Inhibition of galectin-3 post-infarction impedes progressive fibrosis by regulating inflammatory profibrotic cascades.

Aims: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) causes inflammation, collagen deposition, and reparative fibrosis in response to myocyte death and, subsequently, a pathological myocardial remodelling process characterized by excessive interstitial fibrosis, driving heart failure (HF). Nonetheless, how or when to limit excessive fibrosis for therapeutic purposes remains uncertain. Galectin-3, a major mediator of organ fibrosis, promotes cardiac fibrosis and remodelling.

Uncommon Etiologies of Shock.

Shock is a state in which the cardiovascular system fails to adequately deliver required substrates to maintain end-organ perfusion, tissue homeostasis, and cellular metabolism. Rapid recognition of shock and intervention is of utmost importance to reverse the shock state. This article reviews uncommon etiologies of shock classified in the following categories: distributive, hypovolemic, cardiogenic, and dissociative shock.

Cerebellar injury and impaired function in a rabbit model of maternal inflammation induced neonatal brain injury.

Cerebellum is involved in higher cognitive functions and plays important roles in neurological disorders. Cerebellar injury has been detected frequently in patients with preterm birth resulting in cognitive dysfunction later in life. Maternal infection and inflammation is associated with preterm birth and in neonatal brain injury.

Inhibition of CXCR1 reduces cell motility and viability in pancreatic adenocarcinoma epithelial cells.

Increased expression of the chemokine CXCL1 and its sole receptor, CXCR1 have been correlated with poor pancreatic cancer patient survival and time to recurrence, as well as with pancreatic perineural invasion. We have previously shown that metastasis of prostate and breast cancer is in part driven by CXCL1, and have developed small molecule inhibitors against the CXCR1 receptor that diminish metastatic burden. Here we ask if inhibition of this chemokine receptor affects the phenotype of PDAC tumor cells.

Occupational pesticide use and Parkinson's disease in the Parkinson Environment Gene (PEG) study.

Objective: To study the influence of occupational pesticide use on Parkinson's disease (PD) in a population with information on various occupational, residential, and household sources of pesticide exposure.

Methods: In a population-based case control study in Central California, we used structured interviews to collect occupational history details including pesticide use in jobs, duration of use, product names, and personal protective equipment use from 360 PD cases and 827 controls. We linked reported products to California's pesticide product label database and identified pesticide active ingredients and occupational use by chemical class including fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides.

One Minute of Marijuana Secondhand Smoke Exposure Substantially Impairs Vascular Endothelial Function.

Background: Despite public awareness that tobacco secondhand smoke (SHS) is harmful, many people still assume that marijuana SHS is benign. Debates about whether smoke-free laws should include marijuana are becoming increasingly widespread as marijuana is legalized and the cannabis industry grows. Lack of evidence for marijuana SHS causing acute cardiovascular harm is frequently mistaken for evidence that it is harmless, despite chemical and physical similarity between marijuana and tobacco smoke.

Circulating angiogenic cell function is inhibited by cortisol in vitro and associated with psychological stress and cortisol in vivo.

Psychological stress and glucocorticoids are associated with heightened cardiovascular disease risk. We investigated whether stress or cortisol would be associated with reduced circulating angiogenic cell (CAC) function, an index of impaired vascular repair. We hypothesized that minority-race individuals who experience threat in interracial interactions would exhibit reduced CAC function, and that this link might be explained by cortisol.

Impairment of Endothelial Function by Little Cigar Secondhand Smoke.

Objectives: Little cigars and cigarillos are gaining in popularity as cigarette use wanes, mainly due to relaxed regulatory standards that make them cheaper, easier to buy individually, and available in a variety of flavors not allowed in cigarettes. To address whether they should be regulated as strictly as cigarettes, we investigated whether little cigar secondhand smoke (SHS) decreases vascular endothelial function like that of cigarettes.

Methods: We exposed rats to SHS from little cigars, cigarettes, or chamber air, for 10 minutes and measured the resulting acute impairment of arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Genetic variability in ABCB1, occupational pesticide exposure, and Parkinson's disease.

Background: Studies suggested that variants in the ABCB1 gene encoding P-glycoprotein, a xenobiotic transporter, may increase susceptibility to pesticide exposures linked to Parkinson's Disease (PD) risk.

Objectives: To investigate the joint impact of two ABCB1 polymorphisms and pesticide exposures on PD risk.

Methods: In a population-based case control study, we genotyped ABCB1 gene variants at rs1045642 (c.

Household organophosphorus pesticide use and Parkinson's disease.

Background: Household pesticide use is widespread in the USA. Since the 1970s, organophosphorus chemicals (OPs) have been common active ingredients in these products. Parkinson's disease (PD) has been linked to pesticide exposures but little is known about the contributions of chronic exposures to household pesticides.