Chemerin is a new sex-specific target in aortic stenosis concomitant with diabetes regulated by the aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor axis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of aortic stenosis (AS) and worsens its pathophysiology in a sex-specific manner. Aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor (Aldo/MR) pathway participates in early stages of AS and in other diabetic-related cardiovascular complications. We aim to identify new sex-specific Aldo/MR targets in AS complicated with DM.

Sex Differences in Aortic Valve Inflammation and Remodeling in Chronic Severe Aortic Regurgitation.

Aortic regurgitation (AR) is more prevalent in male, although cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the sex differences in prevalence and pathophysiology are unknown. This study evaluates the impact of sex on aortic valve (AV) inflammation and remodeling as well as the cellular differences in valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and valvular endothelial cells (VECs) in patients with AR. A total of 144 patients (27.

Novel protocol for the transcriptomic analysis of endothelial extracellular vesicles in atherosclerosis.

Introduction: Despite the key role of the endothelium in atherosclerosis, there are no direct techniques for its analysis. The study of extracellular vesicles of endothelial origin (EEVs), might lead to the identification of molecular signatures and early biomarkers of atherosclerosis. The aim of this work was to set up the methods for EEVs separation and transcriptomic analysis.

Diagnostic Performance of Serum Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein 1 in Pediatric Acute Appendicitis: A Prospective Validation Study.

Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1(LRG-1) is a human protein that has shown potential usefulness as a biomarker for diagnosing pediatric acute appendicitis (PAA). This study aims to validate the diagnostic performance of serum LRG-1 in PAA. This work is a subgroup analysis from BIDIAP (BIomarkers for DIagnosing Appendicitis in Pediatrics), a prospective single-center observational cohort, to validate serum LRG-1 as a diagnostic tool in PAA.

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist eplerenone and MR modulator balcinrenone prevent renal extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammation via the MR/proteoglycan/TLR4 pathway.

Excessive activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is implicated in cardiovascular and renal disease. Decreasing MR activation with MR antagonists (MRA) is effective to slow chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and its cardiovascular comorbidities in animal models and patients. The present study evaluates the effects of the MR modulator balcinrenone and the MRA eplerenone on kidney damage in a metabolic CKD mouse model combining nephron reduction and a 60% high-fat diet.

Neuropilin-1 sex-dependently modulates inflammatory, angiogenic and osteogenic phenotypes in the calcifying valve interstitial cell.

The pathological mechanisms underlying the sex-dependent presentation of calcific aortic stenosis (AS) remain poorly understood. We aim to analyse sex-specific responses of valve interstitial cells (VICs) to calcific environments and to identify new pathological and potentially druggable targets. First, VICs from stenotic patients were modelled using pro-calcifying media (HP).

Sex-dependent expression of galectin-1, a cardioprotective β-galactoside-binding lectin, in human calcific aortic stenosis.

We aimed to analyze sex-related differences in galectin-1 (Gal-1), a β-galactoside-binding lectin, in aortic stenosis (AS) and its association with the inflammatory and fibrocalcific progression of AS. Gal-1 was determined in serum and aortic valves (AVs) from control and AS donors by western blot and immunohistochemistry. Differences were validated by ELISA and qPCR in AS samples.

Albumin Redox Modifications Promote Cell Calcification Reflecting the Impact of Oxidative Status on Aortic Valve Disease and Atherosclerosis.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are related cardiovascular diseases in which common mechanisms lead to tissue calcification. Oxidative stress plays a key role in these diseases and there is also evidence that the redox state of serum albumin exerts a significant influence on these conditions. To further explore this issue, we used multimarker scores (OxyScore and AntioxyScore) to assess the global oxidative status in patients with CAVD, with and without CAD, also evaluating their plasma thiol levels.

Sex-specific role of galectin-3 in aortic stenosis.

Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) is characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Men and women develop these mechanisms differently. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a pro-inflammatory and pro-osteogenic lectin in AS.

Role of LCN2 in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia and in peripheral artery disease patients, and its potential regulation by miR-138-5P.

Background And Aims: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a leading cause of morbimortality worldwide. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) has been associated with higher risk of amputation or mortality in PAD and might be involved in muscle regeneration. Our aim is to unravel the role of LCN2 in skeletal muscle repair and PAD.

Influence of diabetes mellitus on the pathological profile of aortic stenosis: a sex-based approach.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) accelerates the progression of aortic stenosis (AS), but how their underlying molecular mechanisms interact is not clear. Moreover, whether DM contributes to clinically relevant sex-differences in AS is unknown. In this work we aim to characterize the sex-specific profile of major pathological mechanisms fundamental to aortic valve (AV) degeneration in AS patients with or without concomitant DM.

Flow cytometric characterization of cecal appendix lymphocyte subpopulations in children: a pilot study.

Introduction: Scientific literature regarding the characterization of lymphocyte subpopulations of the cecal appendix is sparse, with few precedents limited to immunohistochemical techniques.

Methods: We conducted a prospective pilot study to characterize lymphocyte subpopulations of the cecal appendix in children. Participants were divided into three groups: (1) patients without histological acute appendiceal inflammation, (2) patients with histological uncomplicated acute appendicitis, and (3) patients with histological complicated acute appendicitis (gangrenous, perforated).

Lysyl oxidase-dependent extracellular matrix crosslinking modulates calcification in atherosclerosis and aortic valve disease.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an active player in cardiovascular calcification (CVC), a major public health issue with an unmet need for effective therapies. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) conditions ECM biomechanical properties; thus, we hypothesized that LOX might impact on mineral deposition in calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and atherosclerosis. LOX was upregulated in calcified valves from two cohorts of CAVD patients.

Post-Operative Increase in Serum Interleukin-6 Is Associated With Longer Hospital Stay in Children Operated on for Acute Appendicitis: A Pilot Study.

Pediatric acute appendicitis (PAA) involves a substantial consumption of health and economic resources. The identification of serum biomarkers that may help predict the post-surgical evolution of these patients is a field of great interest. This was a prospective, observational substudy within the Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Appendicitis in Pediatrics (BIDIAP) cohort aimed at evaluating the association between post-surgical increase in serum IL-6 and different outcomes related to the clinical evolution of children operated on for PAA.

PROX1 Inhibits PDGF-B Expression to Prevent Myxomatous Degeneration of Heart Valves.

Background: Cardiac valve disease is observed in 2.5% of the general population and 10% of the elderly people. Effective pharmacological treatments are currently not available, and patients with severe cardiac valve disease require surgery.

NGAL is a Novel Target in Hypertension by Modulating the NCC-Mediated Renal Na Balance.

Background: The expression of NGAL/lcn2 (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) is directly modulated by mineralocorticoid receptor activation but its role in blood pressure control is unclear.

Methods: a potential relationship between NGAL plasma levels, systolic blood pressure and urinary Na excretion was assessed in the STANISLAS cohort. The specific role of NGAL/lcn2 in salt-sensitive hypertension was studied using lcn2-knockout mice (lcn2 KO) fed with low-Na diet (0Na).

Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein as a non-invasive biomarker for pediatric acute appendicitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic performance of Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein (LRG1) in pediatric acute appendicitis (PAA). We conducted a systematic review of the literature in the main databases of medical bibliography. Two independent reviewers selected the articles and extracted relevant data.

The BIDIAP index: a clinical, analytical and ultrasonographic score for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children.

Background: Pediatric acute appendicitis (PAA) continues to be a diagnostic challenge today. The diagnostic performance of classical indices is only moderate, especially in pediatric population. This study aimed to define a clinical, radiological and analytical index for the diagnosis of PAA.

Coagulation Profile: Alterations and Diagnostic Yield in Pediatric Acute Appendicitis: A Prospective Validation Study.

The literature regarding alterations in the coagulation profile in pediatric acute appendicitis (PAA) is scarce and mainly limited to retrospective studies. Evidence on the diagnostic yield of coagulation parameters is limited to fibrinogen. This is a prospective study with 151 patients divided into two groups: patients with nonsurgical abdominal pain (NSAP) in whom the diagnosis of PAA was excluded (n = 53) and patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PAA (n = 98).

Soluble ST2 as a New Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Marker in Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex and prevalent disorder. Oxidative stress and inflammation might contribute to the progression of MS. Soluble ST2 (sST2) is an attractive and druggable molecule that sits at the interface between inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis.

Soluble ST2 levels are related to replacement myocardial fibrosis in severe aortic stenosis.

Introduction And Objectives: Patients with aortic stenosis (AS) exhibit left ventricular (LV) remodeling and replacement myocardial fibrosis (RMF). Whether sST2 is associated with RMF measured by cardiac magnetic resonance and with sex remains unknown.

Methods: We recruited 79 consecutive patients (73.