Essential Role of the RIα Subunit of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase in Regulating Cardiac Contractility and Heart Failure Development.

Background: The heart expresses 2 main subtypes of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA; type I and II) that differ in their regulatory subunits, RIα and RIIα. Embryonic lethality of RIα knockout mice limits the current understanding of type I PKA function in the myocardium. The objective of this study was to test the role of RIα in adult heart contractility and pathological remodeling.

Two-pore channels (TPCs) acts as a hub for excitation-contraction coupling, metabolism and cardiac hypertrophy signalling.

Ca signaling is essential for cardiac contractility and excitability in heart function and remodeling. Intriguingly, little is known about the role of a new family of ion channels, the endo-lysosomal non-selective cation "two-pore channel" (TPCs) in heart function. Here we have used double TPC knock-out mice for the 1 and 2 isoforms of TPCs (Tpcn1/2) and evaluated their cardiac function.

Fast gradient algorithm for complex ICA and its application to the MIMO systems.

This paper proposes a new gradient-descent algorithm for complex independent component analysis and presents its application to the Multiple-Input Multiple-Output communication systems. Algorithm uses the Lie structure of optimization landscape and toral decomposition of gradient matrix. The theoretical results are validated by computer simulation and compared to several classes of algorithms, gradient descent, quasi-Newton as well as complex JADE.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes as an electrophysiological model: Opportunities and challenges-The Hamburg perspective.

Models based on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are proposed in almost any field of physiology and pharmacology. The development of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes is expected to become a step forward to increase the translational power of cardiovascular research. Importantly they should allow to study genetic effects on an electrophysiological background close to the human situation.

Phosphodiesterases type 2, 3 and 4 promote vascular tone in mesenteric arteries from rats with heart failure.

Phosphodiesterases (PDE) type 3 and 4 promote vasoconstriction by hydrolysing cAMP. In experimental heart failure (HF), PDE3 makes PDE4 redundant in aorta, but it is not known if this occurs in resistance vessels, such as mesenteric artery. As PDE2 is increased in the failing myocardium, its possible role in the vasculature also needs to be addressed.

Machine learning-based scoring system to predict in-hospital outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Background: The evolution of patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still hard to predict, even after several months of dealing with the pandemic.

Aims: To develop and validate a score to predict outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods: All consecutive adults hospitalized for COVID-19 from February to April 2020 were included in a nationwide observational study.

D-dimer, BNP/NT-pro-BNP, and creatinine are reliable decision-making biomarkers in life-sustaining therapies withholding and withdrawing during COVID-19 outbreak.

Background: The decision for withholding and withdrawing of life-sustaining treatments (LSTs) in COVID-19 patients is currently based on a collegial and mainly clinical assessment. In the context of a global pandemic and overwhelmed health system, the question of LST decision support for COVID-19 patients using prognostic biomarkers arises.

Methods: In a multicenter study in 24 French hospitals, 2878 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in medical departments from 26 February to 20 April 2020 were included.

Cardiovascular manifestations secondary to COVID-19: A narrative review.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread rapidly, becoming a major threat to global health. In addition to having required the adaptation of healthcare workers for almost 2 years, it has been much talked about, both in the media and among the scientific community. Beyond lung damage and respiratory symptoms, the involvement of the cardiovascular system largely explains COVID-19 morbimortality.

Clinical Utility of β-Adrenoreceptor Agonists for the Treatment of Overactive Bladder: A Review of the Evidence and Current Recommendations.

This nonsystematic review provides a summary of current evidence on the use of β-adrenoreceptor agonists (β-ARAs) for the treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms. Soon after their discovery in 1989, β-ARs were identified as a predominant adrenoreceptor subtype in the human urinary bladder. Although it is widely believed that β-ARAs cause detrusor relaxation, the effect on bladder afferent signaling likely plays an important role in their mechanism of action as well.

Phosphodiesterase type 4 anchoring regulates cAMP signaling to Popeye domain-containing proteins.

Cyclic AMP is a ubiquitous second messenger used to transduce intracellular signals from a variety of Gs-coupled receptors. Compartmentalisation of protein intermediates within the cAMP signaling pathway underpins receptor-specific responses. The cAMP effector proteins protein-kinase A and EPAC are found in complexes that also contain phosphodiesterases whose presence ensures a coordinated cellular response to receptor activation events.

Intermediate- vs. Standard-Dose Prophylactic Anticoagulation in Patients With COVID-19 Admitted in Medical Ward: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Microthrombosis and large-vessel thrombosis are the main triggers of COVID-19 worsening. The optimal anticoagulant regimen in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in medical wards remains unknown. To evaluate the effects of intermediate-dose vs.

Cardiac Phosphodiesterases Are Differentially Increased in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Aim: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) accomodates a spectrum of cardiac abnormalities. This study aims to investigate whether DCM is associated with changes in cyclic adenosine 3'-5' monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, particularly cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs).

Main Methods: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg) injection.

Cyclic nucleotide signaling and pacemaker activity.

The sinoatrial node (SAN) is the natural pacemaker of the heart, producing the electrical impulse that initiates every heart beat. Its activity is tightly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, and by circulating and locally released factors. Neurohumoral regulation of heart rate plays a crucial role in the integration of vital functions and influences behavior and ability to respond to changing environmental conditions.

Characteristics and impact of cardiovascular comorbidities on coronavirus disease 2019 in women: A multicentre cohort study.

Background: Although women account for up to half of patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), no specific data have been reported in this population.

Aims: To assess the burden and impact of cardiovascular comorbidities in women with COVID-19.

Methods: All consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 across 24 hospitals from 26 February to 20 April 2020 were included.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in France: The Critical COVID-19 France (CCF) study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a public health crisis. Only limited data are available on the characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in France.

Aims: To investigate the characteristics, cardiovascular complications and outcomes of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in France.

History of heart failure in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: Insights from a French registry.

Background: Although cardiovascular comorbidities seem to be strongly associated with worse outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), data regarding patients with preexisting heart failure are limited.

Aims: To investigate the incidence, characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 with a history of heart failure with preserved or reduced ejection fraction.

Methods: We performed an observational multicentre study including all patients hospitalized for COVID-19 across 24 centres in France from 26 February to 20 April 2020.

Prognostic value of right ventricular dilatation in patients with COVID-19: a multicentre study.

Aims: Although cardiac involvement has prognostic significance in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is associated with severe forms, few studies have explored the prognostic role of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). We investigated the link between TTE parameters and prognosis in COVID-19.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 24 French hospitals were retrospectively included.

D-dimer at hospital admission for COVID-19 are associated with in-hospital mortality, independent of venous thromboembolism: Insights from a French multicenter cohort study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with coagulation disorders, in particular high concentrations of D-dimer, and increased frequency of venous thromboembolism.

Aim: To explore the association between D-dimer at admission and in-hospital mortality in patients hospitalised for COVID-19, with or without symptomatic venous thromboembolism.

Methods: From 26 February to 20 April 2020, D-dimer concentration at admission and outcomes (in-hospital mortality and venous thromboembolism) of patients hospitalised for COVID-19 in medical wards were retrospectively analysed in a multicenter study in 24 French hospitals.

Association of diabetes and outcomes in patients with COVID-19: Propensity score-matched analyses from a French retrospective cohort.

Background: Our study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with and without diabetes admitted to hospital with COVID-19.

Methods: This retrospective multicentre cohort study comprised 24 tertiary medical centres in France, and included 2851 patients (675 with diabetes) hospitalized for COVID-19 between 26 February and 20 April 2020. A propensity score-matching (PSM) method (1:1 matching including patients' characteristics, medical history, vital statistics and laboratory results) was used to compare patients with and without diabetes (n = 603 per group).

Cutting Force during Surface Layer Milling of Selected Aluminium Alloys.

This paper presents the analysis of cutting force during surface layer milling of selected aluminium alloys, which are widely used in the aviation industry. The cutting force is one of the most important parameters determining the machinability of the material and also provides important information about the course of the cutting. The study analysed the influence of the technological parameters, i.

COVID-19 severity in kidney transplant recipients is similar to nontransplant patients with similar comorbidities.

Higher rates of severe COVID-19 have been reported in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) compared to nontransplant patients. We aimed to determine if poorer outcomes were specifically related to chronic immunosuppression or underlying comorbidities. We used a 1:1 propensity score-matching method to compare survival and severe disease-free survival (defined as death and/or need for intensive care unit [ICU]) incidence in hospitalized KTRs and nontransplant control patients between February 26 and May 22, 2020.