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Recent insights on the role and regulation of retinoic acid signaling during epicardial development.Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000) Jul 2019The vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid, carries out essential and conserved roles in vertebrate heart development. Retinoic acid signals via retinoic acid receptors... (Review)
Review
The vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid, carries out essential and conserved roles in vertebrate heart development. Retinoic acid signals via retinoic acid receptors (RAR)/retinoid X receptors (RXRs) heterodimers to induce the expression of genes that control cell fate specification, proliferation, and differentiation. Alterations in retinoic acid levels are often associated with congenital heart defects. Therefore, embryonic levels of retinoic acid need to be carefully regulated through the activity of enzymes, binding proteins and transporters involved in vitamin A metabolism. Here, we review evidence of the complex mechanisms that control the fetal uptake and synthesis of retinoic acid from vitamin A precursors. Next, we highlight recent evidence of the role of retinoic acid in orchestrating myocardial compact zone growth and coronary vascular development.
Topics: Animals; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Humans; Pericardium; Receptors, Retinoic Acid; Signal Transduction; Tretinoin
PubMed: 31066193
DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23303 -
F1000Research 2018Embryonic heart progenitors arise at specific spatiotemporal periods that contribute to the formation of distinct cardiac structures. In mammals, the embryonic and fetal... (Review)
Review
Embryonic heart progenitors arise at specific spatiotemporal periods that contribute to the formation of distinct cardiac structures. In mammals, the embryonic and fetal heart is hypoxic by comparison to the adult heart. In parallel, the cellular metabolism of the cardiac tissue, including progenitors, undergoes a glycolytic to oxidative switch that contributes to cardiac maturation. While oxidative metabolism is energy efficient, the glycolytic-hypoxic state may serve to maintain cardiac progenitor potential. Consistent with this proposal, the adult epicardium has been shown to contain a reservoir of quiescent cardiac progenitors that are activated in response to heart injury and are hypoxic by comparison to adjacent cardiac tissues. In this review, we discuss the development and potential of the adult epicardium and how this knowledge may provide future therapeutic approaches for cardiac repair.
Topics: Adult; Glycolysis; Heart Diseases; Humans; Hypoxia; Myocardium; Pericardium; Stem Cells; Therapeutics
PubMed: 30450195
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15609.1 -
Angiology Oct 2017Cystic hydatid disease is responsible for the loss of 1 to 3 million disability-adjusted life years every year. Infestation of the heart, though rare, can result in...
Cystic hydatid disease is responsible for the loss of 1 to 3 million disability-adjusted life years every year. Infestation of the heart, though rare, can result in serious complications if left untreated. We retrospectively collected information on 19 patients with cardiac hydatid cyst admitted at the Center for Cardiac Surgery of Ibn Al-Bitar Hospital in Baghdad from July 2007 to July 2011 who were either in need of a cardiac surgery for treating hydatid cysts or presented with emergency conditions. Nine (47%) patients presented with left-sided heart failure and mitral valve dysfunction, 5 (26%) patients had hydatid cysts in the pericardium, 3 (16%) patients had hydatid cyst in the right ventricle and presented with right-sided heart failure, and 2 (11%) patients who presented with cardiac arrhythmias had infestation in the interventricular septum. Removal of cysts following open-heart surgery was successful and was followed by the use of mebendazole or albendazole for 5 years. We conclude that cardiac hydatid cyst that leads to various cardiac symptoms can be successfully managed and should be considered as a diagnostic possibility in patients with cardiac symptoms in endemic areas.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Albendazole; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Child; Child, Preschool; Echinococcosis; Echocardiography; Female; Heart Failure; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Pericardium; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 28142253
DOI: 10.1177/0003319717690093 -
Turk Kardiyoloji Dernegi Arsivi : Turk... Dec 2021
Topics: Adolescent; Echocardiography; Female; Humans; Levocardia; Pericardium; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 34881712
DOI: 10.5543/tkda.2021.21132 -
The Journal of International Medical... Nov 2022The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis (CP) is challenging as there are currently no standard echocardiographic diagnostic criteria. In this retrospective case...
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis (CP) is challenging as there are currently no standard echocardiographic diagnostic criteria. In this retrospective case series, we analyzed and summarized the features of 25 patients with CP and proposed echocardiographic diagnostic criteria. It is hoped that the suggested criteria help professionals make decisions in their daily practice so that patients receive timely diagnosis and effective treatment.
METHODS
Twenty-five patients with CP were selected for this retrospective study. The clinical and echocardiographic imaging data were analyzed and summarized, and echocardiographic diagnostic criteria for CP were proposed.
RESULTS
The main clinical manifestations were fatigue, breathlessness, exertional dyspnea (88%), lower-limb edema (84%), hepatomegaly, and jugular vein filling (84%). Echocardiographic features comprised pericardial thickening (88%) and calcification (60%), pulmonary hypertension (52%), inferior vena cava dilation (80%), left and/or right atrial enlargement (100%), diastolic flattening of the left ventricular (LV) posterior wall (72%), septal shudder and bounce (64%), restrictive LV and right ventricular diastolic filling pattern (100%), early filling changes of mitral and tricuspid flow (80% and 60%, respectively), and mitral annulus reversus (73%).
CONCLUSIONS
Echocardiography is a simple and valuable examination for CP. The echocardiographic diagnostic criteria are valid and worth promoting.
Topics: Humans; Pericarditis, Constrictive; Retrospective Studies; Echocardiography; Pericardium; Mitral Valve
PubMed: 36345170
DOI: 10.1177/03000605221134468 -
The Journal of Thoracic and... Mar 2016
Topics: Bioprosthesis; Female; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Male; Mitral Valve; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Pericardium; Stents
PubMed: 26651966
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.09.135 -
Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira... 2024
Topics: Humans; Heart Neoplasms; Pericardium; Pericardial Effusion
PubMed: 38865525
DOI: 10.1590/1806-9282.2024S105 -
European Journal of Heart Failure Dec 2022
Topics: Humans; Heart Failure; Stroke Volume; Pericardium; Obesity; Adipose Tissue
PubMed: 36377107
DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.2733 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2021Nearly three decades ago, the Wilms' tumor suppressor Wt1 was identified as a crucial regulator of heart development. Wt1 is a zinc finger transcription factor with... (Review)
Review
Nearly three decades ago, the Wilms' tumor suppressor Wt1 was identified as a crucial regulator of heart development. Wt1 is a zinc finger transcription factor with multiple biological functions, implicated in the development of several organ systems, among them cardiovascular structures. This review summarizes the results from many research groups which allowed to establish a relevant function for Wt1 in cardiac development and disease. During development, Wt1 is involved in fundamental processes as the formation of the epicardium, epicardial epithelial-mesenchymal transition, coronary vessel development, valve formation, organization of the cardiac autonomous nervous system, and formation of the cardiac ventricles. Wt1 is further implicated in cardiac disease and repair in adult life. We summarize here the current knowledge about expression and function of Wt1 in heart development and disease and point out controversies to further stimulate additional research in the areas of cardiac development and pathophysiology. As re-activation of developmental programs is considered as paradigm for regeneration in response to injury, understanding of these processes and the molecules involved therein is essential for the development of therapeutic strategies, which we discuss on the example of WT1.
Topics: Animals; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Gene Expression; Heart; Heart Diseases; Humans; Myocardium; Pericardium; Transcription Factors; WT1 Proteins
PubMed: 34299295
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147675 -
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira de... 2021
Topics: Animals; Echinococcosis; Echinococcus; Mediastinal Cyst; Pericardium
PubMed: 33681936
DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0753-2020