402 research outputs found

    Distinct trajectories of disease-specific health status in heart failure patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy

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    Purpose: It is well known that a significant proportion of heart failure patients (10–44 %) do not show improvement in symptoms or functioning from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), yet no study has examined patient-reported health status trajectories after implantation. Methods: A cohort of 139 patients with a CRT-defibrillator (70 % men; age 65.7 ± 10.1 years) completed the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) prior to implantation (baseline) and at 2, 6, and 12–14 months post-implantation. Latent class analyses were used to identify trajectories and associates of disease-specific health status over time. Results: All health status trajectories showed an initial small to large improvement from baseline to 2-month follow-up, whereafter most trajectories displayed a stable pattern between short- and long-term follow-up. Low educational level, NYHA class III/IV, smoking, no use of beta-blockers, use of psychotropic medication, anxiety, depression, and type D personality were found to be associated with poorer health status in unadjusted analyses. Interestingly, subgroups of patients (12–20 %) who experienced poor health status at baseline improved to stable good health status levels after implantation. Conclusions: Levels of disease-specific health status vary considerably across subgroups of CRT-D patients. Classification into poorer disease-specific health status trajectories was particularly associated with patients’ psychological profile and NYHA classification. The timely identification of CRT-D patients who present with poor disease-specific health status (i.e., KCCQ score < 50) and a distressed psychological profile (i.e., anxiety, depression, and/or type D personality) is paramount, as they may benefit from cardiac rehabilitation in combination with psychological intervention

    Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-Induced Hyperactivity Is a Conserved Strategy of a Subset of BaculoViruses to Manipulate Lepidopteran Host Behavior

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    This is the final version. Available from PLoS via the DOI in this record.Many parasites manipulate host behavior to increase the probability of transmission. To date, direct evidence for parasitic genes underlying such behavioral manipulations is scarce. Here we show that the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) induces hyperactive behavior in Spodoptera exigua larvae at three days after infection. Furthermore, we identify the viral protein tyrosine phosphatase (ptp) gene as a key player in the induction of hyperactivity in larvae, and show that mutating the catalytic site of the encoded phosphatase enzyme prevents this induced behavior. Phylogenetic inference points at a lepidopteran origin of the ptp gene and shows that this gene is well-conserved in a group of related baculoviruses. Our study suggests that ptp-induced behavioral manipulation is an evolutionarily conserved strategy of this group of baculoviruses to enhance virus transmission, and represents an example of the extended phenotype concept. Overall, these data provide a firm base for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind baculovirus-induced insect behavior. © 2012 van Houte et al.Program Strategic Alliances of the Royal Dutch Academy of SciencesMEERVOUD grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific ResearchC.T. de Wit Graduate School for Production Ecology and Resource Conservatio

    A simple and rapid flow cytometry-based assay to identify a competent embryo prior to embryo transfer

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    Multiple pregnancy is a risk for prematurity and preterm birth. The goal of assisted reproduction is to achieve a single pregnancy, by transferring a single embryo. This requires improved methods to identify the competent embryo. Here, we describe such a test, based on flow cytometric determination of the nucleic acid (PI+) containing extracellular vesicle (EV) count in day 5 embryo culture media. 88 women undergoing IVF were included in the study. More than 1 embryos were transferred to most patients. In 58 women, the transfer resulted in clinical pregnancy, whereas in 30 women in implantation failure. In 112 culture media of embryos from the "clinical pregnancy" group, the number of PI+ EVs was significantly lower than in those of 49 embryos, from the "implantation failure" group. In 14 women, transfer of a single embryo resulted in a singleton pregnancy, or, transfer of two embryos in twin pregnancy. The culture media of 19 out of the 20 "confirmed competent" embryos contained a lower level of PI+ EVs than the cut off level, suggesting that the competent embryo can indeed be identified by low PI+ EV counts. We developed a noninvasive, simple, inexpensive, quick test, which identifies the embryos that are most likely to implant

    Birthweight of children with isolated congenital heart disease: a sibling analysis study

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    ObjectiveCongenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with decreased birthweight (BW) compared to population-based references. The aim of this study was to compare the BW of isolated CHD cases to their siblings, thus controlling for unknown and unmeasured confounders within the family. MethodsAll isolated CHD cases in the Leiden University Medical Center were included (2002-2019). Generalized estimated equation models were constructed to compare BW z scores of CHD neonates with their siblings. Cases were clustered to minor or severe CHD and stratified according to the aortic flow and oxygenation to the brain. ResultsThe overall BW z score of siblings was 0.032 (n = 471). The BW z score was significantly lower in CHD cases (n = 291) compared to their siblings (-0.20, p = 0.005). The results were consistent in the subgroup analysis of severe and minor CHD (BW z score difference -0.20 and -0.10), but did not differ significantly (p = 0.63). Stratified analysis regarding flow and oxygenation showed no BW difference between the groups (p = 0.1). ConclusionIsolated CHD cases display a significantly lower BW z score compared to their siblings. As the siblings of these CHD cases show a BW distribution similar to the general population, this suggests that shared environmental and maternal influences between siblings do not explain the difference in BW.Research into fetal development and medicin

    Йосиф Конрадович Пачоський: історіографія проблеми

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    Проаналізовано наукові, науково-популярні, публіцистичні, літературні джерела щодо біографії і наукової діяльності Й.К. Почоського, розділені на три періоди: перший — дореволюційний період вивчення життєвого шляху та наукової діяльності вченого (1882—1917), другий — радянський (1917—1989), третій — сучасний (1989 р.). Окрім вітчизняних, висвітлено праці дослідників із Польщі.Проанализированы научные, научно-популярные, публицистические, литературные источники по биографии и научной деятельности И.К.Пачоского, разделенные на три периода: первый — дореволюционный период изучения жизненного пути и научной деятельности ученого (1882—1917), второй советский (1917—1989), третий — современный (с 1989 г. ). Кроме отечественных, освещены работы исследователей из Польши.The paper contains analysis of scientific, popular-scientific, publicistic and literary sources on the scientific biography of I.K. Pachosky, divided in the three periods: first — pre-revolutionary (1882—1917), second — soviet (1917—1989), third — contemporary (1989 and on). Apart from national scientists, works of scientists from Poland also included

    Errors in chromosome segregation during oogenesis and early embryogenesis

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    Errors in chromosome segregation occurring during human oogenesis and early embryogenesis are very common. Meiotic chromosome development during oogenesis is subdivided into three distinct phases. The crucial events, including meiotic chromosome pairing and recombination, take place from around 11 weeks until birth. Oogenesis is then arrested until ovulation, when the first meiotic division takes place, with the second meiotic division not completed until after fertilization. It is generally accepted that most aneuploid fetal conditions, such as trisomy 21 Down syndrome, are due to maternal chromosome segregation errors. The underlying reasons are not yet fully understood. It is also clear that superimposed on the maternal meiotic chromosome segregation errors, there are a large number of mitotic errors taking place post-zygotically during the first few cell divisions in the embryo. In this chapter, we summarise current knowledge of errors in chromosome segregation during oogenesis and early embryogenesis, with special reference to the clinical implications for successful assisted reproduction

    Female subfertility

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    The WHO defines female subfertility as failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular intercourse or due to impairment of a woman’s capacity to reproduce. This PrimeView highlights some of the mechanisms that may contribute to this condition

    Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-Induced Hyperactivity Is a Conserved Strategy of a Subset of BaculoViruses to Manipulate Lepidopteran Host Behavior

    Get PDF
    Many parasites manipulate host behavior to increase the probability of transmission. To date, direct evidence for parasitic genes underlying such behavioral manipulations is scarce. Here we show that the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) induces hyperactive behavior in Spodoptera exigua larvae at three days after infection. Furthermore, we identify the viral protein tyrosine phosphatase (ptp) gene as a key player in the induction of hyperactivity in larvae, and show that mutating the catalytic site of the encoded phosphatase enzyme prevents this induced behavior. Phylogenetic inference points at a lepidopteran origin of the ptp gene and shows that this gene is well-conserved in a group of related baculoviruses. Our study suggests that ptp-induced behavioral manipulation is an evolutionarily conserved strategy of this group of baculoviruses to enhance virus transmission, and represents an example of the extended phenotype concept. Overall, these data provide a firm base for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind baculovirus-induced insect behavior
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