Airflow Limitation and Endothelial Dysfunction. Unrelated and Independent Predictors of Atherosclerosis.

Rationale: Lower FEV1 is associated with increased prevalence of atherosclerosis; however, causal mechanisms remain elusive.

Objectives: To determine if systemic endothelial dysfunction mediates the association between reduced FEV1 and increased atherosclerosis.

Methods: Brachial artery endothelial function, pulmonary function, coronary artery calcium, and carotid plaque were assessed in 231 Pittsburgh SCCOR (Specialized Centers for Clinically Oriented Research) study participants; peripheral arterial endothelial function, pulmonary function, and coronary artery calcium were assessed in 328 HeartSCORE (Heart Strategies Concentrating on Risk Evaluation) study participants.

Cardiac CD47 drives left ventricular heart failure through Ca2+-CaMKII-regulated induction of HDAC3.

Background: Left ventricular heart failure (LVHF) remains progressive and fatal and is a formidable health problem because ever-larger numbers of people are diagnosed with this disease. Therapeutics, while relieving symptoms and extending life in some cases, cannot resolve this process and transplant remains the option of last resort for many. Our team has described a widely expressed cell surface receptor (CD47) that is activated by its high-affinity secreted ligand, thrombospondin 1 (TSP1), in acute injury and chronic disease; however, a role for activated CD47 in LVHF has not previously been proposed.

Fulminant hepatitis following chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.

A woman in her early 50s was admitted to the intensive care unit with nausea, altered mental status and hepatic failure. She had a history of asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B and recently received chemotherapy for breast cancer. A diagnosis of hepatitis B reactivation (HBR) was made, but unfortunately she died of liver failure.