Morbidity and mortality in patients managed with high compared with low blood pressure targets during on-pump cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: Many believe that blood pressure management during cardiac surgery is associated with postoperative outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the impact of high compared with low intraoperative blood pressure targets on postoperative morbidity and mortality in adults undergoing cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Our primary objective was to inform the design of a future large RCT.

Oxygen Management During Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Single-Center, 8-Year Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To characterize the institutional oxygen management practices during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, including any potential changes during an 8-year study period.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A tertiary care cardiac surgical program.

Postcardiac Surgery Acute Stroke Therapies: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To identify interventions for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke after cardiac surgery and to report the efficacy of these treatments.

Design: Systematic review and narrative synthesis PARTICIPANTS: Patients with ischemic stroke after cardiac surgery.

Interventions: Treatment efficacy of intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) and/or endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (EMT).

The effect of restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategies on longer-term outcomes after cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Purpose: Blood transfusions are frequently administered in cardiac surgery. Despite a large number of published studies comparing a "restrictive" strategy with a "liberal" strategy, no clear consensus has emerged to guide blood transfusion practice in cardiac surgery patients. The purpose of this study was to identify, critically appraise, and summarize the evidence on the overall effect of restrictive transfusion strategies compared with liberal transfusion strategies on mortality, other clinical outcomes, and transfusion-related outcomes in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Vitamins and Minerals for Migraine Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To summarize the findings of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy and safety of vitamins and minerals for migraine prophylaxis.

Methods: We systematically searched bibliographic databases and relevant websites for parallel and crossover RCTs reporting efficacy and/or safety of vitamins and/or minerals for migraine prophylaxis. Our primary outcomes were migraine frequency (number of attacks) and duration (hours).

Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cell Therapy in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) therapy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients have reported conflicting results. Our main objective was to critically appraise and meta-analyze best-available evidence on efficacy and safety of intracoronary administration of autologous BMSC therapy in STEMI patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: We conducted a search of MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Global Health, CINAHL, and conference proceedings in February 2017.

Airway mesenchymal cell death by mevalonate cascade inhibition: integration of autophagy, unfolded protein response and apoptosis focusing on Bcl2 family proteins.

HMG-CoA reductase, the proximal rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, is inhibited by statins. Beyond their cholesterol lowering impact, statins have pleiotropic effects and their use is linked to improved lung health. We have shown that mevalonate cascade inhibition induces apoptosis and autophagy in cultured human airway mesenchymal cells.

Autophagy and apoptosis dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders.

Autophagy and apoptosis are basic physiologic processes contributing to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Autophagy encompasses pathways that target long-lived cytosolic proteins and damaged organelles. It involves a sequential set of events including double membrane formation, elongation, vesicle maturation and finally delivery of the targeted materials to the lysosome.

Staphylococcus aureus in Acne Pathogenesis: A Case-Control Study.

Background: There is considerable evidence which suggests a possible pathogenetic role for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in acne vulgaris.

Aim: The study was to determine S.

Novel non-canonical TGF-β signaling networks: emerging roles in airway smooth muscle phenotype and function.

The airway smooth muscle (ASM) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ASM cells express a wide range of receptors involved in contraction, growth, matrix protein production and the secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is one of the major players in determining the structural and functional abnormalities of the ASM in asthma and COPD.

Mevalonate cascade regulation of airway mesenchymal cell autophagy and apoptosis: a dual role for p53.

Statins inhibit the proximal steps of cholesterol biosynthesis, and are linked to health benefits in various conditions, including cancer and lung disease. We have previously investigated apoptotic pathways triggered by statins in airway mesenchymal cells, and identified reduced prenylation of small GTPases as a primary effector mechanism leading to p53-mediated cell death. Here, we extend our studies of statin-induced cell death by assessing endpoints of both apoptosis and autophagy, and investigating their interplay and coincident regulation.

Amazing results with hydroxyurea therapy in chronic hepatitis B: a preliminary report.

Background And Aims: To introduce the possible role of hydroxyurea (HU), a well-characterized antineoplastic drug with established antiviral effects, in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Four antiretroviral-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B were enrolled in this limited pilot trial, and given 1000 mg/day of hydroxyurea for 4 weeks; then, the administration of the drug was suspended for 4 weeks. A clinical study and laboratory safety assessments and measurements of viral load were made at baseline, after drug therapy, and after one month suspension of the treatment

Results: All 4 patients showed a significant decrease in viral load after 4 weeks of hydroxyurea therapy and the viral load of 2 patients increased again after a 4-week suspension of hydroxyurea

Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that the old low-cost antineoplastic drug, hydroxyurea, efficiently blocks hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication.

Age of puberty in a representative sample of Iranian girls.

Background: To obtain normal references for growth and pubertal development in a given population, assessment of pubertal stages is of great importance. This study aimed to determine the age of appearance of secondary sexual characteristics in a representative sample of Iranian girls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2005-2006 in 3192 girl students, aged 6-17 years, in Isfahan, Iran.