Accurate assessment of alpha-gal syndrome using cetuximab and bovine thyroglobulin-specific IgE.

Scope: IgE against galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) causes alpha-gal syndrome. Bovine thyroglobulin (BTG) and cetuximab share this epitope. We aimed to determine the utility of specific IgE (sIgE) against cetuximab as compared to BTG for diagnosing alpha-gal syndrome.

Erratum: Two-year clinical outcomes in stable angina and acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention of left main coronary artery disease.

[This corrects the article on p. 1084 in vol. 31, PMID: 27756119.

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Diabetes in Asian Versus White Patients With Heart Failure.

Objectives: The study sought to compare the prevalence, clinical correlates and prognostic impact of diabetes in Southeast Asian versus white patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved or reduced ejection fraction.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is common in HF and is associated with impaired prognosis. Asia is home to the majority of the world's diabetic population, yet data on the prevalence and clinical significance of diabetes in Asian patients with HF are sparse, and no studies have directly compared Asian and white patients.

Soluble CD93 in Serum as a Marker of Allergic Inflammation.

Purpose: CD93 is receiving renewed attention as a biomarker of inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the potential for serum sCD93 to serve as a novel biomarker for allergic inflammation.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 348 subjects with an allergic disease [allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), or bronchial asthma (BA)], including 14 steroid-naïve BA patients who were serially followed-up.

A Murine Model to Study Epilepsy and SUDEP Induced by Malaria Infection.

One of the largest single sources of epilepsy in the world is produced as a neurological sequela in survivors of cerebral malaria. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanisms of such epileptogenesis remain unknown and no adjunctive therapy during cerebral malaria has been shown to reduce the rate of subsequent epilepsy. There is no existing animal model of postmalarial epilepsy.

Genomic and phenotypic characterization of myxoma virus from Great Britain reveals multiple evolutionary pathways distinct from those in Australia.

The co-evolution of myxoma virus (MYXV) and the European rabbit occurred independently in Australia and Europe from different progenitor viruses. Although this is the canonical study of the evolution of virulence, whether the genomic and phenotypic outcomes of MYXV evolution in Europe mirror those observed in Australia is unknown. We addressed this question using viruses isolated in the United Kingdom early in the MYXV epizootic (1954-1955) and between 2008-2013.

Area-Selective Lift-Off Mechanism Based on Dual-Triggered Interfacial Adhesion Switching: Highly Facile Fabrication of Flexible Nanomesh Electrode.

With the recent emergence of flexible and wearable optoelectronic devices, the achievement of sufficient bendability and stretchability of transparent and conducting electrodes (TCEs) has become an important requirement. Although metal-mesh-based structures have been investigated for TCEs because of their excellent performances, the fabrication of mesh or grid structures with a submicron line width is still complex due to the requirements of laborious lithography and pattern transfer steps. Here, we introduce an extremely facile fabrication technique for metal patterns embedded in a flexible substrate based on submicron replication and an area-selective delamination (ASD) pattern.

C-terminal dimerization of apo-cyclic AMP receptor protein validated in solution.

Although cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) has long served as a typical example of effector-mediated protein allostery, mechanistic details into its regulation have been controversial due to discrepancy between the known crystal structure and NMR structure of apo-CRP. Here, we report that the recombinant protein corresponding to its C-terminal DNA-binding domain (CDD) forms a dimer. This result, together with structural information obtained in the present NMR study, is consistent with the previous crystal structure and validates its relevance also in solution.

The Optimize Heart Failure Care Program: Initial lessons from global implementation.

Hospitalization for heart failure (HF) places a major burden on healthcare services worldwide, and is a strong predictor of increased mortality especially in the first three months after discharge. Though undesirable, hospitalization is an opportunity to optimize HF therapy and advise clinicians and patients about the importance of continued adherence to HF medication and regular monitoring. The Optimize Heart Failure Care Program (www.

The Control of Drug Release and Vascular Endothelialization after Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Paclitaxel Multi-Layer Coating Stent Implantation in Porcine Coronary Restenosis Model.

Background And Objectives: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is highly biocompatible with cells and the extracellular matrix. In contrast to degradation products of a synthetic polymer, degradation products of HA do not acidify the local environment. The aim of this study was to fabricate an HA-coated paclitaxel (PTX)-eluting stent via simple ionic interactions and to evaluate its effects in vitro and in vivo.

Effect of Stents Coated with Artemisinin or Dihydroartemisinin in a Porcine Coronary Restenosis Model.

Background And Objectives: Artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin are drugs used to treat malaria. These drugs suppress inflammatory reactions. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-intima hyperplasia effect of a novel drug-eluting stent with artemisinin or dihydroartemisinin in a porcine coronary restenosis model.

Optimal Timing of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Nonculprit Vessel in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease.

Background And Objectives: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD), the optimal timing of staged percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear.

Subjects And Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of 753 STEMI patients with MVD who were treated by multivessel PCI in the Convergent Registry of Catholic and Chonnam University for Acute myocardial infarction (MI). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the time from initial to staged PCI: group 1 (n=316, multivessel PCI performed during the index procedure), group 2 (n=360, staged PCI within 1 week), and group 3 (n=77, staged PCI after 1 week).

Novel Use of Thalidomide in Recurrent Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Case Series.

Background: Bleeding is an important and common complication of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). One of the common causes of gastrointestinal bleeding is arteriovenous malformations. However, the source of bleeding is often hard to identify.

Understanding the Epidemiology of Heart Failure to Improve Management Practices: An Asia-Pacific Perspective.

Heart failure (HF) is a major global healthcare problem with an estimated prevalence of approximately 26 million. In Asia-Pacific regions, HF is associated with a significant socioeconomic burden and high rates of hospital admission. Epidemiological data that could help to improve management approaches to address this burden in Asia-Pacific regions are limited, but suggest patients with HF in the Asia-Pacific are younger and have more severe signs and symptoms of HF than those of Western countries.

Neuropilin 1 Involvement in Choroidal and Retinal Neovascularisation.

Purpose: Inhibiting VEGF is the gold standard treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is also effective in preventing retinal oedema and neovascularisation (NV) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinal vein occlusions (RVO). Neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) is a co-receptor for VEGF and many other growth factors, and therefore a possible alternative drug target in intra ocular neovascular disease.

Mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation in the Asia Pacific region.

Globalization has resulted in epidemiologic transition in developing countries from infectious disease and nutritional deficiencies to non-communicable diseases. Epidemiologic data on heart failure (HF), particularly advanced HF therapy, in Asia are increasingly becoming available, although they remain sparse. Heart transplantation for advanced stage HF remains very low in Asia-approximately 0.

The United Kingdom Diabetic Retinopathy Electronic Medical Record Users Group, Report 1: baseline characteristics and visual acuity outcomes in eyes treated with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab for diabetic macular oedema.

Aims: To describe baseline characteristics and visual outcome for eyes treated with ranibizumab for diabetic macular oedema (DMO) from a multicentre database.

Methods: Structured clinical data were anonymised and extracted from an electronic medical record from 19 participating UK centres: age at first injection, ETDRS visual acuity (VA), number of injections, ETDRS diabetic retinopathy (DR) and maculopathy grade at baseline and visits. The main outcomes were change in mean VA from baseline, number of injections and clinic visits and characteristics affecting VA change and DR grade.

Titin-truncating variants affect heart function in disease cohorts and the general population.

Titin-truncating variants (TTNtv) commonly cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). TTNtv are also encountered in ∼1% of the general population, where they may be silent, perhaps reflecting allelic factors. To better understand TTNtv, we integrated TTN allelic series, cardiac imaging and genomic data in humans and studied rat models with disparate TTNtv.

Impact of calcified bifurcation lesions in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention using drug-eluting stents: results from the COronary BIfurcation Stent (COBIS) II registry.

Aims: Few data regarding clinical outcomes according to severity of calcification in patients with coronary bifurcation target lesions are available. We therefore aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes according to severity of calcification in patients with coronary bifurcation target lesions after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) using a large-scale multicentre Korean registry.

Methods And Results: This prospective, multicentre, observational registry enrolled 2,897 patients undergoing PCI with DES for coronary bifurcation lesions.

Adrenal insufficiency associated with long-term use of inhaled steroid in asthma.

Background: We previously reported that as many as one third of hospitalized patients with asthma treated with a low to medium daily dose of inhaled steroids (ICSs) for an average of 4.5 years showed adrenal insufficiency (AI).

Objective: To re-examine this issue in consecutive outpatients with asthma because of possible subject selection bias.

A Case of Type 2 Hereditary Angioedema With SERPING1 Mutation.

Hereditary angioedema is a disease of congenital deficiency or functional defect in the C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) consequent to mutation in the SERPING1 gene, which encodes C1-INH. This disease manifests as recurrent, non-pitting, non-pruritic subcutaneous, or submucosal edema as well as an erythematous rash in some cases. These symptoms result from the uncontrolled localized production of bradykinin.

Structure of the Open Reading Frame 49 Protein Encoded by Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus.

Unlabelled: Herpesviruses alternate between the latent and the lytic life cycle. Switching into the lytic life cycle is important for herpesviral replication and disease pathogenesis. Activation of a transcription factor replication and transcription activator (RTA) has been demonstrated to govern this switch in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV).

Natural history and effect of therapeutic interventions on subretinal fluid causing foveal detachment in macular telangiectasia type 2.

Aim: To report the natural history of subretinal fluid (SRF) causing foveal detachment in macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) and our experience of therapeutic intervention with intravitreal steroids or antivascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor (anti-VEGF) agents in some cases.

Methods: Retrospective case series. Three of the MacTel study's largest registries were searched to identify eyes with foveal detachment.

Two-year clinical outcomes in stable angina and acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention of left main coronary artery disease.

Background/aims: This study appraised the long term clinical outcomes of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease. There are limited data regarding long-term clinical outcomes after PCI for ULMCA disease.

Methods: From 2001 to 2011, a total of 448 patients who underwent PCI for ULMCA disease and had 2-year clinical follow-up, were analyzed.