No abstract

TGA1a and PG13 constitute a family of tobacco basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins that bind to activating sequence-1 (as-1), which is one of the multiple regulatory cis elements of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. After truncation of the CaMV 35S promoter down to position -90 (CaMV 35S [-90] promoter), transcription stringently depends on the presence of as-1, which is recognized by nuclear DNA binding proteins called ASF-1. The role of the TGA1a/PG13 bZIP family in the formation of ASF-1 and in transcriptional activation of the CaMV 35S (-90) promoter has not yet been demonstrated in vivo. We constructed transgenic tobacco plants expressing a mutant of potato PG13, which lacks its wild-type DNA binding domain. This mutant acts as a trans-dominant inhibitor of ASF-1 formation and of expression from the CaMV 35S (-90) promoter, showing that PG13 can specifically interact with proteins necessary for these processes. Although we did not observe any other obvious phenotypic changes, these transgenic plants are a potentially valuable tool in identifying whether TGA1a and PG13 are involved in controlling promoters encoded in the plant genome.

SICTRA safely and effectively restores stable SR in 78% of patients with permanent AF undergoing open-heart surgery. Rhythm outcome is not influenced by treatment of the right atrium. Sustained regular atrial arrhythmia with the need for invasive treatment strategies occurs in 4% although intra-operative ablation lesions are often non-transmural.

SICTRA restores long-term stable SR in 69% of all patients. Nine percent of patients reconverted back to atrial arrhythmia after having documented SR at 12 months.

The technique of miniaturized cardiopulmonary bypass (M-CPB) for beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is relatively new and has potential advantages when compared to conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). M-CPB consists of less tubing length and requires less priming volume. The system is phosphorylcholine coated and results in minimal pump-related inflammatory response and organ injury. Finally, this technique combines the advantages of the off-pump CABG (OPCAB) with the better exposure provided by CPB to facilitate complete revascularization. The hypothesis is that CABG with M-CPB has a better outcome in terms of complete coronary revascularization and perioperative results as that compared to off-pump CABG (OPCAB). In a retrospective study, 302 patients underwent beating-heart CABG, 117 (39%) of them with the use of M-CPB and 185 (61%) with OPCAB. After propensity score matching 62 patients in both groups were demographically similar. The most important intra- and early-postoperative parameters were analyzed. Endpoints were hospital mortality and complete revascularization. Hospital mortality was comparable between the groups. The revascularization was significantly more complete in M-CPB patients than in patients in the OPCAB group. Beating-heart CABG with M-CPB is a safe procedure and it provides an optimal operative exposure with significantly more complete coronary revascularization when compared to OPCAB. Beating-heart CABG with the support of a M-CPB is the operation of choice when total coronary revascularization is needed.