tRNA-like Transcripts from the Genomic Region Critically Influence Human Innate Immunity and Macrophage Functions.

The evolutionary conserved gene cluster generates large noncoding transcripts remaining nuclear, while tRNA-like transcripts (mascRNA, menRNA) enzymatically generated from these precursors translocate to the cytosol. Whereas functions have been assigned to the nuclear transcripts, data on biological functions of the small cytosolic transcripts are sparse. We previously found and mice to display massive atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation.

Association of proton pump inhibitor use with endothelial function and metabolites of the nitric oxide pathway: A cross-sectional study.

Study Objective: Long-term intake of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) might increase the risk of cardiovascular events. One suggested mechanism is that PPIs inhibit the enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) and thereby block the degradation of endothelial asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA). Excess ADMA in turn leads to impaired endothelial nitric oxide (NO) generation.

No mediating effects of glycemic control and inflammation on the association between vitamin D and lung function in the general population.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is discussed to be associated with lung health. While former studies focused on subjects suffering from pulmonary diseases, we aimed to investigate the association of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] with lung function in the general population and examined whether mediating effects of inflammation, glycemic control or renal function exist.

Methods: 1404 participants from the Study of Health in Pomerania with pulmonary function testing assessed by expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity and Krogh index were used.

The effect of a repeated immunoadsorption in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy after recurrence of severe heart failure symptoms.

Background: In patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), immunoadsorption with subsequent IgG substitution (IA/IgG) leads to an acute and prolonged improvement of hemodynamics and heart failure symptoms. However, some patients receiving IA/IgG experience recurrence of heart failure after an initial benefit. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a second IA/IgG treatment episode improves left ventricular systolic function and further mitigates heart failure symptoms in these patients.

Static lung volumes and airway resistance reference values in healthy adults.

Background And Objective: The assessment of static lung volumes and airway resistance is a frequently performed diagnostic procedure and considered as an important tool in medical surveillance to detect pulmonary diseases. The objectives of the study are to establish reference equations for body plethysmographic parameters in a representative adult population across a wide age range and to compare the normative values from this sample with previous ones.

Methods: Body plethysmography was applied in 1809 participants (885 males) of a cross-sectional, population-based survey (Study of Health in Pomerania).