[Tc]Tc-hydroxydiphosphonate uptake in soft tissue is associated with amyloid load in subcutaneous abdominal fat tissue and mortality in wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis patients.

Purpose: Bone scintigraphy is key to non-invasively diagnosing wild-type transthyretin (ATTRwt) amyloidosis, and is mainly used to assess cardiac radiotracer uptake. However, extracardiac radiotracer uptake is also observed. We investigated whether intensity of soft tissue radiotracer uptake is associated with amyloid load in subcutaneous abdominal fat tissue and with mortality.

High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T to Exclude Cardiac Involvement in TTR Variant Carriers and ATTRv Amyloidosis Patients.

(1) Background: Individuals carrying a pathogenic transthyretin gene variant () are at high risk for developing hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis and are routinely screened for the development of cardiomyopathy (ATTRv-CM). This study aims to evaluate whether the cardiac biomarkers N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) can be used to rule out ATTRv-CM. (2) Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, data from 46 ATTRv-CM patients and 101 carriers and ATTRv amyloidosis patients without cardiomyopathy were included.

Cardiovascular effects of oral appliance therapy in obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study systematically reviews the effects of oral appliance therapy (OAT) on a broad spectrum of cardiovascular outcomes. A literature search was performed up to December 31st 2016.

Erythroid progenitors from patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes are dependent on the surrounding micro environment for their survival.

To investigate whether the type of programmed cell death of myelodysplastic erythroid cells depends on their cellular context, we performed studies on cells from patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. We compared erythroid cells (and their precursor cells) from the mononuclear cell fraction with those from the hematon fraction, which are compacted complexes of hematopoietic cells surrounded by their own micro-environment. In directly fixed materials, erythroblasts exhibited signs of autophagy with limited apoptosis (<3%) based on ultrastructural characteristics and immunogold labeling for activated caspase-3.

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy.

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding.

Platelet production rate predicts the response to prednisone therapy in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

The predictive value of clinical and platelet kinetic parameters for treatment outcome in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was investigated in 75 patients with platelets355x10(9)/day) in 33%, 48%, and 19% of patients, respectively. All patients started with prednisone at diagnosis (1 mg/kg/day).

Increased glycocalicin index and normal thrombopoietin levels in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with a decreased rate of platelet production.

Platelet kinetic studies in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have shown that in a subgroup of patients a shortened mean platelet life (MPL) is associated with a decreased platelet production rate (PPR). Other methods of studying certain aspects of thrombocytopoiesis are the plasma concentrations of thrombopoietin and glycocalicin.

Increased peripheral platelet destruction and caspase-3-independent programmed cell death of bone marrow megakaryocytes in myelodysplastic patients.

To investigate underlying mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), radiolabeled platelet studies were performed in 30 MDS patients with platelet counts less than 100 x 10(9)/L. Furthermore, plasma thrombopoietin and glycocalicin index (a parameter of platelet or megakaryocyte destruction) were determined. Mean platelet life (MPL), corrected for the degree of thrombocytopenia, was reduced in 15 of 30 patients (4.

Ultrastructural study shows morphologic features of apoptosis and para-apoptosis in megakaryocytes from patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

To investigate whether altered megakaryocyte morphology contributes to reduced platelet production in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), ultrastructural analysis of megakaryocytes was performed in 11 ITP patients. Ultrastructural abnormalities compatible with (para-)apoptosis were present in 78% +/- 14% of ITP megakaryocytes, which could be reversed by in vivo treatment with prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin. Immunohistochemistry of bone marrow biopsies of ITP patients with extensive apoptosis showed an increased number of megakaryocytes with activated caspase-3 compared with normal (28% +/- 4% versus 0%).