D389V Variant Induces Hypercontractility in Cardiac Organoids.

, encoding cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C), is the most mutated gene known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, since little is known about the underlying etiology, additional in vitro studies are crucial to defining the underlying molecular mechanisms. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of HCM associated with a polymorphic variant (D389V) in by using isogenic human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiac organoids (hCOs).

D389V Variant Induces Hypercontractility in Cardiac Organoids.

Background: , encoding cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C), is the most mutated gene known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, since little is known about the underlying etiology, additional studies are crucial to defining the underlying molecular mechanisms. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of HCM associated with a polymorphic variant (D389V) in by using human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiac organoids (hCOs).

Impairment of Endothelial Function by Aerosol From Marijuana Leaf Vaporizers.

Background: Marijuana leaf vaporizers, which heat plant material and sublimate Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol without combustion, are popular alternatives to smoking cannabis that are generally perceived to be less harmful. We have shown that smoke from tobacco and marijuana, as well as aerosol from e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, impair vascular endothelial function in rats measured as arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Methods And Results: We exposed 8 rats per group to aerosol generated by 2 vaporizer systems (Volcano and handheld Yocan) using marijuana with varying Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol levels, in a single pulsatile exposure session of 2 s/min over 5 minutes, and measured changes in FMD.

Inhibition of galectin-3 post-infarction impedes progressive fibrosis by regulating inflammatory profibrotic cascades.

Aims: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) causes inflammation, collagen deposition, and reparative fibrosis in response to myocyte death and, subsequently, a pathological myocardial remodelling process characterized by excessive interstitial fibrosis, driving heart failure (HF). Nonetheless, how or when to limit excessive fibrosis for therapeutic purposes remains uncertain. Galectin-3, a major mediator of organ fibrosis, promotes cardiac fibrosis and remodelling.

Impairment of Endothelial Function by Cigarette Smoke Is Not Caused by a Specific Smoke Constituent, but by Vagal Input From the Airway.

Background: Exposure to tobacco or marijuana smoke, or e-cigarette aerosols, causes vascular endothelial dysfunction in humans and rats. We aimed to determine what constituent, or class of constituents, of smoke is responsible for endothelial functional impairment.

Methods: We investigated several smoke constituents that we hypothesized to mediate this effect by exposing rats and measuring arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) pre- and post-exposure.

Genetic, clinical, molecular, and pathogenic aspects of the South Asian-specific polymorphic MYBPC3 variant.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a cardiac genetic disease characterized by ventricular enlargement, diastolic dysfunction, and increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Sarcomeric genetic defects are the predominant known cause of HCM. In particular, mutations in the myosin-binding protein C gene (MYBPC3) are associated with ~ 40% of all HCM cases in which a genetic basis has been established.

Vascular endothelial function is impaired by aerosol from a single IQOS HeatStick to the same extent as by cigarette smoke.

Background: Heated tobacco products (also called 'heat-not-burn' products) heat tobacco at temperatures below that of combustion, causing nicotine and other compounds to aerosolise. One such product, IQOS from Philip Morris International, is being marketed internationally with claims of harm reduction. We sought to determine whether exposure to IQOS aerosol impairs arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of vascular endothelial function that is impaired by tobacco smoke.

One Minute of Marijuana Secondhand Smoke Exposure Substantially Impairs Vascular Endothelial Function.

Background: Despite public awareness that tobacco secondhand smoke (SHS) is harmful, many people still assume that marijuana SHS is benign. Debates about whether smoke-free laws should include marijuana are becoming increasingly widespread as marijuana is legalized and the cannabis industry grows. Lack of evidence for marijuana SHS causing acute cardiovascular harm is frequently mistaken for evidence that it is harmless, despite chemical and physical similarity between marijuana and tobacco smoke.

Can procalcitonin reduce unnecessary voiding cystoureterography in children with first febrile urinary tract infection?

Objective: Recently, new predictors of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children with a first febrile UTI such as Procalcitonin (PCT) were introduced as selective approaches for cystography. This study wants to show the capability of PCT in predicting presence of VUR at the first febrile UTI in children.

Methods: Patients between 1 month and 15 years of age with febrile UTI were included in this prospective study.

A new method to make 24-hour urine collection more convenient: a validity study.

Background and Objectives. This study proposes a novel urine collection device that can divide each urine collection into 20 parts and store and cool just one part. The aim of the current study is to compare measured biomarkers from the proposed urine collection device to those of conventional 24-hour sampling method.

Intra-arterial injection of acrylic cement as a complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is a minimally invasive procedure that provides significant pain relief in a high percentage of patients with osteoporotic fractures. The complication rate of PVP is reported to be below 6%. This case illustrates, for the first time, an arterial PMMA embolus to the aorta and its branches as a complication of PVP.

A role for opioid system in the proconvulsant effects of sildenafil on the pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic seizure in mice.

There are several lines of evidence that opioidergic and nitrergic systems could modulate the seizure threshold. We previously have shown that sildenafil had proconvulsant effects in a model of clonic seizure induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) or bicuculline. In the present study, we examined whether the opioid system participates in the action of sildenafil on the PTZ-induced clonic seizures in mice.