Journal of internal medicine
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Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a calcification inhibitor and alterations in circulating MGP have been observed in different populations characterized by vascular calcification. We hypothesized that patients with calcific valvular aortic stenosis (AS) would have dysregulated circulating MGP levels. ⋯ A dysregulated MGP system may have a role in the development of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with symptomatic AS.
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Multicenter Study
Interleukin family member ST2 and mortality in acute dyspnoea.
The study objective was to investigate the prognostic utility and patient-specific characteristics of ST2 (suppression of tumorigenicity 2), assessed with a novel sensitive assay. ⋯ In patients presenting to the ED with acute dyspnoea, ST2 is a strong and independent predictor of 30-day and 1-year mortality and might improve risk stratification already provided by BNP or NT-proBNP.
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Review
Type 2 transglutaminase in Huntington's disease: a double-edged sword with clinical potential.
Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominant genetic neurodegenerative disorder. The pathology affects principally neurons in the basal ganglia circuits and terminates invariably in death. There is compelling necessity for safe and effective therapeutic strategies to arrest, or even retard the progression of the pathogenesis. ⋯ Type 2 transglutaminase (TG2) plays an important role both in apoptosis and autophagy regulation, and accumulates at high levels in cells under stressful conditions. TG2 inhibition, achieved either via drug treatments or genetic approaches, has been shown to be beneficial for the treatment of HD in animal models. In this review we will discuss the relevance of TG2 to the pathogenesis of HD, in an effort to define novel therapeutic avenues.