Long noncoding RNA MALAT1 in dermatologic disorders: a comprehensive review.

Dermatologic disorders, affecting the integumentary system, involve diverse molecular mechanisms such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation and immune responses. Long noncoding RNAs, particularly Metastasis-Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1 (MALAT1), are crucial regulators of gene expression. MALAT1 influences inflammatory responses, immune cell function and signaling pathways, impacting various physiological and pathological processes, including dermatologic disorders.

LncRNA MALAT1 in Keratinocyte function: A review of recent advances.

Keratinocytes, the principal epidermal cells, play a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the skin. Beyond their protective role, keratinocytes are key contributors to the process of wound healing, as they migrate to injury sites, proliferate, and generate new layers of epidermis, facilitating tissue repair and remodeling. Moreover, keratinocytes actively participate in the skin's immune responses, expressing pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect microbial components and interact with immune cells to influence adaptive immunity.

C-Reactive Protein: The Quintessential Marker of Systemic Inflammation in Coronary Artery Disease-Advancing toward Precision Medicine.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. While conventional risk factors have been studied and managed, CVD continues to pose a global threat. Risk scoring systems based on these factors have been developed to predict acute coronary syndromes and guide therapeutic interventions.

Diagnostic Performance of Serum MicroRNAs for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the Emergency Department.

Prompt diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is essential for initiating timely treatment. MicroRNAs have recently emerged as biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the discriminatory capacity of serum microRNAs in identifying an ischemic origin in patients presenting with chest discomfort to the Emergency Department.

rs8259T>A Variant Confers Susceptibility to COVID-19 Infection within the Mexican Population.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe respiratory failure. Nowadays, extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), also known as cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147) or BASIGIN, has been studied as enabling viral entry and replication within host cells.

Beneficial Effects of Plant-Based Diets on Skin Health and Inflammatory Skin Diseases.

The human skin is a crucial organ that protects the organism from the outer environment. Skin integrity and health depend on both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors such as aging and genetic background contribute to weakened skin and disease susceptibility.

Interleukin-17 and Tumor Necrosis Factor Show a Functional Hierarchy to Regulate the Production of Matrix Metalloproteases by Monocytes from Patients with Psoriasis.

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) regulate tissue remodeling through matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It is not yet clear whether these cytokines have a functional hierarchy in psoriasis. Serum levels of TNF (1,403 versus 1,058 pg/mL), IL-17 (1,528 versus 820 pg/mL), MMP-1 (1,999 versus 1,039 pg/mL), and MMP-9 (1,950 versus 1,561 pg/mL) were higher in psoriasis subjects ( = 60) than in control subjects ( = 60).

The prognostic importance of the angiotensin II/angiotensin-(1-7) ratio in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Information about angiotensin II (Ang II), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and Ang-(1-7) levels in patients with COVID-19 is scarce.

Objective: To characterize the Ang II-ACE2-Ang-(1-7) axis in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection to understand its role in pathogenesis and prognosis.

Methods: Patients greater than 18 years diagnosed with COVID-19, based on clinical findings and positive RT-PCR test, who required hospitalization and treatment were included.

Association of the Heart Rate Variability Response to Active Standing with the Severity of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease: Novel Insights of a Neurocardiovascular Pathology.

The aim of this work was to obtain insights of the participation of the autonomic nervous system in different stages of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Studying subjects with no valve impairments and CAVD patients, we also sought to quantify the independent contribution or explanatory capacity of the aortic valve echocardiographic parameters involved in the HRV changes caused by active standing using hierarchical partitioning models to consider other variables or potential confounders. We detected smaller adjustments of the cardiac autonomic response at active standing caused specifically by the aortic valve deterioration.

Elevated Levels of Soluble CD147 are Associated with Hyperinflammation and Disease Severity in COVID-19: A Proof-of-Concept Clinical Study.

To evaluate soluble CD147 levels in COVID-19 and identify whether these are associated with hyperinflammation and disease severity. One-hundred and nine COVID-19 patients and 72 healthy blood donors were studied. Levels of CD147, matrix metalloproteases (MMP) and inflammatory markers were measured on hospital arrival, while the need for mechanical ventilation and the occurrence of death during hospitalization were recorded.

Usefulness of Easy-to-Use Risk Scoring Systems Rated in the Emergency Department to Predict Major Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Several easy-to-use risk scoring systems have been built to identify patients at risk of developing complications associated with COVID-19. However, information about the ability of each score to early predict major adverse outcomes during hospitalization of severe COVID-19 patients is still scarce.

Methods: Eight risk scoring systems were rated upon arrival at the Emergency Department, and the occurrence of thrombosis, need for mechanical ventilation, death, and a composite that included all major adverse outcomes were assessed during the hospital stay.

Cardiac Autonomic Response to Active Standing in Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Aortic stenosis is a progressive heart valve disorder characterized by calcification of the leaflets. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis has been proposed for assessing the heart response to autonomic activity, which is documented to be altered in different cardiac diseases. The objective of the study was to evaluate changes of HRV in patients with aortic stenosis by an active standing challenge.

Serum of Patients with Psoriasis Modulates the Production of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in Cells of Monocytic Lineage.

Psoriasis is triggered by several stimuli that share a systemic production of interferon (IFN)-γ and other inflammatory mediators, which are key to regulate the production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and its inhibitor (TIMP)-1 by cells of monocytic lineage. This study evaluates the effect of the sera of 55 patients with psoriasis and 41 non-psoriatic individuals on the production of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in cultured monocytes from a single healthy blood donor and in U937 cells. The effect of IFN-γ stimulation was also evaluated.

Cytidine-5'-Diphosphocholine Protects the Liver From Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Preserving Mitochondrial Function and Reducing Oxidative Stress.

Cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) participates as an intermediary in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, an essential component of cellular membranes. Citicoline treatment has shown beneficial effects in cerebral ischemia, but its potential to diminish reperfusion damage in liver has not been explored. In this work, we evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of citicoline and its possible association with inflammatory/oxidative stress and mitochondrial function because they are the main cellular features of reperfusion damage.

Acute coronary syndrome and acute kidney injury: role of inflammation in worsening renal function.

Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), a common complication of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), is associated with higher mortality and longer hospital stays. The role of cytokines and other mediators is unknown in AKI induced by an ACS (ACS-AKI), leading to several unanswered questions. The worsening of renal function is usually seen as a dichotomous phenomenon instead of a dynamic change, so evaluating changes of the renal function in time may provide valuable information in the ACS-AKI setting.

Interferon-gamma increases the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase-9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in peripheral monocytes from patients with coronary artery disease.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) may be triggered by acute infections. Systemic production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is induced during infection and regulates the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs), both important in plaque stability. This study evaluates the effect of IFN-γ on the MMPs/TIMP-1 ratio in cultured monocytes from 30 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), 30 with unstable angina (UA) or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and 30 healthy blood donors.

Frequency and clinical significance of a variety of autoantibodies in patients with definite infective endocarditis.

Background: Patients with infective endocarditis (IE) may present rheumatic manifestations concurrent with autoantibodies with low specificity, thus increasing misdiagnosis. Frequency of autoantibodies with high specificity remains unknown.

Methods: Nineteen patients with definite IE were studied for low specificity (rheumatoid factor [RF], antinuclear antibodies, anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, anti-ribonucleoproteins (anti-RNP) anticardiolipin [aCL], and anti-β2 glycoprotein 1) and high specificity (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides [anti-CCPs], anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Sm, anti-Scl70, and anticentromere) antibodies.

C-reactive protein and complement components but not other acute-phase reactants discriminate between clinical subsets and organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by tissue injury mediated by inflammatory mechanisms. Nonetheless, several acute-phase proteins may remain normal or are decreased. We explore the association of diverse biomarkers with selected clinical features, disease activity, and organ damage in SLE.

In vivo assessment of hemocompatibility of a ventricular assist device in healthy swine.

Objective: To assess the hemocompatible performance of a novel implantable pneumatic ventricular assist device (VAD, Innovamédica, México) in healthy swine. The aim of this pilot study was first, to determine if short-term VAD implantation elicited remarkable inflammatory response above that expected from surgical trauma; and second, to assess if heparinized or passivated VAD coatings, in combination with systemic anticoagulant or antiaggregant therapies, modified the VAD's hemocompatible performance.

Methods: Hemodynamic, physicologic, inflammatory and histological parameters were measured in 27 pigs receiving VAD support for six hours, testing combinations of heparinized or passivated VAD coatings and systemic anticoagulant/ antiaggregant therapies.

DcR3 as a diagnostic parameter and risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus.

In this study, we investigated the diagnostic value of serum death decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The possible pathogenic role of DcR3 in SLE was also assessed. Serum DcR3 levels of 90 SLE patients, 11 patients with rheumatic conditions and 123 healthy controls were determined by ELISA.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene haplotypes in Mexican and Spanish patients with fibromyalgia.

Autonomic dysfunction is frequent in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Heart rate variability analyses have demonstrated signs of ongoing sympathetic hyperactivity. Catecholamines are sympathetic neurotransmitters.

Presence of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides in patients with 'rhupus': a cross-sectional study.

'Rhupus' is a rare condition sharing features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). If rhupus is a distinctive entity, an overlap between RA and SLE or a subset of SLE is currently debated. This study was performed to explore the prevalence of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP antibodies) in rhupus.