Collagen turnover biomarkers and systemic right ventricle remodeling in adults with previous atrial switch procedure for transposition of the great arteries

<div><p>Background</p><p>Myocardial fibrosis is a potential pathophysiological mechanism leading to systemic right ventricular (SRV) deterioration. We hypothesize that circulating levels of collagen deposition markers are elevated in patients with SRV remodeling and this elevation may have a predictive value.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We prospectively evaluated 56 patients with D-TGA after the atrial switch procedure (mean age 25.6 ± 4.8, range 18–37 years; 67% males). Serum levels of procollagen type III amino-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), collagen type I carboxy-terminal telopeptide (CITP), procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP 1, MMP 9) and a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP 1) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) were measured and compared with healthy controls. The relationship between these serum markers, echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance parameters and the outcome at a follow-up of 61 months (range, 24–85 months) was determined.</p><p>Results</p><p>Compared with the healthy control group, the study group had significantly higher levels of TIMP1, PIIINP, CITP, PINP and NT-pro-BNP (p<0.05, each). The levels of PIIINP and CITP were significantly higher among patients with an SRV mass index above the mean value. The level of PIIINP was significantly higher among patients with an SRV EDV index above the mean value. CITP was significantly elevated in SRV late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) positive patients, compared to patients without SRV LGE. MMP9 and TIMP1 predicted an adverse clinical outcome on univariate Cox proportional hazard survival analysis in addition to well proven predictors of outcome (SRV EF and NYHA).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>We demonstrated a pattern of altered collagen turnover adversely related with the indices of SRV remodeling and an adverse clinical outcome in patients with SRV.</p></div

Comparison of biochemical markers between the studied group and healthy controls.

<p>Comparison of biochemical markers between the studied group and healthy controls.</p

Univariate predictors of adverse clinical events.

<p>Univariate predictors of adverse clinical events.</p

Relationship between PIIINP levels and SVR function and remodeling parameters.

<p>(A) Correlation between PIIINP and SRV GLS (r = 0.31, p = 0.01), (B) correlation between PIIINP and SRV mass index (r = 0.38, p = 0.02), (C) correlation between PIIINP and SRV EDV index (r = 0.42, p = 0.008).</p

Towards a study of the structure of the business & science social network of the 2nd Polish Republic

<p>This proposition is inspired by observations of the Network Sunrise project led by one of the authors. It focused on building a B+R cooperation network in Poland. We found out that one of main reasons for the small number of B+R cooperation examples in contemporary Poland is the insufficiency of social relations between scientists and entrepreneurs. We are asking – is it a characteristic of polish culture or is this an artifact caused by the events of the past?</p> <p>On the other hand the 2nd Polish Republic has seen many successful scientists-entrepreneurs, such as Jan Czochralski, Stefan Bryła or Karol Adamiecki. All of them co-operated with biggest companies in their fields providing them with innovation.</p> <p>We hypothesize that here existed a well-structured network of social relations between scientists and entrepreneurs in the Second Republic of Poland that had a positive feedback on the economic development of the country, but it was structurally destroyed by the Nazi and Stalinist practices during and post – WWII. We present a social network theory based argumentation supporting this hypothesis.</p> <p>Proving this hypothesis using archive material requires constructing a new data set and tackling new problems on the border between historical and social network research. In this proposition we describe our vision and plan for the research. We share preliminary results concerning well-connected individuals such as Jan Czochralski or Hugo Steinhaus. Finally we discuss problems and present ideas for solutions, asking for commentary of the scientific community working on historical social networks.</p

Comparison of clinical events between patients with and without PPS.

<p>BMI-Body Mass Index, Hb-Hemoglobin, ECC- extracorporeal circulation, CABG-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, MI-myocardial infarction, HF-Heart Failure, EF-Ejection Fraction, SD- Standard Deviation, PPS-patients with the postpericardiotomy syndrome, No PPS- patients without the postpericardiotomy syndrome.</p><p>Comparison of clinical events between patients with and without PPS.</p

Diagnostic criteria for the PPS.

<p>Diagnostic criteria for the PPS.</p

The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value determinated by cut-off levels for IL-8 concentration before surgery and the changes of IL-8 concentration (ΔIL-8).

<p>The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value determinated by cut-off levels for IL-8 concentration before surgery and the changes of IL-8 concentration (ΔIL-8).</p

The analysis of changes in cytokines concentration after and before surgery.

<p>PPS-patients with the postpericardiotomy syndrome, No PPS- patients without the postpericardiotomy syndrome, P value-changes of cytokines after and before surgery tested by sign test, P value*- the differences of cytokine changes in patents with and without PPS tested by Wilcoxon test, n- numbers of patients.</p><p>The analysis of changes in cytokines concentration after and before surgery.</p

Baseline characteristic of the studied population.

<p>BMI-Body Mass Index, Hb-Hemoglobin, CABG-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, MI-myocardial infarction, HF-Heart Failure, EF-Ejection Fraction, SD- Standard Deviation.</p><p>Baseline characteristic of the studied population.</p