Epigenomes in Cardiovascular Disease.

If unifying principles could be revealed for how the same genome encodes different eukaryotic cells and for how genetic variability and environmental input are integrated to impact cardiovascular health, grand challenges in basic cell biology and translational medicine may succumb to experimental dissection. A rich body of work in model systems has implicated chromatin-modifying enzymes, DNA methylation, noncoding RNAs, and other transcriptome-shaping factors in adult health and in the development, progression, and mitigation of cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, deployment of epigenomic tools, powered by next-generation sequencing technologies in cardiovascular models and human populations, has enabled description of epigenomic landscapes underpinning cellular function in the cardiovascular system. This essay aims to unpack the conceptual framework in which epigenomes are studied and to stimulate discussion on how principles of chromatin function may inform investigations of cardiovascular disease and the development of new therapies

Computerized clinical decision support systems for therapeutic drug monitoring and dosing: A decision-maker-researcher partnership systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Some drugs have a narrow therapeutic range and require monitoring and dose adjustments to optimize their efficacy and safety. Computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) may improve the net benefit of these drugs. The objective of this review was to determine if CCDSSs improve processes of care or patient outcomes for therapeutic drug monitoring and dosing.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a decision-maker-researcher partnership systematic review. Studies from our previous review were included, and new studies were sought until January 2010 in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, and Inspec databases. Randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of a CCDSS on process of care or patient outcomes were selected by pairs of independent reviewers. A study was considered to have a positive effect (<it>i.e.</it>, CCDSS showed improvement) if at least 50% of the relevant study outcomes were statistically significantly positive.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-three randomized controlled trials were identified, assessing the effect of a CCDSS on management of vitamin K antagonists (14), insulin (6), theophylline/aminophylline (4), aminoglycosides (3), digoxin (2), lidocaine (1), or as part of a multifaceted approach (3). Cluster randomization was rarely used (18%) and CCDSSs were usually stand-alone systems (76%) primarily used by physicians (85%). Overall, 18 of 30 studies (60%) showed an improvement in the process of care and 4 of 19 (21%) an improvement in patient outcomes. All evaluable studies assessing insulin dosing for glycaemic control showed an improvement. In meta-analysis, CCDSSs for vitamin K antagonist dosing significantly improved time in therapeutic range.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CCDSSs have potential for improving process of care for therapeutic drug monitoring and dosing, specifically insulin and vitamin K antagonist dosing. However, studies were small and generally of modest quality, and effects on patient outcomes were uncertain, with no convincing benefit in the largest studies. At present, no firm recommendation for specific systems can be given. More potent CCDSSs need to be developed and should be evaluated by independent researchers using cluster randomization and primarily assess patient outcomes related to drug efficacy and safety.</p

Alternatively spliced tissue factor and full-length tissue factor protect cardiomyocytes against TNF-α-induced apoptosis

Tissue Factor (TF) is expressed in various cell types of the heart, such as cardiomyocytes. In addition to its role in the initiation of blood coagulation, the TF:FVIIa complex protects cells from apoptosis. There are two isoforms of Tissue Factor (TF): “full length” (fl)TF – an integral membrane protein; and alternatively spliced (as)TF – a protein that lacks a transmembrane domain and can thus be secreted in a soluble form. Whether asTF or flTF affect apoptosis of cardiomyocytes is unknown

Missense variant E1295K of sodium channel SCN5A associated with recurrent ventricular fibrillation and myocardial inflammation

SCN5A was considered an exclusively cardiac expressed ion channel but discovered to also act as a novel innate immune sensor. We report on a young SCN5A variant carrier with recurrent ventricular fibrillation and massive myocardial inflammation whose peculiar clinical course is highly suggestive of such a dual role of SCN5A

Tissue factor expression pattern in human non-small cell lung cancer tissues indicate increased blood thrombogenicity and tumor metastasis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises of 75% of all lung cancers. Human full length tissue factor (flHTF), the physiological initiator of blood coagulation, is aberrantly expressed in certain solid tumors. FlHTF and its soluble isoform, alternatively spliced human tissue factor (asHTF), have been shown to contribute to thrombogenicity of the blood of healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to quantify flHTF and asHTF on mRNA and protein levels (using immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and ELISA) on a panel of human NSCLC tissue and plasma specimens. The tissue factor (TF) expression of 21 pulmonary adenomatous (AC) and 12 normal healthy tissues was assessed by real-time qRT-PCR. The TF protein concentration was quantified by ELISA in a subset of 11 AC and 9 normal tissue specimens as well as in the plasma of 13 lung cancer patients and 15 healthy controls. We found a significant increase in the ratio of flHTF/HGAPDH mRNA in AC (0.24±0.06 vs. 0.07±0.01; p=0.02 vs. controls) and in asHTF/HGAPDH mRNA (0.027±0.01 vs. 0.004±0.001; p=0.03 AC vs. controls). AsHTF mRNA expression was significantly lower in patients with stage IA disease compared to patients with higher grade stages, pointing to TF as being a marker of malignancy and metastases. TF protein of lung tumors was significantly increased in AC (p=0.004 vs. controls). TF in plasma was up-regulated in lung cancer patients (334.9±95.4 vs. 124.1±14.8 pg/ml; p=0.02 vs. controls). Immunohistochemical and immunoblotting data are in line with the increased TF expression, showing elevated blood thrombogenicity of NSCLC patients. The up-regulation of flHTF and, especially, asHTF in AC suggests not only a raised risk of thrombosis, but also of tumor progression, thereby, indicating a poor prognosis in these patients

First bounds on the very high energy gamma-ray emission from Arp 220

Using the Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov Telescope (MAGIC), we have observed the nearest ultra-luminous infrared galaxy Arp 220 for about 15 hours. No significant signal was detected within the dedicated amount of observation time. The first upper limits to the very high energy $\gamma$-ray flux of Arp 220 are herein reported and compared with theoretical expectations.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Constraints on the steady and pulsed very high energy gamma-ray emission from observations of PSR B1951+32/CTB 80 with the MAGIC Telescope

We report on very high energy gamma-observations with the MAGIC Telescope of the pulsar PSR B1951+32 and its associated nebula, CTB 80. Our data constrain the cutoff energy of the pulsar to be less than 32 GeV, assuming the pulsed gamma-ray emission to be exponentially cut off. The upper limit on the flux of pulsed gamma-ray emission above 75 GeV is 4.3*10^-11 photons cm^-2 sec^-1, and the upper limit on the flux of steady emission above 140 GeV is 1.5*10^-11 photons cm^-2 sec^-1. We discuss our results in the framework of recent model predictions and other studies.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, replaced with published versio