Comparative gene expression analysis of Dtg, a novel target gene of Dpp signaling pathway in the early Drosophila melanogaster embryo.

In the early Drosophila melanogaster embryo, Dpp, a secreted molecule that belongs to the TGF-β superfamily of growth factors, activates a set of downstream genes to subdivide the dorsal region into amnioserosa and dorsal epidermis. Here, we examined the expression pattern and transcriptional regulation of Dtg, a new target gene of Dpp signaling pathway that is required for proper amnioserosa differentiation. We showed that the expression of Dtg was controlled by Dpp and characterized a 524-bp enhancer that mediated expression in the dorsal midline, as well as, in the differentiated amnioserosa in transgenic reporter embryos.

On the nature of interactions between ionic liquids and small amino-acid-based biomolecules.

During the last decade, ionic liquids (ILs) have revealed promising properties and applications in many research fields, including biotechnology and biological sciences. The focus of this contribution is to give a critical review of the phenomena observed and current knowledge of the interactions occurring on a molecular basis. As opposed to the huge advances made in understanding the properties of proteins in ILs, complementary investigations dealing with interactions between ILs and peptides or oligopeptides are underrepresented and are mostly only of phenomenological nature.

What drives the spatial agency bias? An Italian-Malagasy-Arabic comparison study.

In Western cultures, human interactions are generally envisaged such that the agent appears on the left, the recipient on the right, with action flowing from left to right. Here we explore the joint influence of 2 mechanisms driving such spatial asymmetries: the embodiment of script direction and the order in which subject and object are mentioned. A comparison of 3 language communities (Italian, Malagasy, Arabic) differing in script direction (left-right for Italian and Malagasy and right-left for Arabic) and in subject-object order (subject-verb-object in Italian and Arabic and verb-object-subject in Malagasy) provides evidence for the assumption that both mechanisms contribute to the spatial asymmetry.

Construction of reference chromosome-scale pseudomolecules for potato: integrating the potato genome with genetic and physical maps.

The genome of potato, a major global food crop, was recently sequenced. The work presented here details the integration of the potato reference genome (DM) with a new sequence-tagged site marker-based linkage map and other physical and genetic maps of potato and the closely related species tomato. Primary anchoring of the DM genome assembly was accomplished by the use of a diploid segregating population, which was genotyped with several types of molecular genetic markers to construct a new ~936 cM linkage map comprising 2469 marker loci.

Contemporary use of devices in heart failure.

Devices have become a cornerstone of heart failure (HF) therapy. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) decrease mortality, and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves symptoms and mortality. Most data have been collected in patients with systolic dysfunction.

Atrial remodeling is directly related to end-diastolic left ventricular pressure in a mouse model of ventricular pressure overload.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often preceded by underlying cardiac diseases causing ventricular pressure overload.

Objective: It was our aim to investigate the progression of atrial remodeling in a small animal model of ventricular pressure overload and its association with induction of AF.

Methods: Male mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or sham operation.

Distribution and function of sodium channel subtypes in human atrial myocardium.

Voltage-gated sodium channels composed of a pore-forming α subunit and auxiliary β subunits are responsible for the upstroke of the action potential in cardiac muscle. However, their localization and expression patterns in human myocardium have not yet been clearly defined. We used immunohistochemical methods to define the level of expression and the subcellular localization of sodium channel α and β subunits in human atrial myocytes.

Cyclical stretch induces structural changes in atrial myocytes.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) often occurs in the presence of an underlying disease. These underlying diseases cause atrial remodelling, which make the atria more susceptible to AF. Stretch is an important mediator in the remodelling process.

Stoichiometric modeling of oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (Riscs) in Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans.

The prokaryotic oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) is a topic of utmost importance from a biogeochemical and industrial perspective. Despite sulfur oxidizing bacterial activity is largely known, no quantitative approaches to biological RISCs oxidation have been made, gathering all the complex abiotic and enzymatic stoichiometry involved. Even though in the case of neutrophilic bacteria such as Paracoccus and Beggiatoa species the RISCs oxidation systems are well described, there is a lack of knowledge for acidophilic microorganisms.

Cdk5 regulates Rap1 activity.

Rap1 signaling is important for migration, differentiation, axonal growth, and during neuronal polarity. Rap1 can be activated by external stimuli, which in turn regulates specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors such as C3G, among others. Cdk5 functions are also important to neuronal migration and differentiation.

Bioinformatic survey for new physiological substrates of Cyclin-dependent kinase 5.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase predominantly active in the nervous system where it regulates several processes such as neuronal migration, cytoskeletal dynamics, axonal guidance, and neurotransmission. We constructed a position specific scoring matrix (PSSM) based on a dataset of sites shown to be phosphorylated both in vivo and in vitro by Cdk5. This dataset was curated manually through an exhaustive search of published experimental data.

Sleep and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Beyond the cardinal motor symptoms, bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and postural instability, defining the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, there is a big spectrum of non-motor features that patients may suffer from and that may reduce their quality of life. Non-motor symptoms are not only frequent but also often under-reported by patients and caregivers. As they are frequently under-recognized by clinicians, they remain consequently under-treated.

Metabolomic study of Chilean biomining bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain Wenelen and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans strain Licanantay.

In this study, we present the first metabolic profiles for two bioleaching bacteria using capillary electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry. The bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain Wenelen (DSM 16786) and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans strain Licanantay (DSM 17318), were sampled at different growth phases and on different substrates: the former was grown with iron and sulfur, and the latter with sulfur and chalcopyrite. Metabolic profiles were scored from planktonic and sessile states.

Ligand-specific binding and activation of the human adenosine A(2B) receptor.

Adenosine A(2B) receptors, which play a role in inflammation and cancer, are of considerable interest as novel drug targets. To gain deeper insights into ligand binding and receptor activation, we exchanged amino acids predicted to be close to the binding pocket. The alanine mutants were stably expressed in CHO cells and characterized by radioligand binding and cAMP assays using three structural classes of ligands: xanthine (antagonist), adenosine, and aminopyridine derivatives (agonists).

A Glycam-Based Force Field for Simulations of Lipopolysaccharide Membranes: Parametrization and Validation.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) comprise the outermost layer of the Gram-negative bacteria cell envelope. Packed onto a lipid layer, the outer membrane displays remarkable physical-chemical differences compared to cell membranes. The carbohydrate-rich region confers a membrane asymmetry that underlies many biological processes such as endotoxicity, antibiotic resistance, and cell adhesion.

Draft genome sequence of the Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans Cutipay strain, an indigenous bacterium isolated from a naturally extreme mining environment in Northern Chile.

Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans strain Cutipay is a mixotrophic, acidophilic, moderately thermophilic bacterium isolated from mining environments of the north of Chile, making it an interesting subject for studying the bioleaching of copper. We introduce the draft genome sequence and annotation of this strain, which provide insights into its mechanisms for heavy metal resistance.

The entirely subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: initial clinical experience in a large Dutch cohort.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the entirely subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD).

Background: A new entirely S-ICD has been introduced, that does not require lead placement in or on the heart. The authors report the largest multicenter experience to date with the S-ICD with a minimum of 1-year follow-up in the first 118 Dutch patients who were implanted with this device.

Heart failure highlights in 2011.

Heart failure (HF) remains a major medical problem, and the European Journal of Heart Failure is dedicated to publishing research further investigating its pathophysiology and diagnosis in order to help clinicians alleviate symptoms and improve patient outcomes.( 1) This review reports on important studies in the field of HF published in 2011. All research areas are addressed, including experimental studies, biomarkers, clinical trials, arrhythmias, and new insights into the role of device therapy.

Rapid memory reactivation revealed by oscillatory entrainment.

Episodic memory refers to humans' unique ability to mentally reconstruct past events. Neurocomputational models predict that remembering entails the reinstatement of brain activity that was present when an event was initially experienced [1-5], a claim that has recently gained support from functional imaging work in humans [6-14]. The nature of this reactivation, however, is still unclear.

The importance of whether atrial fibrillation or heart failure develops first.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure often co-exist. It is unknown whether the sequence in which AF and heart failure develop is of significance regarding prognosis. We assessed the prognosis of AF patients hospitalized for heart failure based on the timing of AF and heart failure development.

Rationale and design of the PRAETORIAN trial: a Prospective, RAndomizEd comparison of subcuTaneOus and tRansvenous ImplANtable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy.

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are widely used to prevent fatal outcomes associated with life-threatening arrhythmic episodes in a variety of cardiac diseases. These ICDs rely on transvenous leads for cardiac sensing and defibrillation. A new entirely subcutaneous ICD overcomes problems associated with transvenous leads.

Video-Assisted Implantation of a Left Ventricular Lead and Intrathoracic Tunneling to a Right-Sided CRT-D Device.

We describe two cases in which a biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator for cardiac resynchronization therapy had to be placed on the right side due to unsuitability of the left subclavian vein. Endocardial implantation of a left ventricular lead through the coronary sinus was previously attempted but was unsuccessful. Implantation of the epicardial left ventricular pacing lead was performed through video-assisted thoracic surgery on the left side.