Vitamin D binding protein polymorphysm in patients with acute coronary syndrome in kaliningrad region

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D binding protein is a main vitamin D carrier in serum. It also has an impact on macrophagial function. Role of vitamin D and macrophages in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is scientifically proven but there is lack of data on vitamin D binding protein in this regard. AIMS: To evaluate the vitamin D binding protein polymorphism in patients with acute coronary syndrome without diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases and malignant tumors. Determine correlation, if there is, between vitamin D binding protein allele and features of acute coronary syndrome among this patient group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a cross-sectional observational study. Study subjects are patients with acute coronary syndrome. Exclusion criteria are the presence of diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases and malignant tumors. In all participants were evaluated: predisposing factors for heart diseases, CBC, biochemical blood test, troponin, coronarography, echocardiography. The study lasted for 5 months from November 2017 until March 2018. Primary end point – assessment of vitamin D binding protein polymorphysm in this group of patients with acute coronary syndrome by means of vitamin D binding protein gene sequencing. 50 patients were enrolled into this study who were urgently admitted to hospital and diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome. Among them – 36 males and 14 females. Mean age was 60 (55;66) years. All participants were sequenced for single nucleotide polymorphysm in VDBP p.T436K (rs4588) and P.432E (rs7041). RESULTS: Gene polymorphysms of interest were found in 43 patients among 50 enrolled. Haplotype Gc1s/2 (rs7041G-rs4588A) was found in 7 (14%) patients, Gc2 (rs7041T-rs4588A) — in 9 (18%) patients, Gc1s (rs7041G-rs4588C) – in 20 (40%) patients, Gc1f (rs7041T-rs4588C) in 14 (28%). Coronarography showed that coronary artery occlusions obstructing more than 50% of vessel lumen was found in 16 patients; obstruction greater than 90% was seen in 8 patients; total occlusion – in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patient group with acute coronary syndrome prevalence of vitamin D binding protein gene polymorphysm was high – in 86% of participants. The features of Gc2 haplotype were higher frequency of recurrent myocardial infarction and total coronary artery occlusion, as well as tendency to decreased serum vitamin D3 (25(OH)D) levels

Air pollution monitoring and tree and forest decline in East Asia: a review

Air pollution and atmospheric deposition have adverse effects on tree and forest health. We reviewed studies on tree and forest decline in Northeast and Southeast Asia, Siberia, and the Russian Far East (hereafter referred to as East Asia). This included studies published in domestic journals and languages. We identified information about the locations, causes, periods, and tree species exhibiting decline. Past air pollution was also reviewed. Most East Asian countries show declining trends in SO2 concentration in recent years, although Mongolia and Russia show increasing trends. Ozone (O3) concentrations are stable or gradually increasing in the East Asia region, with high maxima. Wet nitrogen (N) deposition was high in China and tropical countries, but low in Russia. The decline of trees and forests primarily occurred in the mid-latitudes of Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. Long-term large N deposition resulted in the N saturation phenomenon in Japan and China, but no clear forest health response was observed. Thereafter, forest decline symptoms, suspected to be caused by O3, were observed in Japan and China. In East Russia, tree decline occurred around industrial centers in Siberia. Haze events have been increasing in tropical and boreal forests, and particulate matter inhibits photosynthesis. In recent years, chronically high O3 concentrations, in conjunction with climate change, are likely have adverse effects on tree physiology. The effects of air pollution and related factors on tree decline are summarized. Recently, the effects of air pollution on tree decline have not been apparent under the changing climate, however, monitoring air pollution is indispensable for identifying the cause of tree decline. Further economic growth is projected in Southeast Asia and therefore, the monitoring network should be expanded to tropical and boreal forest zones. Countermeasures such as restoring urban trees and rural forests are important for ensuring future ecosystem services

Canrenone Restores Vasorelaxation Impaired by Marinobufagenin in Human Preeclampsia

Previous studies implicated cardiotonic steroids, including Na/K-ATPase inhibitor marinobufagenin (MBG), in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Recently, we demonstrated that (i) MBG induces fibrosis in rat tissues via a mechanism involving Fli1, a negative regulator of collagen-1 synthesis, and (ii) MBG sensitive Na/K-ATPase inhibition is reversed by mineralocorticoid antagonists. We hypothesized that in human PE elevated MBG level is associated with the development of fibrosis of the umbilical arteries and that this fibrosis can be attenuated by canrenone. Fifteen patients with PE (mean BP = 118 ± 4 mmHg; 34 ± 2 years; 38 ± 0.3 weeks gest. age) and twelve gestational age-matched normal pregnant subjects (mean BP = 92 ± 2 mmHg; 34 ± 1 years; 39 ± 0.2 weeks gest. age) were enrolled in the study. PE was associated with a higher plasma MBG level, with a four-fold decrease in Fli1 level and a three-fold increase in collagen-1 level in the PE umbilical arteries vs. those from the normal subjects (p 50 = 141 nmol/L vs. EC50 = 0.9 nmol/L; p < 0.001). The effects of PE on Fli1 and collagen-1 were blocked by the in vitro treatment of umbilical arteries by 10 μmol/L canrenone. Similar results were obtained for umbilical arteries pretreated with MBG. These data demonstrate that elevated MBG level is implicated in the development of the fibrosis of umbilical arteries in PE, and that this could be blocked by mineralocorticoid antagonists