Changes in spatial QRS-T angle and QTc interval in patients with traumatic brain injury with or without intra-abdominal hypertension

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects cardiac electrical function, and several extra-cerebral factors, including intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), might further modulate this brain-heart interaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of TBI, and of increased IAP during TBI, on cardiac electrical function as measured by vectorcardiographic (VCG) variables.

Do G protein‐coupled receptors expressed in human lingual epithelium interact with HPV11?

Human papillomaviruses infect epithelia but little is known about the nature of cell surface receptors interacting with the viral particles. It has been proposed that glycosaminoglycans and integrins may be involved in the attachment process. In the present study, the putative interactions of virus-like particles of human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV11), which present a tropism for nasopharyngeal epithelia, with olfactory and taste receptors expressed in the human lingual epithelium were studied. The L1 protein of HPV11 was produced in insect cells. The presence of L1 virus-like particles was analyzed by ELISA using monoclonal antibodies specific for full-size particles and by electron microscopy. Using immunofluorescence, it was observed that virus-like particles interacted with taste buds from murine tongue, with the tagged human olfactory receptor hJCG5 expressed in HEK-293 but not with the tagged taste receptor hT2R4. This therefore suggests that hJCG5 may be involved in the adsorption process of HPV11 to lingual epithelium serving as a so-called "adsorption-adhesive molecule."     

The use of contrast echocardiography: a matter of clinical judgement.

In their editorial, Buck and Erbel¹ raise the important questionin which settings application of contrast agents to an echocardiographicexamination is appropriate. There is no doubt that the beautyof echocardiography relates to its ease of use. We should acknowledgethat highest accuracy in the determination of left ventricularfunction is     

Deep sequencing reveals stepwise mutation acquisition in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a nonmalignant clonal disease of hematopoietic stem cells that is associated with hemolysis, marrow failure, and thrombophilia. PNH has been considered a monogenic disease that results from somatic mutations in the gene encoding PIGA, which is required for biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinisotol-anchored (GPI-anchored) proteins. The loss of certain GPI-anchored proteins is hypothesized to provide the mutant clone with an extrinsic growth advantage, but some features of PNH argue that there are intrinsic drivers of clonal expansion. Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing of paired PNH⁺ and PNH^– fractions on samples taken from 12 patients as well as targeted deep sequencing of an additional 36 PNH patients. We identified additional somatic mutations that resulted in a complex hierarchical clonal architecture, similar to that observed in myeloid neoplasms. In addition to mutations in PIGA, mutations were found in genes known to be involved in myeloid neoplasm pathogenesis, including TET2, SUZ12, U2AF1, and JAK2. Clonal analysis indicated that these additional mutations arose either as a subclone within the PIGA-mutant population, or prior to PIGA mutation. Together, our data indicate that in addition to PIGA mutations, accessory genetic events are frequent in PNH, suggesting a stepwise clonal evolution derived from a singular stem cell clone.     

Experimental Investigation of an Intensified Heat Transfer Adsorption Bed (IHTAB) Reactor Prototype

The first experience in the operation of intensified heat transfer adsorption bed reactor designed for low-pressure adsorption processes is presented in this paper. This work aims to assess the possibility of fluidizing the porous media bed induced by the pressure difference between the evaporator and the adsorption reactor. The conducted experimental research allowed indicating the type of silica gel recommended to use in fluidized beds of adsorption chiller. The fixed bed of silica gel was observed for the lower pressure differences, while fluidization appeared in the case of the pressure difference between the evaporator and the adsorption chamber higher than 1000 Pa. The most significant differences in the adsorption process between the fixed bed and the fluidized bed are revealed in the changes of sorbent temperatures. The silica gel bed was fluidized with water vapor generated in the evaporator.     

Efficient sorting of TNF-alpha to rodent mast cell granules is dependent on N-linked glycosylation

Mast cells play an important role at the early stages of immunological response to bacterial infections and parasite infestations. One of the major mast cell proinflammatory mediators is TNF-alpha. Mast cells are considered the only cells capable of storing TNF-alpha in cytoplasmic granules and rapidly releasing it upon activation. To determine what pathway is utilized to direct TNF-alpha to cytoplasmic granules and what motifs are responsible for the sorting process, we constructed a fusion protein covering the full sequence of TNF-alpha, N-terminally fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). In rodent mast cells, such protein was sorted to secretory granules, and this process was inhibited by both brefeldin A and monensin. Considering the relationship between lysosomes and secretory granules and following TNF-alpha sequence analysis, it was determined whether TNF-alpha is sorted through the mannose-6-phosphate receptor (MPR)-dependent pathway. We observed that ammonium chloride and tunicamycin blocked TNF-alpha-EGFP fusion protein delivery to secretory granules. In situ mutagenesis experiments confirmed the necessity of N-linked glycosylation for efficient sorting of TNF-alpha into rodent mast cell granules. In this work we established that TNF-alpha travels from the ER to mast cell granules via a brefeldin A- and monensin-sensitive route, utilizing the MPR-dependent pathway, although this dependency does not seem to be absolute.     

Angiotensin-(1–7) and nitric oxide synthase in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system

The organization of angiotensin (Ang)-(l-7) immunoreactivity with respect to neurons containing the nitric oxide synthase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d), in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial (HNS) system was examined. The majority of neurons in this system were single labeled with Ang-(1–7) or NADPH-d and were found localized in two separate populations of neurons within the HNS. A small number of double-labeled neurons were observed in the supraoptic (SO) and paraventricular (PV) nuclei. Double-labeled accessory neurosecretory neurons were also found distributed between the SO and PV. Although a well-defined function for nitric oxide in the magnocellular hypothalamic system has not been determined, the codistribution and limited coexistence of Ang-(1–7), a heptapeptide involved in antidiuresis, and NADPH-d in the HNS suggests a potential role for these substances in mechanisms modulating fluid homeostasis.     

The Frequency of Kappa and Lambda Chains in Pathologic Serum γG, γA, γD and γμ Immunoglobulins

Light chain typing of M-components of non-macroglobulin nature from 500 sera gave a κ/γ quotient of 1.5. All the M-components contained either κ or γ chains. Irrespective of the electrophoretic charge the quotient in γG-M-components was 2, and in γA-M-components 0.9 and Bence-Jones proteinaemias 1.3. One serum contained a γGL- and a γAK-M-component, both in a concentration above 3 g per 100 ml.