Deep sequencing analysis of viruses infecting grapevines: Virome of a vineyard

Double stranded RNA, isolated from 44 pooled randomly selected vines from a diseased South African vineyard, has been used in a deep sequencing analysis to build a census of the viral population. The dsRNA was sequenced in an unbiased manner using the sequencing-by-synthesis technology offered by the Illumina Genome Analyzer II and yielded 837 megabases of metagenomic sequence data. Four known viral pathogens were identified. It was found that Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) is the most prevalent species, constituting 59% of the total reads, followed by Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus and Grapevine virus A. Grapevine virus E, a virus not previously reported in South African vineyards, was identified in the census. Viruses not previously identified in grapevine were also detected. The second most prevalent virus detected was a member of the Chrysoviridae family similar to Penicillium chrysogenum virus. Sequences aligning to two other mycoviruses were also detected.     

Effects of Eprosartan on Diastolic Function and Neurohormones in Patients with Hypertension and Diastolic Dysfunction

Objective  

To compare the effects of an angiotensin receptor blocker(ARB)-based regimen versus a non-ARB based regimen on diastolic function and neurohormones in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction.     

A systematic review of bio-psychosocial risk factors for an unfavourable outcome after lumbar disc surgery

The objective of this systematic review is to summarize scientific evidence concerning the predictive value of bio-psychosocial risk factors with regard to the outcome after lumbar disc surgery. Medical and psychological databases were used to locate potentially relevant articles, which resulted in the selection of 11 studies. Each of these studies has a prospective design that examined the predictive value of preoperative variables for the outcome of lumbar disc surgery. Results indicated that socio-demographic, clinical, work-related as well as psychological factors predict lumbar disc surgery outcome. Findings showed relatively consistently that a lower level of education, a higher level of preoperative pain, less work satisfaction, a longer duration of sick leave, higher levels of psychological complaints and more passive avoidance coping function as predictors of an unfavourable outcome in terms of pain, disability, work capacity, or a combination of these outcome measures. The results of this review provide preliminary opportunities to select patients at risk for an unfavourable outcome. However, further systematic and methodologically high quality research is required, particularly for those predictors that can be positively influenced by multidisciplinary interventions.This research was funded by a grant from the RVVZ (Reserves Voormalige Vrijwillige Ziekenfondsverzekering).     

Predictors of enrollment into a familial cancer registry by individuals at high risk for BRCA1/2.

BACKGROUND: Registries of individuals at risk for hereditary cancer syndromes are an invaluable resource for cancer research, yet little is known about the predictors of enrollment in hereditary cancer registries. We sought to identify the factors that characterize individuals who enroll versus those who decline participation in a Familial Cancer Registry (FCR). We also sought to identify the factors associated with provision of a blood sample to the FCR. METHODS: Participants (n = 549) had a 10% or greater prior probability of having a BRCA1/2 mutation or were members of a family with a known BRCA1/2 mutation. RESULTS: Of 549 participants, 81.1% (n = 445) enrolled in the FCR and 18.9% (n = 104) declined. Independent significant predictors of FCR participation included: lower anxiety (odds ratio(0.5 SD), 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.95) and being unaffected with breast or ovarian cancer (odds ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.67). Of the 445 FCR participants, 80.4% provided a blood sample whereas 19.6% declined, with blood sample provision predicted by being employed full time (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-2.16). CONCLUSION: These findings have implications for the generalizability of results from research using hereditary cancer registry samples. Individuals who are affected with breast/ovarian cancer and have more anxiety are less likely to enroll in a hereditary cancer registry. Clinically, these results indicate that cancer registry enrollment strategies could benefit from the use of tailored approaches to increase the enrollment of individuals that are less likely to participate.     

Rate of Coronary Flow Adaptation in Response to Changes in Heart Rate before and during Anesthesia for Coronary Artery Surgery

Background: The rate of adaptation of coronary blood flow in response to stepwise changes in heart rate (HR) has been extensively studied in dogs and goats to improve our understanding of the dynamics of coronary regulation processes and their pathophysiology and to obtain time constants for mathematical modeling of the coronary regulation. However, little is known about the dynamic characteristics of coronary flow adaptation in humans. In patients undergoing coronary artery surgery, we investigated the rate of coronary adaptation in response to stepwise changes in HR, in the awake and anesthetized states.

Methods: In 11 patients with stable coronary artery disease, arterial blood pressure, right atrial pressure, and coronary sinus blood flow, measured by continuous thermodilution, were calculated per beat. The ratio of beat-averaged arterial blood pressure minus right atrial pressure and coronary sinus blood flow was calculated to obtain an index of coronary resistance. The rate of change of coronary resistance index was quantified by t50, defined as the time required to establish 50% of the total change in coronary resistance index. Responses of coronary resistance index after HR changes, before and after induction of anesthesia, were compared. The anesthesia technique consisted of 100 micro gram *symbol* kg sup -1 fentanyl and 0.1 mg *symbol* kg sup -1 pancuronium bromide in combination with oxygen in air ventilation (FIO2 = 0.5).

Results: In the awake situation, t50 values of the dilating and constricting responses, induced by an increase and a decrease in HR were 5.0+/-2.1 (SD) s (range 2.6-9.0 s) and 5.7+/-1.2 s (range 4.1-7.8 s), respectively. During fentanyl/pancuronium anesthesia, the rate of coronary flow adaptation was significantly slower, with t50 values of 10.2+/-2.1 s (range 7.7-13.1 s) after an HR step-up and 9.8+/-2.1 s (range 6.6-13.2 s) after an HR step-down. Compared to the awake situation, arterial blood pressure was significantly reduced during anesthesia, but coronary vascular resistance remained unchanged. This implies that the steady-state static regulation of coronary blood flow had not changed.