Expression of toll-like receptors in recurrent pleomorphic adenoma and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is a benign salivary gland tumour that may recur or undergo malignant transformation (CXPA). Toll-like receptors (TLR) mediate immune responses triggered by various agents such as viruses and are related to tumour formation either by stimulating or suppressing their growth, with variation across different tumour entities. We compared TLR immunohistochemical expression in PA, its recurrent counterparts and CXPA and evaluated the effect of virus presence in these tumours.

Kupffer cells dictate hepatic responses to the atherogenic dyslipidemic insult.

Apolipoprotein-B (APOB)-containing lipoproteins cause atherosclerosis. Whether the vasculature is the initially responding site or if atherogenic dyslipidemia affects other organs simultaneously is unknown. Here we show that the liver responds to a dyslipidemic insult based on inducible models of familial hypercholesterolemia and APOB tracing.

Multiple DNA Viruses and HPV Integration in Inverted Papilloma and Associated Sinonasal Carcinoma.

Objectives: Sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) has a locally destructive growth pattern, can relapse, and can undergo malignant transformation (IP-associated sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (IP-SNSCC)). Human papillomaviruses (HPV)-6 and -16 are frequently detected in IPs. To clarify the possible roles of other DNA viruses in IPs, we explored viruses not studied in this context before.

Presence of herpesviruses, parvoviruses, and polyomaviruses in sinonasal lymphoma.

Purpose: Sinonasal lymphoma (SL) is a rare lymphatic neoplasm of the nasal cavities, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx. Whereas some risk factors for SL subtypes have been identified, their aetiology is unknown. Along with other predisposing factors, the viral association of lymphomas, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Burkitt and Hodgkin lymphomas, is well-established.

Viral DNA in submandibular gland tissue with an inflammatory disorder.

Background: The etiology behind different types of chronic sialadenitis (CS), some of which exhibit IgG4 overexpression, is unknown. Further, IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) commonly affects the submandibular gland, but its relationship to IgG4-overexpressing CS, and the antigen triggering IgG4 overexpression, remain unknown.

Materials And Methods: By qPCR, we assessed the presence of 21 DNA-viruses causing IgG4 overexpression in submandibular gland tissue from patients with IgG4-positive and IgG4-negative CS.

Effects of fat loss and low energy availability on the serum cardiometabolic profile of physique athletes.

Low energy availability (LEA) is a health concern for athletes, although it may paradoxically lead to improved cardiometabolic health in the general population. We investigated the associations between LEA, body composition, and serum cardiometabolic profile in 23 physique athletes (DIET) and 21 controls (CONT) during a 5-month pre-competition diet (MID), followed by 1 week of increased energy availability (COMP) and a 5-month weight regain period (POST). Quantification of 250 serum metabolome variables was conducted by NMR spectroscopy, body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, dietary intake by food diaries, and exercise levels by training logs.

Human HDL subclasses modulate energy metabolism in skeletal muscle cells.

In addition to its antiatherogenic role, HDL reportedly modulates energy metabolism at the whole-body level. HDL functionality is associated with its structure and composition, and functional activities can differ between HDL subclasses. Therefore, we studied if HDL and HDL, the two major HDL subclasses, are able to modulate energy metabolism of skeletal muscle cells.

Herpesviruses, polyomaviruses, parvoviruses, papillomaviruses, and anelloviruses in vestibular schwannoma.

Etiology of vestibular schwannoma (VS) is unknown. Viruses can infect and reside in neural tissues for decades, and new viruses with unknown tumorigenic potential have been discovered. The presence of herpesvirus, polyomavirus, parvovirus, and anellovirus DNA was analyzed by quantitative PCR in 46 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded VS samples.

Time-resolved fluorescence based direct two-site apoA-I immunoassays and their clinical application in patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease.

Objective: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a heterogeneous group of subpopulations differing in protein/lipid composition and in their anti-atherogenic function. There is a lack of assays that can target the functionality of HDL particles related to atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to construct two-site apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) assays and to evaluate their clinical performance in patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

The HDL particle composition determines its antitumor activity in pancreatic cancer.

Despite enormous efforts to improve therapeutic options, pancreatic cancer remains a fatal disease and is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the next decade. Previous research identified lipid metabolic pathways to be highly enriched in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Thereby, cholesterol uptake and synthesis promotes growth advantage to and chemotherapy resistance for PDAC tumor cells.

The presence of herpesviruses in malignant but not in benign or recurrent pleomorphic adenomas.

Background: The etiology of salivary gland tumors is mainly unknown. The anatomical location of the salivary glands, with the mucosal pathway to the oral cavity and its rich microbiome, raises the question of potential viral background.

Objective: This study focuses on the potential presence of herpes-, polyoma- and parvoviruses in pleomorphic adenoma (PA), recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (RPA) and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CaxPA).

Children with familial hypercholesterolemia display changes in LDL and HDL function: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The functional status of lipoprotein particles contributes to atherogenesis. The tendency of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles to aggregate and the ability of igh-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles to induce and mediate reverse cholesterol transport associate with high and low risk for cardiovascular disease in adult patients, respectively. However, it is unknown whether children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) display lipoprotein function alterations.

Hematopoietic upstream stimulating factor 1 deficiency is associated with increased atherosclerosis susceptibility in LDL receptor knockout mice.

Total body upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) deficiency in mice is associated with brown adipose tissue activation and a marked protection against the development of obesity and atherosclerotic lesions. Functional expression of USF1 has also been detected in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. In the current study we therefore tested whether selective hematopoietic USF1 deficiency can also beneficially impact the development of atherosclerosis.

pneumolysin and neuraminidase A convert high-density lipoproteins into pro-atherogenic particles.

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are a group of different subpopulations of sialylated particles that have an essential role in the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pathway. Importantly, changes in the protein and lipid composition of HDLs may lead to the formation of particles with reduced atheroprotective properties. Here, we show that pneumolysin (PLY) and neuraminidase A (NanA) impair HDL function by causing chemical and structural modifications of HDLs.

Complications of COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swab Test.

This case series investigates the frequency and type of SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal test complications in Helsinki, Finland.

Evaluation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor expression in nondiabetic and diabetic atherosclerotic mice using PET tracer Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4.

Cardiovascular effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist therapies are potentially mediated by anti-inflammatory effects on atherosclerosis. Our study demonstrates that Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4, a radioligand specifically targeting GLP-1R, detects GLP-1R expression in inflamed atherosclerotic lesions in nondiabetic and diabetic hypercholesterolemic mice. Immunofluorescence staining suggests that GLP-1R is primarily localized in M2 macrophages in lesions.

Novel biomarkers associated with incident heart failure in 10 106 Finnish men.

Aims: There are only a few studies on novel biomarkers for incident heart failure (HF). We investigated the association of multiple circulating biomarkers with incident HF in a large prospective population-based study.

Methods And Results: Conventional risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers were measured, and systemic metabolic measures determined by a high-throughput serum nuclear magnetic resonance platform in a population-based Metabolic Syndrome in Men study including 10 106 Finnish men without HF at baseline.

Cholesterol loading suppresses the atheroinflammatory gene polarization of human macrophages induced by colony stimulating factors.

In atherosclerotic lesions, blood-derived monocytes differentiate into distinct macrophage subpopulations, and further into cholesterol-filled foam cells under a complex milieu of cytokines, which also contains macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Here we generated human macrophages in the presence of either M-CSF or GM-CSF to obtain M-MØ and GM-MØ, respectively. The macrophages were converted into cholesterol-loaded foam cells by incubating them with acetyl-LDL, and their atheroinflammatory gene expression profiles were then assessed.

Menaquinone 4 increases plasma lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic mice.

In calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) progressive valvular calcification causes aortic valve dysfunction. CAVD has several risk factors such as age and dyslipidemia. Vitamin K was shown to inhibit vascular calcification in mice and valvular calcification in patients with CAVD.

TNFα induces endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis via LOX-1 and arginase 2: reversal by monoclonal TNFα antibodies.

Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting joints and blood vessels. Despite low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), RA patients exhibit endothelial dysfunction and are at increased risk of death from cardiovascular complications, but the molecular mechanism of action is unknown. We aimed in the present study to identify the molecular mechanism of endothelial dysfunction in a mouse model of RA and in patients with RA.

Three two-site apoA-I immunoassays using phage expressed detector antibodies - Preliminary clinical evaluation with cardiac patients.

High density lipoproteins (HDL) are a heterogenous group of subpopulations differing in protein/lipid composition and in their anti-atherogenic function. There is a lack of specific and robust assays which can target the functionality of HDL with respect to atherosclerosis. With recently generated CAD HDL targeted, single chain recombinant antibodies (scFvs) we set out to design and optimize apo A-I tests to compare it with conventional HDL-C and apo A-I analyses for diagnosis and risk assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its outcome.