Identified Three Interferon Induced Proteins as Novel Biomarkers of Human Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is the most frequent type of heart disease, and it is a major cause of myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF), both of which require expensive medical treatment. Precise biomarkers and therapy targets must be developed to enhance improve diagnosis and treatment. In this study, the transcriptional profiles of 313 patients’ left ventricle biopsies were obtained from the PubMed database, and functional genes that were significantly related to ischemic cardiomyopathy were screened using the Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks enrichment analysis. The rat myocardial infarction model was developed to validate these findings. Finally, the putative signature genes were blasted through the common Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge Portal to explore if they were associated with cardiovascular disorder. Three interferon stimulated genes (IFIT2, IFIT3 and IFI44L), as well as key pathways, have been identified as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ischemic cardiomyopathy, and their alternations or mutations have been proven to be strongly linked to cardiac disorders. These novel signature genes could be utilized as bio-markers or potential therapeutic objectives in precise clinical diagnosis and treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Aging immigrant family caregivers health, social engagement, and health literacy

Family caregiving is evolving in multiple ways. There is an increasing recognition of the role of informal or unpaid family caregivers. Extensive body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. However, most evidence on family caregiving gear towards Caucasian middle-class populations. There is limited research that exists about aging immigrant family caregivers who are ill-prepared for their role and provide care with little or no support. The specific aim of this study was to assess and determine the association of health status, social engagement, and health literacy among aging immigrant family caregivers. This study utilized a non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational design. Most of the participants are female married Asian women, who are retired, living with their spouses, and taking care of their family members more than 4 hours a day with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cardiovascular disorder. Most participants have existing medical condition such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Most participants experienced problem with sleep and difficulty falling asleep. While some participants experienced fatigue and having trouble doing regular leisure activities with others. There is an association between sleep disturbance and ability to participate in social roles and activities among aging immigrant family caregivers. Inclusion of people from different ethnicities, backgrounds, and socioeconomic position in caregiver research is vitally important. There is a need for a greater understanding of the contextual factors of family caregiving and recognizing the prevalence and characteristics of aging immigrant family caregivers.

Effect of coarctation of aorta anatomy and balloon profile on the outcome of balloon angioplasty in infantile coarctation

Objective Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA) is a relatively common cardiovascular disorder. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of COA anatomy and high versus low-pressure balloons on the outcome of balloon angioplasty among neonates and infants. Methods In this retrospective study, the neonates and infants undergoing balloon angioplasty at Namazi hospital were enrolled. After balloon angioplasty, immediate data results were promptly recorded.Moreover, midterm echocardiographic information was collected via electronic cardiac records of pediatric wards and clinical and echocardiographic data at least 12 months after balloon angioplasty. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS-20. Results In this study, 42 infants were included. The median age at the time of balloon angioplasty was 1.55 (range 0.1–12) months and 66.7% of the patients were male. The mean pressure gradient of coarctation was 38.49 ± 24.97 mmHg, which decreased to 7.61 ± 8.00 mmHg (P < 0.001). A high-pressure balloon was used in 27, and a low-pressure balloon was used in 15 patients. COA's pressure gradient changed 30.89 ± 18.06 in the high-pressure group and 24.53 ± 20.79 in the low-pressure balloon group (P = 0.282). In the high-pressure balloon group, 14.81% and in the low-pressure group, 33.33% had recoarctation and need second balloon angioplasty (p < 0.021). The infant with discrete coarctation had a higher decrease in gradient and lower recoarctation. Conclusion Recoarctation rate was lower in the high-pressure balloon. The infant with discrete COA had a better response to the balloon with more decrease in gradient and lower recoarctation rate. Therefore, the stenotic segment anatomy needs to be considered in the selection of treatment methods.

Kawasaki Disease and Atopic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The etiology of Kawasaki disease (KD), an inflammatory and cardiovascular disorder, remains largely unexplained after more than 50 years of intensive research. In recent years, the association between KD and atopic diseases had been explored by some observational studies. We systematically reviewed and summarized the literature on the relationship between KD and atopic diseases. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify observational studies on the association between KD and atopic diseases from inception to May 2021. Odds ratio (OR) was pooled using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the <i>I</i>² and Cochran Q statistics. Primary outcomes were to compare the prevalence of KD among individuals with atopic diseases to nonatopic disease controls and the prevalence of atopic diseases among individuals with KD to non-KD controls. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Thirteen studies, including 12,651 cases and 170,708 controls, were included in this meta-analysis. In cross-sectional studies, KD was associated with allergic rhinitis (<i>n</i> = 6; OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.52–1.87), asthma (<i>n</i> = 3; OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.38–2.14), allergic conjunctivitis (<i>n</i> = 2; OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.68–2.27), and atopic dermatitis (<i>n</i> = 3; OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.22–1.49). In case-control and cohort studies, KD was associated with allergic rhinitis (<i>n</i> = 3; OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.28–1.43), asthma (<i>n</i> = 8; OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.19–1.65), allergic conjunctivitis (<i>n</i> = 1; OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.45–2.09), and atopic dermatitis (<i>n</i> = 3; OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.26–1.53). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> KD diagnosed was associated with four common atopic diseases. Among the four allergic diseases, allergic conjunctivitis and asthma have the highest correlation with KD, which may provide a direction for exploring the etiology of KD.

Vascular Dysfunction in Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy-associated cardiovascular disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria at 20 weeks of gestation. Though its exact underlying cause is not precisely defined and likely heterogenous, a plethora of research indicates that in some women with preeclampsia, both maternal and placental vascular dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis and can persist into the postpartum period. Potential abnormalities include impaired placentation, incomplete spiral artery remodeling, and endothelial damage, which are further propagated by immune factors, mitochondrial stress, and an imbalance of pro- and antiangiogenic substances. While the field has progressed, current gaps in knowledge include detailed initial molecular mechanisms and effective treatment options. Newfound evidence indicates that vasopressin is an early mediator and biomarker of the disorder, and promising future therapeutic avenues include mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction, excess oxidative stress, and the resulting inflammatory state. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of vascular defects present during preeclampsia and connect well-established notions to newer discoveries at the molecular, cellular, and whole-organism levels.

Analysis of Heart Diseases in Pregnancy

Introduction: Cardiac diseases complicate 1% of all pregnancies. It is one of the 3 major indirect causes of maternal mortality in India. Methodology: This qualitative study was conducted at Saveetha medical college and hospital. Out of 1320 women who delivered between June 2020 to June 2021, 15 women had heart disease and they were included in the study. All the 15 women were asymptomatic. Results: A total of 15 pregnant women were included in the study. There were no twin pregnancies. In total, 2 women presented with congenital heart disease and 13 women with acquired heart disease. Out of the 15 women, 4 delivered vaginally and the remaining 11 had undergone LSCS. Discussion: During pregnancy, major changes occur in the cardiovascular system to meet the increasing metabolic needs of the mother and fetus. If these changes are not met with, it can lead to maternal and fetal morbidity. Failure to make normal adjustments can worsen an existing heart condition or early manifestations of a previously unknown condition, and therefore pregnancy is a natural stress test. The changes that occur during pregnancy and the physiology of pregnancy itself will enhance some pathological processes of the heart. Understanding these changes is important, and adjustments may vary from person to person. Conclusion: A developing cardiovascular disorder should be detected as early as possible and also it should be a priority in pregnancy monitoring, and if a disorder is identified, the cardiologist team should be involved immediately. Many groups dedicated to managing heart problems during pregnancy, is recommended as it leads to better clinical outcomes.

TLR 4 / MD2 Complex inhibitors potential therapeutic prospective for asthma and asthma exacerbation

The feedback of our body to foreign particles is initially initiated by the innate immunity where the likes Toll- Like Receptors (TLRs), play an important role in the identification process. The identification of the trouble through the interaction of the receptor is the initial step to propagate the protective agents throughout the body. These interact action with the attacking pathogens like viruses and bacteria (PAMPs, pathogen-associated molecular patterns) or substances produced cells of the body which are injured (DAMPs, danger-associated molecular patterns) helping in the identification. However, the innate and adaptive immunity of both of them gets stimulated through the release of various substances such as cytokines and chemokines due to TLR activation. In part of the progress, many reports have been identified as the activation of the TLR4 complex, a receptor of the innate immune system that may underpin the pathophysiology of many human diseases including asthma, cardiovascular disorder, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disorders, neuroinflammatory and psychiatric disorders. Substances of synthetic and natural origin have been discussed here and have been found to produce the anti-inflammatory effect by targeting pathways of TLR4 activation. In the present review, our focus is to develop a conclusion about the TL4 complex inhibition for the betterment of asthma patients and combine the reports about the progressing of TLR signalling pathway modulators.

Relationship between Anxiety Disorders and Anthropometric Indices, Risk Factors, and Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Objective: Anxiety is an unpleasant feeling characterized by symptoms of tachycardia, sweating, and stress. The exact relationship between anxiety and cardiovascular disorder is not well distinguished. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between anxiety disorders and anthropometric indices and risk factors, including fasting blood sugar (FBS), hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, according to the results, FBS low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and symptoms of cardiovascular disorder in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years. Method: In this community-based study, multistage cluster sampling method was used. We randomly selected 1174 children and adolescents who referred to Afshar hospital in Yazd, then, 167 blocks were randomly collected by each cluster head. Each cluster consisted of 6 cases, including three cases of each gender in different age groups (6-9, 10- 14, and 15-18 years). The clinical psychologists instructed the participants to complete the Persian version of Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia - Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). In addition, cardiovascular risk factors were determined for participants and demographic data were obtained from the participants. Results: A total of 1035 children and adolescents participated in this study. The results showed that 228 of the participants (22.2%) suffered from anxiety disorder. There was an indirect significant correlation between anxiety disorder and the symptoms of heart palpitation, shortness of breath, and chest pain. There was no statistically significant relationship between the different types of anxiety disorders and FBS, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. According to the results, FBS and LDL are a predictor for anxiety disorders. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant association between anxiety in children and adolescents and some risk factors of cardiovascular disorder. Also, this study introduces some cardiovascular predictors of anxiety. However, further studies are needed in this regard.

Pathogenic Mechanisms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy beyond Sarcomere Dysfunction

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiovascular disorder, affecting 1 in 500 people in the general population. Although characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte disarray, and cardiac fibrosis, HCM is in fact a highly complex disease with heterogenous clinical presentation, onset, and complications. While HCM is generally accepted as a disease of the sarcomere, variable penetrance in families with identical genetic mutations challenges the monogenic origin of HCM and instead implies a multifactorial cause. Furthermore, large-scale genome sequencing studies revealed that many genes previously reported as causative of HCM in fact have little or no evidence of disease association. These findings thus call for a re-evaluation of the sarcomere-centered view of HCM pathogenesis. Here, we summarize our current understanding of sarcomere-independent mechanisms of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, highlight the role of extracellular signals in cardiac fibrosis, and propose an alternative but integrated model of HCM pathogenesis.