Commentary: There's bacteria in them thar valves

Thar's tendons in them thar valves!

In this issue of Circulation Research, Levay et al report an in vivo requirement for scleraxis (scx) during murine valvulogenesis and demonstrate its role in cell lineage differentiation and matrix distribution in remodeling valve structures.1 The scleraxis (Scx) gene encodes a basic helix–loop– helix transcription factor that is expressed in the progenitors and cells of all tendon tissues.2 Re...

"There's gold in them thar hills".

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There's still gold in them thar pills.

New Gold in Them Thar Hills: Testing a Novel Supply Route for Plant-Derived Galanthamine

Many secondary plant compounds are synthesized in response to stressed growing conditions. We tested the feasibility of exploiting this feature in a novel strategy for the commercial production of the plant alkaloid galanthamine. Experimental lines of Narcissus pseudonarcissus were established under marginal upland permanent pasture at four different sites. Over 80% of bulbs successfully establ...

Degenerating heart valves: fill them up with filamin?

Myxoid valvular heart dystrophies are a frequent cause of valvular diseases. They affect approximately 3% of the population and are the most common cause of isolated mitral regurgitations that require surgical repair.1,2 These valvular diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders and include isolated nonsyndromic valvular diseases, such as idiopathic mitral valve prolapse and the X-linked my...