Coexistent Brugada Syndrome and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: What is the Optimal Management?

Coexistent Brugada syndrome and Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is rare, and as such poses management challenges. The overlap of symptoms attributable to each condition, the timing of ventricular stimulation after accessory pathway ablation and the predictive value of programmed stimulation in Brugada syndrome are controversial. We describe a case of coexistent Brugada syndrome and WPW syndrome in a symptomatic young adult.

Correlation between plasma osteopontin levels and aortic valve calcification: potential insights into the pathogenesis of aortic valve calcification and stenosis.

Objective: The inflammatory process of aortic stenosis involves the differentiation of aortic valve myofibroblasts into osteoblasts. Osteopontin, a proinflammatory glycoprotein, both stimulates differentiation of myofibroblasts and regulates the deposition of calcium by osteoblasts. Osteopontin levels are increased in patients with such conditions as end-stage renal disease, ectopic calcification, and autoimmune disease.

Alterations in endogenous osteogenic protein-1 with degeneration of human articular cartilage.

A synchronized balance between synthesis and breakdown of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules in normal articular cartilage is disturbed in osteoarthritis (OA). The focus of our study is the anabolic factor, osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) that is expressed in articular cartilage and is able to induce the synthesis of ECM components. The major aim was to investigate both qualitatively and quantitatively endogenous OP-1 in normal, degenerative, and OA cartilage.

Age-related changes in cartilage endogenous osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1).

Articular cartilage has a poor reparative capacity. This feature is exacerbated with aging and during degenerative joint conditions, contributing to loss of motion and impairment of quality of life. This study focused on osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) and its ability to serve as a repair-stimulating factor in articular cartilage.