Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Mediates Autophagy and Apoptosis in Myocardial Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a multifunctional protein that exhibits anti-angiogenic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-atherogenic, and cardioprotective properties. While it was recently shown that PEDF expression is inhibited under low oxygen conditions, the functional role of PEDF in response to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) remains unclear. The goal of this study was to therefore investigate the influence of PEDF on myocardial H/R injury.

A novel mutation of transferrin receptor 2 in a Taiwanese woman with type 3 hemochromatosis.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is very rare in Asia. Here, we describe a Taiwanese woman presenting with fully developed characteristics of HH including bronze skin, DM, decreased MRI T2 signal intensity over liver and pituitary gland. Biochemistry of iron profile indicated a severe status of iron overload by serum iron: 194 microg/dL, serum ferritin: 6640 microg/L, transferrin saturation: 92.