Native Valve and Native Neo-Sinus Remodeling Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) pushes aside the diseased native aortic valve and creates a native neo-sinus bordered by the aortic root wall and the displaced native valve. There are limited data on the progression of native valve disease post-TAVR and no previous analysis of the native neo-sinus.

Methods: Native aortic valves and native neo-sinus explants obtained post-TAVR were evaluated histologically (hematoxylin and eosin, Movat pentachrome, and Martius Scarlet Blue stains) and by immunohistochemistry (TGF-β1 [transforming growth factor-beta 1], FAP [fibroblast activation protein], and ALP [alkaline phosphatase]) to assess disease mechanisms.

Proline-Selective Electrochemiluminescence Detecting a Single Amino Acid Variation Between A1 and A2 β-Casein Containing Milks.

The proline amino acid and prolyl residues of peptides/proteins confer unique biological and biochemical properties that motivates the development of proline-selective analysis. The study focuses on one specific class of problem, the detection of single amino acid variants involving proline, and reports a Pro-selective electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method. To develop this method, the A1-/A2- variants of milk's β-casein protein are investigated because it is a well-established example and abundant samples are readily available.

Detecting features of antibody structure through their mediator-accessible redox activities.

Protein function relies on sequence, folding and post-translational modification and molecular measurements are commonly used to reveal these structural features. Here, we report an alternative approach that represents these molecular features as readily measurable electronic patterns and validate this experimental approach by detecting structural perturbations commonly encountered during protein biomanufacturing. We studied a monoclonal antibody standard (from the National Institute of Standards and Technology) and focused on the electronic detection of variants that have undergone interchain disulfide bond reduction and methionine oxidation.

Biomimetic Redox Capacitor To Control the Flow of Electrons.

In biological systems, electrons, energy, and information "flow" through the redox modality, and we ask, does biology have redox capacitor capabilities for storing electrons? We describe emerging evidence indicating that biological phenolic/catecholic materials possess such redox capacitor properties. We further describe results that show biomimetic catecholic materials are reversibly redox-active with redox potentials in the midphysiological range and can repeatedly accept electrons (from various reductants), store electrons, and donate electrons (to various oxidants). Importantly, catechol-containing films that are assembled onto electrode surfaces can enhance the flow of electrons, energy, and information.