Developing 3D SEM in a broad biological context.

When electron microscopy (EM) was introduced in the 1930s it gave scientists their first look into the nanoworld of cells. Over the last 80 years EM has vastly increased our understanding of the complex cellular structures that underlie the diverse functions that cells need to maintain life. One drawback that has been difficult to overcome was the inherent lack of volume information, mainly due to the limit on the thickness of sections that could be viewed in a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Dlx1 and Rgs5 in the ductus arteriosus: vessel-specific genes identified by transcriptional profiling of laser-capture microdissected endothelial and smooth muscle cells.

Closure of the ductus arteriosus (DA) is a crucial step in the transition from fetal to postnatal life. Patent DA is one of the most common cardiovascular anomalies in children with significant clinical consequences especially in premature infants. We aimed to identify genes that specify the DA in the fetus and differentiate it from the aorta.

Serum cortisol concentration with exploratory cut-off values do not predict the effects of hydrocortisone administration in children with low cardiac output after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Low cardiac output syndrome is common after paediatric cardiac surgery. Previous studies suggested that hydrocortisone administration may improve haemodynamic stability in case of resistant low cardiac output syndrome in critically ill children. This study was set up to test the hypothesis that the effects of hydrocortisone on haemodynamics in children with low cardiac output syndrome depend on the presence of (relative) adrenal insufficiency.

Tetralogy of fallot and alterations in vascular endothelial growth factor-A signaling and notch signaling in mouse embryos solely expressing the VEGF120 isoform.

The importance of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) and subsequent Notch signaling in cardiac outflow tract development is generally recognized. Although genetic heterogeneity and mutations of these genes in both humans and mouse models relate to a high susceptibility to develop outflow tract malformations such as tetralogy of Fallot and peripheral pulmonary stenosis, no etiology has been proposed so far. Using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and quantitative RT-PCR on embryonic hearts, we have shown spatiotemporal increase and abnormal patterning of Vegf/VEGF/(phosphorylated) VEGFR-2, (cleaved) Notch1, and Jagged2 in the outflow tract of Vegf120/120 mouse embryos.