KCNA2 IgG autoimmunity in neuropsychiatric diseases.

Background: Autoantibodies against the potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 2 (KCNA2) have been described in a few cases of neuropsychiatric disorders, but their diagnostic and pathophysiological role is currently unknown, imposing challenges to medical practice.

Design / Methods: We retrospectively collected comprehensive clinical and paraclinical data of 35 patients with KCNA2 IgG autoantibodies detected in cell-based and tissue-based assays. Patients' sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were used for characterization of the antigen, clinical-serological correlations, and determination of IgG subclasses.

Establishing a cardiac training group for patients with heart failure: the "HIP-in-Würzburg" study.

Background: Exercise training in heart failure (HF) is recommended but not routinely offered, because of logistic and safety-related reasons. In 2020, the German Society for Prevention&Rehabilitation and the German Society for Cardiology requested establishing dedicated "HF training groups." Here, we aimed to implement and evaluate the feasibility and safety of one of the first HF training groups in Germany.

Inhibitory Effect of Apomorphine on Focal and Nonfocal Plasticity in the Human Motor Cortex.

Dopamine is crucial for neuroplasticity, which is considered to be the neurophysiological foundation of learning and memory. The specific effect of dopamine on plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) is determined by receptor subtype specificity, concentration level, and the kind of plasticity induction technique. In healthy human subjects, the dopamine precursor levodopa (L-DOPA) exerts a dosage-dependent non-linear effect on motor cortex plasticity.

Experiences and lessons learned by genetic counselors in returning secondary genetic findings to patients.

Few studies have explored the real-world experiences and strategies of genetic counselors involved in the process of returning secondary findings (SFs). This study aimed to describe and categorize the experiences for the return of SFs from clinical sequencing. Semi-structured telephone interviews with 21 genetic counselors representing 56 incidences were conducted.

Charge-Induced Disorder Controls the Thermal Conductivity of Entropy-Stabilized Oxides.

Manipulating a crystalline material's configurational entropy through the introduction of unique atomic species can produce novel materials with desirable mechanical and electrical properties. From a thermal transport perspective, large differences between elemental properties such as mass and interatomic force can reduce the rate at which phonons carry heat and thus reduce the thermal conductivity. Recent advances in materials synthesis are enabling the fabrication of entropy-stabilized ceramics, opening the door for understanding the implications of extreme disorder on thermal transport.

Point-of-care B-type natriuretic peptide and portable echocardiography for assessment of patients with suspected heart failure in primary care: rationale and design of the three-part Handheld-BNP program and results of the training study.

Background: Patients with suspected heart failure (HF) often present first to general practitioners (GPs). Timely and accurate HF diagnosis and reliable prognostic information have remained unmet goals in primary care, where patient evaluation often relies on clinical assessment only. The Handheld-BNP program investigates whether additional use of portable echocardiography (ECHO) and point-of-care determination of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) improves the accuracy of HF diagnosis and aids risk prediction in primary care.

Left atrial remodeling, early repolarization pattern, and inflammatory cytokines in professional soccer players.

Objectives: Although regular physical exercise clearly reduces cardiovascular morbidity risk, long-term endurance sports practice has been recognized as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the mechanisms how endurance sports can lead to AF are not yet clear. The aim of our present study was to investigate the influence of long-term endurance training on vagal tone, atrial size, and inflammatory profile in professional elite soccer players.

Periodontal Bacterial DNA and Their Link to Human Cardiac Tissue: Findings of a Pilot Study.

Background: The aim of this pilot study was to detect correlations of microbiological DNA, inflammatory proteins, and infection parameters in patients with periodontal disease (PD) and valvular heart disease (VHD).

Methods: A perioperative comprehensive dental examination for the investigation of periodontal status, including sampling of specific subgingival bacteria, was performed in 10 patients with indication for surgery of aortic valve stenosis with or without concomitant myocardial revascularization. Standard protocol biopsies were taken from right atrium (A), left septal myocardium (M), and aortic valve (V).

Entropy-stabilized oxides.

Configurational disorder can be compositionally engineered into mixed oxide by populating a single sublattice with many distinct cations. The formulations promote novel and entropy-stabilized forms of crystalline matter where metal cations are incorporated in new ways. Here, through rigorous experiments, a simple thermodynamic model, and a five-component oxide formulation, we demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that entropy predominates the thermodynamic landscape, and drives a reversible solid-state transformation between a multiphase and single-phase state.

Relation of functional echocardiographic parameters to infarct scar transmurality by magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Identification of viable but dysfunctional myocardium after myocardial infarction is important for management, including the decision for revascularization. Assessment of infarct transmurality (TRM) by late contrast enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used for this task but has several limitations, particularly its availability. The goal of this study was to compare the value of several simple echocardiographic parameters measured at rest at the bedside for the identification of three degrees of infarct TRM, with contrast-enhanced MRI as the gold standard.

Invasive hemodynamic characteristics of low gradient severe aortic stenosis despite preserved ejection fraction.

Objectives: The study sought to compare echocardiographic with invasive hemodynamic data in patients with "paradoxic" aortic stenosis and in patients with conventionally defined severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Controversy exists whether low gradient severe aortic stenosis despite preserved ejection fraction ("paradoxic" aortic stenosis; aortic valve area <1 cm(2), mean gradient <40 mm Hg, ejection fraction >50%), which has been mainly diagnosed by echocardiography (echo), may be largely due to mistakes in echocardiographic measurements.

Methods: We compared echocardiographic and invasive hemodynamic data from 58 patients (43% male, mean age 77 ± 5 years) with "paradoxic" aortic stenosis.

Assessing the reliability of the Gambling Functional Assessment: Revised.

Dixon and Johnson (Anal Gambl Behav 1: 44-49, 2007) proposed the Gambling Functional Assessment as a tool to identify the consequences maintaining the respondent's gambling behavior, but subsequent studies on its psychometric properties suggested that it could use improvement. The present study investigated the internal consistency of the Gambling Functional Assessment--Revised using the responses of 1,060 undergraduate students. Temporal reliability was assessed by a second administration of the measure four (n = 87) or twelve (n = 98) weeks after the first administration.

The molecular phylogeny of the white blister rust genus Pustula reveals a case of underestimated biodiversity with several undescribed species on ornamentals and crop plants.

Despite their economic importance, the knowledge of the biodiversity of many plant pathogens is still fragmentary. In this study we show that this is true also for the white blister rust genus Pustula that is parasitic on several genera in the asterids, including sunflower and the gentian, Eustoma. It is revealed that several distinct species exist in Pustula, suggesting that species are mostly host genus specific.

Right coronary artery fistula to the coronary sinus and right atrium associated with giant right coronary enlargement detected by transthoracic echocardiography.

We present the case of a 54-year-old female with a previous history of lung fibrosis secondary to methotrexate used for rheumatoid arthritis who was referred to cardiology evaluation due to precordial pain. Echocardiography showed biatrial enlargement with an enlarged coronary sinus and tubular image posterior to the heart. On the coronary angiogram, the right coronary artery was enlarged, and a distal fistula was identified.

Cardiac imaging after myocardial infarction.

After myocardial infarction, optimal clinical management depends critically on cardiac imaging. Remodelling and heart failure, presence of inducible ischaemia, presence of dysfunctional viable myocardium, future risk of adverse events including risk of ventricular arrhythmias, need for anticoagulation, and other questions should be addressed by cardiac imaging. Strengths and weaknesses, recent developments, choice, and timing of the different non-invasive techniques are reviewed for this frequent clinical scenario.

Early repolarization, left ventricular diastolic function, and left atrial size in professional soccer players.

Recent data have suggested a relation among long-term endurance sport practice, left atrial remodeling, and atrial fibrillation. We investigated the influence of an increased vagal tone, represented by the early repolarization (ER) pattern, on diastolic function and left atrial size in professional soccer players. Fifty-four consecutive athletes underwent electrocardiography, echocardiography, and exercise testing as part of their preparticipation screening.

Evolution of diversity in Albugo is driven by high host specificity and multiple speciation events on closely related Brassicaceae.

The Albuginaceae, responsible for white blister rust disease on various angiosperms, are obligate biotrophic oomycetes that are only distantly related to downy mildews (Peronosporaceae). Their diversity has been much underestimated during the past decades, mainly because of the paucity of morphological characters for species delimitation, which led to the application of a broad species concept. Recent phylogenetic analyses have revealed three new species within Albugo parasitic to Brassicaceae, but the overall evolution of these plant pathogens remains poorly understood.

Sequential changes in myocardial function after valve replacement for aortic stenosis by speckle tracking echocardiography.

Aims: Regional myocardial function may change differently in different pathology. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) was applied to evaluate longitudinal, radial, and circumferential function in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) before, within 1 week, and 6 months after aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods And Results: In 40 consecutive patients with severe AS, we acquired apical four-, three-, and two-chamber views and standard short-axis view pre- and post-AVR and after 6 months.

Acromegaly per se does not increase the risk for coronary artery disease.

Context: Information about the risk and course of coronary artery disease (CAD) in acromegaly is limited.

Objective: To evaluate CAD risk in acromegalic patients at diagnosis and after successful treatment during follow-up.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients (age 45.

Giant left atrial thrombus in moderate mitral stenosis.

Nearly every fifth mitral stenosis presents thrombi in the left atrium and therefore has remarkable therapeutic consequences. Most thrombi are located in the left atrial appendage, but atrial appendage thrombus can also extend to the left atrial cavity as in the presented case. This case shows the advantage of a combined diagnostic by MRI and transoesophageal echocardiography for a fast and sufficient detection as well as topologic classification of left atrial thrombi.