Optimal Medical Therapy for Heart Failure and Integrated Care in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report From the ESC-EHRA EORP Atrial Fibrillation Long-Term General Registry.

Background: Heart failure (HF) often occurs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), with a major impact on prognosis. Few data are available on the effect of integrated treatment strategies to improve prognosis in patients with AF. We aimed to evaluate the association between HF (according to left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]), HF optimal medical therapy and adherence to the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care pathway, and major outcomes in patients with AF.

Inflammatory mediators' essence in apical periodontitis.

Apical periodontitis (AP) represents chronic inflammatory reaction of periradicular tissues of teeth with necrotic pulp. Although AP has been considered as a multifactorial disease, different microorganisms and their virulence factors from infected root canals are considered to be the primary cause of periradicular inflammatory process. The interplay between microbes and host leads to an inflammatory cascade of events that includes activation of innate and adaptive components of immunity.

Creatine consumption and liver disease manifestations in individuals aged 12 years and over.

Despite the overwhelming safety evidence concerning creatine intake in various settings, there is still incomplete information whether dietary creatine affects liver health at the population level. The main aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to evaluate the association between creatine intake through regular diet and liver disease manifestations, including liver fibrosis and hepatic steatosis, among individuals aged 12 years and over, using open-source data from the 2017-2018 U.S.

Exploring the impact of calcination parameters on the crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of electrospun FeTiO nanofibers.

Nanostructured FeTiO (pseudobrookite), a mixed metal oxide material holds significant promise for utilization in energy and environmental applications. However, its full application is still hindered due to the difficulty to synthesize monophasic FeTiO with high crystallinity and a large specific surface area. Herein, FeTiO nanofibers were synthesized a versatile and low-cost electrospinning method, followed by a calcination process at different temperatures.

Dual anticancer role of metformin: an old drug regulating AMPK dependent/independent pathways in metabolic, oncogenic/tumorsuppresing and immunity context.

Metformin has been known to treat type 2 diabetes for decades and is widely prescribed antidiabetic drug. Recently, its anticancer potential has also been discovered. Moreover, metformin has low cost thus it has attained profound research interest.

Drug-Eluting or Bare-Metal Stents for Left Anterior Descending or Left Main Coronary Artery Revascularization.

Background New-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) reduce target-vessel revascularization compared with bare-metal stents (BMS), and recent data suggest that DES have the potential to decrease the risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality. We evaluated the treatment effect of DES versus BMS according to the target artery (left anterior descending [LAD] and/or left main [LM] versus other territories [no-LAD/LM]). Methods and Results The Coronary Stent Trialist (CST) Collaboration gathered individual patient data of randomized trials of DES versus BMS for the treatment of coronary artery disease.

Functional Assessment of Myocardial Bridging With Conventional and Diastolic Fractional Flow Reserve: Vasodilator Versus Inotropic Provocation.

Background Functional assessment of myocardial bridging (MB) remains clinically challenging because of the dynamic nature of the extravascular coronary compression with a certain degree of intraluminal coronary reduction. The aim of our study was to assess performance and diagnostic value of diastolic-fractional flow reserve (d-FFR) during dobutamine provocation versus conventional-FFR during adenosine provocation with exercise-induced myocardial ischemia as reference. Methods and Results This prospective study includes 60 symptomatic patients (45 men, mean age 57±9 years) with MB on the left anterior descending artery and systolic compression ≥50% diameter stenosis.

Authors, peer reviewers, and readers: What is expected from each player in collaborative publishing?

Scholarly publishing is in a crisis, with the many stakeholders complaining about different aspects of the system. Authors want fast publication times, high visibility and publications in high-impact journals. Readers want freely accessible, high-quality articles.

Improvement of Maximal Exercise Performance After Catheter-Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation and Its Prognostic Significance for Long-Term Rhythm Outcome.

Background Rhythm control may improve functional capacity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Long-term exercise tolerance improvement and its prognostic implications following catheter-ablation (CA) of paroxysmal and nonparoxysmal AF are underreported. Methods and Results Consecutive patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing just before and 12 months after their index CA of AF.

Sex Differences in Modifiable Risk Factors and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background It is still unknown whether traditional risk factors may have a sex-specific impact on coronary artery disease (CAD) burden. Methods and Results We identified 14 793 patients who underwent coronary angiography for acute coronary syndromes in the ISACS-TC (International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries; Clini​calTr​ials.gov, NCT01218776) registry from 2010 to 2019.

toxicity evaluation of two polyoxotungstates with potential antidiabetic activity using rats as a model system.

In this study, the hypoglycemic effect of a donut-shaped polyanion salt (NH)[Na@PWO]·31HO {NaPW} and its Ag-containing derivative K[Ag@PWO]·22HO·6KCl {AgPW}, as well as their hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, was evaluated. In the screening hypoglycemic study, rats with streptozotocin induced diabetes were treated intraperitoneally with three single doses (5, 10, and 20 mg per kg per b.w.

agg. (Lady's mantle) from central Balkan: antioxidant, anticancer and enzyme inhibition properties.

The current study was designed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and biological properties (antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory and cytotoxic activity) of methanolic, ethanolic, ethyl-acetate and water extracts of from Southeast Serbia (central Balkan) which was traditionally used to alleviate and treat many diseases. Bioactive compounds were characterized by LC-MS/MS technique and biological properties were evaluated using antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory and cytotoxic assays. Twenty-six phenolic compounds were quantified in methanolic, ethanolic, ethyl acetate and water extracts, whereas the highest yields were found in ethyl-acetate (EA) extract (gallic acid, caffeic acid, catchin, quercetin).

Early Onset Preeclampsia Is Associated With Glycocalyx Degradation and Reduced Microvascular Perfusion.

Background The endothelial glycocalyx is a vasoprotective barrier between the blood and endothelium. We hypothesized that glycocalyx degradation is present in preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder characterized by endothelial dysfunction and activation. Methods and Results We examined the sublingual glycocalyx noninvasively using sidestream dark field imaging in the third trimester among women with normotensive pregnancies (n=73), early (n=14) or late (n=29) onset preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes mellitus (n=21).

One-step synthesis of amino-functionalized up-converting NaYF:Yb,Er nanoparticles for cell imaging.

The emerging up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer a wide range of biotechnology applications, from biomarkers and deep tissue imaging, to single molecule tracking and drug delivery. Their successful conjugation to biocompatible agents is crucial for specific molecules recognition and usually requires multiple steps which may lead to low reproducibility. Here, we report a simple and rapid one-step procedure for synthesis of biocompatible amino-functionalized NaYF:Yb,Er UCNPs that could be used for NIR-driven fluorescence cell labeling.

Physical activity levels and energy expenditure in urban Serbian adolescents--a preliminary study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of PA and EE in Serbian urban adolescents, using an objective measure. In particular, we explored gender and weight status related differences in PA level and EE among Serbian adolescents. In addition, their PA and EE obtained during schooldays and weekends were compared.

NCAM and FGFR1 coexpression and colocalization in renal tumors.

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) have a role in epithelial-mesenchymal transformation during tumor genesis. Interplay between both molecules activates FGFR signaling and it could be responsible for tumor development. Renal epithelial tumors were analyzed for FGFR1 and NCAM coexpression by immunohistochemistry and for colocalization of these molecules on the particular tumor cells by triple immunofluorescence.

Polymorphism of alpha-1-antitrypsin in hematological malignancies.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) or serine protease inhibitor A1 (SERPINA1) is an important serine protease inhibitor in humans. The main physiological role of AAT is to inhibit neutrophil elastase (NE) released from triggered neutrophils, with an additional lesser role in the defense against damage inflicted by other serine proteases, such as cathepsin G and proteinase 3. Although there is a reported association between AAT polymorphism and different types of cancer, this association with hematological malignancies (HM) is, as yet, unknown.

The burden of disease and injury in Serbia.

Background: In the last decade of the 20th century, a considerable effort has been put into the development of summary measures of population health that combine information on mortality and non-fatal health outcomes. We used the DALYs (Disability adjusted life years) method to assess the burden of disease and injury in the population of Serbia.

Methods: Our study, largely based on the methods developed for the Global burden of disease study, was conducted between October 2002 and September 2003.

Plasma albumin level as an indicator of severity of preeclampsia.

We propose that hypoalbuminemia in preeclampsia is the result of reduced hepatic blood flow which is secondary to hypovolemia created by higher filtration pressure in the capillaries. Thus, hypoalbuminemia can be identified as an early sign in developing preeclampsia. We reviewed the medical records of 60 patients, aged 22-28, admitted with a diagnosis of preeclampsia during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Indication of myomectomy during pregnancy from Doppler ultrasonography.

Myomas during pregnancy must be evaluated carefully, especially in relation to possible premature delivery or spontaneous miscarriage. We wanted to find out whether the addition of Doppler assessment could help in the management of these cases. We found that from all cases of myomas during pregnancy, the most common association with impairment of the fetoplacental unit flow was found in the cases with submucous myomas and the subgroup of those with intramural myomes which show etc.