker, such as the initial creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) fraction and troponin T (Tn-T), at admission and peak CK-MB and Tn-T at follow up.

The mean age was 69.3 ± 14.1 years, and 38.6% of patients were female. mTOR phosphorylation The SCMP patients were older, more often female, and had lower left ventricular ejection fractions than the anterior STEMI patients. The initial CK-MB was higher in the anterior STEMI group than in the SCMP group. In contrast, the initial Tn-T level was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Peak CK-MB and Tn-T levels and change from initial levels were significantly greater in the anterior STEMI group than they were in the SCMP group. SCMP could be differentiated from anterior STEMI based on peak CK-MB > 46.65 ng/mL or Tn-T > 1.56 ng/mL.

Follow-up changes in cardiac enzymes can be an effective early tool for differentiating SCMP from anterior STEMI.
Follow-up changes in cardiac enzymes can be an effective early tool for differentiating SCMP from anterior STEMI.
Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor not only for advanced-stage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) but also for mortality. We investigated the association of sarcopenia and/or NAFLD with mortality among the Korean general population.

Individuals aged 35-75years without any history of cancer, ischaemic heart disease, ischaemic stroke, or secondary causes of chronic liver disease were selected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2008 to 2015. Their mortality data until December 2018 were retrieved from the National Death Registry. NAFLD and sarcopenia were defined by hepatic steatosis index and appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by body mass index (BMI), respectively.

A total of 28060 subjects were analysed [mean age, 50.6 (standard error, 0.1) years, 48.2 (0.3) % men]; the median follow-up duration was of 6.8 (interquartile range, 4.8, 8.4) years. NAFLD predicted mortality after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and smoking (Hrease mortality suggests that risk stratification would be helpful in predicting mortality among those with metabolic derangement.Recently, we presented a strategy for analysis of eight biomarkers in human urine to verify toxic mushroom or Ricinus communis ingestions. However, screening for the full panel is not always necessary. Thus, we aimed to develop a strategy to reduce analysis time and by focusing on two sets of analytes. One set (A) for biomarkers of late-onset syndromes, such as phalloides syndrome or the syndrome after castor bean intake. Another set (B) for biomarkers of early-onset syndromes, such as pantherine-muscaria syndrome and muscarine syndrome. Both analyses should be based on hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS)/MS (HILIC-HRMS/MS). For A, urine samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction using dichloromethane and subsequent solid-phase extraction of the aqueous supernatant. For B urine was precipitated using acetonitrile. Method A was validated for ricinine and α- and β-amanitin and method B for muscarine, muscimol, and ibotenic acid according to the specifications for qualitative analytical methods. In addition, robustness of recovery and normalized matrix factors to matrix variability measured by urinary creatinine was tested. Moreover, applicability was tested using 10 urine samples from patients after suspected mushroom intoxication. The analytes α- and β-amanitin, muscarine, muscimol, and ibotenic acid could be successfully identified. Finally, psilocin-O-glucuronide could be identified in two samples and unambiguously distinguished from bufotenine-O-glucuronide via their MS2 patterns. In summary, the current workflow offers several advantages towards the previous method, particularly being more labor-, time-, and cost-efficient, more robust, and more sensitive.
Treatment on risk adapted intensive pediatric protocols has improved outcome for teenagers and young adults (TYA) with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Understanding the biology of disease in this age group and the genetic basis of relapse is a key goal as patients with relapsed/refractory disease have poor outcomes with conventional chemotherapy and novel molecular targets are required. This study examines the question of whether TYA T-ALL has a specific biological-molecular profile distinct from pediatric or adult T-ALL.

Genomic characterization was undertaken of a retrospective discovery cohort of 80 patients aged 15-26 years with primary or relapsed T-ALL, using a combination of Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0, targeted gene mutation and promoter methylation analyses. Findings were confirmed by MLPA, real-time quantitative PCR, and FISH. Whole Exome Sequencing was performed in 4 patients with matched presentation and relapse to model clonal evolution. A prevalence analysis was performed onexhibits a transitional genomic profile. Analysis of matched presentation - relapse supported the hypothesis that relapse is driven by the Darwinian evolution of sub-clones associated with drug resistance (NT5C2 and TP53 mutations) and re-iterative mutation of known key T-ALL drivers, including NOTCH1.
All genetic aberrations in TYA T-ALL occurred with an incidence similar or intermediate to that reported in the pediatric and adult literature, demonstrating that overall TYA T-ALL exhibits a transitional genomic profile. Analysis of matched presentation - relapse supported the hypothesis that relapse is driven by the Darwinian evolution of sub-clones associated with drug resistance (NT5C2 and TP53 mutations) and re-iterative mutation of known key T-ALL drivers, including NOTCH1.The exceptional underwater adhesive properties displayed by aquatic organisms, such as mussels (Mytilus spp.) and barnacles (Cirripedia spp.) have long inspired new approaches to adhesives with a superior performance both in wet and dry environments. Herein, a bioinspired adhesive composite that combines both adhesion mechanisms of mussels and barnacles through a blend of silk, polydopamine, and Fe3+ ions in an entirely organic, nontoxic water-based formulation is presented. This approach seeks to recapitulate the two distinct mechanisms that underpin the adhesion properties of the Mytilus and Cirripedia, with the former secreting sticky proteinaceous filaments called byssus while the latter produces a strong proteic cement to ensure anchoring. The composite shows remarkable adhesive properties both in dry and wet conditions, favorably comparing to synthetic commercial glues and other adhesives based on natural polymers, with performance comparable to the best underwater adhesives with the additional advantage of having an entirely biological composition that requires no synthetic procedures or processing.
Website: https://www.selleckchem.com/mTOR.html