Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function: current clinical practice.

Echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function is a challenge due to the complex anatomy of the RV. Several transthoracic echocardiographic methods have been suggested for the quantification of RV function. However, many of the parameters are time consuming and need dedicated hardware and software.

Cancer of unknown primary-Epidemiological trends and relevance of comprehensive genomic profiling.

Background: Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a distinct clinicopathological entity with poor prognosis, frequently resistant to chemotherapy. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) by next-generation sequencing potentially identifies novel treatment options for CUP patients. The objective of this study was to determine incidence and survival trends and to discuss the value of CGP in CUP patients.

Publisher Correction: Oxidized phospholipids are proinflammatory and proatherogenic in hypercholesterolaemic mice.

In this Letter, affiliation number 1 was originally missing from the HTML; the affiliations were missing for author Ming-Yow Hung in the HTML; and the Fig. 4 legend erroneously referred to panels a-h, instead of a-g. These errors have been corrected online.

Acute Loss of Apolipoprotein E Triggers an Autoimmune Response That Accelerates Atherosclerosis.

Objective- Dyslipidemia is a component of the metabolic syndrome, an established risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and is also observed in various autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. However, there are limited opportunities to study the impact of acquired dyslipidemia on cardiovascular and immune pathology. Approach and Results- We designed a model system that allows for the conversion to a state of acute hyperlipidemia in adult life, so that the consequences of such a transition could be observed, through conditionally deleting APOE (apolipoprotein E) in the adult mouse.

Oxidized phospholipids are proinflammatory and proatherogenic in hypercholesterolaemic mice.

Oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) are ubiquitous, are formed in many inflammatory tissues, including atherosclerotic lesions, and frequently mediate proinflammatory changes . Because OxPL are mostly the products of non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation, mechanisms to specifically neutralize them are unavailable and their roles in vivo are largely unknown. We previously cloned the IgM natural antibody E06, which binds to the phosphocholine headgroup of OxPL, and blocks the uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) by macrophages and inhibits the proinflammatory properties of OxPL.

Can Sequential Coagulation Monitoring Predict Major Haemorrhage in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants?

Introduction:  Bleeds such as intra-ventricular (IVH) and pulmonary haemorrhage (PH) are life-threatening events in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Serial coagulation monitoring by measuring the international normalized ratio (INR) with small volume samples might facilitate early diagnosis and possibly prevent major bleeds.

Materials And Methods:  This was a prospective longitudinal study performed in ELBW infants, who received serial INR monitoring by point of care testing during their first 30 days of life.

B Cell-Activating Factor Neutralization Aggravates Atherosclerosis.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes) is the major cause of death globally and is caused by the buildup of a plaque in the arterial wall. Genomic data showed that the B cell-activating factor (BAFF) receptor pathway, which is specifically essential for the survival of conventional B lymphocytes (B-2 cells), is a key driver of coronary heart disease. Deletion or antibody-mediated blockade of BAFF receptor ablates B-2 cells and decreases experimental atherosclerosis.

Quantitative OCT Angiography Evaluation of Peripapillary Retinal Circulation after Plaque Brachytherapy.

Objective: To study peripapillary retinal capillary circulation in eyes treated with I-125 plaque brachytherapy for uveal melanoma using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Design: Cross-sectional study of 10 subjects imaged with OCTA prior to uveal melanoma treatment and 15 subjects imaged after development of radiation retinopathy and/or optic neuropathy.

Participants: Following IRB approval, subjects were enrolled from an academic ocular oncology clinical practice.

FHR5 Binds to Laminins, Uses Separate C3b and Surface-Binding Sites, and Activates Complement on Malondialdehyde-Acetaldehyde Surfaces.

Factor H related-protein 5 (CFHR5) is a surface-acting complement activator and variations in the CFHR5 gene are linked to CFHR glomerulonephritis. In this study, we show that FHR5 binds to laminin-521, the major constituent of the glomerular basement membrane, and to mesangial laminin-211. Furthermore, we identify malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) epitopes, which are exposed on the surface of human necrotic cells (), as new FHR5 ligands.

Deletion of IRF8 (Interferon Regulatory Factor 8)-Dependent Dendritic Cells Abrogates Proatherogenic Adaptive Immunity.

Rationale: Despite an established role for adaptive immune responses in atherosclerosis, the contribution of dendritic cells (DCs) and their various subsets is still poorly understood.

Objective: Here, we address the role of IRF8 (interferon regulatory factor 8)-dependent DCs (lymphoid CD8α and their developmentally related nonlymphoid CD103 DCs) in the induction of proatherogenic immune responses during high fat feeding.

Methods And Results: Using a fate-mapping technique to track DCs originating from a DNGR1 (dendritic cell natural killer lectin group receptor 1) precursor ( mice), we first show that YFPCD11cMHCII (major histocompatibility complex class II) DCs are present in the atherosclerotic aorta of low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient () mice and are CD11bCD103IRF8.

Duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and survival in cardiovascular surgery patients.

Objective: The overall therapeutic goal of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with postcardiotomy shock is bridging to myocardial recovery. However, in patients with irreversible myocardial damage prolonged ECMO treatment would cause a delay or even withholding of further permanent potentially life-saving therapeutic options. We therefore assessed the prognostic effect of duration of ECMO support on survival in adult patients after cardiovascular surgery.

Body Composition following Necrotising Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants.

Background: The optimal nutritional regimen for preterm infants, including those that develop necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), is unknown.

Objective: The objective here was to evaluate body composition at term in infants following NEC, in comparison with healthy infants. The primary outcome measure was non-adipose tissue mass (non-ATM).

Gender-related differences in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) affects more women than men, suggesting gender to play a major role in disease evolution. However, studies investigating gender differences in HFpEF are limited. In the present study we aimed to describe gender differences in a well-characterized HFpEF cohort.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein in inflammation-driven thrombosis.

Thrombosis is the defining feature of the most prevalent causes of cardiovascular mortality, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and pulmonary artery embolism. Although platelet activation and activation of the plasmatic coagulation system are the hallmarks of thrombus formation, inflammatory processes and the cellular responses involved are increasingly being recognized as critical modulators of thrombosis. In the context of many chronic inflammatory diseases that are associated with a high thrombotic risk, oxidized lipoproteins represent a prominent sterile trigger of inflammation.

A Mixed Lipid Emulsion for Prevention of Parenteral Nutrition Associated Cholestasis in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To examine whether a mixed lipid emulsion reduces the incidence of parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW, <1000 g) infants.

Study Design: This double-blind randomized trial of 230 ELBW infants (June 2012-October 2015) was performed at a single level IV neonatal intensive care unit. Patients received either a mixed lipid emulsion composed of soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil-(intervention) or a soybean oil-based lipid emulsion (control) for parenteral nutrition.

Multi-view approach for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension using transthoracic echocardiography.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease with severe morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography plays an essential role in the screening of PH. The quality of the acquired continuous wave Doppler signal is the major limitation of the method and can greatly affect the accuracy of estimated pulmonary pressures.

Costs and benefits of diagnostic testing: four ways to improve patient care by purposive use of in vitro diagnostics.

Scientific advances and innovative targeted drugs, especially biologics, have revolutionised the treatment of many diseases. In oncology in particular, previously acute or lethal conditions have come to be considered chronic as new treatments have led to longer life expectancies and a lower rate of years lived with disability. These advances, however, come with rising costs in a resource-constrained environment.

The effects of vitamin E or lipoic acid supplementation on oxyphytosterols in subjects with elevated oxidative stress: a randomized trial.

Despite increased serum plant sterol concentrations after consumption of plant sterol enriched margarines, plasma oxyphytosterol concentrations were not increased in healthy subjects. Here, we assessed plasma oxyphytosterol concentrations and whether they are affected by antioxidants in subjects with elevated oxidative stress. Twenty subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes (DM2) consumed for 4 weeks placebo, vitamin E (804 mg/d) or lipoic acid capsules (600 mg/d).

Natural antibodies to oxidation-specific epitopes: innate immune response and venous thromboembolic disease.

Unlabelled: Essentials Natural antibodies to oxidation-specific epitopes have antithrombotic properties. We evaluated the relation between natural IgM and IgG antibodies and the venous thrombosis risk. Risk of recurrent thrombosis was higher in patients with low natural IgM antibody levels.

Wedge Pressure Rather Than Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure Predicts Outcome in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Objectives: This study sought to compare the prognostic power of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Background: It is broadly accepted that direct measurement of LVEDP in HFpEF more robustly reflects left ventricular hemodynamics than PAWP.

Methods: A total of 173 consecutive HFpEF patients were prospectively enrolled.