Functional, Cellular, and Molecular Remodeling of the Heart under Influence of Oxidative Cigarette Tobacco Smoke.

Passive and active chronic cigarette smoking (CS) remains an international epidemic and a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. CS-induced cardiac damage is divided into two major and interchangeable mechanisms: (1) direct adverse effects on the myocardium causing smoking cardiomyopathy and (2) indirect effects on the myocardium by fueling comorbidities such as atherosclerotic syndromes and hypertension that eventually damage and remodel the heart. To date, our understanding of cardiac remodeling following acute and chronic smoking exposure is not well elucidated.

Metformin, the aspirin of the 21st century: its role in gestational diabetes mellitus, prevention of preeclampsia and cancer, and the promotion of longevity.

Metformin is everywhere. Originally introduced in clinical practice as an antidiabetic agent, its role as a therapeutic agent is expanding to include treatment of prediabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus, and polycystic ovarian disease; more recently, experimental studies and observations in randomized clinical trials suggest that metformin could have a place in the treatment or prevention of preeclampsia. This article provides a brief overview of the history of metformin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and reviews the results of metaanalyses of metformin in gestational diabetes mellitus as well as the treatment of obese, non-diabetic, pregnant women to prevent macrosomia.

Right ventricular apical versus non-apical implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: We aimed to study the effect of right ventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead positioning on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing ICD placement.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify clinical trials comparing outcomes in patients with ICD leads in apical and non-apical positions. The primary outcome of our study was death at 1-year follow-up.

IFITM1 suppression blocks proliferation and invasion of aromatase inhibitor-resistant breast cancer in vivo by JAK/STAT-mediated induction of p21.

Interferon induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1) belongs to a family of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) that is associated with tumor progression and DNA damage resistance; however, its role in endocrine resistance is not known. Here, we correlate IFITM1 expression with clinical stage and poor response to endocrine therapy in a tissue microarray consisting of 94 estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors. IFITM1 overexpression is confirmed in the AI-resistant MCF-7:5C cell line and not found in AI-sensitive MCF-7 cells.

Factors affecting quality of life in patients with vitiligo: a nationwide study.

Background: Little is known about factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) of patients with vitiligo, and previous studies have shown conflicting results.

Objectives: To explore the QoL of patients with vitiligo and to identify factors affecting QoL.

Methods: A nationwide questionnaire-based study was conducted with 1123 patients with vitiligo recruited from 21 hospitals in Korea from July 2015 to June 2016.

Clinical Practice: Evidence-Based Recommendations for the Treatment of Cervical Dystonia with Botulinum Toxin.

Cervical dystonia (CD) is the most frequent form of focal dystonia. Symptoms often result in pain and functional disability. Local injections of botulinum neurotoxin are currently the treatment of choice for CD.

Myocardial Recovery in Patients With Systolic Heart Failure and Autoantibodies Against β-Adrenergic Receptors.

Background: Among various cardiac autoantibodies (AAbs), those recognizing the β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) demonstrate agonist-like effects and induce myocardial damage that can be reversed by β-blockers and immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3) immunoadsorption.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the role of βAR-AAbs belonging to the IgG3 subclass in patients with recent-onset cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were drawn at enrollment in patients with recent-onset cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤0.

A prospective evaluation of clinical and genetic predictors of weight changes in breast cancer survivors.

Background: Postdiagnosis weight gain in patients with breast cancer has been associated with increased cancer recurrence and mortality. This study was designed to identify risk factors for weight gain and create a predictive model to identify a high-risk population for targeted interventions.

Methods: The weight of 393 patients with breast cancer from the Northwestern Robert H.

Aberrant development of intrinsic brain activity in a rat model of caregiver maltreatment of offspring.

Caregiver maltreatment induces vulnerability to later-life psychopathology. Clinical and preclinical evidence suggest changes in prefrontal and limbic circuitry underlie this susceptibility. We examined this question using a rat model of maternal maltreatment and methods translated from humans, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI).

The effects of varenicline on methamphetamine self-administration and drug-primed reinstatement in male rats.

Methamphetamine (meth) addiction is a costly burden to both the individual user and society as a whole. Establishing effective pharmacotherapies to treat meth dependence is needed to help solve this health problem. The study reported herein examined the effects of varenicline, a partial α4β2 and full α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, on meth self-administration and reinstatement in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Moderators of Parent Training for Disruptive Behaviors in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

We conducted a 6 month, randomized trial of parent training (PT) versus a parent education program (PEP) in 180 young children (158 boys, 22 girls), ages 3-7 years, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). PT was superior to PEP in decreasing disruptive and noncompliant behaviors. In the current study, we assess moderators of treatment response in this trial.

From the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: Treatment targets for plaque psoriasis.

Background: An urgent need exists in the United States to establish treatment goals in psoriasis.

Objective: We aim to establish defined treatment targets toward which clinicians and patients with psoriasis can strive to inform treatment decisions, reduce disease burden, and improve outcomes in practice.

Methods: The National Psoriasis Foundation conducted a consensus-building study among psoriasis experts using the Delphi method.

Testicular Microlithiasis in the Setting of Primary Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor: A Case Series.

The clinical significance of testicular microlithiasis (TM) in patients with primary extragonadal germ cell tumor (EGCT) is not well understood. When EGCT is suspected, sonographic and physical examination of the testicles should be performed to evaluate for testicular lesion or atrophy; negative testicular ultrasound with current technology virtually excludes the possibility of occult primary lesion. Although EGCTs are known to be associated with elevated level of serum tumor markers, the utility of tumor markers in the presence of TM is not well understood.

Transcriptional regulation of E-cadherin by small activating RNA: A new double-stranded RNA.

Recent studies have reported that chemically synthesized small activating RNA (saRNA) targeting the promoter regions of a gene can activate its expression in different cell lines. This technique can be a powerful therapeutic method for diseases caused by complete inactivation or reduced expression of specific genes. E-cadherin is a typical tumor suppressor gene.

The trans-membrane domain of Bcl-2α, but not its hydrophobic cleft, is a critical determinant for efficient IP3 receptor inhibition.

The anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein is emerging as an efficient inhibitor of IP3R function, contributing to its oncogenic properties. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain not fully understood. Using mutations or pharmacological inhibition to antagonize Bcl-2's hydrophobic cleft, we excluded this functional domain as responsible for Bcl-2-mediated IP3Rs inhibition.

Life Course Socioeconomic Position and Subclinical Disease: The Jackson Heart Study.

Objectives: African Americans experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and lower childhood and adult socioeconomic position (SEP). Research that examines the associations of multiple measures of SEP with subclinical CVD markers among African Americans is limited.

Methods: Data from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) were used to examine cross-sectional associations of childhood SEP and adult SEP with subclinical markers among 4,756 African American participants (mean age 54, 64% female), adjusting for age, health behaviors and CVD risk factors.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Trial Investigating the Safety and Immunogenicity of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Smallpox Vaccine (MVA-BN®) in 56-80-Year-Old Subjects.

Background: Modified Vaccinia Ankara MVA-BN® is a live, highly attenuated, viral vaccine under advanced development as a non-replicating smallpox vaccine. In this Phase II trial, the safety and immunogenicity of Modified Vaccinia Ankara MVA-BN® (MVA) was assessed in a 56-80 years old population.

Methods: MVA with a virus titer of 1 x 108 TCID50/dose was administered via subcutaneous injection to 56-80 year old vaccinia-experienced subjects (N = 120).

DPABI: Data Processing & Analysis for (Resting-State) Brain Imaging.

Brain imaging efforts are being increasingly devoted to decode the functioning of the human brain. Among neuroimaging techniques, resting-state fMRI (R-fMRI) is currently expanding exponentially. Beyond the general neuroimaging analysis packages (e.