Introduction: Primary Sjögren's (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that affects several organs, especially the heart, and raises cardiovascular risk. Investigating the associations of hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width (RDW) ratio (HRR), vitamin D status, and cardiac function could provide valuable insights and biomarkers regarding early cardiovascular risk in patients with pSS. Method: This cross-sectional study involved 61 patients diagnosed with pSS based on ACR/EULAR criteria. Data on demographics, hematological (Hb, RDW), echocardiography, and serum vitamin D levels were collected. Echocardiograms were conducted by trained cardiologists following established guidelines, while vitamin D levels were measured using ELISA. Statistical analyses, including univariate linear regression, were performed with SPSS in order to identify whether HRR tertiles were related to cardiac function and vitamin D status. Results: A study of 61 pSS patients (mean age 59.8 years, 89% female) revealed that patients with a lower hemoglobin-to-RDW ratio (HRR ≤ 0.98) had significantly higher pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs) and lower values for the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)/PAPs ratio, contributing to poor right heart function. These associations were particularly strong in patients with insufficient levels of vitamin D (<30 ng/mL), while differences in other echocardiographic parameters remained nonsignificant between HRR groups. Conclusions: These findings underscore the clinical value of HRR as a composite biomarker that reflects the interplay between anemia, inflammation, and cardiovascular health in primary Sjögren's disease. They also suggest that vitamin D status may be an important therapeutic consideration to mitigate cardiopulmonary risks in this population.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, including heart failure (HF). HF represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with RA, contributing substantially to their reduced life expectancy. The early detection and optimal management of both traditional cardiovascular risk factors and RA-related inflammation are crucial to improving outcomes. In this comprehensive narrative review, we synthesize and critically appraise contemporary evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of HF in RA. We further explore emerging insights into the inflammatory and immune-mediated mechanisms driving myocardial dysfunction, advances in the early and preclinical detection of HF through novel imaging and biomarker approaches, and the evolving impact of modern RA therapies on cardiovascular health with a focus on heart failure. These developments highlight the importance of integrated, multidisciplinary strategies to prevent and manage heart failure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

G3BP2 is an important RNA-binding protein that belongs to the mammalian Ras-GAP SH3 domain-binding protein (G3BP) family. Its structure enables it to bind to RNA or proteins, regulate nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling, and participate in various functions, including cell growth, differentiation, migration, and RNA and protein metabolism. Studies have found that G3BP2 is involved in the occurrence and development of various human diseases, such as high expression across multiple tumor diseases, including gastric cancer, breast cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, driving the occurrence of human tumors, participating in tumor progression, and playing an essential role in promoting the proliferation, invasion, and migration of tumor cells. Additionally, G3BP2 is closely associated with various non-tumor diseases, including viral infections, as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This review elucidates the role of G3BP2 in the development and progression of various diseases, identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets for clinical diagnosis and treatment based on G3BP2.

The OHI demonstrated moderate internal consistency and consistent associations with oral health-related quality of life and cardiovascular risk indicators.

The primary objective was to propose and internally assess an Oral Health Index (OHI) which integrates multiple clinically assessed oral health variables. The secondary objective was to investigate its association with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and common clinical cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors.

This observational study included 191 participants. Seven parameters (tooth loss, periodontal disease, endodontic involvement, residual roots, extractions due to periodontitis, inflammatory oral mucosal diseases, and dental maintenance and rehabilitation status) were combined using Z-scores to compute the OHI, with higher scores indicating poorer oral health. CVR factors included age/sex thresholds, education level, BMI, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, pulse pressure, and lung function. OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile.

Higher OHI scores were associated with poor oral health-related quality of life. Participants with cardiovascular risk factors had significantly higher OHI scores. The analysis demonstrated that the OHI was directly associated with worse oral health-related quality of life and a greater cardiovascular risk burden, independent of age, sex, and comorbidities.

This study proposed and internally assessed the Oral Health Index, designed to integrate multiple clinical parameters into a single standardized measure of oral health. The OHI demonstrated moderate internal consistency and showed consistent associations with poorer oral health conditions, reduced oral health-related quality of life, and a greater cardiovascular risk burden.

Complement activation has been implicated in many kidney diseases, but it remains unclear whether urinary complement-derived peptides reflect kidney function beyond albuminuria and predict disease progression. We analyzed mass spectrometry-based urinary peptidomics data from 10,939 individuals with chronic kidney disease and healthy controls. Fifty-eight complement-derived peptides were identified, predominantly from complement factor B (CFB) and C3. Of these, fifty-two were significantly related to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) independently of albuminuria, mostly inversely. Several C3- and CFB-derived peptides were also associated with specific kidney disease etiologies. In a longitudinal analysis of 3964 individuals (median follow-up 2.91 years), 18 of these peptides were significantly related to a major adverse kidney event (MAKE, defined as ≥40% eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease or death) after adjustment for clinical covariates, indicating prognostic information beyond traditional risk markers. In the independent test cohort, combining these peptides in a machine learning-based model and adding the resulting risk score to clinical parameters significantly improved MAKE prediction (AUC 0.801 vs. 0.778, p = 0.031). Thus, urinary complement-derived peptides provide independent and clinically relevant information on kidney function and disease progression, supporting their potential value in the identification of high-risk patients and guiding more personalized therapy.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) currently ranks as the leading cause of global mortality and morbidity [...].

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that affects the skin, nails, joints, and cardiovascular system. In this study, involving 50 psoriatic patients and 28 healthy controls (patients with inguinal hernia), serum elafin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results revealed significantly higher serum elafin levels in the psoriatic group compared to healthy individuals. Moreover, we observed a statistically significant positive correlation between serum elafin levels and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores. These findings indicate that elafin-a protein involved in psoriasis pathogenesis-is significantly altered in the serum of psoriatic patients and may be associated with disease severity.

Although metabolic, renal, and cardiovascular disorders frequently coexist, little is known about how illness combinations affect prognosis. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which can manifest as coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, heart failure (HF), arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death, is more likely to develop in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This link is closer with regard of heart failure (HF) and renal dysfunction, in which a reciprocal relationship has been demonstrated, with the initial illness of one organ causing the progressive dysfunction of the other system. Common risk factors for both illnesses include obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders, hypertension, and dyslipemia. Theoretically, each of these factors accelerates the atherosclerotic process or directly damages the endothelium through inflammatory, oxidative, and pro-thrombotic pathways, which in turn causes the beginning of heart dysfunction and renal function deterioration. Although the mechanisms and causes have been identified, there are still a number of unanswered questions regarding classification, development, monitoring, and preventive aspects. Furthermore, the absence of reliable data on cardiac and renal outcomes across different stages contributes to creating confusion in CKM classification and management. This paper discusses the current challenges and perspectives in CKM definition and assessment proposing a specific diagnostic and laboratory fingerprint.

Jerusalem artichoke (JA) (Helianthus tuberosus), a perennial plant of the Asteraceae family, is well known for its high inulin content and diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, sesquiterpenes, and amino acids. Extracts derived from different parts of JA, such as tubers, leaves, and flowers, have demonstrated a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antihypertensive, and antifungal effects. These properties highlight JA's potential in the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, obesity, and colorectal cancer. Recent studies also suggest that JA benefits skin health through anti-aging and barrier-protective mechanisms and enhances immune function by modulating the intestinal microbiota. Owing to its multifunctional physiological activities, JA is being explored as a valuable raw material for food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. However, most existing research has focused primarily on inulin, while comprehensive studies on other bioactive constituents and their clinical validation remain limited. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the bioactive compounds present in JA, elucidate their health-promoting functions, discuss their pharmacokinetics, and outline future perspectives on their potential as functional ingredients and biohealth materials.

Background: Sepsis remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, where timely and accurate pathogen detection is critical for improved outcomes. Conventional blood cultures are the gold standard but are limited by prolonged turnaround times and suboptimal sensitivity, often delaying targeted therapy. Methods: This single-center retrospective study evaluated the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of the T2Bacteria and T2Resistance Panels compared with conventional blood cultures in 30 adult patients admitted to the cardiovascular intensive care unit with a suspected bloodstream infection. Results: The T2Bacteria Panel demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for on-panel organisms (100%), detecting all cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while blood cultures detected 9 of 12 on-panel infections. In contrast, two off-panel organisms were isolated from five patients exclusively by blood cultures, highlighting the complementary roles of both methods. Importantly, antimicrobial therapy was modified in 6 of 10 T2-positive patients (60%) based on T2 results, preceding blood culture reporting by a median of more than 100 h. Conclusions: These findings underscore the value of T2 assays in enabling earlier, evidence-based therapeutic decisions and supporting antimicrobial stewardship. While limited by the sample size and single-center design, these findings-consistent with pathogen distributions reported in European ICU settings-suggest that integrating T2-based diagnostics into cardiovascular ICU workflows may enhance early therapeutic decision-making and antimicrobial stewardship.