Usefulness of Serum Triiodothyronine (T3) to Predict Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure.

Thyroid hormone plays an important role in cardiac function. Low levels of serum triiodothyronine (T) due to nonthyroidal illness syndrome may have adverse effects in heart failure (HF). This study was designed to assess the ability of T to predict in-hospital outcomes in patients with acute HF.

STAT3 modulates cigarette smoke-induced inflammation and protease expression.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) regulates inflammation, apoptosis, and protease expression, which are critical processes associated with airway injury and lung tissue destruction. However, the precise role of STAT3 in the development of airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been established. This study shows that cigarette smoke activates STAT3 in the lungs of mice.