Integration of genetic testing into diagnostic pathways for cardiomyopathies: a clinical consensus statement by the ESC Council on Cardiovascular Genomics.

In the modern era, cardiologists managing patients and families with cardiomyopathies need to be familiar with every stage of the diagnostic pathway from clinical phenotyping to the prescription and interpretation of genetic tests. This clinical consensus statement from the ESC Council for Cardiovascular Genomics aims to promote the integration of genetic testing into routine cardiac care of patients with cardiomyopathies, as recommended in the 2023 ESC guidelines for cardiomyopathies. The document describes the types of genetic tests currently available and provides advice on their prescription and for counselling after the return of genetic findings, including the approach in patients and families with variants of unknown significance.

Facile synthesis of size-tunable L-carnosine-capped silver nanoparticles and their role in metal ion sensing and catalytic degradation of -nitrophenol.

ʟ-Carnosine is a dipeptide with notable antioxidant, antiglycation, metal chelating, and neuroprotective properties. Despite its many biological roles, applying ʟ-carnosine as a capping agent in nanoparticle synthesis has remained underexplored. This study explores the potential of ʟ-carnosine in synthesizing tunable plasmonic silver nanoparticles (ʟ-car-AgNPs).

Bioremediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbon polluted sewage sludge soil employing a bacterial consortium and phytotoxicity evaluation.

A consortium of five distinct bacterial strains was evaluated for their ability to biodegrade multiple polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sewage sludge under microcosm studies. The presence of PAHs was determined from the sludge samples collected during pre- and post-monsoon seasons from three different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Among the 16 PAHs found, the lowest concentration detected was 1.

Toxicity assessment of wastewater treatment plant sludge using .

Globally, sewage sludge is produced in large quantities as a by-product in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which have organic and inorganic contaminants. Due to its high caloric value, this sludge is used as manure in agricultural fields. For this, regular sludge monitoring is necessary to understand the potential risks and limit the release of toxic substances into the environment.

Evaluation of the cardiotoxicity of Echinochrome A using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac organoids.

Echinochrome A (EchA), a marine-derived natural product, has shown promise in treating cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its cardiac safety remains underexplored. In this study, we utilized human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac organoids (hCOs) to validate their ability to model the cardiac safety profile of EchA in a human-relevant system.

Ketoanalogue use is associated with a lower risk of worsening frailty among patients with diabetic kidney disease of advanced stage: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Patients with diabetes kidney disease (DKD) are at risk of developing frailty, leading to functional impairment and poor outcomes. Medications are potential modifiers of such risk. Ketoanalogues have been shown to delay dialysis initiation in DKD patients.

Repeated intratracheal instillation effects of commonly used vehicles in toxicity studies with mice.

Intratracheal instillation (ITI) is considered the most pragmatic approach for investigating the potential toxicities of various respiratory exposure materials. Various respiratory exposure materials, including nanomaterials, hazardous air pollutants, fine dust, and household biocides, have raised public health concerns because of limited toxicological information and increasing consumption. Hence, toxicity studies using ITI in laboratory animals are important to accurately assess the human risks associated with these respiratory-exposed materials.

Revealing mercury species-specific transfer and toxicity mechanisms in placental trophoblasts.

Environmental mercury (Hg) follows a biogeochemical cycle resulting in a variety of Hg species. Therefore, human exposure to the three Hg species inorganic Hg via crops and air, methyl Hg through fish consumption and ethyl Hg due to the use as antiseptic agent in medical applications is a rising concern. Especially pregnant women and their developing fetus present a vulnerable population.

The impact of atmospheric ultrafine particulate matter on IgE-mediated type 1 hypersensitivity reaction.

The effect of atmospheric ultrafine particulate matter (UPM) on respiratory allergic diseases has been investigated for decades; however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. In this study, we used a simulated UPM (sUPM) generated via the spark discharge method to refine black carbon, a core particle that closely mimics real-world UPM, including the size (i.e.

MiR-363: A potential biomarker of kidney diseases.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of endogenous small RNAs with lengths of approximately 19-24 nucleotides, play important regulatory roles in cells. In recent years, miR-363 has emerged as a prominent member of the miR-92a family, participating in various biological functions, including cellular proliferation, cycle, migration, and apoptosis. In particular, miR-363 plays a critical role in acute kidney injury, renal fibrosis, and diabetic nephropathy and can serve as a biomarker for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma.

PPARβ/δ agonist GW0742 mitigates acute liver damage induced by acetaminophen overdose in mice.

Liver damage caused by acetaminophen (APAP) overdose remains a worldwide medical problem. New therapeutic medicines for APAP poisoning are needed as the efficacy of the only antidote, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), significantly decreases if administered after 8 h of APAP intake and massive APAP overdose remains to induce hepatotoxicity despite the timely administration of NAC. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) possesses versatile roles including regulation of lipid homeostasis and anti-inflammation in the liver.

Tetrabromobisphenol A induced p38-MAPK/AMPKα activation downstream-triggered CHOP signal contributing to neuronal apoptosis and death.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a brominated flame retardant (BFR), has been implicated as the neurotoxic effects in mammalian. However, the exact mechanisms underlying TBBPA-induced neurotoxicity remain unclear. In the present study, Neuro-2a cells, a mouse neural crest-derived cell line, were used to examine the mechanism of TBBPA-induced neuronal cytotoxicity.

Exposure of lung fibroblasts to PM and lead (Pb) induces fibrosis and apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells via a paracrine effect.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and heavy metals (HMs) in the air is closely associated with the incidence and exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. Although the specific responses of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) and lung fibroblasts to PM or HM exposure have been well defined, the cellular responses of lung fibroblasts to PM or HM exposure and the subsequent interactions with AECs remain poorly investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that human lung fibroblasts exposed to PM or lead (Pb) induced fibrotic changes and apoptosis in AECs.

Neuroprotective effect of L-DOPA-induced interleukin-13 on striatonigral degeneration in cerebral ischemia.

Levodopa (L-DOPA) treatment is a clinically effective strategy for improving motor function in patients with ischemic stroke. However, the mechanisms by which modulating the dopamine system relieves the pathology of the ischemic brain remain unclear. Emerging evidence from an experimental mouse model of ischemic stroke, established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), suggested that L-DOPA has the potential to modulate the inflammatory and immune response that occurs during a stroke.

Dechorionated zebrafish embryos improve evaluation of nanotoxicity.

Introduction: In response to the growing need to evaluate nanomaterial (NM) toxicity and compliance with the "3Rs" principles (replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal experiments), zebrafish () embryos have emerged as a promising alternative model for studies on NM toxicity. However, zebrafish embryos are surrounded by an acellular envelope, the chorion, which limits the permeability of NMs. The present study investigated the importance of dechorionated zebrafish embryos for evaluating NM toxicity.

Differentiated and mature neurons are more responsive to neurotoxicant exposure at both transcriptional and translational levels.

SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells have been extensively used as an in vitro model system in a diverse range of studies involving neurodevelopment, neurotoxicity, neurodegeneration, and neuronal ageing. Both naïve and differentiated phenotypes of SH-SY5Y cells are utilized to model human neurons under in vitro conditions. The process of differentiation causes extensive remodeling of neuronal cells at multiple omic levels, including the epigenome and proteome.

Identification of Beauvericin metabolites using rat and human liver microsomes and in vivo urinary excretion study in rats for biomonitoring application.

Beauvericin (BEA), an emerging mycotoxin, belongs to a class characterized by a cyclic depsipeptide ring structure, commonly produced by fungal species like Fusarium sp. and Beauveria bassiana. BEA is known for contaminating cereals and grains (wheat, maize).

Adverse effects of diethyl phthalate and butyl benzyl phthalate on circadian rhythms and sleep patterns in zebrafish larvae.

The zebrafish, a diurnal vertebrate, is commonly used in circadian rhythm studies due to its genetic and neurological similarities to humans. Circadian rhythms, which regulate sleep, neurotransmitter, behavior, and physiological responses to environmental changes, can be disrupted by various environmental factors. Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are pervasive endocrine disruptors that individuals are frequently exposed to in daily life.