The role of VDR and ER- α genes in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a chronic metabolic disease, leading to increased risk of fractures. The essence of its pathogenesis is a disorder in transformation of the bone tissue, associated with osteoclasts and osteoblasts, which is a constant creation of new bone with tissue resorption at the same time. The balance of this process depends on many factors, eg. hormonal, inflammatory, environmental and genetic. Articles, which lay down the role of genetic factors affecting the occurrence of osteoporosis, appeared mostly at the beginning of the 21st century [1]. 
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Anemia in heart failure – should we use iron supplementation in patients with chronic heart failure?

The previously conducted clinical trials, randomized and nonrandomized attempts were made to assess the effectiveness of erythropoietin and iron supplementation in the treatment of anemia in patients with congestive heart failure.

Population, severity of heart failure and diagnostic criteria are the elements that influence the incidence of anemia (from 10% to 50%). The factors which are responsible for the increase in the prevalence of anemia include: an aging population, increased use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
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Role of Salt (NaCl) and Smoking on artherosclerosis

A positive correlation between salt intake and cardiovascular diseases has been known to exist for a long time. Menton et al.[28] stated that epidemiologic, migration, intervention, and genetic studies in humans and animals provide very strong evidence of a causal link between high salt intake and high blood pressure. Furthermore, Miura and Nakagawa[29] stated that a reduction in salt intake remarkably decreased blood pressure in the elderly, the middle-aged, and the younger generation in Japan. It is also known that obesity and diabetes mellitus increase a patient’s risk for stroke. The risk for atherosclerosis is even higher when a diabetic patient has high blood pressure. The most plausible explanation again is that both NaCl and glucose in blood synergistically raise both osmolarity of blood and core body temperature, resulting in atherosclerotic plaque formation.
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