Priming injections of cocaine (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) induced reinstatement of drug seeking. Maximal levels of responding were similar to those maintained by active cocaine self-administration. Pretreatment with the kappa agonists enadoline (0.01 mg/kg) and spiradoline (0.3 mg/kg) or the 5-HT transport inhibitors fluoxetine

(5.6 mg/kg) and citalopram (10.0 mg/kg) attenuated the priming effects of cocaine, shifting the cocaine dose-response function rightward and downward. GW2580 supplier Inhibition of cocaine-induced reinstatement of drug seeking by spiradoline and fluoxetine was reversed by R(+)8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (0.03 mg/kg), a 5HT(1A) agonist that inhibits 5-HT release. The effects of spiradoline also were reversed by the kappa antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (10.0 mg/kg).

Results suggest that the capacity of kappa opioid agonists to increase extracellular 5-HT levels may at least partially underlie kappa agonist-induced modulation of cocaine seeking.”
“Aims: Assessment of biological control of Cercospora sojina, causal agent of frogeye leaf spot (FLS) of soya bean, using three indigenous bacterial strains, BNM297 (Pseudomonas fluorescens), BNM340 and BNM122 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens). Methods and Results: From cultures of each bacterial strain, cell suspensions and cell-free supernatants

were obtained and HKI272 assayed to determine their antifungal activity against C. sojina. Both mycelial growth and spore germination in vitro were more strongly inhibited by bacterial cell suspensions than by cell-free supernatants. The

Bacillus strains BNM122 and BNM340 inhibited the fungal growth to a similar degree (I 5253%), while cells from P. fluorescens BNM297 caused a lesser reduction (I 3234%) in the fungus colony diameter. The foliar application of the two Bacillus strains on soya bean seedlings, under greenhouse conditions, significantly reduced the disease severity with respect to control soya bean seedlings and those sprayed with BNM297. This last bacterial strain was not effective in controlling FLS in vivo. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate PLEKHB2 that the application of antagonistic bacteria may be a promising and environmentally friendly alternative to control the FLS of soya bean. Significance and Impact of the Study: To our knowledge, this is the first report of biological control of C. sojina by using native Bacillus strains.”
“In recent studies, acute ethanol administration appears to play a neuroprotective role during ischemic stroke. We sought to confirm these findings by identifying if ethanol-derived neuroprotection is associated with a reduction in apoptosis.

Ethanol at 0.5 and 1.5 g/kg doses was given by intraperitoneal injections to Sprague-Dawley rats after 2 h of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, followed by reperfusion. We quantified apoptotic cell death in each of the treatment groups with ELISA, and measured pro- and anti-apoptotic protein expression with Western blot analysis.

Systemic 3-NP (10 mg/kg) administration for 14 days significantly reduced locomotor activity, body weight, grip strength,

oxidative defense (raised levels of lipid peroxidation, nitrite concentration, depletion of antioxidant enzyme), and mitochondrial enzymes activity in striatum, cortex, and hippocampal regions of the brain.

Fourteen days of EGCG pretreatment (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) significantly attenuated behavioral alterations, oxidative damage, mitochondrial complex enzymes dysfunction, and striatal damage in 3-NP-treated animals. l-arginine (50 mg/kg) pretreatment with sub-effective dose of EGCG (20 mg/kg) significantly reversed the protective AZD6738 supplier behavioral, biochemical, cellular, this website and histological effects of EGCG. However, l-NAME (10 mg/kg) pretreatment with EGCG (20 mg/kg) significantly potentiated the protective effect of EGCG which was significant as compared to their effect per se.

The present study shows that EGCG attenuate 3-NP-induced neurotoxicity, and nitric oxide modulation

might be involved in its protective action.”
“The design and development of a 3′-conjugated minor-groove-binding (MGB) probe for a real-time RT-PCR assay allowing for the rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) RNA are described. This assay targeted the 3′ terminal non-coding region (NCR) of the TMUV genome and detected 1 x 10(1) copies of RNA per reaction without cross-reaction with (-)-p-Bromotetramisole Oxalate other duck

pathogens. The linear range of detection was 2 x 10(1)-2 x 10(8) copies/mu l. The assay was rapid, requiring just over 2.0 h, including the nucleic acid extraction step. Therefore, this assay is an excellent tool for research routine diagnostic applications, and study of the epidemiology of TMUV infections among duck flocks. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: It has been suggested that the etiology of schizophrenia, in a distinct group of patients, originates from an autoimmune reaction against platelets. Previous studies have demonstrated significantly higher blood titers of platelet-associated autoantibodies (PAA) in adult schizophrenia patients as compared to normal healthy subjects. In addition, young adult schizophrenia patients at their early stages of the disorder displayed higher PAA titers than older patients with longer duration of the disorder. Aim: To assess the blood titers of PAA in children with schizophrenia as compared to matched control subjects without psychotic disorders, as a possible diagnostic parameter. Methods: Twenty-nine children with DSM-IV schizophrenia in the active psychotic state, with an age range of 6-12 years (mean +/- SD: 9.6 +/- 1.5 years), with average Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores of 108 +/- 19.2, were assessed.

015). On the other hand, subjects who reported high levels of vital. exhaustion did not differ from those who did not report signs of vital exhaustion. These findings provide further evidence for HPA axis dysregulation in burnout. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Microglia are resident immune cells of the central nervous system. Their persistent activation in neurodegenerative diseases, traditionally attributed to neuronal dysfunction, may be due to a microglial failure to modulate the release of cytotoxic mediators such as nitric oxide (NO). Napabucasin datasheet The persistent activation of microglia with the subsequent release of NO vis-a-vis

the accumulation of redox transition metals such as copper (Cu) in neurodegenerative diseases, prompted the hypothesis that copper would alter NO signaling by changing the redox environment of the cell and that, by altering the fate of NO, microglia would adopt a different phenotype. We have used the microglial cell model, BV2, to examine the effects of Cu(I) on NO production and activation as they have been shown to be phenotypically plastic. Our results show that cell

viability is not affected by Cu(l) in BV2 microglia and that it has no effect on iNOS mRNA, protein expression and nitrite release. However, when LPS is added to Cu(I)-treated SHP099 manufacturer medium, nitrite release is abrogated while iNOS expression is not significantly altered. This effect is Cu(I)-specific and it is not observed with other non-redox

metals, suggesting that Cu(I) modulates NO reactivity. Immunofluorescence analysis shows that the M1 (inflammatory) phenotype of BV2 microglia observed in response to LPS, is shifted to an M2 (adaptive) phenotype when Cu(l) is administered in combination SB-3CT with LPS. This same shift is not observed when iNOS function is inhibited by 1400W. In the present study we show that Cu(I) modulates the release of NO to the media, without altering iNOS expression, and produces phenotypic changes in BV2 microglia. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Aims: To investigate the ability of a mixture of phage K and six of its modified derivatives to prevent biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and also to reduce the established biofilm density.

Aims: To investigate the ability of a mixture of phage K and six of its modified derivatives to prevent biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and also to reduce the established biofilm density.

Methods and Results: The bioluminescence-producing Staph. aureus Xen29 strain was used in the study, and incubation of this strain in static microtitre plates at 37 degrees C for 48 h confirmed its strong biofilm-forming capacity. Subsequently, removal of established biofilms of Staph. aureus Xen29 with the hightitre phage combination was investigated over time periods of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h.

We conducted 3 experiments to test alternative accounts of contingency bias. Participants were exposed to the same outcome probability selleck chemicals in the presence of the cue, but different outcome probabilities in the absence

of the cue. Phrasing the test question in terms of frequency rather than probability and clarifying the test instructions reduced but did not eliminate contingency bias. However, removal of ambiguity regarding the presence of additional causes during the test phase did eliminate contingency bias. We conclude that contingency bias may be due to ambiguity in the test question, and therefore it does not require postulation of a separate associative link-based mechanism.”
“Episodic future thinking (EFT) has been linked with our ability to remember past events. However, its specific neurocognitive subprocesses have remained elusive. In Experiment 1, a study of healthy older adults was conducted to investigate the candidate subprocesses of EFT. Participants completed a standard EFT cue word task, two memory measures

(Verbal Paired Associates I, Source Memory), and two measures of executive function (Trail Making Test, Tower Test). In Experiment 2, healthy young adults also completed an EFT task and neuropsychological measures. The link between neurocognitive measures and five this website characteristics of EFT was investigated. Specifically, it was found that Source Memory and Trail Making Test performance predicted the episodic specificity of future events in older but not younger adults. Replicating previous findings, older adults produced future events with greater semantic but fewer episodic details than did young adults. These results extend the data and emphasize the importance of the multiple subprocesses underlying EFT.”
“Viewing position effects are commonly observed in reading, but they have only rarely been investigated in object perception or in the realistic context of a natural scene. In two experiments, we explored where people fixate within photorealistic objects and the effects of this landing position

on recognition and subsequent eye movements. The results demonstrate these an optimal viewing positionobjects are processed more quickly when fixation is in the centre of the object. Viewers also prefer to saccade to the centre of objects within a natural scene, even when making a large saccade. A central landing position is associated with an increased likelihood of making a refixation, a result that differs from previous reports and suggests that multiple fixations within objects, within scenes, occur for a range of reasons. These results suggest that eye movements within scenes are systematic and are made with reference to an early parsing of the scene into constituent objects.”
“We present evidence that English- and Mandarin-speakers agree about how to map dimensions (e.g., size and clarity) to vertical space and that they do so in a directional way.

In addition to the availability of nutrients (mainly folate, vitamins B6 and B12), plasma Hcy concentrations are dependent on complex metabolic regulation that could be disrupted in schizophrenia.

This study was designed to test the influence of disease activity on plasma Hcy levels. Plasma HcY

concentrations were measured in male chronic schizophrenic patients with a predominantly positive (SCH (+)) or predominantly negative (SCH (-)) syndrome in schizophrenia immediately upon admission to the hospital (exacerbation phase) and one month later (remission phase). During this period patients received antipsychotic medications without vitamin Selleckchem AZD2281 therapy. The effects of age, duration of illness, folate and B12 concentrations, as well as smoking and coffee consumption habits www.selleckchem.com/products/chir-99021-ct99021-hcl.html on the observed changes were evaluated. Age- and sex-matched subjects were included in the control group. In the control group plasma Hcy concentration was 8.75 +/- 1.84 mu mol/L in the exacerbation phase

plasma Hcy concentrations were significantly increased both in SCH (+) (14.91 +/- 6.19 mu mol/L) and SCH groups (12.8 +/- 3.27 mu mol/L). There was no difference in plasma Hcy concentrations between SCH (+) and SCH patients. Serum folate and B12 concentrations were not significantly different in any of the investigated groups of subjects. The plasma Hcy concentrations could not be correlated with age, duration of illness, the score of positive symptoms or the concentration of folate and vitamin B12. A positive correlation was found between plasma Hcy level and score of negative symptoms in both groups of patients. No correlation was found between smoking or coffee consumption habits and

plasma Hcy concentrations. All patients exhibited decreased plasma Hcy levels in the remission phase of the illness, with a mean decrease of 2.68 +/- 1.57 mu mol/L Folate and B12 levels did not differ in the exacerbation and remission phases of the illness.

The significant decrease of plasma Hcy levels, without changes in folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in the remission phase of schizophrenia, could Sinomenine indicate an influence of a pathogenetic process involved in schizophrenia on Hcy metabolism. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The active targeting of drugs in a cell-, tissue- or disease-specific manner represents a potentially powerful technology with widespread applications in medicine, including the treatment of cancers. Aptamers have properties such as high affinity and specificity for targets, easy chemical synthesis and modification, and rapid tissue penetration. They have become attractive molecules in diagnostics and therapeutics rivaling and, in some cases, surpassing other molecular probes, such as antibodies.

No significant toxicity was observed. The apoptosis and cellular proliferation indexes decreased in the bacillus Calmette-Guerin, enterotoxin and bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus enterotoxin groups compared to the MNU

group. Intensified vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-9, Ki-67 and insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 immunoreactivity was verified in the MNU group, moderate in the bacillus Calmette-Guerin and enterotoxin groups, and weak in the bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus enterotoxin and control groups. In contrast, intense endostatin immunoreactivity was verified in the control and bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus enterotoxin groups.

Conclusions: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and staphylococcal enterotoxin Selleckchem Tubastatin A B showed similar anti-angiogenic effects. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus enterotoxin treatment had additional activity compared to that of monotherapy. It was more effective in restoring apoptosis BI-D1870 and balancing cellular proliferation, and it correlated with increased endostatin, and decreased vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-9, Ki-67 and insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 reactivity.”
“The neural basis of visuospatial

deficits in Alzheimer’s disease is unclear. We wished to investigate the neural basis of visuospatial perception in patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared with healthy elderly comparison subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twelve patients with AD and thirteen elderly comparison subjects were investigated. The patients were recruited from the local clinic and comparison subjects

were from spouses and community. All participants underwent fMRI whilst viewing visuospatial stimuli and structural MRI, and findings were analysed using voxel-based morphometry. The comparison group activated V5, superior parietal lobe, parieto-occipital cortex and premotor cortices. The AD group demonstrated hypoactivation in the above regions and instead Adenylyl cyclase showed greater activation in inferior parietal lobule and activated additional areas. There was no structural atrophy above and beyond that found globally in patients in the identified regions of BOLD activation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the neuroanatomy of perception of depth and motion in Alzheimer’s disease. These specific functional deficits in AD provide evidence for an underlying patho-physiological basis for the clinically important symptom of visuospatial disorientation in patients with AD. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Body-fluid homeostasis is essential to life, and the concentration of Na+ ([Na+]) and osmolality in plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are continuously monitored in the brain. To maintain a physiological level of Na/osmolality in body fluids, the control of Na and water intake and excretion are of prime importance.

“
“Familial Alzheimer’s disease (AD) due to PSEN1 mutations provides an opportunity to examine AD biomarkers in persons in whom the diagnosis is certain. We describe a 55 year-old woman with clinically probable AD and a novel PSEN1 mutation who underwent genetic, clinical, biochemical and magnetic resonance and nuclear imaging assessments. We also describe neuropathological findings in her similarly affected brother. Neuropsychological

NU7441 testing confirmed deficits in memory, visuospatial and language function. CSF t-tau and p-tau181 were markedly elevated and A beta(42) levels reduced. FDG-PET revealed hypometabolism in the left parietotemporal cortex. FDDNP-PET showed increased binding of tracer in medial temporal and parietal lobes and in the head of the caudate and anterior putamen bilaterally. Neuropathological examination of her brother showed the typical findings of AD and the striatum demonstrated amyloid pathology and marked neurofibrillary pathology beyond that typically seen in late-onset AD. A novel S212Y substitution in PSEN1 was present in the index patient and her affected brother but not in an older unaffected sister. An in vitro assay in which the S212Y mutation was introduced in cell culture confirmed that it was associated with increased production of A beta(42). We describe biochemical, imaging, and neuropathological changes in a pedigree with a novel PSEN1 mutation.

This allows us to validate the pathogenicity of this mutation and the indices used to assess AD. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: Chylous ascites is a rare complication after WZB117 nmr major retroperitoneal surgery. Recently selleck screening library chylous ascites has developed more often after laparoscopic nephrectomy since that is increasingly done for various indications at many centers. We reviewed our cases of chylous ascites

after laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Materials and Methods: Between January 2002 and December 2008 we performed 622 transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomies. We retrospectively analyzed factors related to chylous ascites as a complication of laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Results: The overall incidence of chylous ascites was 5.1% (32 of 622 cases), including 4 severe refractory cases (0.6%). The difference in incidence by operation type was not statistically different (p = 0.251). Chylous ascites developed more often after left than right nephrectomy (7.3% or 25 of 343 cases vs 2.5% or 7 of 279, p = 0.010). In patients with radical nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy the incidence was higher in those who did vs did not undergo lymphadenectomy (13.9% or 10 of 72 vs 4.0% or 11 of 275, p = 0.027). Only 1 patient underwent explorative laparotomy due to persistent severe chylous ascites despite 8-week conservative management. The other cases were successfully managed conservatively by total parenteral nutrition and a low fat diet.

IL-2 levels in the brain were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assays. Inescapable and escapable stressors had different effects on behavior in the modified active avoidance test and on IL-2 levels in brain areas that are known to be involved in emotional processes. These

data provide insight into the pathophysiological role of IL-2 in stress-related disorders.”
“Herein, we show that a single injection of P4 (4 mg/kg) at 1 h or 48 h, but not 96 h, before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) produces significant MI-503 nmr protective effects against the ischemia-induced neuronal death and the deficits in spatial cognition and UP induction. The present study focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotection exerted by P4 administration

at I h and 48 h pre-MCAO, termed acute and delayed P4-neuroprotection, respectively. Pharmacology suggested that P4-receptor (P4R) cascading to a Src-ERK1/2 signaling mediated the delayed P4-neuroprotection. To support this, it was observed by anti-phosph-ERK1/2 immunoblots that a single injection of P4 triggered a P4R-mediated https://www.selleckchem.com/products/q-vd-oph.html persistent increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation and their nuclear translocation for 48 h. In contrast, the acute P4-neuroprotection did not depend on the P4R-mediated Src-ERK1/2 signaling. Instead, the acute P4-administration attenuated the NMDA-induced rise in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) that may be a primary cause for MCAO-induced neuronal injury. This effect seemed Rutecarpine to be exerted by an antagonism of sigma(1) receptor since the sigma(1) receptor antagonist NE100 perfectly mimicked the acute P4-neuroprotection and also attenuated the NMDA-induced [Ca(2+)](i), increase. These findings suggest that the P4 neuroprotection

involves two independent processes depending on the timing of P4 administration before MCAO: an acute protection by antagonizing sigma(1) receptor to inhibit NMDAr-Ca(2+) influx and a delayed one by an activation of P4R-mediated Src-ERK signaling pathway. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Effects of the gap junction blocker carbenoxolone (CBX) on tetanus- and taurine-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) were studied on Schaffer collateral-CA1 field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in mouse hippocampal slices. Preincubation with 10 mu M CBX reduced the amount of LTP induced by weak theta-burst stimulation (TBS) or a single train of stimuli (HFS; 1 s at 100 Hz), but did not affect LTP induced by 30-min perfusion with 10 mM taurine. Incubation with 50-100 mu M CBX 15 min before HFS or TBS abolished tetanus-induced LTP. At 100 mu M CBX, the concentration that is used for the blockade of gap junctions in vitro, a long-lasting depression of fEPSPs was observed which persisted under the blockade of NMDA receptors, and receptors for corticosteroids.

Duons are highly conserved and have shaped protein evolution, and TF-imposed constraint appears to be a major driver of codon usage bias. Conversely, the regulatory code has been selectively depleted of TFs that recognize stop codons. More than 17% of single-nucleotide variants within duons directly alter TF binding. Pervasive dual encoding of amino acid and regulatory information appears to be a fundamental feature

of genome evolution.”
“In the process of morphological evolution, the extent to which cryptic, preexisting variation provides a substrate for natural selection has been controversial. We provide evidence that heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) phenotypically masks standing eye-size variation in surface populations of the cavefish Astyanax mexicanus. This variation is exposed by HSP90 inhibition and can be selected for, ultimately yielding a reduced-eye phenotype even in the presence of selleck inhibitor full HSP90 activity. Raising

surface fish under conditions found in caves taxes the HSP90 system, unmasking the same phenotypic variation as does direct inhibition of HSP90. These results suggest that cryptic variation played a role in the evolution of eye loss in cavefish and provide the first evidence for HSP90 as a capacitor for morphological evolution in a natural setting.”
“An amputated salamander limb regenerates the correct number of segments. Models explaining limb regeneration were largely distinct from those for limb development, despite the buy PSI-7977 presence of common patterning molecules. Intercalation has been an important concept to explain salamander limb regeneration, but clear evidence supporting or refuting this model was lacking. In the intercalation model, the

first blastema cells acquire fingertip identity, creating a gap in positional identity that triggers regeneration of the intervening region from the stump. We used HOXA protein analysis and transplantation assays to show that axolotl limb blastema cells acquire positional identity in a proximal-to-distal sequence. Therefore, intercalation is not the primary mechanism for segment formation during limb regeneration in this animal. Patterning in development and regeneration uses similar mechanisms.”
“The mitochondrial uniporter is a highly selective calcium channel in the organelle’s inner membrane. Its molecular components include the EF-hand-containing Urease calcium-binding proteins mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1) and MICU2 and the pore-forming subunit mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). We sought to achieve a full molecular characterization of the uniporter holocomplex (uniplex). Quantitative mass spectrometry of affinity-purified uniplex recovered MICU1 and MICU2, MCU and its paralog MCUb, and essential MCU regulator (EMRE), a previously uncharacterized protein. EMRE is a 10-kilodalton, metazoan-specific protein with a single transmembrane domain. In its absence, uniporter channel activity was lost despite intact MCU expression and oligomerization.

Patencies were similar for either of the 2 conduits in each group (log rank analysis, P = .06 and P = .54, respectively). The differences in estimated 5-year patencies were 6.6% (radial minus right internal thoracic artery) in group 1 and 2.9% (radial minus saphenous vein graft) in group 2.

Conclusion: At

mean 5-year angiography in largely asymptomatic patients, the selection of arterial or venous conduit for the second graft has not significantly affected patency. This finding offers surgeons, for now, enhanced flexibility in planning revascularization. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010; 139: 60-7)”
“The human brain consists of millions of neural nerve cells being interconnected and firing in parallel in order to process information. A fundamental question is how this parallel neuron-firing can result in a unified learn more experience. This is the so-called binding problem – a problem that is one of today’s key see more questions about

brain function and that has puzzled researchers for decades. This article gives a review about the last 50 years of research in this area. It explains what the binding problem is, what classes of binding problems exist, and what the potential solutions suggested so far look like. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: We sought to identify suitable patients for the Ross operation.

Methods: A cohort of 212 patients (mean age, 34 +/- 9 years; 66% men; 82% with congenital aortic valve disease) underwent the Ross operation and was prospectively followed with clinical evaluations and echocardiographic analysis for 3.1 to 18 years

(mean, 10.1 +/- 4.2 years). In addition to longitudinal outcomes determined by means of Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictors of valve failure.

Results: There were 1 operative and 4 late deaths, none of which were valve related. Survival at 15 years was 96.6% +/- 1.5% and similar to that seen in the general population matched for age and sex. There were 20 reoperations: 13 in the pulmonary autograft, 3 in the pulmonary homograft, and 4 others. Freedom from reoperation in the pulmonary autograft at 15 years was 92.1% +/- 2.3%. Aortic insufficiency was the only independent predictor of reoperation. Freedom from moderate or severe aortic Topotecan HCl insufficiency at 15 years was 89.7%, and greater than mild aortic insufficiency was 63.2%. Male sex, aortic/pulmonary annular mismatch, aortic annulus of 27 mm or larger, and preoperative aortic insufficiency were associated with higher risk of late aortic insufficiency by means of log-rank analysis. Cox regression analysis identified male sex as the only independent predictor of postoperative aortic insufficiency. Freedom from moderate or severe pulmonary insufficiency, peak gradient of 40 mm Hg or greater, or both at 15 years was 70.8% +/- 6.8%, and event-free survival was 81% +/- 3.7%.