Determining bad actors: A linear mixed effects model approach to elucidate behavioral toxicity of metal mixtures in drinking water.

Mixtures of chemical contaminants can pose a significant health risk to humans and wildlife, even at levels considered safe for each individual chemical. There is a critical need to develop statistical methods to evaluate the drivers of toxic effects in chemical mixtures (i.e.

Epicardial adipose tissue and muscle distribution affect outcomes in very old patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Aims: To analyse the relevance of body composition and blood markers for long-term outcomes in very old patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods And Results: A total of 403 very old patients were characterized with regard to subcutaneous, visceral, and epicardial fat, psoas muscle area, plasma growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), and leptin. Cohorts grouped by body mass index (BMI) were analysed for long-term outcomes.

A common gene signature of the right ventricle in failing rat and human hearts.

The molecular mechanisms of progressive right heart failure are incompletely understood. In this study, we systematically examined transcriptomic changes occurring over months in isolated cardiomyocytes or whole heart tissues from failing right and left ventricles in rat models of pulmonary artery banding (PAB) or aortic banding (AOB). Detailed bioinformatics analyses resulted in the identification of gene signature, protein and transcription factor networks specific to ventricles and compensated or decompensated disease states.

Inhibition of MMP2 activity mitigates N-omega-nitro-l-arginine-methyl ester (l-NAME)-induced right heart failure.

In rats decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide induces oxidative stress and right heart failure. Oxidative stress can activate matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2). We addressed the question whether increasing oxidative defense by administration of the SOD mimetic Tempol or direct inhibition of MMP2 activity by SB-3CT mitigates right heart failure.

CTRP13-Mediated Effects on Endothelial Cell Function and Their Potential Role in Obesity.

Background: Obesity, a major component of cardiometabolic syndrome, contributes to the imbalance between pro- and anti-atherosclerotic factors via dysregulation of adipocytokine secretion. Among these adipocytokines, the C1q/TNF-related proteins (CTRPs) play a role in the modulation of atherosclerosis development and progression. Here, we investigated the vascular effects of CTRP13.