bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impella 5.0 Support in Severe Peripheral Vascular Disease via Iliac Artery Approach
Authors: Kumpati Ganesh S. , Tandar Anwar , Patel Amit , Badger Rodney S. , Bull David A.
Published: December 2012

Impella has been reported to provide hemodynamic support in cardiogenic shock patients, acute myocardial infarction, and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. We are reporting the case of using iliac artery cut down for Impella 5.0 in a high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention for a patient with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy who was not a surgical candidate.
Totally Endoscopic Ablation of Left Atrium via Left Chest for Lone Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Ma Nan , Ding Fangbao , Jiang Zhaolei , Chen Yin , Hu Fengqing , Mei Ju
Published: December 2012

Surgical treatment is effective and less invasive for lone atrial fibrillation because of the emergence of the endoscopic technology and the adoption of new type of energy. On the basis of these improvements, we developed a new surgical ablation procedure by endoscopy for lone atrial fibrillation. The procedure enrolls only three ports on the left chest wall, which can provide pulmonary vein isolation, resection of the left atrial appendage, ganglionic plexus ablation, and make ablation of left atrium with direct vision. A total of 45 procedures were successfully performed. We reported the technique and result of the procedure.
Alternative Access in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Brachiocephalic Artery Access
Authors: Philipsen Tine E. , Rodrigus Inez E. , Claeys Marc J. , Bosmans Johan M.
Published: December 2012

Direct ascending aortic access is an accepted alternative approach for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) that can be preferred in case of excessive atherosclerosis or small caliber of femoral and subclavian vessels or after previous coronary artery bypass grafting with a patent left internal mammary artery graft. However, not all patients are suitable for this direct aortic approach. In these patients, we now use direct access through the brachiocephalic artery. The direct brachiocephalic access can be obtained with or without partial upper sternotomy, depending on the anatomy, which should be evaluated by preprocedural angiographic computed tomography scan. During the procedure, the cerebral tissue oxygen saturation is continuously monitored. We treated two patients with severe aortic valve stenosis, classified as not suitable for surgical aortic valve replacement, by means of TAVI through the brachiocephalic artery. Both patients had excessive iliac atherosclerotic disease. One had patent left internal mammary artery and venous grafts after previous coronary artery bypass grafting so the femoral, direct aortic, nor left subclavian access was suitable; the other had a severely atheromatous and calcified aorta. No procedural or late complications were seen. If transfemoral, subclavian, and direct aortic accesses for TAVI are contraindicated, the direct brachiocephalic access seems to be a safe and feasible alternative.
Minimal-Access Aortic Valve Replacement with Concomitant Aortic Procedure: A 9-Year Experience
Authors: Kaneko Tsuyoshi , Couper Gregory S. , Borstlap Wernard A.A. , Nauta Foeke J.H. , Wollersheim Laurens , McGurk Siobhan , Cohn Lawrence H.
Published: December 2012

Objective

Minimal-access approaches through upper hemisternotomy is an established technique for aortic valve replacement (AVR) and aortic surgery in our institution. We assessed the outcome of undergoing AVR with concomitant aortic surgery through upper hemisternotomy.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 109 patients from January 2002 to May 2011 who had AVR with concomitant aortic surgery through upper hemisternotomy. Aortic valve replacement with supra-coronary ascending aortic replacement was performed in 65 patients; AVR with ascending and proximal arch replacement, in 8 patients; AVR with aortoplasty, in 11 patients; Bentall procedure, in 8 patients; and AVR with root enlargement, in 13 patients. In-hospital outcomes and 1- and 5-year survival were examined.

Results

The mean age was 58.5 years (range, 23–89 years); 41.3% of patients had bicuspid aortic valve (n = 45). Of the patients, 82.6% had true aneurysm (n = 90), 2.8% had calcified aorta (n = 3), 8.3% had small annulus (n = 9), and 3.7% had calcified annulus (n = 4). There were 6 (5.5%) reoperations and 15 (13.8%) urgent cases. Mean perfusion time was 152 ± 61 minutes, and cross-clamp time was 108 ± 47 minutes. Nine cases were performed with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (8.3%). Operative mortality was 2.8% (n = 3). There were 4 (3.7%) cases with reoperation for bleeding, 2 (1.8%) myocardial infarctions, and 2 (1.8%) new-onset renal failure. Mean length of stay was 7.1 ± 5.6 days. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that 1-year postoperative survival was 96.2% and 5-year survival was 92.4%.

Conclusions

An upper hemisternotomy approach is safe and feasible for AVR and concomitant aortic surgery with good early and midterm outcomes. This approach is also associated with low morbidity rate and short length of stay.
Tailored Endovascular Repair of Traumatic Aortic Disruptions with “Stacked” Abdominal Aortic Extension Cuffs
Authors: Allen Keith B. , Borkon A. Michael , Laster Steven B. , Aggarwal Sanjeev , Davis John R. , Pak Alexander F. , Stewart James R. , Stuart R. Scott
Published: December 2012

Objective

The management paradigm for traumatic aortic disruptions has evolved from open to endovascular repair. Thoracic stent grafts designed to treat aneurysmal disease, however, have disadvantages, including size mismatch in younger trauma patients and current standard lengths, which may needlessly necessitate coverage of at least 10 cm of thoracic aorta, increasing the risk of spinal cord ischemia. The “off-label” use of abdominal aortic extension cuffs to treat traumatic aortic disruptions may provide an advantage in this regard by better size matching for the younger trauma patient, reduced thoracic aortic coverage, and less cost to the institution.

Methods

From 2008 to 2011, a total of 16 traumatic aortic disruptions were evaluated and managed with endovascular techniques. The last six were treated with abdominal aortic extensions cuffs (Excluder Extension Cuffs; W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) rather than traditional thoracic stent grafts. In addition to demographics and trauma-related data, additional endpoints evaluated in this retrospective review included operative time, number of cuffs used, stent cost data, procedural complications, and follow-up.

Results

All six patients (five men/one woman) with traumatic aortic disruption were successfully treated with complete exclusion of the disruption using abdominal aortic cuffs. There were no complications including death or spinal cord ischemia. The average age was 27 years (range, 18–44 years). The average number of cuffs used to cover the traumatic tear was 2.6 per patient (range, 2–3 cuffs per patient), covering an average of 5.3 cm of thoracic aorta (range, 4–6 cm). Mean procedure time was 70 minutes. Hospital cost for each cuff was $2200 (average total stent cost per patient, $5720). For comparison, a single 10-cm conformable thoracic aortic graft (CTAG) (Gore) costs $14,500. Average follow-up of all six patients for up to 3 years demonstrates no complications or migration of the stent grafts.

Conclusions

Traumatic aortic disruptions can be safely and selectively managed with “stacked” abdominal aortic extension cuffs. This tailored therapy may provide advantages over traditional thoracic stents, including improved size match in a younger trauma patient, less aortic coverage, and reduced cost.
Lessons Learned from Robotic-Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Risk Factors for Conversion to Median Sternotomy
Authors: Daniel William T. , Puskas John D. , Baio Kim T. , Liberman Henry A. , Devireddy Chandan , Finn Aloke , Halkos Michael E.
Published: December 2012

Objective

Robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass is a minimally invasive alternative to traditional coronary artery bypass surgery via median sternotomy with an associated learning curve. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons for conversion to sternotomy.

Methods

From October 2009 to June 2012, two surgeons at one US academic institution performed 271 consecutive robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass procedures. For all cases, isolated, off-pump left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending coronary artery grafting was planned via a 3- to 4-cm sternal-sparing thoracotomy after robotic internal mammary artery harvest and pericardiotomy.

Results

Conversion to sternotomy occurred in 15 of 271 (5.5%) patients. The most common reason was technical difficulty with the anastomosis, which occurred in 6 (40.0%) patients. Others included LIMA dissection, 2 (13.3%); wrong vessel grafted, 2 (13.3%); ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest, 1 (6.7%); equipment malfunction, 1 (6.7%); adhesions, 1 (6.7%); and other. Two underwent emergent conversion. Six underwent multivessel bypass after conversion instead of hybrid coronary revascularization. No mortality occurred among converted patients. Two patients had postoperative myocardial infarction and one had a superficial sternal wound infection. Conversion rate was relatively stable among the four different time quartiles (range, 3.0%–7.4%), although the reasons for conversion were different.

Conclusions

Conversion to sternotomy is an infrequent complication of robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass, most commonly because of technical difficulties during the LIMA harvest and the LIMA to left anterior descending anastomosis. Anatomic and patient variables as well as inherent technical problems with minimally invasive procedures make conversion unavoidable in some patients.
Infliximab‐Induced Psoriasis and Psoriasiform Skin Lesions in Pediatric Crohn Disease and a Potential Association With IL‐23 Receptor Polymorphisms
Authors: Sherlock Mary E. , Walters Thomas , Tabbers Merit M. , Frost Karen , Zachos Mary , Muise Aleixo , Pope Elena , Griffiths Anne M.
Published: December 2012

Background:

Infliximab (IFX), an established therapy for pediatric Crohn disease (CD), is also efficacious in treating psoriasis, a skin disorder, in which tumor necrosis factor‐α is implicated pathogenically. Paradoxically, there have been numerous reports of new‐onset psoriasis following tumor necrosis factor‐α antagonist therapy in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but pediatric data are sparse.

Methods:

A retrospective review of all IFX‐treated patients with CD, who subsequently developed psoriasis, at a single pediatric inflammatory bowel disease center, was performed. A subset of affected patients (10/18) and CD controls (147 of 172) treated with IFX but without the development of psoriasis were genotyped for polymorphisms in the interleukin‐23 receptor (IL‐23R) gene, which has been identified as conferring susceptibility to both CD and psoriasis.

Results:

Eighteen (10.5%) of 172 IFX‐treated patients with CD developed new‐onset psoriasis (n = 17) or worsening of existing psoriasis (n = 1). The duration of IFX exposure was variable, ranging from 1 to 25 infusions. Three patients discontinued IFX because of this complication. Most patients responded well to topical steroid therapy. In comparison to disease‐matched controls, patients with CD developing psoriasis following IFX therapy were more likely to be homozygous for specific polymorphisms in the IL‐23R gene (rs10489628, rs10789229, and rs1343151).

Conclusions:

As in adults, the development of psoriasis or psoriasiform skin lesions occurs in pediatric patients with CD treated with IFX. Adequately powered studies are required to further explore the preliminary findings reported here to determine whether polymorphisms in the IL‐23R gene have a role in the pathogenesis of this paradoxical process, which presently remains unexplained.
Creamatocrit Analysis of Human Milk Overestimates Fat and Energy Content When Compared to a Human Milk Analyzer Using Mid‐infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: O'Neill Edward F. , Radmacher Paula G. , Sparks Blake , Adamkin David H.
Published: December 2012

Background and Objective:

Human milk (HM) is the preferred feeding for human infants but may be inadequate to support the rapid growth of the very‐low‐birth‐weight infant. The creamatocrit (CMCT) has been widely used to guide health care professionals as they analyze HM fortification; however, the CMCT method is based on an equation using assumptions for protein and carbohydrate with fat as the only measured variable. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that a human milk analyzer (HMA) would provide more accurate data for fat and energy content than analysis by CMCT.

Methods:

Fifty‐one well‐mixed samples of previously frozen expressed HM were obtained after thawing. Previously assayed “control” milk samples were thawed and also run with unknowns. All milk samples were prewarmed at 40°C and then analyzed by both CMCT and HMA. CMCT fat results were substituted in the CMCT equation to reach a value for energy (kcal/oz). Fat results from HMA were entered into a computer model to reach a value for energy (kcal/oz). Fat and energy results were compared by paired t test with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. An additional 10 samples were analyzed locally by both methods and then sent to a certified laboratory for quantitative analysis. Results for fat and energy were analyzed by 1‐way analysis of variance with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.

Results:

Mean fat content by CMCT (5.8 ± 1.9 g/dL) was significantly higher than by HMA (3.2 ± 1.1 g/dL, P < 0.001). Mean energy by CMCT (21.8 ± 3.4 kcal/oz) was also significantly higher than by HMA (17.1 ± 2.9, P < 0.001). Comparison of biochemical analysis with HMA of the subset of milk samples showed no statistical difference for fat and energy, whereas CMCT was significantly higher than for both fat (P < 0.001) and energy (P = 0.002).

Conclusions:

The CMCT method appears to overestimate fat and energy content of HM samples when compared with HMA and biochemical methods.
Bacteriological, Biochemical, and Immunological Modifications in Human Colostrum After Holder Pasteurisation
Authors: Espinosa‐Martos I. , Montilla A. , de Segura A. Gómez , Escuder D. , Bustos G. , Pallás C. , Rodríguez J.M. , Corzo N. , Fernández L.
Published: December 2012

Objective:

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of Holder pasteurisation of human colostrum on a variety of microbiological, biochemical, and immunological parameters.

Methods:

Colostrum samples from 10 donors, and 8 samples of mature milk used as controls, were heated at 62.5°C for 30 minutes. Bacterial counts and the concentration of furosine, lactose, myoinositol, glucose, lactulose, cytokines, and immunoglobulins were determined before and after the heat treatment.

Results:

Mean bacterial counts in nonpasteurised colostrum samples oscillated between 2.72 and 4.13 log10 colony‐forming units per millilitre in the agar media tested. Holder pasteurisation led to the destruction of the bacteria originally present in the samples. Furosine was detected in all samples before pasteurisation and increased significantly after the heat treatment (from 6.60 to 20.59 mg/100 g protein). Lactulose content was below the detection limit in nonpasteurised colostrum, but it was detected in all samples and quantified in 7 of them (from 10.68 to 38.02 mg/L) after Holder pasteurisation. Lactose, glucose, and myoinositol concentrations did not change after Holder pasteurisation. The concentrations of most cytokines and immunoglobulins were significantly higher in colostrum than in mature milk samples. Immunoglobulin content, both in colostrum and in milk samples, was reduced during pasteurisation, whereas, among cytokines, only macrophage inflammatory protein‐1β, interleukin‐7, and granulocyte‐macrophage‐colony‐stimulating factor concentrations were affected by this heat treatment.

Conclusions:

Lactulose and furosine content could be used as heat treatment indicators in colostrum samples. Holder pasteurisation modified the immunological profile of both colostrum and mature milk.
When ecosystem services interact: crop pollination benefits depend on the level of pest control
Authors: Lundin Ola , Smith Henrik G. , Rundlöf Maj , Bommarco Riccardo
Published: December 2012

Pollination is a key ecosystem service which most often has been studied in isolation although effects of pollination on seed set might depend on, and interact with, other services important for crop production. We tested three competing hypotheses on how insect pollination and pest control might jointly affect seed set: independent, compensatory or synergistic effects. For this, we performed a cage experiment with two levels of insect pollination and simulated pest control in red clover (
Trifolium pratense
L.) grown for seed. There was a synergistic interaction between the two services: the gain in seed set obtained when simultaneously increasing pollination and pest control outweighed the sum of seed set gains obtained when increasing each service separately. This study shows that interactions can alter the benefits obtained from service-providing organisms, and this needs to be considered to properly manage multiple ecosystem services.
Stable reprogramming of brain transcription profiles by the early social environment in a cooperatively breeding fish
Authors: Taborsky Barbara , Tschirren Linda , Meunier Clémence , Aubin-Horth Nadia
Published: December 2012

Adult social behaviour can be persistently modified by early-life social experience. In rodents, such effects are induced by tactile maternal stimulation resulting in neuroendocrine modifications of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis involved in stress responsiveness. Whether similar long-term alterations can occur in the hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal (HPI) axis of poikilothermic vertebrates is unknown. We compared the expression of four genes of the HPI axis in adults of the cooperatively breeding cichlid
Neolamprologus pulcher
, which had been exposed to two early-life social treatments 1.5 years prior to brain sampling. Fish reared with parents and siblings had less brain expression of corticotropin-releasing factor and of the functional homologue of the mammalian glucocorticoid receptor (GR1) than individuals reared with same-age siblings only. Expression of the mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) did not differ between treatments, but the MR/GR1 expression ratio was markedly higher in fish reared with parents and siblings. Thus, we show here that early social experience can alter the programming of the stress axis in poikilothermic vertebrates, suggesting that this mechanism is deeply conserved within vertebrates. Moreover, we show for the first time that reprogramming of the stress axis of a vertebrate can be induced without tactile stimulation by parents.
Transformation of Thylakoid Membranes during Differentiation from Vegetative Cell into Heterocyst Visualized by Microscopic Spectral Imaging
Authors: Kumazaki Shigeichi , Akari Masashi , Hasegawa Makoto
Published: December 2012

Some filamentous cyanobacteria carry out oxygenic photosynthesis in vegetative cells and nitrogen fixation in specialized cells known as heterocysts. Thylakoid membranes in vegetative cells contain photosystem I (PSI) and PSII, while those in heterocysts contain predominantly PSI. Therefore, the thylakoid membranes change drastically when differentiating from a vegetative cell into a heterocyst. The dynamics of these changes have not been sufficiently characterized in situ. Here, we used time-lapse fluorescence microspectroscopy to analyze cells of Anabaena variabilis under nitrogen deprivation at approximately 295 K. PSII degraded simultaneously with allophycocyanin, which forms the core of the light-harvesting phycobilisome. The other phycobilisome subunits that absorbed shorter wavelengths persisted for a few tens of hours in the heterocysts. The whole-thylakoid average concentration of PSI was similar in heterocysts and nearby vegetative cells. PSI was best quantified by selective excitation at a physiological temperature (approximately 295 K) under 785-nm continuous-wave laser irradiation, and detection of higher energy shifted fluorescence around 730 nm. Polar distribution of thylakoid membranes in the heterocyst was confirmed by PSI-rich fluorescence imaging. The findings and methodology used in this work increased our understanding of how photosynthetic molecular machinery is transformed to adapt to different nutrient environments and provided details of the energetic requirements for diazotrophic growth.
Variations in the Rhythms of Respiration and Nitrogen Fixation in Members of the Unicellular Diazotrophic Cyanobacterial Genus Cyanothece
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Anindita , Elvitigala Thanura , Liberton Michelle , Pakrasi Himadri B.
Published: December 2012

In order to accommodate the physiologically incompatible processes of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation within the same cell, unicellular nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria have to maintain a dynamic metabolic profile in the light as well as the dark phase of a diel cycle. The transition from the photosynthetic to the nitrogen-fixing phase is marked by the onset of various biochemical and regulatory responses, which prime the intracellular environment for nitrogenase activity. Cellular respiration plays an important role during this transition, quenching the oxygen generated by photosynthesis and by providing energy necessary for the process. Although the underlying principles of nitrogen fixation predict unicellular nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria to function in a certain way, significant variations are observed in the diazotrophic behavior of these microbes. In an effort to elucidate the underlying differences and similarities that govern the nitrogen-fixing ability of unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacteria, we analyzed six members of the genus Cyanothece. Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142, a member of this genus, has been shown to perform efficient aerobic nitrogen fixation and hydrogen production. Our study revealed significant differences in the patterns of respiration and nitrogen fixation among the Cyanothece spp. strains that were grown under identical culture conditions, suggesting that these processes are not solely controlled by cues from the diurnal cycle but that strain-specific intracellular metabolic signals play a major role. Despite these inherent differences, the ability to perform high rates of aerobic nitrogen fixation and hydrogen production appears to be a characteristic of this genus.
Evolution from the Prokaryotic to the Higher Plant Chloroplast Signal Recognition Particle: The Signal Recognition Particle RNA Is Conserved in Plastids of a Wide Range of Photosynthetic Organisms
Authors: Träger Chantal , Rosenblad Magnus Alm , Ziehe Dominik , Garcia-Petit Christel , Schrader Lukas , Kock Klaus , Vera Richter Christine , Klinkert Birgit , Narberhaus Franz , Herrmann Christian , Hofmann Eckhard , Aronsson Henrik , Schünemann Danja
Published: December 2012

The protein targeting signal recognition particle (SRP) pathway in chloroplasts of higher plants has undergone dramatic evolutionary changes. It disposed of its RNA, which is an essential SRP component in bacteria, and uses a unique chloroplast-specific protein cpSRP43. Nevertheless, homologs of the conserved SRP54 and the SRP receptor, FtsY, are present in higher plant chloroplasts. In this study, we analyzed the phylogenetic distribution of SRP components in photosynthetic organisms to elucidate the evolution of the SRP system. We identified conserved plastid SRP RNAs within all nonspermatophyte land plant lineages and in all chlorophyte branches. Furthermore, we show the simultaneous presence of cpSRP43 in these organisms. The function of this novel SRP system was biochemically and structurally characterized in the moss Physcomitrella patens. We show that P.  patens chloroplast SRP (cpSRP) RNA binds cpSRP54 but has lost the ability to significantly stimulate the GTPase cycle of SRP54 and FtsY. Furthermore, the crystal structure at 1.8-Å resolution and the nucleotide specificity of P.  patens cpFtsY was determined and compared with bacterial FtsY and higher plant chloroplast FtsY. Our data lead to the view that the P.  patens  cpSRP system occupies an intermediate position in the evolution from bacterial-type SRP to higher plant-type cpSRP system.
The R2R3-MYB–Like Regulatory Factor EOBI, Acting Downstream of EOBII, Regulates Scent Production by Activating ODO1 and Structural Scent-Related Genes in Petunia
Authors: Spitzer-Rimon Ben , Farhi Moran , Albo Boaz , Cna’ani Alon , Ben Zvi Michal Moyal , Masci Tania , Edelbaum Orit , Yu Yixun , Shklarman Elena , Ovadis Marianna , Vainstein Alexander
Published: December 2012

Flower scent is a highly dynamic trait, under developmental, spatial, and diurnal regulation. The mechanism governing scent production is only beginning to be unraveled. In petunia (Petunia hybrida), EMISSION OF BENZENOIDS II (EOBII) controls transcription of both the shikimate pathway-regulating MYB factor ODORANT1 (ODO1) and phenylpropanoid scent-related structural genes. A promoter-activation screen identified an R2R3-MYB–like regulatory factor of phenylpropanoid volatile biosynthesis acting downstream of EOBII, designated EOBI. EOBI silencing led to downregulation of ODO1 and numerous structural scent-related genes from both the shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways. The ability of EOBI to directly activate ODO1, as revealed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and yeast one-hybrid analysis, place EOBI upstream of ODO1 in regulating substrate availability for volatile biosynthesis. Interestingly, ODO1-silenced transgenic petunia flowers accumulated higher EOBI transcript levels than controls, suggesting a complex feedback loop between these regulatory factors. The accumulation pattern of EOBI transcript relative to EOBII and ODO1, and the effect of up/downregulation of EOBII on transcript levels of EOBI and ODO1, further support these factors' hierarchical relationships. The dependence of scent production on EOBI expression and its direct interaction with both regulatory and structural genes provide evidence for EOBI's wide-ranging involvement in the production of floral volatiles.
The Promiscuous Life of Plant NUCLEAR FACTOR Y Transcription Factors
Authors: Petroni Katia , Kumimoto Roderick W. , Gnesutta Nerina , Calvenzani Valentina , Fornari Monica , Tonelli Chiara , Holt Ben F. , Mantovani Roberto
Published: December 2012

The CCAAT box is one of the most common cis-elements present in eukaryotic promoters and is bound by the transcription factor NUCLEAR FACTOR Y (NF-Y). NF-Y is composed of three subunits, NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC. Unlike animals and fungi, plants have significantly expanded the number of genes encoding NF-Y subunits. We provide a comprehensive classification of NF-Y genes, with a separation of closely related, but distinct, histone fold domain proteins. We additionally review recent experiments that have placed NF-Y at the center of many developmental stress-responsive processes in the plant lineage.
Target of Rapamycin Signaling Regulates Metabolism, Growth, and Life Span in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ren Maozhi , Venglat Prakash , Qiu Shuqing , Feng Li , Cao Yongguo , Wang Edwin , Xiang Daoquan , Wang Jinghe , Alexander Danny , Chalivendra Subbaiah , Logan David , Mattoo Autar , Selvaraj Gopalan , Datla Raju
Published: December 2012

Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is a major nutrition and energy sensor that regulates growth and life span in yeast and animals. In plants, growth and life span are intertwined not only with nutrient acquisition from the soil and nutrition generation via photosynthesis but also with their unique modes of development and differentiation. How TOR functions in these processes has not yet been determined. To gain further insights, rapamycin-sensitive transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines (BP12) expressing yeast FK506 Binding Protein12 were developed. Inhibition of TOR in BP12 plants by rapamycin resulted in slower overall root, leaf, and shoot growth and development leading to poor nutrient uptake and light energy utilization. Experimental limitation of nutrient availability and light energy supply in wild-type Arabidopsis produced phenotypes observed with TOR knockdown plants, indicating a link between TOR signaling and nutrition/light energy status. Genetic and physiological studies together with RNA sequencing and metabolite analysis of TOR-suppressed lines revealed that TOR regulates development and life span in Arabidopsis by restructuring cell growth, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, gene expression, and rRNA and protein synthesis. Gain- and loss-of-function Ribosomal Protein S6 (RPS6) mutants additionally show that TOR function involves RPS6-mediated nutrition and light-dependent growth and life span in Arabidopsis.
Natural Variation in Small Molecule–Induced TIR-NB-LRR Signaling Induces Root Growth Arrest via EDS1- and PAD4-Complexed R Protein VICTR inArabidopsis
Authors: Kim Tae-Houn , Kunz Hans-Henning , Bhattacharjee Saikat , Hauser Felix , Park Jiyoung , Engineer Cawas , Liu Amy , Ha Tracy , Parker Jane E. , Gassmann Walter , Schroeder Julian I.
Published: December 2012

In a chemical genetics screen we identified the small-molecule [5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)furan-2-yl]-piperidine-1-ylmethanethione (DFPM) that triggers rapid inhibition of early abscisic acid signal transduction via PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT4 (PAD4)- and ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 (EDS1)-dependent immune signaling mechanisms. However, mechanisms upstream of EDS1 and PAD4 in DFPM-mediated signaling remain unknown. Here, we report that DFPM generates an Arabidopsis thaliana accession-specific root growth arrest in Columbia-0 (Col-0) plants. The genetic locus responsible for this natural variant, VICTR (VARIATION IN COMPOUND TRIGGERED ROOT growth response), encodes a TIR-NB-LRR (for Toll-Interleukin1 Receptor–nucleotide binding–Leucine-rich repeat) protein. Analyses of T-DNA insertion victr alleles showed that VICTR is necessary for DFPM-induced root growth arrest and inhibition of abscisic acid–induced stomatal closing. Transgenic expression of the Col-0  VICTR allele in DFPM-insensitive Arabidopsis accessions recapitulated the DFPM-induced root growth arrest. EDS1 and PAD4, both central regulators of basal resistance and effector-triggered immunity, as well as HSP90 chaperones and their cochaperones RAR1 and SGT1B, are required for the DFPM-induced root growth arrest. Salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signaling pathway components are dispensable. We further demonstrate that VICTR associates with EDS1 and PAD4 in a nuclear protein complex. These findings show a previously unexplored association between a TIR-NB-LRR protein and PAD4 and identify functions of plant immune signaling components in the regulation of root meristematic zone-targeted growth arrest.
Accounting for missing data in the estimation of contemporary genetic effective population size (Ne)
Authors: Peel D. , Waples R. S. , Macbeth G. M. , Do C. , Ovenden J. R.
Published: December 2012

Theoretical models are often applied to population genetic data sets without fully considering the effect of missing data. Researchers can deal with missing data by removing individuals that have failed to yield genotypes and/or by removing loci that have failed to yield allelic determinations, but despite their best efforts, most data sets still contain some missing data. As a consequence, realized sample size differs among loci, and this poses a problem for unbiased methods that must explicitly account for random sampling error. One commonly used solution for the calculation of contemporary effective population size (Ne) is to calculate the effective sample size as an unweighted mean or harmonic mean across loci. This is not ideal because it fails to account for the fact that loci with different numbers of alleles have different information content. Here we consider this problem for genetic estimators of contemporary effective population size (Ne). To evaluate bias and precision of several statistical approaches for dealing with missing data, we simulated populations with known Ne and various degrees of missing data. Across all scenarios, one method of correcting for missing data (fixed‐inverse variance‐weighted harmonic mean) consistently performed the best for both single‐sample and two‐sample (temporal) methods of estimating Ne and outperformed some methods currently in widespread use. The approach adopted here may be a starting point to adjust other population genetics methods that include per‐locus sample size components.
Presence and Incidence of Izumo Antibodies in Sera of Immunoinfertile Women and Men
Authors: Clark Sydney , Naz Rajesh K.
Published: December 2012

Problem

Sperm antigens that are relevant to fertilization and fertility, and are involved in human immunoinfertility, are being investigated in several laboratories. Izumo is a sperm‐specific protein that has shown to be essential for sperm‐egg fusion. The present study was conducted to examine the expression of Izumo protein in human sperm. Also, the presence and incidence of Izumo antibodies in sera of immunoinfertile women and men were investigated.

Method of study

The expression of Izumo protein in human sperm was examined by the Western blot procedure. Sera from immunoinfertile women (n = 25) and fertile women (n = 23), as well as sera from immunoinfertile men (n = 20) and fertile men (n = 15), were collected and analyzed for immunoreactivity with Izumo peptides in the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three epitopes of human Izumo, namely one epitope of Izumo1, and two epitopes of Izumo2 [Izumo2 (K‐15), and Izumo2 (T‐17)], respectively, were selected for the present study.

Results

In the Western blot procedure, the Izumo1 antibody recognized a specific protein band of ~39 kDa in human sperm extract. In ELISA, 56% of the immunoinfertile female sera reacted positively (≧3 S.D. units) with Izumo1, 40% with Izumo2 (K‐15), and 20% with Izumo2 (T‐17) peptide. None of the sera (0%) from fertile women reacted positively (≦3 S.D. units) with any of the three Izumo peptides. None of the sera from immunoinfertile (0%) or fertile men (0%) reacted positively with any of the three Izumo peptides.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that human sperm expresses Izumo protein, and the immunoinfertile female sera have circulating isoantibodies against this protein. This is the first study to our knowledge, which examined the presence and incidence of Izumo antibodies in female and male immunoinfertility. These findings may find clinical applications in specific diagnosis and treatment of infertility, and contraceptive vaccine development.
Pregnancy and Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Lockshin Michael D.
Published: December 2012

APS causes adverse pregnancy outcome, especially in younger patients with SLE or prior thromboses. LAC is the best predictor of adverse outcome. Prior conclusions on the efficacy of heparin for prevention of poor outcome may be suspect. New therapies are under evaluation in animal models but how to introduce them into the clinic is unclear.
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Autoantibody (AT1‐AA)‐Mediated Pregnancy Hypertension
Authors: Herse Florian , LaMarca Babbette
Published: December 2012

Autoantibodies can cause complications in pregnancy. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Overall, 5–10% of all pregnancies worldwide develop preeclampsia. Women who developed preeclampsia and their children have an increased risk to suffer from cardiovascular diseases later in life. In preeclampsia, agonistic autoantibodies against the angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibodies (AT1‐AA) are described. They induce NADPH oxidase and the MAPK/ERK pathway leading to NF‐κB and tissue factor activation. AT1‐AA are detectable in animal models of preeclampsia and are responsible for elevation of soluble fms‐related tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt1) and soluble endoglin (sEng), oxidative stress, and endothelin‐1, all of which are enhanced in preeclamptic women. AT1‐AA can be detected in pregnancies with abnormal uterine perfusion and increased resistance index as well as in patients with systemic sclerosis and renal allograft rejection. This review discusses the current knowledge about the AT1‐AA, its signaling, and their impact in pregnancy complications and other autoimmune disorders.
Effects of fermented persimmon extract supplements on chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of barley silage
Authors: Kim Sang Bum , Kim Dong Hyeon , Lee Hyuk Jun , Amanullah Sardar M. , Kim Sam Churl
Published: December 2012

This study was conducted to estimate the effect of fermented persimmon extract (FPE) supplementation levels on chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of barley silage. Barley forage was harvested at 25% dry matter and chopped to 5 cm lengths. The FPE was applied at 0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 g/kg of barley forage (fresh weight basis). After sub‐sampling of barley forages (0 day), a total of 64 laboratory mini silos (5 kg capacity) were ensiled to generate quadruplicate data from each of four treatments for four ensiling durations (2, 6, 40 and 120 days). The chemical compositions and in vitro digestibility of barley forage (0 day) were not affected by FPE supplementation. However, the content (L, P = 0.035) and in vitro digestibility (L, P = 0.041) of neutral detergent fiber on 120‐day barley silage decreased by increasing FPE supplements. Acetate content of barley silage ensiled for 120 days increased (Q, P = 0.004) by increasing FPE supplements, whereas pH (L, P < 0.001), lactate content (Q, P < 0.001) and lactate‐to‐acetate ratio (Q, P < 0.001) decreased. These results indicate that addition of FPE can increase the acetate content which has potential to increase aerobic stability.
Prognostic factors for patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma and transformed indolent lymphoma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation in the positron emission tomography era
Authors: Armand Philippe , Welch Sarah , Kim Haesook T. , LaCasce Ann S. , Jacobsen Eric D. , Davids Matthew S. , Jacobson Caron , Fisher David C. , Brown Jennifer R. , Coughlin Erin , Freedman Arnold S. , Chen Yi‐Bin
Published: December 2012

In the positron emission tomography (PET) era, traditional prognostic factors may not apply for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Moreover, little is known about prognostic factors in patients transplanted for transformed indolent lymphoma (TIL). We conducted a retrospective study of 143 patients with R/R DLBCL and TIL who were transplanted in the last decade and had a post‐salvage PET scan. We examined prognostic factors in both groups, and constructed a prognostic score for DLBCL patients. For patients with DLBCL, post‐salvage PET response was an important prognostic factor. Advanced age and symptomatic relapse were also significantly associated with outcome. A simple score could stratify patients into three risk groups with 4‐year post‐ASCT overall survival of 84%, 59%, and 10%, and 4‐year progression‐free survival of 67%, 41% and 0% (P < 0·0001 for both). However, none of those factors (including PET response to salvage) appeared relevant for patients with TIL, despite their comparable overall outcome. Our prognostic score for DLBCL patients undergoing ASCT may be useful for prognostication, for stratification in clinical trials, and to motivate the design of new strategies for patients in the high‐risk group, who may not derive benefit from standard ASCT.
Antioxidant vitaminsCandEsupplementation increases markers of haemolysis in sickle cell anaemia patients: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Arruda Martha M. , Mecabo Grazielle , Rodrigues Celso A. , Matsuda Sandra S. , Rabelo Iara B. , Figueiredo Maria S.
Published: December 2012

Erythrocytes from sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients continuously produce larger amounts of pro‐oxidants than normal cells. Oxidative stress seems to primarily affect the membrane and results in haemolysis. The use of antioxidantsin vitroreduces the generation of pro‐oxidants. To evaluate the impact of vitaminsC(VitC) andE(VitE) supplementation inSCApatients, patients over 18 years were randomly assigned to receiveVitC1400 mg + VitE800 mg per day or placebo orally for 180 d. Eighty‐three patients were enrolled (44 vitamins, 39 placebo), median age 27 (18–68) years, 64% female. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding clinical complications or baseline laboratorial tests. Sixty percent of the patients wereVitCdeficient, 70% wereVitEdeficient. Supplementation significantly increased serumVitCandE. However, no significant changes in haemoglobin levels were observed, and, unexpectedly, there was a significant increase in haemolytic markers with vitamin supplementation. In conclusion,VitC + VitEsupplementation did not improve anaemia and, surprisingly, increased markers of haemolysis in patients withSCAandS‐β0‐thalassaemia. The exact mechanisms to explain this findings and their clinical significance remain to be determined.
Pharmacophore, 3D‐QSAR, and Bayesian Model Analysis for Ligands Binding at the Benzodiazepine Site of GABAA Receptors: the Key Roles of Amino Group and Hydrophobic Sites
Authors: Yang Ying , Zhang Wei , Cheng Jiagao , Tang Yun , Peng Yanqing , Li Zhong
Published: December 2012

Ligands binding at the benzodiazepine site of GABAA receptor play important pharmacological roles in clinical application. In this study, ligand‐based pharmacophore modeling, 3D‐QSAR analysis, and Bayesian model studies have been performed on a set of 84 diverse ligands binding at the benzodiazepine site. The results showed the best pharmacophore hypothesis AADHR.4, which included two hydrogen acceptors (A), one hydrogen donor (D), one hydrophobic group (H), and one aromatic ring (R). Atom‐based 3D‐QSAR model was built, and it showed good statistical significance (R2 = 0.936) and excellent predictive ability (Q2 = 0.821). Moreover, Bayesian model was developed and used to identify the key molecular features which are good or bad for the ligand binding activity. All the results from the pharmacophore, 3D‐QSAR, and Bayesian modeling studies revealed that a hydrogen‐bond donor (e.g., N‐H) and a hydrophobic group (e.g., Br) are critical structural features for the ligands binding at the benzodiazepine site.
Differential effect on cell-mediated immunity in human volunteers after intake of different lactobacilli
Authors: Rask C , Adlerberth I , Berggren A , Ahrén I L , Wold A E
Published: December 2012

Probiotics are live microorganisms which have beneficial effects on the host when ingested in adequate amounts. Probiotic bacteria may stimulate immune effector functions in a strain-specific manner. In this blind placebo-controlled trial, we investigated the effects on the immune system following daily intake of six different strains of lactobacilli or the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas lundensis for 2 or 5 weeks. Blood lymphocyte subsets were quantified by fluorescence activated cell sorter and the expression of activation and memory markers was determined. The bacterial strains were also examined for their capacity to adhere to human intestinal cells and to be phagocytosed by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Intake of Lactobacillus plantarum strain 299v increased the expression of the activation marker CD25 (P = 0·01) on CD8+ T cells and the memory cell marker CD45RO on CD4+ T cells (P = 0·03), whereas intake of L. paracasei tended to expand the natural killer T (NK T) cell population (P = 0·06). The phagocytic activity of granulocytes was increased following intake of L. plantarum 299v, L. plantarum HEAL, L. paracasei or L. fermentum. In contrast, ingestion of L. rhamnosus decreased the expression of CD25 and CD45RO significantly within the CD4+ cell population. The observed immune effects after in-vivo administration of the probiotic bacteria could not be predicted by either their adherence capacity or the in-vitro-induced cytokine production. The stimulation of CD8+ T cells and NK T cells suggests that intake of probiotic bacteria may enhance the immune defence against, e.g. viral infections or tumours.
Current therapeutic interventions in the glycation pathway: evidence from clinical studies
Authors: Engelen L. , Stehouwer C. D. A. , Schalkwijk C. G.
Published: December 2012

The increased formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) constitutes a potential mechanism of hyperglycaemia‐induced micro‐ and macrovascular disease in diabetes. In vitro and animal experiments have shown that various interventions can inhibit formation and/or actions of AGEs, in particular the specific AGE inhibitor aminoguanidine and the AGEs crosslink breaker alagebrium, and the B vitamins pyridoxamine and thiamine, and the latter's synthetic derivative, benfotiamine. The potential clinical value of these interventions, however, remains to be established. The present review provides, from the clinical point of view, an overview of current evidence on interventions in the glycation pathway relating to (i) the clinical benefits of specific AGE inhibitors and AGE breakers and (ii) the potential AGE‐inhibiting effects of therapies developed for purposes unrelated to the glycation pathway. We found that safety and/or efficacy in clinical studies with the specific AGE inhibitor, aminoguanidine and the AGE breaker, alagebrium, appeared to be a concern. The clinical evidence on the potential AGE‐inhibiting effects of B vitamins is still limited. Finally, current evidence for AGE inhibition by therapies developed for purposes unrelated to glycation is limited due to a large heterogeneity in study designs and/or measurement techniques, which have often been sub‐optimal. We conclude that, clinical evidence on interventions to inhibit formation and/or action of AGEs is currently weak and unconvincing.
Data mining based storage assignment heuristics for travel distance reduction
Authors: Ming‐Huang Chiang David , Lin Chia‐Ping , Chen Mu‐Chen
Published: December 2012

Among the warehousing activities in distribution centres, order picking is the most time‐consuming and labour‐intensive. As a result, order picking may become a bottleneck preventing distribution centres from maximizing the effectiveness of their warehousing activities. Although storage location assignment (or product allocation) is a tactical decision, it is especially influential on the effectiveness of order picking. In previous studies, most storage assignment approaches considered the order frequency of individual products rather than that of product groups, which often are purchased together. This paper proposes a new association measure, weighted support count (WSC), based on association rule mining, to represent both the intensity and nature of the relationships between products in a distribution centre. This paper presents two storage assignment heuristics, the modified class‐based heuristic (MCBH) and the association seed based heuristic (ASBH), designed to facilitate efficient order picking by applying WSC. The real‐world data set of a grocery distribution centre is used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. From the computational results, MCBH cuts at most 4% from the travel distance for order picking per month, as compared with the traditional class‐based approach. Meanwhile, ASBH achieves at most a 13% reduction in travel distance.