Validation of reference gene stability for miRNA quantification by reverse transcription quantitative PCR in the peripheral blood of patients with COVID-19 critical illness.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgency to study the host gene response that leads to variable clinical presentations of the disease, particularly the critical illness response. miRNAs have been implicated in the mechanism of host immune dysregulation and thus hold potential as biomarkers and/or therapeutic agents with clinical application. Hence, further analyses of their altered expression in COVID-19 is warranted.

Role of miRNA dysregulation in sepsis.

Background: Sepsis is defined as a state of multisystem organ dysfunction secondary to a dysregulated host response to infection and causes millions of deaths worldwide annually. Novel ways to counteract this disease are needed and such tools may be heralded by a detailed understanding of its molecular pathogenesis. MiRNAs are small RNA molecules that target mRNAs to inhibit or degrade their translation and have important roles in several disease processes including sepsis.

DJ-1 binds to Rubicon to Impair LC-3 Associated Phagocytosis.

The ability to effectively clear infection is fundamental to host survival. Sepsis, defined as dysregulated host response to infection, is a heterogenous clinical syndrome that does not uniformly clear intact bacterial or sterile infection (i.e.

The educational needs of Canadian homeless shelter workers related to traumatic brain injury.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a higher prevalence in the homeless population. Caregivers to individuals who have TBIs may require better education surrounding screening, diagnosis and management of this disease to tailor interventions to their clients' needs.

Objective: To assess the insight and educational needs of homeless care providers in recognizing and dealing with clients who had experienced a TBI.

Low Contrast Dose Catheter-Directed CT Angiography (CCTA).

Purpose: Catheter-directed computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has been shown to reduce the contrast volumes required in conventional CTA, thus minimizing the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on cases where CCTA was used to assess access vessels prior to transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI, n = 53), abdominal aortic aneurysm assessment for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR, n = 11), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD, n = 24).

Results: We show that CCTA can image vasculature with adequate diagnostic detail to allow assessment of lower extremity disease, anatomic suitability for EVAR, as well as potential contraindications to TAVI.

Plasmin system of Alzheimer's disease patients: CSF analysis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the extracellular deposit of Amyloid beta (Aβ), mainly of the Amyloid beta(1-42) (Aβ(1-42)) peptide in the hippocampus and neocortex leading to progressive cognitive decline and dementia. The possible imbalance between the Aβ production/degradation process was suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Among others, the serine protease plasmin has shown to be involved in Aβ(1-42) clearance, a hypothesis strengthened by neuropathological studies on AD brains.

Salivary miRNAome profiling uncovers epithelial and proliferative miRNAs with differential expression across dentition stages.

Saliva's ability to mirror the internal physiological environment of an organism coupled with its facile accessibility makes it an attractive diagnostic medium. The finding of microRNAs (miRNAs) in saliva has expanded the field of biomarker discovery since these tiny non-coding RNAs affect various physiological processes and diseases. Few reports have linked miRNAs to tooth development and eruption, with none having studied this in humans.

MiR-203 controls proliferation, migration and invasive potential of prostate cancer cell lines.

Prostate cancers show a slow progression from a local lesion (primary tumor) to a metastatic and hormone-resistant phenotype. After an initial step of hyperplasia, in a high percentage of cases a neoplastic transformation event occurs that, less frequently, is followed by epithelial to mesenchymal transition and invasion of healthy tissues (usually bones). MicroRNA-203 (miR-203) is a tumor suppressor microRNA often silenced in different malignancies.

A simplified, non-invasive fecal-based DNA integrity assay and iFOBT for colorectal cancer detection.

Purpose: Neoplasia cells exfoliated from colorectal epithelium have dysfunctional apoptotic mechanisms, thus it is possible to identify high-molecular weight DNA fragments in feces. This prospective single-center study was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of fecal-based DNA integrity versus immunological fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) and calprotectin for colorectal cancer (CRC) and adenoma detection.

Methods: Feces were collected from 204 subjects and DNA integrity was quantified by quantitative-denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (QdHPLC).

Satraplatin (JM-216) mediates G2/M cell cycle arrest and potentiates apoptosis via multiple death pathways in colorectal cancer cells thus overcoming platinum chemo-resistance.

Purposes: Satraplatin acts as a potent inhibitor of proliferation in castration-resistant prostate cancer, yet the basic and molecular pharmacological mechanisms are still unknown in all types of cancer including colorectal cancer (CRC). In an effort to explain the mechanism of tumour sensitivity to satraplatin, the cytotoxic effects in a panel of CRC cell lines was examined with regard to their p53 genotype in comparison with oxaliplatin.

Methods: CRC cell lines were chosen to ascertain the mechanism of satraplatin-enhanced cytotoxicity.

Quantitative denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (Q-dHPLC) detection of APC long DNA in faeces from patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. However, prevention is possible by early detection. In the present work, we have demonstrated and validated a novel quantitative method based on a DNA integrity assay and mutation in faeces of CRC patients using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC).

Novel pharmacokinetic behavior of intravenous busulfan in children with thalassemia undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective evaluation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile with therapeutic drug monitoring.

We prospectively studied the pharmacokinetics (PK) and clinical outcomes of intravenous busulfan (Bu) in 71 children with preexisting liver damage who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia. Intravenous Bu was administered every 6 hours as part of a conditioning regimen with PK-based dose adjustment to target a conservative area under the concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) range (900-1350 microMol*min). The first-dose Bu clearance (CL) was significantly higher than the subsequent daily CL that remained unchanged in the ensuing days.

Social context influences chemical communication in D. melanogaster males.

Chemical communication mediates social interactions in insects. For the fruit fly, D. melanogaster, the chemical display is a key fitness trait because it leads to mating.