Validation of Reference Genes for the Relative Quantification of Gene Expression in Human Epicardial Adipose Tissue

BACKGROUND: Relative quantification is a commonly used method for assessing gene expression, however its accuracy and reliability is dependent upon the choice of an optimal endogenous control gene, and such choice cannot be made a priori. There is limited information available on suitable reference genes to be used for studies involving human epicardial adipose tissue. The objective of the current study was to evaluate and identify optimal reference genes for use in the relative quantification of gene expression in human epicardial fat depots of lean, overweight and obese subjects. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Some of the commonly used reference genes including 18S, ACTB, RPL27, HPRT, CYCA, GAPDH, RPLPO, POLR2A and B2M were quantified using real-time PCR analysis. The expression stability of these genes was evaluated using Genorm, Normfinder and Bestkeeper algorithms. In addition, the effect of sample size on the validation process was studied by randomly categorizing subjects in two cohorts of n = 2 and n = 33. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: CYCA, GAPDH and RPL27 were identified as the most stable genes common to all three algorithms and both sample sizes. Their use as reference gene pairs might contribute to the enhanced robustness of relative quantification in the studies involving the human epicardial adipose tissue

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies

Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo. Reporte de un caso con atipicidades

El síndrome de Tako-Tsubo es una miocardiopatía aguda reversible de caracterización reciente relacionada con el estrés. Su forma típica de presentación muestra elementos clínicos, electrocardiográficos, enzimáticos y ecocardiográficos que simulan un síndrome coronarioagudo en ausencia de enfermedad coronaria obstructiva. Los métodos diagnósticos de imagen ponen en evidencia alteraciones segmentarias de la contractilidad que confieren a la geometría ventricular izquierda una forma distintiva a la cual debe su nombre. Se presenta la historia de una paciente que ingresó en nuestro hospital y cumple los criterios diagnósticos de esta entidad con algunas atipicidades.Palabras clave: Tako-Tsubo, discinesia apical transitoria, miocardiopatía con coronarias normales, síndrome del corazón roto

Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo. Reporte de un caso con atipicidades

El síndrome de Tako-Tsubo es una miocardiopatía aguda reversible de caracterización reciente relacionada con el estrés. Su forma típica de presentación muestra elementos clínicos, electrocardiográficos, enzimáticos y ecocardiográficos que simulan un síndrome coronarioagudo en ausencia de enfermedad coronaria obstructiva. Los métodos diagnósticos de imagen ponen en evidencia alteraciones segmentarias de la contractilidad que confieren a la geometría ventricular izquierda una forma distintiva a la cual debe su nombre. Se presenta la historia de una paciente que ingresó en nuestro hospital y cumple los criterios diagnósticos de esta entidad con algunas atipicidades.Palabras clave: Tako-Tsubo, discinesia apical transitoria, miocardiopatía con coronarias normales, síndrome del corazón roto

Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo. Reporte de un caso con atipicidades. Tako-Tsubo syndrome. A case report with atypical features.

The Tako-Tsubo syndrome is a reversible form of an acute stress-related cardiomyopathythat was recently described. It typically presents with a constellation of symptoms, electrocardiographicchanges, elevated cardiac enzyme levels and echocardiography imaging consistentwith an acute coronary syndrome. However, when the patient undergoes cardiac angiography,left ventricular apical ballooning finding is seen, but no significant coronary arterystenosis. This ballooning-like morphology, being the hallmark of this entity, can be detectedby imaging. We present a case report in a patient who was admitted to our hospital and metall the diagnostic criteria of the Tako-Tsubo syndrome, but with some atypical features