Quest for the ideal assessment of electrical ventricular dyssynchrony in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

This paper reviews the literature on assessing electrical dyssynchrony for patient selection in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The guideline-recommended electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for CRT are QRS duration and morphology, established through inclusion criteria in large CRT trials. However, both QRS duration and LBBB morphology have their shortcomings.

An appropriate DNA input for bisulfite conversion reveals LINE-1 and Alu hypermethylation in tissues and circulating cell-free DNA from cancers.

The autonomous and active Long-Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1, L1) and the non-autonomous Alu retrotransposon elements, contributing to 30% of the human genome, are the most abundant repeated sequences. With more than 90% of their sequences being methylated in normal cells, these elements undeniably contribute to the global DNA methylation level and constitute a major part of circulating-cell-free DNA (cfDNA). So far, the hypomethylation status of LINE-1 and Alu in cellular and extracellular DNA has long been considered a prevailing hallmark of ageing-related diseases and cancer.

Hypermethylation at 45S rDNA promoter in cancers.

The ribosomal genes (rDNA genes) encode 47S rRNA which accounts for up to 80% of all cellular RNA. At any given time, no more than 50% of rDNA genes are actively transcribed, and the other half is silent by forming heterochromatin structures through DNA methylation. In cancer cells, upregulation of ribosome biogenesis has been recognized as a hallmark feature, thus, the reduced methylation of rDNA promoter has been thought to support conformational changes of chromatin accessibility and the subsequent increase in rDNA transcription.

Preliminary and Intermediate-Term Results of the Novel Modification of Frozen Elephant Trunk: A Single-Center Study.

We evaluate the preliminary and intermediate-term results of Viet Duc modification of the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique. During December 2019 and May 2023, 47 patients underwent surgery using our modification of the FET at Viet Duc University Hospital. The mean age of the patients was 56.

Future of reproductive biotechnologies in water buffalo in Southeast Asian countries.

The future of reproductive biotechnologies in water buffalo in Southeast Asian countries holds significant promise for enhancing genetic quality and productivity. Fixed-time artificial insemination remains the commonly used technology, with advances in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro embryo production (IVEP), embryo transfer (ET), and the use of sex-sorted sperm increasingly adopted to improve breeding efficiency. These technologies overcome traditional breeding limitations, such as low reproductive rates, genetic diversity constraints, and the production of sex-predetermined offspring.