Doppler flow morphology characteristics of epiaortic arteries in aortic valve pathologies: a retrospective study on a cohort of patients with ischemic stroke.

Background And Aims: Neurovascular ultrasound (nvUS) of the epiaortic arteries is an integral part of the etiologic workup in patients with ischemic stroke. Aortic valve disease shares similar vascular risk profiles and therefore not only presents a common comorbidity, but also an etiologic entity. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of specific Doppler curve flow characteristics in epiaortic arteries and the presence of aortic valve disease.

Thirty-day outcomes of the Cardioband tricuspid system for patients with symptomatic functional tricuspid regurgitation: The TriBAND study.

Background: Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) has limited treatment options and is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Aims: We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the Cardioband tricuspid valve reconstruction system from the ongoing European single-arm, multicentre, prospective TriBAND post-market clinical follow-up study.

Methods: Eligible patients had chronic symptomatic functional TR despite diuretic therapy and were deemed candidates for transcatheter tricuspid repair by the local Heart Team.

Comparing the diagnostic value of Echocardiography In Stroke (CEIS) - results of a prospective observatory cohort study.

Background: Echocardiography is one of the main diagnostic tools for the diagnostic workup of stroke and is already well integrated into the clinical workup. However, the value of transthoracic vs. transesophageal echocardiography (TTE/TEE) in stroke patients is still a matter of debate.

Comparative study of human-induced pluripotent stem cells derived from bone marrow cells, hair keratinocytes, and skin fibroblasts.

Aims: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a unique opportunity for the generation of patient-specific cells for use in disease modelling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine. The aim of this study was to compare human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from different somatic cell sources regarding their generation efficiency and cardiac differentiation potential, and functionalities of cardiomyocytes.

Methods And Results: We generated hiPSCs from hair keratinocytes, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and skin fibroblasts by using two different virus systems.

Essential role of the p110beta subunit of phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase in male fertility.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) are key molecular players in male fertility. However, the specific roles of different p110 PI3K catalytic subunits within the spermatogenic lineage have not been characterized so far. Herein, we report that male mice expressing a catalytically inactive p110beta develop testicular hypotrophy and impaired spermatogenesis, leading to a phenotype of oligo-azoospermia and defective fertility.

Isolation and cultivation of stem cells from adult mouse testes.

The successful isolation and cultivation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) as well as induction of SSCs into pluripotent stem cells will allow us to study their biological characteristics and their applications in therapeutic approaches. Here we provide step-by-step procedures on the basis of previous work in our laboratory for: the isolation of testicular cells from adolescent mice by a modified enzymatic procedure; the enrichment of undifferentiated spermatogonia by laminin selection or genetic selection using Stra8-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) transgenic mice; the cultivation and conversion of undifferentiated spermatogonia into embryonic stem-like cells, so-called multipotent adult germline stem cells (maGSCs); and characterization of these cells. Normally, it will take about 16 weeks to obtain stable maGSC lines starting from the isolation of testicular cells.

Pluripotency of spermatogonial stem cells from adult mouse testis.

Embryonic germ cells as well as germline stem cells from neonatal mouse testis are pluripotent and have differentiation potential similar to embryonic stem cells, suggesting that the germline lineage may retain the ability to generate pluripotent cells. However, until now there has been no evidence for the pluripotency and plasticity of adult spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which are responsible for maintaining spermatogenesis throughout life in the male. Here we show the isolation of SSCs from adult mouse testis using genetic selection, with a success rate of 27%.