Contribution of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha to pathogenesis of sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) caused by autosomal-dominant mutations in genes coding for structural sarcomeric proteins, is the most common inherited heart disease. HCM is associated with myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and ventricular dysfunction. Hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1α (Hif-1α) is the central master regulators of cellular hypoxia response and associated with HCM.

Spectral Emissivity and Thermal Conductivity Properties of Black Aluminum Films.

Black aluminum is a material characterized by high surface porosity due to columnar growth and exhibits unique optical properties that make it attractive for applications such as light trapping, infrared detection, and passive thermal radiation cooling. In this study, we correlate the structural and optical properties of black aluminum by comparing it with conventional reflective aluminum layers. These layers of varying thicknesses were deposited on fused silica substrates, and their optical properties were analyzed.

Microstructure and physical properties of black-aluminum antireflective films.

The microstructure and physical properties of reflective and black aluminum were compared for layers of different thicknesses deposited by magnetron sputtering on fused silica substrates. Reflective Al layers followed the Volmer-Weber growth mechanism classically observed for polycrystalline metal films. On the contrary, the extra nitrogen gas used to deposit the black aluminum layers modified the growth mechanism and changed the film morphologies.

Unraveling adipose tissue proteomic landscapes in severe obesity: insights into metabolic complications and potential biomarkers.

In this study, we aimed to comprehensively characterize the proteomic landscapes of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in patients with severe obesity, to establish their associations with clinical characteristics, and to identify potential serum protein biomarkers indicative of tissue-specific alterations or metabolic states. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 32 patients with severe obesity (16 males and 16 females) of Central European descent who underwent bariatric surgery. Clinical parameters and body composition were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance, with 15 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 17 with hypertension.

Surface Enhancement Using Black Coatings for Sensor Applications.

The resolution of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is particularly crucial for gas sensor applications where low concentrations are detected. This resolution can be improved by increasing the effective surface of QCM electrodes and, thereby, enhancing their sensitivity. For this purpose, various researchers have investigated the use of micro-structured materials with promising results.

Enhanced drug delivery by a prodrug approach effectively relieves neuroinflammation in mice.

Aims: Neuroinflammation is a prominent hallmark in several neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Halting neuroinflammation can slow down the progression of NDs. Improving the efficacy of clinically available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a promising approach that may lead to fast-track and effective disease-modifying therapies for NDs.

A new approach to near-surface positron annihilation analysis of ion irradiated ferritic alloys.

The present work provides an innovative approach to the near-surface slow-positron-beam (SPB) study of structural materials exposed to ion-beam irradiation. This approach enables the use of variable-energy positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) to characterise a wide range of microstructural damage along the ion implantation profile. In a typical application of the SPB PALS technique, positron lifetime is used to provide qualitative information on the size of vacancy clusters as a function of the positron energy, , the probing depth of the spectrometer.

Proteomic Signatures of Human Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipocytes.

Context: Adipose tissue distribution is a key factor influencing metabolic health and risk in obesity-associated comorbidities.

Objective: Here we aim to compare the proteomic profiles of mature adipocytes from different depots.

Methods: Abdominal subcutaneous (SA) and omental visceral adipocytes (VA) were isolated from paired adipose tissue biopsies obtained during bariatric surgery on 19 severely obese women (body mass index > 30 kg/m2) and analyzed using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry.

Esophageal Cooling for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Feasibility Study.

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is a recognized treatment to decrease mortality and improve neurological function in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. An esophageal cooling device (ECD) has been studied in animal models, but human data are limited. An ECD appears to offer similar benefits to intravascular cooling catheters, with potentially less risk to the patient.

Interacting effects of the MAM model of schizophrenia and antipsychotic treatment: Untargeted proteomics approach in adipose tissue.

Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disease associated with substantially higher mortality. Reduced life expectancy in schizophrenia relates to an increased prevalence of metabolic disturbance, and antipsychotic medication is a major contributor. Molecular mechanisms underlying adverse metabolic effects of antipsychotics are not fully understood; however, adipose tissue homeostasis deregulation appears to be a critical factor.

Positron annihilation spectroscopy study of radiation-induced defects in W and Fe irradiated with neutrons with different spectra.

The paper presents new knowledge on primary defect formation in tungsten (W) and iron (Fe) irradiated by fission and high-energy neutrons at near-room temperature. Using a well-established method of positron-annihilation lifetime-spectroscopy (PALS), it was found that irradiation of W in the fission reactor and by high-energy neutrons from the p(35 MeV)-Be generator leads to the formation of small radiation-induced vacancy clusters with comparable mean size. In the case of Fe, smaller mean size of primary radiation-induced vacancy clusters was measured after irradiation with fission neutrons compared to irradiation with high-energy neutrons from the p(35 MeV)-Be generator.

Fabrication of black aluminium thin films by magnetron sputtering.

Black aluminium thin films were prepared by direct current (DC) pulsed magnetron sputtering. The N concentration in the Ar-N mixture that was used as the deposition atmosphere was varied from 0 to 10%, and its impact on the film growth and optical properties was studied. A strong change in the film growth process was observed as a function of the N concentration.

MiR-21 binding site SNP within ITGAM associated with psoriasis susceptibility in women.

Background: Great progress has been made in the understanding of inflammatory processes in psoriasis. However, clarifying the role of genetic variability in processes regulating inflammation, including post-transcriptional regulation by microRNA (miRNA), remains a challenge.

Objectives: We therefore investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a predicted change in the miRNA/mRNA interaction of genes involved in the psoriasis inflammatory processes.

Early Mobilization of Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

Critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation are least likely to be mobilized and, as a result, are at-risk for prolonged complications from weakness. The use of bed rest and sedation when caring for mechanically ventilated patients is likely shaped by historical practice; however, this review demonstrates early mobilization, with little to no sedation, is possible and safe. Assessing readiness for mobilization in context of progressing patients from passive to active activities can lead to long-term benefits and has been achievable with resource-efficient implementations and team work.

Working memory, reasoning, and expertise in medicine-insights into their relationship using functional neuroimaging.

Clinical reasoning is dependent upon working memory (WM). More precisely, during the clinical reasoning process stored information within long-term memory is brought into WM to facilitate the internal deliberation that affords a clinician the ability to reason through a case. In the present study, we examined the relationship between clinical reasoning and WM while participants read clinical cases with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Hemispheric activation differences in novice and expert clinicians during clinical decision making.

Clinical decision making requires knowledge, experience and analytical/non-analytical types of decision processes. As clinicians progress from novice to expert, research indicates decision-making becomes less reliant on foundational biomedical knowledge and more on previous experience. In this study, we investigated how knowledge and experience were reflected in terms of differences in neural areas of activation.

Quantum chaos in the nuclear collective model. II. Peres lattices.

This is a continuation of our paper [Phys. Rev. E 79, 046202 (2009)] devoted to signatures of quantum chaos in the geometric collective model of atomic nuclei.

Quantum chaos in the nuclear collective model: Classical-quantum correspondence.

Spectra of the geometric collective model of atomic nuclei are analyzed to identify chaotic correlations among nonrotational states. The model has been previously shown to exhibit a high degree of variability of regular and chaotic classical features with energy and control parameters. Corresponding signatures are now verified also on the quantum level for different schemes of quantization and with a variable classicality constant.

The role of primary chemotherapy for prostate cancer: has the time come?

Current treatments for patients with prostate cancer generally are successful. However, a subset of patients identified with high-risk prostate cancer likely will recur after local therapy. The optimal treatment plan for these patients has not been determined.