Formation of volatile sulfur compounds and S-methyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide in Brassica oleracea vegetables.

Besides glucosinolates, Brassica vegetables accumulate sulfur-containing (+)-S-methyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO, methiin), mainly known from Allium vegetables. Such (+)-S-alk(en)yl-l-cysteine sulfoxides can degrade to volatile organosulfur compounds (VOSCs), which have been linked to health beneficial effects. In the present study, the accumulation of SMCSO and the formation of VOSCs was investigated in Brassica oleracea vegetables. SMCSO content of commercially available white and red cabbages was monitored over a three-month period and linked with the formation of VOSCs. S-Methyl methanethiosulfinate was the main VOSC released from SMCSO. Upon heating, it degraded to dimethyltrisulfide and dimethyldisulfide, which were less abundant in fresh homogenates. SMCSO made up approximately 1% of the dry matter of cabbages and the overall contents were similar in white and red cabbages (3.2-10.2 and 3.9-10.3 µmol/g fresh weight, respectively). Using proteome profiling it was shown that recovery of VOSCs correlated with abundance of two isoforms of cystine lyase.

Large Footprint Bone Cyst: Arthroscopic Autologous Cylinder Press-Fit with Buddy Anchor Interference-Fit for Rotator Cuff Repairt.

BACKGROUND: About 20-25% of all rotator cuff tears are associated with footprint bone cysts. Large cysts (>10 mm2) are rare but can be problematic for anchor fixation and rotator cuff repair. So far treatment of footprint bone cysts was described using large or several anchors, cement, or compaction grafting mostly with allograft bone being biologically inferior to restore bone stock compared to autologous grafts. METHODS/RESULTS: We report about a 57-year-old manual laborer with persistent pain and loss of shoulder function (subjective shoulder value [SSV] 50%). Magnetic resonance imaging showed a high-grade partial supraspinatus tendon tear (>50%) associated with a large supraspinatus footprint bone cyst (10 mm × 11 mm × 17 mm). An efficient setup in lateral position for arthroscopic autologous press-fit grafting from the iliac crest is described for single-stage arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Improved fixation was achieved using a buddy anchor interference-fit technique. CONCLUSION: The clinical follow-up after 12 months showed an excellent outcome (SSV >90%, DASH-Score 14 points, and Constant-Score 87 points) with dynamic ultrasound and radiographs confirming tendon and bone stock restoration.

Acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 4 predominantly localizes to an early endosome-related organelle upon heterologous expression.

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are voltage-independent proton-gated amiloride sensitive sodium channels, belonging to the DEG/ENaC gene family. Six different ASICs have been identified (ASIC1a, ASIC1b, ASIC2a, ASIC2b, ASIC3, ASIC4) that are activated by a drop in extracellular pH, either as homo- or heteromers. An exception is ASIC4, which is not activated by protons as a homomer and which does not contribute to functional heteromeric ASICs. Insensitivity of ASIC4 to protons and its comparatively low sequence identity to other ASICs (45%) raises the question whether ASIC4 may have different functions than other ASICs. In this study, we therefore investigated the subcellular localization of ASIC4 in heterologous cell lines, which revealed a surprising accumulation of the channel in early endosome-related vacuoles. Moreover, we identified an unique amino-terminal motif as important for forward-trafficking from the ER/Golgi to the early endosome-related compartment. Collectively, our results show that heterologously expressed ASIC4 predominantly resides in an intracellular endosomal compartment.

Multidirectional global left ventricular systolic function in normal subjects and patients with hypertension: multicenter evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this multicenter study was to determine the normal ranges and the clinical relevance of multidirectional systolic parameters to evaluate global left ventricular (LV) systolic function. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-three healthy adult subjects prospectively included at 10 centers and a cohort of 310 patients with hypertension were analyzed. Multidirectional global LV systolic function was analyzed using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography by means of two indices: longitudinal-circumferential systolic index (the average of longitudinal and circumferential global systolic strain) and global systolic index (the average of longitudinal, circumferential, and radial global systolic strain). RESULTS: The ranges of values of the multidirectional systolic parameters in healthy subjects were -21.22 ± 2.22% for longitudinal-circumferential systolic index and 29.71 ± 5.28% for global systolic index. In addition, the lowest expected values of these multidirectional indices were determined in this population (calculated as -1.96 SDs from the mean): -16.86% for longitudinal-circumferential systolic index and 19.36% for global systolic index. Concerning the clinical relevance of these measurements, these indices indicated the presence of subtle LV global systolic dysfunction in patients with hypertension, even though LV global longitudinal systolic strain and LV ejection fraction were normal. Moreover, in these patients, functional class (dyspnea [New York Heart Association classification]) was inversely related to both the longitudinal-circumferential index and the global systolic index. CONCLUSIONS: In the present multicenter study analyzing a large cohort of healthy subjects and patients with hypertension, the normal range and the clinical relevance of multidirectional systolic parameters to evaluate global LV systolic function have been determined.

Clinical significance of the assessment of the systolic and diastolic myocardial function of the left atrium in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and low CHADS(2) index treated with catheter ablation therapy.

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of the assessment of the diastolic and systolic myocardial function of the left atrium in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and low CHADS(2) scores treated with catheter ablation therapy. In a cohort of 84 symptomatic patients with paroxysmal AF and low CHADS(2) scores (≤1), the clinical significance of the systolic and diastolic myocardial function of the left atrium (assessed using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography) were studied to predict the risk for recurrence of AF after catheter ablation therapy in the course of a follow-up period of ≥1 year. During a mean follow-up period of 19.2 ± 5.4 months, patients with left atrial (LA) myocardial diastolic dysfunction (LA strain <18.8%) had a significantly higher rate of recurrence of AF (42.4% vs 9.8%, p <0.05) compared to those without LA diastolic dysfunction. In line with this finding, patients with impaired LA myocardial systolic function (LA strain rate >-0.85 s(-1)) had worse outcomes after catheter ablation therapy than those with normal LA systolic function (rate of recurrence of AF 42.9% vs 12.5%, respectively, p <0.05). In relation to these results, in a logistic regression analysis including co-morbidities, left ventricular dysfunction, LA enlargement, and LA myocardial alterations, diastolic and systolic LA myocardial dysfunction were the principal variable associated with the recurrence of AF (odds ratios 6.8 and 5.2, respectively). In conclusion, in symptomatic patients with paroxysmal AF and low CHADS(2) scores, these findings suggest that the assessment of diastolic and systolic LA myocardial function using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography could be of great utility to distinguish those patients with high or low risk for recurrence of AF after catheter ablation therapy.