Procoagulant serine glycoprotease from Cucumis sativus L.: action on human fibrinogen and fibrin clot.

Upon examination of the fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. for its pharmacological benefits, it was previously observed that it has potential proteolytic, fibrinogenolytic and procoagulant activities. These properties can be attributed to the presence of the protease.

Angiotensin II for the Treatment of Vasodilatory Shock.

Background: Vasodilatory shock that does not respond to high-dose vasopressors is associated with high mortality. We investigated the effectiveness of angiotensin II for the treatment of patients with this condition.

Methods: We randomly assigned patients with vasodilatory shock who were receiving more than 0.

Draft genome of the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus.

The lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus , is an Atlantic species and mainly inhabits shallow sea beds or coral reefs. It has become very popular in China for its wide use in traditional Chinese medicine. In order to improve the aquaculture yield of this valuable fish species, we are trying to develop genomic resources for assistant selection in genetic breeding.

Association of left atrial structure and function and incident cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus: results from multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA).

Aims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Morphological changes in the left atrium (LA) may appear before symptoms. We aimed to investigate the association between cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) measured LA structure and function and incident CVD in asymptomatic individuals with DM.

Loss-of-Function Mutations in LGI4, a Secreted Ligand Involved in Schwann Cell Myelination, Are Responsible for Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita.

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a developmental condition characterized by multiple joint contractures resulting from reduced or absent fetal movements. Through genetic mapping of disease loci and whole-exome sequencing in four unrelated multiplex families presenting with severe AMC, we identified biallelic loss-of-function mutations in LGI4 (leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 4). LGI4 is a ligand secreted by Schwann cells that regulates peripheral nerve myelination via its cognate receptor ADAM22 expressed by neurons.

Reversal of Phenotypic Abnormalities by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Correction in Huntington Disease Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Huntington disease (HD) is a dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in HTT. Here we report correction of HD human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) using a CRISPR-Cas9 and piggyBac transposon-based approach. We show that both HD and corrected isogenic hiPSCs can be differentiated into excitable, synaptically active forebrain neurons.

Quantum Performance of Thermal Machines over Many Cycles.

The performance of quantum heat engines is generally based on the analysis of a single cycle. We challenge this approach by showing that the total work performed by a quantum engine need not be proportional to the number of cycles. Furthermore, optimizing the engine over multiple cycles leads to the identification of scenarios with a quantum enhancement.

Sepsis: frontiers in supportive care, organisation and research.

Because of its high incidence and clinical complexity, sepsis is a major challenge to clinicians and researchers and a global burden to healthcare systems and society. Despite recent progress, short- and long-term morbidity, mortality and costs remain high in both developed and developing countries. Thus, further improvements in supportive interventions and organisation of care are likely to have a substantial impact upon global health.

LXRα and LXRβ Nuclear Receptors Evolved in the Common Ancestor of Gnathostomes.

Nuclear receptors (NRs) regulate numerous aspects of the endocrine system. They mediate endogenous and exogenous cues, ensuring a homeostatic control of development and metabolism. Gene duplication, loss and mutation have shaped the repertoire and function of NRs in metazoans.

Baseline assessment and comparison of arterial anatomy, hyperemic flow, and skeletal muscle perfusion in peripheral artery disease: The Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network "Patients with Intermittent Claudication Injected with ALDH Bright Cells" (CCTRN PACE) study.

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is important to public health as a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques permit improved assessment of PAD anatomy and physiology, and may serve as surrogate end points after proangiogenic therapies.

Methods: The PACE study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to assess the physiologic impact and potential clinical efficacy of autologous bone marrow-derived ALDH stem cells.

The seahorse genome and the evolution of its specialized morphology.

Seahorses have a specialized morphology that includes a toothless tubular mouth, a body covered with bony plates, a male brood pouch, and the absence of caudal and pelvic fins. Here we report the sequencing and de novo assembly of the genome of the tiger tail seahorse, Hippocampus comes. Comparative genomic analysis identifies higher protein and nucleotide evolutionary rates in H.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the Asian arowana, Scleropages formosus.

Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus), an ancient teleost belonging to the Order Osteoglossomorpha, has been a valuable ornamental fish with some varieties. However, its biological studies and breeding germplasm have been remarkably limited by the lack of a reference genome. To solve these problems, here we report high-quality genome sequences of three common varieties of Asian arowana (the golden, red and green arowana).

Prevalence of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment among trainees and Fellows of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand.

Background: Anecdotal reports about bullying behaviour in intensive care emerged during College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) hospital accreditation visits. Bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment (BDSH) in the medical profession, particularly in surgery, were widely reported in the media recently. This prompted the College to formally survey its Fellows and trainees to identify the prevalence of these behaviours in the intensive care workplace.

Serial changes in plasma ketone concentrations in patients with acute brain injury.

Objective Acute brain injury (ABI) is a catastrophic event, leading to disruption of the normal cerebral metabolic pathways and a subsequent cerebral energy deficit. Ketones (beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetoacetate) may represent an alternative metabolic substrate with the potential to improve cerebral energy supply and decrease injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate baseline ketone concentrations in the ABI population.

A review of Rett syndrome (RTT) with induced pluripotent stem cells.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are pluripotent stem cells generated from somatic cells by the introduction of a combination of pluripotency-associated genes such as OCT4, SOX2, along with either KLF4 and c-MYC or NANOG and LIN28 via retroviral or lentiviral vectors. Most importantly, hiPSCs are similar to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) functionally as they are pluripotent and can potentially differentiate into any desired cell type when provided with the appropriate cues, but do not have the ethical issues surrounding hESCs. For these reasons, hiPSCs have huge potential in translational medicine such as disease modeling, drug screening, and cellular therapy.

Intracardiac Leiomyomatosis - an Unusual Cause of Syncope in a Middle-Aged Woman.

Intracardiac leiomyomatosis is a rare complication that occurs when a uterine leiomyoma (fibroid) undergoes vascular invasion and propagates within the inferior vena cava to reach the right atrium. This article describes a case of intracardiac leiomyomatosis in a middle-aged woman, exploring the presentation, diagnosis and surgical management of this condition. In this case the presenting complaints were syncope and atrial fibrillation, illustrating the importance of performing a transthoracic echocardiogram in patients presenting with their first episode of atrial fibrillation.

Transitions in Metabolic Risk and Long-Term Cardiovascular Health: Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

Background: Despite evidence suggesting that early metabolic dysfunction impacts cardiovascular disease risk, current guidelines focus on risk assessments later in life, missing early transitions in metabolic risk that may represent opportunities for averting the development of cardiovascular disease.

Methods And Results: In 4420 young adults in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, we defined a "metabolic" risk score based on components of the Third Report of the Adult Treatment Panel's definition of metabolic syndrome. Using latent class trajectory analysis adjusted for sex, race, and time-dependent body mass index, we identified 6 distinct metabolic trajectories over time, specified by initial and final risk: low-stable, low-worsening, high-stable, intermediate-worsening, intermediate-stable, and high-worsening.

Caralluma umbellata Peroxidase: Biochemical Characterization and Its Detoxification Potentials in Comparison with Horseradish Peroxidase.

Caralluma umbellata peroxidase (CUP) is an acidic heme-containing protein having a molecular weight of ~42 kDa and is specific to guaiacol. It is not a glycoprotein. It was purified to 12.

Assessment of Portal Venous and Hepatic Artery Haemodynamic Variation in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Patients.

Introduction: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has various spectrums of liver diseases like isolated fatty liver, steatohepatitis and cirrhosis usually progressing in a linear fashion. In this process they are known to cause certain haemodynamic changes in the portal flow and hepatic artery flow.

Aim: The aim of the study was to study these haemodynamic changes in patients with NAFLD and to correlate it with the disease severity.

Natural History of Myocardial Function in an Adult Human Population: Serial Longitudinal Observations From MESA.

Objectives: The aim of this longitudinal study was to define the determinants of aging-related left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function in a large multiethnic population.

Background: The influence of risk factor exposure on myocardial remodeling and function in humans across adult life remains incompletely understood. MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) is a longitudinal population-based cohort of asymptomatic adults at baseline.

The genome of the largest bony fish, ocean sunfish (Mola mola), provides insights into its fast growth rate.

Background: The ocean sunfish (Mola mola), which can grow up to a length of 2.7 m and weigh 2.3 tons, is the world's largest bony fish.

Association of Insulin Resistance and Glycemic Metabolic Abnormalities With LV Structure and Function in Middle Age: The CARDIA Study.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate how cumulative exposure to glycemic abnormalities and trajectories of insulin resistance (IR) relate to left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function during young to middle adulthood.

Background: Cumulative exposure to glycemic abnormalities and trajectories of IR may adversely influence LV remodeling and function over a 25-year period in subjects who were young adults, predisposing individuals to heart failure later in life.

Methods: In the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) Year 25 examination, 3,179 participants were identified with information on glucose metabolism; these participants were stratified into 4 subgroups: group 1 normal glucose tolerance (NGT), group 2 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose, group 3 late diabetes mellitus (DM) (DM diagnosed at year 15 or later), and group 4 early DM (DM diagnosed at year 0 to year 15).

Identification of three somatostatin genes in lampreys.

Somatostatins (SSs) are a structurally diverse family of neuropeptides that play important roles in the regulation of growth, development and metabolism in vertebrates. It has been recently proposed that the common ancestor of gnathostomes possessed three SS genes, namely SS1, SS2 and SS5. SS1 and SS2 are still present in most extant gnathostome species investigated so far while SS5 primarily occurs in chondrichthyes, actinopterygians and actinistia but not in tetrapods.