Rheumatic tricuspid valve disease: Repair versus Replacement

Background: Tricuspid valve disease is most commonly functional, however, organic affection still accounts for one fourth of cases. Rheumatic fever which is endemic in Egypt is a main cause of organic affection. Current practice largely relies on tricuspid valve repair; however, it has been difficult to determine optimal procedure. Objectives: Herein, we study the outcome of replacement versus repair in such patients. Patients and methods: A prospective study was conducted on 300 consecutive patients with rheumatic heart disease showing severe tricuspid valve affection underwent tricuspid valve surgery, between 2014 and 2018. The patients were divided into two groups; TVR group (n=150) which included patients who underwent tricuspid valve replacement and TVr group (n=150) which included patients who underwent tricuspid valve repair. Diagnosis and follow up were done by echocardiography. Peri-operative variables, clinical outcome, morbidity, mortality, and follow up data were recorded. Results: Mean follow-up was 4±1.32 years. In-hospital mortality was 6 patients (4%) in TVR group and 3 patients (2%) in TVr group (P value ≥ 0.05). Postoperative low cardiac output syndrome and stroke were significantly higher in the repair group. Postoperative RV dysfunction, renal impairment, renal failure and chest re-exploration were significantly higher in the replacement group. Severe tricuspid regurgitation was reported in 19 patients (12.6%) of the repair group on follow up. Conclusion: Tricuspid valve repair is preferable to replacement to avoid the drawbacks of prosthesis. However, tricuspid valve replacement is feasible with comparable survival outcome and the progressive nature of the rheumatic disease may recommend replacement

Meiotic Regulation of TPX2 Protein Levels Governs Cell Cycle Progression in Mouse Oocytes

Formation of female gametes requires acentriolar spindle assembly during meiosis. Mitotic spindles organize from centrosomes and via local activation of the RanGTPase on chromosomes. Vertebrate oocytes present a RanGTP gradient centred on chromatin at all stages of meiotic maturation. However, this gradient is dispensable for assembly of the first meiotic spindle. To understand this meiosis I peculiarity, we studied TPX2, a Ran target, in mouse oocytes. Strikingly, TPX2 activity is controlled at the protein level through its accumulation from meiosis I to II. By RNAi depletion and live imaging, we show that TPX2 is required for spindle assembly via two distinct functions. It controls microtubule assembly and spindle pole integrity via the phosphorylation of TACC3, a regulator of MTOCs activity. We show that meiotic spindle formation in vivo depends on the regulation of at least a target of Ran, TPX2, rather than on the regulation of the RanGTP gradient itself

Chemical composition, in vitro and in situ antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of syzygium aromaticum (Clove) essential oil

The essential oil of Syzygium (S.) aromaticum (CEO) is known for its good biological activity. The aim of the research was to evaluate in vitro and in situ antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil produced in Slovakia. The main components of CEO were eugenol 82.4% and (E)-caryophyllene 14.0%. The antimicrobial activity was either weak or very strong with inhibition zones ranging from 4.67 to 15.78 mm in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and from 8.22 to 18.56 mm in yeasts and fungi. Among the tested bacteria and fungi, the lowest values of MIC were determined for Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and Penicillium (P.) expansum, respectively. The vapor phase of CEO inhibited the growth of the microscopic filamentous fungi of the genus Penicillium when tested in situ on bread. The strongest effect of mycelia inhibition in a bread model was observed against P. expansum at concentrations of 250 and 500 µL/mL. The best antimicrobial activity of CEO in the carrot model was found against P. chrysosenum. Differences between the mass spectra of Bacillus (B.) subtilis biofilms on the tested surfaces (wood, glass) and the control sample were noted from the seventh day of culture. There were some changes in mass spectra of Stenotrophomonas (S.) maltophilia, which were observed in both experimental groups from the fifth day of culture. These findings confirmed the impact of CEO on the protein structure of older biofilms. The findings indicate that, besides being safe and sensorially attractive, S. aromaticum has antimicrobial activity, which makes it a potential substitute for chemical food preservatives

Charge Disproportionation and Ordering in La₁/₃Sr₂/₃FeO₃₋δ

The perovskite La1/3Sr2/3FeO3-δ was investigated by neutron diffraction, magnetic and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. La1/3Sr2/3FeO3-δ undergoes magnetic ordering at T = 190-200 K accompanied by charge disproportionation. Magnetic peaks due to charge ordering are observed below 200 K. The charge ordering is gradually developed below 200 K along with a charge disproportionation, 2Fe4+ ⇒ Fe3+ + Fe5+. La1/3Sr2/3FeO3-δ shows an antiferromagnetic structure at low temperature. Magnetic moments of about 3 and 1.3 μB were obtained from the neutron diffraction data refinement for Fe3+ and Fe5+ at 15 K, respectively, which suggest that both Fe ions are in a low spin state. These values are significantly lower than those reported by Battle et al for La1/3Sr2/3FeO 2.98. Mössbauer spectra indicate that full charge ordering might be reached below 20 K with no Fe4+