scholarly journals Exosomes and Exosomal Non-coding RNAs Are Novel Promises for the Mechanism-Based Diagnosis and Treatments of Atrial Fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaofeng Chen ◽  
Qingxing Chen ◽  
Kuan Cheng ◽  
Tian Zou ◽  
Yang Pang ◽  
...  

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide and has a significant impact on human health and substantial costs. Currently, there is a lack of accurate biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of AF. Moreover, the long-term efficacy of the catheter ablation in the AF is unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new biomarkers and treatment strategies for the mechanism-based AF. Exosomes are nano-sized biovesicles released by nearly all types of cells. Since the AF would be linked to the changes of the atrial cells and their microenvironment, and the AF would strictly influence the exosomal non-coding RNAs (exo-ncRNAs) expression, which makes them as attractive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for the AF. Simultaneously, the exo-ncRNAs have been found to play an important role in the mechanisms of the AF and have potential therapeutic prospects. Although the role of the exo-ncRNAs in the AF is being actively investigated, the evidence is still limited. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus regarding the most appropriate approach for exosome isolation and characterization. In this article, we reviewed the new methodologies available for exosomes biogenesis, isolation, and characterization, and then discussed the mechanism of the AF and various levels and types of exosomes relevant to the AF, with the special emphasis on the exo-ncRNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the mechanism-based AF.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3129
Author(s):  
Riyaz A. Kaba ◽  
Aziz Momin ◽  
John Camm

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a global disease with rapidly rising incidence and prevalence. It is associated with a higher risk of stroke, dementia, cognitive decline, sudden and cardiovascular death, heart failure and impairment in quality of life. The disease is a major burden on the healthcare system. Paroxysmal AF is typically managed with medications or endocardial catheter ablation to good effect. However, a large proportion of patients with AF have persistent or long-standing persistent AF, which are more complex forms of the condition and thus more difficult to treat. This is in part due to the progressive electro-anatomical changes that occur with AF persistence and the spread of arrhythmogenic triggers and substrates outside of the pulmonary veins. The posterior wall of the left atrium is a common site for these changes and has become a target of ablation strategies to treat these more resistant forms of AF. In this review, we discuss the role of the posterior left atrial wall in persistent and long-standing persistent AF, the limitations of current endocardial-focused treatment strategies, and future perspectives on hybrid epicardial–endocardial approaches to posterior wall isolation or ablation.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2878
Author(s):  
Claudia Maria Hattinger ◽  
Maria Pia Patrizio ◽  
Leonardo Fantoni ◽  
Chiara Casotti ◽  
Chiara Riganti ◽  
...  

High-grade osteosarcoma (HGOS), the most common primary malignant tumor of bone, is a highly aggressive neoplasm with a cure rate of approximately 40–50% in unselected patient populations. The major clinical problems opposing the cure of HGOS are the presence of inherent or acquired drug resistance and the development of metastasis. Since the drugs used in first-line chemotherapy protocols for HGOS and clinical outcome have not significantly evolved in the past three decades, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic biomarkers and targeted treatment strategies, which may increase the currently available spectrum of cure modalities. Unresponsive or chemoresistant (refractory) HGOS patients usually encounter a dismal prognosis, mostly because therapeutic options and drugs effective for rescue treatments are scarce. Tailored treatments for different subgroups of HGOS patients stratified according to drug resistance-related biomarkers thus appear as an option that may improve this situation. This review explores drug resistance-related biomarkers, therapeutic targets and new candidate treatment strategies, which have emerged in HGOS. In addition to consolidated biomarkers, specific attention has been paid to the role of non-coding RNAs, tumor-derived extracellular vesicles, and cancer stem cells as contributors to drug resistance in HGOS, in order to highlight new candidate markers and therapeutic targets. The possible use of new non-conventional drugs to overcome the main mechanisms of drug resistance in HGOS are finally discussed.


Author(s):  
Giovanni Luigi De Maria ◽  
Adrian Banning

Restoration of normal coronary bloodflow and relieving myocardial ischaemia is the main goal of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, whilst reducing an epicardial coronary stenosis by balloon dilatation may appear to be a relatively easy task, subsequent detrimental changes in bloodflow can paradoxically result in reduced/impaired myocardial perfusion. This condition of mismatch between post-PCI epicardial coronary patency and impaired myocardial reperfusion is defined as slow-flow or no-reflow. It is typically caused by and related to the presence of a damaged, dysfunctional, and/or obstructed coronary microvasculature. When no-reflow occurs, it has an adverse effect on the subsequent mid- and long-term prognosis as it is associated with a higher risk of reinfarction, arrhythmias, heart failure, and a higher in-hospital and long-term cardiac mortality. Frustratingly, nearly four decades after the first PCI, there is still uncertainty about the pathophysiology of no-reflow and a need to define successful prevention and treatment strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogusław Nedoszytko ◽  
Edyta Reszka ◽  
Danuta Gutowska-Owsiak ◽  
Magdalena Trzeciak ◽  
Magdalena Lange ◽  
...  

Atopic dermatitis is a heterogeneous disease, in which the pathogenesis is associated with mutations in genes encoding epidermal structural proteins, barrier enzymes, and their inhibitors; the role of genes regulating innate and adaptive immune responses and environmental factors inducing the disease is also noted. Recent studies point to the key role of epigenetic changes in the development of the disease. Epigenetic modifications are mainly mediated by DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and the action of specific non-coding RNAs. It has been documented that the profile of epigenetic changes in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) differs from that observed in healthy people. This applies to the genes affecting the regulation of immune response and inflammatory processes, e.g., both affecting Th1 bias and promoting Th2 responses and the genes of innate immunity, as well as those encoding the structural proteins of the epidermis. Understanding of the epigenetic alterations is therefore pivotal to both create new molecular classifications of atopic dermatitis and to enable the development of personalized treatment strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 8887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo De Martinis ◽  
Lia Ginaldi ◽  
Alessandro Allegra ◽  
Maria Maddalena Sirufo ◽  
Giovanni Pioggia ◽  
...  

Hundreds of trillions of bacteria are present in the human body in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with the host. A stable dynamic equilibrium exists in healthy individuals between the microbiota, host organism, and environment. Imbalances of the intestinal microbiota contribute to the determinism of various diseases. Recent research suggests that the microbiota is also involved in the regulation of the bone metabolism, and its alteration may induce osteoporosis. Due to modern molecular biotechnology, various mechanisms regulating the relationship between bone and microbiota are emerging. Understanding the role of microbiota imbalances in the development of osteoporosis is essential for the development of potential osteoporosis prevention and treatment strategies through microbiota targeting. A relevant complementary mechanism could be also constituted by the permanent relationships occurring between microbiota and microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are a set of small non-coding RNAs able to regulate gene expression. In this review, we recapitulate the physiological and pathological meanings of the microbiota on osteoporosis onset by governing miRNA production. An improved comprehension of the relations between microbiota and miRNAs could furnish novel markers for the identification and monitoring of osteoporosis, and this appears to be an encouraging method for antagomir-guided tactics as therapeutic agents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1419-1425
Author(s):  
Kazuko Tajiri ◽  
Ikuo Sekine ◽  
Hiroyuki Naito ◽  
Momoko Murata ◽  
Siqi Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Onco-cardiology services are expanding rapidly in Japan. To provide a better service, it is important to consider the needs of oncologists. However, little is known regarding specific needs for which oncologists should consult cardiologists to manage cardiovascular problems of their patients. We analysed cardiology consultations sought by oncologists to evaluate the role of cardiologists in cancer treatment. Method We retrospectively investigated consecutive 2064 cardiology consultations of cancer patients in the University of Tsukuba Hospital, Tsukuba, Japan, between January 2014 and December 2018. Results The most common timing of cardiology consultation was before the commencement of cancer treatment (n = 1355; 65.7%), followed by after the commencement of cancer treatment (n = 686; 33.2%). Among the 361 consultations before the administration of anticancer drugs, 235 (65.1%) were for anthracycline-based regimens. There were 506 (24.5%) consultations for the management of cardiovascular emergencies developing after the commencement of cancer treatment; venous thromboembolism was the most frequent (n = 125; 24.7%), followed by atrial fibrillation (n = 110; 21.7%) and heart failure (n = 74; 14.6%). There were marked differences in the types of cardiovascular emergencies depending on the type of cancer. Conclusions This survey revealed the various cardiovascular problems for which oncologists sought interventions by cardiologists. A multidisciplinary approach in an onco-cardiology service is essential to achieve optimal long-term outcomes.


2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIE A. WILSON ◽  
MARK A. BROMWICH

This paper offers a critique of what are seen as key issues which are problematised within the field of interactive dance, centring on the role of the various artists and technologies involved in the development of interactive dance systems, the notion of interactivity versus non-interactivity, and the influence of traditional single art-form practices. The paper proposes that it is only through identifying the particular motifs promoted by the technology itself that a way forward can be found, and an interactive dance aesthetic can begin to emerge in earnest. The arguments presented in this paper are framed within the context of the authors' long-term work and collaboration within the area of interactive dance, and provides a detailed case study of the piece Lifting Bodies (1999).


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Thijs ◽  
Robin Lemmens ◽  
Omar Farouque ◽  
Geoffrey Donnan ◽  
Hein Heidbuchel

Purpose A substantial number of patients without a history of atrial fibrillation who undergo surgery develop one or more episodes of atrial fibrillation in the first few days after the operation. We studied whether postoperative transient atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for future atrial fibrillation, stroke and death. Method We performed a narrative review of the literature on epidemiology, mechanisms, risk of atrial fibrillation, stroke and death after postoperative atrial fibrillation. We reviewed antithrombotic guidelines on this topic and identified gaps in current management. Findings Patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation are at high risk of developing atrial fibrillation in the long term. Mortality is also increased. Most, but not all observational studies report a higher risk of stroke. The optimal antithrombotic regimen for patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation has not been defined. The role of lifestyle changes and of surgical occlusion of the left atrial appendage in preventing adverse outcomes after postoperative atrial fibrillation is not established. Conclusion Further studies are warranted to establish the optimal strategy to prevent adverse long-term outcomes after transient, postoperative atrial fibrillation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Elizbeth Alvarez-Sanchez ◽  
Oscar Rojas Espinosa ◽  
Julio César Torres-Romero ◽  
Ereth Ameyatzin Robles Chávez ◽  
Edgar Estrella-Parra ◽  
...  

Over the past two decades, several research groups have focused on the functioning of microRNAs (miRNAs), because many of them function as positive or negative endogenous regulators of processes that alter during the development of cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most commonly occurring cancer in men. New biomarkers are needed to support the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Although it is necessary to deepen the research on this molecule to explore its potential utility in the diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis of cancer, our results support a role of miR-107 in the signaling cascades that allow cancer progression, and as shown here, in the progression of Prostate Cancer (PCa). These findings strongly suggest that miR-107 may be a potential circulating biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer.


Endocrinology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice R Hill ◽  
Joanna L Spencer-Segal

Abstract Treatment for critical illness typically focuses on a patient’s short-term physical recovery; however, recent work has broadened our understanding of the long-term implications of illness and treatment strategies. In particular, survivors of critical illness have significantly elevated risk of developing lasting cognitive impairment and psychiatric disorders. In this review, we examine the role of endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids in neuropsychiatric outcomes following critical illness. Illness is marked by acute elevation of free cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) suppression, which typically normalize after recovery; however, prolonged dysregulation can sometimes occur. High glucocorticoid levels can cause lasting alterations to the plasticity and structural integrity of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and this mechanism may plausibly contribute to impaired memory and cognition in critical illness survivors, though specific evidence is lacking. Glucocorticoids may also exacerbate inflammation-associated neural damage. Conversely, current evidence indicates that glucocorticoids during illness may protect against the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We propose future directions for research in this field, including determining the role of persistent glucocorticoid elevations after illness in neuropsychiatric outcomes, the role of systemic vs. neuroinflammation, and probing unexplored lines of investigation on the role of mineralocorticoid receptors and the gut-brain axis. Progress toward personalized medicine in this area has the potential to produce tangible improvements to the lives patients after a critical illness, including Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).


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