Multivariate analysis revealed that serum cystatin C but not albuminuria was significantly associated with PWV in hypertensive patients. Serum cystatin C may be better than albuminuria as a predictor of arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients.

BackgroundHemodialysis (HD) patients have increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Impaired stem cell health and adipocytokine metabolism may play important roles in the complex pathophysiological mechanisms of CVD in this patient population. We aimed to investigate the relationships between CD133+ cell counts, adipocytokines and parameters of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in HD patients.MethodsIn 58 chronic HD patients (male/female:28/30, mean age:58 ± 14 years), serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), leptin, adiponectin and resistin were measured by ELISA. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery were measured. CD133+ cells were counted by flow cytometry (BD FACSCalibur-BD Bioscience,CA).ResultsCD133+ cell counts were inversely associated with FMD (r = −0.39, p = 0.007) and positively correlated with serum resistin (r = 0.45, p < 0.001) and serum TNF-α (r = 0.31, p = 0.02). Serum leptin levels were higher in high CD133 group compared to low CD133 group [32.37(12.74–72.29) vs 15.50(5.38–37.12)ng/mL, p = 0.03]. Serum leptin levels were correlated with TNF-α(r = 0.35, p = 0.009). Serum adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with serum leptin (r = −0.28, p = 0.03). Serum resistin levels were associated with TNF-α (r = 0.54, p < 0.001) and leptin (r = 0.29, p = 0.03). Serum IL-6 levels were significantly associated with LVMI (r = 0.31, p = 0.03). Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with carotid plaque compared to patients without plaque [12.75(9.91–28.68) vs 8.27(5.97–14.04) pg/mL, p = 0.02]. In multiple linear regression analysis to determine the factors predicting LogFMD; dialysis vintage, LVMI and LogCD133+ cell counts were included as independent variables(R = 0.57, adjusted R-square = 0.27, p = 0.001). CD133+ cell count and LVMI were found to significantly predict FMD (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04 respectively).ConclusionCD133+ cells were associated with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in HD patients. Serum leptin, resistin and TNF-α levels were positively related to CD133+ cell count. Impaired regulation of undifferentiated stem cells and adipocytokines might contribute to endothelial dysfunction in HD patients.

A seventeen-year-old male presented with severe substernal chest pain after an episode of upper respiratory tract infection. On clinical grounds, a diagnosis of myocarditis was established. He had a peak troponin I level as high as 40.4 ng/dl but interestingly with no abnormal wall motion and normal ejection fraction in echocardiography. Coronary artery disease was excluded with normal coronary angiography. Diagnosis of myocarditis was confirmed with cardiac MRI. After one month, patient had no complaint and ejection fraction were still normal. Our case emphasizes that the troponin levels predict neither the early nor the late outcome of the left ventricular functions in myocarditis, therefore serum troponin I may not be helpful in determining the prognosis of patients with myocarditis.

The association between severe coronavirus disease 2019 and hypercoagulable state was observed in many reports. This may be explained by the presence of hypoxia, severe systemic inflammatory response, immobilization due to intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and diffuse intravascular coagulation. We report three patients who were admitted to our respiratory ICU with acute severe respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring mechanical ventilation due severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, who developed severe limb ischemia during the course of the disease.