Electrochemical Aberrant Methylation Detection Based on Ferrocenyl Naphthalene Diimide Carrying β-cyclodextrin, FNC

Electrochemical detection of the specific gene carrying aberrant methylated cytosine was achieved by ferrocenyl naphthalene diimide carrying β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), FNC, coupled with the probe‐DNA‐immobilized electrode. The five CpG sites in a 24‐base sequence were selected as the target DNA on the CDH4 gene, which is associated with colorectal cancer. When methylated and unmethylated samples hybridized with the DNA probe (HS‐M24) immobilized on the electrode, an increased current signal was observed in the electrolyte containing FNC and correlated with the amount of target DNA. Furthermore, an increase in current (115 %) was observed when the PCR product of 105 bp was hybridized on the HS‐M24‐immobilized electrode, whereas a background level of current increase was observed in the case of unmethylated product. Such large discrimination ability might be due to the inter‐ and/or intra‐complex formation of ferrocene with β‐CD of FNC on the surface of the electrode

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Synthesis of a Peptide-Human Telomere DNA Conjugate as a Fluorometric Imaging Reagent for Biological Sodium Ion

A peptide-oligonucleotide conjugate (1) was synthesized by the attachment of FAM, TAMRA, and biotin moieties to a telomere DNA sequence of 5′-TAG GGT TAG GGT TAG GGT TAG GG-3′. This conjugate was induced to be an anti-parallel structure in the presence of sodium ion (Na+), whereas a hybrid one was formed under potassium ion (K+) as a monitoring by circular dichromic spectra. The conformation change of this conjugate gave an effective FRET signal change upon the addition of NaCl, compared with the case of KCl. Under 5 mM KCl as an extracellular condition, a FRET change was observed upon addition of NaCl and quantitative FRET change was observed in 0 – 250 mM NaCl. This conjugate was immobilized on the cell surface through a sugar chain on the cell, biotinyl concanavallin A and streptavidin. This conjugate was utilized for Na+ sensing based on anti-parallel tetraplex formation with Na+