European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · May 2021
Vascular endothelial growth factor on Runt-related transcript factor-2 in aortic valve cells.
Calcific aortic valve disease is associated with ageing and high mortality. However, no effective pharmacological treatment has been developed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor are overexpressed in the calcified aortic valve tissue. However, the role of VEGF in calcific aortic valve disease pathogenesis and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. ⋯ VEGF upregulated Runt-related transcription factor 2 expression in VICs by activating the IP3R/CaMKII/CREB signalling pathway.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · May 2021
Impact of frailty and atrial fibrillation in elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes.
There is scarce information on the prognostic role of frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ⋯ Frailty but not AF status was independently associated with follow-up adverse events. Frailty status and high Charlson index were independent conditions associated with adverse events during the follow-up. The impact of functional status has a bigger prognostic role over AF status in elderly patients with ACS.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · May 2021
L-homoarginine is associated with decreased cardiovascular- and all-cause mortality.
Increasing evidence suggests that L-homoarginine, an endogenous analogue of the amino acid L-arginine, may have beneficial effects on vascular homeostasis. We examined whether L-homoarginine is associated with 10-year risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a black South African population. ⋯ Higher L-homoarginine levels are associated with reduced risk of 10-year cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Regulation of L-homoarginine levels as a therapeutic target in the management of cardiovascular disease should be investigated.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · May 2021
Erythrocyte membrane fluidity as a marker of diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus.
A high level of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), which is a nonenzymatic glycosylation product, is correlated with an increased risk of developing microangiopathic complications in Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Erythrocyte membrane fluidity could provide a complementary index to monitor the development of complications since it is influenced by several hyperglycaemia-induced pathways and other independent risk factors. ⋯ Altered erythrocyte membrane fluidity may therefore represent a marker of retinopathy in T1DM patients as a result of post-translational modifications of multifactorial aetiology (nonenzymatic glycosylation of proteins, generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation).
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · May 2021
Association of beta-hydroxybutyrate with development of heart failure: Sex differences in a Dutch population cohort.
In the failing heart, energy metabolism is shifted towards increased ketone body oxidation. Nevertheless, the association of beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) with development of heart failure (HF) remains unclear. We investigated the association between plasma β-OHB and the risk of HF in a prospective population-based cohort. ⋯ This prospective study suggests that high plasma concentrations of β-OHB are associated with an increased risk of HFrEF, particularly in women. The mechanisms responsible for the sex differences of this association warrant further study.