Arch Med Sci
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We aimed to compare the prevalence of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus and its predictors between old and young patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ Despite OAC use, older patients with AF remain at high risk of LAA thrombus formation. Older age, non-paroxysmal AF, and heart failure are predictors of LAA thrombus, irrespective of age.
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Contusion spinal cord injury is involved in a number of cellular, biochemical and molecular changes. We studied the overall expression pattern of miRNAs on day 1 and 3 after spinal cord injury and the involved pathways. ⋯ The results suggested that miR-19a plays a potential role in halting the neuronal cell death spinal cord injury and that the protective role of miR-19a may be due to its regulatory effect on pro-apoptotic genes.
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Schisandrin B (SchB) has been reported to perform a wide range of biological functions, including antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity and stimulation of osteoblast proliferation. However, the function and mechanism of SchB in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis are still unknown. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-osteoporotic activity of SchB in an experimental rat model of estrogen deficiency, which is usually used to mimic human postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). ⋯ SchB exerted anti-osteoporotic activity in OVX-operated rats by accelerating the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt, subsequently upregulating the expression of β-catenin.
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The aim of the study was to evaluate whether physical exercise (PE) in addition to extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is more effective in improving erectile function as compared to ESWT and PE alone in diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). ⋯ The combined approach of ESWT and PE provides significant advantages in erectile dysfunction improvement and durability as compared to ESWT or PE alone in diabetic patients with ED.
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To determine the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MTHFR and MTRR genes on disease activity and the presence of MTX therapy adverse events in Polish children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). ⋯ MTHFR rs1801133 and MTRR rs1801394 polymorphisms are associated with higher disease activity at the moment of JIA diagnosis.