Autophagy, Clock Genes, and Cardiovascular Disease.

Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that regulate physical, mental, and behavioural changes of most living organisms. In the heart, circadian rhythms regulate processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood coagulability, and vascular tone. However, in addition to regulating physiologic processes, circadian rhythms regulate pathophysiologic processes in the heart.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair for Functional vs Degenerative Mitral Valve Regurgitation.

To analyze clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with mitral valve clip device (MitraClip-TM) for functional vs degenerative mitral valve regurgitation (MR). All consecutive 185 patients undergoing TEER between January 2019 and March 2023 were included in the study. A propensity-adjusted analysis investigated differences among functional vs degenerative MR mechanism groups.

Oxidized Phosphatidylcholines Trigger TRPA1 and Ryanodine Receptor-dependent Airway Smooth Muscle Contraction.

Asthma pathobiology includes oxidative stress that modifies cell membranes and extracellular phospholipids. Oxidized phosphatidylcholines (OxPCs) in lung lavage from allergen-challenged human participants correlate with airway hyperresponsiveness and induce bronchial narrowing in murine thin-cut lung slices. OxPCs activate many signaling pathways, but mechanisms for these responses are unclear.

Oat Beta-Glucan Alone and in Combination with Hydrochlorothiazide Lowers High Blood Pressure in Male but Not Female Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Oats are considered a functional food due to the beneficial health effects associated with their consumption and are suitable to be explored for their ability to prevent or manage chronic disease, such as hypertension. Here, we examined the cardiovascular benefits of an oat beta-glucan extract in male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) to unravel its sex-specific roles when used with an anti-hypertensive medication, hydrochlorothiazide. Five-week-old male and female SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were treated with oat beta-glucan and hydrochlorothiazide for 15 weeks.

The Canadian WATCHMAN Registry for Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure.

Background: Access to left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in Canada is limited, due to funding restrictions. This work aimed to assess Canadian clinical practice on patient selection, postprocedural antithrombotic therapy, and safety and/or efficacy with WATCHMAN device implantation.

Methods: Seven Canadian centres implanting the WATCHMAN device participated in this prospective multicentre, observational registry.

Natural psychedelics in the treatment of depression; a review focusing on neurotransmitters.

Natural psychedelic compounds are emerging as potential novel therapeutics in psychiatry. This review will discuss how natural psychedelics exert their neurobiological therapeutic effects, and how different neurotransmission systems mediate the effects of these compounds. Further, current therapeutic strategies for depression, and novel mechanism of action of natural psychedelics in the treatment of depression will be discussed.

Stem cells derived exosomes and biomaterials to modulate autophagy and mend broken hearts.

Autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis and plays a crucial role in managing pathological conditions including ischemic myocardial injury leading to heart failure (HF). Despite treatments, no intervention can replace lost cardiomyocytes. Stem cell therapy offers potential for post-myocardial infarction repair but struggles with poor cell retention due to immune rejection.

Long-Term Outcomes of Unrepaired Isolated Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection With an Intact Atrial Septum.

The natural history of an unrepaired isolated partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection(s) (PAPVC) and the absence of other congenital anomalies remains unclear. This study aimed to expand the understanding of the clinical outcomes in this population. Isolated PAPVC with an intact atrial septum is a relatively uncommon condition.

Intersectional characterization of emergency department (ED) staff experiences of racism: a survey of ED healthcare workers for the Disrupting Racism in Emergency Medicine (DRiEM) Investigators.

Introduction: The impact of racism on patient outcomes in Emergency Medicine has been examined but there have been few studies exploring the experiences of racism in health care workers. This survey aims to explore the experience of racism by interdisciplinary staff in a tertiary ED. By characterizing the staff experience of racism in the ED, we hope to inform the design of strategies to disrupt racism and ultimately improve the health and wellness of both staff and patients.

Hippocampal versus cortical deletion of cholinergic receptor muscarinic 1 in mice differentially affects post-translational modifications and supramolecular assembly of respiratory chain-associated proteins, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and respiration: implications in Alzheimer's disease.

In a previous retrospective study using postmortem human brain tissues, we demonstrated that loss of Cholinergic Receptor Muscarinic 1 (CHRM1) in the temporal cortex of a subset of Alzheimer's patients was associated with poor survival, whereas similar loss in the hippocampus showed no such association. Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies Alzheimer's pathogenesis. Therefore, to investigate the mechanistic basis of our findings, we evaluated cortical mitochondrial phenotypes in Chrm1 knockout (Chrm1) mice.

Loss of cholinergic receptor muscarinic 1 impairs cortical mitochondrial structure and function: implications in Alzheimer's disease.

Cholinergic Receptor Muscarinic 1 (CHRM1) is a G protein-coupled acetylcholine (ACh) receptor predominantly expressed in the cerebral cortex. In a retrospective brain tissues-based study, we demonstrated that severely (≥50% decrease) reduced CHRM1 proteins in the temporal cortex of Alzheimer's patients significantly correlated with poor patient outcomes. The G protein-mediated CHRM1 signal transduction cannot sufficiently explain the mechanistic link between cortical CHRM1 loss and the appearance of hallmark Alzheimer's pathophysiologies, particularly mitochondrial structural and functional abnormalities.

Ventricular tachycardia triggered by electroconvulsive therapy: Case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of a 71-year-old male with severe depression treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the operating room complicated by monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MMVT). The clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of this catecholamine-mediated cardiac event are reported with a brief review of the literature.

Perceived self-efficacy and empowerment in patients at increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Background: The role of multidisciplinary clinics for psychosocial care is increasingly recognized for those living with inherited cardiac conditions (ICC). In Canada, access to healthcare providers differ between clinics. Little is known about the relationship between access to specialty care and a patient's ability to cope with, and manage their condition.

Distinguishing between cornual, angular and interstitial ectopic pregnancy: A case report and a brief literature review.

For all clinical purposes, cornual, angular, and interstitial pregnancies are considered ectopic pregnancies that can have grave consequences for the patient. In this article, we describe and distinguish 3 types of ectopic pregnancies in the cornual region of the uterus. The authors advocate using the "cornual pregnancy" term only for ectopic pregnancies in malformed uteruses.

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Impact of a Novel Antithrombotic Drug Removal System to Reduce Bleeding Risk in Patients on Preoperative Ticagrelor Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Antithrombotic drugs, including the P2Y inhibitor ticagrelor, increase the risk of perioperative bleeding in patients requiring urgent cardiac surgery. Perioperative bleeding can lead to increased mortality and prolong intensive care unit and hospital stays. A novel sorbent-filled hemoperfusion cartridge that intraoperatively removes ticagrelor via hemoadsorption can reduce the risk of perioperative bleeding.

Physiological and Pathological Considerations for the Use of Flaxseed as a Therapeutic Dietary Strategy.

The inclusion of flaxseed in the diet may have a great number of potential benefits for the well-being of both healthy individuals and those challenged by disease conditions as well. With an increase in the number and quality of studies focused on the physiological and pathophysiological effects of dietary flaxseed, our knowledge concerning the rationale for the inclusion of flaxseed in our diet has become more convincing and stronger. The purpose of this review is threefold.

Regulation of Autophagy via Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism in Cancer.

Metabolic changes are an important component of tumor cell progression. Tumor cells adapt to environmental stresses via changes to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Autophagy, a physiological process in mammalian cells that digests damaged organelles and misfolded proteins via lysosomal degradation, is closely associated with metabolism in mammalian cells, acting as a meter of cellular ATP levels.

Should artificial intelligence be used in conjunction with Neuroimaging in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory, thinking, behavior, and other cognitive functions. Although there is no cure, detecting AD early is important for the development of a therapeutic plan and a care plan that may preserve cognitive function and prevent irreversible damage. Neuroimaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET), has served as a critical tool in establishing diagnostic indicators of AD during the preclinical stage.

Immunoengineered MXene nanosystem for mitigation of alloantigen presentation and prevention of transplant vasculopathy.

MXenes are an emerging class of nanomaterials with significant potential for applications in nanomedicine. Amongst MXene technologies, titanium carbide (TiCT) nanomaterials are the most mature and have received significant attention to tackle longstanding clinical challenges due to its tailored physical and material properties. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is an aggressive form of atherosclerosis and a major cause of mortality among patients with heart transplants.

Growth State-Dependent Activation of eNOS in Response to DHA: Involvement of p38 MAPK.

Our laboratory previously reported that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) differentially activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in growing and quiescent human endothelial cells, which represent the dysfunctional and healthy states in vivo, respectively. Since endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity differs between healthy and dysfunctional endothelial cells, and p38 MAPK reportedly regulates both the activity and expression of eNOS, we hypothesized that the beneficial actions of DHA on endothelial cells are due to eNOS activation by p38 MAPK. The contribution of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase (MSK), a p38 MAPK substrate, was also investigated.

Oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy: Balancing the contrary forces in spermatogenesis.

Spermatogenesis is a complex process in the testis and is a cornerstone of male infertility. The abundance of unsaturated fatty acid and high cell division rate make male germs cells prone to DNA deterioration. ROS-mediated oxidative stress triggers DNA damage, autophagy, and apoptosis in male germ cells, which are critical causative factors that lead to male infertility.