Common Histological Features Suggesting Enchondral Ossification Pathways in Calciphylaxis of Various Origins: A Study of Human Subcutaneous Tissue Biopsies.

Calciphylaxis is a rare, yet underdiagnosed condition causing high mortality in patients with severe renal and cardiovascular disease. Since knowledge of the pathophysiology of calciphylaxis is limited, a differential analysis of histological alterations in patient subgroups with various comorbidities might expose different disease phenotypes and allow deeper insights into the pathophysiology of the condition. Histological markers of osteogenesis and calcification were investigated in a group of 18 patients with clinically and histologically verified calciphylaxis, using immunohistochemical staining.

Enhanced vitamin K expenditure as a major contributor to vitamin K deficiency in COVID-19.

Objectives: Vitamin K deficiency consistently associates with worse clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients. However, whether this is due to increased expenditure during inflammation or poor vitamin K status prior to infection remained unknown.

Methods: Dp-ucMGP levels of 128 individuals were measured for the post-MONICA study and were compared to SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing results.

Association of desphospho-uncarboxylated matrix gla protein with incident cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: Results from the prospective Bruneck Study.

Background And Aims: Matrix Gla protein (MGP), a vitamin K-dependent protein, is a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. Desphospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), a marker of vitamin K insufficiency, has been shown to predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in high-risk populations. Whether the increased risk associated with dp-ucMGP also applies to the general, and especially, the elderly population has not yet been fully elucidated.

Comment on Kremer et al. Kidney Function-Dependence of Vitamin K-Status Parameters: Results from the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Studies. 2021, , 3069.

In the article "Kidney Function-Dependence of Vitamin K-Status Parameters: Results from the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Studies", Kremer et al. [..

Comment on Sobczyk, M.K.; Gaunt, T.R. The Effect of Circulating Zinc, Selenium, Copper and Vitamin K on COVID-19 Outcomes: A Mendelian Randomization Study. 2022, , 233.

Sobczyk and Gaunt genetically predicted circulating zinc, selenium, copper, and vitamin K levels-instead of directly measuring nutrients in blood-and hypothesized that these levels would associate with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity [...

Nutrient-Optimized Beef Enhances Blood Levels of Vitamin D and Selenium among Young Women.

Bovine meat provides healthy nutrients but has also been negatively linked to greenhouse gases and non-communicable diseases. A double-blind intervention study was carried out to compare beef meat from bulls fed with feed supplemented with selenium, vitamin D, E, K (SeDEK-feed), and -3, or REGULAR feed. Thirty-four young healthy women (19-29 years old) consumed 300 g of these beef types per day for 6 days in a cross-over design.

The Active Isoforms of MGP Are Expressed in Healthy and Varicose Veins without Calcification.

Matrix Gla protein (MGP), a local inhibitor of tissue mineralization, is associated with vascular calcification. Depending on the carboxylation and phosphorylation status, MGP has active conformations, e.g.

Low vitamin K status, high sclerostin and mortality risk of stable coronary heart disease patients.

We explored whether matrix Gla protein (MGP, natural calcification inhibitor) and sclerostin (glycoprotein responsible for osteoblast differentiation) interact in terms of mortality risk in coronary patients. 945 patients after myocardial infarction and/or coronary revascularization were followed in a prospective study. All-cause death, fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events and heart failure hospitalizations were registered.

Amentadione from the Alga as a Novel Osteoarthritis Protective Agent in an Ex Vivo Co-Culture OA Model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) remains a prevalent chronic disease without effective prevention and treatment. Amentadione (YP), a meroditerpenoid purified from the alga , has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. Here, we investigated the YP anti-osteoarthritic potential, by using a novel OA preclinical drug development pipeline designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-mineralizing activities of potential OA-protective compounds.

The coincidence of low vitamin K status and high expression of growth differentiation factor 15 may indicate increased mortality risk in stable coronary heart disease patients.

Background And Aims: Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a natural inhibitor of vascular calcification critically dependent on circulating vitamin K status. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a regulatory cytokine mainly of the inflammatory and angiogenesis pathways, but potentially also involved in bone mineralization. We sought to determine whether these two circulating biomarkers jointly influenced morbidity and mortality risk in patients with chronic coronary heart disease (CHD).

Vitamin K metabolism as the potential missing link between lung damage and thromboembolism in Coronavirus disease 2019.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2, exerts far-reaching effects on public health and socio-economic welfare. The majority of infected individuals have mild to moderate symptoms, but a significant proportion develops respiratory failure due to pneumonia. Thrombosis is another frequent manifestation of Covid-19 that contributes to poor outcomes.

Reduced Vitamin K Status as a Potentially Modifiable Risk Factor of Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: Respiratory failure and thromboembolism are frequent in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-infected patients. Vitamin K activates both hepatic coagulation factors and extrahepatic endothelial anticoagulant protein S, required for thrombosis prevention. In times of vitamin K insufficiency, hepatic procoagulant factors are preferentially activated over extrahepatic proteins.

High expression of Matrix Gla Protein in Schnyder corneal dystrophy patients points to an active role of vitamin K in corneal health.

Purpose: Schnyder corneal dystrophy (SCD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by corneal lipid accumulation and caused by UBIAD1 pathogenic variants. UBIAD1 encodes a vitamin K (VK) biosynthetic enzyme. To assess the corneal and vascular VK status in SCD patients, we focused on matrix Gla protein (MGP), a VK-dependent protein.

Inactive matrix gla protein plasma levels are associated with peripheral neuropathy in Type 2 diabetes.

Aims/hypothesis: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a frequent and severe complication of diabetes. As Matrix-gla-protein (MGP) is expressed in several components of the nervous system and is involved in some neurological disease, MGP could play a role in peripheral nervous system homeostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with sensitive diabetic neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes, and, in particular, dephospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), the inactive form of MGP.

Warfarin-induced vitamin K deficiency affects spermatogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Vitamin K is present in the testes though its actual function in male reproduction is poorly understood. This study investigated the harmful effect of extrahepatic vitamin K insufficiency on the testicular structure. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with a diet containing warfarin for 2, 4 and 8 weeks; control animals received a standard diet without warfarin.

Renal Resistive Index Is Associated With Inactive Matrix Gla (γ-Carboxyglutamate) Protein in an Adult Population-Based Study.

Background Increased renal resistive index (RRI) has been associated with target organ damage as well as renal and cardiovascular outcomes. Matrix Gla (γ-carboxyglutamate) protein (MGP) is a strong inhibitor of soft tissue calcification. Its inactive form (dephospho-uncarboxylated MGP [dp-ucMGP]) has been associated with vascular stiffness, cardiovascular outcomes, and mortality.

Low Vitamin K Status Is Associated with Increased Elastin Degradation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Elastin degradation is accelerated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is partially regulated by Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), via a vitamin K-dependent pathway. The aim was to assess vitamin K status in COPD as well as associations between vitamin K status, elastin degradation, lung function parameters and mortality. A total of 192 COPD patients and 186 age-matched controls were included.

Central Hemodynamics in Relation to Circulating Desphospho-Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein: A Population Study.

Background Stiffening and calcification of the large arteries are forerunners of cardiovascular complications. MGP (Matrix Gla protein), which requires vitamin K-dependent activation, is a potent locally acting inhibitor of arterial calcification. We hypothesized that the central hemodynamic properties might be associated with inactive desphospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-uc MGP ).

Vitamin K-Dependent Matrix Gla Protein as Multifaceted Protector of Vascular and Tissue Integrity.

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Long-term follow-up of biomarkers of vascular calcification after switch from traditional hemodialysis to online hemodiafiltration.

Rapid progression of vascular calcification (VC) in hemodialysis (HD) patients is caused by several factors including inflammation and an imbalance between active inducers and inhibitors of VC. Growing evidence shows that online hemodiafiltration (ol-HDF), a combination of diffusive and convective solute transport, has positive effects on the uremic environment that affects patients on dialysis. However, we recently reported that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) decreased after a switch from HD to ol-HDF.

Inactive matrix Gla protein is a novel circulating biomarker predicting retinal arteriolar narrowing in humans.

Active matrix Gla protein (MGP), a potent inhibitor of calcification in large arteries, protects against macrovascular complications. Recent studies suggested that active MGP helps maintaining the integrity of the renal and myocardial microcirculation, but its role in preserving the retinal microcirculation remains unknown. In 935 randomly recruited Flemish participants (mean age, 40.

Matrix Gla Protein, Plaque Stability, and Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Severe Atherosclerotic Disease.

Objective: This study aims to investigate whether plasma matrix Gla protein (MGP) species, desphospho-uncarboxylated (dp-uc) MGP, and total uncarboxylated (t-uc) MGP are associated with plaque levels of uncarboxylated (uc) MGP, markers of plaque stability, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Methods: From the Athero-Express biobank, we selected carotid plaque samples of 100 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. The level of agreement between plasma MGP species and plaque ucMGP levels was assessed using weighted kappa (κ).

Aldosterone, inactive matrix gla-protein, and large artery stiffness in hypertension.

Vascular calcification leads to increased large artery stiffness. Matrix gla-protein (MGP) is a vitamin K-dependent protein that inhibits arterial calcification. Aldosterone promotes vascular calcification and stiffness, but the relationships between aldosterone, MGP, and arterial stiffness are unknown.