Interleukin-6 is not essential for bone turnover in hypothyroid mice.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of several bone diseases characterized by an imbalance between bone resorption and formation. The aim of the study was to estimate serum markers of bone turnover: osteoclast-derived tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase form 5a (TRACP 5b) and osteocalcin in IL-6-deficient mice to assess the role of IL-6 in bone metabolism in hypothyroidism in mice. C57BL/6J (wild-type; WT) and C57BL/6J(IL6-/-Kopf) (IL-6 knock-out; IL6KO) mice randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 in each one: 1/ WT mice in hypothyroidism (WT-ht), 2/ WT controls, 3/ IL6KO mice with hypothyroidism (IL6KO-ht) and 4/ IL6KO controls. Experimental model of hypothyroidism was induced by intraperitoneal injection of propylthiouracyl. The serum levels of TRACP 5b and osteocalcin were determined by ELISA. Serum concentrations of TRACP 5b (median and interquartile ranges) were significantly decreased in both groups of mice with hypothyroidism: WT (3.2 (2.5-4.7) U/l) and IL6KO (2.6 (1.8-3.5) U/l) as compared to the respective controls. Similarly, serum osteocalcin levels were significantly reduced in both groups of mice in experimental hypothyroidism: WT (25.8 (23.0-28.2) ng/ml) and IL6KO (21.5(19.0-24.6) ng/ml) in comparison to the respective controls. There were no significant differences in bone turnover markers between IL6KO and WT mice both in hypothyroid and control animals. The results of the present study suggest that IL-6 does not play an important role in bone turnover in both euthyroid and hypothyroid mice

Is There Association Between Changes in eGFR Value and the Risk of Permanent Type of Atrial Fibrillation? - Analysis of Valvular and Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Population

Background/Aims: There are no data concerning renal function in population with valvular and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). To assess renal function in patients with AF, the association between eGFR and AF perpetuation, in-hospital mortality. Methods: We studied 1523 patients with AF. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were compared to population with preserved renal function. Results: CKD was more frequently observed in patients with valvular AF(p=0.009). In non-valvular AF patients eGFR 2 had more often permanent AF(p2DS2VASc score was 4.1±1.5 and HAS-BLED score was 2.1±1.2 and it was higher as compared to population with preserved renal function (p75 years old(OR=3.70,p=0.01,95%CI1.33-10.28), with CKD (OR=2.61,p=0.03,95%CI1.09-6.23). The type of AF had no significant influence on in-hospital mortality(OR=0.71,p=0.45,95%CI0.30-1.70). Conclusions: CKD is more often observed in patients with valvular AF. In population with non-valvular AF decreased eGFR is associated with permanent type of AF and with higher CHA2DS2VASc and HAS-BLED score. Among valvular AF patients there are no differences in type of AF between patients with and without CKD. There is the correlation between CKD and AF perpetuation but only in non-valvular population

Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in the Course of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Clinical Significance and Impact on Prognosis

The relationship and clinical implications of atrial fibrillation (AF) in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are poorly investigated. We aimed to analyze clinical characteristics and prognosis in PE patients with paroxysmal AF episode. Methods. From the 391 patients with PE 31 subjects with paroxysmal AF were selected. This group was compared with patients with PE and sinus rhythm (SR) and 32 patients with PE and permanent AF. Results. Paroxysmal AF patients were the oldest. Concomitant DVT varies between groups: paroxysmal AF 32.3%, SR 49.5%, and permanent AF 28.1% (p=0.02). The stroke history frequency was 4.6% SR, 12.9% paroxysmal AF, and 21.9% permanent AF (p<0.001). Paroxysmal AF comparing to permanent AF and SR individuals had higher estimated SPAP (56 versus 48 versus 47 mmHg, p=0.01) and shorter ACT (58 versus 65 versus 70 ms, p=0.04). Patients with AF were more often classified into high-risk group according to revised Geneva score and sPESI than SR patients. In-hospital mortality was lower in SR (5%) and paroxysmal AF (6.5%) compared to permanent AF group (25%) (p<0.001). Conclusions. Patients with PE-associated paroxysmal AF constitute a separate population. More severe impairment of the parameters reflecting RV afterload may indicate relation between PE severity and paroxysmal AF episode. Paroxysmal AF has no impact on short-term mortality

Gut Microbiome in Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients

Despite knowledge of classical coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease remain high. Therefore, new factors that may affect the development of CAD, such as the gut microbiome, are extensively investigated. This study aimed to evaluate gut microbiome composition in CAD patients in relation to the control group. We examined 169 CAD patients and 166 people in the control group, without CAD, matched in terms of age and sex to the study group. Both populations underwent a detailed health assessment. The microbiome analysis was based on the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene (NGS method). Among 4074 identified taxonomic units in the whole population, 1070 differed between study groups. The most common bacterial types were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Furthermore, a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the CAD group compared with the control was demonstrated. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, independent of age, sex, CAD status, LDL cholesterol concentration, and statins treatment, was related to altered phosphatidylcholine concentrations obtained in targeted metabolomics. Altered alpha-biodiversity (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.001) and beta-biodiversity (Bray–Curtis metric, p &lt; 0.001) in the CAD group were observed. Moreover, a predicted functional analysis revealed some taxonomic units, metabolic pathways, and proteins that might be characteristic of the CAD patients’ microbiome, such as increased expressions of 6-phospho-β-glucosidase and protein-N(pi)-phosphohistidine-sugar phosphotransferase and decreased expressions of DNA topoisomerase, oxaloacetate decarboxylase, and 6-beta-glucosidase. In summary, CAD is associated with altered gut microbiome composition and function

Baseline characteristics of the study and validation groups.

<p>Mean values with standard deviations are given, unless otherwise specified.</p><p>* CC homozygotes vs. G-allele carriers.</p><p>^{^} derivation vs. validation group.</p><p>^#Smoking status in the derivation group was available in 453 patients (in 213 CC homozygotes and 240 G-allele carriers). It was available in all patients from the validation group.</p><p>NA- data not available.</p><p>Baseline characteristics of the study and validation groups.</p

Kaplan-Meier survival curves for CC homozygotes and G-allele carriers of the rs12526453 SNP in the derivation group (panel A) and in the validation group (panel B).

<p>The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p = 0.017 in the derivation group and p = 0.031 in the validation group, Cox`s F test).</p

The expression data from microarrays experiments for <i>NLRP2</i> gene on admission (A) (p = 0.00001) and discharge (B) (p = 0.0003).

<p>The points present the expression level from all analyzed patients with CC genotype (red) and CG/GG (blue).</p

A univariate analysis for 5-year mortality in the derivation cohort.

<p>For all parameters only admission values were used.</p><p>A univariate analysis for 5-year mortality in the derivation cohort.</p

A univariate analysis for 3-year mortality in the validation cohort.

<p>For all parameters only admission values were used.</p><p>A univariate analysis for 3-year mortality in the validation cohort.</p