Quorum sensing in Vibrio controls carbon metabolism to optimize growth in changing environmental conditions.

Bacteria sense population density via the cell-cell communication system called quorum sensing (QS). The evolution of QS and its maintenance or loss in mixed bacterial communities is highly relevant to understanding how cell-cell signaling impacts bacterial fitness and competition, particularly under varying environmental conditions such as nutrient availability. We uncovered a phenomenon in which Vibrio cells grown in minimal medium optimize expression of the methionine and tetrahydrofolate (THF) synthesis genes via QS.

Specific Morphology of Coronary Artery Aneurysms in Mainly White Patients With Kawasaki Disease: Initial Data From the Cardiac Catheterization in Kawasaki Disease Registry.

Background: Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) with coronary artery involvement require long-term cardiac care. Although respective evidence-based recommendations are missing, cardiac catheterization is still considered the gold standard for diagnosing detailed coronary pathology. Therefore, to better understand coronary artery pathology development, we conducted a survey to document and evaluate cardiac catheterization data in a European population.

Single center experience with ABO-incompatible and ABO-compatible pediatric heart transplantation.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the results after pediatric heart transplantation (pHTx) at our single center differentiating between ABO-incompatible (ABOi) and -compatible (ABOc) procedures.

Methods And Patients: We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of ABO-incompatible HTx procedures performed at our center and compared the data to ABO-compatible HTx of the same era. Eighteen children (<17 months) underwent pediatric HTx and seven of them underwent ABO-incompatible HTx between 2003 and 2015.

StopKB: a comprehensive knowledgebase for nonsense suppression therapies.

Nonsense variations, characterized by premature termination codons, play a major role in human genetic diseases as well as in cancer susceptibility. Despite their high prevalence, effective therapeutic strategies targeting premature termination codons remain a challenge. To understand and explore the intricate mechanisms involved, we developed StopKB, a comprehensive knowledgebase aggregating data from multiple sources on nonsense variations, associated genes, diseases, and phenotypes.

Psychosocial burden and quality of life of parents with children with univentricular hearts compared to ASD parents and parents of heart-healthy children.

Background: Patients with univentricular hearts can only be palliated by a staged surgical procedure that carries a high morbidity and mortality risk. The aim of this study was to examine the emotional demands, psychosocial burden, and quality of life of parents with children with univentricular hearts compared to parents of children with a simple heart defect, those with no heart defect and children with chronic diseases.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was created to interview parents about their quality of life, stressors, needs, strategies for coping with illness, and partnership satisfaction.