Socioeconomic variations determine the clinical presentation, aetiology, and outcome of infective endocarditis: a prospective cohort study from the ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European Infective Endocarditis) registry.

Aims: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening disease associated with high mortality and morbidity worldwide. We sought to determine how socioeconomic factors might influence its epidemiology, clinical presentation, investigation and management, and outcome, in a large international multicentre registry.

Methods And Results: The EurObservational Programme (EORP) of the European Society of Cardiology EURO-ENDO (European Infective Endocarditis) registry comprises a prospective cohort of 3113 adult patients admitted for IE in 156 hospitals in 40 countries between January 2016 and March 2018.

Unsupervised cluster analysis and subset characterization of abnormal erythropoiesis using the bioinformatic Flow-Self Organizing Maps algorithm.

Background: The Flow-Self Organizing Maps (FlowSOM) artificial intelligence (AI) program, available within the Bioconductor open-source R-project, allows for an unsupervised visualization and interpretation of multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) data.

Methods: Applied to a reference merged file from 11 normal bone marrows (BM) analyzed with an MFC panel targeting erythropoiesis, FlowSOM allowed to identify six subpopulations of erythropoietic precursors (EPs). In order to find out how this program would help in the characterization of abnormalities in erythropoiesis, MFC data from list-mode files of 16 patients (5 with non-clonal anemia and 11 with myelodysplastic syndrome [MDS] at diagnosis) were analyzed.

Analysis of erythroid maturation in the nonlysed bone marrow with help of radar plots facilitates detection of flow cytometric aberrations in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Background: Accumulating data support the role of flow cytometry (FCM) in diagnostic work-up of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Changes in erythropoiesis are less documented than in granulopoiesis. However, most studies were performed on bone marrow samples (BMSs) after red blood cell lysis.

Clinical presentation, aetiology and outcome of infective endocarditis. Results of the ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European infective endocarditis) registry: a prospective cohort study.

Aims: The EURO-ENDO registry aimed to study the management and outcomes of patients with infective endocarditis (IE).

Methods And Results: Prospective cohort of 3116 adult patients (2470 from Europe, 646 from non-ESC countries), admitted to 156 hospitals in 40 countries between January 2016 and March 2018 with a diagnosis of IE based on ESC 2015 diagnostic criteria. Clinical, biological, microbiological, and imaging [echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) scan, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT)] data were collected.

Ten-color 15-antibody flow cytometry panel for immunophenotyping of lymphocyte population.

We have developed a lymphoproliferative disorder screening tube (LPD-ST) with the aim to provide comprehensive immunophenotyping of lymphocyte subsets with minimal need for additional testing. The LPD-ST consists of CD4/kappa FITC, CD8/lambda PE, CD3/CD14ECD, CD38PC5.5, CD20/CD56PC7, CD10APC, CD19APC-A700, CD5APC-A750, CD57/CD23PB and CD45KO.

Improved minimal residual disease detection by targeted quantitative polymerase chain reaction in Nucleophosmin 1 type a mutated acute myeloid leukemia.

Multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) and real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) are important independent techniques to determine minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). MFC is the standard method, but may be unreliable. Therefore, MFC-based determination of MRD with an RQ-PCR-based approach targeting the nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) type A mutation was set out to compare.

Newly diagnosed rheumatic heart disease among indigenous populations in the Pacific.

Objectives: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains the leading acquired heart disease in the young worldwide. We aimed at assessing outcomes and influencing factors in the contemporary era.

Methods: Hospital-based cohort in a high-income island nation where RHD remains endemic and the population is captive.

Intermittent maple syrup urine disease: two case reports.

The presenting symptoms and clinical course of 2 cases of intermittent maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) are described. Intermittent MSUD is a potentially life-threatening metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase, the enzyme complex that decarboxylates the 3 branched-chain amino acids. In contrast to classic MSUD, children with the intermittent form show normal development with normal intelligence and, when asymptomatic, normal levels of branched-chain amino acids.

HDL stimulates apoM secretion.

Apolipoprotein M (apoM) in human plasma is mainly associated with HDL. A retained signal peptide anchors apoM to the lipoproteins. To investigate the role of the signal peptide in the transfer of apoM from the synthesizing cell to the lipoproteins, wildtype apoM cDNA and the Q(22)A mutant, introducing a signal peptidase cleavage site, were used to stably transfect HEK293 cells, which intrinsically do not express apolipoproteins.

An investigation of serum concentration of apoM as a potential MODY3 marker using a novel ELISA.

Objective: To investigate the fitness of serum apolipoprotein M (apoM) concentration as a marker for maturity-onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3).

Study Design And Subjects: This study consisted of two parts. A family study included 71 carriers of the P291fsinsC mutation in hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF-1alpha) from the Finnish Botnia study, 53 of whom were diabetic, and 75 matched family controls.

American College of Chest Physicians/La Société de Réanimation de Langue Française statement on competence in critical care ultrasonography.

Objective: To define competence in critical care ultrasonography (CCUS).

Design: The statement is sponsored by the Critical Care NetWork of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) in partnership with La Société de Réanimation de Langue Française (SRLF). The ACCP and the SRLF selected a panel of experts to review the field of CCUS and to develop a consensus statement on competence in CCUS.

Levels of apolipoprotein M are not associated with the risk of coronary heart disease in two independent case-control studies.

Apolipoprotein M (apoM), a 25 kDa plasma protein belonging to the lipocalin protein family, is predominantly associated with HDL. Studies in mice have suggested apoM to be important for the formation of pre-beta-HDL and to increase cholesterol efflux from macrophage foam cells. Overexpression of human apoM in LDL receptor-deficient mice reduced the atherogenic effect of a cholesterol-rich diet.

The signal peptide anchors apolipoprotein M in plasma lipoproteins and prevents rapid clearance of apolipoprotein M from plasma.

Lipoproteins consist of lipids solubilized by apolipoproteins. The lipid-binding structural motifs of apolipoproteins include amphipathic alpha-helixes and beta-sheets. Plasma apolipoprotein (apo) M lacks an external amphipathic motif but, nevertheless, is exclusively associated with lipoproteins (mainly high density lipoprotein).

Apolipoprotein M associates to lipoproteins through its retained signal peptide.

Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is predominantly associated with HDL. In this study, it was investigated whether apoM's uncleaved signal peptide is necessary for the protein's ability to associate with lipoproteins. ApoM with a cleavable signal peptide, Q22A, was expressed, together with wild-type apoM, in HEK293 cells.

An ELISA for apolipoprotein M reveals a strong correlation to total cholesterol in human plasma.

Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a 188 amino acid, 25 kDa protein belonging to the lipocalin protein superfamily. Although predominantly associated with high density lipoprotein, apoM is found in all major lipoprotein classes. To facilitate clinical studies of apoM, we have developed a sandwich ELISA for the measurement of apoM in human plasma.

Hydrophobic ligand binding properties of the human lipocalin apolipoprotein M.

Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a plasma protein associated mainly with HDL. ApoM is suggested to be important for the formation of prebeta-HDL, but its mechanism of action is unknown. Homology modeling has suggested apoM to be a lipocalin.

Evaluation and management of shock.

Shock is one of the most frequent situations encountered in the intensive care unit (ICU). Important new concepts have emerged for shock management in recent years. The concept of early goal-directed therapy has evolved from the basic management concepts for septic shock delivered in a structured fashion.

Isolation and characterization of human apolipoprotein M-containing lipoproteins.

Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a novel apolipoprotein with unknown function. In this study, we established a method for isolating apoM-containing lipoproteins and studied their composition and the effect of apoM on HDL function. ApoM-containing lipoproteins were isolated from human plasma with immunoaffinity chromatography and compared with lipoproteins lacking apoM.

Bronchoalveolar lavage cytological alveolar damage in patients with severe pneumonia.

Introduction: Histological examination of lung specimens from patients with pneumonia shows the presence of desquamated pneumocytes and erythrophages. We hypothesized that these modifications should also be present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) from patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study in mechanically ventilated patients with clinical suspicion of pneumonia.