Intravascular ultrasound imaging for diagnosis and characterization of the popliteal compression syndrome.

Objective: Functional popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (fPAES) is a rare form of nonatherosclerotic claudication most often seen in young athletic patients. Diagnosis remains challenging, with various imaging modalities showing equivocal or subtle findings that may be missed. We sought to critically examine and quantitate the utility of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging, a common diagnostic tool for vascular compression syndromes, in diagnosis and characterization of fPAES.

Structure and proteomic analysis of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster sp.) radial nerve cord.

The nervous system of the Asteroidea (starfish or seastar) consists of radial nerve cords (RNCs) that interconnect with a ring nerve. Despite its relative simplicity, it facilitates the movement of multiple arms and numerous tube feet, as well as regeneration of damaged limbs. Here, we investigated the RNC ultrastructure and its molecular components within the of Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster sp.

Ruptured Iliac Arteriovenous Fistula Presenting With Thigh Pain and Swelling: Case Report.

The presentation of abdominal arteriovenous fistulas is classically described as a triad of a pulsatile abdominal mass with a bruit, high-output heart failure, and regional venous hypertension with primarily open operative therapy. In the following case, we present the treatment of a patient who arrived with acute right heart failure and renal failure due to an arteriovenous fistula and who was successfully treated with endovascular repair.

Syntheses and Structures of trans-bis(Alkenylacetylide) Ruthenium Complexes.

A series of ruthenium alkenylacetylide complexes trans-[Ru{C≡CC(=CH )R}Cl(dppe) ] (R=Ph (1 a), C H S (1 b), 4-MeS-C H (1 c), 3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]thiophene (DMBT) (1 d)) or trans-[Ru{C≡C- C H }Cl(dppe) ] (1 e) were allowed to react with the corresponding propargylic alcohol HC≡CC(Me)R(OH) (R=Ph (A), C H S (B), 4-MeS-C H (C), DMBT (D) or HC≡C- C H (OH) (E) in the presence of TlBF and DBU to presumably give alkenylacetylide/allenylidene intermediates trans-[Ru{C≡CC(=CH )R}{C=C=C(Me)}(dppe) ]PF ([2]PF ). These complexes were not isolated but deprotonated to give the isolable bis(alkenylacetylide) complexes trans-[Ru{C≡CC(=CH )R} (dppe) ] (R=Ph (3 a), C H S (3 b), 4-MeS-C H (3 c), DMBT (3 d)) and trans-[Ru{C≡C- C H } (dppe) ] (3 e). Analogous reactions of trans-[Ru(CH ) (dmpe) ], featuring the more electron-donating 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane (dmpe) ancillary ligands, with the propargylic alcohols A or C and NH PF in methanol allowed isolation of the intermediate mixed alkenylacetylide/allenylidene complexes trans-[Ru{C≡CC(=CH )R}{C=C=C(Me)}(dmpe) ]PF (R=Ph ([4 a]PF ), 4-MeS-C H ([4 c]PF ).

Regional Anaesthesia Alone is Reasonable for Major Lower Extremity Amputation in High Risk Patients and May Initiate a More Efficacious Enhanced Recovery Programme.

Objective: Major limb amputations are physiologically stressful and subject patients to peri-operative cardiovascular risk. Up to 90% of major lower extremity amputations (LEAMP) are being performed under general anaesthesia, despite regional anaesthesia being an acceptable option in most cases. Obtaining a better understanding of who would benefit from regional vs.

Further Evidence for 'Extended' Cumulene Complexes: Derivatives from Reactions with Halide Anions and Water.

Reactions of [Ru{C=C(H)-1,4-C H C≡CH}(PPh ) Cp]BF ([1 a]BF ) with hydrohalic acids, HX, results in the formation of [Ru{C≡C-1,4-C H -C(X)=CH }(PPh ) Cp] [X=Cl (2 a-Cl), Br (2 a-Br)], arising from facile Markovnikov addition of halide anions to the putative quinoidal cumulene cation [Ru(=C=C=C H =C=CH )(PPh ) Cp] . Similarly, [M{C=C(H)-1,4-C H -C≡CH}(LL)Cp ]BF [M(LL)Cp'=Ru(PPh ) Cp ([1 a]BF ); Ru(dppe)Cp* ([1 b]BF ); Fe(dppe)Cp ([1 c]BF ); Fe(dppe)Cp* ([1 d]BF )] react with H /H O to give the acyl-functionalised phenylacetylide complexes [M{C≡C-1,4-C H -C(=O)CH }(LL)Cp'] (3 a-d) after workup. The Markovnikov addition of the nucleophile to the remote alkyne in the cations [1 a-d] is difficult to rationalise from the vinylidene form of the precursor and is much more satisfactorily explained from initial isomerisation to the quinoidal cumulene complexes [M(=C=C=C H =C=CH )(LL)Cp'] prior to attack at the more exposed, remote quaternary carbon.

Differences in Small Molecule Neurotransmitter Profiles From the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar Radial Nerve Revealed Between Sexes and Following Food-Deprivation.

Neurotransmitters serve as chemical mediators of cell communication, and are known to have important roles in regulating numerous physiological and metabolic events in eumetazoans. The Crown-of-Thorns Seastar (COTS) is an asteroid echinoderm that has been the focus of numerous ecological studies due to its negative impact on coral reefs when in large numbers. Research devoted to its neural signaling, from basic anatomy to the key small neurotransmitters, would expand our current understanding of neural-driven biological processes, such as growth and reproduction, and offers a new approach to exploring the propensity for COTS population explosions and subsequent collapse.

Chemical Ecology of Chemosensation in Asteroidea: Insights Towards Management Strategies of Pest Species.

Within the Phylum Echinodermata, the class Asteroidea, commonly known as starfish and sea stars, encompasses a large number of benthos inhabiting genera and species with various feeding modalities including herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and detritivores. The Asteroidea rely on chemosensation throughout their life histories including hunting prey, avoiding or deterring predators, in the formation of spawning aggregations, synchronizing gamete release and targeting appropriate locations for larval settlement. The identities of many of the chemical stimuli that mediate these physiological and behavioural processes remain unresolved even though evidence indicates they play pivotal roles in the functionality of benthic communities.

Assessing Interest and Barriers for Resident and Faculty Involvement in Global Surgery.

Background: Multiple institutions have developed international electives and sustainable global surgery initiatives to facilitate clinical, research, and outreach opportunities with hospitals in resource-poor areas. Despite increasing interest among programs, many institutions have not successfully reached potential involvement.

Objective: This study evaluates the experiences of Yale residents and faculty, measures interest in the development of an international surgical elective, and enumerates barriers to developing or participating in these opportunities.

The neuropeptidome of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish, Acanthaster planci.

Unlabelled: Outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS; Acanthaster planci) are a major cause of destruction of coral communities on the Australian Great Barrier Reef. While factors relating to population explosions and the social interactions of COTS have been well studied, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying COTS physiology and behaviour. One of the major classes of chemical messengers that regulate physiological and behavioural processes in animals is the neuropeptides.

Identification of putative olfactory G-protein coupled receptors in Crown-of-Thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci.

Background: In marine organisms, and in particular for benthic invertebrates including echinoderms, olfaction is a dominant sense with chemosensation being a critical signalling process. Until recently natural product chemistry was the primary investigative approach to elucidate the nature of chemical signals but advances in genomics and transcriptomics over the last decade have facilitated breakthroughs in understanding not only the chemistry but also the molecular mechanisms underpinning chemosensation in aquatic environments. Integration of these approaches has the potential to reveal the fundamental elements influencing community structure of benthic ecosystems as chemical signalling modulates intra- and inter-species interactions.

CD44 Promotes Inflammation and Extracellular Matrix Production During Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation.

Objective: Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) remain the optimal conduit for hemodialysis access but continue to demonstrate poor patency and poor rates of maturation. We hypothesized that CD44, a widely expressed cellular adhesion molecule that serves as a major receptor for extracellular matrix components, promotes wall thickening and extracellular matrix deposition during AVF maturation.

Approach And Results: AVF were created via needle puncture in wild-type C57BL/6J and CD44 knockout mice.

The crown-of-thorns starfish genome as a guide for biocontrol of this coral reef pest.

The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS, the Acanthaster planci species group) is a highly fecund predator of reef-building corals throughout the Indo-Pacific region. COTS population outbreaks cause substantial loss of coral cover, diminishing the integrity and resilience of reef ecosystems. Here we sequenced genomes of COTS from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia and Okinawa, Japan to identify gene products that underlie species-specific communication and could potentially be used in biocontrol strategies.

Increased Oxidative Stress and Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 Expression during Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation.

Background: The poor clinical results that are frequently reported for arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) for hemodialysis are typically due to failure of AVF maturation. We hypothesized that early AVF maturation is associated with generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) pathway, potentially promoting neointimal hyperplasia. We tested this hypothesis using a previously reported mouse AVF model that recapitulates human AVF maturation.

Crown-of-thorns starfish have true image forming vision.

Background: Photoreceptors have evolved numerous times giving organisms the ability to detect light and respond to specific visual stimuli. Studies into the visual abilities of the Asteroidea (Echinodermata) have recently shown that species within this class have a more developed visual sense than previously thought and it has been demonstrated that starfish use visual information for orientation within their habitat. Whereas image forming eyes have been suggested for starfish, direct experimental proof of true spatial vision has not yet been obtained.

DNA barcoding the phyllosoma of Scyllarides squammosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) (Decapoda: Achelata: Scyllaridae).

Scyllarides has the largest number of species with commercial importance within the Scyllaridae family. As for other achelate lobsters, however, little is known of the unique long-lived planktonic phyllosoma stages of any of these tropical and temperate species. Recently, a large and diverse collection of Scyllaridae phyllosoma, compiled from cruises along the Coral Sea and spanning several years, has been analysed.

Systemic Inflammatory Disease and Its Association With Type II Endoleak and Late Interventions After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

Importance: Abdominal aortic aneurysms are associated with chronic inflammation within the aortic wall, and previous studies have suggested that chronic inflammation may be a consequence of a dysregulated and persistent autoimmune response. Persistent aortic remodeling after aneurysm repair could place the patient at risk for endoleak or sac rupture.

Objective: To determine whether patients with systemic inflammatory disease and large aneurysms have persistent aortic remodeling after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Diversity of Marine-Derived Fungal Cultures Exposed by DNA Barcodes: The Algorithm Matters.

Marine fungi are an understudied group of eukaryotic microorganisms characterized by unresolved genealogies and unstable classification. Whereas DNA barcoding via the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) provides a robust and rapid tool for fungal species delineation, accurate classification of fungi is often arduous given the large number of partial or unknown barcodes and misidentified isolates deposited in public databases. This situation is perpetuated by a paucity of cultivable fungal strains available for phylogenetic research linked to these data sets.

Disturbed shear stress reduces Klf2 expression in arterial-venous fistulae in vivo.

Laminar shear stress (SS) induces an antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory endothelial phenotype and increases Klf2 expression. We altered the diameter of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in the mouse model to determine whether increased fistula diameter produces disturbed SS in vivo and if acutely increased disturbed SS results in decreased Klf2 expression. The mouse aortocaval fistula model was performed with 22, 25, or 28 gauge needles to puncture the aorta and the inferior vena cava.

Advanced age and disease predict lack of symptomatic improvement after endovascular iliac treatment in male veterans.

Background: Endovascular angioplasty and stent placement is currently the most frequent treatment for iliac artery occlusive disease. However, despite a successful endovascular procedure, some patients do not experience symptomatic improvement and satisfaction with their care. This study seeks to identify patient-related factors associated with lack of symptomatic improvement after endovascular iliac artery treatment in male veterans.

Temporal regulation of venous extracellular matrix components during arteriovenous fistula maturation.

Purpose: The venous limb of arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) adapts to the arterial environment by dilation and wall thickening; however, the temporal regulation of the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in the venous limb of the maturing AVF has not been well characterized. We used a murine model of AVF maturation that recapitulates human AVF maturation to determine the temporal pattern of expression of these ECM components.

Methods: Aortocaval fistulae were created in C57BL/6J mice and the venous limb was analyzed on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, 21, and 42.