The silent protector: Nucleoporin93's role in vascular health.

Nuclear envelope proteins have recently gained traction as novel regulators of endothelial and vascular function. Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) stand as one of the largest protein complexes found at the nuclear envelope yet the role of component NPC proteins (i.e.

Efficacy and Safety of Perioperative Angiotensin II Versus Phenylephrine as a First-Line Continuous Infusion Vasopressor in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Introduction: Angiotensin II (ATII) maintains blood pressure via RAAS with a beneficial adverse effect profile versus catecholamines and phenylephrine. Head-to-head data comparing ATII to phenylephrine are lacking regarding renal allograft function, hemodynamic efficacy, and safety within the perioperative period of kidney transplantation.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included adult kidney transplant recipients who received continuous infusions of ATII or phenylephrine within a 24-h perioperative period as a first-line vasopressor according to an institutional algorithm.

Dynamic and prognostic proteomic associations with FEV decline in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Identification and validation of circulating biomarkers for lung function decline in COPD remains an unmet need.

Objective: Identify prognostic and dynamic plasma protein biomarkers of COPD progression.

Methods: We measured plasma proteins using SomaScan from two COPD-enriched cohorts, the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcomes Measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS) and Genetic Epidemiology of COPD (COPDGene), and one population-based cohort, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Lung.

Kidney and Cardiovascular Effectiveness of SGLT2 Inhibitors vs GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Emerging data suggest that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) improve kidney outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Direct comparisons of the kidney and cardiovascular effectiveness of GLP-1 RA with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), a first-line therapy for this population, are needed.

Objectives: The authors compared kidney and cardiovascular outcomes for new users of SGLT2i and GLP-1 RAs with T2D.

Sex Disparity in the In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients with Kidney Disease Admitted for Myocardial Infarction: Insights from a Large National Database.

Introduction: There is limited evidence as to the effect of sex on the outcomes of patients admitted for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who have a concomitant diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We aimed to determine if there are differences in the outcomes between males and females in these patient populations.

Methods: Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample database and patients were selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision (ICD-9 and -10) codes.

Analyzing the Impact of CIT on the Largest Reported Cohort of Robotic Kidney Transplantation From the Deceased Donors.

Background: Robotic-assisted kidney transplant (RAKT) has proven to be a successful approach for patients with morbid obesity and more centers are encouraged to apply robotic approach also for deceased donor kidney transplantation. Prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT) is accompanied by delayed graft function (DGF) and early graft loss after traditional open kidney transplant (OKT). This study examines the impact of CIT after robotic kidney transplantation on settings of deceased donation.

Detecting HLA loss of heterozygosity within a standard diagnostic sequencing workflow for prognostic and therapeutic opportunities.

To enable interrogation of tumor HLA LOH as a clinical diagnostic for precision oncology, we developed and validated an assay that detects HLA LOH within the context of an FDA-approved clinical diagnostic test, Tempus xT CDx. Validation was conducted via: (1) analytical evaluation of 17 archival patient samples and 42 cell line admixtures and (2) independent clinical evaluation of LOH prevalence in the HLA-A gene (HLA-A LOH) across 10,982 patients. To evaluate the prognostic relevance of HLA-A LOH we assessed 256 immunotherapy-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Luteal phase sertraline treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): Effects on markers of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activation and inflammation.

Rationale: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is characterized by severe affective symptoms during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. There is some evidence of altered interactions between the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axes in PMDD. There is also evidence that similar affective disorders such as major depression and perinatal depression are associated with dysregulation in immune factors, but this has not been characterized in PMDD.

Pruritus Severity and Serum Phosphate in CKD: A Post Hoc Analysis of Difelikefalin Studies.

Key Points: No correlation was observed between pruritus severity and serum phosphate or response to placebo or difelikefalin in patients with CKD-associated pruritus undergoing hemodialysis. Difelikefalin improved itch versus placebo irrespective of baseline serum phosphate.

Background: CKD-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) has historically been associated with elevated serum phosphate (sP).

Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms and female fertility in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a major cholesterol carrier responsible for lipid transport and injury repair in the brain. The human APOE gene (h-APOE) has 3 naturally occurring alleles: ε3, the common allele; ε4, which increases Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk up to 15-fold; and ε2, the rare allele which protects against AD. Although APOE4 has negative effects on neurocognition in old age, its persistence in the population suggests a survival advantage.

What Computed Tomography Findings Are Predictive of Posttraumatic Enophthalmos in Orbital Fractures?

Background: Enophthalmos is a surgical indication for orbital fracture repair. However, guidelines to predict enophthalmos in orbital fractures are ambiguous. The authors systematically reviewed the existing literature on using computed tomographic findings to establish objective metrics to predict enophthalmos in asymptomatic patients during initial trauma work-up.

Timing Considerations for Sleeve Gastrectomy in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Single Center Evaluation.

Current scientific literature is deficient in detailing the optimal timing for conducting bariatric surgery in relation to kidney transplantation. In this study, we performed a retrospective evaluation of kidney transplant recipients with BMI >35 kg/m. It aimed to provide data on those who received both sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and kidney transplantation (KT) simultaneously, as well as on patients who underwent SG and KT at different times, either before or after.

G2 arrest primes hematopoietic stem cells for megakaryopoiesis.

In contrast to most hematopoietic lineages, megakaryocytes (MKs) can derive rapidly and directly from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The underlying mechanism is unclear, however. Here, we show that DNA damage induces MK markers in HSCs and that G2 arrest, an integral part of the DNA damage response, suffices for MK priming followed by irreversible MK differentiation in HSCs, but not in progenitors.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: Insights from a Large National Database.

Introduction: Studies exploring the effectiveness and safety of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are limited.

Methods: We utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify hospitalizations for LAAO from 2016 to 2020 and further identified cases with concomitant CKD. The primary outcome was mortality, and secondary outcomes were cerebrovascular accidents, major bleeding, vasopressor requirements, percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiac arrest, acute respiratory failure, transfusion, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges.

Concordance With Screening and Treatment Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes.

Importance: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an often-asymptomatic complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D) that requires annual screening to diagnose. Patient-level factors linked to inadequate screening and treatment can inform implementation strategies to facilitate guideline-recommended CKD care.

Objective: To identify risk factors for nonconcordance with guideline-recommended CKD screening and treatment in patients with T2D.

Sex, racial, ethnic, and geographical disparities in major adverse cardiovascular outcome of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists among patients with and without diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been pivotal in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in the reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Notably, large cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) demonstrate significant disparities in inclusion, based on sex, race, ethnicity, and geographical regions.

Objectives: We examined the impact of GLP-1RA on MACE in patients with or without T2DM, based on sex, race, ethnicity, and geography.

Automated segmentation of ventricular volumes and subarachnoid hemorrhage from computed tomography images: Evaluation of a rule-based pipeline approach.

Changes in ventricular size, related to brain edema and hydrocephalus, as well as the extent of hemorrhage are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Frequently, these are measured manually using consecutive non-contrast computed tomography scans. Here, we developed a rule-based approach which incorporates both intensity and spatial normalization and utilizes user-defined thresholds and anatomical templates to segment both lateral ventricle (LV) and SAH blood volumes automatically from CT images.

Interrelationship of Sarcopenia and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review of Potential Mechanisms and Management.

Sarcopenia refers to an age-related reduction of lean body mass. It showed a reciprocal relationship with cardiovascular diseases. Thus, it is imperative to explore pathophysiological mechanisms explaining the relationship between sarcopenia and cardiovascular diseases, along with the clinical assessment, and associated management.