Retrospective discrimination of PNES and epileptic seizure types using blood RNA signatures.

Objectives: The ability to differentiate epileptic- and non-epileptic events is challenging due to a lack of reliable molecular seizure biomarker that provide a retrospective diagnosis. Here, we use next generation sequencing methods on whole blood samples to identify changes in RNA expression following seizures.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 32 patients undergoing video electroencephalogram (vEEG) monitoring.

Identification and characterization of shifted G•U wobble pairs resulting from alternative protonation of RNA.

RNA can serve as an enzyme, small molecule sensor, and vaccine, and it may have been a conduit for the origin of life. Despite these profound functions, RNA is thought to have quite limited molecular diversity. A pressing question, therefore, is whether RNA can adopt novel molecular states that enhance its function.

PRMT5 inhibition has a potent anti-tumor activity against adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands.

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare glandular malignancy, commonly originating in salivary glands of the head and neck. Given its protracted growth, ACC is usually diagnosed in advanced stage. Treatment of ACC is limited to surgery and/or adjuvant radiotherapy, which often fails to prevent disease recurrence, and no FDA-approved targeted therapies are currently available.

UL24 herpesvirus determinants of pathogenesis: Roles in virus-host interactions.

Members of the UL24 herpesvirus gene family are determinants of pathogenesis. The gene is widely conserved across the Orthoherpesviridae family, also commonly referred to as Herpesviridae. In this review, the impact of UL24 homologs on pathogenesis as studied with different model systems is presented, as well as mechanistic aspects related to the different roles of UL24 proteins in virus-host cell interactions.

Olaparib and Radiotherapy Induce Type I Interferon- and CD8+ T Cell-Dependent Sensitization to Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer.

PARP inhibitors sensitize pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to radiation by inducing DNA damage and replication stress. These mechanisms also have the potential to enhance radiation-induced type I interferon (T1IFN)-mediated antitumoral immune responses. We hypothesized that the PARP inhibitor olaparib would also potentiate radiation-induced T1IFN to promote antitumor immune responses and sensitization of otherwise resistant PDAC to immunotherapy.