Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their metabolites in bronchoalveolar lavage and urine samples from patients with inhalation injury throughout their hospitalization: A prospective pilot study.

Background: Specific toxic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their metabolites, may affect the inhalation injury (INHI) grade, patients' status, and prognosis for recovery. This pilot prospective study aimed to: i) evaluate the suitability of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for determination of PAHs in the LRT and of urine for determination of hydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAHs) in patients with INHI, ii) describe the dynamic changes in the levels of these toxic compounds, and iii) correlate these findings with clinical variables of the patients with INHI.

Methods: The BAL and urine samples from 10 patients with INHI were obtained on Days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 of hospitalization, if possible, and PAHs (BAL) and OH-PAHs (urine) were analyzed using chromatographic methods (GC-MS and HPLC).

Current-use pesticide exposure pathways in Czech adults and children from the CELSPAC-SPECIMEn cohort.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to characterise exposure to pyrethroids, organophosphates, and tebuconazole through multiple pathways in 110 parent-child pairs participating in the CELSPAC-SPECIMEn study.

Methods: First, we estimated the daily intake (EDI) of pesticides based on measured urinary metabolites. Second, we compared EDI with estimated pesticide intake from food.

Firefighters and the liver: Exposure to PFAS and PAHs in relation to liver function and serum lipids (CELSPAC-FIREexpo study).

Introduction: Firefighting is one of the most hazardous occupations due to exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Such exposure is suspected to affect the cardiometabolic profile, e.g.

City-scale assessment of long-term air quality impacts on the respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Background: The impact of the urban environment on human health is a contemporary subject of environmental research. Air pollution is often considered a leading environmental driver. However, a plethora of other factors within the urban exposome may be involved.

[Prophylaxis for infective endocarditis - an endless story with a colorful past, an uncertain presence and unclear future].

Opinions on the prevention of infective endocarditis (IE) have significantly changed in recent years. A gradual departure from antibiotic prophylaxis can be observed, both in terms of the spectrum of procedures and the profile of individuals in whom it is indicated. The extreme case is the rejection of all antibiotic prophylaxis in all patients and for all procedures in some countries.

RX-207, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of Protein Interaction with Glycosaminoglycans (SMIGs), Reduces Experimentally Induced Inflammation and Increases Survival Rate in Cecal Ligation and Puncture (CLP)-Induced Sepsis.

The fused quinazolinone derivative, RX-207, is chemically and functionally related to small molecule inhibitors of protein binding to glycosaminoglycans (SMIGs). Composed of a planar aromatic amine scaffold, it inhibits protein binding to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). RX-207 reduced neutrophil migration in thioglycollate-induced peritonitis (37%), inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema (32%) and cerulein-induced pancreatitis (28%), and increased animal survival in the mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis (60%).

[Thoughts about valvular abnormalities yesterday and today].

The article deals with the problems of acquired valvular disorders. It mainly focuses on the new findings regarding ethiopathogenesis, diagnostics, evaluation and treatment, especially catheterization. In advanced countries, post-rheumatic abnormalities have almost disappeared, their current etiology has substantially changed (mitral stenosis).

Anti-calreticulin antibodies and calreticulin in sera of patients diagnosed with dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Distinct cellular level of the Ca-binding chaperone calreticulin (CRT) is essential for correct embryonal cardiac development and postnatal function. However, CRT is also a potential autoantigen eliciting formation of antibodies (Ab), whose role is not yet clarified. Immunization with CRT leads to cardiac injury, while overexpression of CRT in cardiomyocytes induces dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in animals.

Mechanism of action and efficacy of RX-111, a thieno[2,3-c]pyridine derivative and small molecule inhibitor of protein interaction with glycosaminoglycans (SMIGs), in delayed-type hypersensitivity, TNBS-induced colitis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Objective And Design: Elucidate the mechanism of action of the small molecule inhibitor of protein binding to glycosaminoglycans, RX-111 and assay its anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of inflammatory disease.

Materials: The glycosaminoglycan, heparin, was used in the mechanism of action study of RX-111. Human T lymphocytes and umbilical vein endothelial cells were used to assay the in vitro activity of RX-111.

Variants in miRNA regulating cardiac growth are not a common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: A substantial proportion of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) do not have causative mutations in the genes for heart sarcomere. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between microRNA (miRNA) sequence variants and HCM.

Methods: We performed genetic testing on 56 HCM patients who had previously been found to be negative for mutations in the 4 major genes for sarcomeric proteins.

[Mitral stenosis].

This paper deals with mitral stenosis in the light of current knowledge. Currently, defect is in developed countries very rare (about 10% of defects). Its etiology has changed over the period of time mainly due to decline in rheumatic fever.

Genetic testing in the management of relatives of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common genetic cardiac disease with vast genetic heterogeneity. First-degree relatives of patients with HCM are at 50% risk of inheriting the disease-causing mutation. Genetic testing is helpful in identifying the relatives harbouring the mutations.

Comparison of long-term effect of dual-chamber pacing and alcohol septal ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Nonpharmacological treatment of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) comprises surgical myectomy (SME), alcohol septal ablation (ASA), and dual-chamber (DDD) pacing. The aim of the study was to compare the long-term effect of DDD pacing and ASA in symptomatic HOCM patients.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated retrospective data from three cardiocenters; there were 24 patients treated with DDD pacing included and 52 treated with ASA followed for 101 ± 49 and 87 ± 23 months, respectively.

Small molecule inhibitors of protein interaction with glycosaminoglycans (SMIGs), a novel class of bioactive agents with anti-inflammatory properties.

Background: Small molecule inhibitors of biologically important protein-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) interactions have yet to be identified.

Methods: Compound libraries were screened in an assay of L-selectin-IgG binding to heparin (a species of heparan sulfate [HS-GAG]). Hits were validated, IC-50s established and direct binding of hits to HS-GAGs was investigated by incubating compounds alone with heparin.

[Aortic stenosis].

This paper focuses on aortic stenosis. It covers findings related to etiopathogenesis, clinical picture, echocardiographic and catheter examination. It analyses the treatment criteria with focus on the criteria of treatment by means of cardiac surgery.

[Aortic regurgitation].

This paper focuses on aortic regurgitation. It covers the findings related to etiopathogenesis, clinical signs, echocardiographic and catheter examination. It analyses the treatment criteria with a focus on cardiac surgery.

[Cardiac symptoms in a patient with Addison's disease and hypothyreosis on the basis of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II].

In many endocrine diseases we can find a heart disorder. We present a case of a young patient aged 34 years, who was examined for non-specific ST-T abnormalities on ECG and a new-diagnosed left ventricle dysfunction with suspicion to the acute coronary syndroma. However, this diagnosis wasn't verified.

Spectrum and clinical manifestations of mutations in genes responsible for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a cardiovascular disease with autosomal dominant inheritance. It is caused by mutations in the genes coding for structural and/or regulatory proteins found in the sarcomere of cardiomyocytes. A group of genes, including the heavy chain of beta-myosin (MYH7), myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3), cardiac troponin I (TNNI3) and cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) are frequently affected by causal mutations.

From preoperative to intraoperative detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands using tetrofosmin (99mTc) in primary hyperparathyroidism.

The impact of preoperative scintigraphy on the management of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism has been largely documented for more than two decades. More recently, preoperative scintigraphy has also been used to select patients for intraoperative detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands thanks to a gamma-probe. This procedure is now widely used, with MIBI as the main radiopharmaceutical for both preoperative scintigraphy and intraoperative detection.