An emerging role for the miR-26 family in cardiovascular disease

In response to acute myocardial infarction (MI), a complex series of cellular and molecular signaling events orchestrate the myocardial remodeling that ensues weeks to months after injury. Clinical, epidemiological, and pathological studies demonstrate that inadequate or impaired angiogenesis after myocardial injury is often associated with decreased left ventricular (LV) function and clinical outcomes. The microRNA family, miR-26, plays diverse roles in regulating key aspects of cellular growth, development, and activation. Recent evidence supports a central role for the miR-26 family in cardiovascular disease by controlling critical signaling pathways, such as BMP/SMAD1 signaling, and targets relevant to endothelial cell growth, angiogenesis, and LV function post-MI. Emerging studies of the miR-26 family in other cell types including vascular smooth muscle cells, cardiac fibroblasts, and cardiomyocytes suggest that miR-26 may bear important implications for a range of cardiovascular repair mechanisms. This review examines the current knowledge of the miR-26 family’s role in key cell types that critically control cardiovascular disease under pathological and physiological stimuli.     

Two Cases of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome with Situs Inversus Totalis: Coincidence or Co-Existence?

Congenital absence of uterus and vagina, the Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome (MRKHS), results from defective müllerian duct development during female embryogenesis; it is the second most common cause of primary amenorrhea. Atypical forms of MRKHS (type B) represent a heterogeneous group of disorders with associated anomalies of other organ systems which frequently includes the renal and skeletal systems and several individually occurring malformations.We report two cases with MRKHS in which we diagnosed situs inversus totalis incidentally during radiologic examinations. Abdominal situs inversus describes the mirror-image arrangement of the intra-abdominal organs in the abdominal cavity and it is characterized by the presence of multiple congenital anomalies.In this report we attempt to question whether the association between MRKHS and situs inversus is a rare feature of the müllerian dysgenetic spectrum or whether it is the result of random association.     

Seasonal cyclicity of secretogranin-II expression and its modulation by sex steroids and GnRH in the female goldfish pituitary

The secretory vesicle protein secretogranin-II (SgII), a precursor for the bioactive peptide secretoneurin, is expressed at all levels of the goldfish reproductive axis, including the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovaries. These findings led us to hypothesize that SgII is involved in reproduction and is physiologically regulated. We investigated the effects of different sex steroids on pituitary SgII expression throughout the seasonal reproductive cycle of the female goldfish, as well as the effects of GnRH and testosterone on pituitary LHbeta subunit, GH, and SgII expression in sexually recrudescent female fish using northern blot analysis. We demonstrated that SgII expression levels vary seasonally, with levels being highest in winter and lowest in spring. Sex steroids did not alter SgII expression at any of the time periods studied. In sexually mature goldfish, injection of a GnRH agonist stimulated the expression of LHbeta and SgII specifically in the pars distalis but not the neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary. Although testosterone alone did not alter the expression of either of these genes, it did abolish the stimulatory effects of GnRH on both LHbeta and SgII expression. This represents the first study where testosterone is shown to modulate SgII expression in the pituitary.     

IgG4-related disease and ANCA positive vasculitis in childhood: a case-based review

Clinical Rheumatology - Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) type 1 is an IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), characterized by inflammatory pseudotumors and histologically by dense lymphoplasmacytic...     

Immunodiagnosis of human hydatid disease

A study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay using locally prepared antigens for immunodiagnosis of human hydatid disease. A total of 90 cases clinically suspected to be suffering from hydatid disease and 100 controls matched for age and sex were included in the study. Two types of ELISA were performed on detected specific antihydatid antibodies belonging to IgG/IgM/IgA classes and other type detected IgE class of antibodies. Antigen prepared from the human hydatid fluid was found to be unsuitable for diagnosis as it contained host proteins i.e. IgG. Sheep hydatid fluid obtained from the fertile hydatid cyst was used to prepare and standardize the antigen. ELISA test to detect anti hydatid antibodies belonging to either IgG, IgM and or IgA was found to be highly specific (98 per cent) in surgically confirmed hydatid disease and was negative in all the controls. The results of the study indicate that ELISA along with casoni test may provide the best results in diagnosis of hydatid disease.     

The evaluation of the tendon and muscle changes of lower extremity in patients with acromegaly

Pituitary - Although it is well known that acromegaly causes enlargement in the extremities, studies investigating the effects of acromegaly on tendons, muscles and soft tissue are limited. The...     

Early postoperative voiding dysfunction after insertion of retropubic midurethral tape

Introduction and hypothesis

A significant proportion of patients develop voiding dysfunction after midurethral tape (MUT) insertion, which reduces patient satisfaction. The study’s purpose was to identify predictive factors of voiding dysfunction after a retropubic MUT procedure.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 100 patients who underwent only a retropubic MUT procedure between January 2010 and December 2011. Early voiding dysfunction was defined when patients required a Foley catheter within 48 h. Data including demographic information, urogenital symptoms, previous surgery, preoperative uroflowmetry and urodynamic parameters were analysed using SPSS v22. Univariate analysis of all demographic variables was performed; those significant at 10 % were entered into a multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Fourteen patients required Foley catheter insertion, with a median age of 58 years (26–83 years), median BMI 28 kg/m² (20–48 kg/m2), and median parity 2 (0–4). Univariate analysis revealed peak flow rate <15 ml/s (OR 3.79; 1.07, 13.4; p?=?0.046), bladder capacity (p?=?0.044), stress incontinence versus mixed or urge incontinence (p?=?0.064) and previous surgery (OR 4.39; 1.34, 14.41; p?=?0.015) to be associated with voiding dysfunction. Multivariate analysis showed only previous pelvic floor surgery to be independently associated (OR 3.76; 1.14, 12.23, p?=?0.029).

Conclusions

Only previous pelvic-floor surgery was found to be a strong predictive factor of voiding dysfunction. The rate of voiding dysfunction was similar to those of published data. Previous studies revealed different predictive factors. A larger cohort is needed to provide a definite answer. Those with previous surgery appear to be those most at risk and pre-surgical counselling for these women could be suggested.