Duality of Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Chronic Cardiovascular Disease: Potential Biomarkers versus Active Pathophysiological Promoters.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), comprising leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), and valine (Val), are essential nutrients vital for protein synthesis and metabolic regulation via specialized signaling networks. Their association with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has become a focal point of scientific debate, with emerging evidence suggesting both beneficial and detrimental roles. This review aims to dissect the multifaceted relationship between BCAAs and cardiovascular health, exploring the molecular mechanisms and clinical implications.

Depiction of Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) in Diabetes with a Focus on Diabetic Microvascular Complications.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) still holds the title as one of the most debilitating chronic diseases with rising prevalence and incidence, including its complications such as retinal, renal, and peripheral nerve disease. In order to develop novel molecules for diagnosis and treatment, a deep understanding of the complex molecular pathways is imperative. Currently, the existing agents for T2DM treatment target only blood glucose levels.

Transient hepatic attenuation difference or fat sparing? Aberrant right gastric vein determining a pseudolesion at the border of the IInd/IIIrd liver segments. Review of developmental concepts.

The aberrant right gastric vein (ARGV) is a rare anatomical variation. It can be responsible for unexplained hyperdensities in the hepatic parenchyma on CT scans, also known as third inflow effects. We present two cases sharing similar vascular pattern and slightly different imagistic findings on ultrasound and computer-tomography performed studies.

Oxidative Stress and NRF2/KEAP1/ARE Pathway in Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD): New Perspectives.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most debilitating chronic diseases worldwide, with increased prevalence and incidence. In addition to its macrovascular damage, through its microvascular complications, such as Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD), DM further compounds the quality of life of these patients. Considering DKD is the main cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in developed countries, extensive research is currently investigating the matrix of DKD pathophysiology.

Oxidative Stress in Arterial Hypertension (HTN): The Nuclear Factor Erythroid Factor 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) Pathway, Implications and Future Perspectives.

Arterial hypertension (HTN) is one of the most prevalent entities globally, characterized by increased incidence and heterogeneous pathophysiology. Among possible etiologies, oxidative stress (OS) is currently extensively studied, with emerging evidence showing its involvement in endothelial dysfunction and in different cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as HTN, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target. While there is a clear physiological equilibrium between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants essential for many cellular functions, excessive levels of ROS lead to vascular cell impairment with decreased nitric oxide (NO) availability and vasoconstriction, which promotes HTN.

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura as a Hemorrhagic Versus Thrombotic Disease: An Updated Insight into Pathophysiological Mechanisms.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a blood disorder characterized by a low platelet count of (less than 100 × 10/L). ITP is an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which the platelets and their precursors become targets of a dysfunctional immune system. This interaction leads to a decrease in platelet number and, subsequently, to a bleeding disorder that can become clinically significant with hemorrhages in skin, on the mucous membrane, or even intracranial hemorrhagic events.

Involvement of Ceramides in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Atherosclerosis (ATS) Development: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atherosclerosis (ATS) are worldwide known diseases with increased incidence and prevalence. These two are driven and are interconnected by multiple oxidative and metabolic functions such as lipotoxicity. A gamut of evidence suggests that sphingolipids (SL), such as ceramides, account for much of the tissue damage.

Medical Staff Training - Quality Initiative to Reduce Errors in the Pre-Preanalytical Phase.

Background: Numerous studies indicate that most error sources in hemostasis laboratories occur during the pre preanalytical phase through biological product sampling.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was documentation, monitoring, and reduction of preanalytical errors through operator training.

Methods: For a period of 4 months in the "St.

Chronometric vs. Structural Hypercoagulability.

Prolonged tourniquet stasis induced by venepuncture can lead to the release of the plasma of cell lysis products, as well as tissue factor (TF), impairing the quality of coagulation test results. The accidental presence of TF in vitro can trigger the coagulation mechanism, generating a false decrease in prothrombin time (PT). Identification of short PT tests below the normal reference value that could suggest a situation of hypercoagulability.

Role of Gut Microbiota on Onset and Progression of Microvascular Complications of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM).

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains one of the most problematic and economic consumer disorders worldwide, with growing prevalence and incidence. Over the last years, substantial research has highlighted the intricate relationship among gut microbiota, dysbiosis and metabolic syndromes development. Changes in the gut microbiome composition lead to an imbalanced gastrointestinal habitat which promotes abnormal production of metabolites, inflammatory status, glucose metabolism alteration and even insulin resistance (IR).

Hypothyroidism-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (HIN): Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Options.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging worldwide problem and its association with other metabolic pathologies has been one of the main research topics in the last decade. The aim of this review article is to provide an up-to-date correlation between hypothyroidism and NAFLD. We followed evidence regarding epidemiological impact, immunopathogenesis, thyroid hormone-liver axis, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Blood Clot Identification Procedures in Clinical Laboratory Sampling.

Background: Monitoring of anticoagulation therapy is based on screening tests: prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The accidental presence of a clot in the coagulation samples determines a false prolongation of PT by fibrinogen (FI) consumption and the false or delayed prolongation of APTT, depending on FI consumption or activation. The purpose of this study is to document from the present data re-garding procedures used to exclude the accidental presence of clot in the sample.

Implications of the Intestinal Microbiota in Diagnosing the Progression of Diabetes and the Presence of Cardiovascular Complications.

The prevalence of diabetes is steadily rising, and once it occurs, it can cause multiple complications with a negative impact on the whole organism. Complications of diabetes may be macrovascular: such as stroke and ischemic heart disease as well as peripheral vascular and microvascular diseases-retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. Key factors that cause cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes include hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, hypertension, autonomic dysfunction, and decreased vascular response capacity.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a hematological emergency.

Unlabelled: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but severe disease characterized by mechanical hemolytic anemia and consumptive thrombocytopenia leading to disseminated microvascular thrombosis that causes signs and symptoms of organ ischemia and functional damage. TTP is diagnosed by the presence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in a patient who frequently presents with central nervous system involvement and, to a lesser extent, renal dysfunction.

Case Report: We present the case of a 23-year-old female with TTP, diagnosed by the presence of the neurological symptoms, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and severe thrombocytopenia (platelets 4000/μL).