SUMO protease FUG1, histone reader AL3 and chromodomain protein LHP1 are integral to repeat expansion-induced gene silencing in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Epigenetic gene silencing induced by expanded repeats can cause diverse phenotypes ranging from severe growth defects in plants to genetic diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia in humans. The molecular mechanisms underlying repeat expansion-induced epigenetic silencing remain largely unknown. Using a plant model with a temperature-sensitive phenotype, we have previously shown that expanded repeats can induce small RNAs, which in turn can lead to epigenetic silencing through the RNA-dependent DNA methylation pathway.

[Benzodiazepine and flumazenil in elective electric cardioversion].

The Authors report on the use of Flumazenil (Antagonist of the benzodiazepines in the CNS) in patients awakening from benzodiazepine induced necrosis for defibrillation. When used in these circumstances, the normal side effects of the narcosis (arrhythmia, rebound hypertensive convulsions, states of paradoxical anxiety) were almost completely absent. Furthermore, given the optimal quality of the rapid awakening, in about 5 minutes, the antagonistic qualities of the drug were confirmed making further development of the therapeutic uses of the benzodiazepines possible.

[Diagnosis of total block in the bundle of His with rhythm of idioventricular substitution].

His bundle (HB) recording does not allow the recognition of third degree intrahisian block in patients with complete atrio-ventricular block (AVB) associated with idioventricular rhythm, due to the absence of pacemaker activation in the distal HB region. We have observed fixed retrograde distal HB activation in the standard HB recording of a patient with complete AVB and ventricular rhythm at a rate of 28/min. Retrograde distal HB activation (h'r) did not disappear during apical right ventricular pacing, in association with the complete absence of retrograde nodal conduction: concealed retroconduction into the proximal HB did not allow the recording of anterograde hisian deflection when the interval between h'r deflection and the subsequent sinus atriogram was shorter than 200 msec.