Contemporary Anticoagulation Practices for Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: A Single Center Experience.

Aims: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent in-hospital complication after cardiac surgery. Surprisingly, despite its prevalence, management of this condition has not been well studied. One promising approach that has been evaluated in a limited number of studies is use of anticoagulation.

Attitudes toward anticoagulation for postoperative atrial fibrillation: A nationwide survey of VA providers.

Introduction: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery. Though often felt to be self-limited, this complication has been associated with increases in both short and long-term stroke and mortality. Several studies have also shown a high rate of AF recurrence.

microRNA-10b enhances pancreatic cancer cell invasion by suppressing TIP30 expression and promoting EGF and TGF-β actions.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.

A dyadic multiple mediation model of patient and spouse stressors predicting patient dietary and exercise adherence via depression symptoms and diabetes self-efficacy.

Using dyadic data from 117 married couples in which one partner was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the purpose of this study was to determine whether a number of specific patient and spouse stressors (chronic life stress, diabetes-specific stress, and physical health stress in the form of the number of comorbidities) were associated with Type 2 diabetes patients' dietary and exercise adherence through two potentially modifiable patient and spouse factors-depression symptoms and diabetes self-efficacy. We found that patient and spouse stressors, particularly patient and spouse diabetes stress and the number of patient comorbidities, were related to patient dietary and exercise adherence through patient depression symptoms and both patient and spouse diabetes self-efficacy. These conclusions were strengthened by incorporating a number of relevant control variables in our models and by testing four alternative models which supported our proposed model.

Pancreatic cancer-associated retinoblastoma 1 dysfunction enables TGF-β to promote proliferation.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often associated with overexpression of TGF-β. Given its tumor suppressor functions, it is unclear whether TGF-β is a valid therapeutic target for PDAC. Here, we found that proliferating pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs) from human PDAC patients and multiple murine models of PDAC (mPDAC) often exhibit abundant levels of phosphorylated retinoblastoma 1 (RB) and Smad2.

microRNA-10b enhances pancreatic cancer cell invasion by suppressing TIP30 expression and promoting EGF and TGF-β actions.

Increased microRNA-10b (miR-10b) expression in the cancer cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a marker of disease aggressiveness. In the present study, we determined that plasma miR-10b levels are significantly increased in PDAC patients by comparison with normal controls. By gene profiling, we identified potential targets downregulated by miR-10b, including Tat-interacting protein 30 (TIP30).

Non-trisomic homeobox gene expression during craniofacial development in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome.

Trisomy 21 in humans causes cognitive impairment, craniofacial dysmorphology, and heart defects collectively referred to as Down syndrome. Yet, the pathophysiology of these phenotypes is not well understood. Craniofacial alterations may lead to complications in breathing, eating, and communication.

Safety and tolerability of the Easy Vax™ clinical epidermal electroporation system in healthy adults.

DNA vaccines are cost-effective and versatile, though intracellular delivery has been challenging in humans. Alternative delivery modalities such as electroporation have demonstrated improved immune responses, but are painful. In this single-center, double-blind, medical device trial, we evaluated the safety and tolerability of Easy Vax™ dermal electroporation system, alone (without DNA) in healthy adults.

Trisomic and allelic differences influence phenotypic variability during development of Down syndrome mice.

Individuals with full or partial Trisomy 21 (Ts21) present with clinical features collectively referred to as Down syndrome (DS), although DS phenotypes vary in incidence and severity between individuals. Differing genetic and phenotypic content in individuals with DS as well as mouse models of DS facilitate the understanding of the correlation between specific genes and phenotypes associated with Ts21. The Ts1Rhr mouse model is trisomic for 33 genes (the "Down syndrome critical region" or DSCR) hypothesized to be responsible for many clinical DS features, including craniofacial dysmorphology with a small mandible.

Bypass suppression of small-plaque phenotypes by a mutation in poliovirus 2A that enhances apoptosis.

The rate of protein secretion in host cells is inhibited during infection with several different picornaviruses, with consequences likely to have significant effects on viral growth, spread, and pathogenesis. This Sin(+) (secretion inhibition) phenotype has been documented for poliovirus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, and coxsackievirus B3 and can lead to reduced cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and tumor necrosis factor receptor as well as reduced extracellular secretion of induced cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and beta interferon. The inhibition of protein secretion is global, affecting the movement of all tested cargo proteins through the cellular secretion apparatus.

Induction of bivalent immune responses by expression of dengue virus type 1 and type 2 antigens from a single complex adenoviral vector.

There are approximately 100 million new cases of dengue (DEN) virus infection each year. Infection can result in illness ranging from a mild fever to hemorrhaging, shock, or even death. There are four serotypes of dengue virus (DEN1-4), and immunity to one serotype does not cross protect from infection with other serotypes.

Complex adenovirus-vectored vaccine protects guinea pigs from three strains of Marburg virus challenges.

The Marburg virus (MARV), an African filovirus closely related to the Ebola virus, causes a deadly hemorrhagic fever in humans, with up to 90% mortality. Currently, treatment of disease is only supportive, and no vaccines are available to prevent spread of MARV infections. In order to address this need, we have developed and characterized a novel recombinant vaccine that utilizes a single complex adenovirus-vectored vaccine (cAdVax) to overexpress a MARV glycoprotein (GP) fusion protein derived from the Musoke and Ci67 strains of MARV.

De novo syntheses of Marburg virus antigens from adenovirus vectors induce potent humoral and cellular immune responses.

Marburg virus (MARV) is an African filovirus that causes a deadly hemorrhagic fever in humans, with up to 90% mortality. Currently, there are no MARV vaccines or therapies approved for human use. We hypothesized that developing a vaccine that induces a de novo synthesis of MARV antigens in vivo will lead to strong induction of both a humoral and cell-mediated immune response against MARV.

Development of a cAdVax-based bivalent ebola virus vaccine that induces immune responses against both the Sudan and Zaire species of Ebola virus.

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes a severe hemorrhagic fever for which there are currently no vaccines or effective treatments. While lethal human outbreaks have so far been restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, the potential exploitation of EBOV as a biological weapon cannot be ignored. Two species of EBOV, Sudan ebolavirus (SEBOV) and Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV), have been responsible for all of the deadly human outbreaks resulting from this virus.

Sec7p directs the transitions required for yeast Golgi biogenesis.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi traffic in yeast proceeds by the maturation of membrane compartments from post-ER vesicles to intermediate small vesicle tubular clusters (VTCs) to Golgi nodular membrane networks (Morin-Ganet et al., Traffic 2000; 1: 56-68). The balance between ER and Golgi compartments is maintained by COPII- and COPI-mediated anterograde and retrograde traffic, which are dependent on Sec7p and ARF function.

Morphogenesis and dynamics of the yeast Golgi apparatus.

A kinetic and morphometric study was conducted with the electron microscope to clarify the biogenesis and structural diversity of the Golgi apparatus in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Secretion was synchronized by inhibiting protein synthesis and/or by subjecting thermosensitive secretory mutants to double temperature shifts. Five membrane-bounded structures disappeared or reappeared in an orderly manner at approximately the rate of secretory protein flow.

MHC I-dependent antigen presentation is inhibited by poliovirus protein 3A.

The effects of poliovirus 3A protein expression and poliovirus infection on the presentation of hepatitis C virus antigens in cultured chimpanzee cells were examined. Expression of poliovirus 3A protein inhibits protein secretion when expressed in isolation and was sufficient to protect chimpanzee cells from lysis by hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T cells in standard (51)Cr-release assays. Poliovirus infection also inhibited antigen presentation, as determined by decreased cytotoxic T cell activation.

An N-end rule destabilization mutant reveals pre-Golgi requirements for Sec7p in yeast membrane traffic.

Sec7 protein (Sec7p) is required for membrane traffic in the yeast secretory pathway. Because Sec7p regulates more than one stage in the pathway, it has been difficult to assign the most proximal requirement for Sec7p action. We have engineered a novel mutant whose Sec7p levels are regulated by growth conditions and by selective protein destabilization according to the N-end rule.

Human ARF4 expression rescues sec7 mutant yeast cells.

Vesicle-mediated traffic between compartments of the yeast secretory pathway involves recruitment of multiple cytosolic proteins for budding, targeting, and membrane fusion events. The SEC7 gene product (Sec7p) is a constituent of coat structures on transport vesicles en route to the Golgi complex in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To identify mammalian homologs of Sec7p and its interacting proteins, we used a genetic selection strategy in which a human HepG2 cDNA library was transformed into conditional-lethal yeast sec7 mutants.

Diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia in the nursing home.

Risk factors, diagnosis, ethical considerations, and treatment of pneumonia in a nursing home setting are summarized. Risk factors for pneumonia include age-associated changes, co-morbid conditions, declining general health, and iatrogenic factors. Diagnosis can be challenging in geriatric residents because of atypical presentations and complex underlying diseases.