Bradleymagnussen6812

OBJECTIVE Carotid bifurcation geometry has been believed to be a risk factor for the initiation of atherosclerosis because of its influence on hemodynamics. However, the relationships between carotid bifurcation geometry and plaque vulnerability are not fully understood. This study aimed to determine the association between carotid bifurcation geometry and plaque vulnerability using magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging. Approach and Results A total of 501 carotid arteries with nonstenotic atherosclerosis were included from the cross-sectional, multicenter CARE II study (Chinese Atherosclerosis Risk Evaluation). Four standardized carotid bifurcation geometric parameters (bifurcation angle, internal carotid artery planarity, luminal expansion FlareA, and tortuosity Tort2D) were derived from time-of-flight magnetic resonance imaging. Presence of vulnerable plaque, which has intraplaque hemorrhage, large lipid-rich necrotic core, or disrupted luminal surface, was determined based on multicontrast carotid magnetic resonance vessel wall images. Vulnerable plaques (N=43) were found to occur at more distal locations (ie, near the level of flow divider) than stable plaques (N=458). Multivariable logistic regression shows that the luminal expansion FlareA (odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.25-0.81]; P=0.008) was associated with plaque vulnerability after adjustment for age, sex, maximum wall thickness, plaque location, and other geometric parameters. CONCLUSIONS Smaller luminal expansion at carotid bifurcation is associated with vulnerable plaque. The finding needs to be verified with longitudinal studies and the underlying mechanism should be further explored with hemodynamics measurement in the future.BACKGROUND MicroRNAs are small, noncoding RNAs that play a key role in gene expression. Accumulating evidence suggests that aberrant microRNA expression contributes to the heart failure (HF) phenotype; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. A better understanding of the mechanisms of action of microRNAs could potentially lead to targeted therapies that could halt the progression or even reverse HF. METHODS AND RESULTS We found that microRNA-152 (miR-152) expression was upregulated in the failing human heart and experimental animal models of HF. Transgenic mice with cardiomyocyte-specific miR-152 overexpression developed systolic dysfunction (mean difference, -38.74% [95% CI, -45.73% to -31.74%]; P less then 0.001) and dilated cardiomyopathy. At the cellular level, miR-152 overexpression perturbed mitochondrial ultrastructure and dysregulated key genes involved in cardiomyocyte metabolism and inflammation. Mechanistically, we identified Glrx5 (glutaredoxin 5), a critical regulator of mitochondrial iron homeostasis and iron-sulfur cluster synthesis, as a direct miR-152 target. Finally, a proof-of-concept of the therapeutic efficacy of targeting miR-152 in vivo was obtained by utilizing a locked nucleic acid-based inhibitor of miR-152 (LNA 152) in a murine model of HF subjected to transverse aortic constriction. We demonstrated that animals treated with LNA-152 (n=10) showed preservation of systolic function when compared with locked nucleic acid-control treated animals (n=9; mean difference, 18.25% [95% CI, 25.10% to 11.39%]; P less then 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The upregulation of miR-152 expression in the failing myocardium contributes to HF pathophysiology. Preclinical evidence suggests that miR-152 inhibition preserves cardiac function in a model of pressure overload-induced HF. These findings offer new insights into the pathophysiology of HF and point to miR-152-Glrx5 axis as a potential novel therapeutic target.Narrative mapping is a newly emergent form of participant-generated visual methodology. This essay differentiates narrative mapping from other visual methodologies and from other genres of mapping by examining a shared epistemological framework undergirding both the construction of narratives and the crafting of maps. (S)-2-Hydroxysuccinic acid The confluence of these innately human inclinations extends current methodological practices of narrative inquiry, especially in health communication. Narrative maps not only enhance sense-making abilities but they are unique communicative tools through which participants address their lived/ing experience in encounters of care and research. Recognizing both personal and political nature of healthcare, a poststructural feminist commitment further grounds this methodological framework and analysis.We aimed to compare the concentrations of serum cytokines in patients undergoing coronary angiography and finding their possible associations with metabolic syndrome. Twelve serum cytokines and growth factors (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, IFN-γ, EGF, and VEGF) were measured by sandwich chemiluminescence assays, on the Evidence Investigator® system. There were significant differences regarding sex, height, weight, BMI, WC, HC, FPG, TG and HDL-C between those with and without MetS in patients undergoing angiography (p  less then  .05). Serum concentrations of IL-6 and INF-γ were significantly higher in subjects with MetS, compared to those without MetS (p = .031 and p = .035, respectively). However, only serum IL-6 was associated with the presence of MetS (β = 1.215, CI = 1.047-1.409, p = .010). From several serum cytokines and growth factors assessed in patients, IL-6 was the only serum cytokine that was significantly different between those with and without MetS after correction for confounding factors.The purpose of the present study was to identify the effects of anterior translation and medial rotation of the talus on ankle joint contact forces (AJF) during double-limb vertical hopping. A computational musculoskeletal model was used to calculate AJF under 225 different combinations of 0-10 mm (in 10/15 mm increments) anterior translation and 0-5° (in 5/15° increments) medial rotation for ten subjects. The results show anteroposterior AJF was moderately affected by anterior translation, while mediolateral AJF was strongly affected by medial rotation. Future research should investigate if interventions that manipulate misaligned talus position in-vivo can also reduce AJF.