Journal of internal medicine
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Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The common denominator for plaques causing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is lipid accumulation, either as a lipid core or lipid pools. An intracoronary imaging device to detect lipid-rich plaques (LRPs) could therefore identify most of the plaques causing ACS and sudden death. ⋯ NIRS-IVUS can help to define the diameter and length of stents to avoid procedure-related complications. Increased coronary LCBI predicts a higher risk of future cardiovascular events. Lipid core detection using NIRS may help to identify vulnerable plaques to treat them before they cause ACS or sudden death.
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one of a growing class of noncoding RNAs that are involved in the regulation of a wide range of metabolic processes including cellular differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. The generation of miRNA is regulated in complex ways, for example by small interfering RNAs (small nucleolar and nuclear RNAs) and various other metabolites. This complexity of control is likely to explain how a relatively small part of the DNA that codes for proteins has enabled the evolution of such complex organisms as mammals. ⋯ Extracellular miRNAs found in the blood stream may also serve as novel biomarkers for both diagnosing specific forms of cancer and assessing the likelihood of metastasis, and as powerful prognostic indices for various cancers. Here, we discuss the role of intracellular and extracellular miRNAs in nutritional control of various (patho)physiological processes. In this review, we provide an update of the presentations from the 25th Marabou Symposium (Stockholm, 14-16 June 2013) entitled 'Role of miRNA in health and nutrition', attended by 50 international experts
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Addition of assessment of comorbid diseases ('D') and oxygen saturation ('S') to the CRB-65 score has been recommended to improve its accuracy for risk stratification in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The aim of this study was to validate the resulting DS-CRB-65 score in a large cohort of patients with CAP. ⋯ The addition of assessment of oxygenation and comorbidities significantly improved the prognostic accuracy of the CRB-65 score. Consequently, the DS-CRB-65 score may have a useful role in risk stratification algorithms for CAP.
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Multicenter Study
Cardiac biomarkers and clinical scores for risk stratification in elderly patients with non-high-risk pulmonary embolism.
To determine the prognostic accuracy of cardiac biomarkers alone and in combination with clinical scores in elderly patients with non-high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE). ⋯ In elderly patients with nonmassive PE, NT-proBNP or hs-cTnT could be an adequate alternative to clinical scores for identifying low-risk individuals suitable for outpatient management.