Combined carotid endarterectomy and transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Technique and outcomes.

Background: Stroke and transient ischemic attack after transcatheter aortic valve replacement results in significantly higher morbidity and mortality. Severe carotid artery disease may be a contributing factor to this increased risk. We report our technique and outcomes of combined carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Left atrial appendage myxofibrosarcoma: A rare masquerader of myxoma and thrombus-"all that glitters is not gold".

Left atrial appendage mass can occasionally pose a serious challenge to physicians to identify the nature of the mass with the aid of imaging techniques. We present a case of 67-year-old man, who was evaluated for suspected left atria myxoma. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a heterogeneous density originating from left atrial appendage, thought to be most consistent with a myxoma.

Intensive Foreign Language Learning Reveals Effects on Categorical Perception of Sibilant Voicing After Only 3 Weeks.

Models of speech learning suggest that adaptations to foreign language sound categories take place within 6 to 12 months of exposure to a foreign language. Results from laboratory language training show effects of very targeted training on nonnative speech contrasts within only 1 to 4 weeks of training. Results from immersion studies are inconclusive, but some suggest continued effects on nonnative speech perception after 6 to 8 years of experience.

Assessing knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship.

The Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) is a national clinical multidisciplinary forum that coordinates and delivers antimicrobial stewardship (AS). This work includes ensuring health professionals have the necessary knowledge to contribute to improving the use of antimicrobials and to develop and implement education resources if required. The SAPG undertook a survey to scope the current understanding and learning needs among nurses and midwives in a range of care settings across Scotland.

When Pinocchio's nose does not grow: belief regarding lie-detectability modulates production of deception.

Does the brain activity underlying the production of deception differ depending on whether or not one believes their deception can be detected? To address this question, we had participants commit a mock theft in a laboratory setting, and then interrogated them while they underwent functional MRI (fMRI) scanning. Crucially, during some parts of the interrogation participants believed a lie-detector was activated, whereas in other parts they were told it was switched-off. We were thus able to examine the neural activity associated with the contrast between producing true vs.

Identification of a Histidine Metal Ligand in the argE-Encoded N-Acetyl-L-Ornithine Deacetylase from Escherichia coli.

The H355A, H355K, H80A, and H80K mutant enzymes of the argE-encoded N-acetyl-L-ornithine deacetylase (ArgE) from Escherichia coli were prepared, however, only the H355A enzyme was found to be soluble. Kinetic analysis of the Co(II)-loaded H355A exhibited activity levels that were 380-fold less than Co(II)-loaded WT ArgE. Electronic absorption spectra of Co(II)-loaded H355A-ArgE indicate that the bound Co(II) ion resides in a distorted, five-coordinate environment and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) data for Zn(II) binding to the H355A enzyme provided a dissociation constant (K d) of 39 μM.

TRAF6 and p62 inhibit amyloid β-induced neuronal death through p75 neurotrophin receptor.

Amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates are the primary component of senile plaques in Alzheimer disease (AD) patient's brain. Aβ is known to bind p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) and mediates Aβ-induced neuronal death. Recently, we showed that NGF leads to p75(NTR) polyubiquitination, which promotes neuronal cell survival.

DNA polymerase eta participates in the mutagenic bypass of adducts induced by benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide in mammalian cells.

Y-family DNA-polymerases have larger active sites that can accommodate bulky DNA adducts allowing them to bypass these lesions during replication. One member, polymerase eta (pol eta), is specialized for the bypass of UV-induced thymidine-thymidine dimers, correctly inserting two adenines. Loss of pol eta function is the molecular basis for xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) variant where the accumulation of mutations results in a dramatic increase in UV-induced skin cancers.

Salvage peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation using Cobe Revolution(®) centrifugal pump as a bridge to decision for acute refractory cardiogenic shock.

Objectives: Acute refractory cardiogenic shock with early multisystem organ failure has a poor outcome without mechanical circulatory support. We review our experience with emergent peripheral cardiopulmonary support as a bridge to decision in these patients.

Methods: A retrospective review from January 2009 through December 2010 was conducted of 26 consecutive adult patients at a single institution with acute refractory cardiogenic shock who underwent salvage peripheral cardiopulmonary support.

Altered Ig hypermutation pattern and frequency in complementary mouse models of DNA polymerase ζ activity.

To test the hypothesis that DNA polymerase ζ participates in Ig hypermutation, we generated two mouse models of Pol ζ function: a B cell-specific conditional knockout and a knock-in strain with a Pol ζ mutagenesis-enhancing mutation. Pol ζ-deficient B cells had a reduction in mutation frequency at Ig loci in the spleen and in Peyer's patches, whereas knock-in mice with a mutagenic Pol ζ displayed a marked increase in mutation frequency in Peyer's patches, revealing a pattern that was similar to mutations in yeast strains with a homologous mutation in the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of Pol ζ. Combined, these data are best explained by a direct role for DNA polymerase ζ in Ig hypermutation.

What if I Get Busted? Deception, Choice, and Decision-Making in Social Interaction.

Deception is an essentially social act, yet little is known about how social consequences affect the decision to deceive. In this study, participants played a computerized game of deception without constraints on whether or when to attempt to deceive their opponent. Participants were questioned by an opponent outside the scanner about their knowledge of the content of a display.

Structural characterization of Zn(II)-, Co(II)-, and Mn(II)-loaded forms of the argE-encoded N-acetyl-L-ornithine deacetylase from Escherichia coli.

The Zn, Co, and Mn K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of the N-acetyl-l-ornithine deacetylase (ArgE) from Escherichia coli, loaded with one or two equivalents of divalent metal ions (i.e., [Zn(II)_(ArgE)], [Zn(II)Zn(II)(ArgE)], [Co(II)_(ArgE)], [Co(II)Co(II)(ArgE)], [Mn(II)_(ArgE)], and [Mn(II)Mn(II)(ArgE)]), were recorded.

Replication of damaged genomes.

Cellular DNA is continuously assaulted by chemical and physical agents that arise from both endogenous metabolic processes as well as exogenous insults. Commonly encountered environmental agents include polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic amines, the ultraviolet component of sunlight, and ionizing radiation, among many others. Although the kinds of damages and the mechanisms involved in their interaction with DNA vary widely, genotoxic agents alter the structure of DNA in ways that may result in permanent alterations in the DNA sequence or in cell death.

Validity and reliability of agility tests in junior Australian football players.

Young, W, Farrow, D, Pyne, D, McGregor, W, and Handke, T. Validity and reliability of agility tests in junior Australian football players. J Strength Cond Res 25(12): 3399-3403, 2011-The importance of sport-specific stimuli in reactive agility tests (RATs) compared to other agility tests is not known.

Cardiac assist with a twist: apical torsion as a means to improve failing heart function.

Changes in muscle fiber orientation across the wall of the left ventricle (LV) cause the apex of the heart to turn 10-15 deg in opposition to its base during systole and are believed to increase stroke volume and lower wall stress in healthy hearts. Studies show that cardiac torsion is sensitive to various disease states, which suggests that it may be an important aspect of cardiac function. Modern imaging techniques have sparked renewed interest in cardiac torsion dynamics, but no work has been done to determine whether mechanically augmented apical torsion can be used to restore function to failing hearts.

Sequential assembly of translesion DNA polymerases at UV-induced DNA damage sites.

In response to DNA damage such as from UV irradiation, mammalian Y-family translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases Polη and Rev1 colocalize with proliferating cell nuclear antigen at nuclear foci, presumably representing stalled replication sites. However, it is unclear whether the localization of one polymerase is dependent on another. Furthermore, there is no report on the in vivo characterization of the Rev3 catalytic subunit of the B-family TLS polymerase Polζ.

Strategies and outcomes of cardiac surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses.

Background: Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) are a Christian faith, with an estimated 1.1 million members in the United States, well recognized for their refusal of blood and blood products. JW may not be considered for cardiac surgery due to perceived higher risks of morbidity and mortality.

Translesion synthesis polymerases in the prevention and promotion of carcinogenesis.

A critical step in the transformation of cells to the malignant state of cancer is the induction of mutations in the DNA of cells damaged by genotoxic agents. Translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) is the process by which cells copy DNA containing unrepaired damage that blocks progression of the replication fork. The DNA polymerases that catalyze TLS in mammals have been the topic of intense investigation over the last decade.

The production and detection of deception in an interactive game.

This experiment tests how people produce and detect deception while playing a computerized version of the dice game, Meyer. Deception is an integral part of this game, and the participants played it as in real life, without constraints on whether or when to attempt to deceive their opponent, and whether or when to accuse them of deception. We stress that deception is a complex act that cannot be exclusively associated with telling a falsehood, and that it is facilitated by hierarchical decision-making and risk evaluation.

Theory of Mind in adults with right hemisphere damage: What's the story?

Why do people with right hemisphere damage (RHD) have difficulty with pragmatics and communication? One hypothesis has been that pragmatic impairment in RHD is the result of an underlying impairment in Theory of Mind (ToM): the ability to infer the mental states of others. In previous studies evaluating ToM abilities in people with RHD, researchers have used judgment tasks based on story or still cartoon stimuli. However, ToM is likely to draw on kinetic information as well, and these tasks ignore this aspect.

Micro- and nanotechnology approaches for capturing circulating tumor cells.

Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are cells that have detached from primary tumors and circulate in the bloodstream where they are carried to other organs, leading to seeding of new tumors and metastases. CTC have been known to exist in the bloodstream for more than a century. With recent progress in the area of micro- and nanotechnology, it has been possible to adopt new approaches in CTC research.

Effect of rapid human N-acetyltransferase 2 haplotype on DNA damage and mutagenesis induced by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx).

Heterocyclic amines such as 2-amino-3-methylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) are dietary carcinogens generated when meats are cooked well-done. Bioactivation includes N-hydroxylation catalyzed by cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) followed by O-acetylation catalyzed by N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). Nucleotide excision repair-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with human CYP1A2 and either NAT2*4 (rapid acetylator) or NAT2*5B (slow acetylator) alleles were treated with IQ or MeIQx to examine the effect of NAT2 genetic polymorphism on IQ- or MeIQx-induced DNA adducts and mutagenesis.

Limb-threatening ischemia secondary to a congenital acromioclavicular remnant.

Upper extremity vascular compromise from thoracic outlet syndrome is rare and is usually the result of a "cervical rib," anterior scalene muscle abnormality, or clavicular trauma. We report a case of acute axillary artery thrombosis secondary to a congenital acromioclavicular remnant in a 40-year-old woman.