Prevalence of congenital coronary artery anomalies and variants in 726 consecutive patients based on 64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography

  Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is helpful in making a precise noninvasive evaluation of coronary anatomy, allowing concomitant evaluation of other cardiac structures. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of coronary artery variations detected by 64-slice mutidetector CT. Materials and methods: The results of ECG-gated CCTA in 726 consecutive patients (mean age 58 years) were analysed retrospectively. The main indicationsfor CCTA were a typical chest pain, angina pectoris, screening for coronary artery disease and determination of the patency of bypass grafts or stents. Acquisitionwas performed with a 64-detector CT scanner with retrospective ECG gating. Imaging results were assessed by experienced cardiovascular radiologist. Results: The overall incidence of coronary artery anomalies was 1.1% (8 out of 726 participants). The most common anomaly was an anomalous origin of the circumflex artery from the right coronary sinus with a retroaortic course (4 patients,0.6%), followed by origin of right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus (2 patients, 0.3%). One patient with abnormal origin of the left main artery from the right coronary sinus (0.1%) and 1 patient with a circumflex artery origin from the proximal segment of the right coronary artery (0.1%) were observed, both with retroartic course. Conclusions: CCTA is a noninvasive imaging technique useful for the precise evaluation of variations of the coronary arteries. This study shows similar results to other reports on this subject.

Persistent left superior vena cava with an absent right superior vena cava in a 72-year-old male with multivessel coronary artery disease

Congenital anomalies of systemic veins are usually asymptomatic and foundincidentally during ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) or magneticresonance examinations performed for other clinical indications. Persistent leftsuperior vena cava (PLSVC) with absent right superior vena cava (RSVC) is thecongenital aberration in the thoracic venous system which occurs in only 0.09%to 0.13% of patients who have congenital heart defects. In this paper, we presentthe extremely rare case of a 72-year-old male with PLSVC associated withan absence of RSVC, referred for coronary CT angiography. Multidetector CTangiography is a powerful tool for the detection of venous anomalies, which isessential before invasive procedures such as the implantation of pacemakers

Characterisation of the fouling of an ultrafiltration polyethersulfone membrane fouled by an emulsion modelling lipids issued from Microalgae

International audienc

The late Vistulian and Holocene evolution of Jezioro Lake : a record of environmental change in southern Poland found in deposits and landforms

Jezioro Lake is the only natural lake in southern Poland outside mountainous areas to have existed continuously since the Pleistocene. The record of environmental change in the Late Vistulian (Weichselian) and Holocene is preserved in the deposits and landforms around the lake. This paper presents the results of paleogeographical and paleoecological research that emabled us to reconstruct the history of the Jezioro Lake. At the end of the Vistulian period, the outlet of the lake was blocked by a parabolic dune moving in from the west. Limnic sedimentation was evident in the sediment core at all levels from the Holocene, with remains of Cladocera, Chironomidae larvae, and aquatic plants. The lake did not disappear at that time, although its area decreased by a factor of 12 by the end of the period. Paleobotanical research permitted the reconstruction of sequences of plant communities and changes in nutrient status and water level. An initial oligotrophic lake, as indicated by the presence of Isoe¨tes lacustris L., changed to a eutrophic lake, as indicated by the presence of Potamogeton natans L. and Nuphar sp., then the lake progressed to the present-day dystrophic lake that is surrounded by a swamp. The profile of organic deposits contains a record of environmental change at least since the Younger Dryas in southern Poland

Design, synthesis, and antimicrobial evaluation of a novel bone-targeting bisphosphonate-ciprofloxacin conjugate for the treatment of osteomyelitis biofilms

Osteomyelitis is a major problem worldwide and is devastating due to the potential for limb-threatening sequelae and mortality. Osteomyelitis pathogens are bone-attached biofilms, making antibiotic delivery challenging. Here we describe a novel osteoadsorptive bisphosphonate-ciprofloxacin conjugate (BV600022), utilizing a “target and release” chemical strategy, which demonstrated a significantly enhanced therapeutic index versus ciprofloxacin for the treatment of osteomyelitis in vivo. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the conjugate against common osteomyelitis pathogens revealed an effective bactericidal profile and sustained release of the parent antibiotic over time. Efficacy and safety were demonstrated in an animal model of periprosthetic osteomyelitis, where a single dose of 10 mg/kg (15.6 μmol/kg) conjugate reduced the bacterial load by 99% and demonstrated nearly an order of magnitude greater activity than the parent antibiotic ciprofloxacin (30 mg/kg, 90.6 μmol/kg) given in multiple doses. Conjugates incorporating a bisphosphonate and an antibiotic for bone-targeted delivery to treat osteomyelitis biofilm pathogens constitute a promising approach to providing high bone-antimicrobial potency while minimizing systemic exposure

Inter and intra molecular dynamics in poly(trimethylene 2,5-furanoate) as revealed by infrared and Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopies

9 pags., 9 figs., 2 tabs.Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) experiments have been performed in poly(trimethylene 2,5-furanoate)(PTF) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate)(PTT) below their glass transition temperatures. The BDS experiments reveal a richer inter-molecular dynamic for PTT as characterized by a multimodal β relaxation in contrast with the monomodal one exhibited by PTF. The evolution with temperature of comparable IR absorption bands is very similar for PTF and PTT and shows small shifts in wavenumbers towards lower values, with exception of the band related to the stretching mode of the carbonyl group. In addition, a significant difference appears in the shape of the bands associated with the –C[dbnd]O stretching. While for PTT the absorption feature is comprised of a single component, that for PTF exhibits several components suggesting the presence of hydrogen bonds. This effect may be responsible for the monomodal shape of the β relaxation of PTF since a higher degree of intramolecular coupling between the furan ring and the rest of the monomer is expected. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations support the experimental results revealing that as temperature increases an increment of the syn conformations of the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) moiety is likely to occur in the amorphous state. The energy gain from more stable anti to less stable syn isomers can be compensated by the formation of hydrogen bonds between interchain FDCA moieties in syn conformations. This effect may cause additional hindrance to the intermolecular dynamics of the dielectric β relaxation. It is conceivable that the hindrance exhibited by PTF in both intra and inter-molecular dynamics may play a role in the reduction of gas diffusion and permeability of PTF in comparison with PTT.Grants PID2019-107514 GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and PID2019-106125 GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ ERDF A way of making Europe”. GS acknowledges grant RYC2020-029810-I funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ ESF Investing in your future”. SP would like to thank for financial support from the National Science Centre within project SONATA no 2018/31/D/ST8/00792.

Association between the c.*229C>T polymorphism of the topoisomerase IIb binding protein 1 (TopBP1) gene and breast cancer

Topoisomerase IIb binding protein 1 (TopBP1) is involved in cell survival, DNA replication, DNA damage repair and cell cycle checkpoint control. The biological function of TopBP1 and its close relation with BRCA1 prompted us to investigate whether alterations in the TopBP1 gene can influence the risk of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the association between five polymorphisms (rs185903567, rs116645643, rs115160714, rs116195487, and rs112843513) located in the 30UTR region of the TopBP1 gene and breast cancer risk as well as allele-specific gene expression. Five hundred thirty-four breast cancer patients and 556 population controls were genotyped for these SNPs. Allele-specific Top- BP1 mRNA and protein expressions were determined by using real time PCR and western blotting methods, respectively. Only one SNP (rs115160714) showed an association with breast cancer. Compared to homozygous common allele carriers, heterozygous and homozygous for the T variant had significantly increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio = 3.81, 95 % confidence interval: 1.63–8.34, p = 0.001). Mean TopBP1 mRNA and protein expression were higher in the individuals with the CT or TT genotype. There was a significant association between the rs115160714 and tumor grade and stage. Most carriers of minor allele had a high grade (G3) tumors classified as T2-T4N1M0. Our study raises a possibility that a genetic variation of TopBP1 may be implicated in the etiology of breast cancer