Possible impact of HLA class I and class II on malignancies driven by a single germ-line BRCA1 mutation

This study provides the first immunogenetic preliminary evidence that specific human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I and class II alleles and haplotypes may be relevant for BRCA1 c.5263_5264insC driven oncogenesis. Observed HLA associations might have practical implications for establishment of predictive markers for the response to immunotherapies in malignancies driven by this germ-line mutation.     

Multicyclic Poly(ether ketone)s by Polycondensation of 1,3,5‐Tris(4‐fluorobenzoyl)benzene with Various Diphenols

Summary: 1,3,5‐Tris(4‐fluorobenzoyl)benzene (TFBB) was polycondensed with silylated 4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl, bisphenol‐A or 4‐tert‐butylcatechol in N‐methylpyrrolidine with K₂CO₃ as a promoter. The TFBB/diphenol feed ratio was varied from 1.0:1.0 to 1:0:1.5. Partial cross‐linking was observed with the stiff 4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl, even at the 1.0:1.0 ratio. With bisphenol‐A, no gelation took place up to a feed ratio of 1.0:1.3, indicating a high cyclization tendency. With 4‐tert‐butylcatechol, no cross‐linking occurred up to the 1.0:1.5 ratio, proving an even higher cyclization tendency. The formation of cyclic, bicyclic and multicyclic oligo‐ and polyethers was detected by means of MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry for all reaction products. These results demonstrate that increasing chain stiffness reduces the influence of cyclization. Cyclization proved unavoidable, however, and a high cyclization tendency prevents the formation of hyperbranched and networked structures.

     

Coronary angiography and dual-source computed tomography are complementary methods in diagnosis of significant stenosis of the right coronary artery originating from the left aortic sinus

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the contralateral aortic sinus is a rare but potentially fatal congenital abnormality. We analyzed 8.066 consecutive coronary angiograms and found 4 cases demonstrating this anomaly. In 2 cases the right coronary artery was without significant atherosclerotic lesions and coursed between the aorta and pulmonary trunk. In the 2 other cases the right coronary artery was significantly stenosed. In the last case, diagnosis was based on angiographic and dual-source computed tomographic examinations. Dual-source computed tomography showed precisely the origin and course of the right coronary artery between the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery. Moreover, stenoses of the anomalous coronary artery were depicted. Subsequent coronary interventions required modification of the Amplatz left guiding catheter, which enabled a sufficient support even for coronary artery stenting. Both methods seem to be complementary in the diagnostic and therapeutic process of this coronary anomaly.     

Relationship of C-reactive protein to adverse cardiovascular events in patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention for stable angina pectoris

Low-grade inflammation as detected by increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels predicts the risk of cardiovascular events. However, there is still controversy over the mid-term predictive value of CRP in patients referred for elective percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCI) for stable angina pectoris. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between baseline CRP level and mid-term outcome of patients undergoing PCI. Two groups of patients with stable angina pectoris were prospectively studied. Group A consisted of 150 consecutive patients with a CRP level < or = 3 mg/L, and group B consisted of 150 consecutive patients with a CRP level > 3 mg/L undergoing PCI at our institution. Comparing both groups of patients, the analysis confirmed a significant difference between medians of the CRP levels (0.5 versus 8 mg/mL; P < 0.001). A higher level of CRP in group B was associated with a lower presence of male gender (P < 0.05) and history of myocardial infarction (P < 0.05). On the other hand, in group B there was higher occurrence of smoking (P < 0.001), hypertension (P < 0.05), hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.001), and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.01). The incidence of myocardial infarction based on post-interventional release of TnI > 1.5 ng/mL reached 12% in group A and 14% in group B (P = 0.73). Analyses were repeated with adjustment for significant baseline variables, which did not change our findings. The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events during a six month follow-up was 13% in both groups (NS). Increased CRP serum prior to PCI was not associated with the risk and extent of procedure-related myocardial injury measured by TnI release and does not portend heightened cardiovascular risk at six months after percutaneous revascularization. On the other hand, a CRP level > 3 mg/L was associated with a higher occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and diabetes mellitus).     

Lectin-binding epitopes at the surface of Escherichia coli K-12: examination by electron microscopy, with special reference to the presence of a colanic acid-like polymer

The presence and distribution of lectin-binding epitopes at the surface of Escherichia coli K-12, strain W1655, was studied by electron microscopy after lectin-gold labeling and negative staining. A comparison was made between the lectin-binding capacity of cells cultivated at 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C (in broth or on agar). A variety of pre-treatment protocols were applied prior to labeling. The gold-conjugated lectins used were wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), soybean agglutinin (SBA) and Ulex europaeus lectin (UEA-I). For all culture conditions, the bacteria had moderate exposure of WGA-binding sites, and this was not changed after pre-treatment. Cells cultivated at 37 degrees C had exposed SBA- and UEA-I-binding epitopes apparently associated with the cell surface. These significantly increased in number after boiling the cells for 10 min. With bacteria cultivated at 20 degrees C these two lectins recognized sites situated on exopolysaccharide filaments. Affino dot-blot experiments with isolated polysaccharides of the strain identified the K-12 lipooligosaccharide as the source of WGA-binding epitopes, and the exopolysaccharide, colanic acid (CA) as the source of SBA- and UEA-I-binding sites. The interaction with these two lectins of bacteria cultivated at 37 degrees C could be due to altered translocation of CA from the cytoplasm to the environment. This suggestion was supported by the demonstration by electron microscopy of SBA and UEA-I binding at the surface of hot phenol-water extracted cell walls.     

Preload dependence of the time interval between onsets of mitral inflow and early diastolic mitral annular velocity: a study in healthy subjects

The time interval (TEa-E) between onsets of early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Ea) and early mitral inflow velocity (E) has been proposed as a new index of left ventricular (LV) relaxation. We aimed to assess the influence of preload changes on this parameter by examining 25 healthy volunteers at rest, after passive leg lifting, and after administration of nitroglycerin combined with Valsalva maneuver. To obtain septal and lateral TEa-E, the time intervals between peak R-wave on electrocardiogram and the onsets of Ea and E were measured in different cardiac cycles. E and Ea were significantly changed by preload manipulations. We did not observe significant changes of TEa-E intervals after leg lifting or after nitroglycerin administration combined with Valsalva maneuver (P = NS). TEa-E was < 0 ms in several subjects using either septal or lateral Ea recordings. We conclude that TEa-E may be load independent in subjects with normal LV systolic and diastolic function as compared to other Doppler parameters. Therefore, this index could be potentially used as a reliable noninvasive parameter of LV relaxation. Nevertheless, even slight differences in cardiac cycle lengths might influence the measurements of TEa-E interval. For that reason, the clinical use of TEa-E seems to be significantly limited because of a wide margin of error in its measurement due to the inability to obtain Doppler recordings during the same cardiac cycle.