Configurational entropy of microemulsions : The fundamental length scale

Phenomenological models have been quite successful in characterizing both the various complex phases and the corresponding phase diagrams of microemulsions. In some approaches, e.g., the random mixing model (RMM), the lattice parameter is of the order of the dimension of an oil or water domain and has been used as a length scale for computing a configurational entropy, the so‐called entropy of mixing, of the microemulsion. In the central and material section of this paper (Sec. III), we show that the fundamental length scale for the calculation of the entropy of mixing is of the order of the cube root of the volume per molecule—orders of magnitude smaller than the dimension of such a domain. This length scale is specifically the scale for the configurational entropy—not that which measures either the curvature of the interface, the ‘‘granularity’’ of the microemulsion, or the persistence length. Furthermore, we demonstrate, in general, that mixing entropy, evaluated in configuration space as opposed to phase space, will not be physically correct unless it is made to be consistent with the phase space evaluation. Following this core section, we give a one‐dimensional illustration of the problem (Sec. IV), and discuss the consequences of our general result with respect to the RMM (Sec. V). The RMM not only seriously underestimates the entropy of mixing but exhibits a dependence on composition that is qualitatively very different from the correct dependence. Furthermore, for oil or water rich compositions of the microemulsion, the correct mixing entropy reinforces effects that would normally be attributed to bending energy, i.e., it destabilizes the [email protected]

Inhibiting caspase cleavage of huntingtin reduces toxicity and aggregate formation in neuronal and nonneuronal cells.

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG expansion that results in expansion of a polyglutamine tract at the extreme N terminus of huntingtin (htt). htt with polyglutamine expansion is proapoptotic in different cell types. Here, we show that caspase inhibitors diminish the toxicity of htt. Additionally, we define htt itself as an important caspase substrate by generating a site-directed htt mutant that is resistant to caspase-3 cleavage at positions 513 and 530 and to caspase-6 cleavage at position 586. In contrast to cleavable htt, caspase-resistant htt with an expanded polyglutamine tract has reduced toxicity in apoptotically stressed neuronal and nonneuronal cells and forms aggregates at a much reduced frequency. These results suggest that inhibiting caspase cleavage of htt may therefore be of potential therapeutic benefit in Huntington's disease

Case Reports1. A Late Presentation of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: Beware of TGFβ Receptor Mutations in Benign Joint Hypermobility

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and dissections are not uncommon causes of sudden death in young adults. Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare, recently described, autosomal dominant, connective tissue disease characterized by aggressive arterial aneurysms, resulting from mutations in the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) receptor genes TGFBR1 and TGFBR2. Mean age at death is 26.1 years, most often due to aortic dissection. We report an unusually late presentation of LDS, diagnosed following elective surgery in a female with a long history of joint hypermobility. Methods: A 51-year-old Caucasian lady complained of chest pain and headache following a dural leak from spinal anaesthesia for an elective ankle arthroscopy. CT scan and echocardiography demonstrated a dilated aortic root and significant aortic regurgitation. MRA demonstrated aortic tortuosity, an infrarenal aortic aneurysm and aneurysms in the left renal and right internal mammary arteries. She underwent aortic root repair and aortic valve replacement. She had a background of long-standing joint pains secondary to hypermobility, easy bruising, unusual fracture susceptibility and mild bronchiectasis. She had one healthy child age 32, after which she suffered a uterine prolapse. Examination revealed mild Marfanoid features. Uvula, skin and ophthalmological examination was normal. Results: Fibrillin-1 testing for Marfan syndrome (MFS) was negative. Detection of a c.1270G > C (p.Gly424Arg) TGFBR2 mutation confirmed the diagnosis of LDS. Losartan was started for vascular protection. Conclusions: LDS is a severe inherited vasculopathy that usually presents in childhood. It is characterized by aortic root dilatation and ascending aneurysms. There is a higher risk of aortic dissection compared with MFS. Clinical features overlap with MFS and Ehlers Danlos syndrome Type IV, but differentiating dysmorphogenic features include ocular hypertelorism, bifid uvula and cleft palate. Echocardiography and MRA or CT scanning from head to pelvis is recommended to establish the extent of vascular involvement. Management involves early surgical intervention, including early valve-sparing aortic root replacement, genetic counselling and close monitoring in pregnancy. Despite being caused by loss of function mutations in either TGFβ receptor, paradoxical activation of TGFβ signalling is seen, suggesting that TGFβ antagonism may confer disease modifying effects similar to those observed in MFS. TGFβ antagonism can be achieved with angiotensin antagonists, such as Losartan, which is able to delay aortic aneurysm development in preclinical models and in patients with MFS. Our case emphasizes the importance of timely recognition of vasculopathy syndromes in patients with hypermobility and the need for early surgical intervention. It also highlights their heterogeneity and the potential for late presentation. Disclosures: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Citation for published version (APA): Suppression of murine collagen-induced arthritis by targeted apoptosis of synovial neovasculature

Suppression of murine collagen-induced arthritis by targeted apoptosis of synovial neovasculature Gerlag, D.; Borges, E.; Tak, P.P.; Ellerby, H.M.; Bredesen, D.E.; Pasqualini, R.; Ruoslahti, E.; Firestein, G.S