Rationale and design of the SMART Heart study

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for the development of heart failure, coronary heart disease and stroke. LVH develops in response to haemodynamic overload, e.g. hypertension. LVH was originally thought to start as an adaptive and beneficial response required to normalise wall stress. However, this concept has been challenged by recent animal experiments suggesting that any degree of LVH is detrimental for the preservation of cardiac function and survival. If confirmed in humans, these findings imply that an increase in LV mass should be prevented, e.g. by lifestyle or pharmacological interventions. To facilitate and optimise interventions, the SMART Heart study was recently set up to develop a prediction model, also involving single nucleotide polymorphism data, for the identification of subjects at high risk of developing LVH in hypertension. For this purpose 1000 subjects with chronic hypertension will undergo cardiac MR imaging. In addition, this study allows the extrapolation of animal experimental genetic research into the human situation. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:295-8).     

Carcinoid heart disease: a guide for screening and timing of surgical intervention

The cardiac manifestations of a neuroendocrine tumour are referred to as carcinoid heart disease (CaHD) and are associated with a poor prognosis. Surgical intervention is the only proven therapeutic option and may prolong survival and quality of life. No consensus has been reached internationally with regard to screening for CaHD and the optimal timing for surgery. Although limited evidence is available on this matter, a trend towards early surgery and subsequent reduced mortality has been observed. In this review we provide an overview of the current understanding and propose a protocol to guide cardiologists in the screening for CaHD and the timing of referral to a specialised surgical centre.     

Sea surface temperature dictates movement and habitat connectivity of Atlantic cod in a coastal fjord system

While movements of organisms have been studied across a myriad of environments, information is often lacking regarding spatio‐seasonal patterning in complex temperate coastal systems. Highly mobile fish form an integral part of marine food webs providing linkages within and among habitats, between patches of habitats, and at different life stages. We investigated how movement, activity, and connectivity patterns of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) are influenced by dynamic environmental conditions. Movement patterns of 39 juvenile and subadult Atlantic cod were assessed in two coastal sites in the Swedish Skagerrak for 5 months. We used passive acoustic telemetry and network analysis to assess seasonal and spatial movement patterns of cod and their relationships to different environmental factors, using statistical correlations, analysis of recurrent spatial motifs, and generalized linear mixed models. Temperature, in combination with physical barriers, precludes significant connectivity (complex motifs) within the system. Sea surface temperature had a strong influence on connectivity (node strength, degree, and motif frequency), where changes from warmer summer waters to colder winter waters significantly reduced movement activity of fish. As the seasons changed, movement of fish gradually decreased from large‐scale (km) linkages in the summer to more localized movement patterns in the winter (limited to 100s m). Certain localized areas, however, were identified as important for connectivity throughout the whole study period, likely due to these multiple‐habitat areas fulfilling functions required for foraging and shelter. This study provides new knowledge regarding inshore movement dynamics of juvenile and subadult Atlantic cod that use complex, coastal fjord systems. The findings show that connectivity, seasonal patterns in particular, should be carefully considered when selecting conservation areas to promote marine stewardship.     

Safety and efficacy of stenting for aortic arch hypoplasia in patients with coarctation of the aorta

Netherlands Heart Journal - Despite a successful repair procedure for coarctation of the aorta (CoA), up to two-thirds of patients remain hypertensive. CoA is often seen in combination...     

Identification of the chromosomes of the rye translocation tester set

Summary Intercrossing the Wageningen translocation tester set of rye and the series of Imperial rye additions to Chinese Spring wheat of Sears yielded 29 chromosome disomic translocation hybrids. Observation of trivalents led to the identification of the chromosomes of the tester set in terms of the terminology system used in the Triticinae. The analysis was complicated by very low chiasma frequencies in some short chromosome segments in the hybrids. Nevertheless, it could be safely concluded that 1R=VII; 2R=III; 3R=II; 4R=IV; 5R=VI; 6R=V; 7R=I, which deviates slightly from previous classifications based on other methods.     

Continuous beta-galactosidase production with a recombinant baculovirus insect-cell system in bioreactors.

Insect cells were exploited to produce bacterial beta-galactosidase by infecting them with a recombinant nuclear polyhedrosis virus (baculovirus) of Autographa californica. The insect cells were cultured in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and led to a second CSTR where they were infected with a recombinant virus in which the lacZ gene from Escherichia coli was inserted. In the effluent of the production reactor, maximum activities of 15 units beta-galactosidase per 10(6) cells were measured. For about 25 d beta-galactosidase production remained constant, but then rapidly declined. This drop was due to a decrease in production of active beta-galactosidase rather than to inactivation of this enzyme. It was concluded that the reduced production was due to reduced polyhedrin promoter-driven synthesis.