Season had no effect on mortality or LOS following aortic dissection repair, while patient age significantly increased the odds of death. The full-moon cycle appeared to reduce the odds of death, and the full-moon cycle, along with being male and requiring a concomitant cardiac procedure, was associated with shorter LOS.
T-cell factor (TCF) proteins represent key transcription factors in Wnt signaling. We show that the SxxSS motif in TCF-4 regulates transcriptional activity in HCC cells. TCF-4K mutants increased transcriptional activity compared to TCF-4K (bearing the SxxSS); the binding pattern of co-factors in TCF-4K mutants was similar to that in TCF-4J (lacking the SxxSS). TCF activity in TCF-4K cells was suppressed by homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), but not in TCF-4J cells. Together, our data indicates that the SxxSS motif in TCF-4K regulates transcriptional activity by modifying co-factors in the β-catenin/TCF-4 transcriptional complex and these events may be mediated through HIPK2.
Background/Purpose:Accumulating evidence indicates a relationship between Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and osteoporosis. Hypertension, a known risk factor for CVD is also associated with low Bone Mineral Density (BMD). We hypothesize that Pulse Pressure (PP); a CVD risk factor is associated with BMD.Methods:Data from two consecutive cycles of National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2009–2010 and 2011–2012. Point estimates of demographic variables were calculated using descriptive methods. Study participants were divided into 4 groups based on quartile distribution of PP. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between BMD and PP.Results:A total of 8,179 NHANES participants were included in the study (Tables 1–3). The cohort’s mean age (± SE) was 53.3 years 0.19, mean BMI (± SE) 29.6 kg/m2 ± 0.07. PP was significantly higher with increased age, among Blacks (57.4 ± 0.52) and Hispanics (57.5 ± 0.19) compared to whites (53.9 ± 0.29), and for men (57.2 ± 0.16) when compared to women (54.1 ± 0.17), p<0.05. After adjusting for age, sex, race, menopause, body mass index, family history of osteoporosis, PP was associated with femoral neck BMD, β=−0.0005, p<0.05 but was not significantly associated with lumbar spine BMD, β=−0.0002, p=0.07.Conclusion:Our results support the hypothesis that wide PP is associated with low BMD. This negative association was demonstrated at the femoral neck where bone loss and osteoporotic fractures occur at a more advanced stage, further supporting the relationship between atherosclerosis and osteoporosis risk. These findings have the potential for identifying high osteoporotic risk patients among those with wide pulse pressure, providing further indications for bone mineral density testing among these elderly frail patients. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms behind the relationship between PP and BMD.
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