Casting Light on The Hidden Prevalence: A Novel Perspective on Hypoplastic Coronary Artery Disease

Background and Objectives: Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) represent a group of rare cardiac abnormalities with an incidence of up to 1.2%. The aim of this retrospective study was to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological assessment of the prevalence of hypoplastic coronary arteries using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with diagnosed CAAs and individuals presenting with cardiovascular manifestations in the north-eastern region of Romania. This study was motivated by the limited investigation of the CAAs conducted in this area. Methods: We analyzed data collected from 12,758 coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) records available at the "Prof. Dr. George I.M. Georgescu" Cardiovascular Diseases Institute, spanning the years 2012 to 2022. Results: Among 350 individuals with CAAs (2.7% of the total cohort), 71 patients (20.3% of the anomaly presenting group and 0.5% of the entire CCTA cohort) exhibited at least one hypoplastic coronary artery. The mean age of individuals diagnosed with hypoplastic coronary artery disease (HCAD) was 61 years, while the age distribution among them ranged from 22 to 84 years. Nearly equal cases of right and left dominance (33 and 31, respectively) were observed, with only 7 cases of co-dominance. Conclusions: HCAD may be considered underexplored in current published research, despite its potentially significant implications ranging to an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The specific prevalence of HCAD among CAAs might be higher than previously reported, possibly reflecting better diagnostic accuracy of CCTA over classic coronary imaging. The absence of standard diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for HCAD underscores the necessity of a personalized approach for such cases.

Exploring the Role of Biomarkers Associated with Alveolar Damage and Dysfunction in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis-A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most aggressive forms of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), marked by an ongoing, chronic fibrotic process within the lung tissue. IPF leads to an irreversible deterioration of lung function, ultimately resulting in an increased mortality rate. Therefore, the focus has shifted towards the biomarkers that might contribute to the early diagnosis, risk assessment, prognosis, and tracking of the treatment progress, including those associated with epithelial injury.

METHODS

We conducted this review through a systematic search of the relevant literature using established databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Selected articles were assessed, with data extracted and synthesized to provide an overview of the current understanding of the existing biomarkers for IPF.

RESULTS

Signs of epithelial cell damage hold promise as relevant biomarkers for IPF, consequently offering valuable support in its clinical care. Their global and standardized utilization remains limited due to a lack of comprehensive information of their implications in IPF.

CONCLUSIONS

Recognizing the aggressive nature of IPF among interstitial lung diseases and its profound impact on lung function and mortality, the exploration of biomarkers becomes pivotal for early diagnosis, risk assessment, prognostic evaluation, and therapy monitoring.

Speaking of the "Devil": Diagnostic Errors in Interstitial Lung Diseases

Interstitial lung diseases are respiratory diseases, which affect the normal lung parenchyma and can lead to significant pulmonary fibrosis, chronic respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and ultimately death. Reuniting more than 200 entities, interstitial lung diseases pose a significant challenge to the clinician, as they represent rare diseases with vague and insidious respiratory symptoms. As such, there are many diagnostic errors that can appear along the journey of the patient with ILD, which leads to significant delays with implications for the prognosis and the quality of life of the patient.

Chitosan Microparticles Loaded with New Non-Cytotoxic Isoniazid Derivatives for the Treatment of Tuberculosis: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Lately, in the world of medicine, the use of polymers for the development of innovative therapies seems to be a major concern among researchers. In our case, as a continuation of the research that has been developed so far regarding obtaining new isoniazid (INH) derivatives for tuberculosis treatment, this work aimed to test the ability of the encapsulation method to reduce the toxicity of the drug, isoniazid and its new derivatives. To achieve this goal, the following methods were applied: a structural confirmation of isoniazid derivatives using LC-HRMS/MS; the obtaining of microparticles based on polymeric support; the determination of their loading and biodegradation capacities; in vitro biocompatibility using MTT cell viability assays; and, last but not least, in vivo toxicological screening for the determination of chronic toxicity in laboratory mice, including the performance of a histopathological study and testing for liver enzymes. The results showed a significant reduction in tissue alterations, the disappearance of cell necrosis and microvesicular steatosis areas and lower values of the liver enzymes TGO, TGP and alkaline phosphatase when using encapsulated forms of drugs. In conclusion, the encapsulation of INH and INH derivatives with chitosan had beneficial effects, suggesting a reduction in hepatotoxicity and, therefore, the achievement of the aim of this paper.

The Biochemical Relevance of Different Types of Oxidative Stress at the Ocular Level

The connection between oxidative stress and ocular injuries was highly debated, given the fact that, as a result of its particular structure, the eye may have different reactions when exposed to oxidative stress and visual activity and functionality are considerable compromised. Our experimental research focused on two types of induced oxidative stress on rats (disruption of circadian rhythm and diabetes mellitus) with impact on biochemical markers of oxidative stress. We have analysed the amplitude of significant antioxidant markers correlated with each individual type of antioxidant disorder. We observed alterations of stress biomarkers for all induced types of stress, but the most relevant are associated with diabetes mellitus and light exposure.