Galectin-3 in Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review Based on Life's Essential 8 and Life's Simple 7 Frameworks.

Gal-3, also known as galectin-3, a lectin that binds β-galactosides, has gained attention as a novel biomarker and pathophysiological mediator in cardiovascular disease, where it contributes to inflammation, fibrosis, metabolic dysregulation and cardiac remodeling. This narrative review, developed following SANRA (Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles) guidelines, aims to integrate current clinical and experimental findings on gal-3 into the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 (LS7) and Life's Essential 8 (LE8). By thematically organizing our review across modifiable domains of cardiovascular health, including glucose regulation, lipid metabolism, physical activity, blood pressure, diet, sleep, tobacco use, and body weight (BMI, body mass index), we highlight the role of gal-3 in linking environmental, behavioral and molecular risk factors to cardiometabolic outcomes.

Increased Left Ventricular Myocardial Extracellular Volume Assessed by Cardiac Computed Tomography as a Consequence of Aortic Stenosis and Coexisting Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

: Extracellular volume (ECV) expansion reflects myocardial fibrosis and may play a role in subjects with severe aortic stenosis (AS) receiving transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study aimed to assess the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), AS severity and left ventricular myocardial ECV measured by cardiac computed tomography (CCT). : 61 patients qualified for TAVI underwent pre-procedural CCT.

A Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Echocardiographic Outcomes of Physiological Versus Conventional Pacing.

: Conduction system pacing (CSP), encompassing His bundle (HBP) and left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP), has emerged as an alternative to conventional pacing methods such as right ventricular pacing (RVP) and biventricular pacing (BVP). This meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of CSP versus conventional pacing on left ventricular function and selected clinical and electrophysiological outcomes. : Prospective and retrospective studies (randomized, observational, registry-based) reporting pre-post data or direct comparisons between CSP (HBP, LBBAP) and conventional methods (BVP, RVP) for at least one of LVEF, LVESV, LVEDV, QRS duration, NYHA class, NT-proBNP, R-wave, or pacing threshold were included.

The most common errors in automatic ECG interpretation.

Introduction: The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of modern medicine's most important and useful diagnostic tests. It is a non-invasive, widely available and relatively cheap method used mainly in the diagnostics of arrhythmias and a variety of other pathologies, including conduction disturbances and ischemia. ECG is also used to evaluate the activity of a pacemaker or other implantable devices.

His Bundle Pacing Improves Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Bradyarrhythmia or Tachy-Brady Syndrome and Permanent Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Analysis.

: Permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexists with heart failure (HF), leading to structural remodeling and progressive sinus node dysfunction. As the condition advances, bradyarrhythmia or tachy-brady syndrome may develop. Right ventricular pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy may impair left ventricular function due to non-physiological ventricular activation.

Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in the PURE Poland Cohort Study Using the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) Scale and Galectin-3 Concentrations: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) scale is useful for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification. However, there is a new biomarker, namely, galectin-3 (gal-3), that offers additional predictive value. This cross-sectional study assessed the relationship between serum gal-3 concentrations and CVD risk based on the SCORE scale in a Polish cohort from the PURE study.

Clinical Significance of Extracellular Volume of Myocardium (ECV) Assessed by Computed Tomography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Extracellular volume (ECV) of the myocardium, a biomarker of interstitial space and fibrosis, plays a critical role in cardiac disease diagnosis and prognosis. Although cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for ECV assessment, computed tomography (CT) offers a viable alternative, particularly in patients with contraindications to MRI. This study aimed to assess whether CT-derived ECV is systematically elevated in cardiac diseases associated with myocardial fibrosis.

The link between sleep bruxism and oxidative stress based on a polysomnographic study.

Oxidative stress is proven to increase cardiovascular risk and to diminish healthy life expectancy. Sleep bruxism (SB) is a prevalent masticatory muscle activity during sleep characterized by heterogeneous etiology and inadequately recognized pathophysiology. Recent theories have proposed a potential association between SB and oxidative stress.

His Bundle Pacing and Left Bundle Branch Pacing in Patients with Heart Failure.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) are emerging therapies for patients with heart failure and conduction disorders, offering potential advantages over traditional pacing methods. These approaches aim to restore physiological conduction and improve cardiac function more effectively.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HBP and LBBP in patients with heart failure and conduction disturbances, comparing these techniques to conventional pacing.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Estimated Using the SHSES Scale, and Feature Tracking Computed Tomography-Derived Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Hypertensive Patients.

Aim of the study was to assess the relationship between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and computed tomography-derived left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) in patients with arterial hypertension. 103 non-smokers with AH were included in the study (age 67.73 ± 8.

The Importance of the Assessment of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Scientific Research.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) exhibits morphological similarities with pericardial adipose tissue, however, it has different embryological origin and vascularization. EAT is a metabolically active organ and a major source of anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory adipokines, which have a significant impact on cardiac function and morphology. Moreover, it can regulate vascular tone by releasing various molecules.

Coexistence of Cor Triatriatum Sinister, Fibroelastoma and Pulmonary Veins Ostial Anatomy Variant as Incidental Findings in Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a noninvasive examination whose main purpose is to exclude significant stenosis in the coronary arteries. The obtained computed tomography images may also provide information about other coexisting pathologies of the heart and vessels. The paper presents images of cardiac lesions in a 44-year-old hypertensive patient who underwent CCTA, based on which significant stenosis in the coronary arteries was excluded, the suspicion of a cor triatriatum sinister was confirmed and the presence of fibroelastoma and a variant of the anatomy of the pulmonary veins ostial was confirmed.

The Application of Nanoparticles in Diagnosis and Treatment of Kidney Diseases.

Nanomedicine is currently showing great promise for new methods of diagnosing and treating many diseases, particularly in kidney disease and transplantation. The unique properties of nanoparticles arise from the diversity of size effects, used to design targeted nanoparticles for specific cells or tissues, taking renal clearance and tubular secretion mechanisms into account. The design of surface particles on nanoparticles offers a wide range of possibilities, among which antibodies play an important role.

Coronary-Pulmonary Artery Fistula Recanalization on Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Images.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a non-invasive diagnostic method used (apart from the diagnosis of coronary artery disease) in the diagnosis of malformations of the coronary circulation and monitoring the effects of their treatment. In this paper, the authors present the case of recanalization of the coronary-pulmonary fistula, which was surgically closed in the past. This case highlights that follow-up CCTA after surgical treatment of coronary artery fistula should be performed in every patient.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma with Rapid Onset and Fatal Progression in a Young Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Constant stimulation of lymphocytes and histiocytes can result in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which can be primary or secondary (sHLH). The main causes of sHLH are infections and hematological malignancies, especially non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite new insights into the pathogenesis of HLH, the diagnosis and treatment of this immune disorder remain a great challenge.

Aortic Valve Calcification Score in Patients with Arterial Hypertension Environmentally Exposed to Tobacco Smoke.

The objective of our study was to determine the relationship between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and the value of the aortic valve calcification score (AVCS) in people suffering from arterial hypertension (AH). 107 non-smokers with AH (mean age 67.16 ± 8.

Immunosuppression as a Hallmark of Critical COVID-19: Prospective Study.

The dysregulation of both the innate and adaptive responses to SARS-CoV-2 have an impact on the course of COVID-19, and play a role in the clinical outcome of the disease. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in 82 patients with COVID-19, including 31 patients with a critical course of the disease. In COVID-19 patients who required hospitalization we analyzed T cell subsets, including Treg cells, as well as TCRα/β and γ/δ, NK cells, and B cells, during the first two weeks after admission to hospital due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, with marked reductions in leukocytes subpopulations, especially in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA in Kidney Transplantation as a Potential Rejection Biomarker: A Systematic Literature Review.

Kidney transplantation (KTx) is the best treatment method for end-stage kidney disease. KTx improves the patient's quality of life and prolongs their survival time; however, not all patients benefit fully from the transplantation procedure. For some patients, a problem is the premature loss of graft function due to immunological or non-immunological factors.

Triple Discordances in Receptor Status During Breast Cancer Local Progression and Metastases: Case Report and Literature Review.

Breast cancer is the most common female malignant neoplasm in Poland and around the world. Precise determination of tumor molecular profile allows application of appropriate anticancer therapy, increasing the chances of recovery. A 28-year-old woman detected a thickening in her left breast.

Successful Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Essential Modulator Deficiency Syndrome After Treosulfan-Based Conditioning: A Case Report.

Background: X-linked EDA-ID1 (ectodermal dysplasia, anhidrotic, with immunodeficiency 1, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man [OMIM] 300291), or NEMO (nuclear factor kappa B essential modulator) deficiency syndrome, is caused by mutations in the IKBKG/NEMO gene. We report the case of a boy with EDA-ID1 who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Methods: In early infancy, the patient developed an atypical, severe, initial manifestation resembling Omenn syndrome with infections, and he underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation from an unrelated 9 of 10 HLA matched donor with a mismatch in the DQB1 allele after conditioning with treosulfan, fludarabine, thiotepa, and antithymocyte globulin (Grafalon).

Osteopontin is differentially expressed in renal cell tumors.

Osteopontin (OPN) has been shown to play a significant role in regulating the aggressiveness of cancer cells and promote tumor growth. Evaluation of this phosphorylated extracellular glycoprotein expression may help estimate its use as a potential prognostic marker in tumorigenesis of different renal tumors. The objective of the present study was to characterize for the first time the expression pattern of OPN in primary renal tumors and correlate its association to tumor progression and survival.

Successful Salvage Haploidentical Alpha-Beta T Cell-Depleted Stem Cell Transplantation After Busulfan-Based Myeloablation in a Patient With IPEX Syndrome: A Case Report.

Background: X-linked immunodysregulation syndrome with polyendocrinopathy and enteropathy (IPEX) is caused by FOXP3 gene mutations that block the generation of regulatory T lymphocytes. We report an 18-month-old boy with classic IPEX who underwent 2 hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCTs).

Methods: The first HSCT from an unrelated 8/10 HLA-matched umbilical cord blood donor (UCB) was performed after a conditioning regimen consisting of treosulfan, fludarabine, thiotepa, and thymoglobulin.