Deep RNA sequencing elucidates microRNA-regulated molecular pathways in ischemic cardiomyopathy and nonischemic cardiomyopathy

Deregulation of cardiac miRNA gene-regulatory networks is a feature of different heart diseases, including ischemic (ICM) and nonischemic (NICM) cardiomyopathy. Here, based on the paired miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in ICM and NICM, we identified the differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs and the expression signatures distinguishing ICM/NICM from control samples. Furthermore, we constructed a functional miRNA network for each disease. Analysis of the topological features of these networks revealed that the Wnt signaling pathway and cell cycle (de)regulation play critical roles in the development of ICM and NICM. In addition, comparison of the miRNA and mRNA functional profiles revealed that their expression patterns in ICM and NICM differ. These findings revealed hundreds of novel heart-failure-related miRNAs with important regulatory functions. In summary, RNA-seq-based transcriptome profiling in the failing human heart revealed a complex transcriptional regulation associated with the disease. The newly uncovered importance of miRNAs in disease pathogenesis highlights their value as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

[EDA mutation screening and phenotype analysis in patients with tooth agenesis]

OBJECTIVE

To screen the ectodysplasin A (EDA) gene mutation in the patients with non-syndromic tooth agenesis and ectodermal dysplasia, and to analyze the phenotype of missing teeth pattern in these two groups of patients.

METHODS

In the study, 174 patients with tooth agenesis (143: non-syndromic, 31: ectodermal dysplasia) and 451 health control volunteers were enrolled from the clinic, and the genome DNA was extracted from either peripheral blood or oral mucosal swab. The coding region of EDA gene was then amplified by PCR, sequenced and blasted to online NCBI database. The missing teeth were recorded for all patients, and the missing teeth from patients with EDA mutation were compared among the different dentition sites.

RESULTS

33 patients were identified with EDA mutation. In the non-syndromic patients, 13/143(9.09%) were identified with EDA mutation, while in patients with ectodermal dysplasia, 20/31(64.52%) were found with EDA mutation. Ten novel EDA mutations were identified (c.769G>C[p.G257R ],c.936C>G[p.I312M],c.223G>A[p.E75K], .1166C>T[p.P389L],c.133G>C[p.G45R],c.1109G>A[p.E370K],c.914G>T[p.S305I], c.916C>T[p.Q306X],c.602G>T[p.G201V],c.88-89insG[p.A30GfsX69]). For each dentition site there was no statistic difference in the number of missing teeth between the left and right sides, so the number from both sides were combined later in the analysis. In the patients with EDA mutation, the non-syndromic patients had fewer missing teeth (15.9±6.4 missing teeth for each, 207/364 in total) than the patients with ectodermal dysplasia (23.9±4.3, 478/560). In the non-syndromic patients with EDA mutation, the maxillay central incisors and first molars were less affected, with the same missing rate as 19.2% (5/26). While the mandibular central incisors (with a missing rate of 76.9%, 20/26), the maxillary lateral incisors (the missing rate: 88.5%, 23/26), the mandibular lateral incisors (the missing rate: 80.8%, 21/26), and the maxillary first premolars (the missing rate: 80.8%, 21/26) were more likely to be missing. In the ectodermal dysplasia patients with EDA mutation, only maxillary central incisors (the missing rate: 60%, 24/40), maxillary canines (the missing rate: 70%, 28/40), mandibular canines (the missing rate: 67.5%, 27/40), maxillary first molars (the missing rate: 65%, 26/40) and mandibular first molars (the missing rate: 72.5%, 29/40) had higher possibility of persistence. Teeth at other dentition sites were more likely to be affected (the minimum missing rate: 87.5%, 35/40).

CONCLUSION

The findings would help to reveal the EDA gene and its function in ectodermal organogenesis.

Iridium(iii) hydrido complexes for the catalytic dehydrogenation of hydrazine borane

A series of POCOP iridium hydride complexes with differently substituted aryl backbones catalyse the selective release of one equivalent of hydrogen from hydrazine borane.

Quantitative description of collagen fibre network on trabecular bone surfaces based on AFM imaging

The collagen fibre network is an important part of extracellular matrix (ECM) on trabecular bone surface. The geometry features of the network can provide us insights into its physical and physiological properties. However, previous researches have not focused on the geometry and the quantitative description of the collagen fibre network on trabecular bone surface. In this study,we developed a procedure to quantitatively describe the network and verified the validity of the procedure. The experiment proceeds as follow. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to acquire submicron resolution images of the trabecular surface. Then, an image analysing procedure was built to extract important parameters, including, fibre orientation, fibre density, fibre width, fibre crossing numbers, the number of holes formed by fibre s, and the area of holes from AFM images. In order to verify the validity of the parameters extracted by image analysing methods, we adopted two other methods, which are statistical geometry model and computer simulation, to calculate those same parameters and check the consistency of the three methods' results. Statistical tests indicate that there is no significant difference between three groups. We conclude that, (a) the ECM on trabecular surface mainly consists of random collagen fibre network with oriented fibres; (b) our method based on image analysing can be used to characterize quantitative geometry features of the collagen fibre network effectively. This method may provide a basis for quantitative investigating the architecture and function of collagen fibre network.

Serology, virulence, antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular characteristics of clinical Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains circulating in southeastern China from 2009 to 2013

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of food-borne diarrhoea in coastal countries. Although V. parahaemolyticus cases have been reported since 1950, they have been poorly documented. From July 2009 to June 2013, we collected 6951 faecal specimens for pathogen detection; V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from 563 specimens (8.1%). We then analysed the characteristics of the 501 V. parahaemolyticus strains that were isolated as the sole pathogen. Twenty-one serotypes were identified among these strains; O3:K6 was the most common serotype (65.1%), followed by O4:K8, O4:K68 and O1:K36. One strain of the O4:K18 serotype was isolated from clinical patients for the first time. Pandemic O3:K6 clones were predominant and accounted for 69.1% of all of the pandemic strains. This is the first report of one strain expressing the O3:K8 serotype with a pandemic genotype. The presence of the haemolysin gene tdh (93.0%) was the key characteristic of the virulent strains; however, a few strains carried the trh gene. We also confirmed the presence of the type III secretion system 2 (T3SS2) genes in all of the pathogenic strains. Subsequent multilocus sequence typing split the isolates into 16 sequence types (STs), with ST3 and ST88 as the most prevalent in southeastern China. Most isolates were sensitive to common antimicrobial agents, apart from ampicillin. However, the resistance rate to ampicillin has apparently increased in this area. In conclusion, our results indicate that pandemic O3:K6 V. parahaemolyticus isolates are predominant in southeastern China, and additional surveillance should be conducted to facilitate control of the transmission of this pathogen.

Valve replacement for valvular heart disease with giant left ventricle

OBJECTIVE

To discuss early efficacy of the cardiac patient with giant left ventricle underwent valve replacement.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-five patients, who are suffering cardiac valve disease with giant left ventricle, underwent valve replacement. Among them, sixteen patients underwent aortic valve replacement; thirty patients underwent mitral valve replacement; nine patients underwent double valve replacement. All of them use mechanical heart valve.

RESULTS

The number of early death after operation was five. Two patients died of malignant arrhythmia; two died of intractable low cardiac output syndrome; the last one's mechanical valve lost its ability to function after operation and died of respiration-circulation failure after an emergency operation. The death rate was 9%. The remaining 55 patients were cured and their cardiac function was significantly improved.

CONCLUSIONS

The definite effective myocardial protection and perfect and detailed preoperative treatment can reduce the possibility of operative complications and death rate of this kind of patients.

A Canadian national expert consensus on neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer: linking practice to evidence and beyond

BACKGROUND

Use of the neoadjuvant approach to treat breast cancer patients has increased since the early 2000s, but the overall pathway of care for such patients can be highly variable. The aim of our project was to establish a multidisciplinary consensus among clinicians with expertise in neoadjuvant therapy (nat) for breast cancer and to determine if that consensus reflects published methods used in randomized controlled trials (rcts) in this area.

METHODS

A modified Delphi protocol, which used iterative surveys administered to 85 experts across Canada, was established to obtain expert consensus concerning all aspects of the care pathway for patients undergoing nat for breast cancer. All rcts published between January 1, 1967, and December 1, 2012, were systematically reviewed. Data extracted from the rcts were analyzed to determine if the methods used matched the expert consensus for specific areas of nat management. A scoring system determined the strength of the agreement between the literature and the expert consensus.

RESULTS

Consensus was achieved for all areas of the pathway of care for patients undergoing nat for breast cancer, with the exception of the role of magnetic resonance imaging in the pre-treatment or preoperative setting. The levels of agreement between the consensus statements and the published rcts varied, primarily because specific aspects of the pathway of care were not well described in the reviewed literature.

CONCLUSIONS

A true consensus of expert opinion concerning the pathway of care appropriate for patients receiving nat for breast cancer has been achieved. A review of the literature illuminated gaps in the evidence about some elements of nat management. Where evidence is available, agreement with expert opinion is strong overall. Our study is unique in its approach to establishing consensus among medical experts in this field and has established a pathway of care that can be applied in practice for patients receiving nat.

Canine pancreatic-specific lipase concentrations in dogs with heart failure and chronic mitral valvular insufficiency

BACKGROUND

Chronic mitral valvular insufficiency (CMVI) in dogs is very common and might cause clinical signs of congestion and poor tissue perfusion.

HYPOTHESIS

Poor tissue perfusion from CMVI causes pancreatitis in dogs, as indicated by serum pancreatic lipase concentrations.

ANIMALS

Sixty-two client-owned dogs consisting of 40 dogs with different stages of heart failure from CMVI and 22 age-matched healthy dogs, based on full cardiac exam and routine laboratory tests.

METHODS

Prospective, controlled, observational study. Serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) concentrations were determined by quantitative cPLI test in healthy and CMVI groups.

RESULTS

Serum cPLI concentrations were 54.0 μg/L (IQR: 38.0-78.8 μg/L) in control, 55.0 μg/L (IQR: 38.3-88.8 μg/L) in ISACHC I, 115.0 μg/L (IQR: 45.0-179.0 μg/L) in ISACHC II and 223.0 μg/L (IQR: 119.5-817.5 μg/L) in ISACHC III. Close correlation to serum cPLI concentration was found in the left atrial to aorta (LA/Ao) ratio (r = 0.597; P = .000) and the severity of heart failure (r = 0.530; P = .000).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

This study found CMVI is associated with pancreatic injury in congestive heart failure caused by CMVI. Therefore, periodic monitoring on cPLI could be useful in monitoring dogs in heart failure.

Myocardial ischemic preconditioning upregulated protein 1(Mipu1):zinc finger protein 667 - a multifunctional KRAB/C2H2 zinc finger protein

Myocardial ischemic preconditioning upregulated protein 1 (Mipu1) is a newly discovered upregulated gene produced in rats during the myocardial ischemic preconditioning process. Mipu1 cDNA contains a 1824-base pair open reading frame and encodes a 608 amino acid protein with an N-terminal Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain and classical zinc finger C2H2 motifs in the C-terminus. Mipu1 protein is located in the cell nucleus. Recent studies found that Mipu1 has a protective effect on the ischemia-reperfusion injury of heart, brain, and other organs. As a nuclear factor, Mipu1 may perform its protective function through directly transcribing and repressing the expression of proapoptotic genes to repress cell apoptosis. In addition, Mipu1 also plays an important role in regulating the gene expression of downstream inflammatory mediators by inhibiting the activation of activator protein-1 and serum response element.

Blood coagulation screening using a paper-based microfluidic lateral flow device

A simple approach to the evaluation of blood coagulation using a microfluidic paper-based lateral flow assay (LFA) device for point-of-care (POC) and self-monitoring screening is reported. The device utilizes whole blood, without the need for prior separation of plasma from red blood cells (RBC). Experiments were performed using animal (rabbit) blood treated with trisodium citrate to prevent coagulation. CaCl2 solutions of varying concentrations are added to citrated blood, producing Ca(2+) ions to re-establish the coagulation cascade and mimic different blood coagulation abilities in vitro. Blood samples are dispensed into a paper-based LFA device consisting of sample pad, analytical membrane and wicking pad. The porous nature of the cellulose membrane separates the aqueous plasma component from the large blood cells. Since the viscosity of blood changes with its coagulation ability, the distance RBCs travel in the membrane in a given time can be related to the blood clotting time. The distance of the RBC front is found to decrease linearly with increasing CaCl2 concentration, with a travel rate decreasing from 3.25 mm min(-1) for no added CaCl2 to 2.2 mm min(-1) for 500 mM solution. Compared to conventional plasma clotting analyzers, the LFA device is much simpler and it provides a significantly larger linear range of measurement. Using the red colour of RBCs as a visible marker, this approach can be utilized to produce a simple and clear indicator of whether the blood condition is within the appropriate range for the patient's condition.

Association between rs11001553 of DKK1 and non-syndromic tooth agenesis in the Chinese Han population

Tooth agenesis is one of the most common anomalies of human dentition. Recent genetic studies have provided information regarding a number of genes related to both syndromic and non-syndromic forms of hypodontia. In a previous study, we found that polymorphism in rs11001553 of DKK1 was associated with hypodontia in the Chinese Han population. In this study, we extended this investigation to 89 individuals diagnosed with sporadic non-syndromic oligodontia (40 males and 49 females). These individuals were analyzed with 268 subjects (123 males and 145 females) diagnosed with non-syndromic hypodontia and 190 healthy control subjects (99 males and 91 females). DNA was obtained from whole blood or saliva samples and genotyping was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Significant differences were observed in the allele and genotype frequencies of rs11001553 of DKK1. These data demonstrated an association between rs11001553 of DKK1, a tooth development-associated gene, and non-syndromic tooth agenesis in Chinese Han individuals. This information may provide further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of tooth agenesis. Furthermore, DKK1 can be regarded as a marker gene for the risk of tooth agenesis.

Flexible thin-film transistors on plastic substrate at room temperature

We have fabricated flexible thin-film transistors (TFTs) on plastic substrates using Aluminum-doped ZnO (AZO) as an active channel layer at room temperature. The AZO-TFTs showed n-channel device characteristics and operated in enhancement mode. The device shows a threshold voltage of 1.3 V, an on/off ratio of 2.7 x 10(7), a field effect mobility of 21.3 cm2/V x s, a subthreshold swing of 0.23 V/decade, and the off current of less than 10(-12) A at room temperature. Recently, the flexible displays have become a very hot topic. Flexible thin film transistors are key devices for realizing flexible displays. We have investigated AZO-TFT on flexible plastic substrate, and high performance flexible TFTs have been obtained.