Deficiency of lncRNA MERRICAL abrogates macrophage chemotaxis and diabetes-associated atherosclerosis.

Diabetes-associated atherosclerosis involves excessive immune cell recruitment and plaque formation. However, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Transcriptomic analysis of the aortic intima in Ldlr mice on a high-fat, high-sucrose-containing (HFSC) diet identifies a macrophage-enriched nuclear long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), MERRICAL (macrophage-enriched lncRNA regulates inflammation, chemotaxis, and atherosclerosis).

The covid-19 pandemic and the usability of telehealth in a midlife women's health integrated care program.

Background: Telehealth has emerged as an alternative to conventional, face-to-face visits, and the COVID pandemic has hastened its introduction. Telephone appointments make use of an easy-to-use and accessible technology.

Aim: To investigate the usability of telephone-based telehealth in a women's health outpatient clinic and whether this may be affected by the severity of the COVID pandemic.

Dysregulated Genes, MicroRNAs, Biological Pathways, and Gastrocnemius Muscle Fiber Types Associated With Progression of Peripheral Artery Disease: A Preliminary Analysis.

Background Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with gastrocnemius muscle abnormalities. However, the biological pathways associated with gastrocnemius muscle dysfunction and their associations with progression of PAD are largely unknown. This study characterized differential gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression in gastrocnemius biopsies from people without PAD compared with those with PAD.

Evaluation of the impact, treatment patterns, and patient and physician perceptions of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause in Europe and the United States.

Objectives: This study elicited the views of physicians and patients with vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause on the impact of VMS and treatment patterns/perceptions.

Study Design: Data from the Adelphi VMS Disease Specific Programme, a point-in-time survey conducted in 5 European countries and the United States in 2020, were used. Primary care providers (PCPs) and gynecologists seeing ≥3 patients/week with VMS associated with menopause completed a survey and chart review; their patients were invited to complete a survey and questionnaires.

Isolation and culture of murine aortic cells and RNA isolation of aortic intima and media: Rapid and optimized approaches for atherosclerosis research.

Background And Aims: Isolation of cellular constituents from the mouse aorta is commonly used for expression or functional analyses in atherosclerosis research. However, current procedures to isolate primary cells are difficult, inefficient, and require separate mice. RNA extraction from aortic intima and media for transcriptomic analysis is also considered difficult with mixed RNA yields.

MicroRNA-mediated control of myocardial infarction in diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is a global public health problem whose cases will continue to rise along with the progressive increase in obesity and the aging of the population. People with diabetes exhibit higher risk of cardiovascular complications, especially myocardial infarction (MI). microRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionary conserved small non-coding RNAs involved in the regulation of biological processes by interfering in gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.

Circulating microRNAs fluctuations in exercise-induced cardiac remodeling: A systematic review.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that participate in gene expression regulation. It has been observed that circulating levels of miRNAs may fluctuate during exercise, showing numerous cardiac biological and physiological effects such as structural and functional adaptations. We aimed to provide an overview of the currently available information concerning the role of circulating miRNAs in cardiovascular adaptations in response to acute and/or chronic exercise training.

Role of plakophilin-2 expression on exercise-related progression of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: a translational study.

Aims: Exercise increases arrhythmia risk and cardiomyopathy progression in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patients, but the mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated transcriptomic changes caused by endurance training in mice deficient in plakophilin-2 (PKP2cKO), a desmosomal protein important for intercalated disc formation, commonly mutated in ARVC and controls.

Methods And Results: Exercise alone caused transcriptional downregulation of genes coding intercalated disk proteins.

Cardiac Biomarkers in COVID-19: A Narrative Review.

The diagnosis and risk stratification of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily based on discretionary use of laboratory resources. Several lines of evidence now attest that cardiovascular disease not only is a frequent complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, but its pre-existence may increase the risk of morbidity, disability, and death in patients with COVID-19. To this end, routine assessment of biomarkers of cardiac injury (i.

Cardiac magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of the unusually detected acute myocarditis in the young people: a case report.

Myocarditis is among the causes of arrhythmic sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes, with viral infection being the most common cause worldwide. Myocarditis recently has been reported as one of the cardiac complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in athletes. Here we present a case of a 20-year-old male recreational soccer player with an episode of loss of consciousness in the context of respiratory infection.

Deficiency of lncRNA SNHG12 impairs ischemic limb neovascularization by altering an endothelial cell cycle pathway.

SNHG12, a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) dysregulated in atherosclerosis, is known to be a key regulator of vascular senescence in endothelial cells (ECs). However, its role in angiogenesis and peripheral artery disease has not been elucidated. Hind-limb ischemia studies using femoral artery ligation (FAL) in mice showed that SNHG12 expression falls readily in the acute phase of the response to limb ischemia in gastrocnemius muscle and recovers to normal when blood flow recovery is restored to ischemic muscle, indicating that it likely plays a role in the angiogenic response to ischemia.

Empagliflozin Induces White Adipocyte Browning and Modulates Mitochondrial Dynamics in KK Cg-Ay/J Mice and Mouse Adipocytes.

White adipose tissue (WAT) browning is a promising target for obesity prevention and treatment. Empagliflozin has emerged as an agent with weight-loss potential in clinical and studies, but the mechanisms underlying its effect are not fully understood. Here, we investigated whether empagliflozin could induce WAT browning and mitochondrial alterations in KK Cg-Ay/J (KKAy) mice, and explored the mechanisms of its effects.

MiR-409-3p targets a MAP4K3-ZEB1-PLGF signaling axis and controls brown adipose tissue angiogenesis and insulin resistance.

Endothelial cells (ECs) within the microvasculature of brown adipose tissue (BAT) are important in regulating the plasticity of adipocytes in response to increased metabolic demand by modulating the angiogenic response. However, the mechanism of EC-adipocyte crosstalk during this process is not completely understood. We used RNA sequencing to profile microRNAs derived from BAT ECs of obese mice and identified an anti-angiogenic microRNA, miR-409-3p.

Global consensus recommendations on menopause in the workplace: A European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) position statement.

Introduction: Worldwide, there are 657 million women aged 45-59 and around half contribute to the labor force during their menopausal years. There is a diversity of experience of menopause in the workplace. It is shaped not only by menopausal symptoms and context but also by the workplace environment.

Topical estrogens and non-hormonal preparations for postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy: An EMAS clinical guide.

Introduction: Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a chronic condition caused by estrogen deficiency. It affects around 50% of postmenopausal women, reducing their general and sexual quality of life as well as the quality of their personal relationships.

Aim: The aim of this clinical guide is to set out an individualized approach to the management of VVA with topical estrogens and non-hormonal preparations.

Positive association of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with lumbar and femoral neck bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

Objective: Experimental studies suggest that lipids affect bone metabolism. We aimed to elucidate whether lipid levels are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in a cohort of postmenopausal women.

Design: A cross-sectional study of participants in the Chronic Ailment Reduction after MENopause (CARMEN) cohort.

Cytokeratin 18 cell death assays as biomarkers for quantification of apoptosis and necrosis in COVID-19: a prospective, observational study.

Background: The mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 triggers cell damage and necrosis are yet to be fully elucidated. We sought to quantify epithelial cell death in patients with COVID-19, with an estimation of relative contributions of apoptosis and necrosis.

Methods: Blood samples were collected prospectively from adult patients presenting to the emergency department.

Prognostic value of troponin I in atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To evaluate whether circulating cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels are associated with worst outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Consecutive patients visiting the emergency room (ER) with a new episode of a previously diagnosed AF or a new diagnosis of AF during ER admission between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2015, were enrolled in the study (n = 2617). After applying exclusion criteria and eliminating repeated episodes, 2013 patients were finally included.