Arch Med Sci
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection persists in most infected individuals and can lead to the development of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have a crucial role in various liver diseases, especially HCC. The expression profiles of circulating microRNAs have been studied aiming at the identification of novel non-invasive biomarkers. This study aims to develop a non-invasive diagnostic tool based on measuring the serum levels of different miRNAs in order to detect HCV-induced HCC at the early stages of the disease. ⋯ These findings indicate that measurement of serum levels of miRNA-122a, miRNA-125a, miRNA-139, miRNA-145, and miRNA-199a can differentiate HCC from CHC and LC. Our results suggest that serum miR-122 might serve as a novel and potential noninvasive biomarker for HCV-induced HCC.
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The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of blood pressure (BP) goals on cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive patients. ⋯ In hypertension patients, when compared to uncontrolled hypertension patients, low therapeutic BP goal is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes than high therapeutic BP goal.
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Liver biopsy is a well-known method for the diagnosis and evaluation of chronic diffuse liver diseases, especially among patients with "hepatopathy of unknown origin". ⋯ Liver biopsy - despite the increasing access to new, non-invasive methods - remains a useful method in the differential diagnosis of liver diseases.
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Metabolic alterations have been recently associated with onset and progression of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We aimed to determine the prevalence and prognostic role of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with IPAH. ⋯ Patients with IPAH are characterized by an altered profile of lipid and glucose metabolism. Lowered levels of LDL-C and HDL-C and increased TG/HDL-C ratio correlate with disease severity and together with elevated plasma glucose level predict poor survival in IPAH.
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Arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) is a disease that affects the lower extremities. The mechanism of ASO is associated with the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). miR-21 plays a key role in various biological processes of the cardiovascular system, associated with the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of VSMCs. It is unclear, however, if miR-21 is involved in the regulation of ASO. ⋯ We demonstrated that the expression of miR-21 in HASMCs could find potential application in cardiac therapy. Inhibition of the activity of AKT or ERK could attenuate miR-21-induced cell proliferation and migration as well as altering morphology of HASMCs. The present study aimed to indicate the potential roles of miR-21 in ASO processes, and the results provided a novel therapeutic approach for treating ASO and new targets for preventing ASO in earlier stages.