Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a recessive condition that is typically caused by inheriting an expanded GAA repeat (usually > 500 triplets) in the FXN gene from both parents who are heterozygous carriers of the expanded (E) allele. E alleles, which are evolutionarily derived from non-pathogenic long normal (LN) alleles (≥12 triplets), occasionally arise de novo via intergenerational expansion of premutation alleles (34-60 triplets). However, why FRDA susceptibility is limited to Eurasians, and how...

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic MB-PDT was technically feasible and safe in a rabbit model of perforated appendicitis. Although a reduction in bacterial burden was not observed in vivo, MB-PDT produced strong antimicrobial activity in vitro against all bacterial species isolated from infected animals. These findings establish a preclinical technical platform for intra-abdominal MB-PDT and highlight the importance of optimized light-delivery strategies for future translational studies.

Coronary artery obstruction is a potential life-threatening complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in all settings including native, valve-in-valve, and redo-TAVR. Risk of obstruction can be identified on preprocedural computed tomography. BASILICA (bioprosthetic or native aortic scallop intentional laceration to prevent iatrogenic coronary artery obstruction) effectively prevents TAVR-induced coronary obstruction. Perceived technical complexity, limited availability of...

CONCLUSIONS: Ingested CS components directly activate neutrophils to release S100A8/A9, triggering myelopoiesis and vascular inflammation. These findings reveal that tobacco's cardiovascular toxicity extends beyond inhalation, implicating oral exposure as a driver of systemic inflammation and atherogenesis.

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