Could specific EKG markers identify a pharmacologically induced type 1 Brugada pattern? Insights from a large, single-centre cohort

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background. Pharmacological (Ajmaline) induction of a type 1 Brugada pattern is currently considered mandatory for the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome. However, performing the test requires time and healthcare resources. Some EKG markers have been proposed as predictors of positive result at Ajmaline test. Aim. To evaluate in a large population the predictive value of multiple EKG markers for Ajmaline test results. Methods. We retrospectively analysed consecutive patients (pts) referred to our Centre to perform Ajmaline test. All pts had type 2 Brugada pattern detected at a conventional EKG or were relatives of pts with positive Ajmaline test, with or without type 2 Brugada pattern at EKG. All pts performed the Ajmaline pharmacological test (1 mg/Kg iv) with EKG "superior" right precordial unipolar derivations monitoring. To determine whether clinical parameters (age, gender, cardiomyopathy, history of arrhythmias, symptoms, familiarity) and EKG markers (heart rate (HR), PR duration, R1V1 and SV6 duration and amplitude, QRSV1/QRSV6 duration, V1 and V2 ST amplitude (coved or saddle back pattern) were independently associated to positivity at Ajmaline test, a logistic regression model was applied. Results. From January 2010 to December 2019 we evaluated 442 consecutive pts: mean age 40.1 ± 14.5 years; 273 (65%) male; 352 (80%) pts were included because of type 2 Brugada pattern at EKG and 90 (20%) for familial screening. The Ajmaline test was positive in 150 (34%) pts. At multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for baseline confounders, age > 45 years (OR= 1.64, 95%CI: 1.03 to 2.54; p = 0.0385), female gender (OR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.12 to 2.85; p = 0.0141), HR > 60 bpm (OR = 2.44, 95%CI: 1.48 to 4.03; p = 0.0005), QRSV1/QRSV6 duration (msec) >1 (OR = 5.34, 95%CI: 3.28 to 8.69; p < 0.0001) and non isoelectric pattern (coved/saddle back) in V2 (OR = 1.93, 95%CI: 1.03 to 3.63, p = 0.0416) remained associated with a positive Ajmaline test. The percentage of pts with positive Ajmaline test increased according to the presence of significant EKG markers in their risk profile: 11.3% (8 out 71, absence of both QRSV1/QRSV6 duration (msec) >1 and V2 non isoelectric pattern), 24.3% (50 out 206, presence of only V2 non isoelectric pattern), 48.5% (16 out 33, presence of only QRSV1/QRSV6 duration (msec) >1), 57.6% (76 out 132, presence of both factors). Conclusions. In our large population: 1) we confirmed the positive predictive power of QRSV1/QRSV6 duration (msec) >1 and of a non isoelectric pattern (coved/saddle back) in V2 for a pharmacologically induced type 1 Brugada pattern; 2) we observed a non-negligible percentage of pts who would not be correctly diagnosed for type 1 Brugada pattern, if selected according to an EKG parameters-based prescreening

Gene discovery in an invasive tephritid model pest species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The medfly, <it>Ceratitis capitata</it>, is a highly invasive agricultural pest that has become a model insect for the development of biological control programs. Despite research into the behavior and classical and population genetics of this organism, the quantity of sequence data available is limited. We have utilized an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach to obtain detailed information on transcriptome signatures that relate to a variety of physiological systems in the medfly; this information emphasizes on reproduction, sex determination, and chemosensory perception, since the study was based on normalized cDNA libraries from embryos and adult heads.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 21,253 high-quality ESTs were obtained from the embryo and head libraries. Clustering analyses performed separately for each library resulted in 5201 embryo and 6684 head transcripts. Considering an estimated 19% overlap in the transcriptomes of the two libraries, they represent about 9614 unique transcripts involved in a wide range of biological processes and molecular functions. Of particular interest are the sequences that share homology with <it>Drosophila </it>genes involved in sex determination, olfaction, and reproductive behavior. The medfly <it>transformer2 </it>(<it>tra2</it>) homolog was identified among the embryonic sequences, and its genomic organization and expression were characterized.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The sequences obtained in this study represent the first major dataset of expressed genes in a tephritid species of agricultural importance. This resource provides essential information to support the investigation of numerous questions regarding the biology of the medfly and other related species and also constitutes an invaluable tool for the annotation of complete genome sequences. Our study has revealed intriguing findings regarding the transcript regulation of <it>tra2 </it>and other sex determination genes, as well as insights into the comparative genomics of genes implicated in chemosensory reception and reproduction.</p

Electroactive Inherently Chiral Surfaces at Work: Clues Toward the Elucidation of the Enantioselection Mechanism

Chirality is a concept strictly related to life and to its evolution. Capability to discriminate antipodes and/or produce enantiopure chiral chemicals through cheap and efficient protocols is a crucial task for our modern civilization. So identification of increasingly effective and robust chiral selectors is a challenging task also for the electrochemical community [1,2]. In this frame our research group is working on the so called \u201cinherently chiral functional molecular materials\u201d, ICFMMs; the idea is simple: make the stereogenic element responsible for chirality coincident with the functional group responsible for the material specific property (Figure, left). This approach has constituted an actual breakthrough in chiral electrochemistry, resulting in the preparation of efficient chiral electroactive surfaces [3,4,5] (and chiral additives/media, too [6]) invariably characterized by outstanding enantiodiscrimination ability in quite different working conditions and with chemically different chiral electroactive analytes. Notwithstanding plenty of proofs pointing to a general validity of the ICFMMs concept, a clear rationalization of the enantiodiscrimination mechanism still lacks. To fill the gap a deeper knowledge of the behavior of our electrodeposited chiral films is mandatory. As a first step some of the most important experimental parameters governing the growth of the conductive coatings have been changed, one by one, to evaluate their impact on the morphological, optical and electronic properties of the final deposit. Results of the multi-technique characterization will be discussed, including profilometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (Figure, right) and spectroelectrochemistry data, all aimed to collect clues useful to rationalize the way in which ICFMMs work. The support of Fondazione Cariplo/Regione Lombardia (Project 2016-0923) and SmartMatLab are gratefully acknowledged. References: [1] S. Arnaboldi, M. Magni, P. Mussini, Curr. Opin. Electrochem., 2018, 8, 60. [2] S. Arnaboldi, S. Grecchi, M. Magni, P. Mussini, Curr. Opin. Electrochem., 2018, 7, 188. [3] F. Sannicol\uf2, P.R. Mussini, T. Benincori, R. Martinazzo, S. Arnaboldi, G. Appoloni, M. Panigati, E. Quartapelle Procopio, V. Marino, R. Cirilli, S. Casolo, W. Kutner, K. Noworyta, A. Pietrzyk-Le, Z. Iskierko, K. Bartold, Chem. Eur. J., 2016, 22, 10839. [4] S. Arnaboldi, P.R. Mussini, M. Magni, F. Sannicol\uf2, T. Benincori, R. Cirilli, K. Noworyta, W. Kutner, Chem. Sci., 2015, 6, 1706. [5] F. Sannicol\uf2, S. Arnaboldi, T. Benincori, V. Bonometti, R. Cirilli, L. Dunsch, W. Kutner, G. Longhi, P.R. Mussini, M. Panigati, M. Pierini, S. Rizzo, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2014, 53, 2623. [6] S. Rizzo S. Arnaboldi, V. Mihali, R. Cirilli, A. Forni, A. Gennaro, A.A. Isse, M. Pierini, P.R. Mussini, F. Sannicol\uf2, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 2079

Improved procedural workflow for catheter ablation of paroxysmal AF with high-density mapping system and advanced technology: Rationale and study design of a multicenter international study

The antral region of pulmonary veins (PV)s seems to play a key role in a strategy aimed at preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. Particularly, low-voltage activity in tissue such as the PV antra and residual potential within the antral scar likely represent vulnerabilities in antral lesion sets, and ablation of these targets seems to improve freedom from AF. The aim of this study is to validate a structured application of an approach that includes the complete abolition of any antral potential achieving electrical quiescence in antral regions.The improveD procEdural workfLow for cathETEr ablation of paroxysmal AF with high density mapping system and advanced technology (DELETE AF) study is a prospective, single-arm, international post-market cohort study designed to demonstrate a low rate of clinical atrial arrhythmias recurrence with an improved procedural workflow for catheter ablation of paroxysmal AF, using the most advanced point-by-point RF ablation technology in a multicenter setting. About 300 consecutive patients with standard indications for AF ablation will be enrolled in this study. Post-ablation, all patients will be monitored with ambulatory event monitoring, starting within 30 days post-ablation to proactively detect and manage any recurrences within the 90-day blanking period, as well as Holter monitoring at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-ablation. Healthcare resource utilization, clinical data, complications, patients' medical complaints related to the ablation procedure and patient's reported outcome measures will be prospectively traced and evaluated.The DELETE AF trial will provide additional knowledge on long-term outcome following a structured ablation workflow, with high density mapping, advanced algorithms and local impedance technology, in an international multicentric fashion. DELETE AF is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05005143).© 2022 The Authors. Clinical Cardiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC

Press notice. EC agricultural price indices. Trends in EC agricultural price indices (output and input): 1st quarter 1985. 1985.3

The high precious metal loading and high overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) prevents the widespread utilization of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers. Herein we explore the OER activity and stability in acidic electrolyte of a combined IrO_<i>x</i>/RuO₂ system consisting of RuO₂ thin films with submonolayer (1, 2, and 4 Å) amounts of IrO_<i>x</i> deposited on top. Operando extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) on the Ir L-3 edge revealed a rutile type IrO₂ structure with some Ir sites occupied by Ru, IrO_<i>x</i> being at the surface of the RuO₂ thin film. We monitor corrosion on IrO_<i>x</i>/RuO₂ thin films by combining electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) with inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We elucidate the importance of submonolayer surface IrO_<i>x</i> in minimizing Ru dissolution. Our work shows that we can tune the surface properties of active OER catalysts, such as RuO₂, aiming to achieve higher electrocatalytic stability in PEM electrolyzers

Going beyond the Surface: a Glance inside Smart Conducting Molecular Surfaces through a Multitechnique Approach

Conducting organic polymers, COPs, are smart materials that merge some of the most interesting properties of common polymers (e.g. flexibility, processability, etc.) with high electrical conductivity of metals. Research in this field is currently attracting increasing attention, since these innovative materials are very promising for a great variety of applications, from energetics to electronics and sensoristics, even from an industrial point of view. Chirality makes COPs even smarter materials, opening the way to enantioselective electroanalysis/electrosynthesis. In particular the \u201cinherent chirality\u201d concept proposed by our groups some years ago actually represented a breakthrough, significantly improving all other literature approaches so far proposed, making possible deposition of conducting homochiral oligomeric films acting as effective, efficient and robust enantioselectors toward a great variety of chiral analytes, in different media.. The further natural step is the comprehension of the actual working mechanism of these intelligent surfaces. To reach such intriguing target a deep and multivariate characterization is mandatory, to reveal as much properties as possible that could be finally combined to depict a complete portrait of these conducting inherently chiral films. In this short presentation we will glance at these smart chiral conducting molecular surfaces, following an ideal tour from outside (i.e. surface appearance) to their inner parts (i.e. optical and electronic features). The support of Fondazione Cariplo/Regione Lombardia (Project 2016-0923) and SmartMatLab are gratefully acknowledged

Identification of pheromone components and their binding affinity to the odorant binding protein CcapOBP83a-2 of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata

The Mediterranean fruit fly (or medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann; Diptera: Tephritidae), is a serious pest of agriculture worldwide, displaying a very wide larval host range with more than 250 different species of fruit and vegetables. Olfaction plays a key role in the invasive potential of this species. Unfortunately, the pheromone communication system of the medfly is complex and still not well established. In this study, we report the isolation of chemicals emitted by sexually mature individuals during the “calling” period and the electrophysiological responses that these compounds elicit on the antennae of male and female flies. Fifteen compounds with electrophysiological activity were isolated and identified in male emissions by gas chromatography coupled to electroantennography (GC–EAG). Within the group of 15 identified compounds, 11 elicited a response in antennae of both sexes, whilst 4 elicited a response only in female antennae. The binding affinity of these compounds, plus 4 additional compounds known to be behaviourally active from other studies, was measured using C. capitata OBP, CcapOBP83a-2. This OBP has a high homology to Drosophila melanogaster OBPs OS-E and OS-F, which are associated with trichoid sensilla and co-expressed with the well-studied Drosophila pheromone binding protein LUSH. The results provide evidence of involvement of CcapOBP83a-2 in the medfly's odorant perception and its wider specificity for (E,E)-α-farnesene, one of the five major compounds in medfly male pheromone emission. This represents the first step in the clarification of the C. capitata and pheromone reception pathway, and a starting point for further studies aimed towards the creation of new powerful attractants or repellents applicable in the actual control strategies