Genetic imputation of kidney transcriptome, proteome and multi-omics illuminates new blood pressure and hypertension targets.

Genetic mechanisms of blood pressure (BP) regulation remain poorly defined. Using kidney-specific epigenomic annotations and 3D genome information we generated and validated gene expression prediction models for the purpose of transcriptome-wide association studies in 700 human kidneys. We identified 889 kidney genes associated with BP of which 399 were prioritised as contributors to BP regulation.

Application of multidisciplinary team conference for neuromodulation candidates facilitates patient selection and optimization.

Introduction: Psychological evaluation is required by insurance companies in the United States prior to proceeding with a spinal cord stimulation or a dorsal root ganglion stimulation trial. Since January 2017, we implemented a Multidisciplinary Team Conference for Neuromodulation in our center to facilitate the collaboration between pain physicians and psychologists and to optimize screening of neuromodulation candidates. This study aims to report the impact of this team conference on improvement of neuromodulation outcome in our center.

Translation factor and RNA binding protein mRNA interactomes support broader RNA regulons for posttranscriptional control.

The regulation of translation provides a rapid and direct mechanism to modulate the cellular proteome. In eukaryotes, an established model for the recruitment of ribosomes to mRNA depends upon a set of conserved translation initiation factors. Nevertheless, how cells orchestrate and define the selection of individual mRNAs for translation, as opposed to other potential cytosolic fates, is poorly understood.

Interaction of the La-related protein Slf1 with colliding ribosomes maintains translation of oxidative-stress responsive mRNAs.

In response to oxidative stress cells reprogram gene expression to enhance levels of antioxidant enzymes and promote survival. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the polysome-interacting La-related proteins (LARPs) Slf1 and Sro9 aid adaptation of protein synthesis during stress by undetermined means. To gain insight in their mechanisms of action in stress responses, we determined LARP mRNA binding positions in stressed and unstressed cells.

A Cell Membrane Fusion Assay for the Fish Pathogen Spring Viremia of Carp Virus (SVCV).

Fusion of the infected cell membranes is a characteristic effect of a wide number of viral infections. Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), a rhabdovirus causing disease in farmed carp, can induce membrane fusion of the infected cells by shifting the pH of the culture medium to slightly acidic. Membrane fusion leads to the formation of clusters of cell nuclei enclosed in a cell membrane, the so-called syncytia, that can be easily visualized by cell staining and light microscope inspection.

Significantly increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease amongst adults with predominantly mild congenital heart disease.

Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) face increased risk of various comorbid diseases. Previous work on lung dysfunction in this population has mainly focused on restrictive lung disease, in patients with severe CHD phenotypes. We examined the association of mild CHD with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the UK Biobank (UKB).

Joint analysis of functionally related genes yields further candidates associated with Tetralogy of Fallot.

Although several genes involved in the development of Tetralogy of Fallot have been identified, no genetic diagnosis is available for the majority of patients. Low statistical power may have prevented the identification of further causative genes in gene-by-gene survey analyses. Thus, bigger samples and/or novel analytic approaches may be necessary.

Uncovering genetic mechanisms of hypertension through multi-omic analysis of the kidney.

The kidney is an organ of key relevance to blood pressure (BP) regulation, hypertension and antihypertensive treatment. However, genetically mediated renal mechanisms underlying susceptibility to hypertension remain poorly understood. We integrated genotype, gene expression, alternative splicing and DNA methylation profiles of up to 430 human kidneys to characterize the effects of BP index variants from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on renal transcriptome and epigenome.

Five-year outcomes in cardiac surgery patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing concomitant surgical ablation versus no ablation. The long-term follow-up of the PRAGUE-12 Study.

Background: The long-term effect of concomitant surgical ablation (SA) on clinical outcomes in an unselected population of patients has not been sufficiently reported in randomized studies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess clinical outcomes of the SA after 5 years of follow-up.

Methods: The PRAGUE-12 study was a prospective, randomized clinical trial assessing cardiac surgery with ablation for AF vs cardiac surgery alone.

Improvement in the quality of life of patients with persistent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation after hybrid ablation.

Background: Hybrid ablation (i.e., a combination of a thoracoscopic surgical ablation followed by a catheter ablation) is a treatment option for patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Rise and shine: A treatment experiment testing a morning routine to decrease subjective sleep inertia in insomnia and bipolar disorder.

Sleep inertia involves decreased performance or disorientation upon waking that lasts several hours and impairs functioning. Though sleep inertia is common in insomnia and may interfere with treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) does not routinely include a component to address sleep inertia. The present study evaluates such a component, the RISE-UP routine, in CBTI for insomnia comorbid with bipolar disorder.

Archetypal transcriptional blocks underpin yeast gene regulation in response to changes in growth conditions.

The transcriptional responses of yeast cells to diverse stresses typically include gene activation and repression. Specific stress defense, citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation genes are activated, whereas protein synthesis genes are coordinately repressed. This view was achieved from comparative transcriptomic experiments delineating sets of genes whose expression greatly changed with specific stresses.

The absence of effect of ganglionated plexi ablation on heart rate variability parameters in patients after thoracoscopic ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Hybrid ablation [thoracoscopic ablation (TA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) followed by catheter ablation (CA)] is an increasingly common method of the treatment for patients with AF. The aim of this study was to assess the response to ganglionated plexi (GP) ablation in patients with a previous TA (i.e.

Dynamic changes in eIF4F-mRNA interactions revealed by global analyses of environmental stress responses.

Background: Translation factors eIF4E and eIF4G form eIF4F, which interacts with the messenger RNA (mRNA) 5' cap to promote ribosome recruitment and translation initiation. Variations in the association of eIF4F with individual mRNAs likely contribute to differences in translation initiation frequencies between mRNAs. As translation initiation is globally reprogrammed by environmental stresses, we were interested in determining whether eIF4F interactions with individual mRNAs are reprogrammed and how this may contribute to global environmental stress responses.

Health literacy and current CD4 cell count in a multiethnic U.S. sample of adults living with HIV infection.

Hispanic and Black adults are disproportionately affected by HIV and experience poorer HIV-related health outcomes relative to non-Hispanic White adults. The current study adopted Sørensen's integrated model to test the hypothesis that lower functional and critical health literacy competencies contribute to poorer HIV-related health and CD4 cell count for Hispanic and Black individuals. Eighty-one non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, and Black HIV seropositive individuals from a large, Southwestern metropolitan area were administered measures of health literacy, including the Expanded Numeracy Scale, Newest Vital Sign, Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine, Test of Functional Health Literacy (TOHFLA)-numeracy, and TOHFLA-reading.

Two-staged hybrid ablation of non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: clinical outcomes and functional improvements after 1 year.

Objectives: Hybrid ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a promising treatment strategy; however, data regarding its efficacy and safety are still limited.

Methods: Patients with non-paroxysmal AF were enrolled. First, a thoracoscopic, epicardial isolation of pulmonary veins and the left atrial posterior wall ('box lesion') was performed; a novel unipolar/bipolar radiofrequency device was used.

Midterm outcomes of two-staged hybrid ablation of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation using the versapolar epicardial surgical device and subsequent catheter ablation.

Purpose: Hybrid ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a promising treatment strategy for patients with non-paroxysmal AF, although, data regarding mid-term outcomes are limited.

Methods: Patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF were enrolled. Initially, a thoracoscopic, right-sided, epicardial ablation was performed, with a goal of creating a box lesion on the posterior wall of the left atrium; a novel versapolar radiofrequency (RF) catheter was used.

Risk of Intraatrial Thrombi After Thoracoscopic Ablation in Absence of Heparin and Appendage Closure.

Background: Catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) can be associated with a risk of thromboembolic events. The goal of this study was to assess optimal anticoagulation management during thoracoscopic ablation of AF.

Methods: Fifty-two patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF underwent hybrid ablation consisting of thoracoscopic ablation followed by electrophysiologic (EP) evaluation and consecutive ablation if indicated.

Subjective social status and rumination in relation to anxiety and depressive symptoms and psychopathology among economically disadvantaged Latinos in primary care.

The present investigation examined the interactive effects of subjective social status and rumination in relation to anxiety/depressive symptoms and psychopathology among 276 Latinos (82% female; M = 39.2, SD = 11.1; 97.

Binding interface change and cryptic variation in the evolution of protein-protein interactions.

Background: Physical interactions between proteins are essential for almost all biological functions and systems. To understand the evolution of function it is therefore important to understand the evolution of molecular interactions. Of key importance is the evolution of binding specificity, the set of interactions made by a protein, since change in specificity can lead to "rewiring" of interaction networks.