Discoveries in gene-environment interactions that influence CVD, lipid traits, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension appear to be able to influence gene therapy.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moataz Dowaidar

In a relatively short amount of time, significant progress has been made in discovering gene-environment interactions that influence CVD, lipid traits, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. These correlations appear to change genetic vulnerability, which may help researchers better understand the genetic processes that influence CVD development in the future. In order to advance the field, further research is required to confirm initial comparisons, identify the biological processes by which environmental influences modify genetic risk, and investigate strategies that use this knowledge to influence clinical genetic therapy outcomes.

Author(s):  
David J. Smith

The electron microscope has evolved to the level where it is now straightforward to record highresolution images from thin samples (t∼10 to 20nm) that are directly interpretable in terms of atomic arrangements. Whilst recorded images necessarily represent two-dimensional projections of the structure, many defects such as dislocations and interfaces may be linear or planar in nature and thus might be expected to be amenable to detailed characterization. In this review, we briefly consider the recent significant progress that has been made in quantitative defect analysis using the high-resolution electron microscope and then discuss some drawbacks to the technique as well as potential scope for further improvements. Surveys of defect modelling for some small-unit-cell materials and interfaces have recently been published, and reference should be made to other papers in this symposium for further examples.The technique of structure imaging originated in the early '70s with observations of large-unit-cell block oxides.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-145
Author(s):  
Tomasz Mackiewicz ◽  
Aleksander Sowa ◽  
Jakub Fichna

: Colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) remains a critical complication of ulcerative colitis (UC) with mortality of approximately 15%, which makes early CAC diagnosis crucial. The current standard of surveillance, with repetitive colonoscopies and histological testing of biopsied mucosa samples is burdensome and expensive, and therefore less invasive methods and reliable biomarkers are needed. Significant progress has been made thanks to continuous extensive research in this field, however no clinically relevant biomarker has been established so far. This review of the current literature presents the genetic and molecular differences between CAC and sporadic colorectal cancer and covers progress made in the early detection of CAC carcinogenesis. It focuses on biomarkers under development, which can be easily tested in samples of body fluids or breath and, once made clinically available, will help to differentiate between progressors (UC patients who will develop dysplasia) from non-progressors and enable early intervention to decrease the risk of cancer development.


Database ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faisal M Fadlelmola ◽  
Kais Ghedira ◽  
Yosr Hamdi ◽  
Mariem Hanachi ◽  
Fouzia Radouani ◽  
...  

Abstract African genomic medicine and microbiome datasets are usually not well characterized in terms of their origin, making it difficult to find and extract data for specific African ethnic groups or even countries. The Pan-African H3Africa Bioinformatics Network (H3ABioNet) recognized the need for developing data portals for African genomic medicine and African microbiomes to address this and ran a hackathon to initiate their development. The two portals were designed and significant progress was made in their development during the hackathon. All the participants worked in a very synergistic and collaborative atmosphere in order to achieve the hackathon's goals. The participants were divided into content and technical teams and worked over a period of 6 days. In response to one of the survey questions of what the participants liked the most during the hackathon, 55% of the hackathon participants highlighted the familial and friendly atmosphere, the team work and the diversity of team members and their expertise. This paper describes the preparations for the portals hackathon and the interaction between the participants and reflects upon the lessons learned about its impact on successfully developing the two data portals as well as building scientific expertise of younger African researchers. Database URL: The code for developing the two portals was made publicly available in GitHub repositories: [https://github.com/codemeleon/Database; https://github.com/codemeleon/AfricanMicrobiomePortal].


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seokwoo Choe ◽  
Sung Min Kim ◽  
Yeji Lee ◽  
Jin Seok ◽  
Jiyong Jung ◽  
...  

AbstractPhotocatalytic N2 reduction has emerged as one of the most attractive routes to produce NH3 as a useful commodity for chemicals used in industries and as a carbon-free energy source. Recently, significant progress has been made in understanding, exploring, and designing efficient photocatalyst. In this review, we outline the important mechanistic and experimental procedures for photocatalytic NH3 production. In addition, we review effective strategies on development of photocatalysts. Finally, our analyses on the characteristics and modifications of photocatalysts have been summarized, based on which we discuss the possible future research directions, particularly on preparing more efficient catalysts. Overall, this review provides insights on improving photocatalytic NH3 production and designing solar-driven chemical conversions.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Kristian Urh ◽  
Margareta Žlajpah ◽  
Nina Zidar ◽  
Emanuela Boštjančič

Significant progress has been made in the last decade in our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of colorectal cancer (CRC). Cancer stem cells (CSC) have gained much attention and are now believed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various cancers, including CRC. In the current study, we validated gene expression of four genes related to CSC, L1TD1, SLITRK6, ST6GALNAC1 and TCEA3, identified in a previous bioinformatics analysis. Using bioinformatics, potential miRNA-target gene correlations were prioritized. In total, 70 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy samples from 47 patients with adenoma, adenoma with early carcinoma and CRC without and with lymph node metastases were included. The expression of selected genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) was evaluated using quantitative PCR. Differential expression of all investigated genes and four of six prioritized miRNAs (hsa-miR-199a-3p, hsa-miR-335-5p, hsa-miR-425-5p, hsa-miR-1225-3p, hsa-miR-1233-3p and hsa-miR-1303) was found in at least one group of CRC cancerogenesis. L1TD1, SLITRK6, miR-1233-3p and miR-1225-3p were correlated to the level of malignancy. A negative correlation between miR-199a-3p and its predicted target SLITRK6 was observed, showing potential for further experimental validation in CRC. Our results provide further evidence that CSC-related genes and their regulatory miRNAs are involved in CRC development and progression and suggest that some them, particularly miR-199a-3p and its SLITRK6 target gene, are promising for further validation in CRC.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Anders Björklund

In two recent postmortem studies, Jeffrey Kordower and colleagues report new findings that open up for an interesting discussion on the status of GDNF/NRTN signaling in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), adding an interesting perspective on the, admittedly very limited, signs of restorative effects previously seen in GDNF/NRTN-treated patients. Their new findings show that the level of the GDNF signaling receptor Ret is overall reduced by about 65% relative to non-PD controls, and most severely, up to 80%, in nigral neurons containing α-synuclein inclusions, accompanied by impaired signaling downstream of the Ret receptor. Notably, however, the vast majority of the remaining nigral neurons retained a low level of Ret expression, and hence a threshold level of signaling. Further observations made in two patients who had received AAV-NRTN gene therapy 8–10 years earlier suggest the intriguing possibility that NRTN is able to restore Ret expression and upregulate its own signaling pathway. This “wind-up” mechanism, which is likely to depend on an interaction with dopaminergic transcription factor Nurr1, has therapeutic potential and should encourage renewed efforts to turn GDNF/NRTN therapy into success, once the recurring problem of under-dosing is resolved.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7429
Author(s):  
Matthew Martin ◽  
Mengyao Sun ◽  
Aishat Motolani ◽  
Tao Lu

Over the last several decades, colorectal cancer (CRC) has been one of the most prevalent cancers. While significant progress has been made in both diagnostic screening and therapeutic approaches, a large knowledge gap still remains regarding the early identification and treatment of CRC. Specifically, identification of CRC biomarkers that can help with the creation of targeted therapies as well as increasing the ability for clinicians to predict the biological response of a patient to therapeutics, is of particular importance. This review provides an overview of CRC and its progression stages, as well as the basic types of CRC biomarkers. We then lay out the synopsis of signaling pathways related to CRC, and further highlight the pivotal and multifaceted role of nuclear factor (NF) κB signaling in CRC. Particularly, we bring forth knowledge regarding the tumor microenvironment (TME) in CRC, and its complex interaction with cancer cells. We also provide examples of NF-κB signaling-related CRC biomarkers, and ongoing efforts made at targeting NF-κB signaling in CRC treatment. We conclude and anticipate that with more emerging novel regulators of the NF-κB pathway being discovered, together with their in-depth characterization and the integration of large groups of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data, the day of successful development of more ideal NF-κB inhibitors is fast approaching.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 534-534
Author(s):  
M. Bastos-Oreiro ◽  
J. Ortiz ◽  
V. Pradillo ◽  
C. Martinez-Laperche ◽  
E. Salas ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 99 (906) ◽  
pp. 927-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazen Hedar

AbstractLooking at the physical damage caused by the Syrian war, one can begin to imagine the scale of the psychological toll that eight years of crisis have taken on the Syrian people. In a country where mental health was still considered an emerging field before the war, Syrians are working to address and manage the mental health and psychological effects of war. Despite this disastrous situation, there appears to have been significant progress in the field of mental health during the crisis. This article explores the mental health situation in Syria prior to 2011, the effects of the crisis on Syrians, and how these have been managed in recent years. It concludes by citing some examples of progress that have been made in mental health care in Syria and discussing some of the challenges that remain to be addressed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (7) ◽  
pp. H1101-H1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano F. Drager ◽  
Vsevolod Y. Polotsky ◽  
Christopher P. O'Donnell ◽  
Sergio L. Cravo ◽  
Geraldo Lorenzi-Filho ◽  
...  

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is known to be independently associated with several cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke. To determine how OSA can increase cardiovascular risk, animal models have been developed to explore the underlying mechanisms and the cellular and end-organ targets of the predominant pathophysiological disturbance in OSA–intermittent hypoxia. Despite several limitations in translating data from animal models to the clinical arena, significant progress has been made in our understanding of how OSA confers increased cardiovascular risk. It is clear now that the hypoxic stress associated with OSA can elicit a broad spectrum of pathological systemic events including sympathetic activation, systemic inflammation, impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, and endothelial dysfunction, among others. This review provides an update of the basic, clinical, and translational advances in our understanding of the metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular consequences of OSA and highlights the most recent findings and perspectives in the field.


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