Fibrotaxis{\it Fibrotaxis}: gradient-free, spontaneous and controllable droplet motion on soft solids

Most passive droplet transport strategies rely on spatial variations of material properties to drive droplet motion, leading to gradient-based mechanisms with intrinsic length scales that limit the droplet velocity or the transport distance. Here, we propose droplet ${\it fibrotaxis}$, a novel mechanism that leverages an anisotropic fiber-reinforced deformable solid to achieve spontaneous and gradient-free droplet transport. Using high-fidelity simulations, we identify the fluid wettability and the fiber orientation as critical parameters that enable controllable droplet velocity and long-range droplet transport. Our results highlight the potential of fibrotaxis as a droplet transport mechanism that can have a strong impact on self-cleaning surfaces, water harvesting and medical diagnostics.Comment: updated references and revised pape

High arrhythmic risk in antero-septal acute myocardial ischemia is explained by increased transmural reentry occurrence

Acute myocardial ischemia is a precursor of sudden arrhythmic death. Variability in its manifestation hampers understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms and challenges risk stratification. Our aim is to unravel the mechanisms underlying how size, transmural extent and location of ischemia determine arrhythmia vulnerability and ecG alterations. High performance computing simulations using a human torso/biventricular biophysically-detailed model were conducted to quantify the impact of varying ischemic region properties, including location (LAD/LcX occlusion), transmural/subendocardial ischemia, size, and normal/slow myocardial propagation. ecG biomarkers and vulnerability window for reentry were computed in over 400 simulations for 18 cases evaluated. Two distinct mechanisms explained larger vulnerability to reentry in transmural versus subendocardial ischemia. Macro-reentry around the ischemic region was the primary mechanism increasing arrhythmic risk in transmural versus subendocardial ischemia, for both LAD and LcX occlusion. transmural micro-reentry at the ischemic border zone explained arrhythmic vulnerability in subendocardial ischemia, especially in LAD occlusion, as reentries were favoured by the ischemic region intersecting the septo-apical region. St elevation reflected ischemic extent in transmural ischemia for LCX and LAD occlusion but not in subendocardial ischemia (associated with mild St depression). the technology and results presented can inform safety and efficacy evaluation of anti-arrhythmic therapy in acute myocardial ischemia

Torta de algodón en dietas para cerdas de cría durante tres ciclos reproductivos continuos

At the Tibaitatá Experimental center of the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario, ICA, located in Mosquera, Cundinamarca, at 2.640 meters above sea level, with an average temperature of 13°C and average annual rainfall of 641 mm, an experiment with sows was conducted during three consecutive cycles of gestation and lactation, feeding high levels of cotton seed meal without the addition of gossipol antidotes. The investigation involved 40 sows, Duroc x Landrace and Landrace x Ducor crosses, of different ages with initial wetht fluctuating between 120 and 240 kilograms. The animals were distributed at random in four treatments: 1- Control: Corn + Soybean meal (A); 2. Cotton seed meal: 9,4% (B); 3- Cotton seed meal: 15% ; C) and 4 Cotton meal: 15% + lisine and metionine D). Three Duroc boars were used, serving an equal number of sows in each treatnient. During gestation the females were kept in corrals of kikuyu grass pasture (Pennisetum clandestinum) and fed cotton seed meal in rations of 1 kg. daily. They were weighted every 36 days beginning the day of breeding. During the lactation period, the sows were given free-choice food and water, with the predetermined treatments for the rations. The sow and piglets were 107 weight at parturition and 21, 35 and 42 days following parturition. The established practice of removing teeth and ear- marking the piglets was performed 24 hours after birth; 150 mg of iron was injected on day three, and 8 days after birth they began their only diet, a 20% protein ration made of corn and soybean meal and at 14 days all males were castrated. During gestation, the females were offered a diet of 14% protein and during lactation, 16% protein. In both stages the levels of cotton seed meal (content of free gossipol: 0,036%) for the four treatments were 0, 9, 4, 15 and 15% + lisine andmetionine. The results obtained during the three consecutive gestations were the following: Increase in weight of the sow: A) 31,5 kg; B) 36,5 kg; C) 35,3 kg and D) 32,7 kg. Number of piglets born A: 9,4; B: 8,3; C: 10,7 and D: 7,7. Weight of the piglets: A) 1,3 kg; B) 1,4 kg; C) 1,4 kg and D) 1,5 kg. In the previous parameters, no significant differences were detected among the treatments, suggesting that during this period 100% soybean meal can be replaced for cotton seed meal in the diet for extended lengths of time without reducing reprodutive performance of the sow. In the three lactations, the average results were as follows: 1) Weight changes in the sow: A: 1,4 kg; B) 11,2 kg; C) 6,6 kg; D) 9,4 kg. 2- Number of weaned piglets: A) 7,4 kg; B) 7,1; C) 7,3 and D) 7,8; 3Weight of weaned piglets: A) 8,9 kg; B) 8,3 kg; C) 8,4 kg; D) 8,6 kg. 4- Percent mortality of piglets: A) 21,21/o; B) 27,2%; C) 27,3% and D) 14,0%. In the previous parameters, no significant difference was found among treatments excep a higher weight gaon in sows fed diets containing cotton seed meal. Finding a low mortality rate in piglets under treatment D, a clear advantage could not be established. These results suggest that it is possible to replace 84,3% of the soy-bean meal with cotton seed meal without endangering the yield of lactating sows and their litters. B: The feed consumption per sow was, A: 247,4 kg; piglet's consumption during lactation was A: 12,5 kg; B: 14,7 kg; C: 13,4 kg and D: 15,0 kg these data corraborates even more the possibility of feeding high levels of cotton seed meal during lactation in this experiment was: A) 80%; B) 9011o; C) 80% and D) 80% a number that reveals the benevolence of cotton seed meal.En el Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias de Tibaitatá del ICA, localizado en Mosquera (Cundinamarca) a 2.640 metros sobre ci nivel del mar, con temperatura media de 13°C y precipitación pluvial media anual de 641 mm, se realizó un experimento con cerdas durante tres ciclos consecutivos de gestación y lactancia, alimentadas con altos niveles de torta de algodón sin adición de antídotos del gosipol. En el ensayo se emplearon 40 cerdas mestizas Duroc x Landrace y Landrace x Duroc de diferentes edades, con peso inicial que fluctuó entre 120 y 240 kg; los animales se distribuyeron en un diseño de bloques al azar en cuatro tratamientos: I . Testigo: maíz + torta de soya (A). II . Torta de algodón 9,4%(B). III - Torta de algodón 15% (C) y IV - Torta de algodón 15%+ lisina + metionina (D). Se emplearon tres reproductores Duroc, los cuales sirvieron igual número de cerdas en cada tratamiento. Las hembras durante la gestación se alojaron en corrales con pasto kikuyo (Penniseturn clandestinuin), se les suministró el alimento asignado a razón de el kg por día y se llevó control de peso corporal cada 36 días a partir de la monta. Durante el periodo de la lactancia se suministró el alimento previamente determinado por su tratamiento, a voluntad lo mismo que el agua. Tanto a la cerda como a su lechigada se les llevó control de peso corporal y consumo de alimento al parto, 21, 35 y 42 días. A los lechones se les practicó el manejo establecido y a los ocho días de nacidos se les empezó a suministrar la única dieta, con 20%de proteína a base de maíz y torta de soya, a los 14 días se castraron todos los machos. Las hembras recibieron durante la gestación una dieta con 14% de proteína y durante la lactancia una con 16% de proteína; tanto en gestación como en lactancia el nivel de torta de algodón (contenido de gosip01 libre: 0,036%) para cuatro tratamientos establecidos fue: 0,9,4, 15 y 15%+ lisina y metionina. Los resultados obtenidos durante las tres gestaciones continuas fueron para aumento de peso de la cerda: A) 31,5 kg; B) 36,5 kg; C) 35,3 kg y D) 32,7 kg, 2- Para el nümero de lechones al parto los resultados fueron: A) 9,4; B) 8,3; C) 10,7 y D) 7,7. Para el peso por lechón los resultados fueron: a) 1,3 kg; b) 1,4 kg; c) 1,4 kg y d) 1,5 kg. En los anteriores parámetros no se detectaron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos, lo cual sugiere que en este periodo se puede reemplazar el 100%de torta de soya por torta de algodón en la dicta durante largos periodos sin menoscabo del comportamiento reproductivo de las cerdas. En las tres lactancias los resultados promedios finales para los cambios de peso de la cerda fueron: A) 1,4 kg: B) 11,2 kg; C) 6,6 kg, y D) 9,4 kg. Para el número de lechones destetos los resultados fueron: A) 7,4; B) 7,1; C) 7,3, y D) 7,8. Pata peso por lechón al destete los resultados fueron: A) 8,9 kg; B) 8,3 kg; C)8,4y D) 8,6 kg. Los resultados para el porcentaje de lechones muertos fueron: A) 2 1,2%; b) 27,2%; C) 27,3% y D) 14,0% En los parámetros anteriores tampoco se encontraron diferencias significativas entre tratamientos a pesar de observarse mayor ganancia de peso de las cerdas alimentadas con dietas que contenían torta de algodón. Por consiguiente se puede decir, que es posible reemplazar en un 84,3% la torta de soya por la torta de algodón sin comprometer el rendimiento de las cerdas lactantes y su lechigada. El consumo de alimento por cerda fue de: A) 247,4 kg; B) 254,2 kg; C) 250,1 kg y D) 251,5 kg y el de los lechones durante la lactancia por camada fue: A) 12,5 kg: B) 14,7 kg; C) 13,4kgyD) 15,0 kg. Estos datos corroboran aun mas la posibilidad de usar la torta de algodón a altos niveles en la alimentación de cerdas en lactancia, por su ausencia de efectos adversos. El porcentaje de natalidad obtenida en este ensayo fue para: A) 80%; B) 90%; C) 80% y D) 80%, cifras que revelan la benevolencia de la torta de algodón comparada con la dicta controlPorcicultur

International patterns of dual antiplatelet therapy duration after acute coronary syndromes

Objective To describe international patterns of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and explore its determinants and correlation with clinical events. Methods EPICOR (long-tErm follow-uP of antithrombotic management patterns In acute CORonary syndrome patients) is a prospective, international, observational study of 10 568 ACS hospital survivors enrolled in 555 centres from 20 countries across Europe and Latin America between 2010 and 2011, with telephone follow-up at quarterly intervals up to 24 months to assess treatment continuation and clinical events. Results Of 8593 patients discharged on DAPT, 4859 (57\%) remained on uninterrupted DAPT at end of follow-up. There were minor differences in rates of DAPT discontinuation according to age, gender, risk factors, therapeutic strategy or region, but major differences between countries. By study end, 555 of evaluable patients (5.7\%) died, 727 (10.0\%) experienced new cardiovascular (CV) events, 496 new coronary events (6.82\%) and 154 (2.11\%) clinically relevant bleeding (14 (6.7\%) fatal). Most CV events and deaths (85\%) occurred while on DAPT. DAPT interruption was associated with increased risk of CV events in the following week (HR 2.29; 95\% CI 1.08 to 4.84) but not specifically with time to first coronary event or mortality. Conclusions Despite guideline recommendations, most patients with ACS in Europe and Latin America remained on DAPT beyond 12 months, country being the most important determinant of DAPT duration. Increase in short-term CV risk was seen after switching from DAPT to less medication, as compared with continued DAPT, with no long-term effect on coronary or mortality risk.The EPICOR study was funded by AstraZeneca.S

The role of the emergency department in the management of acute heart failure: an international perspective on education and research

Emergency departments are a major entry point for the initial management of acute heart failure (AHF) patients throughout the world. The initial diagnosis, management and disposition - the decision to admit or discharge - of AHF patients in the emergency department has significant downstream implications. Misdiagnosis, under or overtreatment, or inappropriate admission may place patients at increased risk for adverse events, and add costs to the healthcare system. Despite the critical importance of initial management, data are sparse regarding the impact of early AHF treatment delivered in the emergency department compared to inpatient or chronic heart failure management. Unfortunately, outcomes remain poor, with nearly a third of patients dying or re-hospitalised within 3 months post-discharge. In the absence of robust research evidence, consensus is an important source of guidance for AHF care. Thus, we convened an international group of practising emergency physicians, cardiologists and advanced practice nurses with the following goals to improve outcomes for AHF patients who present to the emergency department or other acute care setting through: (a) a better understanding of the pathophysiology, presentation and management of the initial phase of AHF care; (b) improving initial management by addressing knowledge gaps between best practices and current practice through education and research; and (c) to establish a framework for future emergency department-based international education and research

E47 and Id1 interplay in epithelial-mesenchymal transition

E12/E47 proteins (encoded by E2A gene) are members of the class I basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (also known as E proteins). E47 has been described as repressor of E-cadherin and inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We reported previously that EMT mediated by E47 in MDCK cells occurs with a concomitant overexpression of Id1 and Id3 proteins. Id proteins belong to class V of HLH factors that lack the basic domain; they dimerise with E proteins and prevent their DNA interaction, thus, acting as dominant negative of E proteins. Here, we show that E47 interacts with Id1 in E47 overexpressing MDCK cells that underwent a full EMT as well as in mesenchymal breast carcinoma and melanoma cell lines. By conducting chromatin immunoprecipitation assays we demonstrate that E47 binds directly to the endogenous E-cadherin promoter of mesenchymal MDCK-E47 cells in a complex devoid of Id1. Importantly, our data suggest that both E47 and Id1 are required to maintain the mesenchymal phenotype of MDCK-E47 cells. These data support the collaboration between E47 and Id1 in the maintenance of EMT by mechanisms independent of the dominant negative action of Id1 on E47 binding to E-cadherin promoter. Finally, the analysis of several N0 breast tumour series indicates that the expression of E47 and ID1 is significantly associated with the basal-like phenotype supporting the biological significance of the present findingsThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (SAF2007-63051; SAF2010-21143; Consolider Ingenio 2010 CDS07/00017) to A.C.; (SAF2007-63075 and SAF2010-20175) to G.M.B.; Comunidad de Madrid (S2010/BMD-2303) to A.C and G.M.

The second Euro Heart Survey on acute coronary syndromes: characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients with ACS in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin in 2004

Aims Our study aimed to examine the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Europe and the Mediterranean basin, and to compare adherence to guidelines with that reported in the first Euro Heart Survey on ACS (EHS-ACS-I), 4 years earlier. Methods and results In a prospective survey conducted in 2004 (EHS-ACS-II), data describing the characteristics, treatment, and outcome of 6385 patients diagnosed with ACS in 190 medical centres in 32 countries were collected. ACS with ST-elevation was the initial diagnosis in 47% of patients, no ST-elevation in 48%, and undetermined electrocardiographic pattern in 5% of patients. Comparison of data collected in 2000 and 2004 showed similar baseline characteristics, but greater use of recommended medications and coronary interventions in EHS-ACS-II. Among patients with ST-elevation, the use of primary reperfusion increased slightly (from 56 to 64%), with a significant shift from fibrinolytic therapy to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). The use of PPCI rose from 37 to 59% among those undergoing primary reperfusion therapy. Analysis of data in 34 centres that participated in both surveys showed even greater improvement with respect to the use of recommended medical therapy, interventions, and outcome. Conclusion Data from EHS-ACS-II suggest an increase in adherence to guidelines for treatment of ACS in comparison with EHS-ACS-I