The Effect of the Glucosinolate Sinigrin on Alterations in Molecular Biomarkers of the Myocardium in Swiss Mice.

Glucosinolates are chemically stable compounds that exhibit biological activity in the body following hydrolysis catalyzed by the enzyme myrosinase. While existing and studies suggest that the hydrolysis products of glucosinolates predominantly exert beneficial effects in both human and animal organisms, some studies have found that the excessive consumption of glucosinolates may lead to toxic and anti-nutritional effects. Given that glucosinolates are primarily ingested in the human diet through dietary supplements and commercially available cruciferous vegetables, we investigated the effects of the glucosinolate sinigrin on molecular markers in the myocardia of healthy Swiss mice.

Insights into the Molecular Mechanism of Endothelial Glycocalyx Dysfunction during Heart Surgery.

The endothelial glycocalyx (EGC) is a layer of proteoglycans (associated with glycosaminoglycans) and glycoproteins, which adsorbs plasma proteins on the luminal surface of endothelial cells. Its main function is to participate in separating the circulating blood from the inner layers of the vessels and the surrounding tissues. Physiologically, the EGC stimulates mechanotransduction, the endothelial charge, thrombocyte adhesion, leukocyte tissue recruitment, and molecule extravasation.

Involvement of M1-Activated Macrophages and Perforin/Granulysin Expressing Lymphocytes in IgA Vasculitis Nephritis.

We investigated the polarisation of CD68+ macrophages and perforin and granulysin distributions in kidney lymphocyte subsets of children with IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN). Pro-inflammatory macrophage (M)1 (CD68/iNOS) or regulatory M2 (CD68/arginase-1) polarisation; spatial arrangement of macrophages and lymphocytes; and perforin and granulysin distribution in CD3+ and CD56+ cells were visulaised using double-labelled immunofluorescence. In contrast to the tubules, iNOS+ cells were more abundant than the arginase-1+ cells in the glomeruli.

Antithrombotic Usage, Including Three-Year Outcomes With Dabigatran and Vitamin K Antagonists for Atrial Fibrillation, in Eastern Europe: A Descriptive Analysis From Phase 3 of the GLORIA-AF Registry.

Background: Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (GLORIA-AF) is a prospective registry of outcomes from patients with newly diagnosed AF at risk of stroke. In the propensity score (PS)-matched global population of phase 3 GLORIA-AF, at 3 years, dabigatran-treated patients experienced reduced risk for major bleeding, and similar risk for stroke and myocardial infarction, compared with vitamin K antagonist (VKA)-treated patients.

Study Question: Do patients in Eastern Europe benefit from treatment with dabigatran versus VKA?

Study Design: Descriptive analysis, without PS matching.

A cross-sectional study in type 2 diabetes patients reveals that elevated pulse wave velocity predicts asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease associated with age and diabetes duration.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) reduces functional capacity and raises cardiovascular risks, but underdiagnosis is common, resulting in less comprehensive care than other cardiovascular conditions. While diabetes has long been viewed as a key risk factor for PAD, recent studies indicate that its impact is influenced by the presence of concurrent cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study is to elucidate the intricate relationship between the prevalence of PAD, diabetic complications, and cardiovascular risk factors among asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Inflammageing mediated by cytotoxic lymphocytes is associated with diabetes duration.

Aims: Inflammageing, the age-related systemic increase of proinflammatory factors, has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and cancer in the elderly. Chronic inflammation is believed to be a causative factor in the development of diabetic complications. However, exactly how type 2 diabetes impacts the inflammatory state of the immune system is incompletely characterised.

When amiodarone-induced thyroiditis meets cardiomyopathy with excessive trabeculation: a case report.

Introduction: Amiodarone is a potent antiarrhythmic medication used to treat life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias; however, its well-established adverse effect is a thyroid disorder. Amiodarone-induced thyroiditis (AIT), a clinical entity involving two types with different etiopathology and treatment approaches, may occur at the beginning or even several years after amiodarone treatment discontinuation. The toxicity profile of amiodarone becomes especially important in young patients with lifelong cardiac disorders, which are often refractory to other antiarrhythmic drugs.

Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review and Clinical Implications.

Cardiac surgery is one of the highest-risk procedures, usually involving cardiopulmonary bypass and commonly inducing endothelial injury that contributes to the development of perioperative and postoperative organ dysfunction. Substantial scientific efforts are being made to unravel the complex interaction of biomolecules involved in endothelial dysfunction to find new therapeutic targets and biomarkers and to develop therapeutic strategies to protect and restore the endothelium. This review highlights the current state-of-the-art knowledge on the structure and function of the endothelial glycocalyx and mechanisms of endothelial glycocalyx shedding in cardiac surgery.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Adhesion Molecules E-Selectin, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 in Inflammatory Lesions of Atopic Dermatitis.

E-selectin, ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) play a role in atopic dermatitis (AD). This study aimed to evaluate their expression in skin biopsy specimens of patients diagnosed with AD using an optimized computer program. A descriptive analysis and comparison of digitally measured surface area and cell number were performed.

Arterial blood gases' analysis in elite breath-hold divers at extreme depths.

Purpose: To showcase results of arterial blood gases' analysis in elite breath-hold divers sampled at depths where their total lung capacities are below their residual lung volume on surface.

Methods: Three male elite breath-hold divers performed body plethysmographies to determine their lung volumes. Two dives were performed, one on normal inhalation to 60 m of depth and the second on complete exhalation to 10 m of depth.

Transmembranous and enchondral osteogenesis in transplants of rat limb buds cultivated in serum- and protein-free culture medium.

Cartilage differentiates in rat limb buds cultivated in a chemically defined protein-free medium in the same manner as in the richer serum-supplemented medium. We aimed to investigate the remaining differentiation potential of pre-cultivated limb buds by subsequent transplantation in vivo. Rat front (FLBs) and hind-limb buds (HLBs) were isolated from Fischer rat dams at the 14th gestation day (GD 14) and cultivated at the air-liquid interface in Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) alone; with 5 μM of 5-azacytidine (5azaC) or with rat serum (1:1).

Extreme anaerobic exercise causes reduced cytotoxicity and increased cytokine production by peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Exercise has many beneficial effects for our body, but can become detrimental at high intensity, especially for our immune system. Little is known about the underlying mechanism of impaired immune functionality under conditions of intense physical strain. Freedivers, people who dive to high depths on a single breath, perform extreme exercise under anaerobic conditions.

Predictive Value of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in the Development of Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis.

We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the proinflammatory monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the diagnosis of asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction (DD) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA) was determined using clinical and laboratory parameters, and echocardiography was performed to estimate DD. Serum MCP-1 concentrations were elevated in PsA patients with DD diagnosed with ultrasound (median (25 percentile, 75 percentile): 366.

Granulysin expression and granulysin-mediated apoptosis in the peripheral blood of osteoarthritis patients.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease caused by mechanical damage and metabolic factors that support the development of low-grade inflammation. Increased levels of T helper 1 pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum of OA patients may support granulysin (GNLY) mediated cytotoxicity, which in-turn may contribute to the pathogenesis of OA. In the present study, GNLY expression and cytotoxic/apoptotic mechanisms mediated by GNLY in the peripheral blood of OA patients were assessed.

Mast Cells in the Mammalian Testis and Epididymis-Animal Models and Detection Methods.

Mast cells (MCs) are an evolutionary well-conserved type of cells, mediating and modulating allergic responses in innate immunity and tissue remodeling after chronic inflammation. Among other tissues, they inhabit both the testis and epididymis. In the testis, MCs usually appear in the interstitial compartment in humans, but not in other standard experimental models, like rats and mice.

Global DNA methylation and chondrogenesis of rat limb buds in a three-dimensional organ culture system.

Although DNA methylation epigenetically regulates development, data on global DNA methylation during development of limb buds (LBs) are scarce. We aimed to investigate the global DNA methylation developmental dynamics in rat LBs cultivated in a serum-supplemented (SS) and in chemically defined serum- and protein-free (SF) three-dimensional organ culture. Fischer rat front- and hind-LBs at 13th and 14th gestation days (GD) were cultivated at the air-liquid interface in Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium (MEM) or MEM with 50% rat serum for 14 days, as SF and SS conditions, respectively.

Haemoptysis in breath-hold divers; where does it come from?

Introduction: The aim of reporting these two cases is to present visual evidence by bronchoscopy of the origin of haemoptysis in two elite breath-hold divers.

Case Reports: Two male elite breath-hold divers of similar physical characteristics presented to our clinic after performing dives of up to 75 and 59 meters of seawater depth for 2:30 and 2:35 (minutes:seconds) respectively. Both patients presented with haemoptysis.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on resident physicians: A cross-sectional study.

Background: COVID-19 presents a threat to the mental health of the medical staff working with COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To investigate the impact of working during the COVID-19 pandemic on resident physicians.

Methods: The study was conducted via anonymous online survey and included resident physicians.

Study of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in a cohort of myocardial infarction patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery diseases (CAD). As vitamin D manifests its biological function through its vitamin D receptor (VDR), VDR gene polymorphisms potentially affect VDR functionality and vitamin D activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze three well-studied VDR gene polymorphisms-Fok1 (rs2228570), BsmI (rs1544410) and Taq1 (rs731236)-in a cohort of CAD patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Inflammatory Fibroid Polyp of the Small Intestine: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review.

Aim: Starting from a case presentation, this review aims to present literature data on inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFPs) of the small intestine.

Methods: Case report and systematic review. A comprehensive systematic review of English literature using PubMed was conducted, based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Vitamin D-binding protein (rs4588) T/T genotype is associated with anteroseptal myocardial infarction in coronary artery disease patients.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among leading causes of death worldwide and amongst CVD, coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for almost half of all cardiovascular deaths as the most common cause of death in the developed world. Vitamin D and the vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) have been studied as possible CAD pathogenesis factors but literature data provide opposing evidence on their role in CAD. Herein we aimed to present novel evidence on the association of two VDBP polymorphisms (rs4588) and (rs7041) with CAD in patients after acute myocardial infarction and study possible correlations of these polymorphisms with 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] serum levels.

Decrease of Perforin Expressing Lymphocytes after On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery Irrespective of Carbohydrate Preoperative Oral Feeding.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery continues to be the gold standard for treating the patients with coronary artery disease. CABG surgery can be performed on or off cardiopulmonary bypass, termed as on-pump or off-pump CABG, respectively. It has been shown that CABG surgery, preferably on-pump CABG surgery, leads to the changes of cell immunity during perioperative and early postoperative period.

Possible role of circulating endothelial cells in patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurs as a result of insufficient myocardial perfusion leading to cell necrosis. This is most commonly due to the obstruction of the coronary artery by ruptured atherosclerotic plaque and thrombosis. Damaged ischemic and necrotic myocardial cells release pro-inflammatory substances in tissue and plasma, leading to a systemic inflammatory response.