Periodic explosive expansion of human retroelements associated with the evolution of the hominoid primate

Five retroelement families, L1 and L2 (long interspersed nuclear element, LINE), Alu and MIR (short interspersed nuclear element, SINE), and LTR (long terminal repeat), comprise almost half of the human genome. This genome-wide analysis on the time-scaled expansion of retroelements sheds light on the chronologically synchronous amplification peaks of each retroelement family in variable heights across human chromosomes. Especially, L1s and LTRs in the highest density on sex chromosomes Xq and Y, respectively, disclose peak activities that are obscured in autosomes. The periods of young L1, Alu, LTR, and old L1 peak activities calibrated based on sequence divergence coincide with the divergence of the three major hominoid divergence as well as early eutherian radiation while the amplification peaks of old MIR and L2 account for the marsupial-placental split. Overall, the peaks of autonomous LINE (young and old L1s and L2s) peaks and non-autonomous SINE (Alus and MIRs) have alternated repeatedly for 150 million years. In addition, a single burst of LTR parallels the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary, an exceptional global event. These findings suggest that the periodic explosive expansions of LINEs and SINEs and an exceptional burst of LTR comprise the genome dynamics underlying the macroevolution of the hominoid primate lineage.     

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Duration Determines Outcome After 2- But Not 1-Stent Strategy in Left Main Bifurcation Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes after left main coronary artery (LM) bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the impact of the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) according to treatment strategy.

Ceramic on ceramic hip arthroplasty in fused hips

Background:Most literature in the field of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for fused hips, until date has reported the results of using metal on polyethylene and ceramic on polyethylene bearings. Results of THA using ceramic on ceramic (CoC) bearings in fused hips have not been published in literature. This study reports the results of cementless THA using CoC articulation perfomed in fused hips.Results:Mean Harris hip score improved from 42.4 to 84.2 and mean leg lengthening of 36.6 mm was achieved. In the average 5.4 years (range 2.8-9.1 years) followup there were no cases with osteolysis around acetabular cup and femoral stem. In this study, there was no case of ceramic fracture. There was one case of squeaking.Conclusion:This study suggests that cementless THA performed for fused hips with CoC bearings can provide good early clinical results.     

Physiologic Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Discordance Between FFR and iFR

ObjectivesThis study evaluated the physiologic characteristics of discordant lesions between instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) and the prognosis at 5 years.BackgroundFFR or iFR have been standard methods for assessing the functional significance of coronary artery stenosis. However, limited data exist about the physiologic characteristics of discordant lesions and the prognostic implications resulting from these lesions.MethodsA total of 840 vessels from 596 patients were classified according to iFR and FFR; high iFR–high FFR (n = 580), low iFR–high FFR (n = 40), high iFR–low FFR (n = 69), and low iFR–low FFR (n = 128) groups, which were compared with a control group (n = 23). The differences in coronary circulatory indices including the coronary flow reserve (CFR), index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), and resistance reserve ratio (RRR) (resting distal arterial pressure × mean transit time / hyperemic distal arterial pressure × hyperemic mean transit time), which reflect the vasodilatory capacity of coronary microcirculation, were compared. Patient-oriented composite outcomes (POCO) at 5 years including all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, and any revascularization were compared among patients with deferred lesions.ResultsIn the low iFR–high FFR group, CFR, RRR, and IMR measurements were similar to the low iFR–low FFR group: CFR 2.71 versus 2.43 (p = 0.144), RRR 3.36 versus 3.68 (p = 0.241), and IMR 18.51 versus 17.38 (p = 0.476). In the high iFR–low FFR group, the CFR, RRR, and IMR measurements were similar to the control group: CFR 2.95 versus 3.29 (p = 0.160), RRR 4.28 versus 4.00 (p = 0.414), and IMR 17.44 versus 17.06 (p = 0.818). Among the 4 groups, classified by iFR and FFR, CFR and RRR were all significantly different, except for IMR. However, there were no significant differences in the rates of POCO, regardless of discordance between the iFR and FFR. Only the low iFR–low FFR group had a higher POCO rate compared with the high iFR–high FFR group (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.17 to 5.16; p = 0.018).ConclusionsDifferences in coronary circulatory function were found, especially in the vasodilatory capacity between the low iFR–high FFR and high iFR–low FFR groups. FFR–iFR discordance was not related to an increased risk of POCO among patients with deferred lesions at 5 years. (Clinical, Physiological and Prognostic Implication of Microvascular Status; NCT02186093; Physiologic Assessment of Microvascular Function in Heart Transplant Patients; NCT02798731)     

Agreement of two vendor-independent strain analysis software platforms in assessing left ventricular global longitudinal strain

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - The new version of EchoPAC platform was recently developed by General Electronics (GE) to provide ‘vendor-independent’...     

Bridging mandibular continuity defects with miniplates: an experimental study.

Various miniplate fixation techniques were studied in dogs to determine whether the use of miniplate fixation provides sufficient stability in mandibular continuity defects. Continuity resections measuring 15 mm were made on the mandibles of 16 dogs and were bridged using 4 miniplate fixation techniques, each replicated 4 times. All dogs were placed on a normal diet throughout the postoperative period. Clinical and radiological examinations were carried out 6 weeks later. We found that the group with both double miniplates and bicortical screws was stable, whereas the groups utilizing either a single miniplate or monocortical screws were not. The results of this study indicate that using a combination of double miniplates and bicortical screws to bridge defects after mandibular resection produces stable and predictable results.