Acceleration of skeletal maturation in Central Europe over the last two decades: insights from two cohorts of healthy children.

BACKGROUND: Deviations between the determination of bone age (BA) according to Greulich and Pyle (G&P) and chronological age (CA) are common in Caucasians. Assessing these discrepancies in a population over time requires analysis of large samples and low intra-observer variability in BA estimation, both can be achieved with artificial intelligence-based software. The latest software-based reference curve contrasting the BA determined by G&P to the CA of Central European children dates back over two decades. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the reference curve from a historical cohort from the Netherlands (Rotterdam cohort) between BA determined by G&P and CA still applies to a current Central European cohort and derive a current reference curve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included 1,653 children and adolescents (aged 3-17 years) who had received a radiograph of the hand following trauma. The G&P BA estimated using artificial intelligence-based software was contrasted with the CA, and the deviations were compared with the Rotterdam cohort. RESULTS: Among the participants, the mean absolute error between BA and CA was 0.92 years for girls and 0.97 years for boys. For the ages of 8 years (boys) and 11 years (girls) and upward, the mean deviation was significantly greater in the current cohort than in the Rotterdam cohort. The reference curves of both cohorts also differed significantly from each other (P < 0.001 for both boys and girls). CONCLUSION: The BA of the current Central European population and that of the curve from the Rotterdam cohort from over two decades ago differ. Whether this effect can be attributed to accelerated bone maturation needs further evaluation.

Cardiac troponin T as a serum biomarker of respiratory impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Informative biomarkers are an urgent need in the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Serum cardiac troponin T is elevated in the majority of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and increases with disease progression. We sought to establish the informative value of cardiac troponin T with regard to respiratory function, a major prognostic factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. METHODS: In this retrospective observation, we analyzed two independent hospital-based cohorts (d = discovery cohort; v = validation cohort) regarding serum cardiac troponin T (nd = 298; nv = 49), serum neurofilament light chain (nd = 117; nv = 17), and respiratory tests (nd = 93; nv = 49). RESULTS: Serum cardiac troponin T, in contrast to serum neurofilament levels, was associated with the respiratory domain of the revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale and with pulmonary function parameters, namely forced vital capacity % (r = -0.45, p = 0.001) and slow vital capacity % (r = -0.50, p = 0.001). Serum cardiac troponin T reliably discriminated benchmarks of slow vital capacity <80% (AUC 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.84) and <50% (AUC 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.93), forced vital capacity <80% (AUC 0.72, 95% CI 0.61-0.83) and <50% (AUC 0.79, 95% CI 0.67-0.91). INTERPRETATION: Our findings position cardiac Troponin T as a valuable serum biomarker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, complementing neurofilaments and expanding the understanding of underlying physiological mechanisms. In clinical practice, serum cardiac troponin T can flag benchmarks of compromised respiratory function.

As fast as an X-ray: real-time magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic scoliosis is common in adolescence. Due to the rapid growth of the spine, it must be monitored closely with radiographs to ensure timely intervention when therapy is needed. As these radiographs continue into young adulthood, patients are repeatedly exposed to ionizing radiation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is equivalent to conventional radiography in juvenile idiopathic scoliosis for determining curvature, rotation and the Risser stage. Additionally, the time requirement should be quantified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with idiopathic scoliosis who had postero-anterior whole-spine radiography for clinical indications were included in this prospective study. A real-time spine MRI was performed at 3 tesla in the supine position, capturing images in both the coronal and sagittal planes. The scoliosis was assessed using Cobb angle, rotation was evaluated based on Nash and Moe criteria, and the Risser stage was determined for each modality. The correlations between modalities and a correction factor for the Cobb angle between the standing and supine position were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 33 children (aged 5-17 years), who met the inclusion criteria, were recruited. The Cobb angle (R2 = 0.972; P < 0.01) was positively correlated with a correction factor of 1.07 between modalities. Additionally, the degree of rotation (R2 = 0.92; P < 0.01) and the Risser stage (R2 = 0.93; P < 0.01) demonstrated a strong correlation. CONCLUSION: Real-time MRI is equivalent to conventional radiography in determining baseline parameters. Furthermore, it is radiation-free and less time-consuming.

N-acetylcysteine absorption and its potential dual effect improve fitness and fruit yield in Xylella fastidiosa infected plants.

BACKGROUND: Xylella fastidiosa is a multi-host bacterium that can be detected in hundreds of plant species including several crops. Diseases caused by X. fastidiosa are considered a threat to global food production. The primary method for managing diseases caused by X. fastidiosa involves using insecticides to control the vector. Hence, it is necessary to adopt new and sustainable disease management technologies to control not only the insect but also the bacteria and plant health. We demonstrated that N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a low-cost cysteine analogue, is a sustainable molecule that can be used in agriculture to decrease the damage caused by X. fastidiosa and improve plant health. RESULTS: Using 15N-NAC we proved that this analogue was absorbed by the roots and transported to different parts of the plant. Inside the plant, NAC reduced the bacterial population by 60-fold and the number of xylem vessels blocked by bacterial biofilms. This reflected in a recovery of 0.28-fold of the daily sap flow compared to health plants. In addition, NAC-treated citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) plants decreased the oxidative stress by improving the activity of detoxifying enzymes. Moreover, the use of NAC in field conditions positively contributed to the increase in fruit yield of CVC-diseased plants. CONCLUSION: Our research not only advances the understanding of NAC absorption in plants, but also indicates its dual effect as an antimicrobial and antioxidant molecule. This, in turn, negatively affects bacterial survival while improving plant health by decreasing oxidative stress. Overall, the positive field-based evidence supports the viability of NAC as a sustainable agricultural application. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The profunda artery perforators: Anatomical study and radiological findings using computed tomography angiography in patients undergoing PAP flap breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of the profunda femoris artery perforator (PAP) flap is increasing; however, knowledge concerning the standardization of radiological findings and their clinical implications is limited. We evaluated the radiological architecture of posterior thigh perforators using Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) to identify landmarks to facilitate flap dissection. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 35 patients who underwent unilateral breast reconstruction with a PAP flap. The preoperative CTA scans were analyzed, and the perforator characteristics were evaluated. The perforators were mapped using a Cartesian coordinate system. Data were normalized by anatomical landmarks and overlapped. Perioperative and postoperative results were analyzed. Radiological and intraoperative were compared. RESULTS: Two CTA scans were excluded; 66 thighs were examined. The mean perforator number was 3.2. The mean diameter of chosen perforators was 2.7 mm (DS ± 0.6 mm) at the origin, 2.2 mm (DS ± 0.4 mm) at the adductor space midpoint, and 1.7 mm (DS ± 0.3 mm) at the deep fascia. The mean adipose tissue thickness was 3.35 cm (DS ± 0.94) at the deep fascia and 3.59 cm (DS ± 1.19) at the adductor space midpoint. Intraoperatively, the perforator was located 3.22 cm (DS ± 0.87) from the posterior border of the gracilis muscle and 8.98 cm (DS ± 1.44) from the inferior gluteal crease. A radiological area located 9.33 cm (DS ± 4.81) from the y-axis and 7.48 cm (DS ± 1.88) from the x-axis was identified. CONCLUSIONS: CTA using the volume-rendering technique is a valuable method to study in vivo the radiological anatomy of the posterior thigh perforators.

Politics speak louder than skills: Political similarity effects in hireability judgments in multiparty contexts and the role of political interest.

Recruiters increasingly cybervet job applicants by checking their social media profiles. Theory (i.e., the political affiliation model, PAM) and research show that during cybervetting, recruiters are exposed to job-unrelated information such as political affiliation, which might trigger similarity-attraction effects and bias hireability judgments. However, as the PAM was developed in a more polarized two-party political system, it is pivotal to test and refine the PAM in a multiparty context. Therefore, we asked working professionals from the United States (two-party context, N = 266) and Germany (multiparty context, N = 747) to rate an applicant's hireability after cybervetting a LinkedIn profile that was manipulated in a between-subjects design (party affiliation by individuating information). Key tenets of the PAM could be transferred to multiparty contexts: The political similarity-attraction effect predicted hireability judgments beyond job-related individuating information, especially regarding organizational citizenship behavior. In addition, in a multiparty context, these biasing effects of political similarity and liking were not attenuated. Yet, there were also differences: In a multiparty context, political similarity had to be operationalized in terms of political value similarity and recruiters' political interest emerged as a significant moderator of the effects. So, this study refines the PAM by showing in multiparty contexts the importance of (a) a values-based perspective (instead of a behavioral political affiliation perspective) and (b) political interest (instead of identification). Accordingly, we provide a more nuanced understanding of when political affiliation similarity contributes to perceived overall similarity in affecting liking and hireability judgments in cybervetting. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: 11-year retrospective experience in a high-complexity tertiary hospital in Milan, Italy.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions characterized by widespread epidermal necrosis, mucous membrane erosions, and systemic findings. We have provided our 11-year experience from a Milan, Italy tertiary hospital managing SJS/TEN, evaluating the clinical and histopathologic features plus the impact on mortality. We retrospectively analyzed 28 patients diagnosed with SJS/TEN based on the clinical and histopathologic findings, according to the classification criteria of multiple studies. We assessed the dermatographics, comorbidities, drug history, lesion characteristics, clinical findings, treatments, blood tests, and outcomes. Severity scores (SCORTEN, Re-SCORTEN, ABCD-10) were used for treatment evaluation and mortality prediction. Data were statistically analyzed, and significant factors associated with mortality were identified. We found that among the 28 patients, 89.2% had comorbidities, mainly cardiovascular diseases, and 21.4% had autoimmune disorders. All patients had received systemic therapy (46.6% monotherapy, 53.6% combination therapy), with systemic steroids (71.4%) and intravenous immunoglobulins (67.8%) being common treatments. There were complications, including systemic infections (67.9%) and septic shock (10.7%). The overall mortality rate was 17.8%. The statistical analysis indicated that malignancy, a high ABCD-10 score, and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly associated with mortality. The extent of affected body surface area did not correlate significantly with mortality. This study provides insights into SJS/TEN management, revealing factors influencing mortality in a high-complexity tertiary hospital setting.

Long-Term In Situ Conservation Drove Microevolution of Solina d'Abruzzo Wheat on Adaptive, Agronomic and Qualitative Traits.

Solina is an example of a bread wheat landrace that has been conserved in situ for centuries in Central Italy. A core collection of Solina lines sampled in areas at different altitudes and climatic conditions was obtained and genotyped. A clustering analysis based on a wide SNP dataset generated from DArTseq analysis outlined the existence of two main groups, which, after Fst analysis, showed polymorphism in genes associated with vernalization and photoperiod response. Starting from the hypothesis that the different pedoclimatic environments in which Solina lines were conserved may have shaped the population, some phenotypic characteristics were studied in the Solina core collection. Growth habit, low-temperature resistance, allelic variations at major loci involved in vernalization response, and sensitivity to photoperiod were evaluated, together with seed morphologies, grain colour, and hardness. The two Solina groups showed different responses to low temperatures and to photoperiod-specific allelic variations as well as the different morphology and technological characteristics of the grain. In conclusion, the long-term in situ conservation of Solina in environments sited at different altitudes has had an impact on the evolution of this landrace which, despite its high genetic diversity, remains clearly identifiable and distinct so as to be included in conservation varieties.

Complete Colonic Duplication and Perineal Fistula: Transanal Mucosectomy of the Ectopic Rectum.

Background Colonic duplication may present in different anatomic variants. The surgical approach towards these anomalies can be challenging and has implications for subsequent future continence. Case Description We report on a 1-year-old girl with congenital heart defect and pacemaker who was referred to us with an anorectal malformation. The patient was stooling from both an anus and a perineal fistula. Examination under anesthesia revealed an orthotopic and age-appropriate sized anus with surrounding sphincter and a second rectal lumen ending as a perineal fistula. A computed tomography and contrast enema indicated colonic duplication. Exploratory laparotomy showed a duplicated terminal ileum leading to two ceca and appendices, which joined to a duplicated colon with a septum and common mesentery. At the rectosigmoid junction, one part of the duplication ended as a perineal fistula, the second one led to the (orthotope) anus. The common colonic wall was divided using a stapler. The rectal duplication leading to the perineal fistula was not completely resected but treated by mucosectomy only (Soave plane) leaving its muscular cuff in place. Finally, an ileostomy was created. The postoperative course was uneventful. A contrast enema prior to ostomy takedown demonstrated a well-configurated colon and rectum without stenosis or impaction. The girl is currently continent with a complete resolution of her constipation. Conclusion In cases of complete colonic duplication division of the common wall is simple and safe. Mucosectomy of the ectopic rectum limits pelvic dissection and preserves the entire muscular wall of the duplicated orthotope rectum.

Between- and within-person consequences of daily entrepreneurial stressors on discrete emotions in entrepreneurs: The moderating role of personality.

This study builds and tests a model that explains entrepreneurs' emotional responses to events in their work lives while specifying the role of entrepreneurs' personality in moderating such responses. Drawing on the cognitive appraisal theory, we hypothesise that daily entrepreneurial stressors (workload and financial) exert negative influences on two discrete emotions (fear and pride) and that entrepreneurs' neuroticism and dispositional optimism can moderate the proposed relationships. We examined daily diary data of 61 entrepreneurs over a two-week period and found multilevel evidence of individual differences in entrepreneurs' emotional responses to these stressors at both the between- and within-person levels of analysis. We also found that neuroticism and optimism partially account for the examined relationships across both levels. This study contributes to the literature on stress-related emotional experiences in an entrepreneurial context by taking into account the type of stressor and the temporal framework across levels of analysis.

Nitrate and ammonium differ in their impact on δ13C of plant metabolites and respired CO2 from tobacco leaves.

The carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of foliage is often used as proxy for plant performance. However, the effect of N O 3 - vs. N H 4 + supply on δ13C of leaf metabolites and respired CO2 is largely unknown. We supplied tobacco plants with a gradient of N O 3 - to N H 4 + concentration ratios and determined gas exchange variables, concentrations and δ13C of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, δ13C of dark-respired CO2, and activities of key enzymes nitrate reductase, malic enzyme and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Net assimilation rate, dry biomass and concentrations of organic acids and starch decreased along the gradient. In contrast, respiration rates, concentrations of intercellular CO2, soluble sugars and amino acids increased. As N O 3 - decreased, activities of all measured enzymes decreased. δ13C of CO2 and organic acids closely co-varied and were more positive under N O 3 - supply, suggesting organic acids as potential substrates for respiration. Together with estimates of intra-molecular 13C enrichment in malate, we conclude that a change in the anaplerotic reaction of the TCA cycle possibly contributes to 13C enrichment in organic acids and respired CO2 under N O 3 - supply. Thus, the effect of N O 3 - vs. N H 4 + on δ13C is highly relevant, particularly if δ13C of leaf metabolites or respiration is used as proxy for plant performance.

Variation cascades: resource pulses and top-down effects across time scales.

Top-down and bottom-up theories of trophic control have been fundamental to our understanding of community dynamics and structure. However, most ecological theories have focused on equilibrium dynamics and do not provide predictions for communities' responses in temporally fluctuating environments. By deriving the frequency response of populations in different trophic communities, we extend the top-down and bottom-up theories of ecology to include how temporal fluctuations in potential primary productivity percolate up the food chain and are re-expressed as population variability. Moreover, by switching from a time-based representation into the frequency domain, we provide a unified method to compare how the time scale of perturbations determines communities' responses. At low frequencies, primary producers and secondary consumers have the highest temporal variability, while the primary consumers are relatively stable. Similar to the Exploitation Ecosystem Hypothesis, top-down effects drive this alternating pattern of variability. We define the top-down effect of consumers on the variability of lower trophic levels as a variation cascade. However, at intermediate frequencies, variation cascades can amplify temporal variation up the food chain. At high frequencies, variation cascades weaken, and fluctuations are attenuated up the food chain. In summary, we provide a novel theory for how communities will respond to fluctuations in productivity, and we show that indirect species interactions play a crucial role in determining community dynamics across the frequency spectrum.

Elevated CO2 Impact on Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Yield, Wholemeal Quality, and Sanitary Risk.

The rising atmospheric CO2, concentration is expected to exert a strong impact on crop production, enhancing crop growth but threatening food security and safety. An improver wheat, a hybrid, and its parents were grown at elevated CO2, e[CO2] in open field, and their yield and rheological, nutritional, and sanitary quality were assessed. For all cultivars, grain yield increased (+16%) and protein content decreased (-7%), accompanied by a reduction in dough strength. Grain nitrogen yield increased (+24%) only in ordinary bread making cultivars. e[CO2] did not result in significant changes in phenolic acid content and composition, whereas it produced a significant increase in the deoxynivalenol content. Different responses to e[CO2] between cultivars were found for yield parameters, while the effect on qualitative traits was quite similar. In the upcoming wheat cropping systems, agronomic practices and cultivar selection suited to guarantee higher nitrogen responsiveness and minimization of sanitary risk are required.

Family support as social exchange in entrepreneurship: Its moderating impact on entrepreneurial stressors-well-being relationships.

Current studies suggest mixed effects concerning the impact of the family system on entrepreneurial outcomes. Through the integration of the family embeddedness theory and social exchange theory, we further investigate the potential benefits and costs of family support as a social exchange process between entrepreneurs and their family members. We propose that perceived family support can differentially shape well-being across different entrepreneurial contexts (financial and workload stressors) depending on the nature of the exchange relationship (economic vs. social), thereby dual effects are anticipated from time-based and temporal processes. After analyzing the data gathered from 61 entrepreneurs over 14 days, we found evidence that high levels of family support attenuate the relationships between the financial stressor and the well-being indicators but amplify the relationships between the workload stressor and the well-being indicators. These results demonstrate family support process models are central to between-person heterogeneity. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Metabolomic responses triggered by arbuscular mycorrhiza enhance tolerance to water stress in wheat cultivars.

Under global climate change forecasts, the pressure of environmental stressors (and in particular drought) on crop productivity is expected to rise and challenge further global food security. The application of beneficial microorganisms may represent an environment friendly tool to secure improved crop performance and yield stability. Accordingly, this current study aimed at elucidating the metabolomic responses triggered by mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae) inoculation of durum (Triticum durum Desf.; cv. 'Mongibello') and bread wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.; cv. 'Chinese Spring') under full irrigation and water deficit regimes. Metabolomics indicated a similar regulation of secondary metabolism in both bread and durum wheat cultivars following water limiting conditions. Nonetheless, a mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) x cultivar interaction could be observed, with the bread wheat cultivar being more affected by arbuscular colonization under water limiting conditions. Discriminant compounds could be mostly related to sugars and lipids, both being positively modulated by AMF colonization under water stress. Moreover, a regulation of metabolites related to oxidative stress and a tuning of crosstalk between phytohormones were also evidenced. Among the latter, the stimulation of the brassinosteroids biosynthetic pathway was particularly evident in inoculated wheat roots, supporting the hypothesis of their involvement in enhancing plant response to water stress and modulation of oxidative stress conditions. This study proposes new insights on the modulation of the tripartite interaction plant-AMF-environmental stress.

Copper excess reduces nitrate uptake by Arabidopsis roots with specific effects on gene expression.

Nitrate uptake by plants is mediated by specific transport proteins in roots (NRTs), which are also dependent on the activity of proton pumps that energize the reaction. Nitrogen (N) metabolism in plants is sensitive to copper (Cu) toxicity conditions. To understand how Cu affects the uptake and assimilation processes, this study assesses the inhibitory effects of elevated Cu levels on the expression of genes related to N absorption, transport and assimilation in roots of Arabidopsis. Plants were grown hydroponically for 45 days, being exposed to a range of Cu concentrations in the last 72 h or alternatively exposed to 5.0 µM Cu for the last 15 days. High Cu levels decreased the uptake and accumulation of N in plants. It down-regulated the expression of genes encoding nitrate reductase (NR1), low-affinity nitrate transporters (NRT1 family) and bZIP transcription factors (TGA1 and TGA4) that regulate the expression of nitrate transporters. Cu toxicity also specifically down-regulated the plasma membrane proton pump, AHA2, whilst having little effect on AHA1 and AHA5. In contrast, there was an up-regulation of high-affinity nitrate transporters from the NRT2 family when exposed to medium level of Cu excess, but this was insufficient for restoring N absorption by roots to control levels. These results demonstrate that plants display specific responses to Cu toxicity, modulating the expression of particular genes related to nitrate uptake, such as low-affinity nitrate transporters and proton pumps.

Photosynthesis is differently regulated during and after copper-induced nutritional stress in citrus trees.

Antioxidant enzymatic responses in Citrus leaves under Cu-induced stress depends on rootstock genotypes. However, there is a lack of information about how woody plants recover growth capacity after exposure to elevated Cu and whether growth is affected by the redistribution of the metal to new vegetative parts and consequently whether photosynthesis is affected. Therefore, the biomass of plants and Cu concentrations in new leaf flushes were determined in young citrus trees grafted onto contrasting rootstocks [Swingle citrumelo (SW) and Rangpur lime (RL)]. Photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence and antioxidant enzymatic systems were evaluated in plants previously grown in nutrient solution with Cu varying from low to high levels and with no added Cu. Both rootstocks exhibited reduced plant growth under Cu toxicity. However, trees grafted onto RL exhibited better growth recovery after Cu excess, which was dependent on the modulation of antioxidant enzyme activities in roots and leaves that maintained the integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus. In contrast, plants grafted onto SW exhibited a lower photosynthetic rate at the lowest available Cu concentration. Although the highest accumulation of Cu occurred in citrus roots, the redistribution of the nutrient to new vegetative parts was proportional to the Cu concentration in the roots.

Wanted: a Transdisciplinary Knowledge Domain for Urban Health.

The current disconnection between access to increasing amounts of data about urbanization, health, and other global changes and the conflicting meanings and values of that data has created uncertainty and reduced the ability of people to act upon available information which they do not necessarily understand. We see a disconnection between increasing data availability and data processing capability and capacity. In response to this disconnection, modeling has been attributed an important role in international and national research programs in order to predict the future based on past and recent trends. Predictive models are often data heavy and founded on assumptions which are difficult to verify, especially regarding urban health issues in specific contexts. Producing large volumes of data warrants debate about what data are prerequisites for better understanding human health in changing urban environments. Another concern is how data and information can be used to apply knowledge. Making sense of empirical knowledge requires a new transdisciplinary knowledge domain created by a commitment to convergence between researchers in multiple academic disciplines and other actors and institutions in cities. Disciplinary-based researchers are no longer the sole producers of empirical knowledge. Today, diverse kinds of knowledge are becoming an emergent product of multiple societal stakeholders acting collectively to address challenges that impact on their habitat, their livelihood, and their health. Insights from complexity science also require a fundamental rethinking of the role and responsibility of human agency while admitting rather than denying complexity and radical uncertainty.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of miR-1 and miR-29b on adverse ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction - The SITAGRAMI-miR analysis.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRs) have shown to exert fibrotic and anti-fibrotic effects in preclinical models of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to evaluate miR-1, miR-21, miR-29b and miR-92a as circulating biomarkers for adverse ventricular remodeling (AVR) in post-AMI patients. METHODS: Plasma levels of miR-1, miR-21, miR-29b and miR-92a were measured in 44 patients of the SITAGRAMI trial population at day 4, day 9 and 6month after AMI and in 18 matched controls (CTL). MiR expression patterns were correlated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters for AVR (absolute change (Δ) in infarct volume (IV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) between day 4 and 6months after AMI) and a combined cardiovascular endpoint. RESULTS: Expression of miR-1, miR-21 and miR-29b but not miR-92a was increased in AMI vs. CTL cohort showing highest miR levels at d9. However, only miR-1 and miR-29b levels significantly correlated with ΔIV and showed a trend for correlation with ΔLVEF. Only miR-29b levels at day 9 correlated with ΔLVEDV at 6-month follow-up. There was no correlation of miR levels with an adverse outcome. CONCLUSION: Mir-1 and miR-29b plasma levels post-AMI correlate with IV changes. In addition, miR-29b levels are associated with changes of LVEDV over time. These results provide insights into the role of miRs as diagnostic AVR surrogate markers. Further large scale clinical trials will be needed to evaluate the real prognostic relevance of these miRs with respect to a clinical implication in the future.