Selenium and cardiometabolic health: inconclusive yet intriguing evidence.

Selenium is incorporated as the unique amino acid selenocysteine into selenoproteins, which regulate important biologic processes such as redox balance. The results of epidemiologic and clinical investigations are inconclusive regarding the relation of the plasma selenium level to cardiometabolic parameters and does not support the routine use of selenium supplements to prevent cancer or cardiovascular disease. Variability in the selenium status of the populations studied and lack of standardization of measures of selenium status may account for part of the confusion regarding selenium and cardiometabolic health.

Allostasis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: implications for risk assessment.

Allostasis, a concept of anticipatory physiological regulation in response to external and internal challenges, was originally developed in the context of neuroendocrinology and behavioral medicine. Allostasis preserves function under changing conditions by abandoning physiological set points and developing new ones. Allostatic load refers to the aggregate effect of adaptation throughout life, and corresponds to the wear and tear associated with this process.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an emerging menace.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer worldwide that primarily develops in cirrhosis resulting from chronic infection by hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, alcoholic injury, and to a lesser extent from genetically determined disorders such as hemochromatosis. HCC has recently been linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of obesity and related metabolic disorders such as diabetes. This association is alarming due to the globally high prevalence of these conditions and may contribute to the rising incidence of HCC witnessed in many industrialized countries.

Mitochondrial recoupling: a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer?

Recent findings link metabolic transformation of cancer cells to aberrant functions of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs). By inducing proton leak, UCPs interfere with mitochondrial synthesis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate, which is also a key determinant of glycolytic pathways. In addition, UCP suppress the generation of superoxide, a byproduct of mitochondrial electron transport and a major source of oxidative stress.

Prevalence and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in outpatients with atherothrombosis in the Middle East.

Objective: To characterise the risk-factor profile and treatment gaps among patients with, or at risk for, cardiovascular disease in the Middle East.

Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective observational study.

Setting: International multicentre study (Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health).

Uncoupling protein-2 and cancer.

Cancer cells respond to unfavorable microenvironments such as nutrient limitation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and host defense by comprehensive metabolic reprogramming. Mitochondria are linked to this complex adaptive response and emerging evidence indicates that uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2), a mitochondrial inner membrane anion carrier, may contribute to this process. Effects of UCP2 on mitochondrial bioenergetics, redox homeostasis, and oxidant production in cancer cells may modulate molecular pathways of macromolecular biosynthesis, antioxidant defense, apoptosis, cell growth and proliferation, enhancing robustness and promoting chemoresistance.

Intravenous platelet blockade with cangrelor during PCI.

Background: Intravenous cangrelor, a rapid-acting, reversible adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist, might reduce ischemic events during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we randomly assigned 5362 patients who had not been treated with clopidogrel to receive either cangrelor or placebo at the time of PCI, followed by 600 mg of clopidogrel. The primary end point was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization at 48 hours.

Prior polyvascular disease: risk factor for adverse ischaemic outcomes in acute coronary syndromes.

Aims: The presence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is associated with higher likelihood of significant coronary artery disease (CAD). We sought to assess the prevalence of PAD, CVD, prior CAD, or pre-existent disease in multiple arterial territories ('polyvascular' disease) in patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome and its impact on adverse events.

Methods And Results: Data from 95 749 patients enrolled from February 2003 to September 2006 at 484 sites in the CRUSADE registry were analysed.

The SLC26 gene family of multifunctional anion exchangers.

The ten-member SLC26 gene family encodes anion exchangers capable of transporting a wide variety of monovalent and divalent anions. The physiological role(s) of individual paralogs is evidently due to variation in both anion specificity and expression pattern. Three members of the gene family are involved in genetic disease; SLC26A2 in chondrodysplasias, SLC26A3 in chloride-losing diarrhea, and SLC26A4 in Pendred syndrome and hereditary deafness (DFNB4).