Association of free fatty acid binding protein with central aortic stiffness, myocardial dysfunction and preserved ejection fraction heart failure.

There is an established link between cardiometabolic abnormality, central arterial stiffness, and preserved ejection fraction heart failure (HFpEF). Adipocyte free fatty acid binding protein (a-FABP) has been shown to signal endothelial dysfunction through fatty acid toxicity, though its role in mediating ventricular-arterial dysfunction remains unclear. We prospectively examined the associations of a-FABP with central arterial pressure using non-invasive applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor) and cardiac structure/function (i.

Carotid arterial mechanics as useful biomarker of extracellular matrix turnover and preserved ejection fraction heart failure.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the functional alterations, diagnostic utilization, and prognostic implication of carotid arterial deformations in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors and heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods And Results: Among 251 prospectively participants (mean age 66.0 ± 9.

Segmental arterial stiffness in relation to B-type natriuretic peptide with preserved systolic heart function.

Background: Central arterial stiffness has been shown to play a key role in cardiovascular disease. However, evidence regarding such arterial stiffness from various arterial segments in relation to B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) remains elusive.

Methods: A total of 1255 participants (47.

Gender-differences in the associations between circulating creatine kinase, blood pressure, body mass and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in asymptomatic asians.

Background: Creatine kinase (CK) is a pivotal regulatory enzyme in energy metabolism linked to both blood pressure and cardio-metabolic components. However, data is lacking in a large population of asymptomatic Asians.

Methods And Results: Cardio-metabolic assessment including anthropometric measures and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated by abdominal echo in 4,562 consecutive subjects who underwent an annual health survey.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase β, phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of magnesium sulfate.

Background: We previously demonstrated that inhibiting phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) or activating L-type calcium channels blocked the anti-inflammatory effects of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄). However, the question as which class I PI3K isoform (PI3Kα, PI3Kβ, PI3Kδ, or PI3Kγ) is involved in this regard remains unstudied. The question as whether MgSO₄ and L-type calcium channels interact to influence PI3K activation also remains unstudied.

Angiotensin Receptor Blockades Effect on Peripheral Muscular and Central Aortic Arterial Stiffness: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Systematic Review.

Background: Previous clinical trials have demonstrated the impact of blocking upstream renin-angiotensin-axis with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) on arterial stiffness as evaluated by pulse-wave velocity (PWV). We ran a meta-analysis to evaluate the anti-stiffness effect of powerful downstream angiotensin receptor blockades (ARBs) on peripheral and central arterial stiffness (brachial to ankle, ba-PWV; carotid to femoral, cf-PWV, respectively), using a systematic review to assess the clinical arterial stiffness issues.

Methods: For our study, we searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases from inception to June 2013, targeting randomized controlled trials.

Comparison of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by serotype 19A and non-19A pneumococci in children: more empyema in serotype 19A invasive pneumococcal disease.

Objective: To delineate whether serotype 19A invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) comprised significantly more necrotizing pneumonia and empyema in children, we compared the clinical characteristics between serotype 19A and non-19A IPD.

Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2011, cases of children with IPD who were treated at the National Taiwan University Hospital were reviewed. Patients were assigned to the 19A group or the non-19A group based on the serotype.

Multiplexed immunoassay: quantitation and profiling of serum biomarkers using magnetic nanoprobes and MALDI-TOF MS.

Taking advantage of efficient affinity extraction by surface-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and accurate MALDI-TOF MS readout, we present a multiplexed immunoassay for simultaneous enrichment and quantitation of multiple disease-associated antigens, serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum amyloid P (SAP) from human serum. To obtain reproducible MALDI signal response with direct on-MNP detection, the seed-layer method improved homogeneity of the cocrystallization of MNPs and captured antigens. Our methodology demonstrated good quantitation linearity of targeted analytes (R(2) approximately 0.

Inhibition of toll-like receptor-4, nuclear factor-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase by lignocaine may involve voltage-sensitive sodium channels.

We have shown previously that lignocaine inhibits the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a crucial factor that initiates the systemic inflammatory response during sepsis, possibly through voltage-sensitive sodium channels (VSSC). Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) participate in the upstream regulation of iNOS expression induced by endotoxin. In the present study, we investigated the effects of lignocaine in the regulation of the expression of these enzymes.

Torsade de pointes in severe aortic stenosis: case report.

Aortic stenosis (AS) can develop in a congenitally bicuspid aortic valve, or as the result of an age-related calcific degenerative disease process. Although sudden death occurs in about 20% of patients dying of AS, the mechanisms involved are not well documented. The case is reported of a 67-year-old man who experienced progressive dyspnea and persistent chest tightness for over 60 min after mountain climbing.

Vasodilatation induced by sinomenine lowers blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. Sinomenine is an alkaloid with a wide range of pharmacological actions. In the present study, we investigated the effect of sinomenine on blood pressure and its possible mechanisms of action.

Reduced expression of endothelial connexins 43 and 37 in hypertensive rats is rectified after 7-day carvedilol treatment.

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the response of endothelial connexins to hypertension and antihypertensive drugs.

Methods: Rats remained normotensive (group 1, N = 10) or were made hypertensive using N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (groups 2 to 4, N = 10/group). Seven weeks later groups 3 and 4 were respectively fed atenolol or carvedilol daily for 7 days and the aortic endothelial gap junctions were analyzed.

Upregulation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor contributes to induced N-Myc expression by the activation of ERK signaling pathway and increased expression of interleukin-8 and VEGF in neuroblastoma.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been linked to fundamental processes such as control of cell proliferation, cell survival, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. The expression of MIF has been reported in several tumors. However, the precise role of MIF in tumor cells remains unclear.

Chromobacterium violaceum infection in children: a case of fatal septicemia with nasopharyngeal abscess and literature review.

This previously healthy 5-year-old boy initially presented with fever and purulent conjunctivitis. The course evolved rapidly into preseptal and facial cellulitis, nasopharyngeal abscess and sepsis. Chromobacterium violaceum was isolated from conjunctival exudate and blood cultures.