Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are a widely distributed family of proteins produced in response to heat and other stresses. To develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing expression of ...HSPs in the bony fish Trachinotus ovatus, we carried out a whole genome analysis and identified 43 HSP genes. Based on their phylogenetic relationships with Danio rerio, Seriola dumerili, and Seriola lalandi, they were divided into four subfamilies: HSP20, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90. We performed an analysis of the predicted physicochemical properties and subcellular localization of proteins encoded by these genes. The chromosomal localization results showed that the HSP genes are distributed across 20 chromosomes of T. ovatus.These genes were found to be expressed in different tissues, and they showed differential expression in the immune response against Streptococcus agalactiae. However, there was no significant differential expression in the different skin tissue locations of T. ovatus after infection by Cryptocaryon irritans Brown. This study provides basic information for further research on the evolution and structure and function of HSPs in teleosts.
Background:
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the leading cause of secondary hypertension globally and is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the cardiac impact of concomitant ...albuminuria remains unknown.
Objective:
To compare anatomical and functional remodeling of left ventricle (LV) in PA patients with or without albuminuria.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Methods:
The cohort was separated into two arms according to the presence or absence of albuminuria (>30 mg/g of morning spot urine). Propensity score matching with age, sex, systolic blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus was performed. Multivariate analysis was conducted with adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, duration of hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, number of antihypertensive agents, and aldosterone level. A local-linear model with bandwidth of 2.07 was used to study correlations.
Results:
A total of 519 individuals with PA were enrolled in the study, of whom 152 had albuminuria. After matching, the albuminuria group had a higher creatinine level, at baseline. With regard to LV remodeling, albuminuria was independently associated with a significantly higher interventricular septum (1.22 > 1.17 cm, p = 0.030), LV posterior wall thickness (1.16 > 1.10 cm, p = 0.011), LV mass index (125 > 116 g/m2, p = 0.023), and medial E/e′ ratio (13.61 > 12.30, p = 0.032), and a lower medial early diastolic peak velocity (5.70 < 6.36 cm/s, p = 0.016). Multivariate analysis further revealed that albuminuria was an independent risk factor for elevated LV mass index (p < 0.001) and medial E/e′ ratio (p = 0.010). Non-parametric kernel regression also demonstrated that the level of albuminuria was positively correlated with LV mass index. The remodeling of LV mass and diastolic function under the presence of albuminuria distinctly improved after PA treatment.
Conclusion:
The presence of concomitant albuminuria in patients with PA was associated with pronounced LV hypertrophy and compromised LV diastolic function. These alterations were reversible after treatment for PA.
Plain language summary
Cardiac Impact of Primary Aldosteronism and Albuminuria
Primary aldosteronism and albuminuria has been, respectively, demonstrated to bring about left ventricular remodeling, but the aggregative effect was unknown. We constructed a prospective single-center cohort study in Taiwan. We proposed the presence of concomitant albuminuria was associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and compromised diastolic function. Intriguingly, management of primary aldosteronism was able to restore these alterations. Our study delineated the cardiorenal crosstalk in the setting of secondary hypertension and the role of albuminuria for left ventricular remodeling. Future interrogations toward the underlying pathophysiology as well as therapeutics will facilitate the improvement of holistic care for such population.
Primary aldosteronism is associated with a higher incidence of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction than essential hypertension. However, systolic function via endocardial ...measurements is similar between patients with primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension. Speckle-tracking echocardiography is a sensitive tool which can detect subclinical impairments in systolic function. The aim of this study was to investigate aldosterone-induced subclinical impairments in systolic function.
We prospectively enrolled patients with primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension and analyzed their clinical data, biochemical data, and echocardiographic parameters, including myocardial strain global longitudinal strain (GLS).
Thirty-six patients with primary aldosteronism and 31 patients with essential hypertension were enrolled for analysis. The patients with primary aldosteronism had significantly lower serum potassium levels, lower plasma renin activity, higher aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR), and higher 24-h urinary aldosterone levels than patients with essential hypertension. With regards to echocardiographic parameters, the patients with primary aldosteronism had a thicker ventricular wall and higher LV mass index than those with essential hypertension. Most importantly, we found significant degradation of GLS in the patients with primary aldosteronism compared with those with essential hypertension (-17.84 ± 2.36 vs. -20.13 ± 2.32, P < 0.001). In correlation analysis, GLS was significantly correlated with serum potassium level, LV mass index, log-transformed plasma renin activity, log-transformed ARR, and log-transformed 24-h urinary aldosterone levels (all P < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis further identified log-transformed ARR (β = 0.771, 95% confidence interval: 0.011-1.530, P = 0.047), and log-transformed 24-h urinary aldosterone level (β = 1.765, 95% confidence interval: 0.01-3.529, P = 0.050) as independent factors correlated with GLS.
Patients with primary aldosteronism have a lower magnitude of GLS than patients with essential hypertension, suggesting that aldosterone induces a subclinical decline in LV systolic function.
Anti-hypertensive medications may affect plasma renin activity and/or plasma aldosterone concentration, misleading the interpretation of the aldosterone-to-renin ratio when screening for primary ...aldosteronism. The Task Force of Taiwan PA recommends that, when necessary, using α-adrenergic receptor blocking agents, centrally acting α-adrenergic agonists, and/or non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers should be considered to control blood pressure before screening for PA. We recommend temporarily holding β-adrenergic receptor blocking agents, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and all diuretics before screening for PA. Further large-scale randomized controlled studies are required to confirm the recommendations.
Abstract Background Tinnitus affects approximately 740 million adults globally, involving hearing, emotion, and sleep systems. However, studies using polysomnography and pure-tone audiometry (PTA) ...are limited. We aimed to assess the correlation between tinnitus and hearing, sleep quality, characteristics, and depression using polysomnography and PTA. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we divided participants into tinnitus and non-tinnitus groups. We included 100 outpatients (65 with tinnitus, 35 without) from a medical center in Taiwan, who underwent polysomnography and completed rating scales including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Chinese-Mandarin version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI-CM). We analyzed correlations, conducted group comparisons, assessed factors related to THI-CM scores, constructed ROC curves to predict depression in the tinnitus group, and performed multinomial and logistic regression to explore associations. Results Descriptive statistics identified a cohort with mean age 53.9 ± 12.80 years, 63% exhibited PHQ-9 scores ≥ 10, and 66% had Apnea–Hypopnea Index (AHI) > 5. The ratio of rapid eye movement and deep sleep to stage 1 + 2 sleep was relatively low and non-significant. Likewise, leg movements was higher in the tinnitus group but not statistically significant. In the tinnitus group, 63.08% had depression, and 81.54% had AHI > 5. Univariate logistic regression linked tinnitus to AHI > 5 (Odds ratio (OR) 2.67, p = 0.026) and male sex (OR 2.49, p = 0.034). A moderate positive correlation was found between the THI-CM score and PHQ-9 score (rs = 0.50, p < 0.001). Further adjustment for obstructive sleep apnea showed associations between PHQ-9 (total score) or depression and THI-CM Grade 3–5 (OR = 1.28; OR = 8.68). Single- and multifactor regression analyses highlighted significant associations of PSQI scores > 13 (OR 7.06, p = 0.018) and THI-CM scores > 47 (OR 7.43, p = 0.002) with depression. Conclusions Our study recruited tinnitus participants with slight or mild hearing loss and mild tinnitus handicap. Depression was identified as a predominant factor in tinnitus-related handicap. The mild tinnitus handicap in tinnitus participants may explain the lack of significant differences in depression, sleep quality, and polysomnographic sleep characteristics between tinnitus and non-tinnitus groups. Further extensive and prospective studies are needed to elucidate the complex links among depression, sleep, and tinnitus.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis is a common disease and has a poor prognosis owing to the progressive breakdown of gas exchange regions in the lung. Recently, a novel strategy of administering ...mesenchymal stem cells for pulmonary fibrosis has achieved high therapeutic efficacy. In the present study, we attempted to use human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to prevent disease in Sprague-Dawley rats that received semi-thoracic irradiation (15 Gy). To investigate the specific roles of mesenchymal stem cells in ameliorating radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis, we treated control groups of irradiated rats with human skin fibroblasts or phosphate-buffered saline. After mesenchymal stem cells were infused, host secretions of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were elevated compared with those of the controls. In contrast, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) levels were decreased after infusion of mesenchymal stem cells. Consequently, the architecture of the irradiated lungs was preserved without marked activation of fibroblasts or collagen deposition within the injured sites. Moreover, mesenchymal stem cells were able to prevent the irradiated type II alveolar epithelial cells from undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Collectively, these data confirmed that mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to limit pulmonary fibrosis after exposure to ionising irradiation.
Objective The presence of autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) is common and potentially associated with poor outcomes. The aim of this study was to ...investigate the association between ACS and vascular remodeling in PA patients. Design and methods We prospectively enrolled 436 PA patients from October 2006 to November 2019. ACS (defined as a cortisol level >1.8 μg/dL after a 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test) was detected in 23% of the PA patients. Propensity score matching (PSM) with age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was performed. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was examined at baseline and 1 year after targeted treatment. Small arteries of periadrenal fat in 46 patients were stained with Picro Sirus red to quantify the severity of vascular fibrosis. Results After PSM, the PA patients with ACS had a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, higher plasma aldosterone concentration and higher aldosterone-to-renin ratio. The baseline mean baPWV was also significantly higher in the PA patients with ACS. After multivariable regression analysis, the presence of ACS was a significant predictor of worse baseline mean baPWV (β: 235.745, 95% CI: 59.602–411.888, P = 0.010). In addition, the PA patients with ACS had worse vascular fibrosis (fibrosis area: 25.6 ± 8.4%) compared to those without ACS (fibrosis area: 19.8 ± 7.7%, P = 0.020). After 1 year of PA treatment, baPWV significantly improved in both groups. Conclusion The presence of ACS in PA patients is associated with worse arterial stiffness and vascular remodeling.
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with higher arterial stiffness compared to essential hypertension (EH). However, few studies have compared different pulse wave velocity (PWV) parameters to ...detect aldosterone-induced arterial stiffness. In this study, we aimed to compare the sensitivity in detecting aldosterone-induced arterial stiffness between brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) and heart-ankle PWV (haPWV). We prospectively enrolled 1006 PA patients and 983 EH patients. Detailed medical history, basic biochemistry data and two PWV measurements (baPWV and haPWV) were collected in both groups. We performed analysis on the original cohort and two propensity score matching (PSM) models (model 1 adjusted for age and sex; model 2 adjusted for age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure). The DeLong test was used to compare areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) between baPWV and haPWV to predict PA. In all models, the PA patients had significantly higher baPWV compared to the EH patients. The AUC of haPWV was greater than that of baPWV. In conclusion, haPWV seems to be a better PWV parameter than baPWV in detecting aldosterone-induced arterial stiffness.
The elevated aldosterone in primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with increased insulin resistance and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM). Both aldosterone excess and DM lead to left ...ventricular (LV) pathological remodeling. In this study, we investigated the impact of DM on LV non-hemodynamic remodeling in patients with PA. We enrolled 665 PA patients, of whom 112 had DM and 553 did not. Clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic data were analyzed at baseline and 1 year after adrenalectomy. LV non-hemodynamic remodeling was represented by inappropriate excess left ventricular mass index (ieLVMI), which was defined as the difference between left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and predicted left ventricular mass index (pLVMI). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used with age, sex, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure to adjust for baseline variables. After PSM, the patient characteristics were balanced between the DM and non-DM groups, except for fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profile. A total of 111 DM and 419 non-DM patients were selected for further analysis. Compared to the non-DM group, the DM group had significantly higher ieLVMI and LVMI. After multivariable linear regression analysis, the presence of DM remained a significant predictor of increased ieLVMI. After adrenalectomy, ieLVMI decreased significantly in the non-DM group but not in DM group. The presence of DM in PA patients was associated with more prominent non-hemodynamic LV remodeling and less recovery after adrenalectomy.
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