Hepatocellular carcinoma risk-stratification based on ASGR1 in circulating epithelial cells for cancer interception.

Lack of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma impedes stratifying patients based on their risk of developing cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of circulating epithelial cells (CECs) based on asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGR1) and miR-122-5p expression as potential diagnostic and prognostic tools in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis (LC). Peripheral blood samples were extracted from LC and HCC patients at different disease stages.

Case Report: Precision genetic diagnosis in a case of Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen syndrome reveals paternal isodisomy and heterodisomy of chromosome 18 with imprinting clinical implications.

A twelve-year-old patient with a previous clinical diagnosis of spondylocostal skeletal dysplasia and moderate intellectual disability was genetically analyzed through next generation sequencing of a targeted gene panel of 179 genes associated to skeletal dysplasia and mucopolysaccharidosis in order to stablish a precision diagnosis. A homozygous nonsense [c.62C>G; p.

Hidden Tenants: Microbiota of the Rhizosphere and Phyllosphere of Trees in Mayan Forests and Homegardens.

During domestication, the selection of cultivated plants often reduces microbiota diversity compared with their wild ancestors. Microbiota in compartments such as the phyllosphere or rhizosphere can promote fruit tree health, growth, and development. is a deciduous tree used by Maya people for its fruit and wood, growing, to date, in remnant forest fragments and homegardens (traditional agroforestry systems) in Yucatán.

Brief Report: Evidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Caused by a Mutation in ATRX Gene: A Case Report.

ATRX mutations are commonly associated with alpha-thalassaemia mental retardation syndrome (ATR-X syndrome) with a notable variable expressivity. This X-linked disorder is characterized by intellectual disability (ID) in a higher or lesser degree, in which the alpha-thalassaemia feature is not always present. Other phenotypic manifestations like facial dimorphism, hypotonia, microcephaly, skeletal abnormalities or urogenital malformations have been frequently observed in ATR-X syndrome.

Cumulative exposure to tacrolimus and incidence of cancer after liver transplantation.

Cancer is the leading cause of death after liver transplantation (LT). This multicenter case-control nested study aimed to evaluate the effect of maintenance immunosuppression on post-LT malignancy. The eligible cohort included 2495 LT patients who received tacrolimus-based immunosuppression.

SWATH-MS Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Deer Antler from Two Regenerating and Mineralizing Sections.

Antlers are the only organ in the mammalian body that regenerates each year. They can reach growth rates of 1-3 cm/day in length and create more than 20 cm/day of skin in the antler tips (their growth centers). Previous proteomic studies regarding antlers have focused on antler growth centers (tips) compared to the standard bone to detect the proteins involved in tissue growth.

Descriptive Analysis of Everolimus Conversion in Liver Transplant Recipients With Malignant Neoplastic Disease.

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors are associated with the development of de novo tumors and increased recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplant. It has been suggested that mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (everolimus [EVR]) may improve prognosis. We analyzed our experience on the use of EVR in malignant neoplasms in liver transplantation.

Impact of Everolimus-based Immunosuppression on Renal Function in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors have been implicated in acute and chronic kidney disease after liver transplant (LT). Everolimus (EVR) is a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor efficacious in preventing acute cellular rejection while preserving renal function among LT recipients. We evaluated the benefits on renal function of EVR immunosuppression in LT recipients.

Pedf derived peptides affect colorectal cancer cell lines resistance and tumour re-growth capacity.

Relapse after chemotherapy treatment depends on the cancer initiating cells (CICs). PEDF (Pigmented Epithelium Derived Factor) is an anti-angiogenic, neurotrophic and self-renewal regulator molecule, also involved in CICs biology. Acute and chronic exposition of colon cancer cell lines to CT/CTE PEDF-derived peptides decreased drug-resistance to conventional colorectal cancer treatments, such as oxaliplatin or irinotecan.

Formin Homology 2 Domain Containing 3 (FHOD3) Is a Genetic Basis for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The genetic cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy remains unexplained in a substantial proportion of cases. Formin homology 2 domain containing 3 (FHOD3) may have a role in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy but has not been implicated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the relation between FHOD3 mutations and the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Clinical Findings and Prognosis of Danon Disease. An Analysis of the Spanish Multicenter Danon Registry.

Introduction And Objectives: Danon disease (DD) is caused by mutations in the LAMP2 gene. It is considered a multisystemic disease characterized by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with pre-excitation and extreme hypertrophy, intellectual disability, myopathy, childhood presentation, and worse prognosis in men. There are scarce data on the clinical characteristics and prognosis of DD.

Significant mitral regurgitation worsens the prognosis and favors the decision of conservative treatment in octogenarians with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.

Introduction: The coexistence of significant mitral regurgitation (MR) and severe aortic stenosis is prevalent, has a prognostic impact and makes treatment in the elderly population a complex issue. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of significant MR among a population of octogenarians and its influence on treatment and prognosis.

Methods: We used the data from PEGASO (Pronóstico de la Estenosis Grave Aórtica Sintomática del Octogenario), a prospective registry that consecutively included 928 patients aged ≥80 years with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.

Analysis of the Predictive Ability for Graft Loss and Mortality of Two Criteria for Early Allograft Dysfunction After Liver Transplantation.

Introduction: The current imbalance between available donors and potential recipients for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has led to a liberalization of organ acceptance criteria, increasing the risk of post-transplant complications such as early allograft dysfunction (EAD). Consequently, we need accurate criteria to detect patients with early poor graft function to guide the strategies of management. We evaluated the usefulness of two frequently used criteria: the definition from Olthoff et al and the Model for Early Allograft Function (MEAF) scoring.

Feasibility and reproducibility of feature-tracking-based strain and strain rate measures of the left ventricle in different diseases and genders.

Background: The measurement of myocardial deformation by strain analysis is an evolving tool to quantify regional and global myocardial function.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and reproducibility of myocardial strain/strain rate measurements with magnetic resonance feature tracking (MR-FT) in healthy subjects and in patient groups.

Study Type: Prospective study.

Direct oral anticoagulants in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation.

Background: Chronic anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is recommended in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Direct oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are an alternative to VKAs but there are limited data to support their use in HCM. We sought to describe the pattern of use, thromboembolic events, bleeding and quality of life in patients with HCM and AF treated with NOACs.

Expression of Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Proteins in epicardial adipose tissue in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus: preliminary study.

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP) genes are crucial in lipid biosynthesis and cardiovascular homeostasis. Their expression in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and their influence in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and type-2 diabetes mellitus remain to be determined. The aim of our study was to evaluate the expression of SREBP genes in EAT in patients with CAD according to diabetes status and its association with clinical and biochemical data.

Prevalence of comorbidities and the prognostic value of the PROFUND index in a hospital cardiology unit.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to understand the prevalence of comorbidities and the usefulness of the PROFUND index for the prognostic stratification of patients with comorbidities in a hospital cardiology unit.

Patients And Methods: We consecutively analysed all patients hospitalized in 2012 in the department of cardiology. We recorded the comorbidities, length of stay, hospital mortality, Charlson indices and PROFUND indices.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with decreased PGC1α expression in epicardial adipose tissue of patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Although recent studies indicate that epicardial adipose tissue expresses brown fat-like genes, such as PGC1α, UCP1 and PRDM16, the association of these genes with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unknown.

Methods: PGC1α, UCP1, and PRDM16 mRNAs expression levels were measured by real-time PCR in epicardial and thoracic subcutaneous adipose tissue from 44 CAD patients (22 with DM2 [CAD-DM2] and 22 without DM2 [CAD-NDM2]) and 23 non-CAD patients (NCAD).

Results: The CAD-DM2 patients had significantly lower PGC1α and UCP1 expression in epicardial adipose tissue than the CAD-NDM2 and NCAD patients.

Infective endocarditis in patients with bicuspid aortic valve: Clinical characteristics, complications, and prognosis.

Introduction: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most frequent congenital cardiac disease. It is associated to a higher risk of cardiovascular complications, including infective endocarditis (IE).

Methods: Retrospective, observational and single centre study that included all patients with IE diagnosed between 1996 and 2014.