Association between serum sodium trajectory and mortality in patients with acute kidney injury: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Dysnatremia is strongly associated with poor prognosis in acute kidney injury (AKI); however, the impact of sodium trajectories on the prognosis of patients with AKI has not yet been well elucidated. This study aimed to assess the association between sodium trajectories in patients with AKI and mortality at 30-day and 1-year follow-up.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database, and patients diagnosed with AKI within 48 h after admission were enrolled.

A LASSO-derived clinical score to predict severe acute kidney injury in the cardiac surgery recovery unit: a large retrospective cohort study using the MIMIC database.

Objectives: We aimed to develop an effective tool for predicting severe acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients admitted to the cardiac surgery recovery unit (CSRU).

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-III database, consisting of critically ill participants between 2001 and 2012 in the USA.

Assessment of atrial septal defect using 2D or real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography and outcomes following transcatheter closure.

Background: The assessment of interatrial septum (IAS) requires a standardized, systematic approach, including two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D TTE), 2D transesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE), and three-dimensional (3D) TEE. Although 2D TEE has been widely used for the preoperative assessment of atrial septal defect (ASD), its ability to provide reliable information is often limited due to the structural characteristics of IAS. The introduction of 3D TEE provides a unique "en face" view of IAS, which allows the visualization and accurate measurements of diameters, area, and rims of ASD.

Effect of C reactive protein on the sodium-calcium exchanger 1 in cardiomyocytes.

Numerous previous studies have found that C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac remodeling. However, the underlying mechanisms of this association remain unclear. Sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1) serves an important role in the regulation of intracellular calcium concentration, which is closely related with cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac remodeling.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein inhibits the degradation of cyclophilin A via the lysosome in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Background: Cyclophilin A (CyPA) plays an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Additionally, it has been reported that lysosomal function is markedly impaired in atherosclerosis induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). As the CyPA degradation pathway remains to be elucidated, we aimed to uncover the role of lysosomes and ox-LDL in the degradation of CyPA.

The atheroprotective role of lipoxin A prevents oxLDL-induced apoptotic signaling in macrophages via JNK pathway.

Background And Aims: We examined whether the inflammation resolution mediator lipoxin A (LXA) inhibits foam cell formation and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced apoptotic signaling in macrophages and the role of circulating/local LXA biosynthesis in atherogenesis.

Methods: LXA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dil-oxLDL and Dil-acLDL binding to and uptake by macrophages were evaluated by flow cytometry.

Distinct Anti-Fibrotic Effects of Exosomes Derived from Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells Cultured Under Normoxia and Hypoxia.

BACKGROUND The therapeutic potential of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) may be impaired in an ischemic environment. Direct injection of ECFCs is not an effective method of rescuing the ischemic heart, but exosomes derived from these cells may be a promising therapeutic tool. However, exosomes produced under normoxia and hypoxia may not be identical.

Yes-associated protein mediates angiotensin II-induced vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation and hypertensive vascular remodelling.

Objectives: Yes-associated protein (YAP) has been reported to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. We aimed to characterize the role of YAP in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertensive vascular remodelling (HVR) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) phenotypic modulation and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: An HVR rat model was established by continuous Ang II infusion for 2 weeks.

IL-33 promotes IL-10 production in macrophages: a role for IL-33 in macrophage foam cell formation.

We evaluated the role of IL-10- in IL-33-mediated cholesterol reduction in macrophage-derived foam cells (MFCs) and the mechanism by which IL-33 upregulates IL-10. Serum IL-33 and IL-10 levels in coronary artery disease patients were measured. The effects of IL-33 on intra-MFC cholesterol level, IL-10, ABCA1 and CD36 expression, ERK 1/2, Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4 activation, and IL-10 promoter activity were determined.

Clinical effectiveness of telemedicine for chronic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Telemedicine interventions may be associated with reductions in hospital admission rate and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). The present study is an updated analysis (as of June 30, 2016) of randomized controlled trials, where patients with HF underwent telemedicine care or the usual standard care. Data were extracted from 39 eligible studies for all-cause and HF-related hospital admission rate, length of stay, and mortality.

Disruption of calcium homeostasis by cardiac-specific over-expression of PPAR-γ in mice: A role in ventricular arrhythmia.

Aims: Adverse cardiovascular effects induced by peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) activation were observed in clinical setting. But the underlying mechanism is unclear. Now, transgenic mice with cardiac specific peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-γ overexpression (TG-PPAR-γ) were used to explore the possible mechanisms.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha G-308A gene polymorphism and coronary heart disease susceptibility: an updated meta-analysis.

Purpose: Several studies have reported apparently conflicting findings for the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) G-308A polymorphism on coronary heart disease (CHD) susceptibility. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between this gene variant and CHD predisposition.

Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases (Medline, EMbase, Chinese BioMedical, BIOSIS, Global Health, PsycINFO, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cochrane Library, HuGE Navigator, and British Nursing) for relevant studies published between 1947 and October, 2010.