Genetic Association Analyses Highlight , , and As 3 New Susceptibility Genes Underlying Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Background: Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a frequent and life-threatening cardiovascular disease for which there is currently no medical treatment available. To date, only 2 genes, and , have been identified as causal for CAVS. We aimed to identify additional susceptibility genes for CAVS.

Antiangiogeneic Strategies in Mesothelioma.

There is a strong rationale for inhibiting angiogenesis in mesothelioma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an autocrine growth factor in mesothelioma and a potent mitogen for mesothelial cells. Further, the abnormal tumor vasculature promotes raised interstitial pressure and hypoxia, which may be detrimental to both penetration and efficacy of anticancer agents.

Ultrasensitive Genetically Encoded Indicator for Hydrogen Peroxide Identifies Roles for the Oxidant in Cell Migration and Mitochondrial Function.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a key redox intermediate generated within cells. Existing probes for HO have not solved the problem of detection of the ultra-low concentrations of the oxidant: these reporters are not sensitive enough, or pH-dependent, or insufficiently bright, or not functional in mammalian cells, or have poor dynamic range. Here we present HyPer7, the first bright, pH-stable, ultrafast, and ultrasensitive ratiometric HO probe.

Theoretical Analysis of Prospects of Organic Photovoltaics as a Multi-Functional Solar Cell and Laser Power Converter for Wireless Power Transfer.

Few reports have researched on utilization of laser power conversion systems for wireless power transfer in aeronautical applications. III-V compound semiconductors are commonly used as photovoltaic (PV) power converters in the previous studies. We propose the prospects of using organic absorbers as PV power converters.

Unmet needs in clinical nutrition in oncology: a multinational analysis of real-world evidence.

Background: Knowledge about cancer-related malnutrition and the use of clinical nutrition (CN) in the real-world setting are lacking. We investigated diagnosis and treatment frequency of malnutrition in a multinational survey to identify unmet needs in cancer patients' care.

Methods: Retrospective analyses were conducted on data from three administrative healthcare datasets from France ( = 570,727), Germany ( = 4642) and Italy ( = 58,468).

Analysis of protein missense alterations by combining sequence- and structure-based methods.

Background: Different types of in silico approaches can be used to predict the phenotypic consequence of missense variants. Such algorithms are often categorized as sequence based or structure based, when they necessitate 3D structural information. In addition, many other in silico tools, not dedicated to the analysis of variants, can be used to gain additional insights about the possible mechanisms at play.

On the High Sensitivity of Corrosion Resistance of NiTi Stents with Respect to Inclusions: An Experimental Evidence.

In this study, the electrochemical breakdown potentials ( ) of NiTi stents were assessed in correlation to their nonmetallic inclusion fractions in the extra low inclusion (ELI) range (inclu.% < 1% in area fraction, average size <39 μm). Quantitative investigations were performed to study the role of nonmetallic inclusions during pitting corrosion.

Evaluation of the reliability and validity of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) questionnaire translated into Malagasy.

Unlabelled: The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was developed to assess the impact of oral health conditions on the quality of life of preschool children and theirs families. The ECOHIS was originally developed in English language, translated and validated in several countries but no validated transcultural version of this questionnaire is currently available in Madagascar. The objectives of this cross-cultural study were to translate, validate and analyse the psychometric properties of the Malagasy version of ECOHIS.

Correction to: Human Inborn Errors of Immunity: 2019 Update on the Classification from the International Union of Immunological Societies Expert Committee.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained mistakes in reference numbers. The in-text citations and the references were mismatched. The original article has been corrected.

Future treatments for hepatitis delta virus infection.

Around 15-20 million people develop chronic hepatitis delta virus worldwide. Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus requiring the presence of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) to complete its life cycle. HDV infects hepatocytes using the hepatitis B virus (HBV) receptor, the sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP).

Precision therapy of 6-mercaptopurine in Chinese children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Aims: Chinese children are more susceptible to the development of thiopurine-induced leukopenia compared with Caucasian populations. The aim of our study was to establish a 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) dose-concentration-response relationship through exploration of pharmacogenetic factors involved in the thiopurine-induced toxicities in Chinese paediatric patients afflicted by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from ALL children treated with 6-MP.

Utility of anaerobic bottles for the diagnosis of bloodstream infections.

Background: Obligate anaerobes usually account for less than 10% of bacteria recovered from blood cultures (BC). The relevance of routine use of the anaerobic bottle is under debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of anaerobic bottles for the diagnosis of bloodstream infections (BSI).

Adherence to treatment guidelines in clinical practice for using electroconvulsive therapy in major depressive episode.

Background: ECT is the most effective treatment of major depressive episode (MDE) but remains a neglected treatment. The French Society for Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology aimed to determine whether prescribing practice of ECT followed guidelines recommendations.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD), who have been treated with ECT for MDE.

Human Inborn Errors of Immunity: 2019 Update of the IUIS Phenotypical Classification.

Since 2013, the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) expert committee (EC) on Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) has published an updated phenotypic classification of IEI, which accompanies and complements their genotypic classification into ten tables. This phenotypic classification is user-friendly and serves as a resource for clinicians at the bedside. There are now 430 single-gene IEI underlying phenotypes as diverse as infection, malignancy, allergy, autoimmunity, and autoinflammation.

Nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model for bovine liver tissue.

Soft tissue mechanical characterisation is important in many areas of medical research. Examples span from surgery training, device design and testing, sudden injury and disease diagnosis. The liver is of particular interest, as it is the most commonly injured organ in frontal and side motor vehicle crashes, and also assessed for inflammation and fibrosis in chronic liver diseases.

Sequential adaptation of perfusion and transport conditions significantly improves vascular construct recellularization and biomechanics.

Recellularization of ex vivo-derived scaffolds remains a significant hurdle primarily due to the scaffolds subcellular pore size that restricts initial cell seeding to the scaffolds periphery and inhibits migration over time. With the aim to improve cell migration, repopulation, and graft mechanics, the effects of a four-step culture approach were assessed. Using an ex vivo-derived vein as a model scaffold, human smooth muscle cells were first seeded onto its ablumen (Step 1: 3 hr) and an aggressive 0-100% nutrient gradient (lumenal flow under hypotensive pressure) was created to initiate cell migration across the scaffold (Step 2: Day 0 to 19).

Cerebrospinal fluid lipocalin 2 as a novel biomarker for the differential diagnosis of vascular dementia.

The clinical diagnosis of vascular dementia (VaD) is based on imaging criteria, and specific biochemical markers are not available. Here, we investigated the potential of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a secreted glycoprotein that has been suggested as mediating neuronal damage in vascular brain injuries. The study included four independent cohorts with a total n = 472 samples.

A same day 'test and treat' model for chronic HCV and HBV infection: Results from two community-based pilot studies in Egypt.

Prompt access to confirmatory viral load testing and staging of liver disease are key barriers in uptake of treatment for chronic hepatitis B and C infection. Our objective was to establish the feasibility of a same day 'test and treat' model in two distinct community-based settings in Egypt through use of key point-of-care (POC) portable tools for HCV and HBV viral load assessment and staging of liver disease followed by treatment initiation. Community sites were a village in northern Egypt (site 1) and a government office in Cairo (site 2).

Childhood maltreatment and clinical severity of treatment-resistant depression in a French cohort of outpatients (FACE-DR): One-year follow-up.

Background: Childhood maltreatment is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). It not only increases the risk of lifetime MDD, but it also aggravates its course. Among depressed patients, 20-30% of them experience treatment-resistance depression (TRD).

Evaluating lactate prognostic value in children suspected of acetaminophen-induced liver failure in Liberia.

Background: The prognostic significance of hyperlactatemia in young children with liver injury suspected to be attributed to repeated supratherapeutic doses of acetaminophen remain understudied.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective medical chart review including children aged <5 years admitted with hepatocellular injury. The study was conducted in Bardnesville Junction Hospital operated by Médecins Sans Frontières in Monrovia, Liberia.

PenKid measurement at admission is associated with outcome in severely ill burn patients.

Background: Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) has been proposed as a sensitive biomarker of renal function. This study evaluated the association of concentrations of plasma penKid with death and risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in severely ill burn patients.

Methods: A prospective observational study in two centers with severely ill adult burn patients was conducted.