ABSTRACT

Cancer survivors who have received thoracic radiation as part of their primary treatment are at risk for developing radiation-induced cardiotoxicity (RICT) due to incidental radiation delivered to the heart. In recent decades, advancements in radiation delivery have dramatically improved the therapeutic ratio of radiation therapy (RT)-efficiently targeting malignancies while sparing the heart; yet, in many patients, incidental radiation to the heart cannot be fully avoided. Cardiac radiation exposure can cause long-term morbidity and contribute to poorer survival in cancer patients. Severe cardiac effects can occur within 2years of treatment. Currently, there is no way to predict who is at higher or lower risk of developing cardiotoxicity from radiation, and the critical factors that alter RICT have not yet been clearly identified. Thus, pre-clinical investigations are an important step towards better prevention, detection, and management of RICT in cancer survivors. The overarching aim of this chapter is to provide researchers with foundational and technical knowledge in the use of mice and rats for RICT investigations. After a brief overview of RICT pathophysiology and clinical manifestations, we discuss important considerations of RICT study design, including animal selection and radiation planning. We then provide example protocols for murine tissue harvesting and processing that can support use in downstream applications of the reader's choosing.

PMID:37890926 | DOI:10.1016/bs.mcb.2023.02.014

15:15

PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Exploring the Multifaceted Nexus of Uric Acid and Health: A Review of Recent Studies on Diverse Diseases

Biomolecules. 2023 Oct 13;13(10):1519. doi: 10.3390/biom13101519.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of patients with hyperuricemia or gout is increasing worldwide. Hyperuricemia and gout are primarily attributed to genetic factors, along with lifestyle factors like consuming a purine-rich diet, alcohol and/or fructose intake, and physical activity. While numerous studies have reported various comorbidities linked to hyperuricemia or gout, the range of these associations is extensive. This review article focuses on the relationship between uric acid and thirteen specific domains: transporters, genetic factors, diet, lifestyle, gout, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, hypertension, kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, and malignancies. The present article provides a comprehensive review of recent developments in these areas, compiled by experts from the Young Committee of the Japanese Society of Gout and Uric and Nucleic Acids. The consolidated summary serves to enhance the global comprehension of uric acid-related matters.

PMID:37892201 | PMC:PMC10604821 | DOI:10.3390/biom13101519

15:15

PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Cardiovascular Impact of Near Complete Estrogen Deprivation in Premenopausal Women with Breast Cancer: The CROWN Study

Am Heart J. 2023 Oct 25:S0002-8703(23)00300-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2023.10.007. Online ahead of print.