Anterior mediastinal lymphangioma in an infant: diagnosis and surgical management

Cystic lymphangioma is a rare lesion of the mediastinum. We present a patient with an antenatally detected mediastinal mass that appeared to regress during foetal life and was not demonstrated on early postnatal imaging. Acute severe respiratory distress at two months of age precipitated surgery with subsequent diagnosis of lymphangioma.

Elucidating protein: DNA complex by oligonucleotide DNA affinity purification

Transcription factors recruit a wide variety of associated co-factors to regulate gene expression. These co-factors include protein kinases, phosphatases, deacetylases, methylases, and ubiquitin ligases, etc. To identify novel protein kinases associated with transcription factor NFAT, we took advantage of the increased ability of DNA binding and used an oligonucleotide affinity-binding approach. Coupling with in-gel kinase assays to detect phosphotransferase activity, we were able to identify p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) and p70 S6 kinase (S6K) that are present in the NFAT:DNA complex. We further demonstrated that RSK and S6K binds to and physically interacts with NFATc4. Similar oligonucleotide affinity-binding approach can be coupled with other enzymatic reactions, such as dephosphorylation, deacetylation, methylation, ubiquitination, etc. Mass spectrometry can also be carried out to systemically identify these transcription co-factors in the protein:DNA complex. Lastly, gene-specific enhancer elements can also be devised based on their respective sequence to identify distinctive protein:DNA complexes.

The male phenotype in osteopathia striata congenita with cranial sclerosis

Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis (OSCS) is an X-linked disease caused by truncating mutations in WTX. Females exhibit sclerotic striations on the long bones, cranial sclerosis, and craniofacial dysmorphism. Males with OSCS have significant skeletal sclerosis, do not have striations but do display a more severe phenotype commonly associated with gross structural malformations, patterning defects, and significant pre- and postnatal lethality. The recent description of mutations in WTX underlying OSCS has led to the identification of a milder, survivable phenotype in males. Individuals with this presentation can have, in addition to skeletal sclerosis, Hirschsprung disease, joint contractures, cardiomyopathy, and neuromuscular anomalies. A diagnosis of OSCS should be considered in males with macrocephaly, skeletal sclerosis that is most marked in the cranium and the absence of metaphyseal striations. The observation of striations in males may be indicative of a WTX mutation in a mosaic state supporting the contention that this sign in females is indicative of the differential lyonization of cells in the osteoblastic lineage.

Using adaptive four-band OFDM modulation with 40 Gb/s downstream and 10 Gb/s upstream signals for next generation long-reach PON

In this demonstration, we propose and demonstrate an adaptive long-reach passive optical network (LR-PON) using four-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) channels. The downstream traffic rates from 6.25 to 40 Gb/s (using fixed quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) level in the four OFDM bands) and from 9.37 to 40.3 Gb/s (using variable QAM levels in the four OFDM bands) can be achieved adaptively in the optical network units (ONUs) depending on different fiber transmission lengths from 0 to 100 km. For the upstream transmission, a 10 Gb/s 16-QAM OFDM signal with pre-emphasis is experimentally performed by using a 2.5 GHz directly modulated laser (DML). Based on the simulation and experimental results, the proposed adaptive four-band OFDM system could be a promising candidate for the future LR-PON.

Gender differences in reduced substance P (SP) in children with slow-transit constipation

PURPOSE

Adult slow-transit constipation (STC) occurs predominantly in females and is associated with low numbers of substance P (SP)-containing nerves in colonic circular muscle.

AIM

To determine if reduced SP nerves is female predominant in paediatric STC.

METHODS

Children with STC were identified from records of more than 600 nuclear transit studies (NTS) and intestinal biopsies done for intractable chronic constipation between November 1998 and March 2009. Colonic seromuscular biopsies collected from hepatic and splenic flexures, and sigmoid colon were processed for immunohistochemistry. Nerve fibre density in circular muscle containing SP was measured qualitatively by a pathologist.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight children with chronic constipation had both NTS and intestinal biopsies. Seventy-eight children (52 M; age 2-15.5 years; mean 7.7 years) had STC diagnosed by NTS. SP was reduced in 10/26 girls, but only 11/52 boys.

CONCLUSION

In this sample, STC was more common in boys than girls. However, in girls with STC, SP deficiency occurred in 40%, when compared with 20% of boys. During puberty, the percentage of girls with reduced SP decreased, whilst the percentage of boys increased. These results suggest that STC is heterogeneous and that there are some gender differences, the implication of which requires further investigation.

Long-reach radio-over-fiber signal distribution using single-sideband signal generated by a silicon-modulator

The integration of passive optical network (PON) and radio-over-fiber (ROF) networks could provide broadband services for both fixed and mobile users in a single and low-cost platform. Combining the long-reach (LR)-PON (>100 km) and the LR-ROF can further reduce the cost by simplifying the network architecture, sharing the same optical components and extending the coverage of ROF network. However, the transmission and distribution of ROF signal in LR network is very challenging due to the chromatic dispersion generated periodic power fading and code time-shifting effects in the optical fiber. In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a LR-ROF signal distribution using single-sideband (SSB)-ROF signal generated by a silicon ring-modulator. The silicon modulator is compact and has low power consumption. Besides, one unique feature of the silicon ring-modulator is that it only modulates the signal wavelength at the resonant null. This makes it very suitable for the generation of the SSB-ROF signal. Numerical comparison of the SSB-ROF with the double-sideband (DSB)-ROF and optical carrier suppress (OCS)-ROF signals; as well as the fabrication of the silicon ring-modulator will be discussed.

Analysis of the carrier-suppressed single-sideband modulators used to mitigate Rayleigh backscattering in carrier-distributed PON

By using the carrier-suppressed single-sideband (CS-SSB) modulation, the Rayleigh backscattering (RB) experienced by the uplink signal can be effectively mitigated due to the reduction of the spectral overlap between the uplink signal and the distributed optical carrier. In this work, we first introduce the theoretical analysis of the CS-SSB generation using the dual-drive MZM (DD-MZM)-based and a dual-parallel MZM (DP-MZM)-based optical networking units (ONUs). Due to the different modulation mechanisms of the two CS-SSB modulations, the frequency components of the generated CS-SSB signals are also different. The transmission performance and the dispersion tolerance of the uplink signals generated by the two CS-SSB modulators are also analyzed and discussed.

NFATc1 regulation of TRAIL expression in human intestinal cells

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL; Apo2) has been shown to promote intestinal cell differentiation. Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) participates in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes, including differentiation. Here, we examined the role of NFAT in the regulation of TRAIL in human intestinal cells. Treatment with a combination of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus the calcium ionophore A23187 (Io) increased NFAT activation and TRAIL expression; pretreatment with the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine A (CsA), an antagonist of NFAT signaling, diminished NFAT activation and TRAIL induction. In addition, knockdown of NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3, and NFATc4 blocked PMA/Io increased TRAIL protein expression. Expression of NFATc1 activated TRAIL promoter activity and increased TRAIL mRNA and protein expression. Deletion of NFAT binding sites from the TRAIL promoter did not significantly abrogate NFATc1-increased TRAIL promoter activity, suggesting an indirect regulation of TRAIL expression by NFAT activation. Knockdown of NFATc1 increased Sp1 transcription factor binding to the TRAIL promoter and, importantly, inhibition of Sp1, by chemical inhibition or RNA interference, increased TRAIL expression. These studies identify a novel mechanism for TRAIL regulation by which activation of NFATc1 increases TRAIL expression through negative regulation of Sp1 binding to the TRAIL promoter.

Genome-wide association study of inbred murine strains discovered nuclear factor of activated T-cells Nfatc4 as a major gene controlling severity of inflammatory arthritis. (47.14)

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is a family of transcription factors critical in regulating gene expression in development and disease. NFAT is an important target for cyclosporine immunosuppression in transplant rejection. The NFAT pathway is also important in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Using genome-wide association study (GWAS) of antibody-mediated arthritis in inbred murine strains, we found NFATc4 within the major arthritis severity peak at 56.35-56.46 Mb of chromosome 14 with genetic association of log(1/p) > 5.5. To confirm the genetic linkage and functional significance of the NFATc4 gene, we performed collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) and found that NFATc4-deficient mice exhibited significantly reduced inflammation as compared to wild-type counterparts (55% downregulation, p < 0.01). Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated the presence of NFATc4 in articular cartilage and chondrocytes derived from femoral heads of arthritic and naïve mice. Notably, NFATc4 in chondrocytes isolated from arthritic mice was hypo-phosphorylated as compared to naïve cells, indicating activation of NFATc4. NFATc4, as expected, was not found in splenocytes. We also performed genome-wide Affymetrix oligonucleotide array studies in CAIA experimental arthritis model using wild type and NFATc4-deficient mice. Taking together, we uncovered a novel role of NFATc4 in inflammatory arthritis in chondrocytes.

Heterogeneous radio-over-fiber passive access network architecture to mitigate Rayleigh backscattering interferometric beat noise

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a hybrid radio-over-fiber (ROF) wavelength division multiplexed and time division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-TDM PON) architecture to mitigate Rayleigh backscattering (RB) interferometric beat noises. Here, only a single wavelength is needed at the central office (CO) to generate the downstream baseband data for optical wired application and optical millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signal for wireless application. The upstream signal is produced by remodulating the downstream signal. No optical filter is required at the optical network unit/remote antenna unit (ONU/RAU) to separate the optical wired and optical mm-wave signals. In the proposed network, 10 Gb/s differential phase shift keying (DPSK) signal is used for the downstream optical wired application and 2.5 Gb/s on-off keying (OOK) signal on 20 GHz carrier is used for the optical mm-wave signal. In each ONU, a reflective optical semiconductor amplifier (RSOA) is used to remodulate and produce a 2.5 Gb/s OOK format for upstream traffic. As the back-refection produced by the downstream DPSK signal and the upstream OOK signal is traveling in different fiber path, RB noise at the CO can be completely mitigated.

Mitigation of Rayleigh backscattering in 10-Gb/s downstream and 2.5-Gb/s upstream DWDM 100-km long-reach PONs

Long-reach passive optical network (LR-PON) is considered as a promising technology towards higher capacity and extended coverage optical system. We propose and demonstrate a LR-PON with the capability of Rayleigh backscattering (RB) noise mitigation. By using the upstream signal wavelength-transition generated by a dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (DP-MZM) based colorless optical networking unit (ONU), the spectral overlap among the upstream signal and the RB noises can be minimized. Hence, due to the achievement of effective RB mitigation, a 100 km LR-PON with a high split-ratio of 512 is demonstrated using 10 Gb/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) downstream and 2.5 Gb/s NRZ upstream signals. Detail analysis of the wavelength-transition generation is presented.

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling regulates PTEN expression and intestinal cell differentiation

Previously we demonstrated that overexpression of PTEN enhanced intestinal cell differentiation. In this study we provide evidence showing that NFATc1 and NFATc4 are regulators of PTEN expression. Importantly, our results suggest that NFATc1 and NFATc4 regulation of intestinal cell differentiation may be through PTEN regulation.

The nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) proteins are a family of transcription factors (NFATc1–c4) involved in the regulation of cell differentiation and adaptation. Previously we demonstrated that inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or overexpression of PTEN enhanced intestinal cell differentiation. Here we show that treatment of intestinal-derived cells with the differentiating agent sodium butyrate (NaBT) increased PTEN expression, NFAT binding activity, and NFAT mRNA expression, whereas pretreatment with the NFAT signaling inhibitor cyclosporine A (CsA) blocked NaBT-mediated PTEN induction. Moreover, knockdown of NFATc1 or NFATc4, but not NFATc2 or NFATc3, attenuated NaBT-induced PTEN expression. Knockdown of NFATc1 decreased PTEN expression and increased the phosphorylation levels of Akt and downstream targets Foxo1 and GSK-3α/β. Furthermore, overexpression of NFATc1 or the NFATc4 active mutant increased PTEN and p27^kip1 expression and decreased Akt phosphorylation. In addition, pretreatment with CsA blocked NaBT-mediated induction of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity and villin and p27^kip1 expression; knockdown of either NFATc1 or NFATc4 attenuated NaBT-induced IAP activity. We provide evidence showing that NFATc1 and NFATc4 are regulators of PTEN expression. Importantly, our results suggest that NFATc1 and NFATc4 regulation of intestinal cell differentiation may be through PTEN regulation.

40-Gb/s downstream DPSK and 40-Gb/s upstream OOK signal remodulation PON using reduced modulation index

As different high speed signal-remodulation wavelength division multiplexed--passive optical network (WDM-PON) solutions up to 10 Gb/s have been proposed, researchers are going to further increase the data rate of PON towards 40 Gb/s or higher. However, scaling up from 10 Gb/s/wavelength to 40 Gb/s/wavelength PON is very challenging. Although many studies have been performed on upgrading the exiting 10 Gb/s network to 40 Gb/s, the study of the 40 Gb/s signal-remodulation network is very little. In this work, we will first study the chromatic dispersion effect on the signal-remodulation PON. Then, we will propose and demonstrate a signal-remodulation PON using 40-Gb/s downstream differential-phase shift keying (DPSK) and 40-Gb/s upstream on-off keying (OOK) signals. By using the reduced modulation index (RMI) of the downstream DPSK signal, the tolerance to the residual chromatic dispersion of the whole system can be greatly enhanced. Due to the reduced impact of the accumulated chromatic dispersion, the quality of the upstream remodulated OOK signal can be significantly improved. Besides, by detecting the downstream demodulated DPSK signal at the destructive output port of the demodulator, good quality of the demodulated DPSK signal can still be achieved.

WTX mutations can occur both early and late in the pathogenesis of Wilms tumour

BACKGROUND

Somatic mutations in the X-linked tumour suppressor gene WTX have been observed in 6- 30% of sporadic cases of Wilms tumour. Germline mutations in the same gene cause the sclerosing skeletal dysplasia, osteopathia striata congenita with cranial sclerosis (OSCS). No evidence points towards a susceptibility to the development of tumours in individuals with OSCS, suggesting that there are unrecognised additional determinants that influence the phenotypic outcome associated with germline mutations in WTX. One explanation may be that a somatic mutation in WTX may need to occur late in tumour development to contribute to tumourigenesis.

METHODS

Here a panel of four sporadic Wilms tumours with associated nephrogenic rest tissue and characterised WTX and CTNNB1 mutations is studied to ascertain the temporal sequence of acquisition of these mutations. Additionally, a family with OSCS is described segregating a germline mutation in WTX and manifesting a lethal phenotype in males. One male from this family had bilateral multifocal nephrogenic rests at autopsy.

RESULTS

In one of the four tumours the WTX mutation was present in both tumour and rest tissue indicating it had arisen early in tumour development. In the remaining three tumours, the WTX mutation was present in the tumour only indicating late acquisition of these mutations.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that WTX mutations can arise both early and late in Wilms tumour development. WTX mutations may predispose to nephrogenic rest development rather than Wilms tumour per se.

Substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide are reduced in right transverse colon in pediatric slow-transit constipation

BACKGROUND

Slow-transit constipation (STC) is recognized in children but the etiology is unknown. Abnormalities in substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) have been implicated. The density of nerve fibers in circular muscle containing these transmitters was examined in colon from children with STC and compared to other pediatric and adult samples.

METHODS

Fluorescence immunohistochemistry using antibodies to NO synthase (NOS), VIP and SP was performed on colonic biopsies (transverse and sigmoid colon) from 33 adults with colorectal cancer, 11 children with normal colonic transit and anorectal retention (NAR) and 51 with chronic constipation and slow motility in the proximal colon (STC). The percentage area of nerve fibers in circular muscle containing each transmitter was quantified in confocal images.

KEY RESULTS

In colon circular muscle, the percentage area of nerve fibers containing NOS > VIP > SP (6 : 2 : 1). Pediatric groups had a higher density of nerve fibers than adults. In pediatric samples, there were no regional differences in NOS and VIP, while SP nerve fiber density was higher in sigmoid than proximal colon. STC children had lower SP and VIP nerve fiber density in the proximal colon than NAR children. Twenty-three percent of STC children had low SP nerve fiber density.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

There are age-related reductions in nerve fiber density in human colon circular muscle. NOS and VIP do not show regional variations, while SP nerve fiber density is higher in distal colon. 1/3 of pediatric STC patients have low SP or VIP nerve fiber density in proximal colon.

Decrease in nerve fibre density in human sigmoid colon circular muscle occurs with growth but not aging

BACKGROUND

Studies in animals suggest that enteric neurons decrease in density or number with increasing age. Neurons containing nitric oxide (NO), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and Substance P (SP) have been implicated. In human large intestine, NO-utilizing neurons decrease during childhood or early adulthood but it is not known if the innervation of the muscle changes. This study examined the density of nerve fibres containing these transmitters in sigmoid colon circular muscle from children and adults.

METHODS

Fluorescence immunohistochemistry using antibodies to neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), VIP and SP was performed on sigmoid colon from 18 adults with colorectal cancer, two children with familial adenomatous polyposis, and normal colon from nine children with Hirschsprung's disease. The percentage area of immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibres containing each transmitter in circular muscle was quantified in confocal images.

KEY RESULTS

In the adult sigmoid colon circular muscle, the percentage area of nerve fibres containing nNOS>VIP>SP (6 : 2 : 1). Paediatric groups had significantly higher percentage area of nerve fibres containing nNOS, VIP or SP-IR than adults, with the decrease in nerve fibre density occurring from birth to 30 years. Circular muscle thickness increased between 12 and 30 years. Total nerve fibre area remained constant, while the muscle increased in thickness.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

In human sigmoid colon circular muscle, there are reductions in nNOS-, VIP- and SP-IR nerve fibre density with growth from newborn to late adolescence but little further change with aging. The reduction in nerve density is due to an increase in circular muscle thickness rather than a loss of nerve fibres.

Short communication: ischemia/reperfusion tolerance is time-of-day-dependent: mediation by the cardiomyocyte circadian clock

RATIONALE

Cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology vary dramatically over the course of the day. For example, myocardial infarction onset occurs with greater incidence during the early morning hours in humans. However, whether myocardial infarction tolerance exhibits a time-of-day dependence is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether time of day of an ischemic insult influences clinically relevant outcomes in mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Wild-type mice were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) (45 minutes of ischemia followed by 1 day or 1 month of reperfusion) at distinct times of the day, using the closed-chest left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion model. Following 1 day of reperfusion, hearts subjected to ischemia at the sleep-to-wake transition (zeitgeber time [ZT]12) resulted in 3.5-fold increases in infarct size compared to hearts subjected to ischemia at the wake-to-sleep transition (ZT0). Following 1 month of reperfusion, prior ischemic event at ZT12 versus ZT0 resulted in significantly greater infarct volume, fibrosis, and adverse remodeling, as well as greater depression of contractile function. Genetic ablation of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock (termed cardiomyocyte-specific circadian clock mutant [CCM] mice) attenuated/abolished time-of-day variations in I/R outcomes observed in wild-type hearts. Investigation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta in wild-type and CCM hearts identified these kinases as potential mechanistic ties between the cardiomyocyte circadian clock and I/R tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

We expose a profound time-of-day dependence for I/R tolerance, which is mediated by the cardiomyocyte circadian clock. Further understanding of I/R tolerance rhythms will potentially provide novel insight regarding the etiology and treatment of ischemia-induced cardiac dysfunction.

100 GHz ultra-wideband (UWB) fiber-to-the-antenna (FTTA) system for in-building and in-home networks

Fiber-to-the-antenna (FTTA) system can be a cost-effective technique for distributing high frequency signals from the head-end office to a number of remote antenna units via passive optical splitter and propagating through low-loss and low-cost optical fibers. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an optical ultra-wideband (UWB) - impulse radio (IR) FTTA system for in-building and in-home applications. The optical UWB-IR wireless link is operated in the W-band (75 GHz - 110 GHz) using our developed near-ballistic unitraveling-carrier photodiode based photonic transmitter (PT) and a 10 GHz mode-locked laser. 2.5 Gb/s UWB-IR FTTA systems with 1,024 high split-ratio and transmission over 300 m optical fiber are demonstrated using direct PT modulation.

Direct regulation of myocardial triglyceride metabolism by the cardiomyocyte circadian clock

Maintenance of circadian alignment between an organism and its environment is essential to ensure metabolic homeostasis. Synchrony is achieved by cell autonomous circadian clocks. Despite a growing appreciation of the integral relation between clocks and metabolism, little is known regarding the direct influence of a peripheral clock on cellular responses to fatty acids. To address this important issue, we utilized a genetic model of disrupted clock function specifically in cardiomyocytes in vivo (termed cardiomyocyte clock mutant (CCM)). CCM mice exhibited altered myocardial response to chronic high fat feeding at the levels of the transcriptome and lipidome as well as metabolic fluxes, providing evidence that the cardiomyocyte clock regulates myocardial triglyceride metabolism. Time-of-day-dependent oscillations in myocardial triglyceride levels, net triglyceride synthesis, and lipolysis were markedly attenuated in CCM hearts. Analysis of key proteins influencing triglyceride turnover suggest that the cardiomyocyte clock inactivates hormone-sensitive lipase during the active/awake phase both at transcriptional and post-translational (via AMP-activated protein kinase) levels. Consistent with increased net triglyceride synthesis during the end of the active/awake phase, high fat feeding at this time resulted in marked cardiac steatosis. These data provide evidence for direct regulation of triglyceride turnover by a peripheral clock and reveal a potential mechanistic explanation for accelerated metabolic pathologies after prevalent circadian misalignment in Western society.

Time-division-multiplexing using pulse position locking for 100 Gb/s applications

Recently, there is a great interest in pushing communication technologies to 100 Gb/s. However, there are still many challenges to perform high speed (> 40 Gb/s) clock and data recovery, and data time-division-multiplexing (TDM). Here, we propose and numerically analyze an asynchronous optical packet retimer using parabolic or sinusoidal phase modulation and linear dispersion. This scheme is named pulse position locking (PPL). Numerical simulation shows that this scheme can effectively resynchronize input signals with arbitrary delays to the local clock, and reduce input jitter. The scheme can also be applied to TDM 10 Gb/s and 40 Gb/s signals to over 100 Gb/s.

A self-protected colorless WDM-PON with 2.5 Gb/s upstream signal based on RSOA

In this investigation, we propose and demonstrate a colorless wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) at 2.5 Gb/s using reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA)-based optical networking units (ONUs); together with a self-protected architecture against fiber fault. In the optical line terminal (OLT), we use an array of self-seeding Fabry-Perot laser diodes (FP-LDs) to provide single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) continuous wave (CW) optical sources for the external injection to the RSOA-based ONUs. The self-survivable function for protecting the fiber fault in the distributed fibers and the proposed network performance are investigated and discussed.

A detailed examination of cytokine abnormalities in Major Depressive Disorder

Recent technological advances offer an opportunity to further elucidate the complex cytokine network in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Twenty cytokines were simultaneously assessed in 49 individuals with MDD and 49 age and gender matched controls. Multiple pro-inflammatory and two anti-inflammatory cytokines were significantly elevated in the MDD sample, including an antidepressant naïve subset. These data support a generalized chronic inflammatory state in MDD, and implicate additional cytokines and chemokines previously linked to cardiovascular disease.

Rayleigh noise mitigation in DWDM LR-PONs using carrier suppressed subcarrier-amplitude modulated phase shift keying

We demonstrate a novel Rayleigh interferometric noise mitigation scheme for applications in carrier-distributed dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) passive optical networks at 10 Gbit/s using carrier suppressed subcarrier-amplitude modulated phase shift keying modulation. The required optical signal to Rayleigh noise ratio is reduced by 12 dB, while achieving excellent tolerance to dispersion, subcarrier frequency and drive amplitude variations.

Disruption of the circadian clock within the cardiomyocyte influences myocardial contractile function, metabolism, and gene expression

Virtually every mammalian cell, including cardiomyocytes, possesses an intrinsic circadian clock. The role of this transcriptionally based molecular mechanism in cardiovascular biology is poorly understood. We hypothesized that the circadian clock within the cardiomyocyte influences diurnal variations in myocardial biology. We, therefore, generated a cardiomyocyte-specific circadian clock mutant (CCM) mouse to test this hypothesis. At 12 wk of age, CCM mice exhibit normal myocardial contractile function in vivo, as assessed by echocardiography. Radiotelemetry studies reveal attenuation of heart rate diurnal variations and bradycardia in CCM mice (in the absence of conduction system abnormalities). Reduced heart rate persisted in CCM hearts perfused ex vivo in the working mode, highlighting the intrinsic nature of this phenotype. Wild-type, but not CCM, hearts exhibited a marked diurnal variation in responsiveness to an elevation in workload (80 mmHg plus 1 μM epinephrine) ex vivo, with a greater increase in cardiac power and efficiency during the dark (active) phase vs. the light (inactive) phase. Moreover, myocardial oxygen consumption and fatty acid oxidation rates were increased, whereas cardiac efficiency was decreased, in CCM hearts. These observations were associated with no alterations in mitochondrial content or structure and modest mitochondrial dysfunction in CCM hearts. Gene expression microarray analysis identified 548 and 176 genes in atria and ventricles, respectively, whose normal diurnal expression patterns were altered in CCM mice. These studies suggest that the cardiomyocyte circadian clock influences myocardial contractile function, metabolism, and gene expression.

Hydrogen sulfide attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by preservation of mitochondrial function

The recent discovery that hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is an endogenously produced gaseous second messenger capable of modulating many physiological processes, much like nitric oxide, prompted us to investigate the potential of H(2)S as a cardioprotective agent. In the current study, we demonstrate that the delivery of H(2)S at the time of reperfusion limits infarct size and preserves left ventricular (LV) function in an in vivo model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI-R). This observed cytoprotection is associated with an inhibition of myocardial inflammation and a preservation of both mitochondrial structure and function after I-R injury. Additionally, we show that modulation of endogenously produced H(2)S by cardiac-specific overexpression of cystathionine gamma-lyase (alpha-MHC-CGL-Tg mouse) significantly limits the extent of injury. These findings demonstrate that H(2)S may be of value in cytoprotection during the evolution of myocardial infarction and that either administration of H(2)S or the modulation of endogenous production may be of clinical benefit in ischemic disorders.