Nuclear scaffold proteins are differently sensitive to stabilizing treatment by heat or Cu++.

The distribution of three nuclear scaffold proteins (of which one is a component of a particular class of nuclear bodies) has been studied in intact K562 human erythroleukemia cells, isolated nuclei, and nuclear scaffolds. Nuclear scaffolds were obtained by extraction with the ionic detergent lithium diidosalicylate (LIS), using nuclei prepared in the absence of divalent cations (metal-depleted nuclei) and stabilized either by a brief heat exposure (20 min at 37C or 42C) or by Cu++ ions at 0C. Proteins were visualized by in situ immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Only a 160-kD nuclear scaffold protein was unaffected by all the stabilization procedures performed on isolated nuclei. However, LIS extraction and scaffold preparation procedures markedly modified the distribution of the polypeptide seen in intact cells, unless stabilization had been performed by Cu++. In isolated nuclei, only Cu++ treatment preserved the original distribution of the two other antigens (M(r), 125 and 126 kD), whereas in heat-stabilized nuclei we detected dramatic changes. In nuclear scaffolds reacted with antibodies to 125 and 126-kD proteins, the fluorescent pattern was always disarranged regardless of the stabilization procedure. These results, obtained with nuclei prepared in the absence of Mg+2 ions, indicate that heat treatment per se can induce changes in the distribution of nuclear proteins, at variance with previous suggestions. Nevertheless, each of the proteins we have studied behaves in a different way, possibly because of its specific association with the nuclear scaffold.

Successful Transapical Aortic Valve Implantation in a Congenital Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

Transcatheter stent-valve implantation in stenosed congenital bicuspid aortic valves is under debate. Heavily calcified elliptic bicuspid valves represent a contraindication to catheter-based valve therapies because of a risk of stent-valve displacement, distortion, or malfunctioning after the implantation. In this case report we illustrate our experience with a patient suffering from stenosed congenital bicuspid aortic valve who successfully underwent a transapical 26-mm Edwards Sapien stent-valve (Edwards Lifesciences Inc, Irvine, CA) implantation. Postoperative distortion, malfunctioning, and paravalvular leaks were not detected.

Architectural and Functional Similarities between Trimeric ATP-Gated P2X Receptors and Acid-Sensing Ion Channels

ATP-gated P2X receptors and acid-sensing ion channels are two distinct ligand-gated ion channels that assemble into trimers. They are involved in many important physiological functions such as pain sensation and are recognized as important therapeutic targets. They have unrelated primary structures and respond to different ligands (ATP and protons) and are thus considered as two different ion channels. As a consequence, comparisons of the biophysical properties and underlying mechanisms have only been rarely made between these two channels. However, the recent determination of their molecular structures by X-ray crystallography has revealed unexpected parallels in the architecture of the two pores, providing a basis for possible functional analogies. In this review, we analyze the structural and functional similarities that are shared by these trimeric ion channels, and we outline key unanswered questions that, if addressed experimentally, may help us to elucidate how two unrelated ion channels have adopted a similar fold of the pore.

Produção de grãos e absorção de Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn pelo milho em solo adubado com lodo de esgoto, com e sem calcário

O lodo de esgoto (LE), apesar do seu reconhecido valor como fertilizante, ainda é motivo de preocupação quando usado na agricultura, em virtude do potencial de absorção excessiva de metais pesados pelas plantas e entrada na cadeia alimentar. Para avaliar o efeito da adição de 0, 20, 40, 60 e 80 Mg ha-1 (com base no material seco) de LE, aplicado de forma única ou parcelada em 2, 3 e 4 anos nas doses de 40, 60 e 80 Mg ha-1, respectivamente, com e sem calcário, na produção de grãos e massa seca da parte aérea e na absorção de Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn pelo milho, foi realizado, em Cordeirópolis (SP), um experimento em condições de campo, utilizando um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico típico, no período de 1983 a 1987. Foi utilizado o experimento em faixas ("split block") com quatro repetições. A maior dose de LE adicionou ao solo, em kg ha-1, 63, 3040, 25 e 152 de Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn, respectivamente. A produção de grãos e de massa seca da parte aérea aumentou linearmente com a adição de LE nos anos estudados. O LE aumentou significativamente as concentrações de Zn nas folhas e na parte aérea e provocou a redução nas concentrações de Fe e Mn, mas não alterou as de Cu. As concentrações dos metais nos grãos não foram influenciadas de forma significativa pela adição de LE, estando mesmo nas maiores doses, dentro dos níveis aceitáveis, sem causar restrição ao consumo humano. A absorção de Zn, Fe e Mn pelo milho foi significativamente reduzida pela adição de calcário. O Zn foi o metal que mais teve reduzida sua concentração na parte aérea pela adição de calcário. O parcelamento das doses de lodo de 40 a 80 Mg ha-1 provocou, de modo geral, aumento das quantidades absorvidas de metais pelo milho, sendo o Fe e o Zn os elementos que mais se acumularam na planta em resposta a esse parcelamento.

Incidence of stent thrombosis and adverse cardiac events 5 years after sirolimus stent implantation in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: The long-term incidence of stent thrombosis (ST) and complications after sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) implantation is still a matter of debate. METHOD: We conducted a systematic follow-up on the day of their 5-year SES implantation anniversary, in a series of consecutive real-world patients treated with a SES. The use of SES implantation was not restricted to "on-label" indications, and target lesions included in-stent restenosis, vein graft, left main stem locations, bifurcations, and long lesions. The Academic Research Consortium criteria were used for ST classification. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty consecutive patients were treated with SES between April and December 2002 in 3 Swiss hospitals. Mean age was 63 +/- 6 years, 78% were men, 20% presented with acute coronary syndrome, and 19% were patients with diabetes. Five-year follow-up was obtained in 98% of eligible patients. Stent thrombosis had occurred in 12 patients (3.6%) [definite 6 (1.8%), probable 1 (0.3%) and possible 5 (1.5%)]. Eighty-one percent of the population was free of complications. Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 74 (21%) patients and were as follows: cardiac death 3%, noncardiac death 4%, myocardial infarction 2%, target lesion revascularization 8%, non-target lesion revascularization target vessel revascularization 3%, coronary artery bypass graft 2%. Non-TVR was performed in 8%. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm the good long-term outcome of patients treated with SES. The incidence of complications and sub acute thrombosis at 5 years in routine clinical practice reproduces the results of prospective randomized trials.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in failed bioprosthetic surgical valves.

IMPORTANCE: Owing to a considerable shift toward bioprosthesis implantation rather than mechanical valves, it is expected that patients will increasingly present with degenerated bioprostheses in the next few years. Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation is a less invasive approach for patients with structural valve deterioration; however, a comprehensive evaluation of survival after the procedure has not yet been performed. OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival of patients after transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation inside failed surgical bioprosthetic valves. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Correlates for survival were evaluated using a multinational valve-in-valve registry that included 459 patients with degenerated bioprosthetic valves undergoing valve-in-valve implantation between 2007 and May 2013 in 55 centers (mean age, 77.6 [SD, 9.8] years; 56% men; median Society of Thoracic Surgeons mortality prediction score, 9.8% [interquartile range, 7.7%-16%]). Surgical valves were classified as small (≤21 mm; 29.7%), intermediate (>21 and <25 mm; 39.3%), and large (≥25 mm; 31%). Implanted devices included both balloon- and self-expandable valves. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Survival, stroke, and New York Heart Association functional class. RESULTS: Modes of bioprosthesis failure were stenosis (n = 181 [39.4%]), regurgitation (n = 139 [30.3%]), and combined (n = 139 [30.3%]). The stenosis group had a higher percentage of small valves (37% vs 20.9% and 26.6% in the regurgitation and combined groups, respectively; P = .005). Within 1 month following valve-in-valve implantation, 35 (7.6%) patients died, 8 (1.7%) had major stroke, and 313 (92.6%) of surviving patients had good functional status (New York Heart Association class I/II). The overall 1-year Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 83.2% (95% CI, 80.8%-84.7%; 62 death events; 228 survivors). Patients in the stenosis group had worse 1-year survival (76.6%; 95% CI, 68.9%-83.1%; 34 deaths; 86 survivors) in comparison with the regurgitation group (91.2%; 95% CI, 85.7%-96.7%; 10 deaths; 76 survivors) and the combined group (83.9%; 95% CI, 76.8%-91%; 18 deaths; 66 survivors) (P = .01). Similarly, patients with small valves had worse 1-year survival (74.8% [95% CI, 66.2%-83.4%]; 27 deaths; 57 survivors) vs with intermediate-sized valves (81.8%; 95% CI, 75.3%-88.3%; 26 deaths; 92 survivors) and with large valves (93.3%; 95% CI, 85.7%-96.7%; 7 deaths; 73 survivors) (P = .001). Factors associated with mortality within 1 year included having small surgical bioprosthesis (≤21 mm; hazard ratio, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.14-3.67; P = .02) and baseline stenosis (vs regurgitation; hazard ratio, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.33-7.08; P = .008). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this registry of patients who underwent transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation for degenerated bioprosthetic aortic valves, overall 1-year survival was 83.2%. Survival was lower among patients with small bioprostheses and those with predominant surgical valve stenosis.

Avaliação de três áreas de solo construído após mineração de carvão a céu aberto em Lauro Müller, Santa Catarina

Em solos construídos após mineração de carvão, a contaminação das camadas superficiais com pirita provoca intensa acidificação do solo, acelera a intemperização de minerais, eleva os teores de Al e Mn e aumenta a lixiviação de bases. O presente trabalho avaliou características químicas, teor de argila e mineralogia, bem como a variabilidade espacial para algumas dessas características em três áreas de solos construídos após mineração de carvão a céu aberto no município de Lauro Müller, Santa Catarina. As três áreas selecionadas apresentavam diferenças no modo de construção topográfico. A primeira, denominada Mina Juliana (MJ), foi construída em 1996, utilizando material (sólum, regolito argiloso e rocha) que foi separado e estocado antes da mineração, conforme previsto no plano de reabilitação. A segunda, denominada Mina do Apertado (MA), foi construída, em 1996, usando, como material de cobertura, o sólum proveniente do decapeamento de um morro adjacente à área. A terceira área, denominada Mina Rio do Meio (MRM), sofreu apenas construção topográfica em 1983, com mistura de resíduos de pirita de carvão e rochas de várias camadas. Amostras de solo foram coletadas em sistema de grade de pontos, em três profundidades, sendo analisados o pH em água, teores de Ca, Mg, K e Al trocáveis, H + Al e condutividade elétrica. Em amostras selecionadas, analisaram-se alguns metais pesados e a mineralogia da fração argila. Análises efetuadas em dois perfis de solo representativos das condições anteriores à mineração foram utilizados, para comparação. Todas as áreas apresentaram grande dispersão de valores para características químicas e teor de argila dos solos entre os pontos amostrados. O processo de construção do solo que resultou em maior uniformidade destas características e melhores condições para o estabelecimento de espécies vegetais foi o da área MJ. O solo da área MA, graças à mistura de resíduos de carvão piritoso com o solo superficial, está em franco processo de acidificação e contém alta concentração de sais. O solo da área MRM, em virtude do abandono e do longo período de exposição de resíduos piritosos na camada superficial, mostra elevada acidez, tendo já sofrido intensa lixiviação dos sais. As únicas variáveis testadas que apresentaram modelo definido para semivariância foram Al trocável, H + Al e argila, cujo alcance variou de 50 a 70 m.

Animal Tissue Response To Mid-Term Electronic Modular Artificial Sphincter Implantation

Introduction and objectives: The AMS 800TM is considered the gold standard for sphincter replacement. However, the one-ring design can erode the urethra and lead to severe complications. A mechanism that could alternatively compress successive segments of the urethra would limit such deleterious outcome. We report 12 weeks animal urethral tissue analysis following implantation of a new modular artificial sphincter. METHODS: The device is composed by three parts: the contractile unit, two rings and an integrated microprocessor. The contractile unit is made of Nitinol fibers. The rings are placed around the urethra to control the flow of urine by squeezing the urethra. They work in a sequential alternative mode and are controlled by a microprocessor connected to an external computer. The computer can reveal specific failure of device components. The device was impkanted in eight male sheep. The rings were positioned around the urethra and the control unit was placed 5cm away. The device was working twenty hours per day; it was open 10min. per hour to allow urination. The animals were sacrificed after 12 weeks. The urethra and the tissues surrounding the control unit were macroscopically and microscopically examined. Two transversal sections crossing the sphincter and two transversal sections crossing the urethra alone were obtained and stained with modified Paragon after resin embedding. Urethra was also embedded in paraffin. The first section was stained with safranin-hematoxylin-eosin, the second section was stained with Masson's Trichrome and the remaining eight sections were available for immunolabelling of the macrophages.Results: The chronic study went uneventful. No clinical infection or pain was observed. The computer registered no specific failure in ring function, Nitinol wires and tube connectors. At explantation, except for a slight grade of lymphocytes in two out of eight specimens, no urethral stricture or atrophy could be observed. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the absence of macrophages. Tissue structure and organization of the urethra with and without artificial sphincter were similar. No migration of the device was observed.Conclusions: The study clearly showed no tissue damage or inflammation of the urethra. Electronic design, preservation of urethral vascularisation and adjustability after implantation are the key ideas to improve the actual AUS. Further studies will be carried out to evaluate this potential.

Nouveau plan de la ville de Marseille : Comprenant tous les changements opérés jusqu'à ce jour / Ad. Hocquart Dir[ec]t[ion]

Échelle(s) : Échelle non déterminable

Visual activity predicts auditory recovery from deafness after adult cochlear implantation.

Modern cochlear implantation technologies allow deaf patients to understand auditory speech; however, the implants deliver only a coarse auditory input and patients must use long-term adaptive processes to achieve coherent percepts. In adults with post-lingual deafness, the high progress of speech recovery is observed during the first year after cochlear implantation, but there is a large range of variability in the level of cochlear implant outcomes and the temporal evolution of recovery. It has been proposed that when profoundly deaf subjects receive a cochlear implant, the visual cross-modal reorganization of the brain is deleterious for auditory speech recovery. We tested this hypothesis in post-lingually deaf adults by analysing whether brain activity shortly after implantation correlated with the level of auditory recovery 6 months later. Based on brain activity induced by a speech-processing task, we found strong positive correlations in areas outside the auditory cortex. The highest positive correlations were found in the occipital cortex involved in visual processing, as well as in the posterior-temporal cortex known for audio-visual integration. The other area, which positively correlated with auditory speech recovery, was localized in the left inferior frontal area known for speech processing. Our results demonstrate that the visual modality's functional level is related to the proficiency level of auditory recovery. Based on the positive correlation of visual activity with auditory speech recovery, we suggest that visual modality may facilitate the perception of the word's auditory counterpart in communicative situations. The link demonstrated between visual activity and auditory speech perception indicates that visuoauditory synergy is crucial for cross-modal plasticity and fostering speech-comprehension recovery in adult cochlear-implanted deaf patients.

Determinação de Fe, Zn, Cu e Mn extraídos do solo por diferentes extratores e dosados por espectrofotometria de emissão ótica em plasma induzido e espectrofotometria de absorção atômica

Para aumentar a precisão nas análises químicas de fertilidade do solo e dosar simultaneamente vários elementos, alguns laboratórios vêm optando pelo uso da técnica da espectrofotometria de emissão ótica em plasma induzido (ICP), em detrimento da técnica da espectrofotometria de absorção atômica (EAA), hoje comumente utilizada nos laboratórios de análise de solos. Este trabalho, além de comparar as duas técnicas de dosagem quanto à precisão, à reprodutibilidade e à magnitude dos teores dos micronutrientes Fe, Zn, Cu e Mn, extraídos por Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 e DTPA-TEA, objetivou, também, selecionar os comprimentos de onda que apresentam menores interferências espectrais no ICP. Foram utilizadas 36 amostras (0 a 0,2 m) de solos coletadas nos Estados de Minas Gerais e Bahia, com ampla variação nos teores de micronutrientes, sendo selecionados três solos para definir os comprimentos de onda do ICP e avaliar a precisão e a reprodutibilidade dos métodos de dosagem. Os comprimentos de onda com menores interferências espectrais no ICP foram: 259,939 nm para Fe em Mehlich-1 e DTPA-TEA e 234,349 nm em Mehlich-3; 213,857 nm para Zn e 324,752 nm para Cu nos três extratores; e 259,372 nm para Mn em Mehlich-1 e DTPA-TEA e 260,568 nm em Mehlich-3. Tanto o ICP quanto o EAA foram precisos e reprodutíveis nas dosagens de Fe e Mn, sendo o ICP, em virtude do seu menor limite de detecção, mais preciso e reprodutível nas dosagens de Zn e Cu. Os métodos de dosagem diferiram estatisticamente (p < 0,01) pelo teste de identidade aplicado, para as dosagens de Fe, Zn, Cu e Mn, utilizando Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 e DTPA-TEA, comprometendo assim a interpretação dos resultados gerados pelo ICP, com base nos níveis críticos gerados a partir do EAA.

Efeito da adição de fontes de matéria orgânica como amenizantes do efeito tóxico de B, Zn, Cu, Mn e Pb no cultivo de Brassica juncea

Atividades humanas como mineração, siderurgia e aplicação de fertilizantes tornam a poluição por metais sério problema ambiental na atualidade. A fitorremediação - uso de plantas e da microbiota, associada ou não a adições de amenizantes de solo, para extrair, seqüestrar e, ou, reduzir a toxicidade dos poluentes - tem sido descrita como uma tecnologia efetiva, não-destrutiva, econômica e socialmente aceita para remediar solos poluídos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência da mostarda na remoção de Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb e B de um solo contaminado e o efeito da adição de materiais orgânicos na redução da disponibilidade de metais pesados e B para essa planta. O trabalho foi realizado em casa de vegetação, com delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 5 com quatro repetições, utilizando 0, 7, 14, 21 e 28 g kg-1 de C no solo. Os materiais orgânicos utilizados foram: solomax, turfa e concentrado húmico mineral (CHM). A adição de turfa e concentrado húmico mineral reduziu os teores de Zn, Cu, Pb e B extraíveis do solo e na parte aérea da mostarda; contudo, essa redução não foi suficiente para impedir os efeitos fitotóxicos dos elementos. A adição dos materiais orgânicos promoveu aumento nos teores de Mn no solo, entretanto apenas o solomax proporcionou aumento na concentração do elemento na parte aérea das plantas. Os efeitos da turfa e do CHM sobre a disponibilidade de Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb e B no solo, a concentração na parte aérea e o crescimento das plantas indicaram o potencial desses materiais como agentes amenizantes de toxicidade e do solomax como auxiliar em programas de fitoextração induzida.

Fate of nickel ion in (II-III) hydroxysulphate green rust synthesized by precipitation and coprecipitation

In order to investigate the efficiency of sulfate green rust (GR2) to remove Ni from solution, GR2 samples were synthesized under controlled laboratory conditions. Some GR2 samples were synthesized from Fe(II) and Fe(III) sulfate salts by precipitation. Other samples were prepared by coprecipitation, of Ni(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III) sulfate salts, i.e., in the presence of Ni. In another sample, Ni(II) sulfate salt was added to pre-formed GR2. After an initial X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization all samples were exposed to ambient air in order to understand the role of Ni in the transformation of the GR2 samples. XRD was repeated after 45 days. The results showed that Nious GR2 prepared by coprecipitation is isomorphous to Ni-free GR2, i.e. Ni is incorporated into the crystalline structure. Fe(II) was not replaced by Ni(II) in the crystalline structure of GR2 formed prior to exposure to solution-phase Ni. This suggests Ni was adsorbed to the GR2 surface. Sulfate green rust is more efficient in removing Ni from the environment by coprecipitation.