Pathophysiologic mechanisms of lupus-induced myocardial injury elucidated by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Various pathophysiologic mechanisms may account for lupus-induced myocardial injury. Understanding the distinctions in the underlying disease process helps recognize variable clinical presentations and implement appropriate therapies. This report describes lupus-induced myocardial injury in three men less than 40 years old with diverse pathophysiologic mechanisms and presentations including acute myopericarditis with microvascular obstruction, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and chronic myocarditis with systolic heart failure.

Updates on Baroreflex Activation Therapy and Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

In the last decade, neuromodulation via baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as an innovative approach for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). A review of the literature was conducted to examine the latest efficacy and safety data on neuromodulation for the treatment of HFrEF. Two independent researchers searched the PubMed, clinicaltrials.

Evaluating the Toxicity/Fixation Balance for Corneal Cross-Linking With Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (SMG) and Riboflavin-UVA (CXL) in an Ex Vivo Rabbit Model Using Confocal Laser Scanning Fluorescence Microscopy.

Purpose: To develop methods to delineate the relationship between endothelial cell toxicity and tissue fixation (toxicity/fixation) using sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (SMG), a formaldehyde releaser, and riboflavin-UVA photochemical corneal cross-linking (CXL) for therapeutic tissue cross-linking of the cornea.

Methods: Eleven fresh cadaveric rabbit heads were used for ex vivo corneal cross-linking simulation. After epithelial debridement, the tissue was exposed to 1/4 max (9.

An Evaluation of Lysyl Oxidase-Derived Cross-Linking in Keratoconus by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry.

Purpose: Current literature contains scant information regarding the extent of enzymatic collagen cross-linking in the keratoconus (KC) cornea. The aim of the present study was to examine levels of enzymatic lysyl oxidase-derived cross-links in stromal collagen in KC tissue, and to correlate the cross-link levels with collagen fibril stability as determined by thermal denaturation temperature (Tm).

Methods: Surgical KC samples (n = 17) and Eye-Bank control (n = 11) corneas of age 18 to 68 years were analyzed.

Cosmetic preservatives as therapeutic corneal and scleral tissue cross-linking agents.

Purpose: Previously, aliphatic β-nitroalcohols (BNAs) have been studied as a means to chemically induce tissue cross-linking (TXL) of cornea and sclera. There are a number of related and possibly more potent agents, known as formaldehyde releasers (FARs), that are in commercial use as preservatives in cosmetics and other personal care products. The present study was undertaken in order to screen such compounds for potential clinical utility as therapeutic TXL agents.