Effect of Colchicine on Coronary Plaque Stability in Acute Coronary Syndrome as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography: The COLOCT Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Colchicine has been approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary heart disease on the basis of its potential benefits demonstrated in the COLCOT (Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial) and LoDoCo2 (Low-Dose Colchicine 2) studies. Nevertheless, there are limited data available about the specific impact of colchicine on coronary plaques.

Methods: This was a prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Abnormal Conduction Zone Detected by Isochronal Late Activation Mapping Accurately Identifies the Potential Atrial Substrate and Predicts the Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Outcome After Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Background: The presence of abnormal substrate of left atrium is a predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation. We aimed to investigate the isochronal late activation mapping to access the abnormal conduction velocity for predicting AF ablation outcome.

Methods: Forty-five paroxysmal AF patients (30 males, 57.

Peptide Vaccine Against ADAMTS-7 Ameliorates Atherosclerosis and Postinjury Neointima Hyperplasia.

Background: The metalloprotease ADAMTS-7 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 7) is a novel locus associated with human coronary atherosclerosis. ADAMTS-7 deletion protects against atherosclerosis and vascular restenosis in rodents.

Methods: We designed 3 potential vaccines consisting of distinct B cell epitopic peptides derived from ADAMTS-7 and conjugated with the carrier protein KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) as well as aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant.

Biologic Evaluation of a Heterodimeric HER2-Albumin Targeted Affibody Molecule Produced by Chemo-Enzymatic Peptide Synthesis.

Targeted molecular radiation therapy is a promising emerging treatment modality in oncology, and peptide synthesis may shorten the time to reach the clinical stage. In this study, we have explored Chemo-Enzymatic Peptide Synthesis, or CEPS, as a new means of producing a therapeutic HER2 targeted Affibody molecule, comprising a C-terminal albumin binding domain (ABD) for half-life extension and a total length of 108 amino acids. In addition, a DOTA moiety could be incorporated at N-terminus directly during the synthesis step and subsequently utilized for site-specific radiolabeling with the therapeutic radionuclide Lu.

A new sodium vanadyl fluorophosphate as a high-rate and stable cathode for aqueous hybrid sodium-zinc batteries.

Herein, a facile solvothermal method is used to prepare a new polyanion-type sodium vanadyl fluorophosphate (Na(VO)(PO)F) for aqueous hybrid sodium-zinc batteries. The novel cathode delivers superior performance, which includes a high specific capacity of 87.2 mA h g at 0.

Impaired Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Synthesis Induces Preeclampsia by Deactivating Trophoblastic YAP (Yes-Associated Protein) Through S1PR2 (Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor-2)-Induced Actin Polymerizations.

Incomplete spiral artery remodeling, caused by impaired extravillous trophoblast invasion, is a fundamental pathogenic process associated with malplacentation and the development of preeclampsia. Nevertheless, the mechanisms controlling this regulation of trophoblast invasion are largely unknown. We report that sphingosine-1-phosphate synthesis and expression is abundant in healthy trophoblast, whereas in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia the placentae are associated with reduced sphingosine-1-phosphate and lower SPHK1 (sphingosine kinase 1) expression and activity.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy: Prevalence, Clinical and Neuroimaging Features and Risk Factors.

Background And Purpose: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a monogenic cerebral small vessel disease. The role of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in CADASIL remains elusive. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors for ICH in CADASIL.

The Clinical Application of the Deep Learning Technique for Predicting Trigger Origins in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation With Catheter Ablation.

Background: Non-pulmonary vein (NPV) trigger has been reported as an important predictor of recurrence post-atrial fibrillation ablation. Elimination of NPV triggers can reduce the recurrence of postablation atrial fibrillation. Deep learning was applied to preablation pulmonary vein computed tomography geometric slices to create a prediction model for NPV triggers in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

LncRNA PROX1-AS1 promotes proliferation, invasion, and migration in prostate cancer via targeting miR-647.

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "LncRNA PROX1-AS1 promotes proliferation, invasion, and migration in prostate cancer via targeting miR-647, by C. Qian, C.-H.

Low-Dose Rivaroxaban and Risks of Adverse Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background and Purpose- In the daily practice, low-dose nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are commonly used among Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the present study was to compare the risks of ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and net clinical benefit of Asian patients with AF treated with off-label low-dose and on-label dosing rivaroxaban. Methods- A total of 2214 patients with AF aged ≥20 years treated with rivaroxaban at a tertiary medical center in Taiwan were studied.

Circulating tumor DNA analysis depicts subclonal architecture and genomic evolution of small cell lung cancer.

Subclonal architecture and genomic evolution of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) under treatment has not been well studied primarily due to lack of tumor specimens, particularly longitudinal samples acquired during treatment. SCLC is characterized by early hematogenous spread, which makes circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing a promising modality for genomic profiling. Here, we perform targeted deep sequencing of 430 cancer genes on pre-treatment tumor biopsies, as well as on plasma samples collected prior to and during treatment from 22 SCLC patients.

Genomic Hallmarks and Structural Variation in Metastatic Prostate Cancer.

While mutations affecting protein-coding regions have been examined across many cancers, structural variants at the genome-wide level are still poorly defined. Through integrative deep whole-genome and -transcriptome analysis of 101 castration-resistant prostate cancer metastases (109X tumor/38X normal coverage), we identified structural variants altering critical regulators of tumorigenesis and progression not detectable by exome approaches. Notably, we observed amplification of an intergenic enhancer region 624 kb upstream of the androgen receptor (AR) in 81% of patients, correlating with increased AR expression.

A loop region of BAFF controls B cell survival and regulates recognition by different inhibitors.

The B cell survival factor (TNFSF13B/BAFF) is often elevated in autoimmune diseases and is targeted in the clinic for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. BAFF contains a loop region designated the flap, which is dispensable for receptor binding. Here we show that the flap of BAFF has two functions.

Oral Anticoagulation in Very Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Stroke prevention with oral anticoagulants (OACs) is the cornerstone for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data about the use of OACs among patients ≥90 years of age are limited. We aimed to investigate the risk of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and the net clinical benefit of OAC treatment for very elderly patients with AF (≥90 years of age).

An NGS-based approach for the identification of sex-specific markers in snakehead ().

We described a next generation sequencing (NGS)-based approach to identify sex-specific markers and subsequently determine whether a species has male or female heterogamety. To test the accuracy of this technique, we examined the snakehead (), which is economically important freshwater fish in China. Males grow faster than females, and there is significant interest in developing methods to skew breeding towards all-males to increase biomass yields.

Risk of Stroke in Patients With Short-Run Atrial Tachyarrhythmia.

Background And Purpose: The risk of stroke in patients with short-run atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between short-run AT and the stroke and the use of the CHADS-VASc score for the risk stratification.

Methods: From the registry of 24-hour Holter monitoring, 5342 subjects without known atrial fibrillation or stroke were enrolled.

Paroxysmal hypnogenic dyskinesia is associated with mutations in the PRRT2 gene.

Objective: To explore the potential causative genes of paroxysmal hypnogenic dyskinesia (PHD), which was initially considered a subtype of paroxysmal dyskinesia and has been recently considered a form of nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE).

Methods: Eleven patients with PHD were recruited. Mutations in proline-rich region transmembrane protein-2 (PRRT2), myofibrillogenesis regulator 1 (MR-1), solute carrier family 2, member 1 (SLC2A1), calcium-activated potassium channel alpha subunit (KCNMA1), cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 4 (CHRNA4), cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, beta 2 (CHRNB2), cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 2 (CHRNA2), and potassium channel subfamily T member 1 (KCNT1) were screened by direct sequencing.

Use of Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Who Have a History of Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Background: The risk of further intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and the benefit of stroke risk reduction with the use of oral anticoagulants for patients who have atrial fibrillation with a history of ICH remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the risks and benefits in patients who have atrial fibrillation with a previous ICH treated with warfarin or antiplatelet drugs in comparison with no antithrombotic therapies.

Methods And Results: This study used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Chemical Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone Alleviates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction.

Rationale: Doxorubicin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for cancer, but its use is often limited by cardiotoxicity. Doxorubicin causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dilation in cardiomyocytes, and we have demonstrated that ER stress plays important roles in the pathophysiology of heart failure.

Objective: We evaluated the role of ER stress in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and examined whether the chemical ER chaperone could prevent doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction.

Causes of Death Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an effective alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in patients at high surgical risk. However, there is little published literature on the exact causes of death.

Methods And Results: The PubMed database was systematically searched for studies reporting causes of death within and after 30 days following TAVR.