Urinary biopyrrins levels are elevated in relation to severity of heart failure

AbstractObjectivesWe investigated the relationship between the urinary levels of biopyrrins and the severity of heart failure (HF).BackgroundOxidative stress is evident in heart disease and contributes to the development of ventricular dysfunction in patients with HF. Biopyrrins, oxidative metabolites of bilirubin, have been discovered as potential markers of oxidative stress.MethodsWe measured the levels of urinary biopyrrins and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in 94 patients with HF (59 men; mean age 65 years) and 47 control subjects (30 men; mean age 65 years). Urine and blood samples were taken after admission in all subjects. Further urine samples were obtained from 40 patients after treatment of HF.ResultsThe urinary biopyrrins/creatinine levels (μmol/g creatinine) were the highest in patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV (n = 26; 17.05 [range 7.85 to 42.91]). The urinary biopyrrins/creatinine levels in patients in NYHA class I (n = 35; 3.46 [range 2.60 to 5.42]) or II (n = 33; 5.39 [range 3.37 to 9.36]) were significantly higher than those in controls (2.38 [range 1.57 to 3.15]). There were significant differences in urinary biopyrrins/creatinine levels among each group. The treatment of HF significantly decreased both urinary biopyrrins/creatinine levels (from 7.43 [range 3.84 to 17.05] to 3.07 [range 2.21 to 5.71]) and NYHA class (from 2.5 ± 0.1 to 1.7 ± 0.1). Log biopyrrins/creatinine levels were positively correlated with log BNP levels (r = 0.650, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThese results indicate that urinary biopyrrins levels are increased in patients with HF and are elevated in proportion to its severity

High-Resolution Submillimeter and Near-Infrared Studies of the Transition Disk around Sz 91

To reveal the structures of a transition disk around a young stellar object in Lupus, Sz 91, we have performed aperture synthesis 345 GHz continuum and CO(3--2) observations with the Submillimeter Array (\sim1\arcsec--3\arcsec resolution), and high-resolution imaging of polarized intensity at the $K_s$-band by using the HiCIAO instrument on the Subaru Telescope (0\farcs25 resolution). Our observations successfully resolved the inner and outer radii of the dust disk to be 65 AU and 170 AU, respectively, which indicates that Sz 91 is a transition disk source with one of the largest known inner holes. The model fitting analysis of the spectral energy distribution reveals an H$_2$ mass of $2.4\times10^{-3}$ M_\sun in the cold ($T<$30 K) outer part at $65<r<170$ AU by assuming a canonical gas-to-dust mass ratio of 100, although a small amount ($>3\times10^{-9}$ M_\sun) of hot ($T\sim$180 K) dust possibly remains inside the inner hole of the disk. The structure of the hot component could be interpreted as either an unresolved self-luminous companion body (not directly detected in our observations) or a narrow ring inside the inner hole. Significant CO(3--2) emission with a velocity gradient along the major axis of the dust disk is concentrated on the Sz 91 position, suggesting a rotating gas disk with a radius of 420 AU. The Sz 91 disk is possibly a rare disk in an evolutionary stage immediately after the formation of protoplanets because of the large inner hole and the lower disk mass than other transition disks studied thus far

Triglycerides and blood pressure in relation to circulating CD34-positive cell levels among community-dwelling elderly Japanese men: a cross-sectional study

Background: Triglycerides are reported to be positively associated with blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic). However, in a previous study, we reported a significant positive association between triglycerides and circulating CD34-positive cells (endothelial repair) among non-hypertensive, but not hypertensive, participants. Since hypertension and endothelial dysfunction have a bi-directional association (vicious cycle), the status of circulating CD34-positive cells may influence the association between triglycerides and hypertension. Methods: Since antihypertensive medication use may influence results of the present study, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 327 community dwelling elderly (aged 60-69 years) Japanese participants who were not taking anti-hypertensive medication and who had participated in a general health check-up in 2013-2015. Results: Participants were classified into two groups based on median values of circulating CD34-positive cells (0.93 cells/μL). For participants with lower circulating CD34-positive cells (n = 165), a significant positive association was seen between triglycerides and blood pressure, but not for participants with higher circulating CD34-positive cells (n = 162). The multivariable standardized parameter estimates (β) and p values of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were 0.23 (p = 0.007) and 0.18 (p = 0.036) for participants with lower circulating CD34-positive cells and 0.08 (p = 0.409) and 0.03 (p = 0.786) for those with higher circulating CD34-positive cells. Conclusion: A significant positive association between triglycerides and blood pressure exists among those with lower, but not higher, circulating CD34-positive cells. The level of circulating CD34-positive cells acts as a determinant factor for the association between triglycerides and blood pressure

Impact of single nucleotide polymorphism on short stature and reduced tongue pressure among community-dwelling elderly Japanese participants: a cross-sectional study

Background: Asian-specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) (rs3782886) is reported to be associated with myocardial infarction; sarcopenia is reported to be associated with coronary subclinical atherosclerosis. On the other hand, short stature has been revealed as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, no studies have reported on the association between sarcopenia and short stature nor on the impact of rs3782886 on this association. Methods: Since reduced maximum voluntary tongue pressure against the palate (MTP) reflects one aspect of sarcopenia, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 537 community-dwelling elderly Japanese participants aged 60?89 years who had participated in a general health checkup in 2015. Short stature was defined as values at or under the 25th percentile, and reduced MTP was defined as the lowest tertile of the study population (<158.0 cm and <26.5 kPa for men, <145.0 cm and <24.1 kPa for women). Results: Independent of classical cardiovascular risk factors, short stature was revealed to be positively associated with reduced MTP. The adjusted-odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of reduced MTP for short stature was 1.87 (1.19, 2.94). We also found that independent of known cardiovascular risk factors, with the non-minor homo of rs3782886 taken as the reference group, the adjusted OR and 95% CI for short stature and reduced MTP of the minor homo allele were 3.06 (1.23, 7.63) and 3.26 (1.33, 8.03), respectively. Conclusion: Short stature is independently associated with reduced MTP, with Asian-specific SNPs possibly playing an important role in this association

Coefficient of R‐R interval variations under deep breathing load in patients with wild‐type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: A case‐control study

Abstract Background and Aims An autonomic nervous disorder is an important characteristic of cardiac amyloidosis; however, the prevalence of autonomic dysfunction in wild‐type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) has not been established. Analysis of the R‐R interval coefficient of variation (CVR‐R) is a noninvasive method to measure parasympathetic activity. We aimed to assess autonomic dysfunction of ATTRwt and determine the utility of CVR‐R for the detection of ATTRwt in other cardiac diseases. Methods This is a single‐center, retrospective, case‐control study. Fifty patients with heart failure (HF) were studied. The etiologies of HF were as follows: ATTRwt, n = 10; previous myocardial infarction (MI), n = 20; and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) due to other disease processes (e.g., aortic stenosis), n = 20. We measured the CVR‐R at rest (CVR‐Rrest), CVR‐R with deep breaths (CVR‐Rbreath), and the change rate (CVR‐Rdiff rate). The relative change formula is as follows: CVR‐Rdiff rate = (CVR‐Rbreath − CVR‐Rrest)/CVR‐Rrest× $imes$ 100 (%). Results There was no difference in the CVR‐Rrest levels among the three groups. The CVR‐Rdiff rate levels in the ATTRwt group were significantly lower (ATTRwt: −8.77 [−43.8 to 10.9]; LVH: 67.4 [38.7 to 89.4]; MI: 83.7 [60.4 to 142.9]). Based on the receiver operative characteristic curve analysis to identify ATTRwt in HF, the best cut‐off value for the CVR‐Rdiff rate was 19.7 (area under the curve: 0.848). Conclusion Our data suggested autonomic dysfunction in patients with ATTRwt. Measurement of the CVR‐R in HF patients may be a convenient support tool for the detection of ATTRwt