Shared structural features of Miro binding control mitochondrial homeostasis.

Miro proteins are universally conserved mitochondrial calcium-binding GTPases that regulate a multitude of mitochondrial processes, including transport, clearance, and lipid trafficking. The exact role of Miro in these functions is unclear but involves binding to a variety of client proteins. How this binding is operated at the molecular level and whether and how it is important for mitochondrial health, however, remains unknown.

Finite element modelling of the human middle ear using synchrotron-radiation phase-contrast imaging.

Finite element (FE) models of the middle ear often lack accurate geometry of soft tissue structures, such as the suspensory ligaments, as they can be difficult to discern using conventional imaging modalities, such as computed tomography. Synchrotron-radiation phase-contrast imaging (SR-PCI) is a non-destructive imaging modality that has been shown to produce excellent visualization of soft tissue structures without the need for extensive sample preparation. The objectives of the investigation were to firstly use SR-PCI to create and evaluate a biomechanical FE model of the human middle ear that includes all soft tissue structures, and secondly, to investigate how modelling assumptions and simplifications of ligament representations affect the simulated biomechanical response of the FE model.

A combined helium atom scattering and density-functional theory study of the Nb(100) surface oxide reconstruction: Phonon band structures and vibrational dynamics.

Helium atom scattering and density-functional theory (DFT) are used to characterize the phonon band structure of the (3 × 1)-O surface reconstruction of Nb(100). Innovative DFT calculations comparing surface phonons of bare Nb(100) to those of the oxide surface show increased resonances for the oxide, especially at higher energies. Calculated dispersion curves align well with experimental results and yield atomic displacements to characterize polarizations.

The effect of coronary revascularization on regional myocardial blood flow as assessed by stress positron emission tomography.

Objectives: We examined whether regional improvement in stress myocardial blood flow (sMBF) following angiography-guided coronary revascularization depends on the existence of a perfusion defect on positron emission tomography (PET).

Background: Percent stenosis on coronary angiography often is the main factor when deciding whether to perform revascularization, but it does not reliably relate to maximum sMBF. PET is a validated method of assessing sMBF.

Coronary artery vasospasm and cardiogenic shock as the initial presentation for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

A 68-year-old woman presented to our hospital with unstable angina and was admitted for further evaluation. While hospitalized, she developed persistent angina with hypotension along with ST-segment elevation in leads V-V along with lead aVR elevation on 12-lead electrocardiogram. Coronary angiography revealed diffuse multi-vessel coronary vasospasm most notably in the left anterior descending artery (LAD).

Early impairment of left ventricular function in patients with systemic hypertension: new insights with 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: Two-dimensional strain imaging allows rapid and accurate analysis of regional left ventricular (LV) principal strains in the longitudinal, radial, and circumferential directions. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of subtle differences in LV principal strains to characterize features of subclinical LV dysfunction in patients with systemic hypertension and apparently preserved LV systolic function.

Methods: 2-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) images of the LV were acquired in apical 4-chamber and parasternal short-axis at the basal, mid, and apical levels in 59 subjects, including 25 healthy controls (33 ± 4 yrs, 14 male) and 34 patients with systemic hypertension (36 ± 3 yrs, 24 male).

Disparity between angiographic coronary lesion complexity and lipid core plaques assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between angiographic lesion complexity and the extent of lipid core plaque (LCP) identified by catheter-based near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

Background: The angiographic complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) is used to predict outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The SYNTAX score, an angiographic tool quantifying the complexity of CAD, is associated with PCI outcomes.

Comparison of the evaluations of a case-based reasoning decision support tool by specialist expert reviewers with those of end users.

Background: Decision-support tools (DST) are typically developed by computer engineers for use by clinicians. Prototype testing DSTs may be performed relatively easily by one or two clinical experts. The costly alternative is to test each prototype on a larger number of diverse clinicians, based on the untested assumption that these evaluations would more accurately reflect those of actual end users.