The versatility of Delftia sp. isolates as tools for bioremediation and biofertilization technologies.

Two Pb(II)-resistant bacteria isolated from a soil containing 2,500 mg/kg of Pb were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis as Delftia sp. and designated as 3C and 6C. Both isolates grew at a Pb(II) concentration of 62 mg/L and at the stationary phase showed a Pb(II)-sorption capability of 10 ± 1.

Advances in two-dimensional quantitative coronary angiographic assessment of bifurcation lesions: improved small lumen diameter detection and automatic reference vessel diameter derivation.

Aims: To validate a new two dimensional (2-D) bifurcation quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) software.

Methods And Results: In the latest edition of the Cardiovascular Angiography Analysis System (CAAS 5.9; Pie Medical Imaging, Maastricht, The Netherlands) video-densitometric information is dynamically integrated into the edge-detection algorithm of 11- and 6-segment models to reduce overestimation of small diameters.

Relationship between palpography and virtual histology in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to correlate adverse events at long-term follow-up in patients after an acute coronary syndrome with coronary plaque characteristics derived from simultaneous evaluation of their mechanical and compositional properties using virtual histology (intravascular ultrasound virtual histology) and palpography.

Background: Fibroatheroma is the plaque morphology with the highest risk of causing adverse cardiac events. Palpography can potentially assess the local mechanical plaque properties with the possibility of identifying fibroatheroma with the highest risk of rupture.

Specific inhibition of the JNK pathway promotes locomotor recovery and neuroprotection after mouse spinal cord injury.

Limiting the development of secondary damage represents one of the major goals of neuroprotective therapies after spinal cord injury. Here, we demonstrate that specific JNK inhibition via a single intraperitoneal injection of the cell permeable peptide D-JNKI1 6h after lesion improves locomotor recovery assessed by both the footprint and the BMS tests up to 4 months post-injury in mice. JNK inhibition prevents c-jun phosphorylation and caspase-3 cleavage, has neuroprotective effects and results in an increased sparing of white matter at the lesion site.

Consensus standards for acquisition, measurement, and reporting of intravascular optical coherence tomography studies: a report from the International Working Group for Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography Standardization and Validation.

Objectives: The purpose of this document is to make the output of the International Working Group for Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IWG-IVOCT) Standardization and Validation available to medical and scientific communities, through a peer-reviewed publication, in the interest of improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease.

Background: Intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) is a catheter-based modality that acquires images at a resolution of ~10 μm, enabling visualization of blood vessel wall microstructure in vivo at an unprecedented level of detail. IVOCT devices are now commercially available worldwide, there is an active user base, and the interest in using this technology is growing.

Concentration landscape generators for shear free dynamic chemical stimulation.

In this paper we first introduce a novel fabrication process, which allows for easy integration of thin track-etched nanoporous membranes, within 2D or 3D microchannel networks. In these networks, soluble chemical compounds can diffuse out of the channels through well-defined and spatially organized microfabricated porous openings. Interestingly, multiple micron-scale porous areas can be integrated in the same device and each of these areas can be connected to a different microfluidic channel and reservoir.

Oleate metabolism in pig enterocytes is characterized by an increased oxidation rate in the presence of a high esterification rate within two days after birth.

Oleate (OLE) is the principle fatty acid (FA) in mammalian colostrum, but its role in the energy supply in enterocytes after birth remains unknown. We investigated the metabolic fate of OLE in pig enterocytes at birth (d0) and after 2 d of suckling (d2). Cellular TG and phospholipids (PL) and FA composition were analyzed.

A Novel Cellular Model to Study Angiotensin II AT2 Receptor Function in Breast Cancer Cells.

Recent studies have highlighted the AT1 receptor as a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer, while the role of the AT2 subtype in this disease has remained largely neglected. The present study describes the generation and characterization of a new cellular model of human invasive breast cancer cells (D3H2LN-AT2) stably expressing high levels of Flag-tagged human AT2 receptor (Flag-hAT2). These cells exhibit high-affinity binding sites for AngII, and total binding can be displaced by the AT2-selective antagonist PD123319 but not by the AT1-selective antagonist losartan.

Functional diversification of fungal glutathione transferases from the ure2p class.

The glutathione-S-transferase (GST) proteins represent an extended family involved in detoxification processes. They are divided into various classes with high diversity in various organisms. The Ure2p class is especially expanded in saprophytic fungi compared to other fungi.

Levels of kinesin light chain and dynein intermediate chain are reduced in the frontal cortex in Alzheimer's disease: implications for axoplasmic transport.

Fast anterograde and retrograde axoplasmic transports in neurons rely on the activity of molecular motors and are critical for maintenance of neuronal and synaptic functions. Disturbances of axoplasmic transport have been identified in Alzheimer's disease and in animal models of this disease, but their mechanisms are not well understood. In this study we have investigated the distribution and the level of expression of kinesin light chains (KLCs) (responsible for binding of cargos during anterograde transport) and of dynein intermediate chain (DIC) (a component of the dynein complex during retrograde transport) in frontal cortex and cerebellar cortex of control subjects and Alzheimer's disease patients.

Validity and variability in visual assessment of stenosis severity in phantom bifurcation lesions: a survey in experts during the fifth meeting of the European Bifurcation Club.

Objectives: To investigate the adequacy of visual estimate regarding the percent diameter stenosis (DS) in bifurcation lesions.

Background: Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) is more accurate and precise compared to visual estimate in assessing stenosis severity in single-vessel lesions.

Methods: Thirty-six experts in the field of bifurcation PCI visually assessed the DS in cine images of five precision manufactured phantom bifurcation lesions, experts being blinded to the true values.

Angiographic outcomes following stenting or coronary artery bypass surgery of the left main coronary artery: fifteen-month outcomes from the synergy between PCI with TAXUS express and cardiac surgery left main angiographic substudy (SYNTAX-LE MANS).

Aims: The SYNTAX-LE MANS substudy prospectively evaluated 15-month angiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with treated left main (LM) disease.

Methods And Results: In the SYNTAX trial, 1,800 patients with three-vessel and/or LM disease were randomised to either CABG or PCI; of these, 271 LM patients were prospectively assigned to receive a 15-month angiogram. The primary endpoint for the CABG arm was the ratio of ≥50% to <100% obstructed/occluded grafts bypassing LM lesions to the number placed.

SYNTAX score and Clinical SYNTAX score as predictors of very long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions: a substudy of SIRolimus-eluting stent compared with pacliTAXel-eluting stent for coronary revascularization (SIRTAX) trial.

Aims: To investigate the ability of SYNTAX score and Clinical SYNTAX score (CSS) to predict very long-term outcomes in an all-comers population receiving drug-eluting stents.

Methods And Results: The SYNTAX score was retrospectively calculated in 848 patients enrolled in the SIRolimus-eluting stent compared with pacliTAXel-Eluting Stent for coronary revascularization (SIRTAX) trial. The CSS was calculated using age, and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction and creatinine clearance.

Implantation of the biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stent in patients with high SYNTAX score is associated with decreased cardiac mortality compared to a permanent polymer sirolimus-eluting stent: two year follow-up results from the "all-comers" LEADERS trial.

Background: The SYNTAX score (SXscore) has been shown to be an effective predictor of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: The SXscore was prospectively collected in 1,397 of the 1,707 patients enrolled in the "all-comers" LEADERS trial (patients post-surgical revascularisation were excluded). Post hoc analysis was performed by stratifying clinical outcomes at two-year follow-up, according to one of three SXscore tertiles: SXlow ≤8 (n=464), 816 (n=461).

Angiographic geometric changes of the lumen arterial wall after bioresorbable vascular scaffolds and metallic platform stents at 1-year follow-up.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the angiographic changes in coronary geometry of the bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) and metallic platform stent (MPS) between baseline and follow-up.

Background: Coronary geometry changes after stenting might result in wall shear stress changes and adverse events. The BVS have better conformability, compared with MPS, but still modify artery geometry.

Prevention of the β-amyloid peptide-induced inflammatory process by inhibition of double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase in primary murine mixed co-cultures.

Background: Inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There has been little success with anti-inflammatory drugs in AD, while the promise of anti-inflammatory treatment is more evident in experimental models. A new anti-inflammatory strategy requires a better understanding of molecular mechanisms.

Seminal parameters and field fertility of cryopreserved donkey jack semen after insemination of horse mares.

Reasons For Performing Study: As mule production is often concentrated in remote areas of the world, a simplified semen cryopreservation protocol is required.

Aim: To compare the seminal parameters of cryopreserved donkey semen in lactose-EDTA and lactose-yolk extenders and the fertility rates on horse mares.

Methods: TRIAL 1: Sperm total and progressive motility, vigour (scale 0-5), morphology (major and minor defects) and plasma membrane integrity (HOST) were evaluated in 25 ejaculates from 5 donkey jacks immediately after collection (raw), after chilling to 5°C (chilled) and after freezing/thawing.

Mechanisms of heat-mediated aggregation of wheat gluten protein upon pasta processing.

During pasta processing, structural changes of protein occur, due to changes in water content, mechanical energy input, and high temperature treatments. The present paper investigates the impact of successive and intense thermal treatments (high temperature drying, cooking, and overcooking) on aggregation of gluten protein in pasta. Protein aggregation was evaluated by the measurement of sensitivity of disulfide bonds toward reduction with dithioerythritol (DTE), at different reactions times.

Standardized endpoint definitions for transcatheter aortic valve implantation clinical trials: a consensus report from the Valve Academic Research Consortium.

Objectives: To propose standardized consensus definitions for important clinical endpoints in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), investigations in an effort to improve the quality of clinical research and to enable meaningful comparisons between clinical trials. To make these consensus definitions accessible to all stakeholders in TAVI clinical research through a peer reviewed publication, on behalf of the public health.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation may provide a worthwhile less invasive treatment in many patients with severe aortic stenosis and since its introduction to the medical community in 2002, there has been an explosive growth in procedures.

Standardized endpoint definitions for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation clinical trials: a consensus report from the Valve Academic Research Consortium.

Objectives: To propose standardized consensus definitions for important clinical endpoints in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), investigations in an effort to improve the quality of clinical research and to enable meaningful comparisons between clinical trials. To make these consensus definitions accessible to all stakeholders in TAVI clinical research through a peer reviewed publication, on behalf of the public health.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation may provide a worthwhile less invasive treatment in many patients with severe aortic stenosis and since its introduction to the medical community in 2002, there has been an explosive growth in procedures.

Bis(2,6-diamino-1H-purin-3-ium) di-μ-croconato-κ3O,O':O'';κ3O:O',O''-bis[tetraaqua(croconato-κ2O,O')neodymium(III)].

The structure of the ionic title compound, (C(5)H(7)N(6))(2)[Nd(2)(C(5)O(5))(4)(H(2)O)(8)], consists of anionic dimers built around an inversion centre and is made up of an Nd(III) cation, two croconate (croco) dianions and four water molecules (plus their inversion images), with two noncoordinated symmetry-related 2,6-diamino-1H-purin-3-ium (Hdap(+)) cations providing charge balance. Each Nd(III) atom is bound to nine O atoms from four water and three croco units. The coordination polyhedron has the form of a rather regular monocapped square antiprism.

Value of age, creatinine, and ejection fraction (ACEF score) in assessing risk in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions in the 'All-Comers' LEADERS trial.

Background: The age, creatinine, and ejection fraction (ACEF) score (age/left ventricular ejection fraction+1 if creatinine >2.0 mg/dL) has been established as an effective predictor of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery; however, its utility in "all-comer" patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention is yet unexplored.

Methods And Results: The ACEF score was calculated for 1208 of the 1707 patients enrolled in the LEADERS trial.

Glutathione transferases of Phanerochaete chrysosporium: S-glutathionyl-p-hydroquinone reductase belongs to a new structural class.

The white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, a saprophytic basidiomycete, possesses a large number of cytosolic glutathione transferases, eight of them showing similarity to the Omega class. PcGSTO1 (subclass I, the bacterial homologs of which were recently proposed, based on their enzymatic function, to constitute a new class of glutathione transferase named S-glutathionyl-(chloro)hydroquinone reductases) and PcGSTO3 (subclass II related to mammalian homologs) have been investigated in this study. Biochemical investigations demonstrate that both enzymes are able to catalyze deglutathionylation reactions thanks to the presence of a catalytic cysteinyl residue.

A comparative photophysical and photochemical study of nitropyrene isomers occurring in the environment.

Ground state absorption, first excited-singlet state, and properties of reactive intermediates of mononitropyrene isomers encountered in the atmospheric aerosol have been studied under different conditions that could mimic the environment. The nitro group can present different orientations relative to the pyrene ring depending on its geometric location and could induce differences in the photochemistry of the isomers. The 2-NO(2)Py isomer has the largest red shift and lowest oscillator strength in the UV-visible band associated with the nitro group.