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Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has significantly evolved during recent years. High success rates are being achieved by experienced centers and operators, but not at less-experienced centers. Use of CTO crossing algorithms can help improve the success and efficiency of these potentially lengthy procedures. There is a paucity of clinical trial data examining clinical outcomes of CTO PCI, which is critical for further adoption and refinement of the procedure. We provide a detailed overview of the clinical evidence and current available crossing strategies, with emphasis on recent developments and techniques.

The geographical location of Egypt at the crossroads of several major cultural areas between North Africa and the Middle East has contributed to its population history.To analyse the genetic structure of the population living in two geographical parts of Egypt.A sample of 112 Egyptians from the North African part of Egypt (Ismailia sample) and a sample of 52 Egyptians from the Asian part Sinai, have been analysed using 10 Alu insertion polymorphisms.The results of the present study showed a significant genetic difference between the Sinai and Ismailia samples. The latter showed an evident genetic affinity with North African populations; whereas the Sinai sample was found to be genetically closer to the Middle East populations. The Sinai sample showed a low average heterozygosity, unlike that found in the Ismailia sample.This study provides new insights into the genetic structure of the Egyptian population living in a land bridge between Africa and Asia. Results suggest a genetic discontinuity between the Sinai population and that of the North African part of Egypt. This discontinuity would have been maintained thanks to geo-climatic and social factors.

Aim: This study explored the association between the diet diversity score (DDS) and overweight among Tunisian children. Methods: A representative sample of children living in Greater Tunis was selected based on a two-stage clustered sampling design. A total of 1200 children (3–9 years) were recruited. Dietary assessment was realized using a 24 h dietary recall. Anthropometric measurements were realized, and overweight was defined according to the World Health Organization standards. Logistic regression was used for the association between DDS with overweight. Results: A quarter of children were found to be overweight. Overweight prevalence was found to decrease with the increase of mother education level (p = 0.010) among children < 6 years. Crude DDS score was higher among non-overweight children irrespective of the age class (p = 0.002). Tunisian children appeared to consume much more than six food groups, corresponding to a more than recommended intake of most nutrients. Intriguingly, DDS was positively associated with the occurrence of overweight children < 6 years, adjusted odd ratio = 1.37, 95% CI (1.03–1.82). Conclusion: Overweight is a public health problem among Tunisian children. A high DDS signifies adequate nutrient intake. An increase of DDS was found to be a positive predictor of overweight only in pre-school children.

Elafin, a natural protease inhibitor expressed in healthy intestinal mucosa, has pleiotropic anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in animal models. We found that mucosal expression of Elafin is diminished in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This defect is associated with increased elastolytic activity (elastase-like proteolysis) in colon tissue. We engineered two food-grade strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to express and deliver Elafin to the site of inflammation in the colon to assess the potential therapeutic benefits of the Elafin-expressing LAB. In mouse models of acute and chronic colitis, oral administration of Elafin-expressing LAB decreased elastolytic activity and inflammation and restored intestinal homeostasis. Furthermore, when cultures of human intestinal epithelial cells were treated with LAB secreting Elafin, the inflamed epithelium was protected from increased intestinal permeability and from the release of cytokines and chemokines, both of which are characteristic of intestinal dysfunction associated with IBD. Together, these results suggest that oral delivery of LAB secreting Elafin may be useful for treating IBD in humans.

This study examines whether socially responsible firms behave differently from other firms in their corporate governance. Specifically, we question whether firms that exhibit corporate social responsibility (CSR) also behave in a responsible manner to enhance corporate governance practices. Using Business Ethics lists for 2006 to 2009, we have constructed a sample with 350 U.S. companies receiving an ethics rating and 350 other firms (considered as matching firms and not considered as socially responsible firms in any CSR ratings). Our results show no differences in corporate governance characteristics between the two samples of firms. Cet article se propose d’étudier si les caractéristiques de gouvernance des entreprises socialement responsables diffèrent de celles des autres entreprises. A partir d’un échantillon d’entreprises socialement responsables (classées dans Business Ethics magasine) et d’un échantillon témoin pour la période 2006-2009, nous avons cherché à savoir si la responsabilité sociale était un levier déterminant qui contribuerait à l’amélioration de la qualité de gouvernance. Sur les échantillons concernés, la démonstration n’a pu être faite d’un lien entre la responsabilité sociale et la gouvernance. El objetivo de este trabajo es establecer si las características de gobernanza de las empresas socialmente responsables difieren de las de otras empresas. Basados en una muestra de empresas socialmente responsables (clasificación Business Ethics) y en una muestra testigo por el período 2006-2009, hemos intentado establecer si la responsabilidad social es un factor deter- minante que contribuye al mejoramiento de la calidad de la gobernanza. Sobre la base de dichas muestras, no se pudo demostrar que existe un nexo entre responsabilidad social y gobernanza.

Lists of variations in genomic DNA and their effects have been kept for some time and have been used in diagnostics and research. Although these lists have been carefully gathered and curated, there has been little standardization and coordination, complicating their use. Given the myriad possible variations in the estimated 24,000 genes in the human genome, it would be useful to have standard criteria for databases of variation. Incomplete collection and ascertainment of variants demonstrates a need for a universally accessible system. These and other problems led to the World Heath Organization-cosponsored meeting on June 20-23, 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, which launched the Human Variome Project. This meeting addressed all areas of human genetics relevant to collection of information on variation and its effects. Members of each of eight sessions (the clinic and phenotype, the diagnostic laboratory, the research laboratory, curation and collection, informatics, relevance to the emerging world, integration and federation and funding and sustainability) developed a number of recommendations that were then organized into a total of 96 recommendations to act as a foundation for future work worldwide. Here we summarize the background of the project, the meeting and its recommendations. © 2007 Nature Publishing Group.

Purpose The purpose of this article is to outline the experience of certified diabetes educators (CDEs) using the Enlite continuous glucose monitoring sensor system in a pediatric multicenter randomized controlled trial. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is becoming popular as a tool for educators and families to improve glycemic control. CGM can be a valuable educational tool to demonstrate to the user the impact of insulin dosing and effects of physical activity, food intake, and other life events such as work, illness, and stress on their glycemic control. The authors will share education tips and practical applications for diabetes educators to facilitate education and sustained use of Enlite glucose sensors in children and adolescents using insulin pump therapy. Conclusions The Enlite glucose sensor is a comfortable and user-friendly device. Improvements to both the insertion device and the Enlite glucose sensor have resulted in improved level of comfort on insertion and with ongoing wear, which may translate into greater adherence and effectiveness.

AbstractZearalenone (ZEA) mainly injures the reproductive system of mammals. In the present study, we aimed to explore the mechanism by which zinc inhibits ZEA-induced reproductive damage in KK-1 cells for the first time. The results shown that both zinc sulfate and zinc gluconate addition increased the intracellular zinc concentration and influenced the expression of zinc transporters (Slc30a1 and Slc39a1) in a time-dependent manner. Co-incubation of zinc with ZEA significantly reduced the ZEA-induced reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde elevation by promoting the transcription of Mtf1 and Mt2. Meanwhile, two different zincs inhibited the ZEA-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and elevation of late-stage apoptosis via activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by recovering the mRNA and protein expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, Casp3, Casp9). Zinc also recovered cells from S-phase cell cycle arrest. In addition, both of them promoted the ZEA-induced estrogen production but regulated the expression of steroidogenic enzymes (Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp17a1) in different way. All these results indicated that zinc could inhibit the reproductive toxicity of ZEA.