Fontan fenestration closure in the catheterization laboratory--echocardiographic evaluation of residual right to left shunts

This study is a retrospective review using transthoracic echocardiography to assess the success of fenestration closure as well as residual right to left shunts in 35 patients who underwent Fontan fenestration closure in the catheterization laboratory. There is a high rate of closure of the Fontan fenestration; however, other residual right to left shunts are common.     

Progressive sensorineural hearing impairment in systemic vasculitides

OBJECTIVES: A large series of patients with various forms of systemic vasculitis were evaluated to analyze the prevalence of progressive sensorineural hearing loss (PSNHL), its characteristics and evolution, and the effects of different therapies. METHODS: A total of 673 patients were questioned about the presence of subjective audiovestibular disturbances. Of those, 80 subjects complained of subjective audiological disturbances and underwent oto-rhino-laryngological and audiovestibular evaluation. Those patients with progressive hearing impairment were selected and studied carefully. RESULTS: A PSNHL was observed in 14 patients. The hearing loss was bilateral and asymmetrical in most subjects. It was usually sensorineural, with a cochlear lesion. Unsteadiness was the most frequent vestibular symptom and canal paresis or palsy was noted in most patients. Systemic corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide were useful treatments; in unresponsive patients, satisfactory results were obtained with methotrexate and plasma exchange. CONCLUSIONS: PSNHL is a rare complication of systemic vasculitis, but occasionally is one of the presenting symptoms. Its clinical evolution is variable, but timely clinical assessment and treatment can positively affect prognosis.     

Computer-assisted design for scaling up systems based on DNA reaction networks

In the past few years, there have been many exciting advances in the field of molecular programming, reaching a point where implementation of non-trivial systems, such as neural networks or switchable bistable networks, is a reality. Such systems require nonlinearity, be it through signal amplification, digitalization or the generation of autonomous dynamics such as oscillations. The biochemistry of DNA systems provides such mechanisms, but assembling them in a constructive manner is still a difficult and sometimes counterintuitive process. Moreover, realistic prediction of the actual evolution of concentrations over time requires a number of side reactions, such as leaks, cross-talks or competitive interactions, to be taken into account. In this case, the design of a system targeting a given function takes much trial and error before the correct architecture can be found. To speed up this process, we have created DNA Artificial Circuits Computer-Assisted Design (DACCAD), a computer-assisted design software that supports the construction of systems for the DNA toolbox. DACCAD is ultimately aimed to design actual in vitro implementations, which is made possible by building on the experimental knowledge available on the DNA toolbox. We illustrate its effectiveness by designing various systems, from Montagne et al.''s Oligator or Padirac et al.''s bistable system to new and complex networks, including a two-bit counter or a frequency divider as well as an example of very large system encoding the game Mastermind. In the process, we highlight a variety of behaviours, such as enzymatic saturation and load effect, which would be hard to handle or even predict with a simpler model. We also show that those mechanisms, while generally seen as detrimental, can be used in a positive way, as functional part of a design. Additionally, the number of parameters included in these simulations can be large, especially in the case of complex systems. For this reason, we included the possibility to use CMA-ES, a state-of-the-art optimization algorithm that will automatically evolve parameters chosen by the user to try to match a specified behaviour. Finally, because all possible functionality cannot be captured by a single software, DACCAD includes the possibility to export a system in the synthetic biology markup language, a widely used language for describing biological reaction systems. DACCAD can be downloaded online at http://www.yannick-rondelez.com/downloads/.     

Determination of heptylphysostigmine in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

P0, the major structural protein of peripheral myelin, is a homophilic adhesion molecule with a single immunoglobulin (Ig) domain, which contains a single N-linked glycosylation site and two cysteines. We have previously reported four different mutations of the myelin P0 gene in four families of Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1 (CMT1). In this study we found a new mutation of the myelin P0 gene in a small family of CMT1. The affected persons had an A - to - G substitution of nucleotide 245 of the myelin P0 gene in one allele, leading to a cysteine substitution for tyrosine82 in the extracellular Ig-domain. An additional cysteine in the extracellular domain may form a disulfide bond and cause an inappropriate change in the tertiary structure of the functional Ig-domain of P0.     

Engineered Schottky barriers on n-In0.35Ga0.65As

The Schottky barrier height in Al/n-In_0.35Ga_0.65As was engineered using thin p-type near-interface In_0.35Ga_0.65As layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The effect of the thickness and doping level of the p-type layer on the barrier height was also studied by computer simulation. A good agreement was obtained between the calculated and experimental barrier height values. An experimental Schottky barrier height of 0.67 eV with an ideality factor of 1.15 has been achieved.     

Early-life Causes and Later-life Consequences of Migration: Evidence from Older Irish Adults

Between 2009 and 2011, fieldwork was undertaken for the first wave of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Extensive information was collected on about 8,500 individuals aged 50 and over and living in Ireland, covering topics such as economic circumstances and health. One of the features of Ireland’s older population is the remarkably high proportion of returned migrants, that is, former emigrants who have returned to live in Ireland. This is reflected in the TILDA sample with over 20 % being returned migrants. Given the large number of returned migrants in the TILDA sample and the fact that the respondents are older, it has been possible to use the data to provide insights into different dimensions of migration at different points in the life-cycle. This paper provides a review of this work to date. Three issues are addressed. First, what circumstances contributed to the decision to emigrate? Second, was there evidence that living away produced psychological stress? Third, do return migrants suffer from social isolation on their return? The data suggest that the return migrants were more likely to have suffered abuse as children, to have been more prone to alcohol problems and to be more socially isolated currently.     

Antioxidant and cardioprotective effects of Ilex brasiliensis: A comparative study with Ilex paraguariensis (yerba mate)

Our objective was to compare the antioxidant properties and cardiovascular effects in ischemia–reperfusion of leaves aqueous extracts of Ilex brasiliensis (B) and Ilex paraguariensis (P). In vitro systems were used to assess the antioxidant properties of the extracts. Isolated rat hearts were treated with both extracts before ischemia and myocardial function was assessed. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also measured. B extract showed higher total phenols and ascorbic acid contents and a higher scavenging activity of peroxynitrite and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) than P extract. Postischemic systolic and diastolic functions were improved after B and P treatment. Both extracts decreased TBARS and preserved GSH content.The present study demonstrates that an aqueous extract of I. brasiliensis, similar to I. paraguariensis, protects the myocardium against ischemia–reperfusion injury and attenuates oxidative damage. These effects may be attributed to the potent antioxidant properties of the extract.     

Chitosan elicits mono-glucosylated stilbene production and release in fed-batch bioreactor cultures of grape cells

The present paper reports the study of the optimal conditions for grape (Vitis vinifera cv. Barbera) cell suspensions in batch and fed-batch bioreactor cultures, in order to specifically improve the production of mono-glucosylated stilbenes, which are resveratrol derivatives. These compounds are physiologically as active as free resveratrol in cardio- and chemoprotection, but are more stable and bioavailable after ingestion through diet. In fed-batch conditions the production of mono-glucosides was considerably increased together with that of free resveratrol. For the first time, an elicitor (chitosan) was tested in a bioreactor system, demonstrating its efficacy in inducing the production of stilbenes. The bioreactor culture conditions also allowed the accumulation of other polyphenols, such as catechins. The vast majority of the produced compounds was released into the culture media, which represents a relevant advantage for the recovery of specific molecules or of polyphenol-enriched mixtures. These results represent a further step toward the employment of grape cells in fed-batch cultures, as a promising alternative to whole plant extraction for the industrial production of plant polyphenols, considering the necessity for developing sustainable processes.