Primary coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Indonesia and the Netherlands: a comparison

Background. Although the beneficial effects of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have been demonstrated in a number of trials, most studies were conducted in Western countries. Experience, logistics and patient characteristics may differ in other parts of the world. Methods. Consecutive patients treated with primary PCI in Cinere Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia, between January 2008 and October 2008 were compared with those treated in the Isala Clinics, Zwolle, the Netherlands. Results. During the study period, a total of 596 patients were treated by primary PCI, 568 in Zwolle and 28 in Jakarta. Patients in Indonesia were younger (54 vs 63 years), more often had diabetes (36 vs. 12%) and high lipids and were more often smokers (68 vs. 31%). Time delay between symptom onset and admission was longer in Indonesia. Patients from Indonesia more often had signs of heart failure at admission. The time between admission and balloon inflation was longer in Indonesia. At angiography, patients from Indonesia more often had multivessel disease. There was no difference in the percentage of restoration of TIMI 3 flow by primary PCI between the two hospitals. Conclusion. Patients with STEMI in Indonesia have a higher risk profile compared with those in the Netherlands, according to prevalence of coronary risk factors, signs of heart failure, multivessel disease and patient delay. Time delay between admission and balloon inflation was much longer in Indonesia, because of both logistic and financial reasons. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:418–21.)     

Efficient hydrogen production from the lignocellulosic energy crop Miscanthus by the extreme thermophilic bacteria Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus and Thermotoga neapolitana

Background  

The production of hydrogen from biomass by fermentation is one of the routes that can contribute to a future sustainable hydrogen economy. Lignocellulosic biomass is an attractive feedstock because of its abundance, low production costs and high polysaccharide content.     

A morphological and genetic analysis of the European bitterling species complex

Bitterling fishes lay their eggs on the gills of living freshwater mussels and are valuable models in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. We used morphological and genetic data to resolve the taxonomic relationships of bitterling in Europe. Previous studies have suggested the European bitterling is either a single species with a wide but discontinuous geographic distribution, or a complex of species. Morphometric and meristic data identified differences between three putative species; with a clear distinction between the eastern Asian Rhodeus sericeus, western European bitterling Rhodeus amarus, and colchian bitterling, Rhodeus colchicus. Polymorphism in the mitochondrial DNA control region was predominantly due to insertion/deletion events, making phylogenetic inference difficult, but the single haplotype found in R. sericeus populations was detected at low frequency (one of 24 individuals) in R. amarus and R. colchicus populations. Eight control region haplotypes were found in R. amarus populations, which were distinct from the two haplotypes in a R. colchicus population. Cytochrome b data produced a phylogeny with strongly‐supported differentiation between a clade of two R. sericeus haplotypes and a clade of six R. amarus/colchicus haplotypes. The star‐like topology of the R. amarus/colchicus haplotypes in a minimum spanning network suggested a rapid radiation in this clade. Our results are consistent with an hypothesis of relatively ancient divergence of R. sericeus from R. amarus/colchicus and more recent and rapid differentiation between R. amarus and R. colchicus. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 337–347.     

The European Renal Genome Project: An Integrated Approach Towards Understanding the Genetics of Kidney Development and Disease

Rapid progress in genome research creates a wealth of information on the functional annotation of mammalian genome sequences. However, as we accumulate large amounts of scientific information we are facing problems of how to integrate and relate the data produced by various genomic approaches. Here, we propose the novel concept of an organ atlas where diverse data from expression maps to histological findings to mutant phenotypes can be queried, compared and visualized in the context of a three-dimensional reconstruction of the organ. We will seek proof of concept for the organ atlas by elucidating genetic pathways involved in development and pathophysiology of the kidney. Such a kidney atlas may provide a paradigm for a new systems-biology approach in functional genome research aimed at understanding the genetic bases of organ development, physiology and disease.Key Words: EuReGene, kidney, genome, development, pathophysiology, genetics     

Analysis of molecular differentiation in a hybrid zone between chromosomally distinct races of the common shrew Sorex araneus (Insectivora: Soricidae) suggests their common ancestry

During postglacial colonization, populations that diverged in different refugia produced a patchwork of genomes, often delimited with sharp hybrid zones. The outcome of hybridization following the secondary contact of two genetically distinct populations is hard to predict. In this context, the present study investigated the genetic structure of the hybrid zone between the Drnholec and Białowieża chromosome races of the common shrew ( Sorex araneus ) in Poland using biparentally inherited (seven autosomal microsatellites) and uniparentally inherited (Y-linked microsatellite and mtDNA) molecular markers. On the basis of diagnostic chromosomes, the Drnholec and Białowieża races were classified to different karyotypic groups, which were believed to have independent glacial histories. It was found that genetic differentiation between the Drnholec and Białowieża races was weak and nonsignificant with respect to all molecular markers. However, these results are in contrast with the chromosomal structure of this hybrid zone. The very sharp frequency clines of the diagnostic chromosomes strongly suggest that gene flow between the Drnholec and Białowieża races was reduced. Nonsignificant correlations between genetic differentiation and both the presence of an environmental barrier and geographical distance reveal that only differences in karyotypes might be a reason for limited gene exchange between the races. It is assumed that a lack of molecular differences between the Drnholec and Białowieża races results from a shared ancestral variation.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 89 , 79–90.     

Pathologies of non‐marine bivalve shells from the Late Triassic of Poland

Gorzelak, P., Nied?wiedzki, G. & Skawina, A. 2010: Pathologies of non‐marine bivalve shells from the Late Triassic of Poland. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 285–289. Shells of Late Triassic non‐marine bivalves from Lisowice (Lipie ?l?skie clay pit, southern Poland), which co‐occur with remains of several vertebrate taxa (mammal‐like reptiles, carnivorous dinosaurs, pterosaurs, temnospondyl amphibians, hybodont sharks, dipnoan and ganoid fish), bear evidence of pathologies. Distribution, dimension and shape of some of these injuries (radiate tooth marks) closely match the dental morphology of lungfish (here probably represented by the genus Ceratodus). Thus, we interpret these pathologies as evidence of unsuccessful predatory attack on bivalves by this fish. This interpretation is also consistent with modern examples of such behaviour among lungfish. The feasibility that other culprits caused other pathologies (shell scarring and wedges) on the bivalves analysed is also discussed. Discovery of these traces constitutes important evidence of predator–prey interaction, which provides ‘fingerprints’ of trophic structure within this Late Triassic freshwater ecosystem. □Freshwater bivalves, lungfish, pathologies, predation, Triassic.     

To sink or float: the fate of dormant offspring is determined by maternal behaviour in Daphnia

• 1 As the ephippia (chitinous shells enclosing diapausing eggs) of pelagic crustaceans of the genus Daphnia have been occasionally reported to float at the water surface, we considered that this might be an adaptation promoting their passive dispersal. We investigated the mechanisms by which ephippia appear at the water surface.
• 2 While field surveys revealed that floating Daphnia ephippia are often numerous in various freshwater habitats, laboratory tests showed that newly formed ephippia are not buoyant initially. Once transferred to the surface by whatever means, however, they may remain there due either to surface tension or gas absorption.
• 3 Video recordings showed that all ephippia at the water surface in laboratory vessels were shed there by ephippial females when moulting (despite the attendant risk of exposure to UV radiation). This implies that the moulting behaviour of female Daphnia may determine the fate of their dormant offspring, predetermining whether they remain in the natal environment (when the ephippium is released into the water column) or disperse (when it is deposited at the water surface).
• 4 Our findings reveal a potential mechanism underlying the high dispersal capacity of freshwater cladocerans inhabiting island‐like aquatic habitats.

     

Light acclimation,retrograde signalling,cell death and immune defences in plants

This review confronts the classical view of plant immune defence and light acclimation with recently published data. Earlier findings have linked plant immune defences to nucleotide‐binding site leucine‐rich repeat (NBS‐LRR)‐dependent recognition of pathogen effectors and to the role of plasma membrane‐localized NADPH‐dependent oxidoreductase (AtRbohD), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and salicylic acid (SA). However, recent results suggest that plant immune defence also depends on the absorption of excessive light energy and photorespiration. Rapid changes in light intensity and quality often cause the absorption of energy, which is in excess of that required for photosynthesis. Such excessive light energy is considered to be a factor triggering photoinhibition and disturbance in ROS/hormonal homeostasis, which leads to cell death in foliar tissues. We highlight here the tight crosstalk between ROS‐ and SA‐dependent pathways leading to light acclimation, and defence responses leading to pathogen resistance. We also show that LESION SIMULATING DISEASE 1 (LSD1) regulates and integrates these processes. Moreover, we discuss the role of plastid–nucleus signal transduction, photorespiration, photoelectrochemical signalling and ‘light memory’ in the regulation of acclimation and immune defence responses. All of these results suggest that plants have evolved a genetic system that simultaneously regulates systemic acquired resistance (SAR), cell death and systemic acquired acclimation (SAA).     

Interpretation of Changes in Circulating Tumor Cell Counts

The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of cancer patients may guide the use of therapy. We investigated how to evaluate a reduction in the number of CTCs after administration of therapy. CTCs were enumerated with the CellSearch system in 111 metastatic breast and 185 metastatic prostate cancer patients before start of a new line of chemotherapy and after initiation of therapy. Different means to express changes in CTC counts were evaluated with respect to overall survival (OS). A static CTC cutoff is the best method to determine whether a therapy is effective. This is exemplified by the highest Cox hazard ratio of 2.1 for OS; three methods to express relative differences performed worse. A lookup table is provided from which the significance of a change in CTCs can be derived. The aim of therapy should be the elimination of all CTCs. A period of 10 to 12 weeks of therapy is needed to reach the treatment effect on CTCs.