Risk factors, biomarkers, and mechanisms for persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS) has been proposed as an endotype of chronic critical illness (CCI). The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise the available evidence of risk factors, biomarkers, and biological mechanisms underlying PICS. METHODS: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched on June 2, 2023. Our population of interest was adult intensive care unit survivors. The exposure group was patients with PICS and the comparator group was patients with no PICS, CCI, or rapid recovery. Mean differences were pooled for each biomarker using a random effects DerSimonian-Laird method. Risk of bias assessment was done using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Six papers were included. Five were single-centre retrospective cohort studies, and one was a prospective cohort study, with sample sizes ranging from 22 to 391 patients. Two studies showed an increased incidence of PICS with age, and two studies showed an association between PICS and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores. PICS was associated with requiring mechanical ventilation in four studies. Meta-analysis showed a 34.4 mg L-1 higher C-reactive protein (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.7-56.2 mg L-1; P<0.01), a 4.4 g L-1 lower albumin (95% CI 0.5-8.3 g L-1; P<0.01), and a 0.36×109 L-1 lower lymphocyte count (95% CI 0.25-0.47×109 L-1; P=0.01) in the PICS compared with the non-PICS group. There are a large variety of other potential biomarkers but limited validation studies. The overall quality of evidence is limited, and these results should be interpreted accordingly. CONCLUSIONS: While older patients and those with co-morbidities could be at greater risk for PICS, acquired risk factors, such as injury severity, are potentially more predictive of PICS than intrinsic patient characteristics. There are many potential biomarkers for PICS, but limited validation studies have been conducted. Persistent myeloid-derived suppressor cell expansion, the continual release of danger-associated molecular patterns and pathogen-associated molecular patterns propagating inflammation, and bioenergetic failure are all mechanisms underlying PICS that could offer potential for novel biomarkers and therapeutic interventions. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42023427749).

Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS): a review of definitions, potential therapies, and research priorities.

Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome (PICS) is a clinical endotype of chronic critical illness. PICS consists of a self-perpetuating cycle of ongoing organ dysfunction, inflammation, and catabolism resulting in sarcopenia, immunosuppression leading to recurrent infections, metabolic derangements, and changes in bone marrow function. There is heterogeneity regarding the definition of PICS. Currently, there are no licensed treatments specifically for PICS. However, findings can be extrapolated from studies in other conditions with similar features to repurpose drugs, and in animal models. Drugs that can restore immune homeostasis by stimulating lymphocyte production could have potential efficacy. Another treatment could be modifying myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) activation after day 14 when they are immunosuppressive. Drugs such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 receptor antagonists might reduce persistent inflammation, although they need to be given at specific time points to avoid adverse effects. Antioxidants could treat the oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial dysfunction in PICS. Possible anti-catabolic agents include testosterone, oxandrolone, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), bortezomib, and MURF1 (muscle RING-finger protein-1) inhibitors. Nutritional support strategies that could slow PICS progression include ketogenic feeding and probiotics. The field would benefit from a consensus definition of PICS using biologically based cut-off values. Future research should focus on expanding knowledge on underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of PICS to identify and validate other potential endotypes of chronic critical illness and subsequent treatable traits. There is unlikely to be a universal treatment for PICS, and a multimodal, timely, and personalised therapeutic strategy will be needed to improve outcomes for this growing cohort of patients.

Childhood outcomes after low-grade intraventricular haemorrhage: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring school-age neurodevelopmental outcomes of children after low-grade intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). METHOD: The published and grey literature was extensively searched to identify observational comparative studies exploring neurodevelopmental outcomes after IVH grades 1 and 2. Our primary outcome was neurodevelopmental impairment after 5 years of age, which included cognitive, motor, speech and language, behavioural, hearing, or visual impairments. RESULTS: This review included 12 studies and over 2036 infants born preterm with low grade IVH. Studies used 30 different neurodevelopmental tools to determine outcomes. There was conflicting evidence of the composite risk of neurodevelopmental impairment after low-grade IVH. There was evidence of an association between low-grade IVH and lower IQ at school age (-4.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] -7.53, -0.92, I2 = 0%) but impact on school performance was unclear. Studies reported an increased crude risk of cerebral palsy after low-grade IVH (odds ratio [OR] 2.92, 95% CI 1.95, 4.37, I2 = 41%). No increased risk of speech and language impairment or behavioural impairment was found. Few studies addressed hearing and visual impairment. INTERPRETATION: This systematic review presents evidence that low-grade IVH is associated with specific neurodevelopmental impairments at school age, lending support to the theory that low-grade IVH is not a benign condition. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The functional impact of low-grade intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) at school age is unknown. Low-grade IVH is associated with a lower IQ at school age. The risk of cerebral palsy is increased after low-grade IVH. Low-grade IVH is not associated with speech and language impairment.

School-age outcomes of children after perinatal brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Over 3000 children suffer a perinatal brain injury in England every year according to national surveillance. The childhood outcomes of infants with perinatal brain injury are however unknown. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analyses were undertaken of studies published between 2000 and September 2021 exploring school-aged neurodevelopmental outcomes of children after perinatal brain injury compared with those without perinatal brain injury. The primary outcome was neurodevelopmental impairment, which included cognitive, motor, speech and language, behavioural, hearing or visual impairment after 5 years of age. RESULTS: This review included 42 studies. Preterm infants with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) grades 3-4 were found to have a threefold greater risk of moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental impairment at school age OR 3.69 (95% CI 1.7 to 7.98) compared with preterm infants without IVH. Infants with perinatal stroke had an increased incidence of hemiplegia 61% (95% CI 39.2% to 82.9%) and an increased risk of cognitive impairment (difference in full scale IQ -24.2 (95% CI -30.73 to -17.67) . Perinatal stroke was also associated with poorer academic performance; and lower mean receptive -20.88 (95% CI -36.66 to -5.11) and expressive language scores -20.25 (95% CI -34.36 to -6.13) on the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF) assessment. Studies reported an increased risk of persisting neurodevelopmental impairment at school age after neonatal meningitis. Cognitive impairment and special educational needs were highlighted after moderate-to-severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. However, there were limited comparative studies providing school-aged outcome data across neurodevelopmental domains and few provided adjusted data. Findings were further limited by the heterogeneity of studies. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal population studies exploring childhood outcomes after perinatal brain injury are urgently needed to better enable clinicians to prepare affected families, and to facilitate targeted developmental support to help affected children reach their full potential.

Population-based screening methods in biliary atresia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate tested methods of population-based biliary atresia (BA) screening. DESIGN: We searched 11 databases between 1 January 1975 and 12 September 2022. Data extraction was independently done by two investigators. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Our primary outcomes were: sensitivity and specificity of screening method in BA detection, age at Kasai, BA associated morbidity and mortality, cost-effectiveness of screening. RESULTS: Six methods of BA screening were evaluated: stool colour charts (SCCs), conjugated bilirubin measurements, stool colour saturations (SCSs), measurements of urinary sulfated bile acids (USBAs), assessments of blood spot bile acids and blood carnitine measurements.In a meta-analysis, USBA was the most sensitive and specific, with a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 100.0% (95% CI 2.5% to 100.0%) and 99.5% (95% CI 98.9% to 99.8%) (based on one study). This was followed by conjugated bilirubin measurements: 100.0% (95% CI 0.0% to 100.0%) and 99.3% (95% CI 91.9% to 99.9%), SCS: 100.0% (95% CI 0.00% to 100.0%) and 92.4% (95% CI 83.4% to 96.7%), and SCC: 87.9% (95% CI 80.4% to 92.8%) and 99.9% (95% CI 99.9% to 99.9%).SCC reduced the age of Kasai to ~60 days, compared with 36 days for conjugated bilirubin. Both SCC and conjugated bilirubin improved overall and transplant-free survival. The use of SCC was considerably more cost-effective than conjugated bilirubin measurements. CONCLUSION: Conjugated bilirubin measurements and SCC are the most researched and demonstrate improved sensitivity and specificity in detecting BA. However, their use is expensive. Further research into conjugated bilirubin measurements, as well as alternative methods of population-based BA screening, is required. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021235133.

Preterm Brain Injury and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Preterm brain injuries are common; neurodevelopmental outcomes following contemporary neonatal care are continually evolving. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and meta-analyze neurodevelopmental outcomes among preterm infants after intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and white matter injury (WMI). DATA SOURCES: Published and grey literature were searched across 10 databases between 2000 and 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies reporting 3-year neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm infants with IVH or WMI compared with preterm infants without injury. DATA EXTRACTION: Study characteristics, population characteristics, and outcome data were extracted. RESULTS: Thirty eight studies were included. There was an increased adjusted risk of moderate-severe neurodevelopmental impairment after IVH grade 1 to 2 (adjusted odds ratio 1.35 [95% confidence interval 1.05-1.75]) and IVH grade 3 to 4 (adjusted odds ratio 4.26 [3.25-5.59]). Children with IVH grade 1 to 2 had higher risks of cerebral palsy (odds ratio [OR] 1.76 [1.39-2.24]), cognitive (OR 1.79 [1.09-2.95]), hearing (OR 1.83 [1.03-3.24]), and visual impairment (OR 1.77 [1.08-2.9]). Children with IVH grade 3 to 4 had markedly higher risks of cerebral palsy (OR 4.98 [4.13-6.00]), motor (OR 2.7 [1.52-4.8]), cognitive (OR 2.3 [1.67-3.15]), hearing (OR 2.44 [1.42-4.2]), and visual impairment (OR 5.42 [2.77-10.58]). Children with WMI had much higher risks of cerebral palsy (OR 14.91 [7.3-30.46]), motor (OR 5.3 [3-9.36]), and cognitive impairment (OR 3.48 [2.18-5.53]). LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity of outcome data. CONCLUSIONS: Mild IVH, severe IVH, and WMI are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Utilization of core outcome sets and availability of open-access study data would improve our understanding of the nuances of these outcomes.

The clinical utility of dysregulated microRNA expression in paediatric solid tumours.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-protein-coding genes that regulate the expression of numerous protein-coding genes. Their expression is dysregulated in cancer, where they may function as oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes. As miRNAs are highly resistant to degradation, they are ideal biomarker candidates to improve the diagnosis and clinical management of cancer, including prognostication. Furthermore, miRNAs dysregulated in malignancy represent potential therapeutic targets. The use of miRNAs for these purposes is a particularly attractive option to explore for paediatric malignancies, where the mutational burden is typically low, in contrast to cancers affecting adult patients. As childhood cancers are rare, it has taken time to accumulate the necessary body of evidence showing the potential for miRNAs to improve clinical management across this group of tumours. Here, we review the current literature regarding the potential clinical utility of miRNAs in paediatric solid tumours, which is now both timely and justified. Exploring such avenues is warranted to improve the management and outcomes of children affected by cancer.

Long COVID-19 and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome- Is Dysautonomia to Be Blamed?

While the increased arrhythmic tendency during acute COVID-19 infection is recognised, the long-term cardiac electrophysiological complications are less well known. There are a high number of patients reporting ongoing symptoms post-infection, termed long COVID. A recent hypothesis is that long COVID symptoms could be attributed to dysautonomia, defined as malfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The most prevalent cardiovascular dysautonomia amongst young people is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Numerous reports have described the development of POTS as part of long COVID. Possible underlying mechanisms, although not mutually exclusive or exhaustive, include hypovolaemia, neurotropism, inflammation and autoimmunity. Treatment options for POTS and other long COVID symptoms are currently limited. Future research studies should aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of dysautonomia to enable the development of targeted therapies. Furthermore, it is important to educate healthcare professionals to recognise complications and conditions arising from COVID-19, such as POTS, to allow prompt diagnosis and access to early treatment.

Sequential Phase II clinical trials evaluating CRLX101 as monotherapy and in combination with bevacizumab in recurrent ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Topoisomerase-1 inhibitors are an important class of cytotoxics associated with toxicity that limits their use. CRLX101 is a novel cyclodextrin-containing polymer conjugate of camptothecin (CPT) that self-assembles into nanoparticles to deliver sustained levels of active CPT into cancer cells while substantially reducing systemic exposure. METHODS: We conducted sequential phase II, open label, single arm clinical trials to evaluate CRLX101 as a single agent (n = 29) and with bevacizumab (Bev) (n = 34). Patients (pts) had measurable recurrent epithelial ovarian, tubal or primary peritoneal cancer, that could be platinum refractory, resistant or sensitive. Cohort A (Single agent CRLX101) allowed up to 3 prior chemotherapy regimens, but no prior topo-1 inhibitors. Pts received CRLX101 15 mg/m2 IV every 14 days Q28 with response evaluation every 2 cycles. Cohort B also received Bev 10 mg/kg D1,15 Q28, and included only platinum resistant disease with up to 2 prior lines, and more rigorous eligibility criteria. RESULTS: CRLX101 was well tolerated other than nausea, fatigue and anemia. 29 pts. received a median of 3 (1-16) cycles with a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 68% and overall response rate (ORR) of 11%. With the addition of Bev in Cohort B (n = 34), the CBR was increased to 95% and the ORR to 18%. PFS was 4.5 months (0.9 to 15.9 months) in Cohort A and 6.5 months (2.8 to 14.4 months) in Cohort B. Bev increased the incidence of hypertension and qualitatively increased bladder toxicities, but without SAEs. CONCLUSIONS: CRLX101 meets the clinical need for an effective and tolerable topoisomerase I inhibitor and can be safely combined with bevacizumab.

Molecular basis of ventricular arrhythmogenicity in a Pgc-1α deficient murine model.

Mitochondrial dysfunction underlying metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes mellitus is strongly associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Murine Pgc-1α-/- hearts replicate disrupted mitochondrial function and model the associated pro-arrhythmic electrophysiological abnormalities. Quantitative PCR, western blotting and histological analysis were used to investigate the molecular basis of the electrophysiological changes associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. qPCR analysis implicated downregulation of genes related to Na+-K+ ATPase activity (Atp1b1), surface Ca2+ entry (Cacna1c), action potential repolarisation (Kcnn1), autonomic function (Adra1d, Adcy4, Pde4d, Prkar2a), and morphological properties (Myh6, Tbx3) in murine Pgc-1α-/- ventricles. Western blotting revealed reduced NaV1.5 but normal Cx43 expression. Histological analysis revealed increased tissue fibrosis in the Pgc-1α-/- ventricles. These present findings identify altered transcription amongst a strategically selected set of genes established as encoding proteins involved in cardiac electrophysiological activation and therefore potentially involved in alterations in ventricular activation and Ca2+ homeostasis in arrhythmic substrate associated with Pgc-1α deficiency. They complement and complete previous studies examining such expression characteristics in the atria and ventricles of Pgc-1 deficient murine hearts.

A rare case of paediatric astroblastoma with concomitant MN1-GTSE1 and EWSR1-PATZ1 gene fusions altering management.

In a case of astroblastoma, methylation analysis was uninformative, with no clustering with known CNS-HGNET-MN1 cases. Whole genome sequencing however identified a novel MN1-GTSE1 gene fusion (image), confirming the diagnosis of astroblastoma, as well as an EWSR1-PATZ1 gene fusion. Whole genome sequencing, alongside methylation profiling and conventional neuropathology, will continue to lead to improved diagnostics and prognostication for children with brain tumours.

GLP-1 agonists for obesity and type 2 diabetes in children: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pharmacological options for management of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children are limited. We aimed to synthesize published randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence on the efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists in T2DM, pre-diabetes, and obesity in children aged <18 years. Inclusion criteria were RCTs of any GLP-1 agonist, solely or in conjunction with other drugs, for the treatment of obesity, pre-diabetes, and/or T2DM in children aged <18 years old. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria (two for T2DM, one for pre-diabetes, and six for obesity without diabetes). In total, 286 children were allocated to GLP-1 agonist therapy. Compared with controls, GLP-1 agonist therapy reduced HbA1c by -0.30% (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.57, -0.04) with a larger effect in children with (pre-)diabetes (-0.72%; 95% CI -1.17, -0.28; three studies) than in children with obesity (-0.08%; 95% CI -0.13, -0.02; four studies). Conversely, GLP-1 agonist therapy reduced body weight more in children with obesity (-2.74 kg; 95% CI -3.77, -1.70; six studies) than in children with T2DM (-0.97 kg; 95% CI -2.01, 0.08; two studies). Adverse effects included gastrointestinal symptoms and minor hypoglycemic episodes, but not severe hypoglycemia. GLP-1 agonists are efficacious in treating children with obesity and/or T2DM. Effect sizes are comparable with those reported in adults.

Molecular basis of arrhythmic substrate in ageing murine peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator deficient hearts modelling mitochondrial dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Ageing and chronic metabolic disorders are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac pro-arrhythmic phenotypes which were recently attributed to slowed atrial and ventricular action potential (AP) conduction in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator deficient (Pgc-1ß-/-) mice. METHODS: We compared expression levels of voltage-gated Na+ channel (NaV1.5) and gap junction channels, Connexins 40 and 43 (Cx40 and Cx43) in the hearts of young and old, and wild-type (WT) and Pgc-1ß-/- mice. This employed Western blotting (WB) for NaV1.5, Cx40 and Cx43 in atrial/ventricular tissue lysates, and immunofluorescence (IF) from Cx43 was explored in tissue sections. Results were analysed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for independent/interacting effects of age and genotype. RESULTS: In atria, increased age and Pgc-1ß-/- genotype each independently decreased both Cx40 and Cx43 expression without interacting effects. In IF experiments, both age and Pgc-1ß deletion independently reduced Cx43 expression. In ventricles, age and genotype exerted interacting effects in WB studies of NaV1.5 expression. Young Pgc-1ß-/- then showed greater NaV1.5 expression than young WT ventricles. However, neither age nor Pgc-1ß deletion affected Cx43 expression, independently or through interacting effects in both WB and IF studies. CONCLUSION: Similar pro-arrhythmic atrial/ventricular phenotypes arise in aged/Pgc-1ß-/- from differing contributions of altered protein expression and functional effects that may arise from multiple acute mechanisms.

Rare case of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration secondary to high-grade serous carcinoma of tubo-ovarian origin.

This case describes a 69-year-old woman, who presented with rapidly progressive cerebellar symptoms and unintentional weight loss. Full neurological assessment excluded space-occupying lesions, vascular accidents and infection. Surprisingly, a chest, abdomen and pelvis CT showed a left hemipelvis mass, which was subsequently biopsied. A high-grade serous carcinoma of tubo-ovarian origin was found, diagnosing paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) secondary to this. The exact mechanism is not known, but is thought to be immune-mediated. In cases of PCD, after cancer treatment, the neurological disability stabilises to a severe level and will unfortunately be lifelong. Our patient continues to make great progress with intensive rehabilitation for her ongoing balance issues. Early recognition of PCD can lead to a prompt diagnosis of the underlying malignancy and hence subsequent management. This can at least limit the extent of the neurological disability of the disease and increase the survival rate from cancer.

Atrial Transcriptional Profiles of Molecular Targets Mediating Electrophysiological Function in Aging and Pgc-1ß Deficient Murine Hearts.

BACKGROUND: Deficiencies in the transcriptional co-activator, peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, coactivator-1ß are implicated in deficient mitochondrial function. The latter accompanies clinical conditions including aging, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes. Recent electrophysiological studies reported that Pgc-1ß-/- mice recapitulate clinical age-dependent atrial pro-arrhythmic phenotypes. They implicated impaired chronotropic responses to adrenergic challenge, compromised action potential (AP) generation and conduction despite normal AP recovery timecourses and background resting potentials, altered intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, and fibrotic change in the observed arrhythmogenicity. OBJECTIVE: We explored the extent to which these age-dependent physiological changes correlated with alterations in gene transcription in murine Pgc-1ß-/- atria. METHODS AND RESULTS: RNA isolated from murine atrial tissue samples from young (12-16 weeks) and aged (>52 weeks of age), wild type (WT) and Pgc-1ß-/- mice were studied by pre-probed quantitative PCR array cards. We examined genes encoding sixty ion channels and other strategic atrial electrophysiological proteins. Pgc-1ß-/- genotype independently reduced gene transcription underlying Na+-K+-ATPase, sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+-ATPase, background K+ channel and cholinergic receptor function. Age independently decreased Na+-K+-ATPase and fibrotic markers. Both factors interacted to alter Hcn4 channel activity underlying atrial automaticity. However, neither factor, whether independently or interactively, affected transcription of cardiac Na+, voltage-dependent K+ channels, surface or intracellular Ca2+ channels. Nor were gap junction channels, ß-adrenergic receptors or transforming growth factor-ß affected. CONCLUSION: These findings limit the possible roles of gene transcriptional changes in previously reported age-dependent pro-arrhythmic electrophysiologial changes observed in Pgc-1ß-/- atria to an altered Ca2+-ATPase (Atp2a2) expression. This directly parallels previously reported arrhythmic mechanism associated with p21-activated kinase type 1 deficiency. This could add to contributions from the direct physiological outcomes of mitochondrial dysfunction, whether through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production or altered Ca2+ homeostasis.

Ageing in Pgc-1ß-/- mice modelling mitochondrial dysfunction induces differential expression of a range of genes regulating ventricular electrophysiology.

Mice deficient in mitochondrial promoter peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ co-activator-1ß (Pgc-1ß-/- ) is a valuable model for metabolic diseases and has been found to present with several pathologies including ventricular arrhythmia. In the present study, our aim was to shed light on the molecular mechanisms behind the observed arrhythmic substrate by studying how the expression of selected genes critical for cardiac function differs in wild-type (WT) compared with Pgc-1ß knockout mice and young compared with aged mice. We found that a clear majority of genes are down-regulated in the Pgc-1ß-/- ventricular tissue compared with the WT. Although most individual genes are not significantly differentially expressed, a pattern is apparent when the genes are grouped according to their functional properties. Genes encoding proteins relating to ATPase activity, potassium ion channels relating to repolarisation and resting membrane potential, and genes encoding proteins in the cAMP pathway are found to be significantly down-regulated in the Pgc-1ß deficient mice. On the contrary, the pacemaker channel genes Hcn3 and Hcn4 are up-regulated in subsets of the Pgc-1ß deficient tissue. Furthermore, we found that with age, especially in the Pgc-1ß-/- genotype, most genes are up-regulated including genes relating to the resting membrane potential, calcium homeostasis, the cAMP pathway, and most of the tested adrenoceptors. In conclusion, we here demonstrate how a complex pattern of many modest changes at gene level may explain major functional differences of the action potential related to ageing and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Gene and Protein Expression Profile of Selected Molecular Targets Mediating Electrophysiological Function in Pgc-1α Deficient Murine Atria.

Increases in the prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome has led to the increase of atrial fibrillation (AF) cases in the developed world. These AF risk factors are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, previously modelled using peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) coactivator-1 (Pgc-1)-deficient murine cardiac models. We explored gene and protein expression profiles of selected molecular targets related to electrophysiological function in murine Pgc-1α-/- atria. qPCR analysis surveyed genes related to Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, K⁺ conductance, hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (Hcn), Na⁺ channels, Ca2+ channels, and indicators for adrenergic and cholinergic receptor modulation. Western blot analysis for molecular targets specific to conduction velocity (Nav1.5 channel and gap junctions) was performed. Transcription profiles revealed downregulation of molecules related to Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase transport, Hcn-dependent pacemaker function, Na⁺ channel-dependent action potential activation and propagation, Ca2+ current generation, calsequestrin-2 dependent Ca2+ homeostasis, and adrenergic α1D dependent protection from hypertrophic change. Nav1.5 channel protein expression but not gap junction expression was reduced in Pgc-1α-/- atria compared to WT. Nav1.5 reduction reflects corresponding reduction in its gene expression profile. These changes, as well as the underlying Pgc-1α-/- alteration, suggest potential pharmacological targets directed towards either upstream PGC-1 signalling mechanisms or downstream ion channel changes.

Ageing, the autonomic nervous system and arrhythmia: From brain to heart.

An ageing myocardium possesses significant electrophysiological alterations that predisposes the elderly patient to arrhythmic risk. Whilst these alterations are intrinsic to the cardiac myocytes, they are modulated by the cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) and consequently, ageing of the cardiac ANS is fundamental to the development of arrhythmias. A systems-based approach that incorporates the influence of the cardiac ANS could lead to better mechanistic understanding of how arrhythmogenic triggers and substrates interact spatially and temporally to produce sustained arrhythmia and why its incidence increases with age. Despite the existence of physiological oscillations of ANS activity on the heart, pathological oscillations can lead to defective activation and recovery properties of the myocardium. Such changes can be attributable to the decrease in functionality and structural alterations to ANS specific receptors in the myocardium with age. These altered ANS adaptive responses can occur either as a normal ageing process or accelerated in the presence of specific cardiac pathologies, such as genetic mutations or neurodegenerative conditions. Targeted intervention that seek to manipulate the ageing ANS influence on the myocardium may prove to be an efficacious approach for the management of arrhythmia in the ageing population.

Arrhythmogenic mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea in heart failure patients.

Heart failure (HF) affects 23 million people worldwide and results in 300000 annual deaths. It is associated with many comorbidities, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and risk factors for both conditions overlap. Eleven percent of HF patients have OSA and 7.7% of OSA patients have left ventricular ejection fraction <50% with arrhythmias being a significant comorbidity in HF and OSA patients. Forty percent of HF patients develop atrial fibrillation (AF) and 30%-50% of deaths from cardiac causes in HF patients are from sudden cardiac death. OSA is prevalent in 32%-49% of patients with AF and there is a dose-dependent relationship between OSA severity and resistance to anti-arrhythmic therapies. HF and OSA lead to various downstream arrhythmogenic mechanisms, including metabolic derangement, remodeling, inflammation, and autonomic imbalance. (1) Metabolic derangement and production of reactive oxidative species increase late Na+ currents, decrease outward K+ currents and downregulate connexin-43 and cell-cell coupling. (2) remodeling also features downregulated K+ currents in addition to decreased Na+/K+ ATPase currents, altered Ca2+ homeostasis, and increased density of If current. (3) Chronic inflammation leads to downregulation of both Nav1.5 channels and K+ channels, altered Ca2+ homeostasis and reduced cellular coupling from alterations of connexin expression. (4) Autonomic imbalance causes arrhythmias by evoking triggered activity through increased Ca2+ transients and reduction of excitation wavefront wavelength. Thus, consideration of these multiple pathophysiological pathways (1-4) will enable the development of novel therapeutic strategies that can be targeted against arrhythmias in the context of complex disease, such as the comorbidities of HF and OSA.