Reactive Vasodilation Predicts Mortality in Primary Systemic Light-Chain Amyloidosis.

Cardiac involvement and hypotension dominate the prognosis of light-chain amyloidosis (AL). Evidence suggests that there is also peripheral vascular involvement in AL but its prognostic significance is unknown. To evaluate vascular dysfunction in patients with AL as a potential future area of intervention, we assessed the prognostic utility of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), a marker of vascular reactivity, which is augmented under conditions of hypotension and autonomic dysfunction.

Breakthroughs in the treatment of advanced squamous-cell NSCLC: not the neglected sibling anymore?

During the last years, translational research has contributed in many advances in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) discovering genetic alternations or recognizing the immuno-escape and neo-angiogenesis of lung cancer. Although the majority of these advances took place in the non-squamous histological subtype, therapeutic options for patients diagnosed with advanced squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC) have been also enriched significantly with the addition of nab-paclitaxel in the conventional chemotherapy; the introduction of necitumumab, afatinib and erlotinib in the inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) axis and of ramucirumab in the inhibition of VEGF-induced angiogenesis and last with the approvals of nivolumab, pembrolizumab atezolizumab and durvalumab soon in the promising field of immunotherapies. Agents targeted various other pathways including FGFR, IGF-1, PI3K, CDK4/6, MET and PARP inhibitors are under investigation in order to open new prospects in the treatment of SqCLC.

Acute and long-term hemodynamic effects of sesame oil consumption in hypertensive men.

The possible effects of sesame oil on hemodynamics are unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate the acute and long-term effects of sesame oil on hemodynamic responses in hypertensive men. The authors enrolled 30 hypertensive men in a two-phase study.

Arterial wave reflections during the menstrual cycle of healthy women: a reproducibility study.

Increased wave reflection is an independent factor associated with cardiovascular diseases, risk, and mortality. The influence of the menstrual cycle on wave reflections and particularly on the reproducibility of their measurement has never been examined. The aim of the present study was to examine the reproducibility and variability of wave reflection indices in premenopausal healthy women during their menstrual cycle.