Interferon related pericarditis: Review.

AIM: To conduct a review of "interferon related pericarditis". METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Database from the earliest available date through September 2016. A search strategy using the Medical Subject Headings and text keywords "interferon" and "pericarditis" were used. RESULTS: Nine case reports were eligible for the present study. Six of 8 cases were women and the mean age was 43.8 ± 13.8 years with chronic hepatitis C in 6 cases, malignant melanoma in 2 cases and chronic myelogenous leukemia in 1 case. The patients complained of chest pain in 6 cases, dyspnea in 5 cases and edema in 2 cases. Pericardial friction rub was heard in 3 of 9 cases. Congestive heart failure occurred in 3 of 9 cases. Two mechanisms for pericarditis were demonstrated, one is autoimmune included lupus like syndrome in 2 cases and the other is cardio toxicity in 4 cases. Treatment of interferon related pericarditis is discontinuation of Interferon treatment. Four of 9 cases were treated with prednisone and 4 with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. CONCLUSION: Interferon related pericarditis still remains uncertain. Treatment of interferon related pericarditis rests mainly on early recognition and drug discontinuation. Interferon related pericarditis was treated with steroid and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme and bradykinin gene polymorphisms and cough: A meta-analysis.

AIM: To evaluate the association between genetic polymorphisms and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)-related cough, and the race- or ethnicity-related difference in the prevalence of cough attributed to ACEI therapy. METHODS: We conducted a search in PubMed, EMBASE, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Database without language limitation. A database of 11 studies on ACEI-related cough, with detailed information regarding ACE I/D or bradykinin B(2) receptor polymorphisms, was created. Eligible studies were synthesized using meta-analysis methods, including cumulative meta-analysis. A subgroup analysis was also performed using ethnicity. RESULTS: Six studies were included on ACE I/D polymorphism (398 Caucasians, 723 East Asians), and three studies were included on bradykinin B(2) receptor polymorphism (300 East Asians). The distribution of ACE genotypes showed significant differences in the entire population (P = 0.004) and in East Asians (P = 0.005) but not in Caucasians (P = 0.23). Allelic frequencies of ACE showed significant differences in East Asians [odds ratio (OR) = 1.49 (1.11-2.02)]. The meta-analysis with a random effects model showed a significant association between ACE allele I/D and ACEI-related cough [random effects (RE) OR = 1.49 (1.11-2.02), P = 0.009] in East Asians, but not in Caucasians [RE OR = 0.90 (0.60-1.35)]. The allelic frequencies of the bradykinin B(2) receptor gene were significantly different [OR = 2.25 (1.42-3.57)]. The distributions of the T/C genotypes of the bradykinin B(2) receptor gene were significantly different (χ(2) = 8.366, P = 0.015). The meta-analyses revealed that there was a significant association between the bradykinin B(2) receptor allele and ACEI-related cough in East Asians [RE OR = 2.29 (1.42-3.69), P = 0.001]. CONCLUSION: ACE I/D and Bradykinin B(2) receptor polymorphisms contributed to the risk of ACEI-related cough in East Asians, but a negative association between ACE I/D polymorphism and ACEI-related cough was observed in Caucasians.

Three-year clinical outcome in type 2 diabetic patients with drug-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents with pioglitazone.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine outcome subsequent to implantation of bare-metal stents (BMS) with pioglitazone, which are novel insulin-sensitizing agents, and drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 139 consecutive Type 2 diabetic patients treated with stent were followed up for 3 years. Data on death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), and stent thrombosis were ascertained from January 2003 to January 2006. Eighty-nine patients were treated with a BMS with pioglitazone, and 50 patients were treated with a DES. The incidence of MI was 1.1% in the BMS with pioglitazone group, 4.0% in the DES group [relative risk RR):0.52; 95% CI: 0.10-2.56]. The incidence of TLR was 22.5% in the BMS with pioglitazone group, 28.0% in the DES group (RR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.65-1.22). The incidence of stent thrombosis was 1.0% in the BMS with pioglitazone group, 4.0% in the DES group (RR 0.52; 95% CI: 0.10-2.56). Overall 3-year mortality was similar in the two groups (RR 0.77; 95% CI: 0.34-1.74). CONCLUSIONS: During 3 years of follow-up, patients treated with BMS with pioglitazone had similar risks of death, TLR, MI, and stent thrombosis compared with patients treated with DES.

Pericarditis and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy during therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2a for chronic hepatitis C.

We report a case of pericarditis and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy with biological signs of a lupus-like syndrome due to pegylated interferon alfa-2a therapy during treatment for chronic hepatitis C. The patient developed moderate weakness in the lower limbs and dyspnea. He was hospitalized for congestive heart failure. An electrocardiogram showed gradual ST-segment elevation in leads V(1) through V(6) without coronary artery disease. A transthoracic cardiac ultrasonographic study revealed moderate pericardial effusion with normal left ventricular function. Anti-DNA antibody and antids DNA IgM were positive. Neurological examination revealed a symmetrical predominantly sensory polyneuropathy with impairment of light touch and pin prick in globe and stoking-like distribution. Treatment with prednisolone improved the pericarditis and motor nerve disturbance and the treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin improved the sensory nerve disturbance.

Different effects of thiazolidinediones on target vessel revascularization with bare metal stents: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are used in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, but evidence is mixed regarding the influence of medications of this class on target vessel revascularization. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of TZDs on repeat target vessel revascularization following percutaneous coronary intervention. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We searched Medline, EMBASE, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Database from earliest available date through December 2007. Criteria for inclusion in our meta-analysis included the use of randomized control trial and the availability of target vessel revascularization. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of target vessel revascularization (TVR) and restenosis were estimated using a fixed-effects meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials (n=347, including 178 receiving pioglitazone and 169 receiving rosiglitazone). RESULTS: One hundred seventy-eight patients were treated with pioglitazone, and 169 were treated with rosiglitazone. Pioglitazone is associated with a significantly lower risk of target vessel revascularization or restenosis (TVR: n=37/96 vs. 7/94; RR, 5.91; 95% CI, 3.00-11.7; P<.0001, restenosis: n=42/96 vs. 8/94; RR, 6.48; 95% CI, 3.37-12.4; P<.0001). Rosiglitazone had no effect on target vessel revascularization (n=56/131 vs. 51/124; RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.63-1.96; P=.793). CONCLUSIONS: Pioglitazone is associated with a significantly decreased risk of target vessel revascularization, but rosiglitazone does not reduce the risk of target vessel revascularization following percutaneous coronary intervention.

Comparison of bare metal stent with pioglitazone versus sirolimus-eluting stent for percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Drug-eluting stents (DESs) have been shown to decrease restenosis as compared with bare-metal stents. Recently, thiazolidinediones effectively reduced restenosis and the risk of repeat target vessel revascularization. We conducted a study to compare the performance of a DES with that of a bare-metal stent with pioglitazone in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: The study was a prospective cohort trial involving 38 Type 2 diabetic patients referred for coronary stenting who were assigned to either the sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) group or the pioglitazone group. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed at study entry and at 6 months of follow-up to evaluate in-stent late luminal loss and the percentage of the luminal diameter and the rate of restenosis. We also analyzed major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 12 months. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in glycemic control levels or in lipid levels in the two groups at follow up. The insulin and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance at follow-up were significantly lower in the pioglitazone group than in the SES group. The percentage of restenosis was similar between the SES group and the pioglitazone group. The incidence of MACE at 1 year tended to be lower in the pioglitazone group than in the SES group. CONCLUSIONS: The bare-metal stent with pioglitazone is not inferior to the SES in the present study and is one of therapeutic strategies of percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with DM.

The effect of pioglitazone on nitric oxide synthase in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pioglitazone on nitric oxide in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Twenty-seven patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus who had received coronary stenting were eligible for the study. They were assigned to the no insulin resistance (NIR) group, the insulin resistance (IR) group, and the pioglitazone group (30 mg once a day). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6, leptin, and adiponectin were measured. In the pioglitazone group, eNOS, iNOS, and leptin were significantly lower and adiponectin was significantly higher than those in the IR group. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that eNOS correlated with TNF-alpha and iNOS correlated with leptin and TNF-alpha. Leptin was the strongest predictor of iNOS. Treatment with pioglitazone significantly reduced eNOS and iNOS by improving adipocytokine levels.

Using the ring-shaped protein TRAP to capture and confine gold nanodots on a surface.

The cavity of the toroidal protein TRAP (trp RNA-binding attenuation protein) is modified to capture gold nanodots in solution. By engineering a titanium-binding peptide onto one surface of the ring it is also possible to bind it specifically and tightly to a TiO2 surface. TRAP bound in this way is then used to capture gold nanodots and attach them to prepared surfaces. Gold-protein complexes are observed using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The modified TRAP is used to build gold nanodots into the SiO2 layer of a metal oxide semiconductor. This is the first use of a ring protein, rather than the more commonly used spherical protein cages, to constrain nanodots to a surface. This method is an important addition to the current range of bionanotechnology tools and may be the basis for future, multicomponent electronic devices.

Nocturnal oxygen therapy prevents progress of congestive heart failure with central sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disordered breathing has been reported to be associated with congestive heart failure (CHF). Nocturnal oxygen has been shown to abolish apnea. The aim of this study is to examine whether nocturnal oxygen reduces sympathetic nerve activity, and prevents progress of CHF. METHODS: 93 patients with left ventricular ejection fractions < 60%, were examined with overnight saturation monitoring for an oxygen desaturation index. Subjects with oxygen desaturation of 4% > or = 4/h were examined with polysomnography. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was calculated as the total number of episodes of apnea and hypopnea per hour of sleep. We started nocturnal oxygen for the patients with AHI > or = 20. Urinary and plasma catecholamines concentrations, serum brain natriuretic peptide, human atrial natriuretic peptide, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase levels were measured before and after starting oxygen. RESULTS: Compared among the three groups, CHF with central sleep apnea (CHF-CSA) group had significantly higher 24-h urinary adrenaline (CHF-CSA: 4.411+/-2.940 micromol/day, CHF with obstructive sleep apnea (CHF-OSA): 2.686+/-1.084 micromol/day, CHF without apnea (CHF-N): 3.178+/-1.778 micromol/day, P<0.05). Oxygen therapy significantly decreased AHI and 4 serum BNP levels (from 91.75+/-80.35 pg/ml to 52.75+/-45.70 pg/ml, mean change=33.85 pg/ml, P=0.0208). Serum eNOS levels were lower in CHF-CSA group and CHF-OSA group than in CHF-N group (CHF-CSA: 15.89+/-10.75 pg/ml, CHF-OSA: 7.46+/-3.91 pg/ml, CHF-N: 27.33+/-14.83 pg/ml, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nocturnal oxygen may prevent progress of CHF with central sleep apnea.

Insulin resistance in nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that insulin resistance (IR) is an independent predictor of early restenosis after coronary stenting. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of IR and its linkage to late loss with bare metal stenting in nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 61 nondiabetic patients with AMI who have undergone coronary stenting. Quantitative analyses of coronary angiographic data before and after the procedure and at 4 months were performed. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin were measured every week until the subjects' hospital discharge. Stress hormones, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, leptin, and adiponectin were measured on admission and at 4 months after coronary stenting. RESULTS: Simple linear regression analyses showed a relationship between FPG and insulin [IR group: r=0.297, P=.0428; no insulin resistance (NIR) group: r=0.539, P=.0466] and that late loss was associated with the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) at 4 months (r=0.435, P=.03). At multiple regression analyses, HOMA-IR on admission in the IR group significantly correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone, glucagon, and cortisol. The HOMA-IR at 4 months correlated with leptin. CONCLUSIONS: Nondiabetic patients with AMI can be classified into two groups: the IR group and the NIR group. The IR consisted of the transient IR, which correlated with stress hormones, and the continuous IR, which correlated with leptin and contributed to restenosis after coronary stenting.

A randomized comparison of pioglitazone to inhibit restenosis after coronary stenting in patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have demonstrated that the treatment with thiazolidinediones reduces in-stent restenosis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of the efficacy of pioglitazone for preventing in-stent restenosis in type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized trial involving 54 type 2 diabetic patients referred for coronary stenting who were randomly assigned to either the control or the pioglitazone group. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed at study entry and at 6 months follow-up. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, leptin, and adiponectin were measured at study entry and at 6 months follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were randomly assigned to the control group, and 26 patients were assigned to the pioglitazone group. There were no significant differences in glycemic control levels or in lipid levels in the two groups at baseline or at follow-up. Insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, eNOS, and leptin at follow-up were significantly reduced in the pioglitazone group compared with the control group. The late luminal loss and in-stent restenosis were significantly less in the pioglitazone group than in the control group. Leptin independently correlated with late luminal loss at multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment with pioglitazone in type 2 diabetic patients significantly reduced leptin. This decreased leptin improved insulin resistance and endothelial function with the reduction of insulin. The improved endothelial function affected the reduction of in-stent restenosis.

Insulin resistance as a predictor for restenosis after coronary stenting.

PURPOSE: The rationale of this study was to determine whether insulin resistance is an independent risk factor for restenosis after coronary stenting. BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested that hyperinsulinemia may be an important risk factor for ischemic heart disease. Restenosis after coronary stenting is neointimal tissue proliferation and de-novo stenosis is atherosclerosis from the point of view of histology. However, it has not been determined whether insulin resistance is independently related to restenosis after coronary stenting. METHODS: Clinical variables of unselected population of 110 patients were analyzed in multivariate logistic regression analyses for both restenosis and de-novo stenosis. Clinical, lesion-related, and procedural variables were analyzed by chi-square analysis, and relative risk. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and HbA1c were associated with restenosis after coronary stenting (HOMA-IR; P=0.0447, HbA1c; P=0.0462), and HbA1c and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were associated with de-novo stenosis (HbA1c; P=0.0201, LDL-C; P=0.0204). Restenosis was influenced by insulin resistance [Relative Risk (RR) 2.06; 95 percent confidence interval (95%CI) 1.20 to 3.56], diabetes mellitus (DM: RR 1.92; 95%CI 1.25 to 2.95), and final minimal lumen diameter (RR 2.83; 95%CI 1.32 to 6.06). CONCLUSIONS: HOMA-IR and DM are the predictors of restenosis after coronary stenting, and HbA1c and LDL-C are the predictors of de-novo stenosis. These results may be reflected in histological differences between neointimal tissue proliferation as restenosis and atherosclerosis as de-novo stenosis.

The Arabidopsis chloroplastic NifU-like protein CnfU, which can act as an iron-sulfur cluster scaffold protein, is required for biogenesis of ferredoxin and photosystem I.

The biosynthesis of iron-sulfur clusters is a highly regulated process involving several proteins. Among them, so-called scaffold proteins play pivotal roles in both the assembly and delivery of iron-sulfur clusters. Here, we report the identification of two chloroplast-localized NifU-like proteins, AtCnfU-V and AtCnfU-IVb, from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) with high sequence similarity to a cyanobacterial NifU-like protein that was proposed to serve as a molecular scaffold. AtCnfU-V is constitutively expressed in several tissues of Arabidopsis, whereas the expression of AtCnfU-IVb is prominent in the aerial parts. Mutant Arabidopsis lacking AtCnfU-V exhibited a dwarf phenotype with faint pale-green leaves and had drastically impaired photosystem I accumulation. Chloroplasts in the mutants also showed a decrease in both the amount of ferredoxin, a major electron carrier of the stroma that contains a [2Fe-2S] cluster, and in the in vitro activity of iron-sulfur cluster insertion into apo-ferredoxin. When expressed in Escherichia coli cells, AtCnfU-V formed a homodimer carrying a [2Fe-2S]-like cluster, and this cluster could be transferred to apo-ferredoxin in vitro to form holo-ferredoxin. We propose that AtCnfU has an important function as a molecular scaffold for iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis in chloroplasts and thereby is required for biogenesis of ferredoxin and photosystem I.

Mitochondrial 5178A/C genotype is associated with acute myocardial infarction.

A single nucleotide polymorphism of mitochondrial 5178A/C, causing a Met to Leu replacement within the NADH dehydrogenase subunit, is reported to be associated with longevity. The purpose of the present study was to assess the contribution of mitochondrial polymorphisms, particularly the 5178A/C genotype, to the susceptibility to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a Japanese study population. There were 4 groups: 150 patients with AMI, 150 with essential hypertension, 100 with diabetes mellitus, and 150 subjects matched for age and sex who served as the control group. Mitochondrial 5178A/C was detected by the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The allelic frequency of 5178C was significantly higher in the AMI group than in the control group, and this difference was more marked in younger patients. There were differences in allelic frequencies among the essential hypertension group, diabetes mellitus group and control group, but a higher frequency of the C allele was seen in the AMI group compared with the essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus groups. This particular polymorphism was found to be associated with development of AMI, especially in younger patients and constitutes a new risk factor for AMI.

Subunit rotation of ATP synthase embedded in membranes: a or beta subunit rotation relative to the c subunit ring.

ATP synthase F(o)F(1) (alpha(3)beta(3)gammadelta epsilon ab(2)c(10-14)) couples an electrochemical proton gradient and a chemical reaction through the rotation of its subunit assembly. In this study, we engineered F(o)F(1) to examine the rotation of the catalytic F(1) beta or membrane sector F(o) a subunit when the F(o) c subunit ring was immobilized; a biotin-tag was introduced onto the beta or a subunit, and a His-tag onto the c subunit ring. Membrane fragments were obtained from Escherichia coli cells carrying the recombinant plasmid for the engineered F(o)F(1) and were immobilized on a glass surface. An actin filament connected to the beta or a subunit rotated counterclockwise on the addition of ATP, and generated essentially the same torque as one connected to the c ring of F(o)F(1) immobilized through a His-tag linked to the alpha or beta subunit. These results established that the gamma epsilon c(10-14) and alpha(3)beta(3)deltaab(2) complexes are mechanical units of the membrane-embedded enzyme involved in rotational catalysis.

Identification of a novel prokaryotic HEAT-repeats-containing protein which interacts with a cyanobacterial IscA homolog.

IscA homologs are known to be involved in iron-sulfur cluster formation in various organisms. Recombinant proteins of two IscA homologs from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803, designated SLR1417 and SLR1565, were purified. The absorption spectrum of purified SLR1565 was typical for [2Fe-2S] cluster-containing proteins, whereas that of SLR1417 predominantly showed the presence of the iron ion alone. In the cyanobacterial cell extracts, only SLR1565 was found to form a complex with a novel prokaryotic HEAT-repeats-containing protein, SLR1098. Thus, the two cyanobacterial IscA protein homologs exist in distinct molecular states, suggesting different cellular roles for these proteins.