Unraveling the role of miRNAs as biomarkers in Chagas cardiomyopathy: Insights into molecular pathophysiology.

Background: Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChCM) is a severe form of Chagas disease and a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The dysregulation of the immune response leads to cardiac remodeling and functional disruptions, resulting in life-threatening complications. Conventional diagnostic methods have limitations, and therapeutic response evaluation is challenging.

Improving the anti-tumor effect of EGCG in colorectal cancer cells by blocking EGCG-induced YAP activation.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the primary active ingredient in green tea and has been used for cancer prevention in clinical trials. The anti-tumor effects of EGCG stem from its ability to inhibit the activities of many oncoproteins, such as AKT, VEGFR, STAT3, and mutant p53. However, the clinical efficacy of EGCG is unsatisfactory.

Longitudinal study comparing IgG antibodies induced by heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccines are critical cost-effective tools to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The heterologous prime-boost vaccination has been used by many countries to overcome supply issues, so the effectiveness and safety of this strategy need to be better clarified. This study aims to verify the effect of heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccination on healthcare professionals from Dante Pazzanese Hospital in Brazil.

Blood DNA methylation marks discriminate Chagas cardiomyopathy disease clinical forms.

Chagas disease is a parasitic disease from South America, affecting around 7 million people worldwide. Decades after the infection, 30% of people develop chronic forms, including Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCC), for which no treatment exists. Two stages characterized this form: the moderate form, characterized by a heart ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 0.

Epigenetic regulation of transcription factor binding motifs promotes Th1 response in Chagas disease cardiomyopathy.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan , is an endemic parasitic disease of Latin America, affecting 7 million people. Although most patients are asymptomatic, 30% develop complications, including the often-fatal Chronic Chagasic Cardiomyopathy (CCC). Although previous studies have demonstrated some genetic deregulations associated with CCCs, the causes of their deregulations remain poorly described.

Sequential IgG antibody monitoring for virus-inactivated and adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine in Brazilian healthcare workers.

Vaccination certainly is the best way to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, the seroconversion effectiveness of two vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was assessed in healthcare workers: virus-inactivated CoronaVac (CV, n = 303), and adenovirus-vectored Oxford-AstraZeneca (AZ, n = 447). The immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies anti-spike glycoprotein and anti-nucleocapsid protein were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at the time before vaccination (T1), before the second dose (T2), and 30 days after the second dose (T3).

Serological Testing for COVID-19, Immunological Surveillance, and Exploration of Protective Antibodies.

Serological testing is a powerful tool in epidemiological studies for understanding viral circulation and assessing the effectiveness of virus control measures, as is the case of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogenic agent of COVID-19. Immunoassays can quantitatively reveal the concentration of antiviral antibodies. The assessment of antiviral antibody titers may provide information on virus exposure, and changes in IgG levels are also indicative of a reduction in viral circulation.

COVID-19 in heart transplant patients: Case reports from Brazil.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic continues, with a late hyperinflammatory phase. The immunosuppressive therapy used in heart transplant patients, in theory, could reduce inflammation, thus benefitting patients with COVID-19. So far, however, there is still very little literature on this subject.

High serum miR-421 is associated with metabolic dysregulation and inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome.

To explore the association of circulating miRNAs with adiposity, metabolic status and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Serum levels of 372 miRNAs were measured in patients with (n = 6) and without MetS (n = 6) by quantitative PCR array, and dysregulated miRNAs were validated in a larger cohort (MetS, n = 89; non-MetS, n = 144). In the screening study, seven miRNAs were dysregulated in patients with MetS, and miR-421 remained increased in the validation study.

Smoking load reduction is insufficient to downregulate miR-301b, a lung cancer promoter.

Several circulating miRNAs identified in the plasma of smokers have been implicated as promoters of nasopharyngeal and lung carcinoma. To investigate the plasma profile of miRNAs in subjects who reduces the number of smoked cigarettes and who quit after six months. We accompanied 28 individuals enrolled in a Smoking Cessation Program over 6 months.

Genomics, epigenomics and pharmacogenomics of familial hypercholesterolemia (FHBGEP): A study protocol.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

Objectives: The study protocol FHBGEP was design to investigate the main genomic, epigenomic, and pharmacogenomic factors associated with FH and polygenic hypercholesterolemia (PH).

Methods: FH patients will be enrolled at six research centers in Brazil.

Corrigendum: Polymorphisms in Genes Affecting Interferon-γ Production and Th1 T Cell Differentiation Are Associated With Progression to Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.

Polymorphisms in Genes Affecting Interferon-γ Production and Th1 T Cell Differentiation Are Associated With Progression to Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan , is endemic in Latin America. Thirty percent of infected individuals develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), an inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy that is the most important clinical consequence of infection, while the others remain asymptomatic (ASY). IFN-γ and IFN-γ-producing Th1-type T cells are increased in peripheral blood and CCC myocardium as compared to ASY patients, while the Th1-antagonizing cytokine IL-10 is more expressed in ASY patients.

Ghrelin inhibits IKKβ/NF-κB activation and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production in pancreatic acinar AR42J cells treated with cerulein.

Background: Previous studies have provided conflicting results regarding whether the serum ghrelin concentration can reflect the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). The present study examined the correlation between the serum ghrelin concentration and AP severity in animal models and investigated whether altered ghrelin expression in pancreatic acinar cells influences IKKβ/NF-κB signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Methods: Mild or severe AP was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein or retrograde cholangiopancreatic duct injection of sodium taurocholate, respectively.

Reciprocal Regulation Between Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxigenase 1 and Notch1 Involved in Radiation Response of Cervical Cancer Stem Cells.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women around the world. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for cancer initiation, as well as resistance to radiation therapy, and are considered as the effective target of cancer therapy. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) mediates tryptophan metabolism and T cell suppression, but the immune-independent function of IDO1 in cancer behavior is not fully understood.

Down-regulation of DJ-1 Augments Neuroinflammation via Nrf2/Trx1/NLRP3 Axis in MPTP-induced Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model.

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Down-regulation of DJ-1, a PD-associated protein, has been recently found to increase microglial sensitivity to lipopolysaccharides (LPS). However, the role of DJ-1 in microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in PD remains unclear.

Prognostic value of preoperative serum bilirubin levels in ovarian cancer.

Bilirubin is a promising prognostic factor for non-liver disease-related deaths in various cancers. We investigated the association between preoperative serum bilirubin levels and oncological outcomes in patients with ovarian cancer. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 282 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), and grouped them according to optimal threshold values of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and indirect bilirubin (IBL) measured by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Prognostic value of methylation and expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

This study aimed to analyze the prognostic value and clinical significance of mRNA expression and methylation in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). The mRNA expression and methylation of data of LUSC patients were downloaded from the Broad GDAC Firehose database and analyzed. mRNA expression was downregulated and methylation was upregulated in LUSC tissue.

Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most harmful subtype of stroke, but there have yet been no specific proven therapies. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for ICH for more than a thousand years; however, currently it is still lacking of available evidence. The objective of this study is to assess the current available evidence of CHM for acute ICH according to randomized controlled trials.

Dysregulation of microRNAs and target genes networks in human abdominal aortic aneurysm tissues.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a pathological enlargement of infrarenal aorta close to the aortic bifurcation, and it is an important cause of mortality in the elderly. Therefore, the biomarker identification for early diagnosis is of great interest for clinical benefit. It is known that microRNAs (miRNAs) have important roles via target genes regulation in many diseases.

Donor hypernatremia and smoking addiction contribute to primary graft failure in heart transplantation.

Introduction: Primary graft failure (PGF) is an important contributor to early mortality, accounting for 41% of deaths within the first 30 days after heart transplantation (HT). Donor hypernatremia has been associated with PGF development. However, controversial data exist regarding the impact of sodium deregulation in patient survival after HT.

The role of mesh technology with tumor prosthesis reconstruction to reconstruct the extensor mechanism of knee joint after resection of proximal tibial tumors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of mesh technique in the reconstruction of the extensor mechanism after resection of proximal tibial tumors.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 14 patients who were diagnosed with proximal tibial tumors at our center and reconstructed with tumor prosthesis, gastrocnemius muscle, and mesh between 2012 and 2017. The treatment strategies for patellar tendon reconstruction primarily involve gastrocnemius reconstruction to cover the tumor prosthesis and mesh reconstruction for the patellar ligament.

Tribbles Homolog 3 Involved in Radiation Response of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Regulating Notch1 Activation.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in Taiwan and post-lumpectomy radiotherapy is one of the therapeutic strategies for this malignancy. Although the 10-year overall survival of breast cancer patients is greatly improved by radiotherapy, the locoregional recurrence is around 10% and triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are at a high risk for relapse. The aim of this paper is to understand the mechanisms of radioresistance in breast cancers which may facilitate the development of new treatments in sensitizing breast cancer toward radiation therapy.

Intragraft vasculitis and gene expression analysis: Association with acute rejection and prediction of mortality in long-term heart transplantation.

Introduction: Vasculitis entails heterogeneous origins; it starts with an inflammatory process that leads to small vessels' necrosis, hemorrhage, and ischemic lesion, and may further result in occlusion of the vascular lumen. Vasculitis' contribution to allograft rejection is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the incidence of vasculitis in the early stages of heart transplantation as well as to assess the intragraft genes' expression associated with vascular function and subsequently to verify the way in which it affects the outcome of the allograft.