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A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with heart failure secondary to aortic regurgitation and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. During surgery for valve-sparing aortic root replacement, a biopsy was obtained from the right atrium because of paroxysmal AF and mild LV hypokinesis. A histopathological examination revealed atrial natriuretic peptide amyloidosis, and the patient was clinically diagnosed with isolated atrial amyloidosis (IAA). Although IAA is rarely diagnosed clinically, it should be considered in patients with AF and heart failure.

Copper participates in a range of critical functions in the nervous system and human brain. Disturbances in brain copper content is strongly associated with neurological diseases. For example, changes in the level and distribution of copper are reported in neuroblastoma, Alzheimer's disease, and Lewy body disorders, such as Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). There is a need for more sensitive techniques to measure intracellular copper levels to have a better understanding of the role of copper homeostasis in neuronal disorders. Here, we report a reaction-based near-infrared (NIR) ratiometric fluorescent probe CyCu1 for imaging Cu 2+ in biological samples. High stability and selectivity of CyCu1 enabled the probe to be deployed as a sensor in a range of systems, including SH-SY5Y cells and neuroblastoma tumors. Furthermore, it can be used in plant cells, reporting on copper added to Arabidopsis roots. We also used CyCu1 to explore Cu 2+ levels and distribution in post-mortem brain tissues from patients with DLB. We found significant decreases in Cu 2+ content in the cytoplasm, neurons, and extraneuronal space in the degenerating substantia nigra in DLB compared with healthy age-matched control tissues. These findings enhance our understanding of Cu 2+ dysregulation in Lewy body disorders. Our probe also shows promise as a photoacoustic imaging agent, with potential for applications in bimodal imaging.

Arabidopsis microRNA165a (miR165a) targets Class III Homeodomain Leucine-Zipper (HD-ZIPIII) transcription factors to regulate various aspects of plant development and stress response. Over-expression of miR165a mimics the loss-of-function phenotype of HD-ZIPIII genes and leading to ectopic organ formation, shoot apical meristem (SAM) termination, loss of leaf polarity, and defective vasculature development. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these phenotypes remain unresolved. Here, we over-expressed miR165a in a dexamethasone inducible manner and identified differentially expressed genes in the SAM through RNA-Seq. Simultaneously, using multi-channel FACS combined with RNA-Seq approach, we characterized global transcriptome patterns in miR165a expressing cell-types compared to HD-ZIPIII expressing cell-types and other cell-types in SAM. By integrating our results we identified sets of genes which are up-regulated by miR165a as well have enriched expression in miR165a cell-types, and vice-versa. Known plant development related genes such as HD-ZIPIII and their targets LITTLE ZIPPERs, Like AUXIN RESISTANT 2, BEL1-like homeodomain 6, ROTUNDIFOLIA like 16 were found to be down-regulated. Among the up-regulated genes, GIBBERELLIN 2-OXIDASEs, various elemental transporters (YSL3, ZIFL1, SULTR), and other transporter genes were prominent. Thus, the genes identified in this study help to unravel the molecular mechanism of miR165a and HD-ZIPIII regulated plant development and stress response., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

We evaluated the effectiveness of a high-intensity preoperative resistance and endurance training program in improving physical function among patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty. This non-randomized controlled trial included 33 knee osteoarthritis patients scheduled to undergo total knee arthroplasty at a tertiary public medical university hospital. Fourteen and nineteen patients were non-randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, respectively. All patients underwent total knee arthroplasty and a postoperative rehabilitation program. The intervention group participated in a preoperative rehabilitation program comprising high-intensity resistance and endurance training exercises to increase lower limb muscle strength and endurance capacity. The control group received only exercise instruction. The primary outcome was the 6-min walking distance, which was significantly higher in the intervention group (399 ± 59.8 m) than in the control group (348 ± 75.1 m) 3 months post-surgery. There were no significant differences between the groups 3 months post-surgery in muscle strength, visual analog scale, WOMAC-Pain, range of motion of knee flexion, and extension. A 3-week preoperative rehabilitation program combining muscle strengthening and endurance training improved endurance 3 months after total knee arthroplasty. Thus, preoperative rehabilitation is important for improving postoperative activity.

Background: We hypothesized that 3 weeks of preoperative rehabilitation could improve postoperative pain in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 3 weeks of preoperative rehabilitation on postoperative pain after TKA., Methods: This prospective cohort study included 29 subjects (41 knees) divided into two groups: the preoperative rehabilitation group included 14 subjects (20 knees) and the control group included 15 subjects (21 knees). All subjects were scheduled for unilateral or bilateral TKA. The preoperative rehabilitation group completed a 90-min rehabilitation program 3 days per week for 3 weeks before their TKA. The rehabilitation included body weight exercise, resistance exercise, and cycle ergometer exercise. The control group did not undergo any rehabilitation prior to TKA. We assessed the patients using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities' Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and recorded their physical activity of walking, standing, sitting, and lying down at study entry and/or before TKA and 1 month after TKA., Results: The WOMAC total and WOMAC pain scores were significantly lower after 3-weeks of rehabilitation, but before TKA and 1 month after surgery were significantly lower in the preoperative rehabilitation group than in the control group. The time spent walking, standing, sitting, and lying down for 12 h did not change after TKA in the preoperative rehabilitation group. In contrast, in the control group, the time spent in walking and standing positions decreased and the time in the sitting position increased after TKA (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We found that 3-week preoperative training reduced knee pain and helped maintain physical activity after surgery in patients with severe osteoarthritis who underwent TKA., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

At the Arabidopsis shoot apex, epidermal cells are planar-polarized along an axis marked by the asymmetric localization patterns of several proteins including PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1), which facilitates the directional efflux of the plant hormone auxin to pattern phyllotaxis. While PIN1 polarity is known to be regulated non-cell autonomously via the MONOPTEROS (MP) transcription factor, how this occurs has not been determined. Here, we use mosaic expression of the serine threonine kinase PINOID (PID) to test whether PIN1 polarizes according to the polarity of neighboring cells. Our findings reveal that PIN1 is insensitive to the polarity of PIN1 in neighboring cells arguing against auxin flux or extracellular auxin concentrations acting as a polarity cue, in contrast to previous model proposals., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure resulting in right heart failure. Right ventricular (RV) dyssynchrony may be associated with early-stage RV dysfunction; however, the differences in RV dyssynchrony between CTEPH and PAH and the factors contributing to RV dyssynchrony remain unclear., Methods and results: Forty-four patients (CTEPH, 26; PAH, 18) were enrolled in this study. RV dyssynchrony was assessed by determining the standard deviation of the intervals from the peak QRS to peak systolic strain for 6 segments of the RV free and septal wall by using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (RV-6SD). The RV-6SD, pulmonary hemodynamics, echocardiographic findings, and patient demographics in CTEPH and PAH patients were compared and their correlations with RV-6SD were investigated. CTEPH patients were older and had significantly higher pulse pressure of the pulmonary artery (PP), tricuspid valve regurgitation pressure gradient, and RV-6SD, and lower pulmonary arterial compliance (PAC), despite showing comparable pulmonary arterial pressures. Age-adjusted multiple logistic analysis showed that RV-6SD and PAC were predictors of CTEPH rather than PAH. RV-SD6 was positively correlated with PP and RV dimension and negatively correlated with PAC., Conclusions: CTEPH patients showed more evident RV dyssynchrony than PAH patients. Low PAC and a widened PP may delay RV free wall motion and cause RV dyssynchrony.