Safety and accuracy of the computer interpretation of normal ECGs at triage.

Background: ECGs performed at ED triage are mandatorily assessed by an emergency physician contributing to task interruptions, decreased quality of care and increased error risk. Recent literature suggests that a triage ECG interpreted as normal by the ECG machine software correlates with benign interpretation from attending cardiologists. Ambiguity persists regarding the safety of the normal computerized ECG interpretation and whether real-time physician review is needed.

Hypothermic Perfusion Modifies the Association Between Anti-LG3 Antibodies and Delayed Graft Function in Kidney Recipients.

We previously reported associations between autoantibodies to the LG3 fragment of perlecan, anti-LG3, and a higher risk of delayed graft function (DGF) in kidney transplant recipients. Here, we aimed to determine whether some factors that modulate ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) can modify this association. We performed a retrospective cohort study in kidney transplant recipients in 2 university-affiliated centers.

Natural Antibodies Are Associated With Rejection and Long-term Renal Allograft Loss in a Multicenter International Cohort.

Background: Potentially harmful nonhuman leukocyte antigen antibodies have been identified in renal transplantation, including natural immunoglobulin G antibodies (Nabs) reactive to varied antigenic structures, including apoptotic cells.

Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, we assessed Nabs by reactivity to apoptotic cells in sera collected from 980 kidney transplant recipients across 4 centers to determine their association with graft outcomes.

Results: Elevated pretransplant Nabs were associated with graft loss (hazard ratio [HR] 2.

MHC class I antigen cross-presentation mediated by PapMV nanoparticles in human antigen-presenting cells is dependent on autophagy.

Nanoparticles made of the coat protein of papaya mosaic virus (PapMV) and a single-strand RNA were previously shown to be an efficient antigen presentation system for the trigger of cellular immunity. Engineering of PapMV nano with a cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope was previously shown activating specific T lymphocytes through a proteasome-independent major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) cross-presentation. In this study, we provide new insights into the mechanism of the MHC-I cross-presentation mediated by PapMV nanoparticles.

The 20S proteasome core, active within apoptotic exosome-like vesicles, induces autoantibody production and accelerates rejection.

Autoantibodies to components of apoptotic cells, such as anti-perlecan antibodies, contribute to rejection in organ transplant recipients. However, mechanisms of immunization to apoptotic components remain largely uncharacterized. We used large-scale proteomics, with validation by electron microscopy and biochemical methods, to compare the protein profiles of apoptotic bodies and apoptotic exosome-like vesicles, smaller extracellular vesicles released by endothelial cells downstream of caspase-3 activation.

Autophagy fosters myofibroblast differentiation through MTORC2 activation and downstream upregulation of CTGF.

Recent evidence suggests that autophagy may favor fibrosis through enhanced differentiation of fibroblasts in myofibroblasts. Here, we sought to characterize the mediators and signaling pathways implicated in autophagy-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Fibroblasts, serum starved for up to 4 d, showed increased LC3-II/-I ratios and decreased SQSTM1/p62 levels.

A comprehensive characterization of membrane vesicles released by autophagic human endothelial cells.

The stress status of the apoptotic cell can promote phenotypic changes that have important consequences on the immunogenicity of the dying cell. Autophagy is one of the biological processes activated in response to a stressful condition. It is an important mediator of intercellular communications, both by regulating the unconventional secretion of molecules, including interleukin 1β, and by regulating the extracellular release of ATP from early stage apoptotic cells.

Caspase activation regulates the extracellular export of autophagic vacuoles.

The endothelium plays a central role in the regulation of vascular wall cellularity and tone by secreting an array of mediators of importance in intercellular communication. Nutrient deprivation of human endothelial cells (EC) evokes unconventional forms of secretion leading to the release of nanovesicles distinct from apoptotic bodies and bearing markers of multivesicular bodies (MVB). Nutrient deficiency is also a potent inducer of autophagy and vesicular transport pathways can be assisted by autophagy.

Occurrence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolates from different aquatic ecosystems within the St. Clair River and Detroit River areas.

Although the number of Escherichia coli bacteria in surface waters can differ greatly between locations, relatively little is known about the distribution of E. coli pathotypes in surface waters used as sources for drinking or recreation. DNA microarray technology is a suitable tool for this type of study due to its ability to detect high numbers of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes simultaneously.

A virulence and antimicrobial resistance DNA microarray detects a high frequency of virulence genes in Escherichia coli isolates from Great Lakes recreational waters.

Escherichia coli is generally described as a commensal species with occasional pathogenic strains. Due to technological limitations, there is currently little information concerning the prevalence of pathogenic E. coli strains in the environment.