Dissecting the transcriptome in cardiovascular disease.

The human transcriptome comprises a complex network of coding and non-coding RNAs implicated in a myriad of biological functions. Non-coding RNAs exhibit highly organized spatial and temporal expression patterns and are emerging as critical regulators of differentiation, homeostasis, and pathological states, including in the cardiovascular system. This review defines the current knowledge gaps, unmet methodological needs, and describes the challenges in dissecting and understanding the role and regulation of the non-coding transcriptome in cardiovascular disease. These challenges include poor annotation of the non-coding genome, determination of the cellular distribution of transcripts, assessment of the role of RNA processing and identification of cell-type specific changes in cardiovascular physiology and disease. We highlight similarities and differences in the hurdles associated with the analysis of the non-coding and protein-coding transcriptomes. In addition, we discuss how the lack of consensus and absence of standardized methods affect reproducibility of data. These shortcomings should be defeated in order to make significant scientific progress and foster the development of clinically applicable non-coding RNA-based therapeutic strategies to lessen the burden of cardiovascular disease.

Tranexamic acid to reduce bleeding after dental extraction in patients treated with non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants: design and rationale of the EXTRACT-NOAC trial.

Bleeding after dental extraction in patients treated with non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) may lead to unplanned reinterventions and interruption of anticoagulation, thereby exposing patients to a risk of thromboembolism. We have designed a study (EXTRACT-NOAC) to investigate whether tranexamic acid (TXA) mouthwash decreases bleeding after extraction in such patients. The study is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. We plan to randomise 236 patients listed for dental extraction and treated with NOAC to 10% TXA mouthwash or placebo. Patients are instructed to use the mouthwash before the dental extraction, and three times a day for three days thereafter. The primary outcome is oral bleeding. Secondary outcomes include type of bleeding, procedural bleeding score, number of reinterventions after oral bleeding, and number of interruptions in NOAC treatment. Any bleeding from sources other than the mouth, and thrombotic events, are recorded as safety outcomes. Patients are followed-up for seven days. This study will provide evidence to guide the management of patients taking NOAC who need teeth extracted.

Friable coronary arteries are link between pathogenesis and treatment of spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly being diagnosed as the cause of an acute coronary syndrome, especially in young patients. We report the case of a 32-year-old woman with postpartum SCAD of the left main and left anterior descending coronary artery which required the implantation of two drug-eluting stents. We present a literature study that correlates the pathogenesis of SCAD to the treatment options. Non-atherosclerotic SCAD is clearly associated with connective tissue disorders, vasculitis, and the peripartum period with its hormonal and haemodynamic changes. The coronary arteries of these SCAD patients are friable and should be approached with caution. Percutaneous coronary intervention has a reported success rate of only 65% and may cause propagation of the dissection. Lately, more and more authors suggest the possibility of a conservative approach in the absence of remaining cardiac ischaemia, even in this era of percutaneous stent implantation.