Catabolic/Anabolic Imbalance Is Accompanied by Changes of Left Ventricular Steroid Nuclear Receptor Expression in Tachycardia-Induced Systolic Heart Failure in Male Pigs

BackgroundSteroid hormones play an important role in heart failure (HF) pathogenesis, and clinical data have revealed disordered steroidogenesis in male patients with HF. However, there is still a lack of studies on steroid hormones and their receptors during HF progression. Therefore, a porcine model of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy corresponding to HF was used to assess steroid hormone concentrations in serum and their nuclear receptor levels in heart tissue during the consecutive stages of HF.Methods and ResultsMale pigs underwent right ventricular pacing and developed a clinical picture of mild, moderate, or severe HF. Serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, aldosterone, and cortisol were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, mineralocorticoid receptor, and glucocorticoid receptor messenger RNA levels in the left ventricle were determined by qPCR.The androgen level decreased in moderate and severe HF animals, while the corticosteroid level increased. The estradiol concentration remained stable. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed the downregulation of androgen receptor in consecutive stages of HF and increased expression of mineralocorticoid receptor messenger RNA under these conditions.ConclusionsIn the HF pig model, deteriorated catabolic/anabolic balance, manifested by upregulation of aldosterone and cortisol and downregulation of androgen signaling on the ligand level, was augmented by changes in steroid hormone receptor expression in the heart tissue.     

IL-17A,IL-17E and IL-17F as Potential Biomarkers for the Intensity of Low-Grade Inflammation and the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Obese People

Low-grade inflammation is a factor that predisposes to many obesity-related comorbidities. The immune mechanisms controlling the inflammatory response related to the secretory activity of adipocytes and its consequences for the organism are still under investigation. Methods: 84 obese adult volunteers (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) were tested by BIA. Serum samples were collected to analyze the concentrations of interleukins IL-17A, IL-17E and IL-17F. The subjects completed the original questionnaire, the FFQ-6 food consumption frequency questionnaire and the food diary. Results: The level of IL-17E and IL-17F was positively correlated with the BMI value and the level of IL-17E increased with the content of subcutaneous fat. Its increased blood concentration was also observed in individuals who declared that they were diagnosed with atherosclerosis and/or were taking beta-blockers. Products that were related with a low level of the above-mentioned interleukins were vegetables, groats, eggs, red meat, fast-food and alcohol. The level of these interleukins was positively correlated with the frequent consumption of confectionery and breakfast cereals. Nutrients that decreased the concentrations of IL-17 isoforms were potassium, iron, vitamins B6 and C, and folic acid. Conclusions: Both IL-17E and IL-17F may be closely related to the intensity of low-grade inflammation and be biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk. Food products or the nutrients they contain may affect the levels of the above-mentioned interleukins as well as IL-17A.     

Risk-Adjusted Cancer Screening and Prevention (RiskAP): Complementing Screening for Early Disease Detection by a Learning Screening Based on Risk Factors

BackgroundRisk-adjusted cancer screening and prevention is a promising and continuously emerging option for improving cancer prevention. It is driven by increasing knowledge of risk factors and the ability to determine them for individual risk prediction. However, there is a knowledge gap between evidence of increased risk and evidence of the effectiveness and efficiency of clinical preventive interventions based on increased risk. This gap is, in particular, aggravated by the extensive availability of genetic risk factor diagnostics, since the question of appropriate preventive measures immediately arises when an increased risk is identified. However, collecting proof of effective preventive measures, ideally by prospective randomized preventive studies, typically requires very long periods of time, while the knowledge about an increased risk immediately creates a high demand for action.SummaryTherefore, we propose a risk-adjusted prevention concept that is based on the best current evidence making needed and appropriate preventive measures available, and which is constantly evaluated through outcome evaluation, and continuously improved based on these results. We further discuss the structural and procedural requirements as well as legal and socioeconomical aspects relevant for the implementation of this concept.     

Comparative Analysis of Postoperative Complications of Sentinel Node Identification Using the SentiMag® Method and the Use of a Radiotracer in Patients with Breast Cancer

(1) Background: The purpose of the study was a retrospective, comparative assessment of complications of the surgical sentinel node biopsy (SNB) procedure in breast cancer using the radiotracer method and the SentiMag^® method on groups of patients after 3.5 years of use. (2) Methods: The material was a group of 345 patients with primary surgical breast cancer who underwent the SNB procedure with the use of a radiotracer in combination with wide local excision (WLE), simple amputation (SA) with SNB and an independent SNB procedure in the period from May 2018 to January 2021 in the Department of Oncological Surgery. Of the patients who were monitored in the Hospital Outpatient Clinic, 300 were enrolled. The analyzed group was compared in terms of the occurrence of the same complications with the group of 303 patients also operated on in our center in the period from January 2014 to September 2017, in which SN identification was performed using the SentiMag^® method. (3) Results: The most common complications found were sensation disorders in the arm, which occurred in 16 (14.1%) patients using the radiotracer method, SentiMag^®-11 (9.9%). By comparing the complication rate between the methods with the radiotracer (n = 300) and SentiMag^® (n = 303), no significant differences were found. (4) Conclusions: Sentinel node (SN) identification using the radiotracer method and the SentiMag^® method are comparable diagnostic methods in breast cancer, with a low risk of complications.     

CO Oxidation over Pd Catalyst Supported on Porous TiO2 Prepared by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) of a Ti Metallic Carrier

A porous TiO₂ layer was prepared with the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of Ti. In a further step, Pd was deposited on the TiO₂ surface layer using the adsorption method. The activity of the Pd/TiO₂/Ti catalyst was investigated during the oxidation of CO to CO₂ in a mixture of air with 5% CO. The structure of the catalytic active layer was studied using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The PEO process provided a porous TiO₂ layer with a uniform thickness in the range of 5–10 µm, which is desirable for the production of Pd-supported catalysts. A TOF-SIMS analysis showed the formation of Pd nanoparticles after the adsorption treatment. The conversion of CO to CO₂ in all samples was achieved at 150–280 °C, depending on the concentration of Pd. The composition of Pd/ TiO₂/Ti was determined using ICP-MS. The optimum concentration of Pd on the surface of the catalyst was approximately 0.14% wt. This concentration was obtained when a 0.4% PdCl₂ solution was used in the adsorption process. Increasing the concentration of PdCl₂ did not lead to a further improvement in the activity of Pd/ TiO₂/Ti.     

Evaluation of the female urethra with intraurethral magnetic resonance imaging

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate feasibility of intraurethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for in vivo assessment of the female urethra and to determine the anatomy of the urethra and periurethral attachments as depicted using an endourethral MR coil. Twenty-three continent volunteers were studied with a 14F endourethral MR coil. Intraurethral MRI allowed detailed visualization and measurements of the muscular layers of the urethral sphincter and permitted the evaluation of supporting ligaments. This technique may become useful in the evaluation of anatomical defects associated with female urethral sphincter deficiency.