Drug-Coated Balloon versus Plain Balloon Angioplasty in the Treatment of Infrainguinal Vein Bypass Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The optimal endovascular therapy for vein graft stenosis (VGS) following infrainguinal arterial bypass is yet to be established. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) have rapidly improved the inferior patency outcomes of angioplasty using a conventional plain balloon (PB). This study compares the efficacy of DCBs and PBs for the treatment of infrainguinal VGS. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA statement. Multiple electronic searches were conducted in consultation with a health science librarian in September 2022. Studies describing the comparative outcomes of angioplasty using DCBs and PBs in the treatment of infrainguinal VGS were eligible. Datasets from one randomized controlled trial and two cohort studies with a total of 179 patients were identified. The results indicated no significant difference in target lesion revascularization between DCBs and PBs (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.32–1.28; p = 0.21), with no significant heterogeneity between studies. Additionally, differences in primary patency, assisted primary patency, secondary patency, and graft occlusion were not significant. Subgroup analysis showed similar effects for different DCB devices. In conclusion, DCBs showed no significant benefit in the treatment of VGS compared to PBs. Given the small population size of this meta-analysis, future trials with a larger population are desired

ISOTOPIC FRACTIONATION OF GUEST GAS AT THE FORMATION OF METHANE AND ETHANE HYDRATES

Stable isotope of natural gas hydrates provides useful information of their gas sources. We investigated the isotopic fractionation of gas molecules during the formation of synthetic gas hydrates composed of methane and ethane. The gas hydrate samples were experimentally prepared in a pressure cell and isotopic compositions (δ13C and δD) of both residual and hydratebound gases were measured. δD of hydrate-bound molecules of methane and ethane hydrates was several per mil lower than that of residual gas molecules in the formation processes, while there was no difference in the case of δ13C. Effect of temperature on the isotopic fractionation was also investigated and it was found that the fractionation was effective at low temperature.Non UBCUnreviewe

Authigenic carbonates related to gas seepage structures in the Sea of Okhotsk (NE offshore Sakhalin): Results from the Chaos Project

Mineralogical and isotopic analysis of authigenic carbonates from different gas hydrate-bearing seepage structures in the Derugin Basin (Sea of Okhotsk) are presented. The analysis showed the existence of four morphological types of carbonates, with all of them mainly of Mg-calcite.13C values of carbonates generally light owing to the inheritance of carbon from microbial methane. 13C-enriched samples at the VNIIOkeangeologia structure with 13C values of up to +9.3‰ represent carbonate precipitation due to methanogenesis. The calculated equilibrium 18O values of carbonates in general correspond to measured values.Non UBCUnreviewe

FORMATION PROCESS OF STRUCTURE I AND II GAS HYDRATES DISCOVERED IN KUKUY, LAKE BAIKAL

Structure I and II gas hydrates were observed in the same sediment cores of a mud volcano in the Kukuy Canyon, Lake Baikal. The sII gas hydrate contained about 13-15% of ethane, whereas the sI gas hydrate contained about 1-5% of ethane and placed beneath the sII gas hydrate. We measured isotopic composition of dissociation gas from both type gas hydrates and dissolved gas in pore water. We found that ethane δD of sI gas hydrate (from -196 to -211 ‰) was larger than that of sII (from -215 to -220 ‰), whereas methane δ13C, methane δD and ethane δD in both hydrate structures were almost the same. δ13C of methane and ethane in gas hydrate seemed several permil smaller than those in pore water. These results support the following idea that the current gas in pore water is not the source of these gas hydrates of both structures. Isotopic data also provide useful information how the “double structure” gas hydrates formed.Non UBCUnreviewe

Comparative Analyses of Copy-Number Variation in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia Reveal Etiological Overlap and Biological Insights

Summary: Compelling evidence in Caucasian populations suggests a role for copy-number variations (CNVs) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). We analyzed 1,108 ASD cases, 2,458 SCZ cases, and 2,095 controls in a Japanese population and confirmed an increased burden of rare exonic CNVs in both disorders. Clinically significant (or pathogenic) CNVs, including those at 29 loci common to both disorders, were found in about 8% of ASD and SCZ cases, which was significantly higher than in controls. Phenotypic analysis revealed an association between clinically significant CNVs and intellectual disability. Gene set analysis showed significant overlap of biological pathways in both disorders including oxidative stress response, lipid metabolism/modification, and genomic integrity. Finally, based on bioinformatics analysis, we identified multiple disease-relevant genes in eight well-known ASD/SCZ-associated CNV loci (e.g., 22q11.2, 3q29). Our findings suggest an etiological overlap of ASD and SCZ and provide biological insights into these disorders. : Kushima et al. perform comparative analyses of CNVs in ASD and SCZ in a Japanese population. They identify pathogenic CNVs and biological pathways in each disorder with significant overlap. Patients with pathogenic CNVs have a higher prevalence of intellectual disability. Disease-relevant genes are detected in eight well-known ASD/SCZ-associated CNV loci. Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, copy-number variation, array comparative genomic hybridization, genetic overlap, Japanese population, oxidative stress response, genome integrity, lipid metabolism, gene ontolog