Quantitation of circulating short-chain fatty acids in small volume blood samples from animals and humans.

Background: The role of gut microbiota in human health has been intensively studied and more recently shifted from emphasis on composition towards function. Function is partly mediated through formed metabolites. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate as well as their branched analogues represent major products from gut fermentation of dietary fibre and proteins, respectively.

The ratio of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 isoform 4I1 and 4I2 mRNA is changed in permanent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: The conditions of hypoxia are suggested to induce permanent atrial fibrillation (AF). The regulation of COX4I2 and COX4I1 depends on oxygen availability in tissues. A role of COX4I2 in the myocardium of AF patients is supposed for pathogenesis of AF and subsequent alterations in the electron transfer chain (ETC) under hypoxia.

Comparative analysis of full-length 16s ribosomal RNA genome sequencing in human fecal samples using primer sets with different degrees of degeneracy.

Next-generation sequencing has revolutionized the field of microbiology research and greatly expanded our knowledge of complex bacterial communities. Nanopore sequencing provides distinct advantages, combining cost-effectiveness, ease of use, high throughput, and high taxonomic resolution through its ability to process long amplicons, such as the entire 16s rRNA genome. We examine the performance of the conventional 27F primer (27F-I) included in the 16S Barcoding Kit distributed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and that of a more degenerate 27F primer (27F-II) in the context of highly complex bacterial communities in 73 human fecal samples.

Fast and Easy Nanopore Sequencing Workflow for Rapid Genetic Testing of Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant lipid metabolism disorder characterized by severely elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The disease is caused by mutations in 3 genes (, and ) while over 90% of the mutations are located within the gene. Thus, genetic analysis of the gene is the first step in the genetic diagnosis of FH.

Circular versus linear RNA topology: different modes of RNA-RNA interactions in vitro and in human cells.

Circular RNA is progressively reported to occur in various species including mammals where it is thought to be involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, partly via interactions with microRNA. Here, we asked whether the circular topology causes functional differences to linear forms when interacting with short RNA strands and in human cells. Kinetic studies with human bladder cancer-derived synthetic circular RNA versus linear transcripts, respectively, with short oligoribonucleotides showed similar association rates for both topologies.

The Impact of the Fermentation Strategy on the Flavour Formation of ( Borkh.) Apple Wine.

The flavour and the volatilome of apple wines made from the Austrian heritage variety was in the scope of this study. The apple wines were produced by adopting oenological practises that are not commonly used in fruit wine production. Different fermentation strategies including the addition of enzymes with β-glucosidase activity, addition of a fining agent, maceration of the mash along with mash fermentation were applied.

Deficiency of Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing proteins (NOD) 1 and 2 reduces atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is crucially fueled by inflammatory pathways including pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-related signaling of the innate immune system. Currently, the impact of the cytoplasmic PRRs nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein (NOD) 1 and 2 is incompletely characterized. We, therefore, generated Nod1/Nod2 double knockout mice on a low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr)-deficient background (= LdlrNod1/2) which were subsequently analyzed regarding experimental atherosclerosis, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and gut microbiota composition.

Mitochondrial active and relaxed state respiration after heat shock mRNA response in the heart.

Induction of Heat Shock Proteins results in cytoprotection. Beneficial effect results from transcription and translational cellular components' involvement that defends metabolism and thus induce ischemic protection of the tissue. Mitochondrial respiration is also involved in stress- induced conditions.

Percutaneous Mechanical Thromboembolectomy in Acute Lower Limb Ischemia.

Purpose: To analyze the immediate outcome of percutaneous mechanical thromboembolectomy in acute infrainguinal leg ischemia in a consecutive cohort of patients with acute lower limb ischemia.

Material And Method: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 156 acute infrainguinal ischemic events in 148 patients. Patients presented with acute limb ischemia Rutherford category I in 68 cases (44%), Rutherford category II A in 64 instances (41%) and Rutherford II B in 24 instances (15%).

Increased promoter activity as a mechanism in atypical normokalemic periodic paralysis.

Objective: To identify the genetic basis of a patient with symptoms of normokalemic sporadic periodic paralysis (PP) and to study the effect of mutations.

Methods: A candidate gene approach was used to identify causative gene mutations, using Sanger sequencing. promoter activity was analyzed in transfected HEK293 cells with a luciferase assay, and functional analysis of Kir2.

Myocardial insufficiency is related to reduced subunit 4 content of cytochrome c oxidase.

Background: Treatment of heart failure remains one of the most challenging task for intensive care medicine, cardiology and cardiac surgery. New options and better indicators are always required. Understanding the basic mechanisms underlying heart failure promote the development of adjusted therapy e.

Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of acyltransferase from Pseudomonas protegens.

The formation of C-C bonds by using CoA independent acyltransferases may have significant impact for novel methods for biotechnology. We report the identification of Pseudomonas strains with CoA-independent acyltransferase activity as well as the heterologous expression of the enzyme in E. coli.

The prognostic value of sST2 and galectin-3 considering different aetiologies in non-ischaemic heart failure.

Objective: Several studies indicate a prognostic value of sST2 and galectin-3 in heart failure (HF). While previous studies focused on ischaemic cause of HF, we investigated the role of sST2 and galectin-3 in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: sST2 and galectin-3 serum concentrations were measured in 262 subjects with DCM.

Anticardiac Antibodies in Patients with Chronic Pericardial Effusion.

Objectives: Chronic pericardial effusion may be challenging in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Specific laboratory parameters predicting the frequency and severity of recurrences after initial drainage of pericardial effusion are lacking.

Materials And Methods: Pericardial fluid (PF) and serum (SE) samples from 30 patients with chronic pericardial effusion (PE) who underwent pericardiocentesis and pericardioscopically guided pericardial biopsy were compared with SE and PF samples from 26 control patients.

Influence of different aetiologies on clinical course and outcome in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The clinical phenotype dilated cardiomyopathy is assumed to be the endstage of a multifactorial aetiopathogenetic pathophysiology which includes a not satisfactorily defined group of patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Within the German Competence Network Heart Failure patients with heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy of viral/inflammatory (DCMi/v) and nonviral/noninflammatory (DCM) aetiology were enrolled. After 1 year 237 patients (180 male/57 female) were re-examined including complete clinical work-up.

Outcomes of AV Fistulas and AV Grafts after Interventional Stent-Graft Deployment in Haemodialysis Patients.

Purpose: The study was designed to assess outcomes of arteriovenous (AV) accesses after interventional stent-graft deployment in haemodialysis patients.

Materials And Methods: 63 haemodialysis patients with 66 AV fistulas and AV grafts were treated by interventional stent-graft deployment from 2006 to 2012 at our hospital. Data of these patients were retrospectively analysed for location of deployed stent-grafts, occurrence and location of (re-)stenosis and (re-)thrombosis.

Trypanosoma cruzi evades the protective role of interferon-gamma-signaling in parasite-infected cells.

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is responsible for the zoonotic Chagas disease, a chronic and systemic infection in humans and warm-blooded animals typically leading to progressive dilated cardiomyopathy and gastrointestinal manifestations. In the present study, we report that the transcription factor STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) reduces the susceptibility of human cells to infection with T. cruzi.

Management of fulminant myocarditis: a diagnosis in search of its etiology but with therapeutic options.

Fulminant myocarditis is a clinical syndrome with signs of acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, or life-threating rhythm disturbances in the context of suspected myocarditis. It is not an etiological diagnosis, but may have different underlying causes and pathogenetic processes - viral, bacterial, toxic, and autoreactive. Clinical management of the disease entity at the acute stage involves hemodynamic monitoring in an intensive care unit or similar setting.

Influence of cyclical mechanical loading on osteogenic markers in an osteoblast-fibroblast co-culture in vitro: tendon-to-bone interface in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the influence of cyclical mechanical loading on osteoblasts and fibroblasts, and co-cultures of both in vitro, simulating the conditions of the tendon-to-bone interface in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Methods: Osteoblast-like cells (OBL) and tendon-derived rodent fibroblasts (TDF) were cultured alone or in co-culture to simulate the tendon-to-bone interface. Cyclical loading was applied for one hour twice a day for three days, with a frequency of 1 Hz and 3 % strain.

The HLA class II allele DQB1 0309 is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Previous studies have shown weak associations between human dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and certain human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II polymorphisms. Using a sequence-specific primer-PCR (SSP-PCR) technology, we compared the allelic distribution in the HLA-DQ and -DR locus in a cohort of German DCM patients (n=165) and DCM-free controls (n=79). With the exception of HLA-DQB1 0309, we found no significant differences between the two groups, even without adjustment for multiple testing.

Ischemic preconditioning results in an ATP-dependent inhibition of cytochrome C oxidase.

Purpose: This study addresses the effect of short myocardial ischemia on inhibitory effect of ATP for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (CytOx) activity in myocardium and subsequent hemodynamic alterations. The activity of CytOx is inhibited by ATP (primary substrate control). This additional mechanism was proposed to be switched off at higher mitochondrial membrane potential values in case of stress.