Expression of phosphorylated estrogen receptor beta is an independent negative prognostic factor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: The role of estrogen receptor beta (ER-β) expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is largely unknown. Ligand-independent phosphorylation and activation of ER-β may play a relevant role in the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway and, as a result, in tumor progression. Here, we examined the effect of ER-β, phosphorylated ER-β (pER-β), STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) and IL-6 expression on the overall and recurrence-free survival in a cohort of patients with resected PDAC.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Nonobstructive, Labile, and Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited cardiac disease characterized by varying degrees of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. In a large cohort, we compare the outcomes among 3 different hemodynamic groups.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled patients fulfilling standard diagnostic criteria for HCM from January 2005 to June 2015.

Evolution of ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial mechanics in physiological and pathological hypertrophy.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an adaptive response to physiological or pathological stimuli, and distinguishing between the two has obvious clinical implications. However, asymmetric septal hypertrophy and preserved cardiac function are noted in early stages in both cases. We characterized the early anatomic and functional changes in a mouse model of physiological and pathological stress using serial echocardiography-based morphometry and tissue velocity imaging.

Impact of peak provoked left ventricular outflow tract gradients on clinical outcomes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is traditionally classified based on a left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) pressure gradient of 30mmHg at rest or with provocation. There are no data on whether 30mmHg is the most informative cut-off value and whether provoked gradients offer any information regarding outcomes.

Methods: Resting and provoked peak LVOT pressure gradients were measured by Doppler echocardiography in patients fulfilling guidelines criteria for HCM.

Role of Global Longitudinal Strain in Predicting Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a sensitive indicator of global left ventricular function particularly in those with normal ejection fraction. We examined the potential value of GLS in predicting outcomes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). Conventional and strain echocardiography was performed in 400 patients with HC followed for a median 3.

Distinguishing ventricular septal bulge versus hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the elderly.

The burgeoning evidence of patients diagnosed with sigmoidal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) later in life has revived the quest for distinctive features that may help discriminate it from more benign forms of isolated septal hypertrophy often labelled ventricular septal bulge (VSB). HCM is diagnosed less frequently than VSB at older ages, with a reversed female predominance. Most patients diagnosed with HCM at older ages suffer from hypertension, similar to those with VSB.