Bicuspid Aortic Valve Morphology and Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Bicuspid aortic stenosis accounts for almost 50% of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement in the younger patients. Expanding the indication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) toward lower-risk and younger populations will lead to increased use of TAVR for patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis despite the exclusion of bicuspid anatomy in all pivotal clinical trials.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the association of BAV morphology and outcomes of TAVR with the new-generation devices.

[Dimethyl fumarate (tecfidera) is the first line treatment choice in patients with remitting multiple sclerosis].

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a new oral option for disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in patients with remitting multiple sclerosis as a first line treatment. The results of international randomized studies comparing DMF with placebo and other DMTs are presented. DMF is a DMT with promised efficacy and favorable safety profile that could be a treatment option for patients with suboptimal response for other first line DMTs and used as initial therapy for treatment-naive patients with unfavorable prognostic factors.

[Alterations in blood circulation of vesicourethral segment in men with neurogenic and non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms].

Aim: To specify the pathogenetic link between blood supply of the bladder neck and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Material And Methods: The study involved 78 men aged 26 to 50 years, including 19 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and LUTS, 29 patients with chronic prostatitis category IIIB with LUTS and 30 patients with chronic prostatitis category IIIB without LUTS (control group). All the patients underwent Doppler ultrasonography of prostatic arteries and selective study of blood flow in the neck of the bladder.

The caffeine-binding adenosine A2A receptor induces age-like HPA-axis dysfunction by targeting glucocorticoid receptor function.

Caffeine is associated with procognitive effects in humans by counteracting overactivation of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), which is upregulated in the human forebrain of aged and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. We have previously shown that an anti-A2AR therapy reverts age-like memory deficits, by reestablishment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis feedback and corticosterone circadian levels. These observations suggest that A2AR over-activation and glucocorticoid dysfunction are key events in age-related hippocampal deficits; but their direct connection has never been explored.

Overexpression of Adenosine A2A Receptors in Rats: Effects on Depression, Locomotion, and Anxiety.

Adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) are a sub-type of receptors enriched in basal ganglia, activated by the neuromodulator adenosine, which interact with dopamine D2 receptors. Although this reciprocal antagonistic interaction is well-established in motor function, the outcome in dopamine-related behaviors remains uncertain, in particular in depression and anxiety. We have demonstrated an upsurge of A2AR associated to aging and chronic stress.

Rat model for dominant dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: glycine substitution reduces collagen VII stability and shows gene-dosage effect.

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a severely disabling hereditary skin fragility disorder, is caused by mutations in the gene coding for collagen VII, a specialized adhesion component of the dermal-epidermal junction zone. Both recessive and dominant forms are known; the latter account for about 40% of cases. Patients with dominant dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa exhibit a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild localized to generalized skin manifestations.

[Neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis and the neuroprotective effect of glatiramer acetate: a literature review].

The two-phase model of the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is discussed in the aspect of inflammation and neurodegeneration processes. In the first phase, there are inflammation processes with frequent exacerbations and remissions and multiple lesions on MRI. An axonal lesion (neurodegeneration) is seen in this stage, even in the very beginning, i.

[Differential diagnosis of optic neuritis (review].

Clinical presentations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of optic neuritis of different etiology are reviewed. This symptom is concomitant with the development of multiple sclerosis in about 30% cases and accompanies the disease in 75% patients. Acute or subacute lesion of the optic nerve can be a symptom of optic myelitis, Leber's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, Susac's syndrome, idiopathic retinal vasculitis, sarcoidosis and some other diseases.

Importin α7 is essential for zygotic genome activation and early mouse development.

Importin α is involved in the nuclear import of proteins. It also contributes to spindle assembly and nuclear membrane formation, however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we studied the function of importin α7 by gene targeting in mice and show that it is essential for early embryonic development.

Differential use of importin-α isoforms governs cell tropism and host adaptation of influenza virus.

Influenza A viruses are a threat to humans due to their ability to cross species barriers, as illustrated by the 2009 H1N1v pandemic and sporadic H5N1 transmissions. Interspecies transmission requires adaptation of the viral polymerase to importin-α, a cellular protein that mediates transport into the nucleus where transcription and replication of the viral genome takes place. In this study, we analysed replication, host specificity and pathogenicity of avian and mammalian influenza viruses, in importin-α-silenced cells and importin-α-knockout mice, to understand the role of individual importin-α isoforms in adaptation.

In vitro aerosol characterization of Staccato(®) Loxapine.

Medicinal aerosol products (metered dose and dry powder inhalers) require characterization testing over a wide range of use and pre-operating stress scenarios in order to ensure robust product performance and support submissions for regulatory approval. Aerosol characterization experiments on Staccato(®) Loxapine for inhalation (Staccato Loxapine) product (emitted dose, particle size, and purity) were assessed at different operating settings (flow rates, ambient temperature and humidity, altitude, and orientation) and at nominal test conditions following exposure to various stresses on the device (mechanical shock, vibration, drop, thermal cycling, and light exposure). Emitted dose values were approximately 90% of the coated dose at every condition, meeting target specifications in each case.

[Diagnostic and pathogenetic implications of the site specificity of antibody proteases in multiple sclerosis].

Disseminated sclerosis is currently regarded as a CNS autoimmune disease. One of the mechanisms behind this pathology is antibody (AB) formation. In this context, recent data on AB with proteolytic activity are of importance because they participate in selective proteolysis of myelin proteins in patients with disseminated sclerosis.

[Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) influence on different stages of multiple sclerosis pathogenesis].

Multiple sclerosis (MS)--autoimmune disease of CNS, characterized by myelin destruction and axonal damage. The action of drugs recommended for its treatment [symbol: see text] aimy[symbol: see text] at the reduction of the autoimmune responses. These responses lead to the neurological damage.

[Results of a multicenter study of Rebif-22 mcg administration in Russia].

The results of multicenter study of Rebif 22 micrograms in Russia have been reported. 167 multiple sclerosis patients have received Rebif 22 micrograms three times a week for 1 year. This study provides evidence for reduction of the relapse rate in patients with relapsing/remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

[Results of open post-registration clinical trials of copaxone in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Results of the 2-year open postregistration study of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), conducted in 3 Moscow leading medical centres are given. 32 MS patients with remitting-relapsing MS were investigated in accordance with international requirements (neurological scales, MRI of the brain, multimodal evoked potential). Significant reduction of annual relapse rate for 70.

[Transcranial dopplerography in chronic disorders of cerebral circulation].

Forty one 41-82 year-old patients with chronic cerebrovascular diseases were examined neurologically, using ultrasonic dopplerography (USD) of extracranial cerebral vessels and transcranial dopplerography (TCD) of intracranial cerebral vessels. Changes of the blood flow through major cerebral arteries as well as peculiarities of the venous circulation were evaluated. A significant decrease of the cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) was found by TCD on early stages of cerebrovascular diseases, while USD revealed it on the III stage of dyscirculatory encephalopathy.

[The clinico-immunological characteristics of central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: the relationship with antibodies to cardiolipin].

As many as 30 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with the clinical signs of central nervous system derangement were examined. The mean age of the patients was 31.1 years.

[Results of clinical and immunoenzymatic studies of neurospecific leucine aminopeptidase in patients with neurologic disorders].

Leucine aminopeptidase of myelin was discovered to contain a protein subunit possessing, in contrast to the main enzymatic mass, antigenic properties and contained by different structures of the central nervous system. The protein was shown to be accumulated by neurons and astrocytes of embryonic tissue culture. The protein was absent from biological fluids of healthy persons and in schizophrenia but it was recordable in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with different forms of neurological pathology.