Expression of the nodal gene initiates the gene regulatory network which establishes the transcriptional specification of the oral ectoderm in the sea urchin embryo. This gene encodes a TGFbeta ligand, and in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus its transcription is activated in the presumptive oral ectoderm at about the 30-cell stage. Thereafter Nodal signaling occurs among all cells of the oral ecto...

During the starting up of pump mode in turbines, axial hydraulic force acting on runner would develop with guide vane opening. It causes deformation and stress support bracket, main shaft runner, which influence operation security. In this case, turbine is studied during mode. Its influences bracket are investigated detail. Based prediction results force, starting-up process can be divided into...

The determination of left-right body asymmetry in mouse embryos depends on the interplay of molecules in a highly sensitive structure, the node. Here, we show that the localization of Cerl2 protein does not correlate to its mRNA expression pattern, from 3-somite stage onwards. Instead, Cerl2 protein displays a nodal flow-dependent dynamic behavior that controls the activity of Nodal in the node...

We have recently reported that C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) has a positive chronotropic effect in dogs. We further investigated the effect of CNP on canine cardiac functions: 1) in situ, by exploring the effects of isoproterenol (10 μg), angiotensin II (ANG II, 5 μg), and CNP (40 μg) injections ( n = 8) on computerized epicardial mapping of atrial activation to detect a shift in pacemaker l...

Vertebrate mesoderm and endoderm formation requires signaling by Nodal-related ligands from the TGFβ superfamily. The factors that initiate Nodal-related gene transcription are unknown in most species and the relative contributions of Nodal-related ligands from embryonic, extraembryonic and maternal sources remain uncertain. In zebrafish, signals from the yolk syncytial layer (YSL), an extraemb...

Objective: To study the architecture of the human sinus node to facilitate understanding of mapping and ablative procedures in its vicinity. Methods: The sinoatrial region was examined in 47 randomly selected adult human hearts by histological analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Results: The sinus node, crescent-like in shape, and 13.5 (2.5) mm long, was not insulated by a sheath of fibr...

The strength and spatiotemporal activity of Nodal signaling is tightly controlled in early implantation mouse embryos, including by autoregulation and feedback loops, and involves secreted and intracellular antagonists. These control mechanisms, which are established at the extra-embryonic/embryonic interfaces, are essential for anterior-posterior patterning of the epiblast and correct position...

background: radiofrequency catheter ablation (rfca) has been introduced as the treatment of choice for supraventricular tachycardia. the aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate as well as procedural and in-hospital complications of rfca for the treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (avnrt).   methods: between march 1995 and february 2009, 544 patients (75.9 % fema...

A model of left-right axis formation in the chick involves inhibition of bone morphogenetic proteins by the antagonist Car as a mechanism of upregulating Nodal in the left lateral plate mesoderm. By contrast, expression of CFC, a competence factor, which is absolutely required for Nodal signaling in the lateral plate mesoderm is dependent on a functional BMP signaling pathway. We have therefore...

UNLABELLED Metastatic melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer with a poor prognosis. Despite a complete response in fewer than 5% of patients, the chemotherapeutic agent dacarbazine (DTIC) remains the reference drug after almost 40 years. More recently, FDA-approved drugs have shown promise but patient outcome remains modest, predominantly due to drug resistance. As such, combinatorial targ...