Phosphatidic acid - a simple phospholipid with multiple faces.

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is the simplest glycerophospholipid naturally occurring in living organisms, and even though its content among other cellular lipids is minor, it is drawing more and more attention due to its multiple biological functions. PA is a precursor for other phospholipids, acts as a lipid second messenger and, due to its structural properties, is also a modulator of membrane shape. Although much is known about interaction of PA with its effectors, the molecular mechanisms remain unresolved to a large degree.

Hypertension update, JNC8 and beyond.

Hypertension is the most preventable major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The etiology of elevated blood pressure is a complex process involving the interaction of genetics, demographics, comorbid disorders, and environmental influences. Effective hypertensive therapy has been shown to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Incidence and mortality of bullous pemphigoid in north-east Poland (Podlaskie Province), 1999-2012: a retrospective bicentric cohort study.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most frequently encountered autoimmune blistering disorder, affecting mainly elderly population. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of BP in Podlaskie Province (north-east Poland) in 1999-2012, socio-demographic characteristics and mortality of patients with BP.

Methods: The number of newly diagnosed (in two regional hospitals) cases of BP per million inhabitants of the province in consecutive years was calculated and analysis of age, sex, and residency of patients performed.

α₁A-adrenergic receptors regulate cardiac hypertrophy in vivo through interleukin-6 secretion.

The role of α₁-adrenergic receptors (ARs) in the regulation of cardiac hypertrophy is still unclear, because transgenic mice demonstrated hypertrophy or the lack of it despite high receptor overexpression. To further address the role of the α₁-ARs in cardiac hypertrophy, we analyzed unique transgenic mice that overexpress constitutively active mutation (CAM) α₁A-ARs or CAM α₁B-ARs under the regulation of large fragments of their native promoters. These constitutively active receptors are expressed in all tissues that endogenously express their wild-type counterparts as opposed to only myocyte-targeted transgenic mice.

The results of severe acute pancreatitis treatment with continuous regional arterial infusion of protease inhibitor and antibiotic: a randomized controlled study.

Objectives: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to clarify whether continuous regional arterial infusion (CRAI) of protease inhibitor and antibiotic could reduce mortality rate of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with SAP were included in the study. Thirty-nine patients were treated with CRAI, 31 patients completed the study; and another group of 39 patients was treated without CRAI therapy.