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The authors discuss a study that gives some insights into the typical vasculopathy in the context of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Highlights include the role of lysyl oxidases (LOXs) in several crucial physiological functions, the role of LOXs in multiple pathological fibrotic conditions, and the potential origin of serum LOX in SSc.

The emergency department ( ED) is the point of first contact for patients with acute heart failure and arrhythmias, with 1 million annual ED visits in the United States. Although the total numbers of men and women living with heart failure are similar, female patients are underrepresented in clinical studies, with current knowledge predominantly based on data from male patients. This has led to an underappreciation of the sex-specific differences in clinical characteristics and pathophysiology-based management of heart failure. Similar disparities have been found in management of acute arrhythmias, especially atrial arrhythmias that lead to an increased risk of stroke in women. Additionally, peripartum and postpartum cardiomyopathy represent a diagnostic and treatment dilemma. This article is the result of a breakout session in the cardiovascular and resuscitation work group of the 2014 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference 'Gender-Specific Research in Emergency Medicine: Investigate, Understand, and Translate How Gender Affects Patient Outcomes.' A nominal group technique was used to identify and prioritize themes and research questions using electronic mail, monthly conference calls, in-person meetings, and Web-based surveys between June 2013 and May 2014. Consensus was achieved through three rounds of nomination followed by the meeting on May 13, 2014, and resulted in seven priority themes that are essential to the common complex clinical syndrome of heart failure for both men and women and include the areas of pathophysiology; presentation and symptomatology; and diagnostic strategies using biomarkers, treatment, and mortality, with special consideration to arrhythmia management and pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The RAAS through its physiological effectors plays a key role in promoting and maintaining inflammation. Inflammation is an important mechanism in the development and progression of CVD such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. In addition to its main role in regulating blood pressure and its role in hypertension, RAAS has proinflammatory and profibrotic effects at cellular and molecular levels. Blocking RAAS provides beneficial effects for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Evidence shows that inhibition of RAAS positively influences vascular remodeling thus improving CVD outcomes. The beneficial vascular effects of RAAS inhibition are likely due to decreasing vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and positive effects on regeneration of endothelial progenitor cells. Inflammatory factors such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TNFα, IL-6, and CRP have key roles in mediating vascular inflammation and blocking RAAS negatively modulates the levels of these inflammatory molecules. Some of these inflammatory markers are clinically associated with CVD events. More studies are required to establish long-term effects of RAAS inhibition on vascular inflammation, vascular cells regeneration, and CVD clinical outcomes. This review presents important information on RAAS's role on vascular inflammation, vascular cells responses to RAAS, and inhibition of RAAS signaling in the context of vascular inflammation, vascular remodeling, and vascular inflammation-associated CVD. Nevertheless, the review also equates the need to rethink and rediscover new RAAS inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the immunologic heterogeneity within the overall group of patients classified as having psoriatic arthritis. The authors examined the efficacy of steering the choice of biologic on a per-patient immunologic basis in the strategic arm as compared with a standard-of-care approach. The authors have addressed recent calls for novel trial design. Slight caution is warranted as the strategic arm and standard-of-care arm were different in some key factors.

Immuno‐oncology has been heralded as a breakthrough cancer treatment, and Chinese researchers have emerged as important contributors to this area of research. The Immuno‐Oncology Special Issue highlights articles by researchers in China, focusing on immunotherapy for various cancer types from different perspectives for the benefit of our readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports published within this issue including one on the association of autoantibodies with improved response of people with rheumatoid arthritis patients to abatacept, one on the use of differential methylation in rheumatoid arthritis patients and one on the resistance of diabetes patients to osteoarthritis.