Search results for "path"
showing 10 items of 15327 documents
Germ-free housing conditions do not affect aortic root and aortic arch lesion size of late atherosclerotic low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient…
2020
The microbiota has been linked to the development of atherosclerosis, but the functional impact of these resident bacteria on the lesion size and cellular composition of atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta has never been experimentally addressed with the germ-free low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr(-/-)) mouse atherosclerosis model. Here, we report that 16 weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding of hypercholesterolemicLdlr(-/-)mice at germ-free (GF) housing conditions did not impact relative aortic root plaque size, macrophage content, and necrotic core area. Likewise, we did not find changes in the relative aortic arch lesion size. However, late atherosclerotic GFLdlr(-/-)mice …
On the prospect of serum exosomal miRNA profiling and protein biomarkers for the diagnosis of ascending aortic dilatation in patients with bicuspid a…
2018
Background: To determine the impact of circulating miRNA and protein activity on the severity of ascending aortic dilatation in patients with bicuspid (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). Methods: By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, exosomal circulating expression levels (versus healthy aorta) of miRNAs and absolute levels of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, -3 and -9), tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1, -2, -3 and -4), and soluble receptors for advanced glycation end products AGEs (sRAGE) were evaluated in ascending dilated aortas of 71 patients with different valve morphotype. Results: Less-dilated ascending aorta exhibited a specific miRN…
Chronic inflammation: A key role in degeneration of bicuspid aortic valve.
2019
Abstract Introduction Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital valvular heart defect resulting from abnormal aortic cusp formation during heart development, where two of the three normal and equal sized cusps fuse into a single large cusp resulting in a two cusps aortic valve. Over the past years, much interest has been given in understanding the pathogenesis of BAV and its complications. In this review, we focused on the role of inflammation, involved in the degeneration of BAV and the development of its complications. Role of inflammation From a pathophysiological point of view, BAV may rapidly progress into aortic stenosis (AS) and is related to aortopathy. Several histo…
Identification of circumferential regional heterogeneity of ascending thoracic aneurysmal aorta by biaxial mechanical testing
2019
Abstract Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) can present an asymmetrical aortic dilatation compared with patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). This pattern of aneurysm dilatation led us to hypothesize that biomechanical differences likely induced by regional heterogeneity of material properties can underlie the observed asymmetric enlargement discrepancies between BAV ATAA and TAV ATAA. This study aimed to characterize the mechanical properties and associated aortic tissue stiffness changes along the circumferential direction of aortic rings collected from surgically-repaired patients with ATAA. Biaxial material testing was performed …
Patterns of ascending aortic dilatation and predictors of surgical replacement of the aorta: A comparison of bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve pati…
2019
Abstract Background Predictors of thoracic aorta growth and early cardiac surgery in patients with bicuspid aortic valve are undefined. Our aim was to identify predictors of ascending aorta dilatation and cardiac surgery in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Methods Forty-one patients with BAV were compared with 165 patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). All patients had LV EF > 50%, normal LV dimensions, and similar degree of aortic root or ascending aorta dilatation at enrollment. Patients with more than mild aortic stenosis or regurgitation were excluded. A CT-scan was available on 76% of the population, and an echocardiogram was repeated every year for a median time of 4 ye…
Spectrum of mutations in Italian patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: New results from the LIPIGEN study
2017
Abstract Background Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by elevated plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol that confers an increased risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Early identification and treatment of FH patients can improve prognosis and reduce the burden of cardiovascular mortality. Aim of this study was to perform the mutational analysis of FH patients identified through a collaboration of 20 Lipid Clinics in Italy (LIPIGEN Study). Methods We recruited 1592 individuals with a clinical diagnosis of definite or probable FH according to the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria. We performed a parallel sequencing of the major…
Epilepsy in neuropathologically verified Alzheimer's disease.
2018
Abstract Purpose Subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been shown to be at a higher risk for epilepsy. The vast majority of the previous studies have not included a full neuropathological examination. Methods The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of epilepsy and clinicopathological characteristics in a well-defined study group of 64 subjects with AD. We evaluated the clinicopathological findings in 64 subjects (mean age at death 85 ± 8.6 years) from a longitudi-nal study cohort of patients with dementia. Results Eleven out of the 64 subjects (17%) had a history of epilepsy, which is comparable to previous studies. The subjects with AD and epilepsy were significantly…
β-amyloid wall deposit of temporal artery in subjects with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.
2018
// Antonino Tuttolomondo 1 , Rosario Maugeri 4 , Elisabetta Orlando 2 , Giulio Giannone 2 , Francesco Ciccia 3 , Aroldo Rizzo 5 , Domenico Di Raimondo 1 , Francesca Graziano 4 , Rosaria Pecoraro 1 , Carlo Maida 1 , Irene Simonetta 1 , Anna Cirrincione 1 , Francesca Portelli 2 , Francesca Corpora 1 , Domenico Gerardo Iacopino 4 and Antonio Pinto 1 1 Internal Medicine and Stroke Care Ward, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy 2 Human Pathology Section, Human Pathology Section, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy 3 Rheumathology Ward, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, Univers…
Total coumarins of Hedyotis diffusa induces apoptosis of myelodysplastic syndrome SKM-1 cells by activation of caspases and inhibition of PI3K/Akt pa…
2016
Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Hedyotis diffusa is an ethno-medicine used for anti-cancer treatment in the clinic of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The total coumarins of Hedyotis diffusa (TCHD) was a selected extract with observed antiproliferative activity, which has not been tested in treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Aim of the study This study aimed to evaluate the apoptosis-inducing effect of TCHD on human MDS cell line (SKM-1) and explore its action mechanism in association with caspase family and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Materials and methods The chemical constituents and total coumarins content of TCHD were determined by …
Novel adverse outcome pathways revealed by chemical genetics in a developing marine fish
2017
Crude oil spills are a worldwide ocean conservation threat. Fish are particularly vulnerable to the oiling of spawning habitats, and crude oil causes severe abnormalities in embryos and larvae. However, the underlying mechanisms for these developmental defects are not well understood. Here, we explore the transcriptional basis for four discrete crude oil injury phenotypes in the early life stages of the commercially important Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). These include defects in (1) cardiac form and function, (2) craniofacial development, (3) ionoregulation and fluid balance, and (4) cholesterol synthesis and homeostasis. Our findings suggest a key role for intracellular cal…