Blood glucose and lactate levels as early predictive markers in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock: A retrospective cohort study.

Lactate and glucose are widely used biochemical parameters in current predictive risk scores for cardiogenic shock. Data regarding the relationship between lactate and glucose levels in cardiogenic shock are limited. Thus, we aimed to analyze glucose and lactate as early markers for in-hospital mortality in cardiogenic shock.

Mortality prediction of the frailty syndrome in patients with severe mitral regurgitation.

In this prospective observational study, we investigated the impact of geriatric syndromes and frailty on mortality and evaluated the prognostic value of different frailty, nutritional, and geriatric assessment tools in high-risk patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR) who were evaluated for mitral valve therapies including surgical, interventional, and conservative treatment options. We prospectively assessed multiple parameters including the CONUT Score, the Katz Index of independence in activities of daily living (ADL), the Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP), and the Essential Frailty Toolset (EFT) Score in 127 patients with severe symptomatic MR requiring surgical/interventional treatment versus conservative monitoring. We compared their predictive value on mortality including multivariate regression analysis to identify the most suitable tool to predict outcomes in these patient groups.

The lncRNA MRPL20-AS1 is associated with severe OSAS and downregulated upon hypoxic injury of endothelial cells.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is the most common sleep disorder in humans. Although OSAS is clearly related to arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure, it remains unknown through which pathomechanisms OSAS influences cardiovascular health. Recent research has pinpointed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) as important molecular mediators of various cardiovascular pathologies.

Circulating MicroRNA-122-5p Is Associated With a Lack of Improvement in Left Ventricular Function After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Regulates Viability of Cardiomyocytes Through Extracellular Vesicles.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a well-established treatment option for high- and intermediate-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. A majority of patients exhibit improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after TAVR in response to TAVR-associated afterload reduction. However, a specific role for circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in the improvement of cardiac function for patients after TAVR has not yet been investigated.

3D-speckle-tracking echocardiography correlates with cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of acute myocarditis - An observational study.

Background: The diagnostic importance of three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking strain-imaging echocardiography in patients with acute myocarditis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic performance of 3D-speckle-tracking echocardiography compared to CMR (cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging) for the diagnosis of acute myocarditis.

Methods And Results: 45 patients with clinically suspected myocarditis were enrolled in our study (29% female, mean age: 43.

Analysis of nocturnal, hypoxia-induced miRNAs in sleep apnea patients.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. The underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are RNAs circulating in the blood that can be released into the bloodstream during hypoxia.

NcRNAs in Vascular and Valvular Intercellular Communication.

Non-coding RNAs have been shown to be important biomarkers and mediators of many different disease entities, including cardiovascular (CV) diseases like atherosclerosis, aneurysms, and valvulopathies. Growing evidence suggests a central role of ncRNAs as regulators of different pathological pathways involved in endothelial dysfunction, cardiovascular inflammation, cell differentiation, and calcification. This review will discuss the role of protein-bound and extracellular vesicular-bound ncRNAs as biomarkers of vascular and valvular diseases, their role as intercellular communicators, and regulators of disease pathways and also highlights possible treatment strategies.

Inhibition of Rac1 GTPase Decreases Vascular Oxidative Stress, Improves Endothelial Function, and Attenuates Atherosclerosis Development in Mice.

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to atherogenesis. Rac1 GTPase regulates pro-oxidant NADPH oxidase activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, actin cytoskeleton organization and monocyte adhesion. We investigated the vascular effects of pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 GTPase in mice.

Large extracellular vesicles in the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation-the missing link?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmic disease in humans, which leads to thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage and stroke through peripheral embolization. Depending on their origin, large extracellular vesicles (lEVs) can exert pro-coagulant functions. In the present study, we investigated how different types of AF influence the levels of large EV subtypes in three distinct atrial localizations.

Vascular pathologies in chronic kidney disease: pathophysiological mechanisms and novel therapeutic approaches.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Both conditions are rising in incidence as well as prevalence, creating poor outcomes for patients and high healthcare costs. Recent data suggests CKD to be an independent risk factor for CVD.

AIM2 Stimulation Impairs Reendothelialization and Promotes the Development of Atherosclerosis in Mice.

Atherosclerosis has been shown to result from chronic inflammation caused by constitutive activation of the pattern recognition receptors (PRR), which are principle effectors of the innate immune system. PRR are present in the endosome or on the cellular membrane and can sense the aberrant release of nucleic acids, which is often a sign of acute or chronic cellular damage. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is a PRR that is expressed by vascular cells and specializes in detecting cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA).

The RNA-binding protein hnRNPU regulates the sorting of microRNA-30c-5p into large extracellular vesicles.

The transfer of microRNAs (miRs) via extracellular vesicles (EVs) is a functionally relevant mechanism of intercellular communication that regulates both organ homoeostasis and disease development. Little is known about the packaging of miRs into EVs. Previous studies have shown that certain miRs are exported by RNA-binding proteins into small EVs, while for other miRs and for large EVs, in general, the export mechanisms remain unclear.

MicroRNAs As Master Regulators of Atherosclerosis: From Pathogenesis to Novel Therapeutic Options.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that atherosclerosis and its sequelae, coronary artery disease, contribute to the majority of cardiovascular deaths. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arteries in which atherosclerotic plaques form within the vessel wall.

Aortic Valve Stenosis: From Basic Mechanisms to Novel Therapeutic Targets.

Aortic valve stenosis is the most prevalent heart valve disease worldwide. Although interventional treatment options have rapidly improved in recent years, symptomatic aortic valve stenosis is still associated with high morbidity and mortality. Calcific aortic valve stenosis is characterized by a progressive fibro-calcific remodeling and thickening of the aortic valve cusps, which subsequently leads to valve obstruction.