Bcl-x short-isoform is essential for maintaining homeostasis of multiple tissues.

BCL-2-like protein 1 (BCL2L1) is a key component of cell survival and death mechanisms. Its dysregulation and altered ratio of splicing variants associate with pathologies. However, isoform-specific loss-of-function analysis of BCL2L1 remains unexplored.

Thioredoxin 1 promotes autophagy through transnitrosylation of Atg7 during myocardial ischemia.

Modification of cysteine residues by oxidative and nitrosative stress affects structure and function of proteins, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Although the major function of thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) is to reduce disulfide bonds, it can also act as either a denitrosylase or transnitrosylase in a context-dependent manner. Here we show that Trx1 transnitrosylates Atg7, an E1-like enzyme, thereby stimulating autophagy.

Effects of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors on Long-Term Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Sepsis Survivors.

Background Sepsis is known to increase morbidity and duration of hospital stay and is a common cause of mortality worldwide. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis) are commonly used to treat hypertension but are usually discontinued during hospitalization for sepsis because of concerns about renal hypoperfusion. The aim of our study was to investigate whether RAASis should be continued after discharge in sepsis survivors and to identify the effects on the clinical outcomes.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer and periampullary lesions.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy, so-called "Whipple operation," is a time-consuming and technically demanding complex operation. Traditionally, this procedure has been performed most usually by open approach, which results in a large and painful wound. With the introduction of laparoscopic and robotic surgery, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has emerged as a worldwide trend to improve wound cosmesis and to minimize wound pain.

Nampt Potentiates Antioxidant Defense in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

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Transient left bundle branch block and poor atrioventricular conduction during ablation of accessory pathway at the left ventricle.

A 56-year-old female with manifest Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome was sent to emergency room because of preexcited atrial fibrillation (AF) and became sinus rhythm after cardioversion. Then, she received catheter ablation of a left-sided lateral accessory pathway. The patient immediately developed Wenckebach atrioventricular (AV) block and left bundle branch block (LBBB) during the initial ablation.

Galectin-3 Modulates Macrophage Activation and Contributes Smooth Muscle Cells Apoptosis in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Pathogenesis.

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a 26-kDa lectin that regulates many aspects of inflammatory cell behavior. We assessed the hypothesis that increased levels of Gal-3 contribute to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression by enhancing monocyte chemoattraction through macrophage activation. We analyzed the plasma levels of Gal-3 in 76 patients with AAA (AAA group) and 97 controls (CTL group) as well as in angiotensin II (Ang-II)-infused ApoE knockout mice.

Involvement of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 in Vertebral Arterial Dissection With Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke.

Background Spontaneous vertebral arterial dissection (VAD) is an important cause of posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCS), but its pathogenesis remains elusive. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a gelatinase involved in inflammation process and several vascular diseases, such as aorta dissection, but its role in VBD is unclear yet. The present study aimed to determine the association between serum MMP-9 level and VAD-related PCS.

Current diagnostic tools for coronaviruses-From laboratory diagnosis to POC diagnosis for COVID-19.

The Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put tremendous strain on healthcare systems worldwide. It is challenging for clinicians to differentiate COVID-19 from other acute respiratory tract infections via clinical symptoms because those who are infected display a wide range of symptoms. An effective, point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tool could mitigate healthcare system strain, protect healthcare professionals, and support quarantine efforts.

De novo thymic carcinoma or malignant transformation: a myasthenic patient presented with multiple mediastinal tumours.

A 63-year-old man presented with bilateral ptosis, and detailed evaluation confirmed ocular myasthenia gravis with three anterior mediastinal masses on computed tomography (CT) of the chest. Extended thymectomy was performed, and pathology revealed two thymic carcinoma and one thymoma. After surgery, the patient is free from recurrence.

Establishment of a novel gene panel as a biomarker of immune checkpoint inhibitor response.

Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the standard of care in various cancers, although the predictive tool is still unknown.

Methods: This study aimed to develop a novel gene panel by selecting DNA damage response (DDR) genes from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) databank and validating them in previously reported cohorts. This association between DDR gene mutations and tumor mutation burden or microsatellite status was analysed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databank.

Cerebral Microbleed Burdens in Specific Brain Regions Are Associated With Disease Severity of Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy.

Background Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, caused by mutations, is characterized by recurrent ischemic strokes and progressive cognitive decline. It remains unclear whether cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) can serve as a surrogate marker for disease progression in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy. We aimed to investigate the CMB burdens in mutation carriers at different disease stages and test their associations with cognitive performance.

Dual Supramolecular Nanoparticle Vectors Enable CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockin of Retinoschisin 1 Gene-A Potential Nonviral Therapeutic Solution for X-Linked Juvenile Retinoschisis.

The homology-independent targeted integration (HITI) strategy enables effective CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockin of therapeutic genes in nondividing cells in vivo, promising general therapeutic solutions for treating genetic diseases like X-linked juvenile retinoschisis. Herein, supramolecular nanoparticle (SMNP) vectors are used for codelivery of two DNA plasmids-CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing system and a therapeutic gene, Retinoschisin 1 (RS1)-enabling clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) knockin of the RS1 gene with HITI. Through small-scale combinatorial screenings, two SMNP vectors, with Cas9 and single guide RNA (sgRNA)-plasmid in one and Donor-RS1 and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-plasmid in the other, with optimal delivery performances are identified.

Plasma pyroglutamate-modified amyloid beta differentiates amyloid pathology.

Introduction: Pyroglutamate-modified amyloid β (Aβ) could be a biomarker for Aβ plaque pathology in the brain. An ultra-high-sensitive assay is needed for detecting Aβ.

Methods: Immunomagnetic reduction was used for quantification of Aβ in plasma from 46 participants.

RAGE acts as an oncogenic role and promotes the metastasis of human lung cancer.

RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-product) is thought to be associated with metastasis and poor prognosis of various types of cancer. However, RAGE is constitutively expressed in the normal lung and down-regulated in cancerous lung, while the opposite evidence shows that RAGE-mediated signaling contributes to the tumorigenesis of lung cancer. Therefore, the role of RAGE in lung cancer progression is still unclear to be further investigated.

What is new in the 2018 Chinese hypertension guideline and the implication for the management of hypertension in Asia?

The new Chinese hypertension guideline comprehensively covers almost all major aspects in the management of hypertension. In this new guideline, hypertension remains defined as a systolic/diastolic blood pressure of at least 140/90 mm Hg. For risk assessment, a qualitative approach is used similarly as in previous Chinese guidelines according to the blood pressure level and the presence or absence of other risk factors, target organ damage, cardiovascular complications, and comorbid diseases.

An overview of hypertension and cardiac involvement in Asia: Focus on heart failure.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of deaths worldwide, contributing to about 30% of all deaths. Half of the cases of CVD are estimated in Asia, the world's most populous continent. Hypertension, a major modifiable risk factor for CVD, results in more deaths than any other CV risk factors in the Asian regions.

The influence of the ambient temperature on blood pressure and how it will affect the epidemiology of hypertension in Asia.

Epidemiologic studies have consistently demonstrated an increased risk of cardiovascular disease during colder temperatures. Hemodynamic changes associated with cold temperature and an increase in thrombogenicity may both account for the increase in cardiovascular risk and mortality. Studies using both in-office and out-of-office BP measurements have consistently shown an elevation in BP during the colder seasons.

High blood pressure in dementia: How low can we go?

Hypertension is an important public health concern. The prevalence keeps increasing, and it is a risk factor for several adverse health outcomes including a decline in cognitive function. Recent data also show that the prevalence of hypertension and age-related dementia is rising in Asian countries, including in the oldest old group.

Systemic hemodynamic atherothrombotic syndrome (SHATS) - Coupling vascular disease and blood pressure variability: Proposed concept from pulse of Asia.

Hypertension (HTN) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) but the association between HTN and CVD cannot be explained by average blood pressure (BP) alone. BP variability (BPV) is another important factor, along with the effects of HTN on the vasculature. The concept of systemic hemodynamic atherothrombotic syndrome (SHATS) has been proposed, describing an age-related and synergistic vicious cycle of hemodynamic stress and vascular disease.

Incidental Congestive Heart Failure in Patients With Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas.

Background Previous studies show that patients with primary aldosteronism are associated with higher risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the effect of target treatment to the incidental CHF has not been elucidated. We aimed to investigate the risk of new-onset CHF in patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) and explore the effect of adrenalectomy on new onset of CHF.

Accountability and utilization of diabetes care from 2005 to 2014 in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence has been rapidly increasing in Taiwan and globally. Team care for DM has been provided through diabetes shared-care networks in Taiwan more than 20 years.

Methods: The study analyzed the National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data from 2005 to 2014 to better understand diabetes care accountability and utilization in Taiwan.