Differential expression of microRNAs following cardiopulmonary bypass in children with congenital heart diseases

Background: Children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) are at high risk for myocardial failure after operative procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Recent studies suggest that microRNAs (miRNA) are involved in the development of CHDs and myocardial failure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine alterations in the miRNA profle in heart tissue after cardiac surgery using CPB. Methods: In total, 14 tissue samples from right atrium were collected from patients before and after connection of the CPB. SurePrint™ 8 × 60K Human v21 miRNA array and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reac‑ tion (RT-qPCR) were employed to determine the miRNA expression profle from three patients before and after con‑ nection of the CPB. Enrichment analyses of altered miRNA expression were predicted using bioinformatic tools. Results: According to miRNA array, a total of 90 miRNAs were signifcantly altered including 29 miRNAs with increased and 61 miRNAs with decreased expression after de-connection of CPB (n = 3) compared to before CPB (n = 3). Seven miRNAs had been validated using RT-qPCR in an independent cohort of 11 patients. Enrichment analyses applying the KEGG database displayed the highest correlation for signaling pathways, cellular community, cardiovascular disease and circulatory system. Conclusion: Our result identifed the overall changes of the miRNome in right atrium tissue of patients with CHDs after CPB. The diferentially altered miRNAs lay a good foundation for further understanding of the molecular function of changed miRNAs in regulating CHDs and after CPB in particula

The use of illegally obtained evidence in Belgium: a ‘status questionis’

Prof. dr. Joachim Meese considers the rules about the exclusion of illegally obtained evidence in Belgium, providing a short overview about the evolution of Belgian jurisprudence concerning the exclusionary rule. Index words: illegally obtained evidence; Belgium; exclusionary rule; limiting; strict application; unlawful search; exceptions