Dermatologists’ interest in the Janus-associated kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway has been growing as evidence builds to support its key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases. Because certain proinflammatory cytokines use the JAK/STAT pathway for signal transduction, it has become a promising therapeutic target in diseases where selective modulation of the immune system can be useful. We aim to review current knowledge of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and its role in immune-mediated skin diseases. In the first part of the review we cover the efficacy and safety of oral and topical JAK inhibitors in the treatment of vitiligo and alopecia areata.Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are considered high-risk patients for surgical interventions. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been introduced as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) at high operative risk. However, the outcomes of TAVI compared with SAVR KTRs have not been well-studied in nationally representative data. Patients with prior history of functioning kidney transplant who were hospitalized for TAVI and SAVR between January 2012 and December 2017 were identified retrospectively in the Nationwide Readmissions Database. Our study included 762 TAVI and 1,278 SAVR KTRs. Compared with SAVR, TAVI patients generally had higher rates of co-morbidities with lower risk of in-hospital mortality (3.1% vs 6.3, p = 0.002), blood transfusion (11.5% vs 38.6%, p less then 0.001), acute myocardial infarction (3.9% vs 6.5%, p = 0.16), acute kidney injury (24.5% vs 42.1%, p less then 0.001), sepsis (3.9% vs 9.5%, p less then 0.001) and discharge with disability (42.6% vs 68.4%, p less then 0.001). However, the rate of permanent pacemaker implantation was significantly higher in TAVI group (11.4% vs 3.9%, p less then 0.001). Of note, in-hospital stroke and 30-day readmission were comparable between both groups. These findings were confirmed after adjusting for other co-morbidities. TAVI is growing as a valid and safe alternative for KTRs with severe AS.Bicuspid aortic valve aortopathy is defined by dilation of the aortic root (AoRt) and/or ascending aorta (AsAo), and increases risk for aortic aneurysm and dissection. The effects of medical prophylaxis on aortic growth rates in moderate to severe bicuspid aortopathy have not yet been evaluated. This was a single-center retrospective study of young patients (1 day to 29 years) with bicuspid aortopathy (AoRt or AsAo z-score ≥ 4 SD, or absolute dimension ≥ 4 cm), treated with either losartan or atenolol. Maximal diameters and BSA-adjusted z-scores obtained from serial echocardiograms were utilized in a mixed linear effects regression model. The primary outcome was the annual rate of change in AoRt and AsAo z-scores during treatment, compared with before treatment. The mean ages (years) at treatment initiation were 14.2 ± 5.1 (losartan; n = 27) and 15.2 ± 4.9 (atenolol; n = 18). Median treatment duration (years) was 3.1 (IQR 2.4, 6.0) for losartan, and 3.7 (IQR 1.4, 6.6) for atenolol. Treatment was associated with decreases in AoRt and AsAo z-scores (SD/year), for both losartan and atenolol (pre- vs post-treatment) losartan/AoRt +0.06 ± 0.02 vs -0.14 ± 0.03, p less then 0.001; losartan/AsAo +0.20 ± 0.03 vs -0.09 ± 0.05, p less then 0.001; atenolol/AoRt +0.07 ± 0.03 vs -0.02 ± 0.04, p = 0.04; atenolol/AsAo +0.21 ± 0.04 vs -0.06 ± 0.06, p less then 0.001. Treatment was also associated with decreases in absolute growth rates (cm/year) for all comparisons (p ≤ 0.02). Medical prophylaxis reduced proximal aortic growth rates in young patients with at least moderate and progressive bicuspid aortopathy.Renal dysfunction is a known risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with ischemic heart disease. However, the association between renal dysfunction and sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) patients remains unknown. This study investigated the significance of an impaired renal function for the sudden death risk in a cohort of patients with HC. We included 450 patients with HC (mean age 52.9 years, 65.1% men). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated at the time of the initial evaluation. Renal dysfunction was defined as an eGFR less then 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Renal dysfunction was found in 171 patients (38.0%) at the time of enrollment. Over a median (IQR) follow-up period of 8.8 (5.0 to 12.5) years, 56 patients (12.4%) experienced the combined end point of sudden death or potentially lethal arrhythmic events, including 20 with sudden death (4.4%), 11 resuscitated after a cardiac arrest, and 25 with appropriate implantable defibrillator shocks. Patients with renal dysfunction were at a significantly higher risk of sudden death (Log-rank p = 0.034) and the combined end point (Log-rank p less then 0.001) than patients without renal dysfunction. RK 24466 molecular weight After adjusting for the highly imbalanced baseline variables, the eGFR remained as an independent correlate of the combined end point (adjusted hazard ratio 1.24 per 10 ml/min decline in the eGFR; 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.47; p = 0.013). In conclusion, an impaired renal function may be associated with an incremental risk of sudden death or potentially lethal arrhythmic events in patients with HC.Incomplete revascularization following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with increased repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction and death. Whether the rate of incomplete revascularization is increasing over time has not been previously described. All patients with multivessel coronary artery disease who underwent isolated and elective CABG at our Institution in 2007 (n = 291) were compared to patients who underwent CABG in 2017 (n = 290). A Revascularization Index Score was created to compare rates of incomplete revascularization between the 2 years based on the coronary anatomy and degree of stenosis. Comparison of the 2 years disclose that the rate of incomplete revascularization increased from 17.9% in 2007 to 28.3% in 2017 (p = 0.003) and was accompanied by a decline in the Revascularization Index Score from 0.73 to 0.67 (p = 0.005). Left ventricular function improved in both groups following CABG. Two-year cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher in the 2017 cohort compared to the 2007 cohort.