Arch Med Sci
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Endocan and endoglin have been shown to play a role in angiogenesis. Aberrant excessive angiogenesis is a main factor in the development of diabetic nephropathy. In this study we evaluated endocan and endoglin levels in diabetes patients with and without albuminuria and compared them with healthy subjects. Therefore we aimed at gaining a better understanding of the role of angiogenesis in diabetic nephropathy and to assess the predictive role of endocan and endoglin as markers of diabetic nephropathy progression. ⋯ Endocan might be a more reliable marker of diabetic nephropathy development than endoglin.
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Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) level reflects the general condition of the organism and was proved to give independent information in risk stratification of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of suPAR in the prediction of adverse cardiac events in patients with first myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Additionally, the diagnostic power of suPAR was assessed. ⋯ Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor level appears to be an independent useful biomarker for the prediction of major adverse cardiac events early after first myocardial infarction. The biomarker's level seems to have more prognostic than diagnostic power.
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The renin-angiotensin system is associated with blood pressure regulation, inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance. It can decrease intracellular oxidative stress. Stimulation with H2O2 leads to increased oxidative stress and activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway. However, the role of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in oxidative stress-induced endothelial cell dysfunction and H2O2-induced AKT activation remains unclear. ⋯ The study revealed the protective effect of captopril against H2O2-induced endothelial cell dysfunction through the AKT/mTOR pathway, and its enhancement of cell survival. These findings provide new insights into the protective effects of captopril and novel therapeutic approaches to treatment of cardiovascular disease.
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The mortality rate in patients with severe liver dysfunction with no option of transplantation is unacceptably high. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of applying extracorporeal liver support (ECLS) techniques in this group of patients. ⋯ Further studies are needed to assess the contribution of non-biological extracorporeal liver support procedures to a decrease in mortality rates in the population of patients with severe liver dysfunction.
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Fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) and its co-receptor, beta-klotho, regulate bile acid synthesis in the liver as an enterohepatic feedback mechanism. In this study, our aim was to investigate the circulating FGF-19 and β-klotho levels in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) cases. ⋯ The serum FGF-19 and β-klotho concentrations did not differ between the pregnancies with ICP and the healthy controls. However, in some cases, abnormalities in the FGF-19, β-klotho, and FGFR4 signaling system may play roles in the pathogenesis of ICP.