Comparison between soluble ST2 and high-sensitivity troponin I in predicting short-term mortality for patients presenting to the Emergency Department with chest pain

Background: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and the soluble isoform of suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) are useful prognostic biomarkers in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study was to test the short term prognostic value of sST2 compared with hs-cTnI in patients with chest pain. Methods: Assays for hs-cTnI and sST2 were performed in 157 patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) for chest pain at arrival. In-hospital and 30-day follow-up mortalities were assessed. Results: The incidence of ACS was 37%; 33 patients were diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and 25 were diagnosed with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Compared with the no acute coronary syndrome (NO ACS) group, the median level of hs-cTnI was higher in ACS patients: 7.22 (5.24-14) pg/mL vs 68 (15.33-163.50) pg/mL (P35 ng/mL at ED arrival died during the 30-day follow-up. Conclusions: sST2 has a greater prognostic value for 30-day cardiac mortality after discharge in patients presenting to the ED for chest pain compared with hs-cTnI. In STEMI patients, an sST2 value > 35 ng/mL at ED arrival showed the highest predictive power for short-term mortality

Soluble ST2 levels and left ventricular structure and function in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: A biomarker that is of great interest in relation to adverse cardiovascular events is soluble ST2 (sST2), a member of the interleukin family. Considering that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is accompanied by a proinflammatory state, we aimed to assess the relationship between sST2 and left ventricular (LV) structure and function in patients with MetS. Methods: A multicentric, cross-sectional study was conducted on180 MetS subjects with normal LV ejection fraction as determined by echocardiography. LV hypertrophy (LVH) was defined as an LV mass index greater than the gender-specific upper limit of normal as determined by echocardiography. LV diastolic dysfunction (DD) was assessed by pulse-wave and tissue Doppler imaging. sST2 was measured by using a quantitative monoclonal ELISA assay. Results: LV mass index (β=0.337, P<0 .001, linear regression) was independently associated with sST2 concentrations. Increased sST2 was associated with an increased likelihood of LVH [Exp (B)=2.20, P=0.048, logistic regression] and increased systolic blood pressure [Exp (B)=1.02, P=0.05, logistic regression]. Comparing mean sST2 concentrations (adjusted for age, body mass index, gender) between different LV remodeling patterns, we found the greatest sST2 level in the group with concentric hypertrophy. There were no differences in sST2 concentration between groups with and without LV DD. Conclusions: Increased sST2 concentration in patients with MetS was associated with a greater likelihood of exhibiting LVH. Our results suggest that inflammation could be one of the principal triggering mechanisms for LV remodeling in MetS

How Volatile Compounds, Oxidative Profile and Sensory Evaluation Can Change with Vacuum Aging in Donkey Meat

This study aims to improve knowledge on donkey meat and the vacuum aging effect on the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), oxidative profile and status and the sensory characteristics. Ten 18-month old Martina Franca donkeys’ male foals were involved in the trial. Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle was extracted from each left half carcass, between the fourth and the ninth rib. Each muscle was divided into five sections, vacuum packaged, stored at 2 C, and randomly assigned to one of the dierent aging time (1, 3, 6, 9, and 14 days of aging). Volatile compounds, oxidation parameters, and antioxidant enzymes were analysed, and a sensory test was performed. A nested one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for aging time as an independent variable. Significance was set at p &lt; 0.05. Aldehydes are the most produced VOCs, but no changes were observed during vacuum aging (p &gt; 0.05). Nitrogen compounds increased during aging (p &lt; 0.01). TBARs and hydroperoxides did not change during the storage, whereas the protein carbonyls increased (p &lt; 0.05). Vacuum aging slowed down lipid oxidation and put in evidence the presence of protein oxidation and degradation, influencing the VOCs productions and sensory evaluation

Modeling population dynamics of yeast-like symbionts (Ascomycota: Pyrenomycetes: Clavicipitaceae) of the planthopper Delphacodes kuscheli (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Fil: Liljesthröm, Gerardo G.. Centro de Estudios en Parasitología y Vectores (CEPAVE). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Brentassi, María Eugenia. División Entomología. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Marino de Remes Lenicov, Ana María. División Entomología. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Adaptation of the Psychological Behavioral Acculturation Scale to a Community of Urban-based Mexican Americans in the United States

Objective: To report the psychometric properties of the Psychological-Behavioral Acculturation Scale (P-BAS), a tool gauging behavioral and psychological acculturation after adapting it through formative research to people of Mexican origin in the United States. Methods: We analyzed data from adapted P-BAS questionnaires in the TalaSurvey study, using standard methods to establish internal consistencies (Cronbach’s alpha), construct validity, and ascertain if the value orientation profile differed by ethnic group. Results: In 2012-13, 505 respondents (mean age 45.2 ±14.1, 56% female) participated: 250 European Americans (EA) and 255 people of Mexican origin (MA). Conclusions: Although internal consistencies of 15 value orientation measures were occasionally low, overall results were encouraging. A weighted combination of value orientation scores strongly discriminated between EA and MA. Additionally, the pattern of relationships among MAs identified between acculturation scores and the validity contrasts supported the construct validity of the proposed dual framework. The trend was particularly evident for most behavioral variables

Modeling population dynamics of yeast-like symbionts (Ascomycota: Pyrenomycetes: Clavicipitaceae) of the planthopper Delphacodes kuscheli (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Delphacodes kuscheli establish mutualistic relationship with yeast-like symbionts (YLS) that live in the fat body and are necessary for host survival and reproduction. We estimated for a host of age t, its body weight, W(t), and the number of YLS per host, YLS(t). The host body weight was calculated as: W(t) = Lm/[1+ e (d–kt)], (Lm = the maximum observed weight, and d and k are constants), and the fat body was considered a fixed proportion of W(t). We calculated the number of YLS per unit host body mass: α(t) = YLS(t)/W(t). We also calculated the number of YLS per host, cYLS(t), and analyzed the pattern of variation in both sexes adapting the expression of the logistic model: cYLS(t) = KNoert/K+(ert -1)No, (No = initial number of YLS, r = intrinsic per capita rate of natural increase, and K = variable carrying capacity). In females the carrying capacity varied according to a constant proportion of the host’s weight: K(t) = αW(t). In males α(t) was considered a decreasing function of the host age: K(t) = α(t)W(t). The coefficients No, α, and r were subjected to parameterization. We found that the patterns of W(t) and YLS(t) of D. kuscheli were similar to other planthoppers. In females YLS increased up to the adult stage and then remained almost constant, varying similarly to individual weight. In males YLS increased up to the 5th instar nymph as the individual weight did, but the number of YLS decreased in the adult stage and the correlation was not so good. The calculated number of YLS per host matches reasonably well with the number estimated experimentally both in females and males. This is the first study that quantified and modeled the dynamics of YLS endosymbionts in a Neotropical planthopper pest. The models will be used in future studies for better understand the experimental reduction of YLS in young nymphal stages.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Mechanical compartmentalization of the intestinal organoid enables crypt folding and collective cell migration

Intestinal organoids capture essential features of the intestinal epithelium such as crypt folding, cellular compartmentalization and collective movements. Each of these processes and their coordination require patterned forces that are at present unknown. Here we map three-dimensional cellular forces in mouse intestinal organoids grown on soft hydrogels. We show that these organoids exhibit a non-monotonic stress distribution that defines mechanical and functional compartments. The stem cell compartment pushes the extracellular matrix and folds through apical constriction, whereas the transit amplifying zone pulls the extracellular matrix and elongates through basal constriction. The size of the stem cell compartment depends on the extracellular-matrix stiffness and endogenous cellular forces. Computational modelling reveals that crypt shape and force distribution rely on cell surface tensions following cortical actomyosin density. Finally, cells are pulled out of the crypt along a gradient of increasing tension. Our study unveils how patterned forces enable compartmentalization, folding and collective migration in the intestinal epithelium.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobility Type: A Case Report

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – Hypermobility type (EDS-HT) can occur concomitantly, with the overlap of the characteristics of both conditions. Early diagnosis helps prevent suffering and injuries in patients with these conditions. Objective: To report the case of an adolescent with severe autism and EDS-HT, with musculoskeletal and extra-skeletal manifestations, and how it may affect the patient´s life of and his family. Case Report: This report shows the clinical history of the signs and symptoms of EDS-HT, mainly evidenced by generalized pain, fatigue, dislocations and motor disability, due to Joint Hypermobility (JH). These manifestations may not be noticed by the family members and health professionals, due to the communicative impairment that is part of the manifestations related to ASD. Conclusion: The early identification of signs and symptoms of EDS-HT in childhood could enable a better understanding of its manifestations in patients with ASD. It also enables the prevention of joint dislocations and the proposition of a proper ergonomic design for the home environment to minimize suffering of the patient and his family

Gene expression profile predicts response to the combination of tosedostat and low-dose cytarabine in elderly AML

Tosedostat is an orally administered metalloenzyme inhibitor with antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activity against hematological and solid human cancers. Clinical activity has been demonstrated in relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Thirty-three elderly patients with AML (median age, 75 years) received 120 mg tosedostat orally once daily combined with subcutaneous low-dose cytarabine (20 mg twice per day for 10 days, up to 8 cycles), until disease progression. Induction mortality was 12%. According to an intention-to-treat analysis, the complete remission (CR) rate was 48.5%, and thus the primary end point of the study was reached (expected CR, 25%). The partial remission rate was 6.1%, with an overall response rate of 54.5%. Furthermore, 4 of 33 patients had stable disease (median: 286 days). The median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 203 days and 222 days, respectively. Responding patients had a longer median OS than nonresponding patients (P = .001). A microarray analysis performed in 29 of 33 patients identified 188 genes associated with clinical response (CR vs no CR). Three of them (CD93, GORASP1, CXCL16) were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, which correctly classified 83% of the patients. Specifically, CR achievement was efficiently predicted by the gene expression patterns, with an overall accuracy exceeding 90%. Finally, a negative predictive value of 100% was validated in an independent series, thus representing the first molecular predictor for clinical response to a specific combination drug treatment for AML. This trial has been registered at the European Medicines Agency and on the European Clinical Trials Database (https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu) as #2012-000334-19

Stochastic estimation of seroprevalence against <i>Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale</i> and avian pneumovirus among chickens in Argentina

The objective of this study was to estimate the true prevalence of seropositive individual chicken against Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and avian pneumovirus in Argentina, using the Rogan-Gladen estimator in combination with Bayesian inference. Chicken runs existed in 21 and 20 different towns in Buenos Aires and Entre Rios Provinces in Argentina for Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and avian pneumovirus seroprevalence, respectively, were studied. lndividual-chicken sera were analyzed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The 719 (for testing Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale) and 933 (for testing avian pneumovirus) chickens were investigated. The overall true seroprevalence was 62.6% [95% Bayesian Credible lntelval (BCI): 37.6-84.5%] and 8.0% (95% BCI: 14.185%) against Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and avian pneumovirus, respectively.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria