Gene-Specific Intron Retention Serves as Molecular Signature that Distinguishes Melanoma from Non-Melanoma Cancer Cells in Greek Patients.

Background: Skin cancer represents the most common human malignancy, and it includes BCC, SCC, and melanoma. Since melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of cancer, we have herein attempted to develop a gene-specific intron retention signature that can distinguish BCC and SCC from melanoma biopsy tumors.

Methods: Intron retention events were examined through RT-sqPCR protocols, using total RNA preparations derived from BCC, SCC, and melanoma Greek biopsy specimens.

Effects of soyabean meal- or whey-based diets on lipid metabolism in weaned piglets.

The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that dietary protein source influences lipid metabolism-related parameters weaned piglets. The effects of soyabean meal (SB) and whey proteins (WP) on gene expression of several genes involved in the lipogenic process in liver, visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues, plasma insulin concentration and fatty acid (FA) profile were investigated in 18 weaned piglets. Weaned piglets were fed one of two diets containing either SB or WP as the main protein source.

Short communication: Oxidative status and incidence of mastitis relative to blood α-tocopherol concentrations in the postpartum period in dairy cows.

Vitamin E supplementation, when combined with high blood α-tocopherol (>6.25 μg/mL) at dry off, has been reported to unexpectedly increased the risk for clinical mastitis in dairy cows. Furthermore, higher levels of oxidative stress in the postpartum period were related to higher risk of mastitis.

Soya protein hydrolysates modify the expression of various pro-inflammatory genes induced by fatty acids in ovine phagocytes.

The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that fatty acids are the circulating mediators acting in a pro-inflammatory manner towards activated circulating ovine monocyte/macrophages and neutrophils. Furthermore, whether soya protein hydrolysates (SPH) inhibit the fatty acid-induced increase in the production of pro-inflammatory responses by ovine phagocytes was tested in vitro. All the fatty acids tested (myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic and oleic) increased (P<0·01; C18>C16>C14) membrane-bound urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) and u-PA free binding sites in cell membranes of activated ovine blood monocytes/macrophages, but only the C18 fatty acids (stearic, oleic) were effective towards blood neutrophils.

Cloning of the 5' regulatory regions and functional characterization of the core promoters of ovine PLAU (u-PA) and SERPIN1 (PAI-1).

The activation of plasminogen plays a crucial role in various extracellular proteolytic events (fibrinolysis, cell migration, ovulation and involution of the mammary gland). In the present study we describe the isolation of the 5' proximal and distal promoter regions of ovine PLAU (urokinase plasminogen activator, u-PA) and SERPIN1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, PAI-1) genes for the first time in ruminants. Analysis of the 5.