Characterizing Post-transcriptional Modifications of circRNAs to Investigate Biogenesis and Translation.

Recent studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are decorated with N6-methyladenosine (mA), a co-transcriptional modification known to participate in the regulation of many processes governing linear RNA metabolism. Nevertheless, the activity of this mark on circRNAs is still poorly understood. In order to facilitate the study of mA-dependent regulation of these molecules, we provide protocols that enable circOme-wide detection of mA as well as the perturbation of several components of the mA machinery followed by assays useful to evaluate the impact of their depletion on the production and, when applicable, on the translation of circRNAs.

TDP-43 loss induces extensive cryptic polyadenylation in ALS/FTD.

Nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic aggregation of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 is the hallmark of ALS, occurring in over 97% of cases. A key consequence of TDP-43 nuclear loss is the de-repression of cryptic exons. Whilst TDP-43 regulated cryptic splicing is increasingly well catalogued, cryptic alternative polyadenylation (APA) events, which define the 3' end of last exons, have been largely overlooked, especially when not associated with novel upstream splice junctions.

CircAFF1 Is a Circular RNA with a Role in Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell Migration.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), covalently closed RNAs that originate from back-splicing events, participate in the control of several processes, including those that occur in the development of pathological conditions such as cancer. Hereby, we describe circAFF1, a circular RNA overexpressed in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Using RH4 and RH30 cell lines, a classical cell line models for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, we demonstrated that circAFF1 is a cytoplasmatic circRNA and its depletion impacts cell homeostasis favouring cell migration through the downregulation of genes involved in cell adhesion pathways.

The mA reader YTHDC1 and the RNA helicase DDX5 control the production of rhabdomyosarcoma-enriched circRNAs.

N6-Methyladenosine (mA) is well-known for controlling different processes of linear RNA metabolism. Conversely, its role in the biogenesis and function of circular RNAs (circRNAs) is still poorly understood. Here, we characterize circRNA expression in the pathological context of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), observing a global increase when compared to wild-type myoblasts.

Circular RNA ZNF609/CKAP5 mRNA interaction regulates microtubule dynamics and tumorigenicity.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are widely expressed in eukaryotes and are regulated in many biological processes. Although several studies indicate their activity as microRNA (miRNA) and protein sponges, little is known about their ability to directly control mRNA homeostasis. We show that the widely expressed circZNF609 directly interacts with several mRNAs and increases their stability and/or translation by favoring the recruitment of the RNA-binding protein ELAVL1.

CircVAMP3: A circRNA with a Role in Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell Cycle Progression.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of covalently closed RNAs formed by a back-splicing reaction, have been involved in the regulation of diverse oncogenic processes. In this article we describe circVAMP3, a novel circular RNA overexpressed in RH4, a representative cell line of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. We demonstrated that circVAMP3 has a differential mA pattern opposed to its linear counterpart, suggesting that the two isoforms can be differently regulated by such RNA modification.

Outcomes and Survivorship of Biomet Microfixation Total Joint Replacement System: Results From an FDA Postmarket Study.

Purpose: In February 2011, the Food and Drug Administration issued a postmarket surveillance order to all manufacturers of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implants in the United States. The objective of the present study was to measure implant subsequent surgical intervention (SSI) among patients who had undergone TMJ reconstruction with the Biomet TMJ replacement system (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN).

Materials And Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted by sending a questionnaire to patients who had received a Biomet TMJ replacement system from 1995 to 2010 in the United States.

Modulation of circRNA Metabolism by mA Modification.

N-methyladenosine (mA) is an RNA modification well-known for its contribution to different processes controlling RNA metabolism, including splicing, stability, and translation of mRNA. Conversely, the role of mA on the biogenesis and function of circular RNAs (circRNAs) has yet to be addressed. circRNAs belong to a class of covalently closed transcripts produced via a back-splicing reaction whereby a downstream 5' splice donor site fuses to an upstream 3' splice acceptor site.

Edentulism Is Associated With More Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Purpose: The relationship between edentulism and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is not well established. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship of edentulism on the severity of OSAS compared with equally at-risk dentate subjects.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective matched cohort study of edentulous and dentate subjects with OSAS matched by age, gender, and body mass index (BMI).

Oral Functional Behavior and Neurosensation After Adult Maxillomandibular Advancement for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Long-Term.

Purpose: We evaluated and correlated the long-term subjective perioral neurosensory deficit intensity and oral functional behavior difficulty after maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) for adult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Patients And Methods: We implemented a long-term retrospective cohort study of adult subjects who had undergone MMA for OSA, with subjective assessments using 7-point visual analog scales. Adult subjects who had undergone MMA for OSA with a minimum of 5 years of follow-up data available who had agreed to participate were included in the present study.

Maxillomandibular Advancement for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Produces Long-Term Horizontal Advancement of the Maxilla and Mandible.

Purpose: Because limited data have been reported, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-term craniofacial cephalometric skeletal changes associated with maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective cephalometric cohort study of craniofacial skeletal changes in patients who had undergone MMA for OSA. The primary predictor and outcome variables were time and the change in SNB over time, respectively.

Maxillomandibular Advancement for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Very Long-Term Overall Sleep-Related Quality-of-Life Improvement.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the effect of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) on long-term subjective quality of life (QOL) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of long-term postoperative QOL issues in patients who underwent MMA for polysomnogram-confirmed severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index > 30). The inclusion criteria included a history of MMA in the treatment of OSA, willingness to complete the Ottawa Sleep Apnea Questionnaire (OSA-Q) survey, and minimum of 5-year follow-up.

Maxillomandibular Advancement for Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is a Highly Skeletally Stable Long-Term Procedure.

Purpose: To evaluate long-term clinically significant cephalometric skeletal stability with maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of long-term clinically significant skeletal stability in patients who underwent MMA for OSA. The primary predictor and outcome variables were the occurrence of and time to loss of clinically significant skeletal stability, respectively, at sella-nasion-B point (SNB).

Circ-ZNF609 regulates G1-S progression in rhabdomyosarcoma.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a class of covalently closed RNAs, derived from non-canonical splicing events, which are expressed in all eukaryotes and often conserved among different species. We previously showed that the circRNA originating from the ZNF609 locus (circ-ZNF609) acts as a crucial regulator of human primary myoblast growth: indeed, the downregulation of the circRNA, and not of its linear counterpart, strongly reduced the proliferation rate of in vitro cultured myoblasts. To deepen our knowledge about circ-ZNF609 role in cell cycle regulation, we studied its expression and function in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a pediatric skeletal muscle malignancy.

Early major medical complications after surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea: a retrospective cohort analysis and case series.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and relative risk (RR) of early postoperative major medical complications after surgery for the management of obstructive sleep apnea.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who had undergone surgery for the treatment of polysomnogram-confirmed obstructive sleep apnea at 2 hospitals in Pittsburgh, PA, between 1992 and 2013. Early postoperative major medical complications were defined as either a life-threatening complication requiring intensive care unit intervention or death within the immediate hospital course.

Pre-emptive analgesia with pregabalin and celecoxib decreases postsurgical pain following maxillomandibular advancement surgery: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of pre-emptive analgesia with pregabalin and celecoxib on narcotic consumption and perceived pain in adult patients undergoing maxillomandibular advancement surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of adult patients undergoing elective maxillomandibular advancement surgery for obstructive sleep apnea. The groups received a masked 1-time preoperative oral dose of pregabalin 150 mg and celecoxib 400 mg (experimental group) or lactose powder 2 g (placebo group).

Combined elliptical window genioglossus advancement, hyoid bone suspension, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty decrease apnea hypopnea index and subjective daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: The objective and subjective outcomes of combined mandibular elliptical window genioglossus advancement, hyoid bone suspension, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty procedures have not been evaluated. This study was conducted to evaluate postoperative changes in the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and subjective daytime sleepiness with this combination of procedures in the surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who had undergone combined elliptical window genioglossus advancement, hyoid bone suspension, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty performed at Allegheny General Hospital (Pittsburgh, PA) from July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2008 for polysomnogram-confirmed OSA.

Cephalometric soft tissue analysis of combined elliptical-window genioglossus advancement and hyoid suspension for obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: This study sought to determine the changes in cephalometric facial profile soft tissue measurements after simultaneous elliptical-window genioglossus advancement and hyoid suspension procedures for obstructive sleep apnea.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis of preoperative and postoperative lateral cephalometric soft tissue changes in 23 consecutive patients who had undergone combined elliptical-window genioglossus advancement and hyoid bone suspension for polysomnogram-confirmed obstructive sleep apnea. Six cephalometric soft tissue measurements of the lower face were evaluated: pogonion (Pg'-Pg), menton (Me'-Me), gnathion (G'-G), lower lip (LI-L1i), B point (B-B'), and horizontal distance from subnasale perpendicular to the soft tissue chin at the level of pogonion (SN-Pg').

UV/Vis to NIR photoconduction in cyclopalladated complexes.

The incorporation of a rigid core, formed by a cyclopalladated azobenzene fragment bonded to an ancillary Schiff base ligand, into molecules with 12 or 11 peripheral alkyl chains has been successfully achieved. These new complexes, 1 and 2, respectively, are columnar liquid crystals between room temperature and about 50 degrees C. Both cyclometallated and ancillary ligands have been polyalkylated through either aryl ester (electron-withdrawing group) or aryl ether (electron-releasing group) linkages, in order to tune the HOMO/LUMO energy levels.

Pseudogout of the temporomandibular joint: immediate reconstruction with total joint arthroplasty.

Background: Pseudogout of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a rare disorder with <40 reported cases in the English-language literature. It is usually treated with surgical resection and condylectomy alone.

Methods: We report the case of a 68-year-old woman presenting with a preauricular mass resulting from calcium pyrophosphate deposition (pseudogout) in the TMJ, who underwent surgical resection with immediate reconstruction.

Helicobacter pylori heat shock protein B (HspB) localizes in vivo in the gastric mucosa and MALT lymphoma.

Heat shock protein B (HspB) is one of the dominant proteins recognized by most Helicobacter pylori-infected persons and is being considered as potential candidates for subunit vaccines. In the present study we describe the generation of an antibody against HspB and its use in immunohistochemical assays on gastric biopsies. We have demonstrated that our rabbit polyclonal antibody against HspB did not recognize any protein in lysates from a lung human epithelial cell (H1299) line and did not cross-react with the other members of human heat shock proteins.

Wetting properties of flat and porous silicon surfaces coated with a spiropyran.

We report the immobilization and characterization of a spiropyran (SP) derivative (1) on smooth Si(100) and porous H-terminated silicon surfaces through a thermal hydrosilylation protocol. Under visible light exposure the SP is in a closed, hydrophobic form, whereas under UV irradiation it converts to a polar, hydrophilic open form named merocyanine (MC). The SP-MC photoinduced isomerization gives a small contact angle (CA) change of 9 degrees for smooth Si(100) samples under sequential irradiation cycles with white and UV light.