Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society
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Editorial Comment
S100A8/A9 complex: more than just a biomarker of cardiovascular risk?
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Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a first homolog of ACE, regulates the renin-angiotensin system by counterbalancing ACE activity. Accumulating evidence in recent years has demonstrated a physiological and pathological role of ACE2 in the cardiovascular, renal and respiratory systems. ⋯ Furthermore, the recent explosion of research into the ACE2 homolog, collectrin, has revealed a new physiological function of ACE2 as an amino acid transporter, which explains the pathogenic role of gene mutations in Hartnup disorder. This review summarizes and discusses the recently unveiled roles for ACE2 in disease pathogenesis.
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The etiology of anemia is still unclear in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Hepcidin is an iron regulatory peptide that is synthesized in the liver to suppress iron absorption and utilization. Hepcidin synthesis is suppressed by anemia, hypoxia and erythropoiesis, and induced by inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), increase the synthesis of hepcidin, resulting in anemia of inflammation (AI). The serum hepcidin concentration in CHF patients with anemia was measured in order to better understand anemia in CHF. ⋯ Serum hepcidin-25 concentrations were regulated by iron storage and erythropoiesis but not by IL-6 in CHF patients with anemia. These findings might indicate that AI is a minor cause of anemia in CHF.
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Major pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening disorder associated with high mortality and morbidity. The clinical characteristics and outcomes in major PE managed by a well-organized cardiac care regional urban network and hospitals have not been clarified and were examined in the present study. ⋯ Early transport and specific reperfusion therapy for major PE were effectively performed by the Tokyo CCU Network, suggesting the efficacy of a specialty management system for major PE.