Emerging Role of Natriuretic Peptides in Diabetes Care: A Brief Review of Pertinent Recent Literature.

Diabetes markedly increases susceptibility to adverse cardiovascular events, including heart failure (HF), leading to heightened morbidity and mortality rates. Elevated levels of natriuretic peptides (NPs), notably B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP), correlate with cardiac structural and functional abnormalities, aiding in risk stratification and treatment strategies in individuals with diabetes. This article reviews the intricate relationship between diabetes and HF, emphasizing the role of NPs in risk assessment and guiding therapeutic strategies, particularly in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Effects of Oral Nutritional Supplement with β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on Biochemical and Hematological Indices in Community-Dwelling Older Adults at Risk of Malnutrition: Findings from the SHIELD Study.

Malnutrition may result in abnormal biochemical and hematological indices. This planned prespecified analysis investigated the effects of a specialized oral nutritional supplement (ONS) on biochemical and hematological indices in community-dwelling older adults at risk of malnutrition. In the Strengthening Health in ELDerly through nutrition (SHIELD) study, 811 older adults aged 65 years and above took part in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center study.

Comparison of existing methods of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol estimation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Direct LDL-C measurement is not widely performed. LDL-C is routinely calculated using the Friedewald equation (FLDL), which is inaccurate at high triglyceride (TG) or low LDL-C levels.

Elevated remnant cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol concentrations from real-world laboratory results: a cross-sectional study in Southeast Asians.

Introduction: Triglyceride-rich remnant lipoproteins (TRLs) are considered atherogenic due to the presence of remnant cholesterol, which is transported by apolipoprotein B. In clinical practice, the concentration of TRLs can be estimated by calculating remnant cholesterol or non-HDL cholesterol levels.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the proportion of patients who have low LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration but elevated remnant cholesterol concentration, stratified by the presence of hypertriglyceridaemia and ethnicity, using real-world hospital data.

Optimizing the Clinical Use of High-Sensitivity Troponin Assays: A Review.

Ischemic heart diseases (IHDs) remain a global health concern. Many IHD cases go undiagnosed due to challenges in the initial diagnostic process, particularly in cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays have revolutionized myocardial injury assessment, but variations in diagnostic cut-off values and population differences have raised challenges.

MicroRNA-155 mediates endogenous angiotensin II type 1 receptor regulation: implications for innovative type 2 diabetes mellitus management.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a lifelong condition and a threat to human health. Thorough understanding of its pathogenesis is acutely needed in order to devise innovative, preventative, and potentially curative pharmacological interventions. MicroRNAs (miRNA), are small, non-coding, one-stranded RNA molecules, that can target and silence around 60% of all human genes through translational repression.

Evaluation of the Abbott Alinity i Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibody (TRAb) Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA).

We evaluated the performance of the Abbott thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) on the Alinity i. Verification studies for precision, linearity, analytical measuring range, diagnostic cut offs for Graves' disease were performed. We compared the Abbott CMIA to an established TRAb assay (Roche electrochemiluminescence immunoassay).

Proton-pump inhibitor use amongst patients with severe hypomagnesemia.

Long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use has been associated with hypomagnesemia. It is unknown how frequently PPI use is implicated in patients with severe hypomagnesemia, and its clinical course or risk factors. All patients with severe hypomagnesemia from 2013 to 2016 in a tertiary center were assessed for likelihood of PPI-related hypomagnesemia using Naranjo algorithm, and we described the clinical course.

Considerations in Understanding Vaccine Effectiveness.

Although vaccine effectiveness reports are essential to assessing policies on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, several factors can affect our interpretation of the results. These include the waning of antibodies, the prevailing viral variants at the time of the study, and COVID-19 disease prevalence in the population. Disease prevalence significantly impacts absolute risk reduction and could skew expected efficacy when increased disease prevalence inflates the absolute risk reduction in the face of a constant relative risk reduction.

Neutralizing and Total/IgG Spike Antibody Responses Following Homologous CoronaVac vs. BNT162b2 Vaccination Up to 90 Days Post-Booster.

Introduction: We documented the total spike antibody (S-Ab), IgG S-Ab and neutralizing antibody (N-Ab) responses of BNT162b2/CoronaVac vaccinees up to 90 days post-booster dose.

Methods: We included 32 homologous regimen CoronaVac vaccinees and 136 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccinees. We tested their total S-Ab (Roche), IgG (Abbott) and N-Ab (Snibe) levels at set time points from January 2021 to April 2022.

A protective erythropoietin evolutionary landscape, NLRP3 inflammasome regulation, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

The low incidence of pediatric severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) lack a unifying pathophysiological explanation, impeding effective prevention and therapy. Activation of the NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein (NLRP) 3 inflammasome in SARS-CoV-2 with perturbed regulation in MIS-C, has been reported. We posit that, early age physiological states and genetic determinants, such as certain polymorphisms of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) molecules, promote a controlled RAAS hyperactive state, and form an evolutionary landscape involving an age-dependent erythropoietin (EPO) elevation, mediating ancestral innate immune defenses that, through appropriate NLRP3 regulation, mitigate tissue injury and pathogen invasion.

210-Day Kinetics of Total, IgG, and Neutralizing Spike Antibodies across a Course of 3 Doses of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine.

Introduction: We tested the total spike antibody (S-Ab), IgG/IgM S-Ab, and neutralizing antibody (N-Ab) responses of COVID-19-naïve subjects from before their first BNT162b2 vaccination up to 210 days after boosting. Methods: We studied 136 COVID-19-naïve subjects who received three doses of the Pfizer mRNA vaccine (39 males, 97 females, mean age 43.8 ± 13.

Treatment of Primary Aldosteronism and Reversal of Renin Suppression Improves Left Ventricular Systolic Function.

Introduction: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, treatment of PA has not been shown to improve left ventricular (LV) systolic function using the conventional assessment with LV ejection fraction (LVEF). We aim to use speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess for improvement in subclinical systolic function after treatment of PA.

Kinetics of the Neutralizing and Spike SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies following the Sinovac Inactivated Virus Vaccine Compared to the Pfizer mRNA Vaccine in Singapore.

Introduction: We compared the early total spike antibody (S-Ab) and neutralizing antibody (N-Ab) responses to two vaccines.

Methods: We studied 96 Pfizer and 34 Sinovac vaccinees over a 14-month period from January 2021 to February 2022. All vaccinees received three doses of one type of vaccine.

Performance of the Abbott Architect Immuno-Chemiluminometric NT-proBNP Assay.

Background: We evaluated the performance of the Abbott N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) assay against the Roche NT-proBNP immunoassay across two sites. Methods: Precision, linearity, and sensitivity studies were performed. A combined method of comparison and regression analysis was performed between the Roche and Abbott assays using samples from both sites (n = 494).

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing Intervals: Twice or Thrice a Week?

Antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 has become an increasingly prominent screening tool in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and can be performed multiple times a week. However, the optimal weekly frequency of antigen testing is unclear; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 1-3 times a week, while some experts support testing 2-3 times a week. In our own laboratory, all staff (n = 161) underwent twice- and thrice-weekly antigen tests during different periods from August 2021 to the present as part of routine COVID-19 surveillance of healthcare workers.

Markers of Focal and Diffuse Nonischemic Myocardial Fibrosis Are Associated With Adverse Cardiac Remodeling and Prognosis in Patients With Hypertension: The REMODEL Study.

Background: The prognostic significance of focal and diffuse myocardial fibrosis in patients with cardiovascular risk factors is unclear.

Methods: REMODEL (Response of the Myocardium to Hypertrophic Conditions in the Adult Population) is an observational cohort of asymptomatic patients with essential hypertension. All participants underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance to assess for myocardial fibrosis: nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), native myocardial T1, postcontrast myocardial T1, extracellular volume fraction including/excluding LGE regions, interstitial volume (extracellular volume×myocardial volume), and interstitial/myocyte ratio.

Primary Aldosteronism More Prevalent in Patients With Cardioembolic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension, and patients are at an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke. We assessed the prevalence of PA in patients with recent stroke.

Methods: We recruited 300 patients admitted to an acute stroke unit with diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident (haemorrhagic/ischaemic) or transient ischaemic attack.

Corrigendum: Immune Response in Myocardial Injury: Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry Techniques for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in COVID-19 Autopsies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.

Too hard to die: Exercise training mediates specific and immediate SARS-CoV-2 protection.

Several mechanisms may explain how exercise training mechanistically confers protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here we propose two new perspectives through which cardiorespiratory fitness may protect against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Physical exercise-activated adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling induces endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS), increases NO bio-availability, and inhibits palmitoylation, leading to specific and immediate SARS-CoV-2 protection.

Evaluation and Validation of the Roche Elecsys SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Electro-Chemiluminescent Immunoassay in a Southeast Asian Region.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests can complement and substitute for RT-PCR tests. Centralized laboratory automated SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests that can be scaled to process a large number COVID-19 cases simultaneously are now available. We have evaluated the new Roche Elecsys SARS-CoV-2 antigen electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay.