Third-generation continuous flow left ventricular assist devices

Tremendous advances have been made in the treatment of end-stage heart failure patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). An important factor playing a role in the improved clinical outcomes is the development of continuous flow, rotary LVADs. New technology using magnetic levitation and hydrodynamic suspension to eliminate contact bearings offers the potential of more durable and efficacious mechanical circulatory blood pumps. Clinical trials evaluating these novel "third-generation" LVADs are in progress.     

Courtship Behavior of Zaprionus indianus (Gupta) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from Populations Colonizing South America

We describe for the first time the sexual behavior and the courtship song of males of the African fly Zaprionus indianus (Gupta), a recent invader of South America. The male courtship song is formed by monocyclic pulses and the courtship behavior is simple when compared to that of species of Drosophila. Two interpulse interval (IPI) distributions were observed: pre-mounting and mounting. No significant difference was observed between the pre-mounting IPIs of males that descended from three geographical populations from South America. We also observed the songs produced by females and the homosexual behavior exhibited by males. A sequence of bursts is produced by females as a refusal signal against males, while males emit a characteristic song that identifies sex genus, which differs from the courtship song. The short courtship and mating latencies recorded reveal vigorous males and receptive females, respectively.     

Organization and evolution of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene in Drosophila

The alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) gene was isolated from Drosophila simulans and D. mauritiana, and the DNA sequence of a 4.6-kb region, containing the structural gene and flanking sequence, was determined for each. These sequences were compared with the Adh region of D. melanogaster to characterize changes that occur in the Drosophila genome during evolution and to identify conserved sequences of functional importance. Drosophila simulans and D. mauritiana Adh are organized in a manner similar to that of D. melanogaster Adh, including the presence of two promoters for the single Adh gene. This study identified conserved flanking elements that, in conjunction with other studies, suggest regions that may be involved in the control of Adh expression. Inter- and intraspecies comparisons revealed differences in the kinds of sequence changes that have accumulated. Sequence divergence in and around the Adh gene was used to assess inter- and intraspecies evolutionary relationships. Finally, there appears to be an unrelated structural gene located directly 3' of the Adh transcribed region.      

Preferential activation of SMAD1/5/8 on the fibrosa endothelium in calcified human aortic valves--association with low BMP antagonists and SMAD6

Background

Aortic valve (AV) calcification preferentially occurs on the fibrosa side while the ventricularis side remains relatively unaffected. Here, we tested the hypothesis that side-dependent activation of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) pathway in the endothelium of the ventricularis and fibrosa is associated with human AV calcification.

Methods and Results

Human calcified AVs obtained from AV replacement surgeries and non-calcified AVs from heart transplantations were used for immunohistochemical studies. We found SMAD-1/5/8 phosphorylation (a canonical BMP pathway) was higher in the calcified fibrosa than the non-calcified fibrosa while SMAD-2/3 phosphorylation (a canonical TGFβ pathway) did not show any difference. Interestingly, we found that BMP-2/4/6 expression was significantly higher on the ventricularis endothelium compared to the fibrosa in both calcified and non-calcified AV cusps; however, BMP antagonists (crossvienless-2/BMPER and noggin) expression was significantly higher on the ventricularis endothelium compared to the fibrosa in both disease states. Moreover, significant expression of inhibitory SMAD-6 expression was found only in the non-calcified ventricularis endothelium.

Conclusions

SMAD-1/5/8 is preferentially activated in the calcified fibrosa endothelium of human AVs and it correlates with low expression of BMP antagonists and inhibitory SMAD6. These results suggest a dominant role of BMP antagonists in the side-dependent calcification of human AVs.     

A new technique for staining mast cells using ferroin

We describe here a new method for specific staining of mast cells using ferroin. Different hamster tissues were fixed in 4% formalin and processed for paraffin embedding. Sections were stained with hematoxylin followed by ferroin acidified with 2.5 N sulfuric acid to pH 4.0. Mast cells stained an intense orange color that contrasted markedly with bluish violet nuclei. High contrast was also observed when ferroin colored sections were counterstained with light green instead of hematoxylin. To evaluate the specificity of the stain, hamster cheek pouch sections were stained with toluidine blue, alcian blue-safranin O, and ferroin. Quantitative evaluation of mast cells stained with the three techniques showed no statistical difference. The simplicity and selectivity of this method is sufficient for image analysis of mast cells.